The Best of Things
(RagLak, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 12
Ragini tripped around the house wrapped in a cloud of happiness that whole week.
No one had asked her, but she took on very many maalkin' type duties, ordering the gardener to properly weed some beds... she got the servants to air out razais, dust out the mattresses... and drove everyone crazy.
Annapurna and Sujata watched her in some consternation. It was all very well to get things done but if you annoyed the Maharaj by supervising his every move and telling him to put two more grams of amchur powder, he would not turn up all next week, or worse, give in his notice!
But luckily, her zeal in assuming the role of the Maheshwari Bahu' took a moderate turn over some time and everyone breathed a little more easily, although she did still peacock all over the place. Swara was happy to see her happy, but kept out of her way - she wasn't in the Best Bahu' competition, anyway.
Swara went up to the terrace one evening to see if she had left her book of Meera bhajans on the table there. She had been sitting there earlier, setting one to tune and practising it with the tanpura' app on her mobile. Ah, there it was! She grabbed it and was about to do down again, when she sniffed the air. A faint tendril of cigarette smoke was weaving out of the shrubbery in the corner. She went around the partition and found Lakshya, sitting supine in his chair, feet on the parapet and a look of utter relaxation on his face.
"Achcha! Dhoomrapaan kiya jaa raha hai!" Swara said, leaning against the trellis.
"Panditaain Swara!" He acknowledged her mockingly with his raised cigarette.
She looked at him, opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again. Lakshya looked at her quizzically. She shook her head.
"Kahiye na!" he said to her, with a ghost of a laugh. "Panditaain Swara at a loss for words --- doesn't feel right."
"Ragini looks happy," Swara offered. "I'm sorry for what I said before... you know... it was very unfair. And Sanskaar feels I stepped over the line... interfering into your private lives."
Lakshya stubbed his cigarette out and got to his feet. "I was angry then, but I forgive you."
Swara abstractedly plucked a few dry leaves from the creepers. Then she looked at him hesitantly, "You'll look after her, won't you?"
Lakshya looked at her. "I'll do my best."
She nodded, not looking at him. Tears stung her eyes, and she was too choked to speak.
"You were really worried for her," he said, realising now the depth of her concern.
"Yes, she's made a very big mess of her life and her head. She needs care," she said, her voice a little muffled. "I know she's cheated and betrayed you, but still you have taken it upon yourself... thank you, Laksh!"
Lakshya looked at her for one long moment. At the generosity this girl was capable of. "Don't make me fall in love with you all over again, Swara!"
She looked up at him in shock! But he was smiling a little at his own half-joke and she smiled back at him through her tears... a strong current of love flowed between them, back and forth... sloshing over them, warming their hearts. They were no longer lovers, but a kind of love remained.
"Swara! Laksh!!"
They both turned. Ragini was standing at the doorway of the terrace, looking fearful and very upset.