The Best of Things
(Ragya, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series +16
By Bubble
Chapter 45
Ragini stirred the thin bajra khichdi she was making for Maa and switched off the stove. There was more substantial dinner for her father - she had made some khatta kadhi, bharwa lauki with rotis and steamed some rice as well.
She went to check on Maa, who was sitting up in her room talking to Dida. "Haan, Maa, ab pehle se bohut behtar hoon... na, na... chinta kori na, Ragini ekhane achche!" Sharmishta smiled up at Ragini.
Dida was still in Banaras - they had a large house there that they rented out but Dida had kept a portion of it for themselves and enjoyed her time there. Daadi had also called yesterday, shocked to know that Ragini had been at the baadi for three days, looking after Sharmishta. She hadn't liked the idea at all... jealous and resentful! "Kyon Laado... wa Swara kahan mar gayi jo tujhe aana pada?" she had asked angrily. Ragini skimmed over the issue lightly... assuring her there was no big deal about it at all, that it was merely a matter of convenience for everyone.
The bell rang. Ragini glanced at the clock... Papa was home early. She opened the door. Lakshya stood there, wearing a short lime green khadi kurta over jeans and holding a bunch of flowers in his hand.
"Hi!" he said, casually.
"Hi!" she gasped, taken completely by surprise. He hadn't said he would be coming by!
He spread his arms for a hug and she went to him readily. His arms closed around her and he felt a frisson go through her. Instantly concerned, he pushed back and looked down at her. "Is everything ok? Is Maa alright? You?"
"Yes... yes!" she assured him, "everything is fine! I wasn't expecting you. Aayiye na... come meet Maa. She's much better."
He looked at her, puzzled. It was him, he realised suddenly, the unexpected sight of him that made her tremble like that... he knew she loved him... but he wondered at the strength of emotion that coursed through her for him... it humbled him. Oddly enough, he was also conscious of a small pang of envy. After all, love is a truly a benediction for the one who loves... the recipient of the love is fortunate but only second-hand... the recipient receives the outflow but it is the one who loves who has their heart flooded with sweetness.
He advanced to Sharmishta with a huge smile and the bouquet of flowers, bending to touch her feet. "Thank you so much!" she smiled back, noting the blush on Ragini's face.
Shekhar came home half an hour later, happy that Lakshya had come over. They all sat down to dinner. Shekhar asked Ragini to join them for dinner instead of hovering to serve them... after all, they could just as well help themselves.
There was a slight constraint at first - because Shekhar and Sharmishta had first accepted Lakshya as a son-in-law for their other daughter and it felt strange to be sitting at a dining table with him as Ragini's husband... so much had happened... and although they knew Lakshya had accepted Ragini, they didn't really know what the relationship was like between the young couple.
But Lakshya smoothed things over, first engaging Shekhar with talk about work. Shekhar was a Chartered Accountant who had a moderate practice of his own and Lakshya chatted about government norms in place for new start-up businesses. He'd been considering a new business venture - a high-end print house, he told Shekhar. Ragini listened attentively... Lakshya didn't normally talk to her about work.
Then he turned to Ragini casually, "The kadhi is excellent, Ragini! Maa, aapko pata hai, Ragini's food is so authentically Marwari, even my mother and Choti Maa are impressed."
Sharmishta laughed, "I'm not surprised - her Daadi trained her early and so well! But your mother is such a great cook!"
"Yeah, Maa has tried hard with Uttara..." he said morosely. Ragini started chuckling. Uttara's lack of skills in the kitchen were notorious in the family. Shekhar and Sharmishta looked at her interestedly. Lakshya explained exactly how bad she was... going into great detail about the state paalak was reduced to after Uttara had simply looked at it.
Amidst their laughter he said, "I'm not so bad at all... ask Ragini!" He turned to her, "Sach batao, Ragini... tumhe meri kasam... am I not a decent cook?"
Ragini nodded at her mother, "He learnt one upma in his university days... he can make basic pasta which is quite good... and he's pretty competent in the kitchen - I mean he can actually strip beans and peel carrots!"
Lakshya leaned back in smug triumph. "Maa, but I'm sorry to say... your other son-in-law is pathetic. Aap yahan khush ho rahi hongi... ah my great damaad and whatever... but take it from me, Sanskaar is hopeless. He's not as bad as Uttara - he can cook but lazy! LAZY!" he thumped the table.
Ragini was still giggling. "It's true - I don't know how Sanskaar lasted so many years on his own!"
Lakshya went on, putting his poor absent brother on the stake. "You don't know, Maa, Papa, how he makes Swara run around... waiting on him, hand and foot. 'Swara, please ek glass paani de do. Swara, can you make me some popcorn?'"
"Really?!" Sharmishta turned to Ragini, who confirmed it, smiling: "It's true, Maa. He works so hard at the office, but when he gets home, switches off work and gets into a relaxed mode, he won't move a muscle unless he has to. Khoob khidmat karvaate hain Swara se!"
Shekhar and Sharmishta looked at each other, amused at these insights into the Maheshwari household... and immensely relieved to see that apparently things were truly fine with their daughters. Both their daughters.
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