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The Best of Things
(Ragya, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 36
Ragini rang the doorbell.
Kalicharan, the old servitor of the farmhouse ambled to the door and opened it. "Choti maalkin! Aayiye..." he said, bending to reach for the bag at her feet. He hefted it inside and Ragini, followed him, carrying another large basket herself.
Kalicharan disappeared into the bedroom to deposit the bag, and Ragini stopped in the drawing room. Lounging comfortably in a pair of shorts and an old T-shirt, his feet up on the arm of the sofa was her errant husband. There was a book open on his lap and the rest of the room was unlit - he had clearly been reading by the light of the single lampshade behind him. The French windows behind him, leading on to the pool, were open and Ragini smelled something cooking in the kitchen to the back of the house.
She reached for the switchboard, switched on a few more concealed lights and turned to face Lakshya - and was stunned into immobility. With six days' growth left untampered, he now had a decent sized beard, and even the incandescent light told her he had developed a tan. The T-shirt should in fact have been a rag and the shorts were frayed.
He flung the book aside and got up, coming to stand before her with his arms on hips. What he had been about to say died on his lips, for she grabbed his hands with a small gasp, examining with distress the scratches on his forearms. "Kahaan gaye the aap?" she asked him, incredulously.
He sighed, turned away and plopped on the sofa again, running his hands through his hair, looking out at the pool.
After a moment, she went up to him and knelt by his side. "Hum aapko sach bataane aayen hain."
He turned to look at her in surprise.
"Yes, it was I who instigated Maa and Choti Maa against Swara. I didn't think it through... I got jealous of Swara and somehow just wanted her out of the house... I indicated to Badi Maa that I doubted if she ever wanted to stay and they... just reacted."
He looked at her, still stupefied.
"I should have told you when you asked me, but you were so upset with me, I didn't want to admit it. I should have - Swara says it was stupid not to tell you when you asked... but.. I couldn't. I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "What am I going to do with you, Ragini?!" He leaned forward. "You spoke to Swara about this?"
"Mmm," she nodded, "I told her I was sorry and she said ok."
He raised his brows.
She added, "And it will never happen again. I mean, I didn't tell her that, but I'm telling you." He looked down at her. She nodded. "I'm promising you." Her eyes both a touch defiant and persuasive.
He let out a breath and put his hands on her shoulders. "Couldn't you just have told me and saved us all this trouble, you little idiot?" But the affection was back in his voice, and she quivered as he drew her into a hug.
+++
They were in the bedroom that Lakshya had chosen to dump his stuff in. Ragini looked at his things in dismay. He had left home with a bag but there was a newish backpack in the corner with an airline tag, a pair of new shoes, now heavily muddied, and clothes looking like they had been rolled about in muck.
She looked wide-eyed at the disarray and turned to him with her palms turned upwards. He looked a bit sheepish. "I went on a trek," he said, "I flew to Darjeeling and trekked to Sandakphu."
"I hope you got a lot of fresh air," she said. Mera dum ghut raha hai! he had said, I'm suffocating!
He squirmed mentally. He had said a few cruel things to her that night - he still maintained his right to be angry but he flayed himself for becoming angry enough to utter them. He looked at her. "I said a few things that day... I'm sorry, Ragini... I didn't mean it."
That he was just making sure she was bearable enough to live with.
Choking slightly, she shook her head wordlessly, as if to say it didn't matter. She didn't blame him but although she appreciated his polite apology, she didn't entirely believe him either. He had meant it. He was being classy enough to behave as if he was happy with this marriage but she knew better. She wiped away her tears before they rolled. But he would be happy! She would make sure of it.
He idly rifled through the bag she had brought. A few changes for him, and two sets for herself. He raised his eyes to hers. "You're planning to stay here?"
She raised her chin. "Either to take you back home with me or stay with you. You may take breaks from me but you can't get rid of me, Laksh!"
He laughed outright. "That's my girl! Come here!" he stood up and drew her into a tight bear hug. "I like people who don't give up. I won't give up on you, and you don't give up on me... we'll be ok then! Ok?" he asked, stroking her back.
Face tucked in the crook of his shoulder, she nodded.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
