The Best of Things
(Ragya, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 35
Sanskaar walked into Maheshwari House with a quick glance at his watch. He had left work a bit early today... he was taking Swara out to a dinner and a late night movie, but he had a couple of work calls to make before that.
Ragini was in the pooja alcove off the large hall, preparing for the evening aarti. She turned to look at Sanskaar, her eyes large in her face, a question on her face. Sanskaar shook his head in response. She looked pale and forlorn, he noted. Really, Lucky was drawing this out too long! Where was he?!
The phone rang on cue. Sanskaar took it even without looking at the screen. "Hello?"
Ragini caught hint of the voice on the other side and her senses came alert. She noticed Sanskaar stiffen, and walk deliberately away. "Haan, haan, ok... theek hai..." he was saying, carefully giving nothing away. He hung up and tried to slip upstairs only to find his path blocked by Ragini, who raised her eyebrows at him in question.
+++
Swara was getting dressed. She lined her eyes carefully and lingered over her choice of lip colour and settled for a delicate rose. A squirt of Calvin Klein's Obsession on her wrists... she'd left her hair loose...
She was wearing a flowy salwar suit, a thigh length kurta in shades of green over smart palazzos in indigo blue. A beautiful blue dupatta tied the whole ensemble together. She opened her casket of earrings, looking for something that would go...
"How about these?" a voice said.
She turned in surprise. Sanskaar was sitting on the sofa. He had put down the magazine he had been browsing and was watching her.
"Which ones?" she asked.
He held out a small, ordinary looking brown paper cover. "Just something I picked up in a street stall today," he said.
"For me? How sweet!" she blushed slightly.
She emptied the cover into her palm and two delicate peacock feathers kitted out with hooks floated out. "Oh wow! So pretty," she exclaimed in delight.
She put them on at once, turning this side and then the other, laughing in pleasure at the effect. "How did you know I would wear green-blue today?! Thank you so much."
He tucked her hair carefully behind her ear to look at the effect. He'd also looked at diamonds... but he'd woo his girl with twenty-rupee finery if that's what it took.
"Uttara is sulking because she wasn't invited as well," Swara told him, as they walked to the car.
"God!" exclaimed Sanskaar, "What did you say?"
"I told her, Sanskaar wants this is to be a strictly romantic date for the two of us, so sorry!"
"Good!" he said, sternly. Swara was a soft touch when it came to family.
"So, Sanskaar Maheshwari, what happens on this date?" Swara looked mischievous, doing up the seat belt.
"Well, it's true we have a long and culturally rich tradition in our country, Swara, but this fine tradition of dating that they have in the West is very useful," he said, releasing the clutch.
"Ahaan?" Swara looked enquiring.
"It's a boon for any man seeking to 'patao' the girl of his choice. They have it all planned out - in various phases. This first movie date is typically well chosen - a fluffy romance to put you in the mood. Somewhere through the first half, I am required to raise my hands as if I'm stretching out, and place it casually across your seat. You are required to lean in to me and then, by degrees, I lower my arm on your shoulder..."
Swara giggled. "I thought we had gone past the arm-around-shoulder stage... but go on.."
"Interval, I buy you popcorn, and as we both eat from the same tub, our fingers will touch!" he went on, outlining his deep schemes.
"Oooh.." said Swara, "how thrilling!"
"By the end of today, we might hold hands," he finished.
"Is that all?" countered Swara, "I must say, this pace is rather slow!"
"No, that's how much you get on the first movie date," he looked uncompromising, but then as if making a huge concession, "Next time, it'll be a horror movie and ah, there's a lot of potential there."
"Oh no..." laughed Swara.
"Yes," he went on, "you'll be terrified out of your wits and will cower in my arms, hiding your face in my shoulder... I will soothe you... and there is the possibility of... wait for it... a kiss!"
"How exciting! But do I have to submit to a horror movie for one kiss?" she asked him, with a slight pout and a sidelong look.
Sanskaar grinned at her. "Let's see. If you're a good girl, you may get one kiss. If you're bad..." she waited with raised brows, "...you may get two!"
Edited by soapbubble - 8 years ago
