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The Best of Things
(Ragya, Swasan) Fan Fiction Series +16
By Bubble
Chapter 46
When it was time for him to leave, Ragini walked Lakshya out and they stood in the corridor for quite a while talking.
"This was a very good idea, Lakshya!" Ragini said seriously. "Maa has been so sweet... discussing so many things... I had no idea she was so worried about me when I was growing up... I wish Papa and Maa had married sooner... maybe things would have been different for me."
"Hmm..." he agreed, thoughtfully.
She shook off the pensive mood and asked brightly, "So what's been happening at home? Sab theek hai?"
"Haan," he laughed, "sab theek hai. Sanskaar and Swara are going about in a haze of romance and pheromones!"
She laughed and then sobered up again, remembering what she had tried to do. "I do hope they set their relationship right... I will be happy... really happy if Swara can find love and stability again."
He nodded. "Me too. Swara is on my conscience as well."
She looked at him in astonishment.
He looked back at her, surprised at her expression. "Haan, Ragini! I was engaged to her, we were going to be married... and I gave up on her! Swara went to pieces because I wasn't staunch enough... I don't think I can rest easy unless she's settled in life... until I know she's really ok."
That had not occurred to Ragini - she had never dreamt that Lakshya felt guilty about Swara... she had always assumed that he merely wanted her back, or couldn't get over her. She had never thought that he needed to set his mind at rest too... and that Swara's happiness was the only way to accomplish that.
Lakshya went on, "And thank God for Bhai... because he's... he's solid. He's such a determined guy - he's quiet, you know, not overtly aggressive but so determined! If Swara lets him, he'll take such good care of her... she wouldn't ever look back."
+++
Sharmishta peeped out of the window again.
"Kya kar rahi ho, Mishti? Chalo, take your medicine and go to sleep instead of snooping on your married daughter!" Shekhar had looked up from the book he was reading.
"Shekhar, they've been talking for an hour! I thought it was a forced, zabardasti wala marriage, but now I think they are really moving towards a great relationship! When he came this evening, I thought he was being polite by coming to see me, but obviously he's just come by to see Ragini!" Sharmistha looked so delighted that Shekhar grinned too.
Sharmishta raised her hands in prayer, "Devi Maa, please bless and protect my daughters!"
+++
Nearly an hour and fifteen minutes after she had gone to "see off" Lakshya, Ragini came in, looking a little bashful at the time she had taken over a simple job.
Sharmishta sat on the sofa, reading by the lampshade. She looked up. "Ho gaya goodnight bolna?" she teased.
Ragini blushed, "Haan... sorry Maa bohut der kardi!"
Sharmishta shook her head, laughing, "Nai, nai... miya biwi raazi toh mujhe kya problem hai?!"
Ragini laughed too. "Woh... it's been a while and we both had so many things to tell each other... so..."
Sharmishta said, "At first I thought it was a polite visit, but clearly he was missing you!"
Ragini came and sat down next to her mother. "Do you think so, Maa?"
"It certainly looked like that to me!" asserted Sharmishta.
She considered that. "Do you think... do you think he will ever love me, Maa?"
Sharmishta put out her arms and beckoned her. Ragini moved closer, slipped down to the carpet and rested her head in her mother's lap.
"I don't know, Laado!" she said, using the endearment that Ragini had always been called by, "But can I give you some advice?"
Ragini looked up and nodded.
"Love is a very very powerful force... and it is irresistible. If you love him completely, utterly, he will have no choice but to come to you. But for that you need to love without expectation, without conditions..."
Ragini listened carefully.
Sharmishta went on, "Don't expect him to love you back! We never know how long a seed will take to emerge and then we don't know when it will flower and bear fruit. But however long it takes, it will never happen if you dig out the seed every week and check if it is working. Just leave it. Love him, do your best for this marriage... and that's it."
Ragini looked up at her mother thoughtfully and then nodded.
