(Ragya, Swasan) Fan Fiction Series +16
By Bubble
Chapter 56
Ragini was working on a textured watercolour that she proposed to use as background for Uttara's presentation. She was enjoying helping on this project - if only Lakshya was himself again, she would be completely happy.
Swara had made a tentative probe earlier in the day. "Laksh ko work tensions zyada hain kya?" she'd asked casually. Ragini had been tempted to confide in her but what could she say? Instead she'd just agreed with the reason Swara had offered and said, "Haan, Swara, he just gets irritable when they work against tight deadlines."
She had just gotten up from her work when a familiar arm curved around her waist from the left. Around the right, his hand came up bearing a lovely, dewy red rosebud in front of her face. She gasped, took it delightedly and turned in his arms.
"I'm sorry I yelled," Lakshya said, burying his face in her hair.
"It's ok!" she said at once, running her hands down his lean back.
He planted a quick kiss on her cheek and said, "I'm going to shower... hand me some ghar ke kapde?"
She nodded, went first to put her flower in a long stemmed vase on the side table and then to the cupboard to bring out jeans and a kurta. She turned as he was discarding his shirt.
"What's that?" she asked, with a touch of concern. He had a plaster on his bicep. "Kya hua, Laksh?"
"Kuch nahin," his answer was short.
She narrowed her eyes. It could be a small wound but how could it be "kuch nahin"? She put her hands on her hips - and with a sigh Lakshya noticed the signs by which any husband knows that his leash is about to be tugged and tugged hard.
"Ok, ok, calm down," he said, resigning himself, "It's a nicotine patch."
"What's that? she asked in surprise.
"It's something to help someone who's trying to quit smoking," he said.
"Oh!" Her eyes went round with sudden comprehension. "You're quitting smoking!!"
He lifted a finger. "Correction. I'm trying to quit. I didn't want to say anything in case I wasn't able to... but will people leave me in peace? No!" He flung his towel on his shoulder and strode into the bathroom.
He was giving up smoking!! Was it because of what she'd said!? The thought sank in slowly... Ragini became elated. No wonder he was so crabby - surely it was one of the side effects of withdrawal! She reached for the tab at once and settled on the bed to read all about it. By the time he'd showered, she knew everything the Internet could tell her about quitting smoking as well as how to help him.
"Just two weeks, Laksh!" she said, looking up as he emerged from the bath with a towel around his hips, "It'll get better after just two weeks!"
"Yeah, I know! But I glad of this," he said indicating the patch, "Sanskaar hauled me off to a medical store this morning... it actually feels better. Now I can wean off the habit without going nuts."
"Yes, thank god! This article says it can be very helpful! And we'll get you chewing gum and sugar-free sweets to replace the habit with," she said, covering the tab.
He leapt across onto the bed, wet as he was, settling with his head propped against his palm. "Arre! Sukha toh leejiye, Laksh!" she said, her housewifely instincts worried for the gorgeous handworked counterpane.
"Sookh jaayega!" he dismissed. She looked at him reproachfully, shaking her head, and got up to put the gadget away. But he had her by the wrist and one quick tug brought her tumbling on to his bare, still-damp, taut-muscled torso. "So, rub me down yourself," he suggested... "you get me dry, I get you wet... it's a fair exchange... hmm?" He caught a pearl dangling from her earring in his teeth.
"Lakshya!" she said, trying to push away, "iss waqt?"
"What's wrong with iss waqt?" he asked, pulling her back to his chest.
"Please, Laksh!" she said one eye on the clock. It was time for aarti and someone would surely call out or maybe even knock!
"You have the right words but the tone needs a little work," he smirked. "The delivery should be... 'oh, Laksh! please, Laksh!'" he mimicked a breathless female voice.
Now she did push him away, sitting up and tossing her head with injured pride. "Bohut bure hain aap, Laksh! Aisa toh nahin hai ke hum akele bekabu hote hain!"
He sat up too, laughing. "Did I say that?! Obviously, bekabu toh mai bhi hota hoon, aur iss waqt bohut besabr bhi hoon!" He pulled her forcefully close again, chest to chest and said, against her red mouth, "Do you know how long it's been? A full fortnight!"
She raised a hand to his cheek. "Tonight! Promise! Please, abhi aarti ka time hai... please," she pleaded.
"Right!" he let her go. "But come up straight after dinner!" he ordered. "And you won't be sleeping much."
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