Long update to make up for the shortish one before 😳
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The Best of Things
(Ragya, Swasan) Fan Fiction Series +16
By Bubble
Chapter 54
Swara stood in front of Sanskaar, towelling his wet head. He submitted to her with a remarkable brand of surrender. His face was buried in her bosom, his hands firmly around her waist and she was pulled so close, she had to tilt back slightly to even reach his scalp.
Finally she was done and he raised his head.
"I believe you missed me!" he said blandly.
"Maybe I did, a little," she said, with a quirk to her lips.
"How come you fell so ill the minute my back was turned?" he demanded.
"It was a gehri chaal, Sanskaar Maheshwari!" she said stepping back and giving him a flirty look, "Just to make sure that you never go away for more than two days. And if you do, you take me with you. That's the deal."
"Hmm! Now I FEEL married," he teased, standing up as well. His hands moved possessively around her and he pulled her close again... "and it feels so good!"
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Swara had to endure much teasing at dinnertime. Uttara and Parineeta found every occasion to sing "Mera piya ghar aaya o lal ni..." and Sanskaar was told exaggerated tales of how Swara had pined for him like a typical proshitapatika nayika... lovelorn and miserable... never taking her eyes off the road from which he was to return...
"What rubbish!" protested Swara, blushing furiously when Sanskaar turned to look at her with a teasing question.
After dinner, when it was just the younger members of the family, Uttara demonstrated the scene of their reunion to Lakshya and Ragini who had missed it, by running across the back lawn in fake slow motion. Everyone held their stomachs laughing, while Sanskaar rolled his eyes at the nautanki.
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Lakshya tapped his laptop keyboard a little harder than necessary - he was writing a searing mail to his marketing manager. It was well past 10. Dinner was almost two hours ago... Everyone had retired to their rooms but there was still no sign of his wife.
What the hell! he muttered to himself as he pound the poor keys. The truth was Lakshya Maheshwari was a disgruntled man. Out of the nobility of his heart, he had sent his wife to tend to her mother. That had taken seven days. She had returned home and her sister fell ill that very evening. So Ragini had devoted herself to yet another sickroom. And even after Swara had become better, she'd stayed with her... ostensibly "not wanting to leave her alone", but he knew better! She spent these nights in Swara's room because they were having altogether too much fun with this nonstop pajama party of theirs - giggling and chatting late into the night, smuggling in midnight snacks and hot chocolate.
And now, nearly twelve days later, when he was expecting to have her to himself, she was in Uttara's room helping her prepare a fundraising presentation for an NGO she was working with. Uttara had recently discovered that Ragini had taken a few graphic design electives in college and had a fine eye for visual layout. Now she was bent upon getting as much help as she could get. And Ragini who had genuinely thirsted for a chance to make friends with her sister-in-law was revelling in this opportunity to make a fresh start.
Which left Lakshya sitting in his room, writing stupid business mails.
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Swara and Sanskaar lay on the bed, facing each other.
"Wow!" he said. She had just finished telling him about Ragini's huge change of heart and everything that had happened in his absence.
"I didn't think it was possible, but full credit to her, Swara! That is a brave thing to do - acknowledge where you went wrong, own up to your mistakes... so many people live and die defending their choices out of sheer ego!" he said.
"I know! But that's exactly it - Ragini is capable of big things on both sides," Swara said seriously, "Once she makes up her mind, she can do anything! I'm really proud of her, and I'm so ecstatic to have her back!"
"So my going to Japan was worth it!" he grinned.
"It's not going to happen again, don't worry!" his wife retorted.
"For all you know, I might have a love interest in Japan... you know... le gayi dil gudiya Japaan ki..." he hummed.
"Gudiya! aur woh Japaan ki?!" exclaimed Swara, sitting up, "just you try it, Sanskaar Maheshwari! I'll beat you up with a Japaani joota!"
He reached out and curled her close. "This being married for real has had a bad effect on your character, Swara! You've become demanding, jealous and possessive!" His hand slid under her T shirt.
Suddenly, she moved in and hugged him close. Her voice was muffled against his shoulder when she said, "Yes, it's true. I can actually understand Ragini a little now... because I'd fight tooth and nail for you, Sanskaar! Your Japani gudiya doesn't stand a chance - I have you now."
There was just the hum of the fan for the next few minutes... finally, almost reluctantly, he released her lips, his long fingers caressing hair off her face. He looked at her anxiously for any sign of lingering ill-health. But she lay below him, her face rosy pink, eyes luminous, lips full at the tender-rough treatment they had just received.
"I missed you so much, Swara!" he murmured, "I was sick with worry...! Can you believe how long it took for five days to pass?!"
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Lakshya opened his pack of cigarettes and swore. It was empty and he'd forgotten to buy another pack earlier. He glanced at the clock - past eleven and he was too lazy to drive out for some more. He went downstairs and settled for cadging a couple of beedis off the chowkidaar. They had a bit of a chat over smokes and he sauntered back to his room. He shut the door close and set his arms on his hips.
In the mere twenty minutes that he'd been gone, his wife had come back, washed, changed and gone to sleep!
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Hat tip in this chapter to Krishnabhisarika aka Akshata, whose lovely handle led me to read up a little about the Ashta Nayikas of classical performing arts...
The proshitapatika nayika is a heroine whose husband has gone away on a journey and is awaiting him in impatient distress.
Edited by soapbubble - 9 years ago
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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