Celebration of Fates: RagNa FF, Part-23, Pg-147, 30/07 - Page 56

PART-15

The morning of next day- Monday saw Kalpi's eyes fixed on that one gift which she had fervently wished back then, she had never received. The photo-frame gifted by Raghav eight years ago before they had parted their ways forever. Not that they were together before as far as Kalpi's viewpoint was concerned; but they still were connected as long as her memory went. That photo-frame had signified the moment when she had thought Raghav and Kalpana have separated their ways for their own greater good, never to return again in each other's lives. Though she had known Raghav's inherent nature to see himself winning at all costs and in all situations; she had far underestimated her own fear of Raghav succeeding in fulfilling his promise. "But then, I always had upper hand didn't I, in beating him in our small and big competitions? I was always at par with him or ahead of him; never behind him. I never lost to him; maybe I was too confident on myself this time" Kalpi thought, picking up the photo-frame from the bed-side table in her and Kamla's bedroom. Her Aai had insisted to keep it there, "you'll be reminded not only of your professional goals by this but also of your old friendship, or more likely subconscious dream of friendship with him. You accept it or not beta, but you have always followed Raghav in every sphere of your life from studies to now career. Since the time you were a little child, I remember you being excited to see your Raghav friend and then turning your excitement into unexplained disliking for him. You have always wanted his friendship; this is a golden opportunity to fulfill both your dreams. Keep it there; and just like you go to sleep and wake up by giving a look to your aims and dreams, give a look to this too". Against her will Kalpi was forced to find this hidden and buried photo-frame of memories by Kamla. "Raghav had brought this gift with so much love for me and I am sure for you also. Do not disrespect it my child" Kamla had insisted earlier, leaving Kalpi with no option but to obey her.

"Eesh, I wonder why does my own Aai support Raghav so much; and what dream? Is Aai right about my dream of Raghav's friendship? I trust Aai, but..." Kalpana frowned now as she looked at Raghav's hand on her arm in the photo and remembered that other hidden one was at her waist during that photoshoot. She blushed, but failed to let go of those hurting memories again, which had supposedly broken her trust in her biggest enemy but the most trustworthy enemy then. She went back to recollecting Raghav's promise to return in her life all those years ago: -

"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?" He had forcefully handed Kalpi this gift "and don't forget where you keep 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.

Sighing Kalpi kept the now "not empty" photo-frame back to where her Aai had instructed her to. "You are back Raghav, you fulfilled each promise. But then, why do I don't feel bad? The only feelings I experience are that of anger and extreme sadness, but why I feel my heart beating happily and jumping in joy when I see your face, when you, you touch me? It is all so discreet, but I have started to recognize the reason of that wildly beating heart at your sight, it is not nervousness of seeing you back again after so many years, or of you fulfilling your promise. It is as if my heart wants to be free and leap, leap in...don't know just leap somewhere, but in happiness".

"Damn, why am I so dumb? What have you done to me Raghav? I am such a mess.Aai was talking about my dreams, but since past one week I even forgot that habit, to remember my dreams before and after bed." she huffed and sat back at her bed, before forcing her limbs to sudden action as she looked at the watch and realized she was late for shooting.

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The office of Singhania Group of Companies saw a new guest that day- Sapna. She had received a call from Sammy in the morning fixing their meeting in his office around 11.30A.M. Sapna had arrived ten minutes before the scheduled time and was soon called in. After exchange of initial formalities, Sammy and Sapna started their discussions. She was now seated across the desk, opposite Sammy as he gave one more look to her resume.

Sammy: "Hmm, impressive I must say. You are Raghav's choice and I never doubt his choice. Nevertheless we'd had a look at some of your old commercials and I have to say that we are lucky to have founded you at such short notice".

Sapna smiled "Thank You Sir. It is my honour to work with Singhania Group of Companies and Mr.Raghav Singhania".

Sammy nodded his head and continued "So Sapna I am giving you a copy of the script and dialogues. I guess this would certainly help you in preparations". He handed over the said script to Sapna who wasked "Umm, Sir. Will I have to give audition also? I mean the director might find it appropriate".

"Oh No, there is no need for it now" Sammy smiled. "I had already sent your details, videos and resume to Mr.Roy our director early morning. He is quite satisfied with you, besides since Raghav personally is involved in it, your selection is final. You only have to relax and prepare yourself for the shooting. I think it would be day after tomorrow. Okay?"

"Okay Sir, thank you very much. I shall be taking your leave now" Sapna said extending her hand for handshake.

"My pleasure and I will see you again" Sammy said before seeing Sapna off till the lift as they did some more discussions.

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"I am sorry; can you please give me only ten minutes? I promise my takes shall not suffer after that" Kalpi requested her director Mr.Roy, her eyes pleading and hoping he would agree. Mr.Roy eyed her for a few seconds then letting out a deep breath he agreed. "Yes, I think that will be good. You solve whatever it is which is bothering you in this break. Actually make that half an hour break, better to give you more time now than waste later" he said and shouted for a cup of tea for himself. "Thank You Sir" Kalpi said and ran away to her vanity van.

Kalpi was alone inside and no one else including her makeup artists did not dare enter and disturb her in these ten minutes. Her legs came to a halt only infront of the mirror in the washroom of her vanity van. Her hands had tightly grabbed the washbasin for support, fearing she may lose out all her strength anytime, her breathings of nervousness which she had been trying so hard to hide since morning showing their true signs now. Her breaths were loud enough to echo in her own ears and she slowly raised her eyes to watch her rising and falling chest. By now even her mouth was open trying to take in some more oxygen from air and she tried to stop her eyes from crying. "What's happening to me? I cannot let him effect me so much that he is a threat to my dreams and passion" Kalpi thought, since past one hour she and Raghav were trying to give one okay shot of a very normal romantic scene. It was not intense, but still their proximity of the day before had Raghav affecting Kalpi very badly; and she could not simply focus. Scared of these new feelings which she was unable to fight anymore, for they were so real and intense. She could not simply ignore or bury them, when everything Raghav did or not did, contributed in uncovering the buried, undiscovered, yet always there- treasures of their true love and pure passion.

It was the scene where Raghav's character Ajit and Kalpi's character Ananya meet in a small party-cum-conference organized by Raghav's channel. They both were standing face-to-face in that party scene; the sets were dark enough to give the impression of late evening. Raghav was to call for a server, pick up a cold drink and offer it to Ananya (Kalpi's character) when one of the jealous girls (played by an extra) deliberately bumps into Ajit (Raghav's character) making the drink fall on Ananya's bare shoulders. Thereafter Raghav was to come closer to Kalpi, muttering sorry and cleaning her shouder with his own hands. It was to be done in a way that despite a hankey in his hand, his hand was to brush the bare skin of Kalpi's shoulder. But the moment Raghav stepped closer to Kalpi and extended his hand to touch her, the butterfies in her stomach gave way. She still remembered the currents she had felt the day before when he had touched her, her breathing stopped and the girl Kalpana overpowered the character Ananya. She always ended up doing one or other gaffe; either it was her forgotten dialogues & expressions or something else like taking a few steps back from Raghav. Unable to resist this embarrassing situation anymore, she had finally decided to give some time to compose herself. She'd ran straight to her van after taking the requisite time, while Raghav watched her rushing away, holding his chin in a thoughtful way. His eyes never left her even when she disappeared from his vision.

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But now was the time to remember the dream she had seen for herself, for her passion. Kalpi looked all around her, and then back again in the mirror as she got lost in the memories of the time when her mentor of late theatre days days had gifted this van to her. It was after Raghav and she had parted ways and Kalpi had managed to join a new theatre group along side doing modeling. She was so dedicated and talented that the owner of the theatre, a lady who was a businesswoman also "Mrs. Pathania" herself mentored Kalpi. Mrs. Pathania was always sure of Kalpi's success in the world of acting and was Kalpi's proud mentor.

When Kalpi had left the theatre for her first TV show in which she'd played one of the side characters, Mrs. Pathania had gifted this vanity van, saying "this will remind you of my blessings, and my belief in your success. Do well my child, and stay in touch". Till date Kalpi had never forgotten to take Mrs.Pathania's blessings on every occasion, but today she felt she had failed her proud mentor. The memory of her mentor broke the wall of tears and Kalpi broke down wailing alone in the washroom. "I, I am so sorry Ma'am, I failed you today. But, I cannot help it" she said aloud, "but I will do everything I can to win. I will not fail you". Thus, she wiped away her tears and gathering herself somewhat, looked at her sticky left shoulder which had taken in many small rounds of cold drinks. Fortunately her dress was still safe, but she had to get back to the shooting spot soon completely ready. "I will manage it this time, I will not let his proximity and my fears effect me this time", she thought and had put her hand under the running tap in order to clean himself when she saw someone holding her wrist and stopping her.

Kalpana turned her head and saw it was Raghav; he removed her hand from under the tap and put his own instead under it. She was afraid again, and remembered they were again alone and in a washroom. Seeing the hint of fear in her eyes, he touched her lips with one finger saying "Sssh, I am not going to eat you, hmm? We need to talk and I want you to quietly listen to me". He now stood right behind her, his one hand coming from behind her to hold the tap and other reserved to clean her shoulder with his bare hands. Their eyes met in the mirror and he saw her trembling frame at his closeness and her labored breathing; smirking a little he continued doing what he wanted to. The moment his hand touched her skin, he observed her taking in a deep breath and then freezing as she instantly closed her eyes. His hand was heating up her skin even with wet, cold water; and she partially admitted to herself, "I am not averse to his touch, in fact I like it. He makes me feel so good", "but, it is wrong; I shouldn't be feeling this right? How can I let him win; besides he was the one who had wronged me all those years back! How can I allow even myself to do this to me?"He continued caressing her shoulder, feeling her skin, watching it and also observing Kalpi's reactions, especially now when their bodies were almost touching. Kalpi was lost for a few seconds again in him, but his voice brought her out, first from her thoughts and then from the pleasure of his touch.

"I affect you, isn't it?" he asked from behind her and watched her face in the mirror. Kalpi had now opened her eyes but did not say a word for or against it; neither denying nor accepting, instead only lowered her head and eyes. Refusing to accept her defeat, which was a big thing for her still and Raghav gave a sarcastic smile, sighing a bit with the shake of his head. "My honeybee has her stings out still". He repeated his question again: never the one to give up; especially when despite her answer he wanted to show her he understood her well. "Kalpi..." Whispering in her ear, "I affect you isn't it?" he said, then gave one good look in the mirror to her figure hugging black corsette gown, which was showing off her assets too well. She had blushed on feeling his eyes on her body.

He cleaned her up and placed a kiss on the crook of her neck, brushing her shoulder and arms with his hands. She closed her eyes again on feeling his lips as shivers passed through her, which he felt against his own body. Sighing he brought his hands from her waist to her abdomen, and held her in his arms from behind, placing infinite soft kisses on her neck, back of ears and shoulders. "You need not answer me sweetheart; your body is more truthful than you. I always say this" he whispered against her other ear now and placed his chin on her bare right shoulder. Raghav had now closed his eyes as he let Kalpi's beautiful fragrance fill his nostrils and senses. This would certainly help him for some days he decided. "It's going to be tough; I am so addicted to you. I don't know why, but I certainly like you a lot my honeybee" he thought in his mind. He relaxed his body against hers and Kalpi could feel his hair tickling the back of her ears and neck; his nose was almost in her, in the crook of her neck and wherever he could feel her scent. Her chest was constricted now, as involuntarily now her own body relaxed and she let her peaceful breaths flow. She could not believe that his face and body resting against her was giving her such a beautiful feeling, which she knew when he will go would scare her more. But she really wanted to know what Mr.Unpredictable Singhania now was upto. He seemed different, his touches and kisses were still passionate, but their softness and he relaxing against her was making her heart do a loud thud-thud. Some unexplainable intuition was telling her something was definitely different about him. She would deal with her fears later on, take some more time to settle her wildly beating heart and fears, but her curiousity had taken over for now. Then she felt him caressing her gently with his lips; his head was still inside the crook of her neck. Without kissing Raghav sucked and caressed her neck and unknowingly loving the tickling feeling, Kalpana gave him more space by moving her head to the other side.

"I was saying, your body is more truthful than you sweetheart. Whether you say no, or yes; or ignore my question I know you get aroused by my touch" he placed more soft kisses on her right shoulder and neck, brushing her right arm and shoulder now. "But, it is time to give your body a short break" he said and Kalpi immediately opened her eyes, looking at his kissing face in the mirror now. He raised his head and looked at her startled eyes in the mirror and smirked. Turning her in his arms, he made her face him and tilting his head took in every minute detail of her face and made some distance between them to store the memory of her beautiful figure right from her bare shoulders, her cleavage to her toes in his memory. Kalpi felt Raghav taking her in his embrace as she was highly confused by now as to what he was doing. His hug signified something more than mere desire, something she could not understand what it was. But she felt protected this time in his hug and for the first time since his return and since their childhood acquaintance hugged him back in her complete senses, voluntarily. Letting in this unexplainable "protected feeling" take over her and gave a small smile. Startled to feel Kalpi hugging him back Raghav opened his eyes and saw Kalpi's expressions in the mirror; she had a gentle smile playing on her lips. Feeling happy and content, Raghav too smiled to himself and entered his head back in the crook of her neck. "At least I am taking the break on a good note" he sighed and felt joyous at the same time.

He tightened his hold on her and she did not mind, neither did she struggle this time nor flinched away from him. They remained like this for a few moments and Raghav imprinted this moment forever in his heart. He then raised her head which was on his chest with his fingers and cupping it gently said "I am giving you a small relief" and kissed on her right cheek; "Even though you should know that I am not too happy with this, and how difficult it is for me" and kissed sweetly on her left cheek this time, his lips always lingering on her skin for a few seconds more. They looked into each other's eyes and he kissed her both eyes one by one "but your success matters to me" he said. Proceeding to kiss her forehead he said "I'd promised you that if you'll ever be successful it would be because of me. There cannot be any other way to it". He kissed both temples of Kalpi one by one and added "how can I see you failing from yourself, from your fights and diverting from the path of achieving your dreams? Especially when somewhere I contribute in failing them; and as a result my promise to you remains unfulfilled".

By now Kalpi's doe-shaped eyes had widened even more, as she listened unblinking to her childhood enemy. "Was he actually saying he will not come close to me now for some time?" her puzzled mind thought but tossed the thought away. He gave her a lip-bite and shook his head "you still don't believe me right? You should atleast believe my promises; I fulfill them remember?" he asked and bent to kiss her chin. "Remember our second kiss honeybee?" he asked and Kalpi blushed with the memory, which only deepened when she felt his lips moving down her neck slowly, till her Adam's apple. Raghav was kissing her neck gently and sweetly and she had tightened her hold on his jacket. "Raghav" Kalpi whispered- her voice a mixture of moan and objection. "Ssshh, this is the last time I am kissing you like this before our short break!" he said silencing her as he kept a hand on her cheek.

"What? Do you really mean...?" Kalpi still asked anyway.

"Yes, I really mean it. Our closeness yesterday, our proximity affects you; whether you accept it or not. Your non-acceptance is only increasing your problems, and I need to do something about it. After yesterday, we HAVE come very close sweetheart. Do you really think a girl like you can allow a man she hated to the core, come so close to her?" He continued "Maybe we disliked each other since childhood, reasons of which neither of us could decipher. But, maybe we were never enemies; we just thought we are enemies. We did respect each other's boundaries and other things. Maybe there was a chance we could at least be friends Kalpi if not more? But you never let us give any chance- to either of us, or us, or our unexplained weird relation. You always believed what you wanted to, or maybe what others wanted you to believe. You let our only chance to mend our relation slip away and went on to believe a third person?"

"For God's sake, a third person Kalpana!" his voice was almost a shout, as for the first time in all these years he showed Kalpi a glimpse of his complaints and frustrations. For the first time since their childhood he used Kalpi's full name and she could not understand why it pricked her heart.She didn't interrupt Raghav because she was too dazed on seeing this different side of him, something she had never seen before. Raghav tightened his arms embrace around Kalpi's thin waist and pulled her closer to himself, leaving no airspace between them and she gulped on feeling him. His angry eyes roved each feature of her nervous face and said "don't you think Ms.Kalpana Jadhav you were a bit too unfair on not giving me even one chance to say anything? Don't you think you were a bit too harsh with someone whom you knew since you were a kid, whom you disliked but someone whom you knew well enough to insult me in front of so many people; my own people?"; "NO, you bloody damn didn't!" he said and kissed Kalpi angrily on her collar bone, sucking there for a long time releasing some of his anger. When he cooled down a bit, he realised he was only indulging in mindless and now useless blabber while Kalpi tried to handle this sadness on hearing her full name from Raghav.

Raghav had sighed then and said "The point is, we are too close for comfort, at last your mental comfort sweetheart; if not your, umm, physical comfort" he chuckled and Kalpi frowned, too irritated now by his sudden fluctuations.

"Thank God, you came to the point" she said annoyingly and this time struggled and freed herself from his grip. "Hmm, I know of one more point which is left" he said gazing at her lips and noticed her cheeks red with maybe anger. "Look, I would never want you to sway away from your goal at least because of me. I shall never be the reason of your failure and nor will I allow you to fail. YOU & YOUR SUCCESS ARE MY PROMISE; and my promises never fail honeybee. I know it is too much for you right now to take in all these sudden developments between us. This is not the right time for me to allow you to become nervous. If I am the reason of your bad reputation in the starting of your career, I will not come in your way. My proximity and touch affects you isn't it? So I promise we will not become intimate for some days; I will not kiss you, in this way at least!" Raghav promised Kalpi and she looked in his eyes surprised, dazed.

"Really? Do you mean it?" a ray of hope igniting in her that finally she can settle in and focus on her career. "Of course yes honeybee" Raghav said, then adding "Though it would be a damn difficult task to stay away from you!" He pouted a bit and lowered his head "I, I really like you and I am addicted to your sexiness" he said smirking and Kalpi huffed, while he enjoyed her reaction. "Though I don't promise I'll not kiss you on your cheeks or your lips" and Kalpi's eyes widened on hearing this. "What?" he asked seeing her reaction, "I am only human, what if I, umm, cannot control? And I do need something to live on these days" he winked leaving a tomto-red and embarrassed Kalpi. She muttered a low "squandrel" and he said "I heard that, anyways that doesn't matter. My daily morning gifts may continue in some form or other and little pranks too. Because I am certainly not letting you go fully, I can't leave your mind completely devoid of myself my honeybee". To himself he thought "after all I would not like it if I rule only your body. I want to prove you and your opinion of myself wrong, without changing myself for you; and yes, my promise to you IS IMPORTANT; whether you believe it or not. Your success is important."

"What? And "YOUR honeybee"? We don't even love each other!" Kalpi said horrified. "Hmm" Raghav didn't reply much to it, only frowning a bit because he did not have any definitive answer to this statement right now. "Anyway, like you know, I seal my promises with a kiss. So..." He took Kalpi in his arms again, touching her everywhere from shoulders to waist. "Oh no" she muttered; "Oh yes, it is a promise kiss!" he said. "Let me go" she hissed and struggled. "Well, I am, just after finishing this and sealing the promise" he said and took her lips in one long, gentle, passionate and full-mouthed kiss. Feeling both her petals, and pouring all his concerns for her in it, he knew she won't kiss him back though he did felt her body coming closer to him on her own, making him smile through the kiss.

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The rest of the day had passd on well for Kalpi, she was much relaxed now and had even completed the shot in one take after her break. The director and others had also heaved a sigh of relief, and they had a good idea that maybe Raghav Singhania was behind Kalpana's relaxed attitude. They all were chilling immediately after lunch when some media persons from a channel came for Raghav and Kalpana's joint interview. Both of them agreed and the reporters took different shots of them, asking them different questions. They had brought many fan-mails and gifts sent by some fans with them and Raghav-Kalpi had a good time going through them. Their show was a weekend show and aired only three times a week, but only in first week itself the show was not only the slot leader but also number one across all channels. "Congratulations Sir, ma'am; your show has garnered the highest TRPs across all channels. How do you feel?" they had asked.

"Well, it feels nice of course" Raghav said "as you know I was on a self-imposed break. So when I returned I wanted to do something different and eyecatching; and these days Television is much more eyecatching than films. I am elated on the show's success of course, it was a gamble I took and I am happy it paid off well". It was Kalpana's turn to speak and she said "This is my first show as a main lead and its success has certainly made me very happy. It feels good and different to get so much love and recogntion by viewers for your work. I only want to say thank you' for accepting me as Ananya. Keep loving both of us and our show in future also".

"You both have been off screen fondly named as Ragna by fans, they say your chemistry and you are just as beautifully musical as you both yourselves are. Any comments to this?" the reporter said and Kalpi looked towards Raghav who was giving her a discreet naughty smile.

"Umm, what do we say, all I can think of is Thank You, Thanks a lot viewers. Without your love we are nothing. I am sure even Raghav would agree with me, right?" Kalpi said turning towards Raghav who agreed with her. "Yup, she is right. Thanks a lot from both of us to all of you".

"One last request, can you please pose together for our viewers, a romantic one if possible?" Kalpi's eyes had widened slightly at this and Raghav had chuckled internally. "Ya, sure" and he had slipped his arm on Kalpi's waist to give her a side hug and pulled her towards himself. Her breathing had again stopped but outwardly she'd given a good, romantic smile, thinking it is all a part of work. As soon the media persons had left she'd bid bye to Raghav saying "I am going back to my van".

POSSIBLE GLIMPSES OF NEXT UPDATE: Gauri and Kalpana phone conversation, Advertisement shooting, Party for good TRPs.

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.

PART-16