SS: The Love Loophole: Part 6 Updated Pg 52 (Complete) - Page 22

As the sun burned through the mist of the early morning, Ragini too felt a new sense of clarity. She had found peace in his arms last night as the soft cotton of his kurta caressed her cheek and his warmth eased the ache in her heart. It was a luxury she had learned to do without and soon would only be able to indulge in through her dreams.

How foolish she was, trying to find hope where there was only her Nachiket, trying to fulfill his duties as a husband. It wasn't fair to him for her to expect more, not when he was only hers for a little while longer.

She felt him sidle up next to her as she waited for the water to boil and began peeling the ginger.

"Missed you this morning." His voice was rough with sleep. She looked up at him, noticed the dark circles under his eyes, and felt guilty for banishing him to the sofa which she knew wasn't kind to his back though he would never admit it.

"I didn't want to wake you," she said by way of apology. "Especially after...well, thank you."

He frowned at her words and in the low light she noticed flecks of white dotting the shadow under his chin. Yet another reminder of how much time had passed with them apart.

"You don't - don't thank me. I'm sorry for what I said. You didn't deserve that."

"No," she shook her head. "We both said things we shouldn't have. I'm sorry too." He looked as if ready to protest so she stretched to place a kiss on his cheek, his stubble pleasantly coarse against her skin. "Go. I'll bring out your tea."

Nachiket acquiesced, relief apparent in his eyes, and as she turned her attention back to the water thrumming on the stove she thought maybe she would make it through all this in one piece after all.

--

The cafe began filling in as midday approached, and Nachiket was glad for the foresight to sit away from the commotion near the counter. He checked his watch again out of habit but it offered no answer as to whether he was about to make the right decision.

"Neil!" he heard her over the din and looked to find her waving as she made her way towards his table, dripping in jewelry and drenched in a heady perfume.

"Nivedita," he smiled tightly, belatedly realizing he should have pulled out her chair for her. It was the least he could do, considering...

"Neil, you should have ordered at least for yourself," she chided, craning her neck to look for a server. "Coffee, milk, no sugar, right?"

"No coffee for me, Nivedita - listen," he leaned forward to get her attention.

"What's wrong?" She gazed at him. "You look tired Neil, is Ragini still keeping you awake?" The venom with which she said Ragini's name did not go unnoticed by him.

"No." He took a deep breath before his annoyance made things worse. "I need to talk to you about something."

Her eyes widened in concern and he fought the urge to roll his eyes at her theatrics. "Of course, I am always here for you. I was so glad you wanted to meet finally." He ignored the pang of guilt at her words. "What is it?"

"Nivedita, I can't..." Ragini's smiling face flashed before his eyes, dimples (how he loved her dimples) peeking out. "I can't marry you."

Her face fell at his words and he braced himself for the onslaught that was to follow. "Neil, how can you say that? Is it - it's Ragini, she must have put you up to this, she - "

"No," he interrupted. "It's me."

"I know how she works Neil, you think she wants you for herself but then she is going to leave you all alone - "

"Nivedita - "

"Did you forget what she said about you, she called you pathetic - "

"And it was true," he tried to reason with her as her voice grew louder, attracting the attention of nearby patrons.

"That's what she wants you to think!" she hissed. "She's demeaning you, don't you see? She has you under her thumb. The high and mighty Ragini Patel!"

"Ragini Khanna," he corrected through his clenched jaw.

"Oh." She narrowed her eyes. "I thought this was a contract marriage, isn't that what you told me on your wedding day? Or do you need a reminder?"

Nachiket sighed. How could he explain that these days with Ragini had not only begun to heal their family but his very soul?

"I know what I said. And I'm sorry, truly, but it's not fair to you. Whatever may happen with Ragini, you deserve someone who can fully commit to you."

"Go to hell," she spat out. "As if you know the meaning of commitment."

It was a harsh verbal slap but not entirely unjustified, he realized as she stormed out. When was the last time he had honored his commitments to his family?

To Nishi and Aarav?

To Ragini?

He thought back to her behavior that morning: all too ready to forgive him for his blunder, her apology for questioning his own admitted extramarital relationship. The Ragini he knew, the one he fell in love with all those years ago, would have fought until she could show him the hypocrisy in his words.

"Dad?" Ranbir interrupted his thoughts. "I'm done with my shopping, are you ready to go?"

They made their way out to the busy street in search of a ride home.

"I didn't see Nivedita Aunty?"

"She ah...left," Nachiket answered, unsure of how much to share with his oldest son.

"Ah," said Ranbir. A minute later, "Forever?"

Nachiket looked over at him in surprise. "Yes, I think so." Just by saying it out loud his chest felt lighter.

Ranbir hid a smile. "Good."

--

Ragini sighed loudly as she finally climbed into bed at the end of another long day.

Nachiket peered towards her over his reading glasses. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going to miss the kids...how empty the house will be without them."

"That's a good thing - there's only so much space." At her look, he conceded. "Yes, it's going to be strange without them here. But they need to get back to school, and Ranbir needs to go back to work."

"I know, it's just so far, and..." she trailed off.

"And...Aarav?" he gently prodded.

Her heart constricted at the thought of her Aarav starting over in a new country, a new university, away from her yet again. "He doesn't like big changes. And he'll be there all alone."

"Not alone," Nachiket assured her. "Pam will be there, and his brothers. He will be with family."

He took her hands in his and she tried to focus on how his thumb brushed across her knuckles, the repetitive motion soothing. "I don't want to lose him," she confessed with her eyes downcast.

"Trust me," he said. "He'll come back to you on his own terms...you just have to give him the chance."

She nodded and was pleasantly surprised when he pulled her towards him, her head settling comfortably in the crook of his neck. The past few weeks he had been especially demonstrative in his affection, dropping hints that she dared not read into.

He had accepted a job at the other local hospital, and she tried not to wonder why he would bother. And here Aarav was leaving her but it was Nachiket who had made sure he understood the responsibilities he still had to his family in India. He had even mentioned seeing all the children over the holidays, but for that to be true Nachiket would need to be here...

"What are you thinking?" he murmured, his hands fiddling with the sash on her robe.

"I was wondering..."

"Mmhmm?"

"Since when do you need reading glasses?"

He couldn't help but laugh and she felt the rumble in his chest. "I'm told they make me look distinguished."

"Yes, between that and your gray hairs..."

"What gray hairs?"

Ragini lifted her head and smiled at the incredulous look on his face. "I may have spied a few here and there." Her fingers moved to seek out the offending strands.

"Here and there, great," he grumbled. He closed his eyes briefly as she caressed the back of his neck. "You know what I'm wondering?"

"What?"

"How is it that you're still as beautiful as you were on our wedding day?"

She blushed under his gaze. "It was only a few months ago."

"Not what I meant." He tipped her chin up.

"Maybe you need new glasses." She gently removed them from the bridge of his nose as he leaned in closer.

"Not likely," he growled, and closed the distance between them with a kiss so sweet she forgot for a moment when her eyes closed that she wasn't supposed to dream.