The Best of Things
(RagLak, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 16
Sunday morning! Light was filtering in through the balcony... Lakshya surfaced with a wonderful sense of relaxation - no need to rush, nothing to do, nowhere to go... the day lay before him to do with as he pleased. He sat up and stretched.
Ragini was not in the room. She was an early riser - her sanskaari' training had been ingrained too well for her to lie-in beyond 6am. He brushed his teeth, stumbled out of the bathroom, picked up the newspaper on the table, and scanning the headlines, got back into bed. There was a chill in the air and the razai was temptingly just there...
Ragini came in with a tea tray. "Lakshya, aap uth gaye? Good morning!" She was wearing a lovely soft sari in dark blue threaded with silver, her hair still damp from the shower. She set the tray down, poured out a cup of tea and held it out to him.
He looked at her. "Put it here," he said, indicating the side table and folding the newspaper. She set it down. "Now go and shut the door," he ordered softly, "and lock it." Her eyes rounded. She went over to lock it, and turned towards him.
He raised his hand, put out one imperious finger and beckoned her. A tremulous smile on her lips, she went closer and sat at the edge of the bed, close to him. A hand snaked around her bare waist and pulled her close. He slid down the pillows till she was full-length on top of him.
"Mrs Ragini Maheshwari..."
"Ji?"
"Do you like roller-coasters?"
"Ermm... yes..."
"You'll love this ride!"
***
The ladies were going to some bhajan mandali business in the afternoon and Ragini and Swara were supposed to join them, since they both had such good singing voices.
"I'm going to read the whodunit I've been trying to read all week," Lakshya announced, "so please, please don't ask me to drop you - take the driver!"
Annapoorna pouted but then agreed to call the driver. As they were waiting for him, Lakshya messaged Swara: Need to talk' and then looked carefully blank when she looked up from her phone.
She looked puzzled. In fact, she was downright uncomfortable with these clandestine summons but... sigh, ok!
She made a show of checking her phone, and suddenly let out an exclamation. "Oh no, I completely forgot! Badi Ma... I'm supposed to call a friend of mine in Bhopal - Sunday is the only day she has and she'll be waiting... aap log jaayiye, please... Mai usey phone kar leti hoon!"
"Arre!" Sujata exclaimed, "baad mein kar lena, chhori! Why cancel this for a phone call?"
Unexpectedly, Ragini came to her rescue. "Husna bohut achchi saheli hai Swara ki, Choti Ma, aur itni busy rehti hai ki donon ki mushkil se baat hoti hai... Swara ko baat karne dijiye! You stay home and speak to her, Swara."
Swara looked at Ragini in surprise. But for once, there was no bite to Ragini's words. She was happy, and happiness makes people generous. Swara saw a shadow of the friend she had lost and blinked back tears.
***
Sanskaar came home at bit later that afternoon and looked for Swara. She wasn't in the room, and Ghanshaam kaka told him Swara was supposed to go with the other ladies but hadn't gone. Sanskaar was perplexed - he checked his phone but she hadn't messaged him either.
He searched the house, eventually reaching the back door, caught sight of Swara sitting on the bench on the back lawn. And sitting with her was Lakshya.
A shade of annoyance crossed Sanskaar's face. What was Lucky playing at? If Swara hadn't gone with the others, it must've been Lakshya's idea. But what was Swara doing encouraging him? Hadn't there been enough trouble by going off to secretly meet anyone who called her?! He was going to find out what the matter was.
He opened the back door and sauntered over to join them. They both turned when they heard him approach but apart from raising a hand in acknowledgment, Lakshya continued to elaborate his point without giving pause.
Swara noticed the slightly stony look Sanskaar was wearing, which always meant there were strong emotions running underneath. But that wore off when he heard what Lakshya was saying with growing interest.
"What do you think?" Lakshya asked him finally.
"Makes sense! I think we should try it," Sanskaar responded.
Lakshya turned to Swara: "Well?"
"Absolutely! We'll wait for a good natural opportunity and roll from there!" she said.
"Done!" said Lakshya raising his hand for a high-five.
Swara met his hand with a smile, and quickly dropped hers.
Lakshya stood up. "Chalo, I'm off! Thanks a ton," he waved and he was gone.
Swara stole a look at Sanskaar's face. She knew how he felt about her, and also knew how much he tried to keep it hidden, so as to keep her comfortable.
But she knew him so well now, she could see the effort it cost him to keep his insecurity, his jealousy under the radar. Every now and then, when this matter of Lakshya came up, he became deliberately blank-faced. And Lakshya! she thought with irritation, just because he's now thoroughly occupied with Ragini and her state of mind, he doesn't have a thought for anyone else! Where was the need to put his head so close to mine?
Swara wasn't in love with Sanskaar but he was her friend, her partner, and she hated him to have the wrong idea. Oh, damn it all!