The Best of Things
(RagLak, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 23
Although she was very happy, Ragini's insecurities raised their heads periodically. Lakshya was able to contain her on most occasions - sometimes by letting her talk and air out her grievances in an oblique way, sometimes by laughing at her, and once in a way adjuring her strictly that no matter what turmoil her feelings underwent, she was required to put a good face on it and not let it colour her behaviour outside their room. He made a sharp distinction between feeling something and acting upon it.
In spite of this, a few events occurred in conjunction that proved too much for Ragini.
The first happened at the bhajan mandali. There, after samooha gaan, which they all sang together, one of the ladies asked Swara to come forward and sing something new, since she had not joined them for the previous meeting.
Swara looked at Badi Maa and Mom hesitantly, and Annapurna urged her forward. "Haan, haan beta, tumhe koi bhajan aata hai, toh gao na! Aao, sharmao mat..."
Sujata too knew how well Swara sang... "Haan, haan, chhori! Gaa de!"
Shyly, Swara introduced the Surdas bhajan that she had picked... "This narrates the story of Gajendra Moksha... and I love this composition in Raga Des..."
The tanpura was passed on to her, and Swara closed her eyes and lifted her voice... 'Hey Govinda, Hey Gopala...' She sang open-throatedly, enunciating the words, bringing out the phrases... doing justice to both lyric and melody... and when she came to the end... "Sur kahe, Shyaam suno..." her listeners had goose bumps from sheer emotional response.
As her voice trailed off, there was complete silence and then the mandali erupted in applause and wah-wahi. The ladies clamoured around Swara thanking her for transporting them... and Annapurna and Sujata received so many compliments on their accomplished bahu that their hearts swelled with pride.
They came home and told everyone how Swara had done them proud. Durga Prasad insisted that Swara sing the song for them as well... and when she shyly complied, sitting at the mandir, with the whole family gathered around, Ragini was quite unable to keep down the monster of jealousy that reared.
***
The second factor was that Uttara had developed a huge crush on Swara bhabhi. Swara and Uttara went shopping together, they zipped off on Swara's scooter to have chaat in the afternoon, bringing back bhelpuri-without-pyaaz for all the ladies at home... Uttara found Swara's independence, her vivacity, and her frank, open affection very appealing. That her big brother Sanskaar adored Swara only added to her lustre in his sister's eyes.
Ragini, who so wanted to be the much admired bhabhi, was sidelined. Uttara found her flutterings, her sanskaari airs too tedious and although she was polite, there was no mistaking her preference. It was a severe blow to Ragini's pride. It did not occur to her that if she had only approached the young girl as a person and a friend instead of always posing to her in the bhabhi-nanad mould, they stood a much better chance.
***
But what set the seal on Ragini's determination to be rid of Swara, was a small insignificant interaction with Lakshya.
Swara came down one morning to find that Uttara, Adarsh and Lakshya were bringing out the carrom board. "Itni subah subah, what is wrong with you children?" grumbled Annapurna.
"Come on, Ma, why don't you join us?" Lakshya invited her.
"No, I have a thousand things to do... ah here she comes, ask Swara!" and Annapurna disappeared upstairs with a tea tray for her husband.
"Bhabhi! Come join us for one game," Uttara called out.
Swara came towards them, smiling. Adarsh, who was conscious of the fact that Swara and Lakshya were once betrothed and had so much history behind them looked avidly from one to the other. Lakshya noticed the look and, although he mentally shook his head at Adarsh bhaiyya's tactlessness, he nodded infinitesimally at Swara, asking her silently to join them.
Swara understood. There was no point in behaving awkwardly and making the whole family uneasy. "Ok, just one game... I'm going to help with breakfast," said Swara pulling out a chair. Typically, Uttara insisted on teaming up with Swara bhabhi instead of Lakshya bhaiyya... with the result that Lakshya started razzing them.
"You've chosen the wrong partner, Uttara!" he said, just as Swara took strike, "just look at that French manicure and tell me if anyone can play with talons like that."
"Shut up!" retorted Swara, "my scissor grip is more than enough to beat you!"
"Achcha?! Let's see... two ace players against two novices handicapped with not only lack of natural talent, but nail extensions... I feel sorry for you..."
The game proceeded like that and soon Swara, both laughing and annoyed with Lakshya's relentless teasing, pushed back her chair. "Achcha, Lakshya ke bacche... I'll show you what my nakhoon can do..."
Lakshya backed away from the table in mock-fright and with a faux high-pitched scream he ran through the massive hallway with Swara in fearsome pursuit, while Uttara and Adarsh sat back in their chairs laughing. Lakshya gave her a run through the hall and then ran up the stairs to seek refuge behind Sanskaar who was just coming down. Chasing him around the staircase, Swara stopped short, looking up at Sanskaar.
The elders were coming down to breakfast, so Sanskaar laughed and said, "Swara, if Lucky is troubling you, just let me know, I'll have him gagged and bound up for your punishment!"
And he put Lakshya's head in a stranglehold and dragged him off to the breakfast table.
No one thought any more about it but standing upstairs in the corridor... Ragini gripped her hands together. No matter how tight a rein she held on Lakshya and created scenes about his interactions with Swara, this sort of thing happened! They would not talk for many days, but once in a way, their camaraderie burst out. It was no use trying to contain the time they spent together... the problem was that Lakshya just liked Swara too much! Was she never going to have Lakshya to herself? Oh, why wouldn't Swara just get out of their lives?
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