Flashback ends...

Author's POV:

She was taking heavy breaths while fuming hot tears were flowing out of her eyes...She was fuming angrily. Her chest heaved angrily up and down...she was struggling to breath while Natalie got her a glass of water and made her drink it...

'Easy easy ..breath breath...' she said trying to pat her back. She lipped the glass and with a lot of difficulty Ragini swallowed a few ounces of water but much more flowed angrily from her eyes. Natalie understood the emotions she was going through were extreme.

'I think...let's talk tomorrow...you need rest my child...lie down' Natalie told her softly while Ragini looked Natalie and laughed sarcastically.

'What happened Natalie??? Shocked hearing what a cheat your boss is?...' she asked while Natalie was adjusting pillows for Ragini... Natalie kept quiet but Ragini continued...

'He is a fox...a cunning fox...Always told you he has two faces... not everyone knows it but I do .. because I was the one who has seen his ugly true face...he is dirty inside out Natalie...he is definitely what he looks like' she said while Natalie couldn't stop herself this time...

'My child...I am in my late 50's I have seen this world much more than you and I believe in two sayings immensely..

One...Everything that glitters isn't gold...

Other...Don't judge a book by its cover!!!

And I still feel you are judging Siddhesh too early...you both must talk' she said while this time Ragini lost her mind and yelled at once..

'Talk to him??? Really?? You think I didn't try to clarify my doubts with him???

I tried to reach him that very day but all I was told was Mr Pai has took a discharge with a medical certificate and a fit to fly certificate for the patient.

I was shocked!!!

Flying??? Means he is going back with her to London???

I tried to call him and every single time he disconnected my call...

I kept calling him...he disconnected my phone call every night.

6 months I tried to reach him everyday and night Natalie...One night he picked my call and shouted...
'Dont you understand I don't want to talk to you... stop calling me like a desperate woman'
But even then...

Every single night I called him because I still thought all of it was a lie...I hit depression. In tension I developed diabetes. I went diabetic at 18! Imagine...

He was such a heartless man who didn't pick my phone call once ... probably he needed a big one so he could come to India and that day came...
That day was the darkest in my life...after fighting a cardiovascular disease post pregnancy my sister breathed her last leaving behind all us... even her 7 months old little babies...

That's when I saw Mr Siddhesh Pai graced our lives again with his presence. He consoled my parents and offered his condolences. He hugged Mukund Bhavaji and even kissed the munchkins on their forehead but the man who had kissed the life out of me 6 months back met me like a stranger. Like any other relative distantly he folded hands looking at me. I was fuming.

I pulled his hands and dragged him to the backyard. His face was expressionless. I wanted to confront him just then his phone rang and he excused himself. I could see he was on a video call and I tried to see who it was. I was shocked to see Malini's face. He was talking something to her I couldn't hear anything but I was hurt.

I didn't want to hear...but I took a few steps closer to listen to what they were talking...

'Please come back soon...I'm getting scared'

'Dont worry...I am there with you...nobody will know anything...I have taken care of everything...and if your family tries to create a scene I know how to handle everything...

You please take care of yourself and junior and don't stress yourself...

I love you and I will be back soon..'

She nodded and he disconnected the call

He turned around and I tried my level best but couldn't hold myself today...

I slapped him hard. I slapped him so hard that left side lip was cut and bleeding now...

'You are dead for me from today onwards...you may come here... talk to my family...be with them but dare you even try to come and show me your ugly face...

I hate you Siddhesh Pai...

You are a cheat...you are a liar...
You broke my trust...you broke my soul...
Never show me your ugly face...
You are ugly inside out...' saying I ran away from there...'

That was the day and today is the day... my hatred only increased for him Natalie. Don't think if I cared for his health today means I still feel for him

No!!! I don't!!!
I hate him from the bottom of my heart...He broke a young heart...He shattered me Natalie...
I will never forgive him and I love to hurt him... insult him...it feels sadistically good!!!' she said while Natalie looked at her and asked...

'But what are you benefiting from this??? Is there a gain??? Nope then why???
I agree you both have your own reasons to not be in a happy marriage but why are you making it toxic for you both...

You both aren't living with your families...this is a big mansion. Siddhesh doesn't have any specific friends other than two 2-3 of them. They will never question his choices.

I and Ryan will never interfere into your personal space too. Stay seperately but atleast don't kill each other...I'm not saying talk and reconcile atleast stay together like two well grown respected individuals.

Look he just wants you to stand on your own feet and pay the loan asap and you also want to do the same and get rid of this marriage.

When both of you have the same destination to reach I don't understand what is the point in creating road blocks for each other. Like two matured individuals live a decent life.

I assure you...you won't have to face him and he won't annoy you...

Will you do this much atleast???
Fine..
Don't give this marriage a chance!!!
But atleast give chance to life...' she said with tears in her eyes.

Ragini thought about it and said...
'Fine... I don't mind staying with him in this house normally if he doesn't misbehave with me or try to boss upon you

It's live and let live' she said and Natalie assured her by keeping a hand on her hand..

***

8 months later...

Ragini's POV:

I had come back from the office. It was a saturday morning but I was working as a junior marketing executive in his organization 'Pai Publications'.

He was my boss but with a deal to only keep up to professional commitments. Even in office he would talk to me only how much ever it's required. I would work as a part time Junior marketing executive post my college hours in evening for which I was been paid a good amount. I was an independent woman already. I was doing MBA in marketing so working at Pai Publications had already given me enough exposure and today our organization was expanding.

Siddhesh was starting his new local news Channel PTv.

Tonight was its launch event and even though it was a saturday I was busy. He was still in office but had confirmed Natalie that he would be home for lunch. Looks like I have to dine in my room today I thought to myself.

I kept working on my laptop while after an hour I heard the doorbell and Ryan opened the door.

Siddhesh stood there with a couple of bags. He was distributing it amongst everyone. I noticed him touch Natalie's feet too. I hated his fake drama so I decided to take stairs quietly and leave to my room...

While I heard his voice..

'Ragini...just one minute'

I hated to hear to his voice. It was like someone poured acid into my ears. I just hummed in response..

'Ummm today is Sutta Punnav (it's an auspicious day for Gawd Saraswat Brahmins as today men change their cross threads and a feast meal is prepared at home... gifts are given to everyone at home...new clothes and jewellery is worn and celebrated. This same day Rakshabandhan is also celebrated.) So I got these for you... please take it' he said and I don't know from where my anger spurted out...

'Dont think you can ever get me Mr Pai...I don't need your expensive gifts. You were my cousin... now you are not even that... I am stuck with you because of my parent's wish...yes I screwed up my life because of my wrong chance but don't think you have a chance with me...you were never even considered'  I shouted and left from there.

I didn't even want to see his face. After sometime Natalie came to my room with those bags and kept it on my table...

'I don't need them' I shouted...

'Im doing what I'm told to do
..you are free to destroy them all...' she said...

'Ummm...we have guests for lunch today...our family friends are coming as it's a Indian feast I'm going to the nearby superstore...I will be home soon...just in case if anyone comes... please attend them...this family is the closest to us' she said and left.

I rolled my eyes. Clock was ticking 12:00 while the bell rang.

I went and opened the door while I was up for a shock...

Malini was standing infront of me after 5 long years!!!

I was shivering in anger right now!!!