Hi Friends,
Another amateurish OS to handle the situation 😆 Ekdum Kekta style
Enjoy
P.S. I am running out of names for One Shots😆
...
Nachiket's Ragini
Raat haseen, yeh chand haseen, tu sabse haseen mere dilbar
Aur tujhse haseen tera pyar ...
A slight knock on the door woke Ashaben up from her fitful reverie. She had dozed off on the sofa, in front of the TV. The room was partially illuminated by the reflection from the TV; the apartment was otherwise in a mellowed state. She looked at the clock and frowned when she noticed the time - it was around 11 at night. Already. She wondered who was knocking at the door, so late at night.
She peered through the looking glass and was surprised to see him standing there, waiting for the door to open. He was nervous. Ashaben was annoyed - What is he doing here so late?', she thought.
She sighed deeply. Keeping a tight rein on her emotions, she opened the door noiselessly.
She looked at Nachiket standing in front of her. Yes, he was nervous. And Ashaben knew that Nachiket did not do nervous well. She had known him very well once; now he seemed like an apparition - a too distant figure to know.
She moved to the side, letting him step inside. Closing the door behind her, she enquired tersely Why have you come here Nachiket? What do you want?'
I need your help', he blurted out. His voice reeked of desperation, Ashaben noticed. He continued I need to speak to Ragini'
Turning away from Nachiket, Ragini's Mother answered in a hushed tone Why Nachiket? There is nothing left to talk about. All these years I have hoped and wished and prayed for some happiness for my baby. But ... now I have given up. This is a point of inflection Nachiket, a point of no return.'
Nachiket glanced towards Ragini's room nervously, half expecting to hear from her Mother that Ragini was not at home. He wanted to speak to her, to make things right, to try at least. The very thought of being away from her forever was unsettling him; there was a constant conflict between his heart and head. He knew that there was no way he could stay away from Ragini, whatever he did. Especially after so many years. When he had seen her for the first time that fateful morning, after so many years, eye still closed in feigned sleep, demanding for the newspaper and the packet of milk - his heart has leapt up to his mouth and he had held his breath, taking in every inch of her face, his eyes languidly tracing the fine lines that seem to have developed around her eyes and her mouth. It was spell binding.
He took a deep breath and walked to Ashaben and gazed down into her eyes.
I am also looking for another chance'
Ragini's Mother retorted 'But you should be at your engagement party. Please leave Ragini alone. She can't do this again and again. '
Realising that Nachiket had no intentions of leaving, Ashaben sighed and pointed towards Ragini's room She is in there. But please do not hurt her further.' Silent tears trickled down her face.
Taking off his shoes, Nachiket walked slowly towards Ragini's room.
He could make out that the doors to Nishi and Aarav's rooms were shut. Apart from the TV screen, the apartment was lit by a lamp at one corner of the drawing room.
He pushed the door open slowly, half expecting Ragini to be asleep. He could make out a sliver of moonlight streaming in through the open curtains of the balcony.
Ragini was not in her bed. He looked around, desperate in his need.
Ragini' Nachiket called out Where are you?'
There was pin drop silence. Sensing that Ragini had probably gone to the washroom, Nachiket decided to wait.
The stillness cloaked him in a foreboding sense of sadness and loneliness. And in that silence, he heard a slight sniffle, a deliberate stifling of sobs.
In that moonlit darkness, he heard his heart break and scatter into million pieces.
He proceeded towards the middle of the room and stopped ... Ragini was huddled down on the floor, with her back against the wooden footboard of her bed. She was still attired in the saree that she had worn to the party.
Flashback
The so called surprise party before Nishi's marriage; the party in which Pam had announced to the world about Nachiket and Nivedita's engagement.
The party that was supposed to celebrate the ushering of happiness in their daughter's life - Nachiket had quickly glanced through the shocked faces of Nishi, Jignesh, Aarav and Aagam. And then in a second, he had turned back and seen all colour drain from Ragini's face. And then she had started shivering, Nachiket could almost feel her shivering. Their eyes held each other's glance for a few heartbeats, far away from everybody; when Pam came and intervened.
Other guests flocked around to congratulate them, Nachiket had looked away for a few minutes. Ragini was gone by the time he could manage to turn around once again.
He realised at that moment that though Dr Neil Khanna had won, Nachiket had lost. Once and for all.
...
Some time later
"Dad, I want to speak to you for a minute. Please could you come with me for a minute?' Aagam said.
Nachiket looked down at the saddened eyes of his son. Ok', he nodded.
They walked towards the end of the lawn, adjacent to the venue blocked for the party, which was in full swing.
Once they were away from everybody, Aagam confronted him
Dad, what are you doing? You are getting engaged to Nivedita? What will happen to Mom? I don't even like her'
Nachiket raised his hand authoritatively, stopping Aagam in earnest.
Aagam, I do not want to discuss this with you. Anyway, your Mom has also moved on in life, why not me?'
You really think she has moved on?' a sweet voice chimed behind him. Nachiket was surprised to find Nishi there. He tried to avoid her, but Nishi continued
I know that you think that Dr Aman and Mom are married. I also know that what Mom had started as an on-the-spot response has snowballed into a huge lie and misunderstanding now. Why did she do it? Because she was trying to protect herself. All these years she has stood up for us, fought for us, done everything humanly possible for us, and not thought about herself for a moment. So when you suddenly came in front of her, she adopted the lie as her defence mechanism. Having not being able to get over the hurt of the separation, she has been hanging on the lie for her dear life. But do you really think she has moved on? She still cries for her family at night. I have seen her doing so, though she doesn't know that. I didn't want her pride to get shattered - that's the only thing she has left. But, she has always loved you, Dad'
'Anyway, congrats Dad' Nishi turned away crying, followed by Aagam. 'Come Aagam, I have to find Jignesh. I have to go home'
..
Present moment
He proceeded towards the middle of the room and stopped ... Ragini was huddled down on the floor, with her back against the wooden footboard of her bed. She was still attired in the saree that she had worn at the party.
Nachiket skirted the foot of the bed and slowly approached Ragini. He could not see her face; her open hair silhouetted her face. She was holding something - it looked like a picture.
The only light in the room was from the full moon, sparkling outside.
Now that he was standing in front of her, Nachiket expected some sort of response from Ragini. But there was absolutely nothing.
His heart pounding in his mouth, Nachiket slid down beside Ragini, seating beside her, his feet extended out on the cool tiles of the floor.
He carefully prised the photo from her fingers and almost cried when he realised that she had been looking at the other copy of their family photo where the smiling faces glowed with the happiness and contentment of their love for each other. He had the other copy.
'Oh Ragini' he whispered as his heart constricted I am so sorry. Why did you lie to me? I have been burning in hell all this while'
In a split second, Ragini turned around and slapped him hard.
Stunned, Nachiket turned towards Ragini. Her eyes were blazing in the dark. They sat in animated silence for a while, their faces turned towards each other.
Nachiket watched in amazement as slowly and steadily, the fire and heat in her eyes turned into a pool of glistening tears.
'You are a fool, Nachiket' Ragini whispered.
He cautiously raised his hand and circled her shoulders, pulling her to himself.
Feeling no resistance, he gazed into Ragini's eyes once again. The tears of pearl had already started flowing by then. Her touch was like feather on his cheek.
'I am so sorry Nachiket. For everything.' Ragini whispered, as she lowered her head on his shoulder and started crying, her body quivering in his arms. Nachiket kissed the top of her head softly and held her close, her tears opening up the treasure chest of pain, hurt and loneliness accumulated over years - years defining a legacy of loss of love, longing and happiness.
...
The End
Anupamaa
