Sorry guys for not responding to comments. Typing away from the phone and it can be quite cumbersome.
Thank you for loving the ragna moments... Lol you can see the influence salman khan plays in this short story... Love him to bits 😳 😆
Chapter 2
Morning sees an excited Pakhi prancing around the dining table, hugging everyone as they wish her a happy birthday... behind her follows a more staid person, Kalpi, who quietly accepts the good wishes with a hug and smile.
Neetu and Kamla rush out of the kitchen in excitement, wanting to wish the birthday girls. Kamla stops at the entrance of the kitchen, soaking in the glow of happiness in Kalpi's face. She sends a quick prayer to God that her daughter always be this happy. Smiling, she watches the Singhanias interact with Kalpi like she is their very own. Walking towards them, she freezes, her smile falters as she watches Ragav whisper something to Kalpi.
Watching the joyous interaction in front of her, Kamla no longer feels the happiness and contentment she had just moments ago. Her memories race to another day... Kalpi and Pakhi's seventeenth birthday... a day that pulled the rug under her feet... opening her eyes and life demanding that she wake up.
A year ago... similar celebrations were going on... two family that looked like one to the world... Kamla rushes up the stairs wanting to share the good news with Neetu that Kalpi's father had at last agreed that Kalpi may join Pakhi to study at the London University. Happy, she reaches the Neetu's bedroom, only to overhear an ongoing argument between Neetu and Sahil.
"Do you hear yourself?" Sahil says angrily, "you want me to make your maid's daughter your bahu! Is this some kind of a sick joke?" "But...", Neetu tries to respond, only to be harshly interrupted. "Do you have any idea how our business contacts, our society friends will react? Are you trying to destroy me? My business? Do you want to commit financial suicide?" Sahil yells angrily, "I, who has won the businessman award every year for the past five years... a maid's daughter for a bahu!" "Sahil try to understand..." Neetu tries to explain. "I don't give a rats ass if Ragav has feelings for her. I am grooming him to take my place and you really thing your maid's daughter by his side as his wife... How dare you not nip this in the bud!" Sahil lashes out.
He looks at Neetu menacingly, forcing himself to keep calm, says, "Look all this affection and interaction with Jhadav's is fine as long as it is in the house. Get one thing straight. Ragav can sleep with her, but marry her... No...No." shaking his finger at Neetu as he says it. Neetu watches on in shocked silence never expecting to hear her husband, who treats Kalpi like a daughter, who has a daughter of the same age would be so casual about... She closes her eyes as she shuts her mind, refusing to even think it. Opening her eyes, she silently watches Sahil head for the door when he stops and turns, saying, "I am working on a merger with Mr Kapoor that may happen through a marriage alliance." Neetu asks, "Does Ragav know?" Sahil replies, "No he does not. He will only know should the merger materialise. Is that understood?" Neetu looks at him helplessly and nods in agreement as she makes a silent promise to herself, "My son will marry the woman he loves. I will make it happen."
Smiling Neetu walks up to Kamla and says, "Don't tell me these tears are because your Kalpi is not officially an adult... no longer a child." Kamla looks at Neetu in confusion for several seconds as the words sink in. Smiling she says "Yes Kalpi is all grown up now... Pakhi too." Both mothers watch their girls talking and laughing away together when Neetu says, "Will Vithal not reconsider his decision..." Interrupting her, Kamla says firmly, "No. Vithal is adamant that Kalpi go to a local university.
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Neetu barges into her home and rushes to sit on the satee, saying, "I am exhausted. I need a holiday to recover from this holiday." pakhi frowns as she drags her mothers bags, saying, "mum! we were gone for three days... what did you pack?" "Don't be silly Pakhi. Your father's things are also there," Neetu says pointedly.
Sammy walks past Pakhi, whistling away, carrying a light duffle bag. Pakhi calls out, "Sam help me." Chuckling, he continues walking away, turns and says, "not in this lifetime, brat." Ragav who is behind her says, "here give me the bag and take mine." Smiling Pakhi and Ragav swap the bags, gives him a quick hug, saying, "love you bhai."
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Kamla looks towards Kalpi anxiously, thanking God that the birthday celebration vacation was over, thinking, "now Kalpi has no reason to be around Ragav. Oh gosh, she and Pakhi have a three month vacation before university starts... How do I keep her away from Singhania home?" "Kalpi beta," Kamla begins, "I was thinking. You know you have a three month holiday." Smiling Kalpi nods afirmatively, "yes aai." Kamla continues, "how about you join an office for some work experience? It might help you in your career." Hugging her mum, Kalpi says beamingly, "aai that is a wonderful idea. First thing tomorrow I shall work on it."
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Laughing at something Kamla said, Neetu turns towards Kalpi who is helping Pakhi clear the dinner table and says, "Kalpi this is not on." Giving a sly look towards Ragav she continues, "it has been over a week and not once have you come to visit me. You are only here today because I invited you over for dinner." Pakhi interrupts, "true Kalps. I am leaving in soon and you don't even have time for me." Flushing nervously Kalpi replies as she tries to ignore Ragav's presence, "no aunty. Pakhi. It is just that I have started working." Ragav says, "working?" Kalpi faces him, blushing, says, "work experience." Excited Pakhi asks, "where?" Kalpi replies, "Kapoor Investments. I am working on a project with Maya Kapoor."
Frowning Ragav looks at Neetu and asks with concern, "mum, what's wrong. Are you okay?" Not wanting Ragav to worry, Neetu says she is fine, then quickly excuses herself and heads for the kitchen. Staring out of the window, she wonders, "is this a joke? What is destiny playing at? Oh Ragav..." Kamla walks in disrupting Neetu's thought process.
"Mum, Kalpi is going to spend the night here... No Kalpi tomorrow is Saturdayso no excuses." Pakhi yells from the dining area.
Kamla rushes out, intending to make some excuse and refuse, when Pakhi runs to her, hugs her and says, "please Kamla maa. I shall be leaving soon and now that Kalpi is working she won't have time for me." Unable to refuse Pakhi, Kamla allows Kalpi to spend the night with a very heavy heart.
"Kamla I hope you will come over early tomorrow, we have lots to do," Neetu says. "What is special tomorrow?"Pakhi asks. Kamla smiles and says, "it is karva chauth."
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Kalpi and Pakhi prepare to go to bed when there is a soft tap on the door. Rolling her eyes, Pakhi says, "it is for you. Better open the door before Ragav gets into trouble." Blushing Kalpi rushes to open the door. Surprised to see Sammy, Pakhi snaps, "what do you want? Why are you here?" Grinning Sammy enters the room, and says in a sing song, "the moon is shining... The heart is beating..." Pakhi bursts out laughing, throws him a pillow while Kalpi blushes away. "Got your message loud and clear. Kalpi bhai is waiting for you on the terrace... Don't keep him waiting!"
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Staring out into the sky, Ragav asks, "so, will you allow me to break your fast?" Startled by the question, Kalpi stutters in nervousness, her heart racing away, she looks at him doe eyed, blushing whispers, "I am not your wife." Ragav looks at her and says, "are you saying that you are not going to fast for my long life?" Kalpi just stares at him, unable to answer.
Ragav grabs her hand and walks towards his room. Too stunned to react, Kalpi follows him quietly. Once they enter his room, he releases her arm and begins to look for something. Kalpi looks on in confusion. "Ah found it," Ragav says and walks towards her with a glint of determination in his eyes. Nervous and confused about what is going on, Kalpi subconciously steps away from him, until she bumps her back onto the full length mirror, all the while her gaze fixed onto his. He stops several inches away from her... Kalpi whose heart is racing, watches him intently, her mind in a daze, is not able to grasp what he is doing.
Ragav reading the confusion in her eyes, smiles and turns her to face the mirror. Still confused, she watches him through the mirror, Ragav gives a slight nod as he whispers, "look at yourself." Kalpi lowers her eyes and studies herself. Moments later confusion gives way to shock. Her fingers automatically trace her maang as her gaze looks at the red marker in his hand. Ragav leans in and whispers, "now?" Chocking with emotions, Kalpi tears slightly as she stares into his eyes.
Panicking deep down, Kalpi turns towards the mirror trying to rub away the red colour from her maang, saying, "Ragav are you crazy. What sort of joke is this? Filling the maang does not mean we are married. There is a lot more... Oh aai..." Grabbing the hand that is busy attempting to rub away his mark, he turns her, his gaze filled with determination and anger. He takes a torch out of his drawer, places it on the floor so that the rays fall on the ceiling and proceeds to take the pheras. Kalpi too stunned to react, follows him docilely. Once the pheras are complete, he takes the chain he wears from his neck and ties it around her neck and says defiantly, "done. Now we are married."
Goodnight
Edited by angelpureness - 10 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
