Hello guys 👋👋👋

*****

Ragini is standing in front of SanLak while both are looking at her worried.

Ragini: Guys this is too much. I am going home not to any lion's den.

Laksh: Bhabhi please don't take it as a joke. You are going HOME that is when there is nobody at home except she.

Ragini: (strictly) it's dadi Lucky.

Laksh: (with irritated face) I forgot that she is something for me from the day she straggled my mother's neck bhabhi.

Sanskar: Jaan let us get Ansh here only.

Ragini: No not at all. His fever got down just yesterday. He is still week. Already I don't want to send him to school but you both just made me fool and dropped him in school. Now if he comes here he doesn't have rest and fever may return.

Sanskar: This much speech is not needed.

He makes faces. Ragini sighs.

Laksh: Ok go but promise me that you will be away from her.

Ragini nods. Laksh hugs her.

Laksh: Take care.

Ragini nods. Sanskar is looking worried.

Ragini: Sanskar nothing will happen. Don't worry.

Sanskar: Keep calling me for every ten minutes.

Ragini: (face palming) You will be in meeting Sanskar. I will be fine. You guys are just worrying unnecessarily.

Sanskar nods. Ragini moves from there. She sighs in relief.

Ragini: Thank God! Finally they left me.

She sits in the car while the driver drives off. She gets down when they reach Ansh's school. Ansh comes out running. He immediately runs to her.

Ansh: (running) Mummaaa

Ragini smiles and sits to his level. He immediately hugs her.

Ansh: (with cute face) I missed you so much.

Ragini: (frowns) No ice cream at all. Your fever got reduced yesterday only.

Ansh pouts. Ragini kisses his cheek laughing.

Ragini: (lifting him in her arms) Chalo we will have your favourite chocolate milk as soon as we go home. Ok?

Ansh nods yes happily. They get settled in the car. Soon they reach MM.

Ragini: My Chotu go and change. Till then I will get something to eat and your milk for you.

Ansh: Ok Mumma.

Saying he runs while Ragini moves towards kitchen. She makes everything ready for Ansh. She was about to take them to Ansh but stops.

Ragini: Robbin

The servant comes.

Ragini: Did dadi had lunch?

Robbin nods no. Ragini looks on.

Ragini: You please give this to Ansh. He is in Laksh's room. Tell him that I will come in sometime.

Robin nods and goes from there. Ragini moves towards Dadi's room. She looks the door open and sees dadi reading some book. She knocks the door. Dadi looks up.

Ragini: wo... You didn't had food. Robbin said.

Dadi: (looks at the watch and realises that she was so involved in the book and mutters to herself) I was so involved.

She keeps the book aside and gets up. But she feels dizzy and about to fall but Ragini rushes to her and holds her before she falls. She helps dadi to sit.

Ragini: (worried) Dadi... You fine?

Dadi: (nodding yes) I didn't take my medicine.

Ragini: Tell me I will give you. Where are they?

Dadi points towards the table where there is a medicine box. Ragini rushes towards that and brings the box.

Ragini: Which one?

Dadi: You will see a tag of 'afternoon' that one.

Ragini checks and gives it to her. She takes medicine.

Ragini: (stammering) May... I get... your food?

Dadi looks at her.

Ragini: Please.

Dadi nods. Ragini immediately runs to kitchen and makes plate of food ready. She again runs towards Dadi's room. Dadi haves it silently.

Ragini: Dadi

Dadi looks at her.

Ragini: (hesitatingly) May I ask something?

Dadi nods.

Ragini: Those medicines? What are those for? Is something wrong with your health?

Dadi: Why did you get that doubt?

Ragini: It's just that there so many medicines. One should have many medicines only when there is some health issues.

Dadi looks on. Ragini thinks that she doesn't want to say. She starts taking the plate that dadi had and about move.

Dadi: Last stage of blood cancer.

Ragini froze in her place.

Dadi: Got to know about it just last month.

Ragini's eyes flow with tears. She looks at Dadi who is smiling with teary eyes.

Dadi: You know you are the bestest. Infact my favourite after Sujatha.

Ragini looks confused.

Dadi: Haan I used to love Sujatha more than Ram. It was all the influence of my daughter, she is not my own but my sister's daughter. She instigated me against Sujatha and that led to every sin I did. That day I crossed the limit and was about to kill her. All has become against me. I left the house and went to her house but what in return I got was just insults. Then I realised how much I tortured my bahu and how much she kept bearing without complaining. She never even told to Ram about my tortures. But that day she spoke everything and told to Ram. The shocking thing was Ram already knew about it. After the insult from my so called daughter I went to an old age home as I didn't want to come back to their lives and spoil their happiness. You know after seeing those all old people suffering there I understood how lucky I am to have Ram and Sujatha as my son and bahu. But last month when I consulted doctor he told me about this disease. I don't know why I felt to see them. I just came here but was thinking how to enter into the house as I know they won't be happy seeing me. That time I got to know about you and Sanskar's marriage. I got an idea that I will come here and act the same old woman so that when I die nobody would feel sad. I just want to be with all of you guys before I leave.

Ragini is crying by now. She runs to dadi and hugs her. Dadi hugs her back.

Dadi: Shh... Stop it Ragini. Please don't cry for me. I don't deserve your tears.

Ragini breaks the hug and nods no.

Ragini: I will tell everyone everything.

Dadi puts Ragini's hand on her head.

Dadi: My promise.

Ragini cries more listening to it.

Dadi: (wiping Ragini's tears) Shh... Calm down... If Laksh or Sanskar get to know that you cried because of me they will throw me out of the house.

Ragini: (sobbing) I will not let that happen. You will stay here only forever.

Dadi: (chuckles) only if I have that much time.

Ragini: (sadly) Please dadi ma. Let me tell them.

Dadi: No beta I don't want them to know. If they get to know they will think that I came here as I am going to die soon. I don't want that.

Ragini: Why will they dadi ma? Infact they will understand you and love you like they did in past.

Dadi: If at all that happen also I don't want that. I don't want them to get sad after my death. Please let us end this topic.

Ragini: Ok I will leave the topic. But please take your medicine properly. Please dadi ma. Please for me.

Dadi: (smiles) I promise I will take care of my self.

Ragini nods. Dadi kisses her forehead.

Dadi: But tell me why did you feel that I am not the one I am showing?

Ragini: (smiles) Just I felt your love in your eyes dadi ma. Afterall I was away from that feeling for many years.

Dadi caresses her hair.

Dadi: Go Ragini Ansh must be waiting.

Ragini nods and goes from there. She goes to Laksh's room to find Ansh writing his home work like a good boy.

Ragini: (frowning) How many plans you have my Chotu?

She sits beside him.

Ansh: (looks at her innocently) Plans? What plans Mumma?

Ragini: You don't know?

Ansh nods no. Ragini starts tickling him while he laughs continuously asking her to stop. Finally she stops and hugs him.

Ragini: On Sunday pakka.

Ansh: (pouts) Till Sunday no ice cream.

Ragini: (cupping his face) What if fever comes again?

Ansh pouts sadly and nods ok.

Ansh: (puppy face) Atleast can I get two kisses? Please.

Ragini: Aww... Why not baby!

Saying she kisses his both cheeks.

Ansh: Mumma not these kisses. I am talking about Hersheys Kisses.

Ragini frowns and turns her head away twisting her lips. Ansh laughs. He kisses both her cheeks.

Ansh: I want both.

He smiles sheepishly while Ragini shakes her head in disbelief. She then smiles and gives him two Hersheys kisses from the drawer on the bedside table. He grins and eats happily. Ragini chuckles.

Later Ragini helps him to complete his homework. Though she is helping Ansh but her mind is with dadi.

****

Laksh comes and falls on the couch being tired. Ragini comes and gives him water.

Ragini: Your bhai went to meeting?

Laksh: Haan bhabhi.

Ragini: May I get your dinner?

Laksh: Yes bhabhi... Till then I will fresh. Where is Ansh?

Ragini: In our room. Watching TV.

Laksh smiles and nods. He goes to his room.

*****

Ragini is sleeping on the couch of the hall waiting for Sanskar. She was waiting for Sanskar when she unknowingly slept there. Her sleep gets disturbed by her phone ring. She opens her eyes and frowns seeing the id.

Ragini: Hello Sanksar.

Otherside: Ma'am the owner of this phone is admitted in xyz hospital.

Ragini's gets shocked and tears flow from her eyes.

****

Thank you for reading.

With Love
Dharani (Dhaరणि)