I can't call it either RaghVi or FaRag OS--because it wont do justice to other characters. I just had a what if thought. So here goes the OS, a warning--Farhad and Raghav have a better camaraderie here than the show.
Black italics stands for words spoken out loud.
Green text stands for inner thoughts of the character or black in single quotes
Snips of dark, charcoal-colored strands littered the basin, making its tile look like an unkept barbershop's flooring in need of clean maintenance. Scattered, severed strands decorated the surface beneath him and he knew it would take him a while to clean, but for now, his focus was on the clear mirror and its reflection.
And as he dragged the razor down the side of his face one last time he was met with the final result.
Slowly, Raghav touched his now smooth face with his free hand, marveling at the obvious change between his old look and the present one. Tapping the razor to the edge of the sink bowl a couple of times to draw out the remainder of the wetness and little pricks of hair, he turned on the faucet to clear the sink.
With a slow exhale, he came even closer to the mirror, leaning onto the counter and deciding to take the last once-over at his work to make sure everything was in order.
Truth be told, he hadn't clean shaved in a long time, letting his facial hair take its own course, growing naturally along with his actual hair. As he looked himself over in the rectangular mirror he let out a shaky sigh, forming an even shakier smile. ‘Looks alright.’ He thought to himself with relief, placing away the electric razor on a shelf beside him. Turning off the running faucet, he dabbed on a bit of aftershave and forced on a smile, one that extended far more than he had accustomed to nowadays, trying to see what the expression looked like on his ‘new’ face.
The small experimentation led to an entire catalog of faces, observing how they looked on him and he came to a single conclusion.
"I don't look half bad." Raghav said, nodding at his reflection in approval and giving the man in the mirror a rather cocky smirk.
‘Hey handsome!’ he thought, complimenting himself, certain he could make Pallavi swoon if he actually tried.
In his preoccupied state, he failed to notice the new company that observed him from the doorway, a risen brow settling over his face as he watched the freshly groomed man.
"Well look at you now Anna!" He said in an amused voice, making Raghav stop entirely.
Raghav looked like a deer caught in headlights as the feeling came to him that he was caught doing something so embarrassing.
‘Better Farhad than anyone else.’ Raghav reasoned. At least that's what he convinced himself…
Holding back a chuckle, and instead, offering a less mocking smile, Farhad leaned against the washroom’s door frame.
"Well Anna, care to say what led you to take this decision today?" Farhad asked in a jovial manner, unable to hold down the enormous smile he had on his face.
In turn, Raghav rolled his eyes and faced back to the mirror, ignoring the amused gaze of his friend cum secretary.
"So, you think it looks good?" He asked, marveling at the smoothness of his chin and cheeks, running his right hand down his face in an exaggerated manner, dismissing Farhad's little comments best he could.
"You bet." was the immediate answer. Farhad didn't even think twice and perhaps it was the nostalgia speaking, openly welcoming the change back to something familiar from his past, but Raghav did look good in his opinion.
"Soooo...." Farhad started "In all seriousness, what led you to clean shave your face, hmm?" Farhad added, but not without shooting the other man a knowing look. And It seemed he had his own idea already gearing up in his head, and just wanted to tease and in the process get an actual confirmation.
"No one..." Raghav grumbled, slouching up, wanting to disappear somewhere else.
Few people knew Raghav the way Farhad did, which was, well, annoying sometimes. So, in other words, Farhad was the equivalent of a brother, most often a younger, annoying one.
"I see, so, if you're not asked by Pallavi Bhabhi to do this, I imagine you're trying to impress her? Right?" Farhad said, poking at the subject, placing a hand to his chin in wonder.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Raghav said, sighing, already debating on whether he should push Farhad out or not. ‘I could... but the question is whether or not I should’ Raghav contemplated with an actual consideration.
"I think you do." Farhad said smugly, giving him a mischievous grin, far too unfit to be left on his face for as long as it had settled. "Come on. You might as well just spill it, Anna." Farhad said simply, shrugging his shoulders.
"Just shut up Farhad." Raghav replied with a huff "There aren't any beans to spill here." he added.
"I was just in need of some grooming, nothing more, nothing less and that's all." He said defensively, placing his two hands on the bathroom counter, leaning into it idly.
"Hm...no, no I don't buy it." Farhad said skeptically, shaking his head, unconvinced.
"It's Bhabhi right?" he questioned Raghav, not missing an opportunity for the confirmation he knew he'd get. He stared directly at his friend, observing him with scrutinizing eyes.
It took a while to answer the question, but after a minute of silence, Raghav responded, with even less enthusiasm than before, sounding completely flat this time around.
"No." he said stiffly, his lips pressing firmly together.
And there it was….all the proof Farhad needed, written all over Raghav's face.
"Yes, it is!" Farhad exclaimed, snapping his right hand's thumb and middle finger together with a loud popping sound. There was nothing in the world that would convince him otherwise.
The reason behind Raghav's sudden behavioral change was because of her, and there was no other way of putting it.
"You know, you still look good without the beard." Farhad pointed out chuckling the entire time he spoke, ready to break down into hysterical laughter. Wiping a tear from the corner of his left eye, he let the last few giggles escape him before he spoke again "Didn't know you were actually capable of glowing red Anna." he voiced.
And sure enough, on Raghav's dusky skin, there was a noticeable change in color blooming across his face, spreading to the tips of his ears.
"No. I don't." Raghav said stubbornly, deciding to hold his ground. His face did not shift from the gaze set on the sink and decided to stay there to avoid giving Farhad a better look at his embarrassment. After all, he could only ride out the lie as far as it could stretch.
"I can see you, you know that right?" Farhad informed him, actually going as far as to jab his finger to the heated skin.
"No... you... can't." Raghav said slowly with a low voice, shoving the words out his mouth through tightly gritted teeth. He couldn't admit that he was blushing like some young teen.
"For god sakes! Anna there's a mirror right in your face!" Farhad exclaimed, doubling over in a fit of laughter, holding his chest with his right hand. And he didn't think it could get any better, but as Raghav's eyes shot up to the reflection, Farhad saw the look of shock plastered all over his red face betray him.
And to think he had actually convinced himself that he had actually remained impassive the entire time...Raghav stared wide-eyed as he saw the look that betrayed him staring straight at him, mocking him, and he felt stupid. The reflection before him was also of Farhad who didn't make any effort to hide his amusement, continuing on with his enjoyment.
"The lighting here is shitty." Raghav said, complaining, unable to stare at himself any longer, and shot his eyes straight down again, glaring at the water faucet instead.
Rolling his eyes, Farhad caved in, but only to give a bit of solace to his Anna, seeing how much he was fuming, to the point he was quite literally pouting. Nothing in the world would convince Farhad that the blush on his Anna's face wasn't because of Pallavi Bhabhi, because it was just an evident fact.
"Fine, fine!" he said, putting up his hands in defeat, giving a sluggish shrug. "Ok, You win Anna, I'll pretend you're not trying to impress someone." He said simply. "Someone here....in the same house." he added quickly. "Whose looking for you by the way." he mentioned in a just so you know sort of manner.
The grim and sour look on Raghav’s face immediately vanished as he heard the news.
"She is?" he breathed, unknowingly letting his face lift up to show a burst of joy. His eyebrows rose high and his entire expression became lively, glowing with a softer and tamed color of pink.
"I see you're all excited." Farhad pointed out nonchalantly, but looking rather smug. He was right and he knew it, and though he found the denial kind of amusing and well to simply put it, cute, he would rather have his Anna just admit that he loved Pallavi Bhabhi. There was no harm in it and if anyone should know it, then it was him--Anna’s friend cum secretary.
"You're not lying to me are you?" Raghav said immediately, glaring with suspicion.
"Come on, you get so defensive about her, but yes, She actually sent me out to look for you..." Farhad continued in a dull tone "but you can choose to not believe me." he added.
"Ah.." Raghav voiced with a short nod. He didn't say much afterward, and neither did the Farhad, leaving them in an awkward silence which was cut short by the Farhad a few minutes after.
"Your wife sent me here. I can see how much you love her." Farhad blurted out quickly, unable to hold it back any longer. He had almost suffocated trying to withhold the words, and it felt like a relief to have them flood out.
Rolling his head back in annoyance, Raghav stared up at the ceiling asking just what he did to deserve the pestering he's had to put up with so far.
"Are you done?" He asked, closing his eyes and breathing through his flared nostrils. He doubted that there was a medicine strong enough to relieve the pain of the headache he's grown since he started being interrogated.
"No..." Farhad said softly, in an almost too quiet voice. He sounded like a chided kid, making Raghav feel just a bit guilty for being so callous and rude.
"Can I have one last one?" Farhad said in a pleading voice sounding kiddish.
‘Well, at least I don't feel bad anymore’ Raghav thought deadpanned, agreeing albeit reluctantly, but nonetheless gave the go.
"Fine, Go ahead... but make it quick." he said preparing himself for what stupid little joke Farhad had in store.
"Anna's in love..." Farhad sang, using both his pointer fingers to move left in right at the rhythm. Staring at Farhad with a lukewarm stare, Raghav shook his head and brought up his hand to grip his forehead.
‘Is this the same man who is my organized secretary?’ he thought hopelessly as the Farhad continued to sing, ignoring the look of exasperation being shot at him.
"Finish up and let it out now, I don't want any of this when I meet Pallavi near the pool and surprise her with my new look which she wanted. Not a single joke, snicker, or peep!" Raghav said, glaring at him with a scowl.
The mini-concert stopped, and Farhad stared in awe with a slack jaw.
"Hold on.... Are you Serious? Pallavi Bhabhi wanted you to clean shave. And you are going on a date with Bhabhi." Farhad said in astonishment, dumbfounded at whatever logic was playing in his Anna's head.
"It's not a date. We're just meeting to discuss Kirti's birthday party..." Raghav said softly, sounding unconvinced himself. In all honesty, he didn't know himself what it was. He was used to being alone with her, so he couldn't really count meeting her near their house’s pool to discuss Kirti’s birthday a date. But then again...if it wasn't a date, why was he so nervous about spending some time with her? Enough to make himself look so presentable and shave off his beard just the way she wanted?
"Alright, so Amma will be there?" Farhad asked slowly, still trying to understand.
"No, problem?" Raghav said before pressing lips together.
‘We are going to be alone…’ Raghav thought to himself ‘but we already get together alone so many times... so, it isn't a date, right?’ he asked himself, scratching the side of his cheek.
"So...A date?" Farhad questioned with a flattening tone "You guys are meeting out near the pool that too alone every single day. You have groomed your face, clearing it from the beard which is so unusual for you just for Pallavi Bhabhi. While Bhabhi on the other hand is rushing to finish off her last saree work and asked me to call you. Are you sure you both are not in love?" Farhad started to say, laying out all the facts and counting them on his hand before Raghav cuts him off.
"Love? Have you lost your mind Farhad?" Raghav asked surprised, feeling an invisible punch to the gut at the news. ‘So she was excited as him for their daily meetup near the pool..Right? Is she able to design the saree all by herself in such a short time?’ The idea of her rushing her work just to meet him up caused a weird little feeling to rise up from inside. It made him want to dance, go out into the tallest building he could find and give a howl of excitement and sheer joy. ‘Love, has he fallen in love with her? Does she actually love me too?’ Raghav asked himself, biting his top lip with a look of concern.
"Bhabhi is having Krishna help her up with the saree." Farhad said in response to Raghav's unasked question, bringing him out of his little world. “And I can see the love you have for Pallavi Bhabhi in your eyes and--- wait, Anna, You didn't know that?" he added, raising a brow at Raghav seeing his shocked expression on his statement. Farhad had assumed the reason Raghav was trying to look good was that he wanted to impress Pallavi Bhabhi and woo her. That's the entire reason he even bothered to pick on him with such certainty.
‘So...Pallavi is worried she might not be able to reach the pool-side on time…’ Raghav thought with a faint smile ‘So guess I'm not the only one worried here…’
"So, you wouldn't happen to have some cologne would you?" Raghav asked Farhad somewhat sheepishly.
"For your da-"
"Yes for my date." Raghav confirmed.
[Later]
If anyone were to ask him, he could state with certainty that Pallavi Deshmukh--now Pallavi Raghav Rao was possibly one of the most beautiful women he'd encountered up to date. He'd always believed her to be pretty, right from the moment he first saw her. But when he saw her for the first time that night clad in her saree--looking ethereal and answering him back; he gawked at her as always as his jaw lightly slacked at a lack for any better words despite feeling hatred towards her at the moment.
Moving towards the pool, he saw Pallavi wide-eyed; she stared at him, taken back by his own appearance "Raghav!" she said, smiling grandly "You look amazing!" She added trying to overcome her surprise seeing Raghav like this for the first time. He looked really good and quite young.
Without a second thought, her hand came up to touch his clean-shaven face and traced his jawline with the tips of her fingers.The touch of her fingers on his face caused a very small tingle to run up his spine, going unnoticed due to her preoccupation and intense focus on the lower portion of his face.
"As sharp as a knife!" she commented, mesmerized and seemingly mystified. She breathed still oblivious that she had so openly touched him and continued to do so.
He looked down at her confused, but nonetheless grinning.
"What are you going on about Pallavi?" Raghav asked, being thrown back by her rather strange comment. He couldn't understand what she was mumbling about, but he knew it had to do with his face by the way her eyes were glued to it.
Pallavi’s hand suddenly retracted back, snapping to her side in a stiff movement. She looked embarrassed and sheepishly smiled at him, peering up at him with sweet brown colored eyes.
"I...I was talking about your jawline." she said laughing nervously, scratching her wrist with an unenthusiastic finger to take the edge of the fluster she felt.
"It's just... it's really sharp, you know? I didn't know it was under that beard of yours." she added with a small, amused breath.
It wasn't like they'd never touched, they were now good friends, but even then, she wasn't too keen on touching him so much, being one to respect boundaries. Her worries sedated upon gazing at his face again, noting he looked more confused than disgusted or troubled.
"You ok?" she asked him, cocking her head to the side, seeing his expression.
"That's a good thing right? The whole sharp knife thing... my jaw?" Raghav said unsure, closely eyeing her response with anxious eyes. Laughing at his perplexion, she closed her eyes in a full look of enjoyment.
"You look amazing Raghav. Really!" she said simply, shaking her head at his obvious insecurity, which in her opinion was completely misplaced.
"You're laughing at me." he said, sighing "Hard to believe you when you're laughing like that. Be honest with me...I'm not all that sensitive." Raghav said to her.
"No." she said with all seriousness "Seriously, you look good.." she said sensibly, touching a hand to his arm, giving him her own form of comfort. Whenever she did that, he knew she was being sincere, he knew she was on his side.
"You really think?" Raghav said, feeling his cheeks warm, looking away with growing insecurity, remembering the way Farhad had noticed the obvious coloration growing on his cheeks earlier.
She had caught a glimpse of his blush and giggled, finding it cute to see him so flustered. To think she ever found the guy to be intimidating...He was much too sweet, much too pure to be scary.
"Definitely. I know I had asked you to shave and I like it." she giggled, hiding the action with a modest hand. "But I will say. It's kind of weird seeing you like this.” she said smiling "It will also take some getting used to." she added afterward.
"Yeah?" He responded. "How? Don't tell me it's a bad weird?" He said hastily, almost throwing up his entire stomach at the growing anxiousness she was giving him. ‘Please don't tell me you hate it.’ He thought inwardly, groaning.
"I already told you you look great!" Pallavi assured him. 'Why was he being so weird about it?'
"It's just that you don't look like Raghav anymore." she added softly, quieting down rather suddenly. She said nothing more and stared down at her feet, thinking about something she kept hidden from him.
"I am still the Raghav Rao" He responded just as quietly, not knowing what else he could say.
"Yeah but, the Raghav I've come to know looks -"
"Intimidating?" He finished for her.
"No.... He kind of looks... well, he just looks rugged and kind of sexy actually." she admitted, slightly embarrassed, her voice barely going above a whisper as she finished the sentence with obvious struggle. “I know I am the one who asked you to shave off, but in reality I love the Raghav with a beard more---he looks more handsome.” Pallavi added confidently.
He tightened his jaw at the confession.
"You don't say..." He said through clenched teeth, swallowing down the loud roar of anguish he almost let out. To him, it didn't matter if he looked good if she wasn't into it..The whole reason he decided on the big change was for her anyways. ‘Just Great.’
With that being said, it meant he'd spend the rest of the year growing his hair out and growing that stupid stubble back like before.
She wants the intimidating Raghav Rao, he’ll give it to her.
Seeing the change in his expressions, "Oh no! You look great! I didn't mean to put you down!" she said immediately with a worried expression. "Change isn't a bad thing really! It's just my Raghav has a different look!"
'My Raghav.' That's all he heard, all he could focus on.
As you have guessed, this is the what I had in my mind if Pallavi hadn't stopped Raghav from shaving his beard.
I would love to read your feedback on the OS
REEM
PS: Thanks Mihika for the giving me the conjoint of the trio's name.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
