The Best of Things
(Ragya, Swasan) Fan Fiction Series +16
By Bubble
Chapter 61
It was dusk. They were walking down the river, headed to have dinner. They were staying the night in Uttarkashi and had already paid their respects to Lord Vishwanath. They'd been directed to an eatery that promised a good meal and Lakshya strode ahead looking for the restaurant's sign. Behind him, Swara was keeping a lookout as well.
Ragini was walking a little apart. Sanskaar noticed and slowed his stride to match hers. It had been an emotionally draining day for her. He took care to walk between her and the river that coursed powerfully to one side. They walked on in silence.
After a while she asked quietly, "Do you think the sacred river really washes away our sins?"
He shot her a glance. "They say so!" he responded, equally quietly, "They have said so clearly and repeatedly. Water is very powerful, after all. Plus, when there is genuine repentance, how can it not?"
She just stared into the dark waters.
"I should have listened to you... that day," she said, "Aapne kaha tha ke aage ka raasta theek nahin hai... phir bhi hum chalte chale gaye!"
"Galati toh mujhse bhi hui thi na, Ragini? Aur tumhari tarah, mujhe bhi pachtava hua, maine bhi prayaschit kiya hai... kar raha hoon! But repentance - that's the important thing, isn't it?"
She nodded, only half convinced that her actions could really be negated by mere intention and remorse. An air of melancholy still clung to her.
On a surge of affection, he caught her in a warm side hug. "You're making up for it, aren't you? Hum sab hain na saath mein? Sab theek ho jaayega!"
He patted her in comforting friendliness and her heart lightened.
"Ab chalo, let's go have dinner!" he pulled her away... from her sombre mood and the dark river.
+++
They caught up to Lakshya and Swara who were waiting outside the restaurant.
"There they are!" said Swara to Lakshya, "Maine kaha tha na, Ragini Sanskaar ke saath hai? Khamokhaan fikar kar rahe the tum!"
"Kahaan reh gaye tum donon?" Lakshya demanded.
"Sorry, sorry!" Sanskaar said, "we got sidetracked."
"Ragini, did you go wandering off by yourself?" Lakshya asked her sharply.
"Nahin, hum bas kuch soch mein pad gaye the...!" she said with an effort at lightness.
But Lakshya was still frowning as they went in.
"Ok, what I'm going to do is put all of us in one whatsapp group, so that we can communicate better," said Sanskaar, as pulled out his chair. "And Swara, please check your phone when it pings - that's what it's there for! I'm also going to add all of us to a tracking app - everyone needs to have their GPS on, so we don't need to worry when we can't find one another."
He fished out his phone to do it at once. Lakshya sat next to him and leaned in to see.
"Yeh group ka kya naam diya hai, bhai! 'Hum Chaar'! It sounds like so lame - as if we were a band of wannabe superheroes!" Lakshya remarked.
"Offo, I'm being factual, Lucky - there's no time think up a poetic name now!"
"Phir bhi! Kuch toh level hona chahiye!" Lakshya said.
"Theek hai... tu hi ban ja iss group ka Admin!" Sanskaar said, peeved.
"Ok, ok, you do it! We can always change the name later." But he rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile Swara and Ragini had their heads together.
"What a couple of technogeeks!" whispered Ragini, sounding more normal now.
"GPS so that they can track us through the bazaars and harass us to speed it up!" Swara muttered.
"Don't worry - we'll lose them in Haridwar. Send them on some wild goose chase while we go through Moti Bazar and Lakshman Jhula... Swara, I want to buy some achaar... I believe you get some great varieties here... and I know they're going to say we can't carry pickles all the way back to Kolkata!"
"Oh how can you resist achaar when it's your staple food? Bottles will be difficult but what if we..."
They continued to hatch plans in hushed whispers and suddenly noticed that the other side of the table had fallen quiet. Their husbands were looking at them quizzically.
Lakshya turned to Sanskaar. "Why do I get the feeling handling Swaragini isn't going to be as easy as managing Swara and Ragini?"
Edited by soapbubble - 8 years ago
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