Hello everyone,
My name is Zee. I have been a silent member of this amazing forum. Great fan of MHRW and thoroughly enjoy reading the fantastic fanfictions on this forum. I have been inspired to write an OS myself... my first ever. Hope you enjoy it.
This is set during the poolside scene, before Keerti interrupted their conversation.
Raghav could not get enough of staring into the light eyes of the dazzling beauty next to him. His heart had gone through a roller coaster of emotions. The night before he had been restless, anxious about Pallavi's departure. This morning, he had reluctantly broken the news of her return to Kolhapur. A big part of him was dying to see a reaction from Pallavi. Without saying a word, without even shedding a tear, she had silently turned to pack her things. What had he been expecting? Surely, she would miss him a little no?
Soon after, when she pulled off the jhadu stunt, Raghav's shock and embarrassment quickly transformed into sheer ecstasy. This is the fiery, passionate Pallavi he knew and loved. As she held his gaze whilst clutching onto his collar, his heart was screaming with joy. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected this reaction from her, but it had soothed his troubled heart. She wanted to stay, she had chosen to stay with him and he would have it no other way. His eyes followed her as she stormed off to the room and he muttered silent prayers to the Almighty.
As soon as the euphoria related to Pallavi's decision was at its peak, he realised how hurt she was and he regretted his hasty actions. Farhad suggested shayari, but this attempt failed miserably. Although he learnt something. He realised how much he hated it when Pallavi walked away from him. Turning away from Raghav ignited a fire inside him. It must have been this simmering passion which made him speak his heart out in Telugu. He had spoken the truth plainly to her with an earnestness which surprised himself. She had stared at him and he had seen her trying to decipher what he had said, but her frustration was justified.
Kaka and Krishna had also been supportive and he realised how many things there were about Pallavi that he didn't know. He made a mental note about her love for old Bollywood songs and he caught the genuine, bright smile gracing her face when she sang with Kaka at the dinner table. He could definitely sing for her. He was Raghav Rao and he would do anything to be the reason for her smile.
His efforts paid off, he knew his singing may not be the most melodious but he sang his heart out. He poured all his feelings of love and compassion into that carefully chosen song. Krishna had suggested others too, but this one suited Pallavi perfectly. She was the light in his life. She rose like the sun, illuminating everything in his life and providing the warmth which was lacking in his otherwise cold existence.
For a brief moment, his heart sank. When he saw her intense, silent gaze, he thought she would walk away from him and leave him to wallow in his failed attempts. But yet again, she did the unexpected. She sang for him in her sweet voice, and she was smiling throughout. They had held eye contact long after she finished singing and they didn't realise when they were the only ones in the room. Raghav was mesmerised by her innocent yet bold nature. Not for the first time that day, Raghav's heart was thumping in his chest. But this was for another reason altogether. He had been right about 'kuchh to hai', but this was the moment when he admitted to himself, he had fallen deep and hard for his Saree ka dukaan.
Caught up in all these thoughts he hadn't been able to stop Pallavi as she had quietly wished him goodnight. He returned to his room to freshen up and catch some much needed sleep, however Raghav longed to hear her voice again. Their recent conversations were fast becoming a habit, one he could not do without. Should he go and knock on her door? Would she want to speak to him? His heart wished that she did and it was with this hope he walked towards her room only to find it empty.
Reddy informed him that Pallavi madam was having some tea by the pool. Raghav smiled, remembering their poolside conversations. They had great banter and he loved how he could speak his mind to Pallavi. She was an attentive listener and he felt at ease to share his innermost thoughts. Suddenly a memory came and interrupted his thoughts. The moment where he had carried a soaking Pallavi in his arms and out of the pool. She had been hesitant and embarrassed, whilst Raghav was fascinated by her physical presence. That was the longest time they had been together in such close proximity. Suddenly, the urge to go and see Pallavi and be near her was overwhelming.
This was how he ended up sitting next to her at the poolside. She was lost in her thoughts, smiling to herself. Raghav hoped he was the reason for her joy but he knew she would never admit it. He tried his luck anyway and it turned out his attempts were OK OK. His heart rejoiced, this was a huge success. The fact that Pallavi was not shooing him away from her and smiling was more than what he expected.
He had noticed Pallavi and her beauty before. Although he never complimented her directly, Raghav had been around enough women in his life to know that Pallavi was indeed uniquely attractive. Her pretty, delicate features combined with her fierce spirit was what pulled people towards her. Raghav himself had been drawn by her compassion, sincerity and strength of character. But today, he was looking at her in a new light. His gaze was appreciating everything about her. Her long, fragrant hair was billowing gently around her face. As she faced him, he drew his eyes down to her pretty lips, the curve of her cheekbones, her delicate neck and collarbone.
'Aise kya dekh rahe ho Raghav?' She questioned whilst twisting her bangle nervously. She was no longer holding his gaze and was waiting for his answer with lowered eyes.
'Pallavi, mein tumko kaisa lagta hai?' Raghav asked directly. Pallavi choosing to stay back with him, and her beautiful singing had given him a new-found confidence. Raghav was ready to accept his feelings whether she reciprocated or not. Either way, he wanted her to know what he felt and was determined to find out her feelings.
Pallavi knew him by now, he was not one to mince his words. Her eyes shot up at his question and she saw that he was serious. His expression was unreadable but she couldn't hold his gaze.
'Ghamandi Rao, ye kaisa sawaal hai?' She resumed twisting her bangle and tried to mask her overwhelming feelings. She was still getting used to being the object of his attention and he had never looked at her the way he was looking at her now.
Raghav gently placed his hand on hers and she froze and looked straight ahead into the pool. The back of his hand lightly touched her right cheek and she closed her eyes. With his index finger he tentatively pulled her chin to make her face him.
'Saree ka dukaan... Mereko dekho.' His voice was lower and although they hadn't moved, the distance between them seemed to disappear. 'Tum mereko jaanta hai, mein straightforward insaan hai Pallavi. Seedha sawaal ka seedha jawaab mereko chahiye. Mein tumko kaisa lagta hai?' He asked again more firmly this time. Although he was being as gentle as he could, his tone was firm. He was not going to leave her without hearing an answer and her response was giving him the confidence to continue.
Pallavi breathed and tried to think about an answer but his touch on her chin was distracting. She struggled to think and she would never be able to confess her true feelings to him as openly as he was expecting her to.
'Tum mere pati ho Raghav'.
Disappointed at her answer but not willing to give up, he continued. 'Ye mere sawaal ka jawab nahi hai Pallavi.' Saying that he allowed his fingers to gently stroke the underside of her cheek and rested them on her neck. He felt the racing pulse underneath and how her breathing quickened.
She slowly raised her eyes to meet his. He saw the vulnerability in her eyes, something she didn't allow him to see very often. 'Tum mujhe apne lagte ho. Issi liye mein tumse door nahi jaana chahti.' Tears spilled from her glistening eyes as she blinked and she gently placed her small hand on top of his hand and tilted her face into the palm of his hand.
Raghav released a breath he didn't know he was holding and beamed. He wiped a tear that had fallen from his own eyes. 'Aaj ke liye, mein phirse bolta hai, I am sorry.' He raised his eyebrows and winked at her making her smile. 'Mein vaada karta hai Pallavi, mein kabhi tumse door nahi jaayega, tum chaahega bhi, tab bhi nahi. Mein tumko hamesha khush rakhega. Aaj jab tumko chorne ka baat aya, mereko feel hua ke mein kya chahta hai. Mein tumko chahta hai Pallavi... bahut chahta hai.' He turned more towards her as he confessed and cupped the other side of her face with his hand. Her eyes opened wide and there was a joy shining in her eyes. She smiled at Raghav. Her eyes were shining and she moved closer to him. She lay her head on his chest and replied, 'main bhi'.
Cricket
