Celebration of Fates: RagNa FF, Part-23, Pg-147, 30/07 - Page 12

PART-4 (a)

Kamla had returned home early today, as she could only think of Kalpana, wondering if she signed the contract and everything went well or not. Though she was fully confident on her daughter's success and for her taking the right decision; but she herself did not know why she was feeling uneasy. So after handing over the entire work of the main branch of her restaurant to the manager she headed to her home.

The door was opened by Kalpi as soon as she rang the doorbell, maybe she too was eagerly waiting for her mother only. Kamla expected to see a smiling or happy Kalpana, but she saw a lost Kalpana. The smile which she was giving her mother was not reaching her eyes.

Kamla: "Is everything fine Kalpi? Did you sign the contract? Are the contract conditions reasonable and did you happen to know who is the actor opposite you?"

Kalpi: "Aai, Aai so many questions in one breath! Relax Aai, everything is fine, and I am fine also. Yes, I am also fine. Contract conditions are reasonable but I did not meet the actor opposite me today. He was busy so he did not come and the producer & director did not tell me his name to give me a surprise" she explained to Kamla in one breath before her lie could make her throat constrict. She never lied to her mother, but sometimes lies are good she thought. She did not want Kamla to worry for her.

Kamla: "Now who is talking in one breath? Kalpi you..." But before she could complete her sentence Kalpi cut whatever she was saying. She was aware of a new question coming out of her Aai's mouth.

Kalpi: "Come Aai, first sit down and relax. I'll bring water for you" and she ran away to the kitchen after making Kamla sit on the sofa.

"Hmm, something is not right. She is hiding something from me. I should give her some time, she'll tell me everything when she is ready" Kamla thought; and after that she did not do anything to make Kalpi uncomfortable and continued to listen to her blabbers about new show, producer's, her excitement and her health all evening and night. She decided to wait for one or two days to bring this topic in front of Kalpi if by then she did not tell her anything.

*****************************************************

Lying on her soft bed wide awake, Kalpi was thinking about the events of the day. How few minutes had changed her happiness into a long worry and misery. He had returned in her life, to make her miserable just as he had promised. "Well, he had not exactly promised me misery, but his promise to make me return to his life was always another name for misery" she thought as her thoughts took her back to the last day she'd seen him, and the last time she had seen his face.

FLASHBACK, 8 YEARS AGO : -

After her almost public declaration that she'd never work with him again even in dire need and that she has cut all cords, relation with him, Raghav had not kept silent. She should have expected this before insulting him in front of all their team mates and theatre members, officials. All this had happened after the last show of their play, as if even God favoured her decision else she'd have been bound by her sense of duty and morals. So, before giving outlet to her anger, she had patiently completed their last show and waited for the curtains to drop and poured her heart's anger out on him then and there & without waiting for his reply or giving him an opportunity to give his point of view she'd turned and left him and everyone else standing there, stunned.

She'd gone straight to her changing room, ready to change her costume which was a long, light pink gown, held together by two straps and having two cuts on the waist portion on either side. She was about to bolt the door when Raghav entered, he pushed the door open with a force enough to make her stumble a few steps backwards.

"What do you think you are doing?" she asked him hissing in anger when she saw him bolting the door behind him. She tried her best to reach the door & open it; in the process their hands found each other and had a mini fight. She fought to free her hands so that she could get out of this situation "what must be people outside thinking?" her brain worked overtime in worry. But she was too light for a strong person like Raghav, he held both her hands & bind them behind her back with one hand.

Raghav: "What were you saying, that you'll never work with me again even in dire need? Well, let me tell you I can predict our future. I can already foresee both of us working together again, that too as leads" he told her as he passed his fingers down front her cheeks to her neck to her shoulder and arm, and grinned sadistically as he saw repulsion for him in her eyes, but felt her body shiver at his touch.

"Poor girl is herself confused what she wants" he thought. Aloud he went on to send shivers down her spine even with his words "Maybe not in near future, not in distant future, I cannot predict a date but you my darling shall surely become my heroine one day and that too with your own will. I can see that, and I assure you that I'll do everything I can to take care of my promise to my honeybee!" he chuckled at the secret name he had given her all these years, she could sting badly and she could also be surrounded with the sweetness of honey, in and out. This was the first time he'd taken this name in front of her.

With these words he tightened his hold on her and now held her waist by his both arms, he could sense her confused reactions. Her body shivered when his hands touched her skin, but her mind, heart and eyes were full of anger for him. "Let go of me" she struggled again but soon found his lips on hers. He gave her the punishment of kiss, and she could not even resist for long. Then he let go of her "There, promise sealed. Now you won't forget" he wiped the marks of her lipstick from his lips, opened the door and went out. For a second she was a statue, and then carefully peeped outside. She could see almost entire theatre and their play group standing outside her door, whispering amongst themselves as to what must have happened inside. But it seemed even Raghav had left and she could not see him anywhere. Gathering her courage she'd changed; wiped away remnants of her encounter from her lips by nice makeup and wore a confident look, to leave that group and theatre, never to return. At that time she was Seventeen years old (17) and Raghav was Twenty-two (22), as she'd returned her rented home that day she had tried hard to convince herself that all will be well. She'll not meet Raghav again, but it seemed Raghav never wanted her to forget or have a peaceful sleep that night.

That night someone rang their small home's doorbell and Kamla opened it. When she saw it was Raghav she was happy, as she had given him tuitions in his childhood & was friends with his Mom Gauri Singhania' since a long time. She invited him in, but he refused politely after wishing her, and then asked her if he could meet Kalpi. Kamla readily agreed and called Kalpi out, who was too shocked to see him again. Raghav had very sweetly extended his hand for a hand-shake, as he enjoyed putting her in difficult spot always. She'd shook hands with him as Kamla was there only. Satisfied that Raghav and Kalpana are not fighting again, she went into the kitchen. This is when Raghav gave Kalpi something "I brought something for you Kalpana; here- a photo frame. Keep this safe, for when we'll work together again you may have to add our photo in it. Okay?" forcefully handing her the gift "and don't forget where you kept this. I want to see our photo in this photo frame after few years. Bye Kalpana, have a good life ahead".

Kalpi had stared after him; silently praying that she never sees his face again, for she knew not only professionally, Raghav would do anything to shake her emotions on a personal level too. That night Kalpi had told Kamala almost everything about their fight, except the kiss and except the reason for their fight. Adding only the part where Raghav had promised to come back in her life. Kamla had always been a supporting mother and she had consoled her daughter, making her sleep with her head on Kamla's lap.

PART-4(b)

Her feelings for Raghav today were so different from when she had met him first. Gauri Singhania and Kamla Vitthal Jadhav were close friends since the days when Vitthal was a successful businessman and thus both ladies were a frequent visitor to each other's house. Though Kamla and Gauri's children: Kamla's Pakhya & Kalpi; and Gauri's Raghav rarely visited each other's homes. It was only after Kamla had to shift to Chawl and then do tuitions for subsistence that Gauri came to help her. She was among those few people who had not left their friendship for Jadhavs in their difficult times. Being a widow and seen struggles of life herself Gauri knew how trying circumstances were these for Kamla. She had even offered her a job in her company, which Kamla had refused saying she'll earn on her merit and that she does not want to take advantage of her friendship with her. So Gauri had requested Kamla to give Maths and Science tuitions to Raghav, who was in Ninth standard then. Kamla had agreed to this and since then she even brought either Pakhya and Kalpi both, or Kalpi alone with her every day. She took other tuitions also, but meeting Gauri along with tuitions was a stress buster for her. Most of the times, Gauri worked from her home-office in evenings, so she was always there.

Kalpi was too happy to meet one of the most famous boys of her school. She was only in fourth standard, but even then she was aware that Raghav Singhania was a charming boy, and very famous. Being still a kid, she could not understand the weird expressions her senior Didis used to give when they saw Raghav, whatever he did in school activities- games, skits, and dance; in everything he was perfect and always won awards. Tiny Kalpi used to look up in awe to him, her young brain deciding she'll also become a topper like Raghav in every field. He inspired the tiny kid in her that with hard work even she can make her mother happy by topping in everything, she could not understand then, why had they left their luxurious home, and where was her Baba. But she understood that something was not right with Baba's work and him, which is why he did not return. She saw her mother struggling and she knew if she studied well, her mother will be happy and if she tops in every other field too, then her Aai will be happier. 9 years old Kalpi did not know how she will do it, her dada was there to encourage her, but she found her real life inspiration in Raghav. So she was too happy to go with her Aai, so she could meet her idol- Raghav. Her eyes always reflected her appreciation and love for him, she saw him solve problems and tried to copy him, eventually becoming better than him many times.

So besotted was she by Raghav that when Gauri had first formally introduced both children and Kamla had told Kalpi to say Namastey' to her new Dada (brother), Kalpi had refused. "He is not my Dada. I already have a Dada at home; he is my friend, Raghav friend" and she had extended her tiny hand as a friendship gesture, for Raghav to shake.

She imbibed everything, at each tuition, which Kamla gave and tried solving not only her class problems' but also higher classes problems on her own. She was only in fourth class, but times had made her alert and mature beyond her age. Result was that almost every time she defeated Raghav in Maths and many a times in Science too. The two had only been formally introduced till now, and it was only a week that Kamla had started teaching Raghav, but he was already jealous of this tiny, small girl. Who somehow always used to give him the sweetest smiles in the world, but also defeated him. Being so junior to him it hurt his ego that a tiny girl of fourth standard could almost always solve problems either along with him, or before him. He did not understand that Kalpi considered Raghav also her teacher, her idol and whenever she was successful in doing better, she looked up to him expecting her idol's praise. Her innocent heart not understanding that feelings needed words and Raghav won't understand her unspoken feelings.

He knew Kamla Maa didn't stop her daughter because she wanted her to learn as much as possible, for their better future. But one day, Gauri Singhania coaxed Kalpi to take a break, as Raghav too had taken 10minutes break. "This girl is always into books Kamla, let her play also" saying so she had held little Kalpi's hand, carrying her to the games and toys room, which once belonged to little Raghav. There were so many of them, and little Kalpi's eyes twinkled seeing them, she missed playing with toys. In her old home she had so many, but not even one. So she had readily left Gauri's hand and immersed herself in her world of toys.

She was too engrossed in playing, but unfortunately by mistake she broke one of the toys as it slipped from her tiny hands. She was scared already when she heard an angry voice of her idol- Raghav's. He was standing on the doorway, his room was adjacent to this one and apparently he had heard the noise of something break. Curious to know who had gone inside his personal games and toys' room; and what had been broken he was too shocked to react when he saw Kalpana standing in front of his broken home. It was a gift usually meant for girls, a large home with dolls, furniture, everything but Raghav's father late Mr. Ashok Singhania had gifted it to him. He wanted Raghav to understand the importance and beauty of a family and home, right from his childhood. Maybe he was aware of his illness, so he wanted to teach Raghav as much as he could. Raghav used to play with his cousin Akanksha whenever she visited him. Now when he saw the memory of his father broken by this little girl, he could not control his anger and poured out his hurt mixed with his ego on Kalpi. "How dare you? Who let you enter my room? You broke my home, you?" Too hurt and too angry to think of doing anything else, he quickly entered the room, caught hold of Kalpana's little hand and started pulling out her behind him out of the room. Her big, innocent eyes were filled with sadness and tears by now, she expected to be scolded but to be scolded like this, and that too by her idol was too much for her little heart. She tried saying sorry "Raghav friend, I am s..."

Raghav: "Shut up, just shut up and I am not your friend" he effectively silenced her. By then Gauri had come there and intervened to save little Kalpi from Raghav's wrath. That day was real start of their changing relation, and it continued to worsen after Kalpi had tried to say sorry to her Raghav friend again as Kamla had make her realize the importance of that toy for Raghav. But Raghav had again dismissed her, and her sorry by saying "stay from me little kitten". Kalpi was too hurt this time and even though she was very young, she had responded to him saying "Kalpi don't want to be like Raghav friend now. You are very bad. I will be better than you" and the sense of competition instilled in them continued till their last play together. Soon Kalpi got transferred to a government school for 2 years, due to her bright mind two successive years she got double promotion in her classes. After that fate had brought them together again when Kalpana got scholarship in the prestigious and best school of the city in 9^th standard and she was the youngest student of her class. As destiny had it Raghav too studied in the same school in 11^th standard, and he was not at all happy with this new development. His Mom had already informed him of Kalpi being a miracle child and that now he'd have to take special care of her in the school as she did not know anyone.

But knowing Raghav proved to be a bane for Kalpana instead of being a boon. He left no stone unturned to insult her deliberately, show her their differences in income status, and challenge her in various activities and studies. So much so that by now entire school was aware of this hot, fighting couple, yes a couple because both of them had only one obsession, doing better than the other and show him/her the due place on winning. Kalpana's intelligent mind and talent in other activities like acting, dance, etc had won her a few friends. Most of them being with her to get her help in studies, and others wanted to be genuinely friends with a miracle girl like her; and Kalpana charged a fee for teaching them and helping them. She definitely knew how to help her mother.

So young, yet Kalpana had emerged as a winner no doubt, she fought with the Raghav Singhania who was used to hearing only praises, and used to being the best. At times she even fought with him on behalf of others, and in their fight they invariably ended up forgetting the reason of their fight; that it was because of a third person. Both worked hard to emerge as the best, and this was reflected in their scores also. In the initial days every one used to make fun of Kalpi's financial status, just for the fun of it; but later on it was only Raghav and his group who left no stone unturned to embarrass her. Rest of the school was used to it, they were aware that there was something personal to these fights of Raghav and Kalpana, more than met the eyes. One started, other reacted; other started, first one reacted; giving blows in exchanges to each other was their personal obsession now. But to hear a third person say disrespectful things to the other, was not acceptable to both. Even their friends were aware of unsaid rule of not saying anything rubbish about the other's intelligence and talent. Raghav's friends could not disrespect Kalpi's talent, and Kalpi's friends could not disrespect Raghav's intelligence.

Raghav and Kalpi were not aware but in whispered voices the school and their friends joked about them "these two shall certainly end up getting married when they grow up!"

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show 'Ek Mutthi Aasmaan" on 'Zee TV". The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show