No pm - last chapter pg62 - 14/02 - destiny entwined - Page 3

Chapter 1

Neetu and Kamla sit on the sofa chatting away, discussing their plans for tomorrow. Kamla looks at the wall clock and with a frown says, "Ragav is very late tonight. It is past nine O' clock." Just then they hear a car drive in. Smiling Neetu says, "here he is." Kamla stands up and says, "let me prepare his dinner for him." Neetu stops her by grasping her arm and says smiling,y, "don't be silly. We are all here on a holiday... And you know that Kalpi does everything for Ragav. So don't worry, I am sure she is in the kitchen right now preparing dinner."

Ragav walks in and says, "sorry mum. I know you planned a family vacation, but I was needed at the site a lot longer than I expected." Frowning Neetu says, "had I known you were working on a project in Shimla, I would never have suggested the Shimla holiday home to celebrate Pakhi and Kalpi's eighteenth birthday." "Goodnight," she snaps and walks away with Kamla in tow.

Sighing Ragav loosens his tie and unbuttons the first button of his shirt. He walks towards the kitchen folding his sleeves just as Kalpi comes out of the kitchen with a glass of water. Her gaze fixed on his tie she says softly, "you are late tonight." Taking the glass of water from her outstretched hand, Ragav replies softly, "I am sorry." Nodding, her gaze on his tie, she says, "freshen up while I prepare dinner." Rushing into the kitchen before he responds. Ragav's gaze follows, wishing that she would have looked into his eyes, softly muttering, "oh Kalpi! When will you get over your shyness? When will I get to look into your gorgeous eyes as often as I want?"

Shaking his his head, he heads off to freshen up. Half an hour later he comes down, seeing no sign of Kalpi, he sits at the dining table, takes his laptop and begins working on his project while waiting for his dinner.

Kalpi is roasting fresh rotis as she blushes away recalling the comment Ragav had made when she had bumped into him and had fallen into his arms. Her attention had been focused on sammy who was several feet away making funny faces, when Ragav had whispered, "you are in my arms and yet your attention is on another." His whispered words had sent shivers down her spine as she nervously looked into his eyes... Her heart raced away as Ragav tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "one day when you shall be in my arms... I promise that you will be aware of me and only me." Seeing the vulnerability creep into her eyes and sensing the nervousness and awareness through the tremor of her body, Ragav had released her immediately.

Kalpi yelps in pain, quickly sucking the fingers that touched the hot pan, cursing herself for day dreaming instead of focusing on the task at hand. The clock chimes ten O'clock, stunned at the lapse in time, she quickly takes the food to the dining table, leaving the burnt roti behind.

Seeing Ragav working away, she makes a dinner plate for him and breaks a piece of roti, dipping it into the curry. Instead of eating, Ragav closes the laptop and turns to face her, taking the piece of roti from her hand. Confused she quietly watches him wondering why he is not letting her feed him. "I always feed him when he works away... Why is tonight different", she wonders.

Ragav places the food back on the plate, hold out her hand, slowly blowing on the sensitive fingers, Looking into her confused eyes, he says, "I heard you yelp... Figured you burnt your fingers." Then teasingly adds, "so what were you thinking about?" Flushing Kalpi snatches her hand away, stands up and says, "have your dinner." Ragav sits back, watching her walk away and says, "I know you have not eaten. I will not eat until you join me." Kalpi looks at him undecisively, not sure whether he is bluffing or not. In the end she decides not to call his bluff and shyly sits next to him.

Ragav takes the piece of roti that she had prepared and brings it to her mouth... His intention to feed her. She looks at him startled, when he says, "you burnt your fingers... My turn." She slowly opens her mouth to take the first bite... Her heart racing for it was the first time he fed her.

Ragav watches her chew as he takes a bite and tells his racing heart to calm down for she would run should he startle her. Feeling uncomfortable, Kalpi eventually takes over and feeds them both in turns while Ragav continues to work on his project... Give them both an acceptable excuse for her feeding him unaware that they are being watched.

Both mothers look on... Unaware that the other is watching... One with a smile... The other with a frown.

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Kalpi finishes clearing up while Ragav continues to tap away on his laptop... As she heads towards the stairs Ragav calls out softly, "come to the terrace at midnight. I have a surprise planned." Heart racing, Kalpi turns around, just staring, thinking, "oh gosh, what is planning now?", then shakes her head in the negative. Smiling Ragav says, "I shall wait for you."

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Kalpi heads first to her aai's room, says goodnight then heads for her room, the room she shares with Pakhi. Pakhi reduces the volume of the television and says, "about time you finished sorting dinner for bhai. Why did you take so long?" Kalpi's response is just a smile. Teasing, Pakhi asks, "so did you guys decide on your wedding date?" Kalpi turns red, embarrassed and says, "stop teasing me. I am not doing anything different. Nothing has changed." Snorting as Kalpi kalpi changes, Pakhi says teasingly, "well I am sure that once upon a time your heart used to not race as it does now whenever you are near bhai... And I don't think bhai used to have you by his side ever chance he could. Do you think his heart races too." Blushing, Kalpi turns towards her, about to speak, when Pakhi exclaims, "oh gosh and I forgot your ever pink shade... Gosh Kalpi you always blush."


Too embarrassed Kalpi says nothing, instead gets into bed. Pakhi watches this with a frown, says, "are you not going to meet bhai up in the terrace." Kalpi looks at her in surprise, saying, "you know!" Shrugging her shoulders, Pakhi adds, "duh, who do you think set it up. When you come back tell me if you liked my decorations." Fluffing her pillow, Kalpi says, "I am not going." Snorting in disbelief Pakhi says, "yea right and this time don't return my brother's gift. He has a drawer full of the gifts you have returned."

Aghast that Pakhi would think that she rejected the gifts, Kalpi's eyes tear a little as she says, "I don't..." Using the universal gesture to stop Kalpi from continuing, Pakhi says, " I know it is not you. Once I overheard Kamla insist you return Ragav's gift. So it is cool." Embarrassed and wanting to defend her mother's decision, Kalpi says, "aai just means well and she is right I should not accept expensive gifts from Ragav or anyone." Pakhi looks at Kalpi and says, "oh really... And who else gives you expensive gifts. I have never seen you return aai and baba's gift. So why return Ragav's?"


Kalpi watches Pakhi get out of bed, surprised Kalpi asks, "where are you going?" Pakhi looks at her comically and says, "am off to keep Kamla maa occupied so you better hurry... and don't take too long... Fifteen minutes max."


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Ragav waits anxiously on the terrace wondering if Kalpi will come... Whispering, "please come... Please..." "You came," Ragav calls out, "I am glad." Looking at his watch, he says softly as he watches here all nervously towards him, "perfect timing. It is midnight. Come let's cut your cake." Too nervous to say anything, Kalpi allows Ragav to lead. Smiling shyly Kalpi blows the candle on the cup cake, cutting a small slice as Ragav softly sings happy birthday.

Kalpi looks around the table anxiously, thinking with a heavy heart that she would have to refuse his gift, seeing no wrapped gift on the table or in his hands, she looks at Ragav in surprise. Teasingly Ragav says, "I decided no presents this time. I mean what is the use you will return it."


Feeling a sense of disappointment Kalpi looks at Ragav in surprise. Confused she watches him smile, thinking, "why am I disappointed? He is right. I always return the gift." Reading the conflicted emotions in her expressive eyes Ragav chuckles and says, "you cannot return my gift this time."


He takes a step towards her, unbuttoning his shirt in the process. Her eyes wide and bright, she watches him in disbelief, thinking, "omg. What is he doing. Omg is aai right." Panicking deep down, she takes a step away from him for every step he takes towards her until her back bumps into the wall. Ragav stands before Kalpi, his shirt unbuttoned and untucked. Smiling he says softly, "open your eyes." Her heart hammering away, she slowly opens her eyes. Her nervous gaze meets his, sensing the passion lurking in his eyes, she swallows nervously. Ragav looks at her with a mixture of understanding and passion. He slowly raises her hand and places it on his chest, just where his heart lay. Heart racing as skin touches skin, Kalpi anxiously looks at her hand. Automatically her fingers caress the tatoo on his chest.


He leans forward as her fingers graze his chest and whispers, "you are my world." Overwhelmed by the emotion she feels for him, she asks hoarsely, "did it hurt?" Ragav whispers, "why, are you going to kiss it better." Startled, she snatches her hand away as if burnt and looks into eyes that no longer hide his passion... His desire for her. His gaze focused on her lips, he leans forward... Kalpi closes her eyes... Their lips meet for their first kiss. Sensing his passions running out of control, his body trembling with pent up desire, he whispers, "I think you should leave."

P.S: tell me... Did you like it... Gosh I couldn't sleep... Had to write it out... Goodnight...mwah!