Love the Way You Lie (Raghvi FF)

Hello, am back with a longer story this time. Needless to say, am always eager to know your thoughts on the story, the writing, and the way the legendary pair appear in this fanfiction.

Index

Prologue -- Pg 1

Prologue

The man swayed on his feet, surrounded by the ravages that the hospital's bright lights did little to hide. Glass debris littered the floor. Torn paper flapped like giant moths in the breeze from the open window. Medicine leaking from a broken bottle left pools of brownish sludge near his feet. Amidst the general devastation, one would have hardly noticed the drops of blood as they fell on the floor from the gash in his hand.

Raghav Rao stood, his mother's words still ringing in his ear. For once in his life, the mess in a room was not caused by him. Jaya Rao had gone to great lengths to lay bare exactly what she thought of him. When she ran out of words, she used action. He had watched her as she ripped apart the prescriptions, thrown away the medicines he had bought for her, and in a final climactic display of rage, knocked over the jug of water Keerthi had brought for her. For Amma had finally found out he had been paying for her treatment. And she wanted none of that.

"Don't make a liar out of me. When I told you I never want to see your face again, what made you think I was lying?"

Raghav closed his eyes as his fists clenched. He barely noticed the sting from the wound. Everything in the room seemed to mock him. Taking in a deep breath, he willed away the ache deep within him. It didn't work. It had never worked. Finally, he turned around and strode out. The diminutive hospital staff outside the door waiting for him to leave so she could get on with the clearing up was treated to a glare that left her quivering in her padded shoes.

Raghav would have continued on his bullish journey down the corridor, out to the car park and all the way to Nemo's, the bar where he would retire to lick his wounds, had not a softly-spoken call of "Mr. Ramaswamy?" suddenly accosted him. Looking up, he found himself staring into silvery gray eyes that felt strangely familiar. He could not quite place her but thought he had seen her somewhere. Even as he stood momentarily startled into silence, she gasped out.

"You are bleeding! Have you been in an accident?"

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Pallavi Deshmukh had returned home from the store to find the house in an uproar. Sulochona Kaku stood at one corner of the courtyard, wearing nervous anger in her eyes. Baba, on the other hand, was seated on a couch, pushing away his wife's attempts to make him drink water or his brother's attempt to fan him using a newspaper. He was heaving, and Pallavi knew by the colour of his face that he should be immediately taken to the hospital. Turning to a frozen Nikhil, she told him to call a cab and proceeded to cajole Vijay Deshmukh into taking the Sorbitrate. Aai brought the medical files while Pallavi calmed Baba down. Milind Kaka and Nikhil soon returned with a cab, and they made good time to the hospital.

The checkup revealed it had indeed been a close shave. The doctor insisted that Vijay should remain under observation for the next 12 hours. Thus Pallavi saw her family off, almost forcing Aai into the cab. As Vijay had fallen asleep, Pallavi decided she could get herself something to eat at the canteen. As she was making her way to the elevator, she saw a familiar figure stumbling down the corridor.

Pallavi had met Mr. Ramaswamy a couple of times while volunteering at the NGO for the elderly. Despite the fact that he had singlehandedly set up the largest organisation in the country that catered to the needs of senior citizens, she appreciated his reticence at receiving any of the fame that came with it. Having had her share of experiences with NGOs and their sponsors, Mr. Ramaswamy appeared a veritable angel in her eyes. His aloofness ensured his name stayed out of the papers, and he continued as the mysterious donor who made all the magic happening at the organisation possible. He was certainly a rarity in his aversion for publicity and Pallavi Deshmukh had developed a firm admiration for the man over the course of the few meetings she had with him.

To see Mr. Ramaswamy staggering down the corridor made her first wonder if he was drunk. Even so, she could not help but reach out when it appeared to her he was about to bump into a stretcher lined up against the wall. However, as soon as she had called out his name, her eyes fell on his hand. Blood was smeared on his cuff and fresh trails of redness were even then making their way down his fingers. She couldn't hold back the gasp that came out of her unbidden at the sight of so much blood.

***************************************

Raghav allowed her to lead him into a room. Her agitation at the wound he himself had barely noticed, quite robbed him of the storm that had been billowing within him only moments ago. He watched her, taking in the dark shadows around her eyes, the paleness of her cheeks, the sallow skin beaded with sweat. At present, she was speaking to a nurse, occasionally pointing toward him. Soon she moved away to make way for a young doctor, still wet behind the ears. Raghav let the fellow deal with the wound. When the true extent of the gash was revealed following the cleaning of the area, Raghav watched on with a distant curiosity. Familiarity with pain had bred such indifference in him, that he found comfort as the pain washed over him.

As the nurse and doctor proceeded to stitch him up, his eyes fell on the lady, noting the grayness of her eyes, the full lips, the curve of her neck. His eyes trailed over her body, taking her apart in his mind. She never noticed him, her eyes fixed on what the doctor was doing to his hand. He would have continued so when all of a sudden, she reached out a hand and placing it on his shoulder, pressed down gently. Looking up at her face, he saw her still focused on his wounded hand. Following her gaze, he saw a fresh flow of blood had started seeping. The doctor dabbed away at the seepage and Raghav's eyes returned to the woman. She had removed her hand from his shoulder. It had been but a momentary touch on her part. However, feeling his eyes on her now she looked at him and gave a soft smile of encouragement.

Raghav Rao's wounded hand under the doctor's needle trembled for the first time.

Well done! ❤️ What a beginning 👏

take care be safe & keep smiling

Twerps! You are back again, and how!

I loved the prologue, an introduction to RaghVi 2.0

The only thing I don't like is that I have a have to wait for more.. 😁

Reading this I could relate so much with both Pallavi and Raghav. The essence of RaghVi is there but now, through your writing, we will join them in their emotional rollercoaster, their journey to find themselves and each other. And I cannot wait to see what comes next.

I can recognize the emotional side of Raghav, the caring side of Pallavi, and both being used to live their lives on fire fighting mode. His physical pain and discomfort is nothing compared to the emotional pain and damage he is experiencing. Jaya's tough love is not working.

I really like how you described the way Raghav checks out Pallavi. Shamelessly. It takes me back to that infamous saree shop scene where he comes to give her hell but still checks her out.

In your OS Turn of Events, which I still hope will be continued, you also describe this so so well. I absolutely loved it. I would like more of that (pretty please) and I cannot wait to see the next chapters on Love the way you lie.

Hope you share the updates soon 😊

Damnnnnnn Gurl! You so good👏

I loved the whole piece from start to end. The only thing different is Pallavi's being introduced to Mr. Ramaswamy first instead of the rude Mr. Rao. I hope the story moves ahead as Pallavi & Raghav's & Not Pallavi & Mr. Ramaswamy as it would become of a different essence.

The whole explanation of Amma going overboard in trying to kick her first born out is something that has always been a sore topic for me & you explain it in a short scene here so well😭

The last line suggests Raghav is getting affected by Ms. Grey Eyes😆 which he wouldn't want .... Can't wait to read more soon Twerping

Girl, this is amazing. I love how the plot is different and intriguing; and yet the core characteristics of raghvi is similar. The way Raghav was checking her out was hot. Thank u so much for the tag. U better continue or else imma stalk u down & knock on your door😈…

Ps: I'm still hoping u will continue your other OS

Damn the prologue is just so good and so intriguing especially the way you have set the scenes and the details used. Can't wait read more please do update soon.