THREAD-2: The Marriage Story: Ragna FF, Part-29, Pg-40, 20/04/16 - Page 15

PART-27

It was after lunchtime that Raghav and Kalpi had left their bunglaw to look around the property. Their conference on Prem was quite satisfactory to all of their minds and Kalpi had turned out to be an important participant as well. "Raghav, do you think you should keep some supporting plans also as far as Prem is concerned? He will do all he can to save their company and properties. Shouldn't we keep a closer watch on him, just so we are abreast of his moves?" Kalpi had suggested, her big doe-shaped eyes carrying a questioning look. At that moment Raghav had felt very proud to have Kalpana as the love of his life. He pressed Kalpi's hand and agreed with her "I agree with you Kalpi. We should think of something else too." Raghav had then made a call to someone in Canada. When his call was over, Raghav found curious faces of Sammy & Maya on laptop screen and of Kalpana next to him. He smiled and showed a "thumbs-up" sign to all. "Done, let's hope it helps us" Raghav had said and sighed.

"We will be successful Raghav, we will be" Kalpana assured Raghav and he smiled gratefully at her. "We will, because now you are with me" Raghav had said.

But now Raghav and Kalpana were back in their own little world, where Raghav was showing the farmhouse to Kalpi. Spread over Six acres of land, Raghav took his own sweet time to show over the property to Kalpana. He was living the dream of his life with his wife, smiling heartily each and every second on seeing a childlike and excited Kalpi. It was a vast area and Raghav had taken their car along to drive to far-end corners. Leaving the car on the road-sides, just along the farms Raghav and Kalpi had together inspected each farm and garden of their farmhouse. Kalpi was excited to see many different vegetables and cereals growing on their farmlands, and that too completely organically. Raghav had told Kalpi that most of the edible items grown on their land was sent not only to Singhania Mansion but also distributed equally amongst the employees taking care of their farmhouse in a reasonable proportion. Kalpi was proud of Raghav and had hugged him tight which he'd reciprocated very gladly.

Finally they'd settled down in the rose garden under the shades of a tree as Kalpi settled her head on her husband's shoulder and Raghav wrapped his arms around Kalpi. As Raghav too rested his head on Kalpi's head, he went on to cherish and remember how after so many days he'd eaten food cooked by Kalpi. It was just after they'd finished video-conferencing with Sammy and Maya that Kalpi had gone to the kitchen to cook food for her husband. She was looking forward to pamper Raghav through her food. How she'd missed cooking for Raghav; missed the expression of satisfaction on Raghav's face as he relished everything cooked by her. Kalpi had missed Raghav's complements on her cooking. Kalpi knew it was the warmth and love in the food cooked by her which Raghav cherished the most. For someone who'd lived all his life without a family of his own, the feeling that someone cares for him, cooks for him not out of duty but out of love was very precious to Raghav. Kalpi knew this and thus whenever she could, she cooked for him. Wanting to heal some of Raghav's wounds by her love, Kalpana was truly Raghav's life. In afternoon the same desires had made Kalpi to go in search of all the cooks in the home. She'd found some ladies cooking in traditional Indian style kitchen, preparing some fresh, local dishes.

Kalpi was excited and after some difficulty she'd soon picked up the art of cooking on the "chulha". The ladies had told Kalpana about their own domesticated cows in the farmhouse and Kalpi was impressed. With their help Kalpi had prepared lunch in no time. As lunch was served Kalpi herself had taken some dishes to the table and found an anxiously awaiting and widely smiling Raghav. He'd sneaked on to check how Kalpi was doing in the kitchen and was thoroughly pleased with the sight in front of him. Standing quietly he'd observed the love with which Kalpi was cooking for him and wiping away some happy tears, he'd gone back inside. They had a quiet lunch, with Raghav ordering everyone to come only after their lunch was over. They'd fed each other talking through eyes, letting just those moments converse.

But it was evening now as they sat in the rose garden and Raghav had special plans. He made a call and whispered in Kalpi's ears "Kalpi, I want to show you something else too." She'd raised her head and her shining eyes had agreed instantly to wherever Raghav wanted to take her. They'd reached another part of the farmhouse; it was an artificial man-made lake, specifically made for Raghav Singhania's farmhouse. Surrounded with trees, ferns and greenery as birds chirped away in the approaching sunset Kalpi thought she was in heaven. "Oh Raghav this is so beautiful. We should come here more often, at least once a month" she said and Raghav chuckled. "I knew you'd like it jaan" Raghav said hugging Kalpi from behind, nuzzling in her neck and kissed behind her ear. "There's more" he whispered and broke their hug, but continued holding Kalpi from side. "Switch them on now" he said making a phone-call to someone and soon the place was alight with multi-coloured lights.

Kalpi gasped and saw an open tent especially placed near the lake, with a table set for two people. The tent and trees were decorated with flowers and bulbs giving the surroundings an ethereal look. Seeing Kalpi's reaction Raghav smiled and held her hand. Gently leading Kalpi on to the table Raghav pulled out the chair for her. After making sure Kalpi was comfortably seated, he went on to sit on his own chair and took the warmth of his wife's hand in his own hands again. But before that he clapped twice and soon some servers emerged bringing cold-drink and light snacks for them. Kalpi looked on to everything in amazement and happy tears in her eyes. All this looked like a dream and all she could do was look into immensely affectionate eyes of her husband. Feeling overwhelmed after everyone left, she got up and kissed Raghav on his cheek saying "Thank You, this is the most beautiful surprise I have ever received." Raghav pecked on Kalpi's lips.He smirked and told her, "No mention my love. This is to us, for us and for our first date. I succeeded at last to go on a date with you" Raghav finished with a naughty lip-bite. Kalpi's eyes had widened and she smacked him lightly on the arm.

"You mean to say I don't know how to romance with my husband?" Kalpi asked and Raghav's lips curved up in smile. "Trust me, I can makeup for us both in pleasure and romance department even if you don't do anything" Raghav said in a husky, low voice and winked. He grinned more satisfactorily on seeing tomato-red cheeks of Kalpi whose eyes were now downcast as she muttered "shameless" under her breath blushingly. "This is just one of those things Mrs.Singhania. I thought it was about time just the two of us enjoy a perfect date together. Look no hard drinks, only mangoe juice" and handed over Kalpi's juice to her. Kalpi smiled "perfect, yes. With you any place is perfect for me" she said. "And now it's even better" Kalpi said as she placed two straws and shared one glass of juice with Raghav.

"I like this, you are perfect" Raghav said happily as they sat face to face drinking juice from one glass. Lost in one another for the rest of the evening, Raghav and Kalpi were in their own world. For two days they both chose to forget rest of the world and the obstacles in their path. It was their dream-world, and they both were living it. Raghav had deliberately switched his cell off, cutting himself from every other living being other than his wife. Whereas Kalpi had kept her cell on for her Aai and Baba but that too was on vibration mode. Though, with Raghav by her side the thought of everyone else never crossed her mind. Her small purse buzzed with some phone calls but Kalpi didn't notice anything other than Raghav that day. All that mattered was that she was with her husband after a long time, living with him under the same roof, same greens after weeks. No one came in-between them that day even as other than Vitthal and Sonal, Pakhi too tried reaching out to Kalpi. The number of Pakhi's missed calls on Kalpana's number being- "seven" to be precise.

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She was tired and had a bad backache after a tiring day of cleaning every nook and corner of some V.V.I.P. rooms of the hotel. "Even my head is aching now" laying down on her bed, Pakhi thought as she rubbed her temples more out of frustration than any other reason. In the frenzy to prove her love to Raghav, Pakhi had accepted doing the unimaginable, a job in house-keeping. "Raghav loves honest, hard-working and self-made people. Kalpana too had the same qualities" Pakhi was wondering as she took a short trip down the memory lane. "I'd thought Raghav would respect my efforts and intentions of doing something myself. It would have even helped me to make him believe that I am interested in only his love" Pakhi had chuckled mentally. She sat up now, took out Raghav's photo from under her pillow and traced her fingers from his cheekbones to his lips and jaws.

"Hello Sexy" Pakhi talked to Raghav's photo. "Do you believe me now? Do you trust the truth of my immense love for you now? You now understand me right? That I want only you and your love?" she conversed with tear-filled eyes. Then smiled, "I hope so, it is good if you believe, in ME! This is the only thing I want Raghav, you and your trust, love. Sachchi" she continued pinching the skin of her Adam's apple.

"Hmm, with you, your status and property would automatically come to me na Mr.Sexy" she laughed in a low sound. "But I am very angry with you Mr.Husband. Why don't you forget her completely huh? Why don't you see me the way you used to see her? Why don't you kiss me like the way you kissed her? Why don't you share anything with me? You didn't even tell me about your tour, had I not called Sammy I wouldn't have known" Pakhi fumed and threw Raghav's pic in anger on the bed. "And Kalpi,what about her? I know she is married, but to whom? Who saved her and her family's honour? Why doesn't she live with him? Even she didn't answer my calls today. I wonder if she had come to office today or..." Pakhi's baffled mind was running to find some answers to her questions. It was her failed attempts to reach both Raghav and Kalpana that were the cause of her mind working on super-sonic speed. Till now she'd taken the information that Kalpi was married lightly, the fact that she was living separately from her husband was enough to tell her that all was not well in Kalpana's relationship with her husband. But Pakhi's curiousity was slowly arising to know at least name of Kalpana's husband now. "Hmm, I will have to look out on her or inquire about it" she finished her thought process satisfactorily.

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Maya watched Sammy pacing restlessly in his living room. It was evening and after office the duo had decided to meet at Sammy's home. "It is enough Sam, do not think too much into it" Maya uttered finally, frowning to see Sammy so worried.

"Then what should I do Maya? Raghav was right, now I understand why he wants to keep her away from Kalpana Bhabhi. She cannot be trusted. Today for the first time I noticed an abnormal streak in her tone and voice when she'd called me to ask about Raghav" Sammy replied to Maya, getting lost again in the moment earlier in the day when from his cabin in "Singhania Group of Companies- Head Office" Sammy & Maya had just finished video-conferencing with Raghav and Kalpana. As luck would have it, Pakhi's call had come right after, wiping out the smile from Sammy's lips which was there after watching the much in love and newly-married couple of Raghav and Kalpana. She wanted to talk to Raghav and Sammy had very diligently given Pakhi the information enough to satisfy her curiousity. "Raghav is on a short tour. Don't worry he will return by tomorrow possibly. Anything urgent? If need be you can tell me you know" he'd told Pakhi and felt her smile on phone.

"Thanks Sammy Sir. No, nothing urgent, it is just that I was missing him and he didn't tell me about the tour. Don't know why?" Pakhi had finished sadly, alerting Sammy. "Oh, it must have slipped from his mind. He was with me till afternoon yesterday, then something urgent came up and he left. Nothing to think too much about" Sammy had tried assuring Pakhi and succeeded to some extent. They'd talked a bit more on Raghav and then ended the call. But that conversation was enough for Sammy to judge something was not quite well on Pakhi's side.

Maya placed a hand on Sammy's shoulder, "You can talk to Raghav about it when he returns. Tell me did police find anything new, any new clue regarding Raghav's Dad murder case? You talked to DGP Sir today right, what did he say?"

"Something is good on that front at least" Sammy informed Maya smilingly and relaxing "They've found a clue regarding the residence of Late Inspector Mudgal's family."

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FARM-HOUSE, 8 P.M.: -

Raghav and Kalpi stepped on the threshold of their home; yes it was a home away from home for them. If feelings had faces, Kalpi and Raghav would have showed to each other what their feelings looked like. In the times when they could not make their Mansion as their home, this farmhouse was like a drop of water for their thirsty hearts. As their eyes smiled looking at each other, Raghav lifted Kalpi up in his arms in bridal style and carried her to their bedroom. Drinking her beauty all the while with his eyes' hot gaze, Raghav started climbing the stairs. Flushed yet surprised, Kalpi protested "Raghav, what are you doing? I've to go to kitchen also."

His lips curved up in smile "I am also doing the same thing, relieving us of hunger. The cooks will take care of our other hunger" Raghav winked and supplied to Kalpi. She looked at him with her mouth agape. "But..." Kalpi tried again and was silenced with a kiss on lips as Raghav entered with her in their bed-room. He closed the door with Kalpi's feet and settled with her on bed, she was still in Raghav's lap. As Raghav started sucking Kalpi's neck while his hands roamed all over her, Kalpi moaned. He'd just lowered straps of Kalpana's tank-top while feeling her skin there when Kalpi remembered something. "Raghav, Raghav. Please stop..."

"Umm-hmm" Raghav replied while still kissing Kalpi. "Please Raghav? I want to call Baba first. He maybe getting worried, I forgot to call him today and then later on you will not leave me" she finished blushingly and Raghav raised his head. Not liking to break the moment but knowing Kalpi was right, he let her sit while she was still in his lap. Kalpi lifted her purse from the ground and took out the cell phone. There were some miss calls from Vitthal and Sonal, but the maximum numbers of calls were from Pakhi. Kalpi frowned and murmured "That's strange; she never calls me so much unless it is an emergency."

"Who?" Raghav asked watching a frowning Kalpi in his arms. Kalpi looked into Raghav's eyes and said softly "Pakhi." Raghav immediately stiffened and clenched his jaws; he took the cell from Kalpi and noticed there were seven miss calls from Pakhi's number. "Looks like someone is missing you too much" Raghav said and tightened his hold on Kalpana's cell. He deleted every detail of Pakhi's calls in anger and Kalpi looked at him disapprovingly. "That would not change anything you know" she said and Raghav nodded his head sadly. "I know" Raghav replied and protectively embraced Kalpi closer to him.

Kalpi: "Raghav?"

Raghav, while absentmindedly making heart with his finger on Kalpi's shoulder: "Hmm?"

Kalpi: "Can we not tell Pakhi about the truth of our marriage? What if she asks her about my marriage and husband?"

Raghav looked at Kalpi attentively this time: "I don't know Kalpi, I am not yet comfortable with your security aspect. I don't want to endanger your life. But if you want, I will think of a good moment after auction to tell the truth to Pakhi. But for now, no Pakhi, no one else between us." Raghav had bent down his head to kiss Kalpi again, starting with her collarbone, to her neck and jaws to lips and then to her entire body. Kalpi too was lost in the heats of their passion, and warm love showered by Raghav upon her. Keeping themselves busy for almost two hours, they had dinner after 10 P.M., as Kalpi heated the food. She'd also called her Baba then and had given him the details of them being to farmhouse. Raghav had managed to convince Vitthal about not telling this to Kamla and Vitthal had readily agreed. He too didn't trust Kamla enough and Raghav didn't want anyone to know about their haven.

"Look I have already registered my and my company's name as participants in the auction proceedings, both separately. But I am sure there will be no need to go ahead with the auction. I only ask for a few weeks time, I have almost arranged for the debt to be repaid. Please listen to me once, we can talk this over" Prem was trying to convince one of the creditors' to cancel the sale and auction.

He listened to a while and then resumed the negotiations from his side "Yes I know. I will talk with other creditors also. I assure you that I can repay your entire debt. In fact before the auction takes place, you'll receive the first instalment. You only need to agree and give me a chance. I promise that I won't disappoint you, whether I manage to come to India or not" Prem finished with a determined look on his face.

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.