Chapter 2
Jhadav home
Smiling affectionately as her gaze falls on Aarav... Dutiful, dependable Aarav... Never tiring of waiting for her. Kalpi steps onto the lawn as walks up to him.
Hearing footsteps, Aarav does not bother to turn, his eyes shut, his face facing the sky, the moonlight showing him with her warmth, he says, "you are late."
Sitting next to him, Kalpi does not bother to answer, instead she silently gazes at the stars... Both content in the silent company.
Leaning on Aarav's back.. The silence a lullaby... The light breeze caressing her... Kalpi's memories race back to when Ragav caresses her... Creating havoc once again... Her heart thumping away as awareness seeps in... Startling her to wakefulness.
Panicked by this awareness and attraction, Kalpi quickly sits up, grabs hold of Aarav's arm and forces him to face her. Staring into eyes... Eyes filled with love, trust, affection... She hesitates momentarily then says in earnest, wanting to replace the vivid memory, "Aarav, will you please caress my face and neck."
Taken aback, Aarav stares at her as he tries to grasp what she is asking, then asks, "what? Why?" Trying to act nonchalant, Kalpi shrugs her shoulder and lies, "I... I watched a program... I am just curious... What does it feel like..."
Her heart falls a little... Here she was with the man she loves... The man she wants to marry... And yet she felt nothing... The excitement... The tingle... The roaring of her heart as it raced away... The drowning until she was breathless as she gazed into his eyes... Nothing... She felt nothing...
Disappointed and panicked, she rests her head on his shoulder, linking her fingers with his, reminding herself that she loves him as her heart questions the different reaction. Needing to reaffirm her feelings... To deny the questions seeping into her mind... she says aloud... More for herself... I love you.
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Singhania mansion
Walking into his room, Ragav smiles, happiness emanating from him as he hears his baby babble away. Seeing the back of his wife as she lies on the bed... He creeps into the room slowly and onto the bed.
Resting his knees on the mattress, he leans over his wife to his child... Who lay by her mothers side... giving the child his index finger to play with, whispering, "shhh... Mummy is asleep."
Moments later, he slowly releases his index finger from the child's grip and whispers in a smiling voice, "I think it is time for mummy to wake up."
Tracing the side of her face with his lips as he place light feathered kisses... Nuzzling her neck lightly as he turns his wife towards him... His lips trace a path to her lips... Kissing her passionately expressing his love and happiness... Only breaking the kiss when she begins to kiss him back... Leaning back with smiling eyes, he says, "wakey wa..." He stops mid sentence as he steps away startled... Staring at a woman he did not expect... Kalpi.
He wakes up startled... The dream so vivid... Real.. His heart thumping away... His lips tingling... Part of him not sure if it was a dream or reality.
His gaze clears... Inches away is Maya... Her hand outstretched as if to wake him... He looks around, slightly disoriented... Recognising his study... Looks back to the woman in front of him... His wife... Pulls her into a tight hug... Whispering, "don't go. I need you. Don't go."
Frowning with concern, Maya breaks the hug, looks into his eyes, trying to understand what got him so emotional, ask, "what's the matter, Ragav?"
I
Staring at his wife who is emotionally and mentally fragile, Ragav feigns calmness he doesn't feel, for he was shaken by his dream... His desire... smiling weakly, he says simply, "I love you." He needed to say it aloud... To hear the words... To believe the words... That he Ragav Singhania loved his wife.
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Bluewaters mall
Ragav's office
His forehead creased as he frowns, Ragav asks Sam in a deadpan voice, "how much has been embezzled so far?"
Compressing his lips, Sam replies, "7 crores."
Ragav raises his eyebrow in disbelief, 7 crores was a staggering amount. Leaning forward, he asks, "do we know the culprit?" Shaking his head, Sam replies, "no, not yet... But we will find him." Nodding, Ragav asks, "have you put up better controls? We can't have this happen again."
Nodding, Sam replies, "yea, I have already placed new measures."
"Sorry I am late," Pakhi says as she walks into her brother's office.
Seeing his baby sister, Ragav's eyes light up as he says, "I wasn't expecting you. I thought you were joining Maya." He thinks happily, "thank God Maya cancelled her trip."
Sitting on the empty seat by his desk, Pakhi says with an apologetic smile, "I had to back out. There is a slight issue with the architect over the design for water world."
Ignoring the disappointment he feels, Ragav instead smiles brightly, asking, "anything I can help you with?"
Shaking her head, Pakhi replies, "Sam has already offered his help. You already have enough on your plate."
Joining in Sam says, "the surveys have been very positive. Our customers are looking forward to a kids activity zone." Turning to Pakhi, he adds, "once we begin construction of water world, I think we should do a feasibility study on indoor skiing."
As they walk out of the meeting, Ragav calls out, "Sam, please update Pakhi over the embezzlement."
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Apollo hospital
Hidden away in the VIP section of the hospital... Maya angrily glares at the ceiling as she lay tied to the hospital bed, unable to believe that her sweet sister in law played her like a flute. Damn it she mutter angrily and she furiously pulls at the chords that were tied to her hands.
She tries to calm herself, thinking, "I need to get out of here." Glaring at her suitcases that were lined along the wall, Maya mutters angrily, "damn it! Ragav will think that I am away on vacation." "Damn it," she screams, "this is illegal. You cannot hold me nor run tests on me against my will."
Neetu Singhania, storms into the Cheif Medical Officers office and says, "Dr Mohan. I want a full examination done on my daughterinlaw. I want to know why she has been unable to conceive and what treatments are available."
Taking a seat, she adds, "from the medical examination Ragav undertook, we know that the problem does not lie with him. As much as I want to hold my grandchild... A heir is equally important or he Singhania family. This matter cannot be left to fate." She ends strongly, recollecting Ragav's words of leaving it to fate.
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Two days later
Apollo hospital
Neetu slumps down onto the chair at Dr Mohan's office and says with disbelief, "she doesn't have a uterus... But but... How," she sputters, adding, "she was pregnant... She suffered a miscarriage..."
Dr Mohan looks at hr with compassion, says, "it was all a lie. Once we found out your daughterinlaw had no uterus. We carried out a thorough medical check. Maya was never pregnant three years ago. She suffered from recurring cysts in the uterus and hence underwent surgery to remove her uterus 7 years ago."
Neetu closes her eyes as the enormity of the reality sinks in... Her memories recalling her son's happiness over becoming a father... His despair when he found out his baby was no more... His disappointment when his wife was unable to conceive again... His envy when he met his friends who were parents... Silent tears fall down her cheeks, her voice filled with anguish, she whispers, "it was all a lie... Oh my Ragav..."
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Singhania mansion
Head bowed down... ashamed over the truth that had been found out... Worried over the consequences... Her heart heavy Maya says, "mum I can explain..."
Interrupting her, Neetu says dejected, "not a word Maya. There is nothing you can say that would justify what you have put my son through. Please go to your room. Save your explanations for my son. I would prefer it if he hears the truth from you."
Sitting in his car, staring at the house, dreading the emptiness, Ragav wonders what Maya is up to. "Should I call," he wonders as he stares at the clock on the dashboard. Sighing he mutters, "it is quite late, she must be asleep. Tomorrow."
Stepping into his room, Ragav stops mid stride. Seeing his wife stand by the window staring out,he breaks into a grin. He strides over to her, hugs her from behind and says, "I am so glad you cut your trip short. I have missed you so much."
Maya shuts her eyes, embracing his touch and warm words, wondering if she would still be a recipient of his warmth and affection once she told him the truth. Turning to face him, her eyes filled with sadness, she caresses his face as she etches his features to her memory, deep down knowing that this was the last time. Looking into his eyes, Maya says, "Ragav, we need to talk."
Ragav stares at Maya with disbelief, the knife of betrayal cutting his heat into a million pieces. Without a word he walks out, unable to say a word, needing space, his mind screaming, "it was all a lie... A lie" as he recollects their happiness over the pregnancy... Their pain over the miscarriage.
His feet automatically trace back to where he had greeted his mother when he came home. Unconsciously seeking her. Sensing her son's presence, Neetu looks up. Seeing the distress, the pain etched in his features. She places her teacup on the coffee table and extends her arms, inviting her son for a much needed hug.
His gaze blurry, with unshed tears, Ragav strides across the room, drops to his knees in front of his mother and hugs her tight. Neetu Singhania, using all her will power, keeping her heart strong, refusing to shed a tear as she consoles her son as focuses all her energy wiping his tears instead.
P.s. This chapter turned out to be emotionally heavier than I had planned. Hope future chapters will be slightly lighter emotionally.
Edited by angelpureness - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
Bengali Shows
Shiv Shakti
