SS: The Love Loophole: Part 6 Updated Pg 52 (Complete) - Page 18

Please update soon.

R is ever the practical one - realizing it's important for them to have dinner (though they say revenge is a dish best served cold 😛)

I am sure the dishes were served cold anyway. Glad that R realized that they need to eat as well.

Bear with me please as I finally figure out how to stop meandering all over the place.

Loveleen, thank you for your wonderful prompt - I hope this meets your expectations ❤️

Thank you all for reading.

--

Ragini waited for the food to heat up on the stove, thankful for the empty kitchen that allowed her to collect her thoughts that were scattered every which way like the raindrops against the window. Her cheeks burned at the memory of his stubble against her skin, at how she had teased him, giddy off the desire apparent in his gaze. Consequences had felt hazy and weightless. He wanted her, physically at least. That much was clear. But after that? Could she send him back into the arms of another woman while she would have only memories to keep herself warm?

Lost in her thoughts, she failed to register his presence until his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

"Nachiket!" She startled at the sudden intrusion. "What are you doing? Everyone is - "

He covered her mouth with his hand and bit down gently on her ear lobe. She shivered against him and he suspected his hand had muffled something closer to a sigh than a shriek.

"Next time you start something," he murmured in her ear, "you better be willing to finish it, Mrs. Khanna." He dropped a kiss behind her ear (it was definitely a moan that time, he could feel the sound travel up her throat) and reluctantly let her go.

She threw him a look, eyes smoldering in a mix of anger and something else that told him that she might not mind if he carried her over his shoulder to their room instead.

But then again, she did have a knife in her hand. He filed the thought away for future reference.

--

To his disappointment, Ragini seemed to be having second thoughts in the days that followed. Pulling away at his thinly veiled excuses for contact, ducking her head as he attempted to steal kisses behind closed doors, gently removing his arm that found its way around her in the middle of the night.

It hurt more than he liked to admit.

They were almost back to where they had started, with their eyes expressing what their words could not. But now that he had felt her respond to him, the days that passed seemed to stretch on longer than the years they had been apart. After about a week he was determined to confront her again. Questions swirled in his head. Did she not trust him? Had he miscalculated her willingness to resume their relationship? Was she not ready?

And finally, the one he was afraid to voice, that kept him up nights - did she not see a future for them beyond the terms of their contract?

"Nachiket," she had sighed when he finally drew up enough courage to broach the subject (once again disturbing her sleep in the middle of the night). "I'm only doing what you asked."

He racked his brain, trying to remember when he had asked her to NOT touch him. Had he been sleeping? Drunk? Suffering a concussion? Would he even remember if he had suffered a concussion?

She interrupted his thoughts. "You said not to start anything if we weren't going to...finish."

Yes, that sounded vaguely familiar.

"I have no interest in being a new mother again."

He dismissed her train of thought. "Of course not, we can barely handle the kids we have now."

"Exactly," she said, as if that explained everything.

He lay there in the dark, feeling as if he was missing something. "Oh." It finally hit him. "Well I could...pick something up tomorrow." This was not something they had concerned themselves with during their first marriage...clearly.

"Tomorrow?"

"It's too late to get anything now, everything is closed." The wheels in his head spun. "Unless...I call RK for a favor."

"What? No!" She reached out and smacked his shoulder for good measure. "I just meant, what's the rush?"

"Oh." He tried to take on an air of nonchalance. "No rush, just want to be prepared."

"Huh," was her only response and for some reason he felt she could see right through him despite not actually being able to see him at all.

--

The next morning he whistled as he poured himself a glass of juice. Pam eyed him suspiciously. "You're very happy this morning."

"Am I? It's a beautiful day." Indeed it was, the only downside being that he had missed seeing Ragini before she left for work. "I'm going shopping downtown later today, do you need anything?"

Pam frowned. "Beautiful? It's muggy and hot as hell." She shook her head. "Anyway, how will you get there? There's a taxi strike today."

He paused mid-sip. "There's a what?"

"A taxi strike," she repeated. "All across the city. In fact that's why Dr. Aman came to pick up Ragini this morning."

"Who came?"

"Are you going deaf?" She studied him for a moment. "Oh I see, you're jealous."

"Why would I be jealous?" He was suddenly very interested in his fruit.

"Listen, I know you're getting comfortable in this husband role but don't forget that this marriage is for show only." She lowered her voice. "Once the contract is up, it's back to the US for us and Miss Ragini Patel can live her life as she pleases, with whomever she pleases."

He waved off her concern. "I know that."

"Good," she said. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"Don't worry about me." If there was anyone she should be concerned about, he thought grimly, it was Dr. Aman.

--

Ragini stared out the window as they crawled their way through traffic on the way home. She felt his eyes on her but didn't want to acknowledge the situation they found themselves in, settling into their old roles as if she hadn't given him back his ring a few months ago. As if he hadn't cursed her idea of friendship, accusing her of discarding him now that Nachiket was back in the picture.

"Ragini," Aman said finally. "I'm sorry about what I said, before I left." She glanced at him, wondering if he could read her mind. "Nivedita told me about the contract...you're just doing what's best for your kids, like always."

She frowned. Of course she would have told him. "Sir, please, the kids don't know."

"Don't worry. They won't hear anything from me," he assured her, though she was far from comforted by his words. "I'm sorry I doubted your integrity. As if you'd go back to him willingly after everything that's happened."

Ragini felt her cheeks grow warm. How could she make him understand, that despite time and distance and harsh words and this piece of paper hanging over their heads, a part of her had begun to hope for reconciliation with her husband? Not only for the sake of her family but for her own battered heart?

How could she tell him that the months they were engaged had already faded to a distant memory by the time she had seen his name (his full name this time) hidden among the swirls of mehndi on her palm?

They pulled up in front of her apartment and she hoped it would spare her from having to refute his assumptions. "Thank you for the ride, Aman Sir."

As she opened the door and began to step out of his car she felt a hand grab her wrist. She froze, willing herself not to react and make a scene on the very public street. "Ragini." She looked back at him warily as he leaned over. "I just want you to know, I'm here for you." You mean once this is over, she added mentally, and freed her wrist from his grasp.

"Thank you," was all she replied before shutting the car door and hurrying into her building.

--

Nachiket clenched the balcony railing as he watched the scene unfold in front of his eyes. Anger burned in his chest, its tendrils squeezing his heart until it ached. His imagination had assaulted him all day, coming up with situations (each more fantastical than the one before it) in which his wife was being wooed by her ex-fiance. He trusted Ragini, he kept assuring himself. It was her boss who wouldn't think twice about taking advantage of her sense of loyalty that he was worried about.

But somehow all those situations paled in comparison to watching her turn towards him before she disembarked, watching him lean towards her as if reluctant to see her go, watching him fill the space between them with imagined honeyed words of how much he would miss her. His Ragini.

"Nachiket?" Her voice did little to soothe the pain. He continued to look outward to the street but only saw what his mind refused to forget.

She stepped out onto the balcony. "It's cold out here, you'll get sick."

He turned to face her then, and ignored the jacket she held out in her hands. She furrowed her eyebrows at his rigid demeanor. "What's wrong?"

Nachiket looked at her incredulously. "What's wrong? This is. All of this," he motioned between them. "Why don't you go give that to Dr. Aman instead?"

"What are you talking about?" She looked confused at his statement but her feigned innocence only served to upset him further.

"I saw you Ragini...you and your ex-fiance...making a mockery of this marriage."

"Lower your voice," she hissed as she closed the door leading back to their room. "He just gave me a ride to work. The taxis-"

"Oh yes, the taxis, of course. Bet he couldn't wait to show up again, just like old times."

"Nachiket." He could hear the warning in her voice but paid it no attention. Let her get upset, he thought. Didn't she understand? How he ached to make her his again, how it pained him to see her entertaining affection from another? "You're overreacting. It meant nothing...you can't get angry like this over nothing."

"I can't?" he snarled. Was this right to be taken from him as well? "I'll tell you what I can't do, I can't see you with anyone else!"

"And you think I can?" she snapped at him, eyes bright with unshed tears. She turned to leave and the slam of the door made him flinch as her words finally settled in through his rage.

What did that mean? The cool air did little to calm his racing thoughts.

He knew who she meant, of course.

But if she couldn't bear to see him move on with someone else...could it be that she still wanted him in her future?

Or was it jealousy masquerading as false hope?

When he finally made his way inside he found his pillow and blanket already sitting on the sofa.

--

Things remained tense between them for days, threatening to mar the idyllic facade they presented to rest of the world. She could read the worry in their children's eyes, wondering if their dream of living happily together was in danger of remaining unfulfilled. Was it a fool's errand, she wondered, trying to prop up a relationship that stood on such a shaky foundation?

She knew he felt badly about his outburst but refused to make things easy for him. She had revealed more than she wished to about her feelings and now that he held all the cards, and her heart besides, she waited for him to make his move.

Every day that he remained silent about his commitment outside their marriage, she lost a little more hope that it meant anything beyond the piece of paper holding them together. Time seemed to mock her as it passed. The relentless seconds marched onward, on to their eventual end date and yet here she was - stuck in the same place she had been almost 20 years ago, still waiting for a glimpse of him through the window. Still waiting for him to come back to her.

--

"Ragini?" his voice floated through the darkness.

She refused to answer but her breath hitched as her tears continued to wet the pillow.

Soon she felt the mattress dip under his weight and her back was resting against his firm chest. His arm looped around her waist and she couldn't help but clutch it, grateful for the comfort, however illusory it may prove to be.

"My Ragini," his voice was low and soothing against the back of her neck. "Don't cry, please. Tell me, I'm here."

She turned in his arms then, and the concern in his eyes almost broke her down further. "For how long?" she dared inquire.

His touch was warm on her cheeks as he wiped away her tears. "For as long as you'll have me."

It was not a promise in the traditional sense and there were far too many questions hanging over them for her to ascribe any meaning to his words. But his reassurance felt as solid as the arms holding her and so she seized it and held it close to her heart.

The last things she remembered before finally drifting off were the ghost of his lips on her forehead and the steady rhythm of his heart lulling her to sleep.

That's the state I am in right now.

What an excellent update to the already vibrant previous parts.

You really have brought to the fore the emotional and physical relationship that exists between NR now, and the turmoil their heart witnesses all the while - that piece of paper that hangs like Damocles' Sword over their head.

😳 at N's enthusiasm at going to the market ... typical guy 😆

I loved how he eventually went up for her a few days later. That is genuine love.

No stop fainting come back and tell meee 😔

First of all, I'm terribly sorry for being so late with my comment! 😭

The beginning was not at all silly! The romance was beautifully scripted and Ragini's mix of emotions regarding the current state of her relationship was perfect. 😊

Then came the turmoil in Nachiket's mind. Thank god he had the courage to finally spit it out and ask her what she wanted. And Ragini's reason for shying away from physical intimacy was wonderfully handled; I've always wanted them to answer that question. 😳 And Nachiket's urgency in wanting to ask RK for a midnight favor--you killed me! 😆

Aman. 😡 But Nachiket's jealously bringing out Ragini's own frustration with the external people in their situation was SO cute. And even cuter was the ending, where he proves that he will be there for her, through thick and through thin, comforting her despite the questions about their relationship still up in the air. I liked how there wasn't a magical resolution to their problems through his hug; the issues are still there, but at least they have each other's support in the process of discovering the depths of this new relationship.

Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous story! 🤗 Please update as soon as you can! 😳

Have updated my comments 😛

Thank you Rachna 😳

Really too much credit but I'll gladly take it 😛

I really wasn't sure how well this fit together so I'm glad you felt there wasn't too much tonal whiplash.

On the one hand the contract allows them to act without fear of consequence because the status quo will remain but on the other hand they both want to be tied to each other for real.

N likes to be prepared 😉

And of course he can't bear her crying

Seriously thank you ❤️