Namaskaram 🙏

******

Laksh gets down the car and takes Anvi in his arms. He moves inside the school holding her in his arms.

“Dadda it’s okay. You need not talk to Miss.” She says with fear in her voice.

“Why don’t you want me to talk to your miss?” he asks.

“What if she gets angry for that also?” she asks him looking at him innocently with fear.

“I will talk to her regarding that also.” He says smiling at her.

“But I am scared!” She pouts.

“Trust Dadda. He will make everything alright. Okay?” he assures her.

Anvi nods and hugs him hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

“Who will show me the Miss if you hide your face like this princess?” he asks smiling teasingly at her.

Anvi giggles and breaks the hug. She looks around and points at one person. He looks at the person and moves towards that person.

“Hello Miss. This is Laksh! Anvi’s father. Actually I am here to speak about Anvi. You were the one who gave punishment to her yesterday. I know she forgot her book…” he starts talking nonstop but Anvi closes his mouth stopping him.

He looks at her.

“Not this miss. That miss.” She says hitting her own head and shows another person who is behind the person.

Laksh looks at the person and then at Anvi and nods okay.

“She is English Miss. Miss. Ragini, who spoke to SST miss and let me inside.” Anvi clarifies.

Laksh looks at Ragini with blank expression. He moves away from there to another teacher whom Anvi is speaking about. He speaks to that teacher and drops Anvi near her class. While going back he comes across Ragini again. They both cross each other and goes from there.

*****

Jeevika entered into Maheshwari house to see Anvi playing. Anvi looks at her and runs to her.

“Bua!” she runs to her.

Jeevika smiles and takes her in his arms.

“Dadda isn’t home Angel?” Jeevika asks looking at Anvi.

Anvi shakes her head.

“You go play I will call Dadda and talk.” Jeevika said.

Anvi nods and jumps from her arms. Jeevika calls Laksh.

“Hello Lucky!” Jeevika says in phone.

“Di! It’s in my room's cupboard. Please take it. I will be late.” He says.

“Okay!” says Jeevika.

She goes and takes what she wants. She comes out of the room and looks at Anvi. She smiles looking at Anvi who is giggling and playing with Chocolate. She thinks something and goes from there.

*****

Few days later

A car horn sound is heard. Anvi, who is in the hall runs out of the house. A woman along with Laksh comes out of the car. The woman looks at Anvi and sits on her knees.

“Mumma!” Anvi says looking at her who is sitting on her knees in front of Anvi.

She nods widening her arms. Anvi immediately hugs her sobbing in her embrace. Her eyes are also filled with tears.

Laksh is seeing at both of them with blank expression. They hear another horn sound and break the hug. The woman wipes Anvi’s tears and takes her in her arms.

“Ragini!” calls Jeevika getting down the car revealing the woman, who came with Laksh to be, Ragini.

Ragini turns and looks at Jeevika.

“We need to talk.” Jeevika says.

Ragini nods. She looks at Laksh. He moves towards her and takes Anvi in his arms.

“Mumma!” Anvi calls her.

“I am not going anywhere baby. Just two minutes will talk to bua and come.” Ragini says cupping Anvi’s cheeks.

Anvi nods. Laksh wipes her tears. Ragini moves towards Jeevika. Ragini comes back to AnviLak after talking to Jeevika. Anvi immediately shows her hands to Ragini to take her into her arms. Ragini takes her into her arms.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you are my mumma all these days?” Anvi asks hugging Ragini tight.

Ragini looks at Laksh who is not looking at them.

“I wanted to surprise you today baby. That’s why I didn’t tell you.” Ragini says looking at Anvi.

Anvi pouts.

“But why only today? Why not before?” Anvi asks.

“Baby you ask so many questions!” Ragini pouts.

Anvi giggles. Ragini smiles looking at her. They were about to enter inside when Santha kaki stops them.

“Kaki why are you not letting mumma inside?” Anvi asks.

Santha kaki smiles and comes with an aarthi taal. Ragini’s eyes turn teary seeing it. Anvi gets excited.

“I will do it. Please please!” Anvi pleads kaki.

Kaki nods okay. Anvi gets down from Ragini’s arms and goes towards Kaki. Anvi is about to do aarthi but Laksh stops and about to move inside.

“Dadda you also stand with mumma!” Anvi says.

RagLak look at each other for few moments and then look away. Laksh couldn’t deny Anvi stands beside Ragini. Anvi with the help of Santha kaki does aarthi. Laksh goes away as soon as aarthi is done. Jeevika who saw the scene smiles lightly. She gets another call and takes the call smiling. Ragini takes Anvi again into her arms and moves inside.

“Mumma why did you leave me and go?” Anvi asks with teary eyes.

Ragini looks at Anvi for few moments.

“Baby mumma na wasn’t well. So she had to go away from you for few days. So she went.” Ragini says looking around but not her.

Laksh looks at them from the stairs.

“Mumma you got fever?” Anvi asks checking Ragini’s forehead.

Ragini smiles with teary eyes and shakes her head. She hugs Anvi to her heart with teary eyes. Her eyes fall on Laksh who is seeing both of them from upstairs. As soon as their eyes meet he looks away again. Ragini closes her eyes painfully.

“Now I am fine baby!” Ragini says caressing Anvi’s head.

Anvi smiles. Laksh was about to move out when Anvi sees him.

“Daddaaa!” she runs towards him.

He stops and takes her into his arms.

“Ragini beta your luggage is in Laksh beta's room.” Says Santha Kaki coming there.

Ragini looks at her questioningly. Santha kaki shows her the room. Ragini nods and moves towards the room.

“Where are you going Dadda?” Anvi asks as soon as Laksh takes her into his arms.

“Dadda has some work in office Princess. He will come soon.” Laksh says.

“No please. Don’t go to office today. Today only mumma came back. Let’s go outside together. Please Dadda.” Anvi pleads making a puppy face.

Laksh couldn’t deny her. He smiles lightly seeing her cute face and nods.

“Yayyy!” Anvi shouts happily and kisses his cheek.

He smiles.

“I will change and come.” He says.

She nods and he puts her on the floor. He moves to his room only to find Ragini searching something in her bag. He stops in his tracks for a moment and then enters inside the room. He moves towards the cupboard and takes his clothes. Ragini hearing the sounds looks at him. She takes a deep breathe.

“Laksh!” she calls him.

He looks at her with stern expression. She was about to speak but he interrupts.

“Don’t!” he says gritting his teeth.

Her eyes turn teary. He was about to move ignoring her but she holds his hand. She is about to speak something when they heard Anvi's voice.

“Mumma, Daddaaa!” she comes running holding Chocolate in her hands.

RagLak look at her. Ragini hides behind Laksh as soon as she sees Chocolate.

“Save meeee!” She screams holding Laksh tight.

Laksh controls his smile while Anvi looks confused.

“Princess Mumma is scared of dogs.” He says looking at Ragini and Anvi simultaneously.

Anvi looks at Chocolate and Ragini. She pouts.

“But Dadda he is Chocolate. He doesn’t do anything.” Anvi says pouting.

Laksh shrugs his shoulders. Ragini is not even peeping from behind Laksh and is holding him really tight.

“Mumma see na. He will not do anything. Please.” Anvi pleads.

Ragini couldn’t help but slowly peep from behind Laksh. Anvi makes a puppy face. Ragini slowly moves towards Anvi. Anvi forwards Chocolate to Ragini. Ragini takes him in to her arms with shaking hands. He immediately barks making Ragini screams but Anvi helps her. Laksh keeps looking at both of them lovingly.

He smiles lightly remembering something.

@flashback.

Ten years ago.

Ragini is jogging around a park with ear-phones in her ears enjoying the songs. Suddenly she saw something that made her eyes wide. She immediately jumps and takes a U-turn. She starts running as fast as she could followed by the dog behind her running. While running she keeps looking back to check whether the dog is following her or not. In this process she didn’t notice the person in front of her and gets hit to him. She didn’t bothered to ask sorry but hid behind the person.

“Please save me. Please. That dog. Please save me!” she keeps pleading hiding behind the person and closing her eyes tight holding the person tight.

The person turns a little and looks at her. He smiles lightly and shoos the dog away.

“Hey it’s okay. He went away.” He says in a soothing voice.

Ragini opens her eyes and peeps to check whether the dog really went. Once she got confirmation she leaves him sighing in relief. She realises what just happened and hits her own head.

“So sorry for troubling you. And Thank You so much for saving me.” She says smiling sheepishly.

The man chuckles lightly and nods okay. He bends and takes both the phones that fell down when Ragini hit him.

“Your phone!” he says giving to her.

Ragini checks her pocket and realises that her phone fell down. She again hits her head and takes the phone.

“Thank You and Sorry again!” She says smiling embarrassed.

“That’s okay!” he says smiling and goes from there.

Ragini curses herself and moves away from there.

@Flashback ends

Laksh comes out of his thoughts hearing Ragini’s and Anvi’s laughing sounds. He smiles remembering the incident which was their first meet ten years ago. Ragini’s eyes caught him again but he immediately looks away which shortens her smile.

****

Thank You for reading.

With Love
Dharani (Dhaరणि)