Hello Everyone,
Today’s wonderful episode got my imagination running into overdrive. This is a one-shot set during their awkward first night at RR mansion and explores Raghav’s perspective in more detail with a little surprise at the end. Enjoy !
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Pallavi surprised him by suggesting that they could share a room. She was visibly anxious, and he had tried to be as understanding as possible. Thankfully, she seemed to relax a little when he teased her and now he was waiting. She had still not emerged from the bathroom. He was busy working (well trying to work), except images of his Saree ka Dukaan in her beautiful sarees kept distracting him. She had looked exceptionally beautiful today and he was wondering how she would look tomorrow during the Vat Savitri. Pallavi was certainly setting the standard higher with every passing day. He hoped that she liked the second saree he had gifted, aware that he had made a total mess of the first gift. Although he knew that being the sweet soul she was, she would happily wear whatever he gifted her. He imagined her in the red saree and as he fantasized about her, he breathed in her scent before he saw her.
Immediately, he closed his eyes to breathe in the sweet fragrance of Pallavi which he was now becoming accustomed to. As he exhaled, he caught a movement to his right and flicked his eyes to her direction, trying to stealthily steal a glance, but she was already looking at him. He held her gaze whilst she shuffled around with her belongings. Her eyes widened suddenly, and he followed her sight. She had dropped her bra. Raghav was by no means a stranger to ladies and their undergarments, but this was the first time he had seen anything intimate about her. He felt his breathing become shallow and noticed her embarrassment and decided to avert his gaze. Once he realised that she had sorted herself out, he eagerly returned his gaze to the object of his desire as she nervously played with her hair. He saw her straighten herself, attempting to appear confident. He laughed inside at her determined walk to his bed… their bed.
Patience Raghav… he kept reminding himself. He had promised to keep her safe. As much as he was delighted and content to be in close proximity to Pallavi, resisting the temptation to engulf her in his arms was becoming rather difficult. He had assumed that Pallavi was inexperienced as far as her relationships with men were concerned. However, today after she had voiced that she had never shared a bed with anyone made him appreciate how innocent Pallavi really was. She had been married, but never loved. She had worked hard to please her ‘family’, but never appreciated. This girl deserved all the love in the world. He ached to give her all he possibly had, but was still unsure about her feelings. At times she looked at him as if he was the only thing that mattered, but every time she was confronted about her feelings, she either turned away from him or remained silent.
He had tried to find out her motives for fasting for him. He made it clear that she was under no obligation to do so for the sake of people or society. Again, she had simply stared at him with those beautiful eyes asking him to read her, understand her. He had his suspicions of course, he felt that she genuinely cared for him, was concerned about him and wanted his happiness. But did she love him? Or was that just the kind of person she was? Pallavi would wish the best for everyone she knew… but sometimes when he caught her looking at him, her gaze mirrored what he was hiding in his own, longing.
As she clumsily pulled the duvet to cover herself, he smiled at how cute she looked. This young woman who had worn his clothes and was mimicking him with such confidence a few days ago, was now hiding like a mouse inside his duvet. He rose to retrieve his folders which became tangled in the sheets and he sensed that she was immediately on guard. She turned and he saw her peeking at him, he gestured with the folders and went to sit down fighting a smile. He wished her goodnight and he smiled when he heard her soft reply.
Soon after, he finished his work and decided to get ready for bed. He silently headed towards the bathroom, careful not to wake her. He returned in his night gown. Usually, he would sleep bare but he could imagine her alarm at seeing him next to her without a shirt. So he lay down on the bed gently, wearing his gown. She had taken most of the duvet so he made himself comfortable. Although he was tired, sleep was out of question. He felt the bed shift, she had turned in her sleep and she was now on her back. Raghav was bowled over. Even without any jewellery, make-up and her usual accessories, she was breathtakingly beautiful. He shifted closer to her and propped himself on his right elbow and let his eyes roam lazily all over her face. He wished her eyes were open, so that he could lose himself in their depths, but he could never let himself indulge whilst she was awake. This gave him an opportunity to appreciate all of her features. Her full lips were pretty and he loved it when she pouted when she was angry with him. Her cheek bones were strikingly shaped and as he let his eyes wander lower, he noticed the black mole near her collar bone. This woman… his wife… would be the death of him.
He let out an audible sigh and laid on his back absentmindedly. The sudden movement and sound awoke Pallavi. She woke up to see Raghav lying down next to her staring up at the ceiling.
‘Raghav?’ she whispered.
He turned his head and now their faces were inches apart. ‘Kya hua Pallavi? Tum jaaga kyoon?’ She turned her head away and faced the ceiling as she spoke.
‘Tum bhi to jaage ho? Tumhe sona nahi hai? Kal subah tumhari meeting bhi hai na?’
‘Mein bahut kam sota hai. Normally, mein der tak kaam karta hai, phir thora drink ke baad sota hai. Waise mujhe neend bahut kam aati hai.’ He didn’t know why he had shared this with her, but he felt like she should know, since they would be spending time together in their bedroom.
Pallavi turned on her left side to face him and pulled the duvet close around her, clutching it tightly by her chest. ‘Raghav, tum kisi baat se pareshaan ho? Agar tum ho, to tum mujhe bataa sakte ho.’
The concern in her voice pleased Raghav and he turned to his right and smiled at her. He propped himself up on his right elbow. This movement caused his gown to reveal his bare chest and his chain gleamed in the dim light. He caught her eyes travel from his face to his chest and a blush rose. She quickly looked down and fiddled with the duvet.
Raghav decided this was the moment. He had to know. ‘Saree ka Dukaan, main tumko ek sawal poochna chahta hai.’
She laughed, ‘Ghamandi Rao, tum kabse sawaal karne se pehle sochne lage?’
He smiled at her tease, raised his eyebrows, moved his face closer to hers and asked directly, ‘tum kal vrat kyoon rakh raha hai?’
She froze and their eyes locked. ‘Tumhe nai pata kal kaunsa din hai?’ she said slowly.
‘Mein wajah pooch raha hai.’ His gaze was intense and the distance between them seemed to disappear.
‘Bataya tha na… mujhe wapas nahi kehna.’
‘Kaha bataya? Woh tum jawab dena wala tha, aur Farhad ka entry hogaya. Main ab tak intezar kar raha hai Pallavi.’
Pallavi gave a shy smile and looked at him with twinkling eyes. This look of hers would be his undoing. Raghav imagined Pallavi in his arms, looking at him with this look after he would have made love to her. His eyes darkened with these thoughts and he had to break eye contact. He ruffled a hand through his hair, sighed and squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again. He was staring above at the ceiling when he heard her quiet voice.
‘Woh… amma ne kaha tha ke… erm… Raghav…’ she hesitated.
He turned his head to see her and completed her sentence… ‘tum amma ko manna nahi kar sakta, issi liye tum meri liye vrat rakhega.’ The disappointment in his voice was evident. ‘Aise hi, jaisa tum mere saath room share kar raha hai… ye bhi amma ke liye.’
‘Raghav… tum ghalat samaj rahe ho.’
Pallavi released the duvet and tentatively moved her hand towards his and held it gently. He was surprised at her touch but she lifted their entwined hands towards her chest. His eyes flicked towards that mole again, which was now millimetres away from his fingertips.
‘Mujhe maaf karo Raghav.’ He questioned her with his gaze but remained silent, waiting for her to continue. ‘maine tumse jhoot kaha tha, ye room share karne ka khayal Amma ka nahi, mera tha.’
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Hope you enjoyed reading. Comments and feedback are always welcome.
Zee xx
Cricket
