Namaskaram 🙏

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Laksh is standing at the door of Ragini’s room and is looking at Anvi who is playing with Shekhar and Viren in the hall. They are running and she is trying to chase them. He is smiling looking at the smile on Anvi’s face. The day has almost ended. All the day they made sure to make him comfortable around them. It is the time for dinner and Janaki has got the list of items he likes to have. Though he didn’t budge of telling her but she made sure he spills them out and got ready to fill the dinner menu with his favourite dishes. Ragini and Jeevika are helping her.

Laksh is standing leaning to the wall by folding his hands across his chest and watching Anvi enjoying with her mamu and nanu laughing and whining. His face has the beautiful smile. Suddenly Anvi ran towards him.

“Dadda save me!” screaming she hid behind him.

“Hey Tinkerbell that’s cheating. Dadda isn’t playing. You cannot hide behind him.” Viren whined.

“Yes you can’t hide like that Angel!” Shekhar supports him.

Anvi peeks from behind Laksh with puppy face. Laksh looks down at her and chuckles. He takes Anvi in to his arms.

“Jiju Papa there is no cheating. I am already helping my Princess.” Laksh comes in defend of Anvi.

Anvi grins and nods yes.

“You both are cheating. Cheaters!” Viren says loudly.

Anvi pouts. All the three chuckle seeing her cute face. Shekhar pulls her cheeks.

“Viren whatever it is Angel won. So give her toy to her.” He says to Viren.

Anvi nods yes forwarding her palm to Viren.

“Only when Mamu gets his kissy!” Viren says.

Laksh smiles. Anvi stretches her arms asking Viren to take her. Viren takes her into his arms and she kisses his cheek. Viren smiles. He kisses her forehead and forwards her toy which he is holding. Anvi grins. Three of them smile looking at her grin. Shekhar caresses her hair lovingly. Laksh’s smile grows wider seeing the love she is getting.

‘This smile is enough for me Princess. Nothing else matters.’ He thinks to himself looking at her who is giggling talking to Viren.

“It’s dinner time!” Jeevika calls them.

This makes Laksh to come out of his thinking world.

“Dadda!” Anvi runs to Laksh getting down from Viren’s arms.

He takes her into his arms.

“Dadda let’s go have dinner.” Anvi says hiding her face in the crook of Laksh's neck.

“What happened suddenly to my princess?” Laksh asks.

“Nothing. I missed you!” She pouts looking at him.

He smiles and kisses her forehead. She grins and again hides her face in the crook of his neck. Laksh moves towards everyone with smile. Ragini smiles seeing his smile. She felt happy seeing the smile on his face.

They are having dinner. Everybody are giggling for Anvi’s cute talks and antics. She is telling her school stories to Gadodias.

“Have this piece and then start again.” Ragini says feeding her while Anvi is in no mood to have dinner.

Anvi pouts and opens her mouth. All chuckle seeing her cute face.

“Mumma today I will sleep with nanu and nani.” Anvi says.

Ragini was about to deny but Janaki interrupts.

“Yes today Anvi will sleep with Nanu and Nani.” Janaki says.

Ragini looks at Janaki while Janaki ignores her. Laksh just continues his dinner looking down. He doesn’t speak a word. Ragini looks at him. Finding him not looking up she just nods to Janaki.

RagLak move to their room.

“You sleep on bed I will sleep on couch Laksh.” Ragini says not looking at him.

“Now you don’t trust me also. Thank You!” He says with the hurt in his voice.

Ragini looks at him with teary eyes.

“Laksh it’s not that….” She gets interrupted by him.

“It’s okay this is your house and your room. You don’t need to sacrifice your bed for me. I can adjust with the couch.” He says and moves towards couch.

Ragini looks on with teary eyes. She wipes her tears and takes deep breathe. She fumes and moves towards him who was about to lay. She pulls him and stops him from laying.

“This is my house and this is my room so you have to follow what I say. Sleep on the bed now.” She says angrily.

Laksh looks at her shocked.

“Get up!” she controls herself from screaming.

Laksh goes to the bed without speaking anything.

“I think she got problem with her brain in all these years.” He murmurs but Ragini could hear.

“Yes! And you have to bare this girl who has problem with brain for life long.” She says angrily laying beside him.

Laksh gulps seeing her that angry face. She just moves close to him and hugs him making him surprised. He tries to get out of her hug but she tightens the hug.

“If you are not comfortable also you have to sleep like this only. This is my house and my room.” She says angrily still hugging him.

Laksh sighs giving up and closes his eyes.

‘Here I thought he will be uncomfortable because we both are not in good terms and to make him comfortable I asked him to sleep on bed. But this man has so much ego that he doubted my trust on him. I will bare anything he doubt but not about the trust I have on him. Huh!’ she fumes in her mind still hugging him.

Laksh opens his eyes to check her. He saw her who is sleeping peacefully or say acting to be sleeping. He cups her face and kisses her forehead lovingly. Ragini’s eyes get moist as she is closing her eyes he couldn’t find them.

“Why did you do that? Why?” He asks her who is pretending to sleep.

Ragini controls her tears.

“That day when di asked me to marry to save Anvi all I thought was about you. I felt that I will lose Anvi too forever. The same day I found you in Anvi’s school. You don’t know how much I felt like hugging you tight and cry. But when you didn’t even react seeing me I felt you are not my Ragini. Your eyes, I couldn’t read anything in them on that day. Why?” he asks again to her telling his feelings thinking she is sleeping.

Again no answer. But he continues.

“The day before our marriage when di asked about you I hid from her that I saw you in Anvi’s school. You know why because I couldn’t understand why I didn’t see my Ragini in you. I wanted you to come back by yourself and tell me why you have to leave me. I don’t want to pressurise you if there is something bothering you because of me. But after what all happened I don’t know why I feel it’s not because of me you left but something else. What is it?” he asks helplessly letting his tears flow.

Ragini couldn’t control her tears any more. She opens her eyes and their eyes meet. He looks away and tries to move out of her hug. She doesn’t leave him.

“You asked the questions but not letting me answer.” Ragini says with tears flowing from her eyes.

“I don’t want answers.” He says looking away.

“But I want to answer.” Ragini says.

“I am sleepy.” He says closing his eyes.

“Why are you doing this Laksh?” she asks painfully.

He doesn’t speak anything and acts like sleeping. Ragini sighs. She wipes her tears and closes her eyes hugging him tight. Both of them fell asleep in each other’s embrace.

Next day Ragini opens her eyes to see Laksh hugging her protectively in sleep. She smiles lightly. She moves towards his forehead and kisses his forehead lovingly.

“I Love You Laksh!” She whispers caressing his cheek.

He moves slightly in sleep. Ragini immediately acts like sleeping. Feeling him not moving anymore she opens her eyes slowly and sighs in relief seeing him sleeping peacefully. She slowly comes out of his embrace and goes to freshen up.

Laksh comes out of the bathroom looking at the shirt he is wearing which has a broken button. He takes his bag and looks for another shirt but same he finds a button missing for it too. Ragini enters into the room. He looks at her with frown.

“You did this right?” He asks angrily with frown.

“I did what Laksh?” She asks innocently.

“You intentionally plucked all my shirt buttons right?” Laksh asks fuming more.

She smirks showing the buttons in her hand. He was about to snatch buttons from her hand but she takes her hand away. She giggles.

“Give them to me.” He says angrily.

“Take them if you can.” She says and shows her tongue to him.

He moves towards her but she runs. He chases her all over the room asking her to stop but she doesn’t and keeps running. He finally catches her and tries to takes the buttons from her grip but she is holding her grip tight not leaving them. He glares her.

“I am your wife right. Let me do the duties of wife.” She says smirking.

“I know how to stitch. Give them to me. I can do it myself.” He says looking away.

“I know to throw them in dustbin. You can’t even find them if I do that.” She says smirking.

He fumes.

“Fine. Stitch for that shirt.” He says pointing to the shirt on the bed.

“No this shirt looks good on you. I will stitch for this only.” She says pointing to the shirt he is wearing.

“Okay wait.” Saying he moves to the bed.

He takes another shirt and about to move towards washroom to change.

“Where are you going?” she asks confused holding his hand.

“I will change and come. You stitch this shirt then I will change again.” He says not looking at her.

“So much of time waste and energy waste. It’s okay I can stitch like this. Come.” Saying she just pulls him.

“No!” he says turning away.

“I won’t see anything Laksh. Promise!” She says muffling her laugh.

Laksh glares her.

“I have so much time. Let me change and come.” He says glaring her.

“But I don’t have time.” She says angrily.

“That is why I told I will do it myself. You can go do your work.” He says irritated.

“No. I can’t do that. It’s my duty to stitch your shirt button.” She says strictly.

He hits his head and turns towards her. Ragini gives a winning grin and moves close to him. She starts stitching the button while Laksh is looking away. Ragini pouts. She smirks thinking something and pricks him intentionally.

“Ahhh!” he screams lightly glaring her.

“Sorry! Sorry!” she says rubbing the place where she pricked.

He again looks away. Ragini pricks again lightly. He screams again.

“You are doing it intentionally right?” He asks fuming.

“Me? Why will I hurt you intentionally Laksh?” She asks looking at him emotionally.

He gets silent and looks away. Ragini completes stitching the button and moves close to him to cut the thread when her eyes fall on his chest. Her eyes widen. She immediately pushes the shirt and pulls his vest lightly down. Laksh looks at her feeling her doing that. He closes his eyes tight for getting caught.

Ragini caresses the permanent tattoo of her name on his chest.

“This?” she asks with teary eyes caressing the tattoo.

“I wanted to surprise you on that day. But…” he trails off and looks away.

Ragini bursts out into cry. She clutches his shirt tight and cries putting her head on his chest. His eyes turn teary. He couldn’t control himself and hugs her. She hugs him tight and cries in his embrace.

“I am sorry. I am sorry Laksh. I am very sorry.” She keeps apologising him in between her cries.

He closes his eyes painfully letting his tears. He hugs her tight sobbing along with her. His phone rings. This brings him to the world. He immediately takes away his hands from around her and controls his emotions. He breaks the hug looking away. Ragini keeps looking at him with teary eyes. He turns away buttoning his shirt and moves towards his phone. He takes the call wiping his tears away. Ragini keeps looking him until he moves out of the room talking in the phone. Fresh tears flow from her eyes.

“I am going to make everything fine soon. Very SOON!” she whispers. herself with determination.

@flashback.

Laksh enters the park hurriedly with worry on his face. He reaches their regular place to see Ragini sitting on their regular bench looking down.

“Ragu!” Laksh calls her.

She looks at him with teary eyes. He sits beside her worriedly and in next second she hugs him tight crying in his embrace.

“Hey Ragu what happened?” He asks with worry.

Ragini just keeps sobbing in his embrace. It’s been almost an year they have become friends. They both can’t stay without meeting each other twice everyday.

“Ragu yaar what happened? You are scaring me.” Laksh says with worry.

Ragini breaks the hug and looks down. He just looks at her waiting for her to speak.

“That puppy got struck into the railings of the gate because of me. It was crying in pain and I couldn’t help due to fear.” She says sniffing.

Laksh looks at her with admiration.

“Then?” he asks her to continue.

“My friend came out of the house and helped the puppy. But still it kept crying. My friend took him to the hospital.” She stops again sniffing.

Laksh holds her hand in between his hands.

“Did anything happen to him?” He asks.

“No he is fine. Just the small pain. Doctor gave injection.” She says sniffing again.

“How are you responsible for him to get struck in between the gate railings?” Laksh asks.

“I ran seeing him and he came running back of me. In fear of him biting me I closed the gate in hurry and he got struck in the railing trying to come near me through the railings.” Ragini says again bursting into cry.

Laksh smiles and takes her into his embrace.

“It’s okay. He will be fine soon. Don’t worry.” Laksh consoles her.

She keeps sniffing in his embrace. He pats her back consoling her. She gets fine and breaks the hug after sometime.

“Thank You!” She says wiping her face.

“Yeah now you will thank me?” he says glaring with fake anger.

Ragini smiles shaking her head.

“But sorry!” she pouts.

He glares her.

“You have to come leaving your work in the middle. So you have to accept the sorry.” She says pouting.

Laksh chuckles.

“My Cutie pie!” He pulls her cheeks shaking his head.

Ragini smiles.

“Now you are feeling better?” He asks with concern.

She nods with smile. He smiles at her.

“Then I need to leave today. Sorry!” He says making a sorry face.

“It’s okay. I am sorry for disturbing you.” She pouts again.

He shakes his head as no and side hugs her.

“Bye!” He says breaking the hug.

She smiles and nods. Days passed, months passed and years passed. It's been almost three years they both known to each other. Both have fallen for each other. Though both of them have realised their feelings neither of them had made the attempt to confess or have not even thought to confess. They are happy with the way their life is going.

Again Laksh is shown coming worriedly into the park. He once again looks for her who is sitting on the same bench. She is looking down. He immediately rushes to her. He sits beside her.

“Ragu!” He calls her.

She looks above with sad face. He feels a bit relaxed seeing her not crying this time.

“Hey what happened?” He asks cupping her face unknowingly.

“One of my classmates proposed me.” She says sadly.

The fear of losing her occupied his heart.

“Oh…” he says taking his hand away from her cheek.

She looks at him with teary eyes.

“Hey why are you crying for that?” Laksh asks.

She shakes her head and wipes her tears.

“What did you answer him?” He asks fisting his hand tight at his back.

“I said I Love someone else.” She says.

Laksh looks away and gulps his emotions knowing that she loves someone else.

“You won’t ask whom?” She asks peeping to look at him.

Laksh takes deep breathe and turns to her.

“If you want to tell you will tell. So I don’t need to ask.” He says smiling painfully.

“I Love You!” she says directly looking into his eyes.

His breathe struck hearing her. He kept looking into her eyes until a tear escapes his eye. He looks down immediately to control his emotions.

“Laksh…. I am sorry if you don’t have such feelings for me. I am really sorry for hur…” she starts speaking in hurry thinking she has hurt him by confessing her feeling but gets interrupted as Laksh hugged her tight.

“I Love You too!” He whispers hugging her tight.

Ragini smiles and hugs him back tight. Both stay hugging for few minutes closing their eyes feeling each other’s love. Laksh breaks the hug with smile. Ragini looks at him smiling.

“Why were you sad earlier?” He asks cupping her face.

“I got sad thinking that I made that boy sad by saying no.” She pouts saying it.

He looks at her lovingly. He takes her into his embrace again.

“I Love You!” He confesses again.

Ragini smiles in his embrace.

“You scared me!” He says breaking the hug.

Ragini smiles sheepishly. He chuckles and pulls her cheek. She grins.

“Why do always look for the time I am busy?” He asks rolling his eyes.

She chuckles.

“So that I get the glimpse of you because you said you won’t be meeting today.” She pouts.

Laksh laughs seeing her cute face.

“Aww Mera bacha!” he says taking her into his embrace again.

She grins and hugs him. His phone rings. He looks at her helplessly.

“I left the work there and came. Should go. Sorry.” He says making a sorry face.

“Okay. But tomorrow no compromise.” She says strictly.

“Pakka!” He says smiling at her.

She nods. He cups her face and kisses her forehead lovingly. She smiles brightly feeling his love.

“Bye bacha. Love You!” He bids bye looking at her.

“Love You too! Bye!” she also bids bye and goes home while he goes to office.

@flashback ends.

*****

Thank You for reading. 

With Love
Dharani (Dhaరणि)