Chapter 3
Ragav looks at Kalpi, seeing her maang filled, he feels a sense of satisfaction. The anger he had kept at bay since he heard the words, "I am not your wife." Seeps out. Seeing the tears in her eyes as she whispers, "omg... What has he done... Omg what will I tell aai... Nobody will accept a marriage like this..." It dawns on him that he may have overreacted.
Ragav looks at her with guilt, his mind replaying a conversation he heard before leaving Shimla...
Sahil... "Neetu, dont think I am blind. I will not accept Kalpi as my daughter in law."
Neetu... "Sahil, he loves her..."
Shocked, Ragav had left not wanting to hear more of the conversation.
Shaking his head he looks at Kalpi and thinks, "I should not have allowed my fear of losing her to dictate my actions." He holds Kalpi by the shoulder and moves her towards the bed, using slight pressure to make her sit on the edge of the bed. He kneels before her, wipes her tears and says, "please let me explain myself." She looks at him for several seconds then nods affirmatively. Seeing the vulnerability in her eyes, Ragav mentally curses himself then says softly, "Kalpi this is just for us. It is me making a promise to you that one day we will marry. It is me asking you to have faith in me... To trust me... To believe in me... To never leave." As Ragav explains himself, his voice becomes filled with emotion. Caressing her cheek, he continues, "you are my world. I love you very much and I just want you to know that for me... In my heart... You are my wife."
Seeing the relief in her eyes as he explains away, he feels less guilt and relieved. Overwhelmed with emotions, Kalpi hugs him tight, her eyes brimming with renewed tears. Breaking the hug the hug, Ragav looks at her and says teasingly with a dramatic flair, "don't I get an I love you... Omg you don't love me... You don't consider me as your husband... Oh no what have I done..." Smiling as she blushes away, she lightly hits his chest and hides her face in his chest. Chuckling, Ragav hugs her tight, whispering, "I am not going to let you go until you tell me you love me." Hearing a mumble, Ragav immediately releases her, excitement in his eyes, says, "what did you say? Please repeat. I am dying to hear you say the words."
Blushing, with laughter in her eyes, she says teasingly "Too bad... you should have paid attention. Now you have no way of knowing if I said the words or if I said something else." Ragav drops himself on the ground making a gesture of his heart being pierced, says, "you will be the death of me." Watching her leave, he says, "you are lucky I know that you love me... Warna..." Grinning and blushing as her eyes shine with love for him, she leaves. Ragav shakes his head and says aloud, "how does she laugh and blush at the same time... Gosh she looks so hot when she blushes. It should be banned... Kalpana Ragav singhania, My wife... Sounds good. I like it."
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"Wake up... Pakhi! Kalpi!" Neetu says, "this is the last time. If you want to fast, come down and eat something. Otherwise you are not going to fast."
Setting the table, neetu looks up and smiles, saying, "about time. Pakhi stop yawning and get the food from the kitchen. Kalpi bring some drinks." Yawning widely, Pakhi shrugs her shoulders and slumps onto the chair, saying, "Kalpi please bring the food too."
Frowning, neetu watches Kalpi go into the kitchen and scolds Pakhi, "I am not happy with your behaviour. Go and assist Kalpi. Since when have I..." Pakhi interrupts her, "gosh mum. Stop scolding me. I have to go and wake bhai up, he texted me" and quickly calls Ragav from her mobile.
Neetu looks at Pakhi in surprise and thinks, "why am I surprised?" And says with false sterness, "go and help." Holding her hands up, Pakhi says, "yes your highness" and heads into the kitchen as Kalpi heads out.
The three of them begin to eat when Ragav and a sleepy Sammy come down the stairs. Neetu looks at them and says teasingly, "wow my boys are joining us for a very early breakfast. So are you just hungry or do you plan to fast."
Kalpi looks up from her plate I n surprise, her gaze meets Ragav's, blushing she looks back at her plate. Ragav looks at his mum, gives her a sheepish smile, goes up to her and embraces her from behind, his arms resting on her shoulders and says, "mum I thought long and hard. Every year you fast for dad. Nobody fasts for you. So I thought this year Sam and I should fast for your long life." "acha bachu," Neetu says with a sparkle in her eyes, twisting his ear, she continues, "you think you can fool your mother huh... Don't think I don't know who you are fasting for!" "My Sammy will fast for me," she turns towards Sammy and says, "Sam you will fast for your mother won't you?" The only response that came from Sammy was a loud snore causing everybody to burst out laughing.
The five of them converse merrily as they eat when All of a sudden Neetu freezes. Seeing a red mark near Kalpi's maang, she says, "Kalpi what is that... The red mark on your forehead?" Panicking, Kalpi rearranges her hair again to cover it and says, "it is nothing aunty", looks nervously around the table, her gaze meeting ragavs for a split second and continues, "I was playing with a marker and did not realise that the lid had fallen..." Pakhi shakes her head, intterupts her and says, "gosh Kalpi. You don't need to blush because you doodled your face." Sammy smirks at Pakhi and says, "true nothing to be embarrassed about... You should see the patterns Pakhi creates when she falls asleep while studying. We are used to it." Not believing her explanation or that of her children, she decides to let it be.
Ragav sensing his mother's gaze, steals a glance and blushes for he knows that his mother has a strong suspicion over the mark. Neetu watches her first born blush slightly, sadly she thinks, "he has obviously expressed his feeling to Kalpi and so has she. I need to convince Sahil to let go of his ego. His son's happiness should come first."
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Kalpi and Pakhi look around the garden beamingly, taking pride in their hard work. Watching friends and family interact as they wait for the moon sighting, Pakhi says, "Kalpi, we did an amazing job. Just love all the lights." "Excuse me," Sammy says as he walks up towards them, "bhai and I too deserve some credit." He turns to Kalpi and says, "we rocked it didn't we. Our flower decorations are way better then bhai and Pakhi's light deco. Admit it." Joining in the teasing, Kalpi says, "definitely, it goes without saying." Watching them give a high five, Pakhi frowns and says, "whatever!"
Kamla watches Kalpi, Pakhi and Sammy interact, she sends a quiet prayer of thanks to God that Ragav is not around Kalpi, her gaze nervously darting towards Sahil. She calls out, "girls come. The moon should be sighting any minute now."
Pakhi and Sammy share a conspiring look as they watch Kalpi join her mother. Pakhi joins them and says, "kamla maa. I don't want to be with the oldies. Kalpi and I will go to the terrace and watch the moon." Before Kamla maa can react, Pakhi grabs Kalpi and forcefully takes her away. Kamla watches them with a frown, when Neetu comes over and asks, "what is wrong Kamla?"
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Pakhi and Kalpi head for the terrace as Kalpi says, "why don't you want to join the others." Opening the terrace door, Pakhi replies, "just! Come we will have fun on the terrace." Walking ahead, Pakhi smiles and says, "delivered just as promised." Kalpi looks ahead wondering what is going on, freezes as she sees Ragav perched on the edge of the terrace, smiling as he thanks Pakhi. Hearing the door shut behind her, Kalpi turns around and watches in stunned silence as Sammy locks the door, smiling sheepishly as he walks towards them, saying, "so is the moon out yet, I am starving." Laughing Pakhi says, "puh leez... I saw you sneakily eating... Mum is not here, you can stop acting." Glaring at her, Sammy says, "ditto for you." Surprised, Kalpi says, "Pakhi you didn't fast. Why?" Teasing, she replies, "because my heart does not skip a beat for anyone. When it does I shall fast for him."
Blushing, Kalpi darts a glance towards Ragav, then looks away nervously as she realises that Ragav had set everything up so that he could break her fast. Her heart skipping a beat as she recalls last night. Ragav walks up to Kalpi, stops in front of her and says softly, "you can stop day dreaming now. The moon is out."
Startled at his nearness, she looks anxiously towards Sammy and Pakhi then back at Ragav... Staring at him... Unsure of herself. Smiling softly, Ragav caresses her cheek and whispers, "I am very hungry, wife." Blushing, Kalpi begins the final phase of the age old tradition of praying for her husband's long life. Her eyes fills with love as she gazes at Ragav through the sieve.
Husband and wife complete their prayer for each other's longevity by breaking each other's fast. Neetu enters her room, seeing Sahil stare out of the window of their bedroom, she says, "hunny the moon is out." Getting no response from him, she wonders what has caught his attention as he looks out towards the sky. Walking up to the window, she stands by his side and sees Ragav and Kalpi feed one another. Gulping nervously she turns towards a seething Sahil. He glares and says, "this is your fault. I hold you responsible" and her and walks out of the room, ignoring her as she calls out, "sahil... Sahil."
Tears falling from her eyes,she looks back towards the terrace, reading the happiness in her son's expression as he hugs his love. She thinks sadly, "i am sorry hunny, in this I will support my son." Hearing the screech of tires, she looks down towards the driveway and realises with a heavy heart that Sahil had left without breaking her fast. With a heavy heart Neetu realises that in his anger he had forgotten to break her fast, a first for him.
Edited by angelpureness - 10 years ago
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