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Chapter 36
Kalpi looks at the wall clock in the guest room. The clock reads a quarter past eleven... She gulps nervously, thinking, "oh no. It is getting late. I will have to leave soon."... Steals a glance towards Maya who is fighting with herself to stay awake... She looks to her hands... Hands that are rythmatically massaging Maya's swollen feet. Hearing a soft knock on the door, Kalpi jerks up, startled by the intrusion in the silence and anxious as she wonders if Ragav has come to get her. She looks to the door, thinking, "I am not ready... Oh no... To share a room, a bed... I am not ready."
Ragav walks in... Seeing the near panic in Kalpi's eyes, he hesitstes momentarily... Takes a deep breath and continues walking in. Sitting on the other side of the bed he asks Maya, "how are you feeling?" Maya tries not laugh, thinking, "about time your patience gave way..." Says, "Kalpi is an absolute doll..." Turns to Kalpi and adds, "young lady you have magical fingers" then turns to Ragav and says in a teasing manner, "you have to get her to massage you..." Reading the warning look Ragav gives her, Maya laughs, turns to a blushing Kalpi and says, "Ragav's weak points are his back and shoulders..." Turns to Ragav and says innocently, "you must have lots of tension knots on you back and shoulders."
Kalpi looks at Maya, no longer as brave as she was earlier when she rejected the idea to bunk with Maya... her eyes unconsciously pleading, "please... Please..." Maya looks away, yawns falsely, says, "I don't know about you guys, but I am beat." Ragav smiles and says, "of course." Gets up, hesitstes, looks at Kalpi. He sighs softly, searching her gaze...aware that Kalpi is not ready to share his bed... He clears his throat and says softly, "Kalpi I think you should stay the night here... With Maya. Umm... She might need assistance... New surroundings and all." Maya frowns hearing this, "thinking what the hell... the delay will only let her fears grow... But wisely remains silent.
Kalpi breaks into a radiant smile, relief seeping into her eyes as she processes Ragav's words. Ragav looks on happily as he watches her smile in relief... No regrets over his suggestion that they sleep separately tonight.
***************
Ragav lies on his back... Staring at the ceiling... His arms crossed and resting on is forehead... Unable to sleep. Hearing the door click open, he turns. His heart still... The moonlight showers its rays across the room... Caressing the intruders body... Ragav watches Kalpi walk quietly into the room. He calls out in a husky voice, "is everything okay?" Kalpi freezes, startled from hearing his voice, wondering how he knew it was her in the dark.
Feigning calmness, Kalpi says, "yes everything is okay." Ragav watches in silent confusion as she heads to the cupboard and takes something out... Then for the bathroom. Sighing in relief, Ragav thinks, "oh she has just come to change into her night clothes."
Kalpi stares into the mirror, overcome with nervousness and shyness. Closing her eyes she tells herself, "I can do this. I can walk across the room and climb into his bed." Opens her eyes, ignores the butterflies in her stomach and says with determination, "I can do this."
Ragav watches in shock as Kalpi strides across the room and slips under the bedcovers and says, "good night." Ragav turns towards her... Her back facing him. Shutting his eyes, he says in a smiling voice, "good nite."
Moments later Ragav says in frustration, "stop fidgeting around and go to sleep." Kalpi turns towards him and says, "I cant." He opens his eyes, studies her for a moment. He rolls onto her, using his body to trap her. She watches him silently, her heart racing, too shocked to react. With a free hand he traces the contours of her face, slowly inching closer until their lips meet. He kisses her fleetingly at first, before passion takes over. Moments later both stare at one another breathless. He rolls off her, places an arm on her waist and pulls her into the curve of his body... Their bodies touching... Chest to back... Let's to legs. Closing his eyes, he whispers... Ticking the back of her neck, "go to sleep." Kalpi closes her eyes... anxiety... Nervousness all gone and falls asleep in his arms.
Kalpi looks at the wall clock in the guest room. The clock reads a quarter past eleven... She gulps nervously, thinking, "oh no. It is getting late. I will have to leave soon."... Steals a glance towards Maya who is fighting with herself to stay awake... She looks to her hands... Hands that are rythmatically massaging Maya's swollen feet. Hearing a soft knock on the door, Kalpi jerks up, startled by the intrusion in the silence and anxious as she wonders if Ragav has come to get her. She looks to the door, thinking, "I am not ready... Oh no... To share a room, a bed... I am not ready."
Ragav walks in... Seeing the near panic in Kalpi's eyes, he hesitstes momentarily... Takes a deep breath and continues walking in. Sitting on the other side of the bed he asks Maya, "how are you feeling?" Maya tries not laugh, thinking, "about time your patience gave way..." Says, "Kalpi is an absolute doll..." Turns to Kalpi and adds, "young lady you have magical fingers" then turns to Ragav and says in a teasing manner, "you have to get her to massage you..." Reading the warning look Ragav gives her, Maya laughs, turns to a blushing Kalpi and says, "Ragav's weak points are his back and shoulders..." Turns to Ragav and says innocently, "you must have lots of tension knots on you back and shoulders."
Kalpi looks at Maya, no longer as brave as she was earlier when she rejected the idea to bunk with Maya... her eyes unconsciously pleading, "please... Please..." Maya looks away, yawns falsely, says, "I don't know about you guys, but I am beat." Ragav smiles and says, "of course." Gets up, hesitstes, looks at Kalpi. He sighs softly, searching her gaze...aware that Kalpi is not ready to share his bed... He clears his throat and says softly, "Kalpi I think you should stay the night here... With Maya. Umm... She might need assistance... New surroundings and all." Maya frowns hearing this, "thinking what the hell... the delay will only let her fears grow... But wisely remains silent.
Kalpi breaks into a radiant smile, relief seeping into her eyes as she processes Ragav's words. Ragav looks on happily as he watches her smile in relief... No regrets over his suggestion that they sleep separately tonight.
Maya watches Ragav walk out with a frown... Not at all happy. Waiting impatiently... Hearing the door click shut... She attacks... "Kalpi I thought you came because you want to work on your relationship with Ragav... Your marriage," Maya says in a hurt voice. Kalpi sits silently for a moment, recollecting Ragav's words in the study... To keep things just between them and to be mindful of Maya's condition. She looks at Maya and says, "yes I have come..." Stops, finding it difficult to continue... She takes a deep breath and focusing her energies on sounding convincing... She begins again, "I have come with the intention on working on our marriage... I... I love... I... I..." Maya interrupts, "then why did you agree to his absurd idea... To sleep separately."
Kalpi looks away... Then down at her hands... Then at Maya... Maya freezes as she sees the hurt... The fear lurking in her eyes and whispers, "you are afraid... What are you afraid of?" Her eyes moistening with unshed tears, Kalpi says simply, "what if he hurts me again? What if he decides to use me again to hurt my mother? What if..." Maya goes up to her, hugs her tight... Then releases her. Wiping her tears, Maya says, "I give you my guarantee it will never happen... Kalpi there is so much you don't know... You don't understand what you mean to Ragav..." Maya stops herself, takes deep breaths...needing to regain control of her emotions... annoyed, Kalpi says, "are you suggesting I forgive him." Aghast, Maya retorts, "hell no! I would say bring him to his knees... If he is not already there."
"Look, I understand you are nervous... This is all quite overwhelming and it can quite daunting to suddenly share a room, bed... Life with someone who has hurt you. I know you cannot forget what he did... And you shouldn't... All I am saying is... Give him the opportunity to be the salve for the wounds he gave you... It is my gut instinct you won't regret it." Maya looks at her pleadingly, thinking, "please... Please... There is so much you need to know... But I need reassurances that your intentions are good... That you have not come with the intention to hurt Ragav... I have seen him suffer... I can never forget how he broke down when he thought you were no more. Oh Kalpi why am I not so sure... What are you hiding."
"It is not that... I am scared that I will fall into his arms easily... He makes me forget myself," Kalpi ends blushing. Relieved, Maya smiles, thinking, "oh you are so cute... You are worried you will forgive him easily... With everything that has happened you love him dearly... I bet you want him to love you as deeply... I shall wait for the right time to tell you all." and says, "well he is a charmer, but you are not doing yourself or him any favours by creating barriers."
Taking a deep breath, Kalpi says, "you are right. I should face the bull by its horns... Goodnight." Not wanting to let her fears take control, Kalpi leaves the room quickly and heads for Ragav's room... No her room she corrects herself mentally... When her heart whispers, "our room."
***************
Ragav lies on his back... Staring at the ceiling... His arms crossed and resting on is forehead... Unable to sleep. Hearing the door click open, he turns. His heart still... The moonlight showers its rays across the room... Caressing the intruders body... Ragav watches Kalpi walk quietly into the room. He calls out in a husky voice, "is everything okay?" Kalpi freezes, startled from hearing his voice, wondering how he knew it was her in the dark.
Feigning calmness, Kalpi says, "yes everything is okay." Ragav watches in silent confusion as she heads to the cupboard and takes something out... Then for the bathroom. Sighing in relief, Ragav thinks, "oh she has just come to change into her night clothes."
Kalpi stares into the mirror, overcome with nervousness and shyness. Closing her eyes she tells herself, "I can do this. I can walk across the room and climb into his bed." Opens her eyes, ignores the butterflies in her stomach and says with determination, "I can do this."
Ragav watches in shock as Kalpi strides across the room and slips under the bedcovers and says, "good night." Ragav turns towards her... Her back facing him. Shutting his eyes, he says in a smiling voice, "good nite."
Moments later Ragav says in frustration, "stop fidgeting around and go to sleep." Kalpi turns towards him and says, "I cant." He opens his eyes, studies her for a moment. He rolls onto her, using his body to trap her. She watches him silently, her heart racing, too shocked to react. With a free hand he traces the contours of her face, slowly inching closer until their lips meet. He kisses her fleetingly at first, before passion takes over. Moments later both stare at one another breathless. He rolls off her, places an arm on her waist and pulls her into the curve of his body... Their bodies touching... Chest to back... Let's to legs. Closing his eyes, he whispers... Ticking the back of her neck, "go to sleep." Kalpi closes her eyes... anxiety... Nervousness all gone and falls asleep in his arms.
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