The Best of Things
(RagLak, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 24
Even so, nothing may have come of the various incidents pricking Ragini's jealousy had Lakshya been there. He was so tuned in to her moods, paid so much attention to what was going on in her mind, that he would have diffused the build-up of negative emotions. But as chance would have it, Lakshya left just then to attend for a three-day conference in Jamshedpur. And Ragini was free to wallow in her misery... and almost without a coherent plan, she started making Maheshwari House inhospitable for Swara.
She targetted the easiest of marks - the two elder Maheshwari ladies. With Sujata it was absurdly simple... a series of small, innocuous reminders that Swara was a fish-eating, meat-eating Bangalan. Sujata, who had almost forgotten the objections she had previously had to Swara was reminded of them all... along with suspicions that Swara probably gorged on mutton and chicken every time she went out of the house. Sujata was horrified, and well-primed to treat Swara with abhorrence.
Annapurna was a little more of a challenge. Ragini found her moment when the two of them were cutting cabbage at the dining table.
With a little smile, she said, "Hum aur Lakshya itne khush hain, Maa... I so wish Sanskaar and Swara were happy as well! It would make me so happy if Swara were settled... but sadly..." she trailed off.
"What are you saying, Ragini? They are happy!" Annapurna asserted. "They are such good friends also!"
Ragini nodded, a little doubtfully.
Annapurna sharpened her gaze on her. "You don't think so? What are you trying to say? Kya kehne ki koshish kar rahi ho tum?"
"Nai, Maa, kuch nahin..." Ragini shook her head.
Now hooked, Annapurna demanded an answer. "Bolo Ragini - I want to hear what you have to say!"
"Nai Maa, I know that Swara came back to this house along with me, and that Sanskaar and Swara were both going to give their marriage a serious chance... but Maa, Swara just agreed because Maa... that is, Sharmistha Maa made her promise to a six-month period... and Swara has never taken that seriously. She still wants to go back to the Baadi... this is just a waiting period for her."
Ragini looked earnestly at Annapurna, "In fact, I feel so bad for Sanskaar because he's in love with her and he's willing to settle for crumbs from Swara - he'll do anything she wants... but I feel really bad for him. Doesn't he deserve a chance at happiness, Maa? If Swara had not come back to this house, if they had gotten divorced right then, by now Choti Maa would have found a nice girl for him... but he's just wasting his life waiting for Swara..."
Annapurna frowned. "As far as I can see they are very happy together! Sanskaar has never indicated otherwise, and Swara is very much a bahu of this house!"
Ragini leaned forward. "Maa, that is not false. They are really very close, but I doubt if they are husband and wife. In fact, I've noticed Swara sleeps in the guest room, and yet neither of them says anything. I think they're really secretive... I don't think any of us really knows what is happening between them."
Annapurna was perturbed. "Achcha!? Ok, I'll observe them more closely myself... and judge for myself..."
Ragini leaned back, satisfied.
***
That evening, Swara gathered her razai from the cupboard and bit her lip. She wanted to come back to their room, but what should she say? Use some excuse... like what? She could say that the guest room's AC was too powerful to be comfortable!
Sanskaar came in just then and saw Swara standing there, with her razai in her arms. He looked away immediately. She folded it and brought it back here every morning, leaving no trace of her presence in the guest room... why couldn't she just sleep here... when he was leaving the full king sized bed to her? But he couldn't even say that, she would just become more uncomfortable...
He cleared his throat. "The AC in the guest room is really strong, Swara, and the thermostat doesn't work too well. Take an extra blanket, or you'll be cold."
"Yeah... yeah," Swara stammered.
He bent to the bottom shelf and pulled out a kambal, and put it in her arms.
Not knowing how to say what she wanted to say, Swara slowly left the room and walked towards the guest room, arms laden with woollens, miserable and casting piteous looks up to heaven.
From the opposite wing, Annapurna watched her go into the guest room and close the door behind her.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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