Swaragini – Since You’ve Been Around (Episode 2)

“Happy New Year” they both said at the same time. They stood there in silence, breathing in the beauty of the night. “I like cold wintery nights” he said, she looked at him and smiled “Me too” she said “especially when I’m in my comfortable pajamas and reading a novel with a hot cup of coffee”. He laughed “I noticed you were quite engrossed in your phone a while ago. If I had to take a guess, you were probably a novel”. She smiled “Good guess”. “So, you stay here in Mumbai?” he asked. She took a sip from her glass and replied “My family does, I’ve been going back and forth between Mumbai and London for college”. “OH. So I won’t be seeing you again” he said. She smiled “Probably not”. “And here I already imagined our second date” he said with a pout. “Second date? Shouldn’t there be a first date?” she quipped. “We’re already having that already, I’d say”. She gave him an amused expression “Are you flirting with me Mister?” He looked into her eyes and said with a grin “Yes I am Mam”. She laughed and said “Well honey, then this is probably our last date, because I’m leaving in a few days”.

“Don’t be so sure about that.” He said with a grin. She narrowed her eyes at him and then gave a smile “We shall see. Anyway I’ll take your leave now. I have an early meeting tomorrow” “It was nice to meet you-” she looked at him “Laksh” he completed her sentence. “Laksh” she smiled and repeated his name. “Ragini” she introduced herself. “It was a pleasure meeting you too Ragini”. They hugged and he escorted her to her car.

TWO YEARS LATER
Sharma & Gadodia Partnership Firm

“Riya, I really need these papers done by today evening” Ragini instructed her secretary “Where is Dhruv?” “Mam, sir is in a meeting with Mr Kumar” she informed. “Alright, please get these papers done today” She said and signalled her to leave. She sighed and reclined herself with her eyes closed. It had been two years since that New Year’s Eve, two years since she last saw him. She never thought a brief encounter with someone could have such an impact on her. She must have met hundreds of strangers over the course of two years but never one who had an impact like Laksh did. Damn I don’t even know his last name she thought. She clearly remembered that night, every time their eyes met, every time their hands brushed against each other and that hug, dear god if only there were words to express the feeling she had when they hugged. She considered herself as an idiot for still feeling in a certain way about a guy who was practically a stranger. Stop it Ragini Gadodia, you’ll go mad someday she scolded herself.

There was a knock on her cabin door and someone spoke in a funny tone “May I come in madam?”. She looked up to see “Dhruv when will you stop acting so childish”. He laughed and sat opposite to her. “Why are you such an amazing mood today” he asked. “I was wondering why I ever agreed for this partnership with you” she said sarcastically. “That’s because you had no choice sweetheart, no one else could work with an overbearing person like you” he teased. “Are you done with today’s joke? Can we do some work now?” she asked. “Not now please, I’m hungry lets go out for lunch” he said. She gave him an exasperated look “Let’s order in please”. “Nope, we’re going out and I’m driving” he said while pulling her from the chair, “Get up, let’s go”. She reluctantly agreed.

They were having lunch “We got an invitation for a business conference in Mumbai. You’re going to attend that” he said. “But I went for the previous one. You go this time” she whined. “Stop whining, I went these conferences two consecutive years and it was so boring. It’s your turn”; “and in any case I RSVP’d on your behalf and booked your tickets”. “You did WHAT?” she glared at him. “Relax, we’re in public” he said while laughing at her “You can kill me later”. “Dhruv yaar, do this last favour to me, please”. “No to that” he said with a grin. “Why did I ever agree to be your partner” she murmured. “I heard that, shut up and finish your lunch” he laughed at her irritated face.
“What if I meet him again?” she thought

Maheshwari Industries

He was on a call impatiently tapping the pen on his desk “Mr Shaw, till now I patiently heard what you had to say, I just have one thing to tell you, you’ll be hearing from our lawyer and trust me when I say this, I will not spare you for the fraud you have done with us” and he banged the phone down. “Madhav get me a cup of coffee”. “Sir, your coffee” Madhav said while setting the cup on the table “and sir, there is an invitation for a business conference in Mumbai” he said while handing the envelope. “Thanks” Laksh said. He sat there staring at the invitation. He was not really interested in the conference, but he was more interested in the venue.

Mumbai, the place that triggered memories of that New Year’s night, the night he met her. Ragini. He remembered that night crystal clear, it was not that night, he remembered the moments he spent with her clearly. He remembered the smile on her face, the bliss that she had when she looked at the fireworks. Ragini had etched herself in his mind, and every time he thought of her, regret came over him for not asking for her last name. A knock on the door got him back to the present. “Come in” he said, Durgaprasad Maheshwari, owner of Maheshwari industries and Laksh’s father entered the cabin. “Dad, why didn’t you call me, I would have come to you” he said while standing up. “Don’t worry about it son, sit down.

I wanted to talk to you about this conference. I want you to attend it, it’s a very good opportunity for networking. You might find some potential clients there”. Laksh nodded in agreement, “We need to find the good corporate law firm for our company now, the current lawyer is giving me a migraine, every time he opens his mouth, something stupid comes out, I wonder how did he even manage to get a degree” Durgaprasad said while Laksh laughed “I’m already on it dad, I’ll find a good firm by next week” “when do I have to leave for the conference?” he asked. “Tomorrow evening, the conference starts day after tomorrow” “So get done with your bookings now, I’ll take your leave” Durgaprasad said while walking out.

“Mumbai, after two years, what if I meet her again” the mere thought brought a smile on his face.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Link to the previous episode

http://www.tellyupdates.com/swaragini-since-youve-around-episode-1/
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Hey Guys,

i know i have disappointed alot of you guys.Since, my previous FF was completely focused on SwaSan, i thought i’ll try to write about RagSan. But when i started writing i could not get a romantic chemistry between them they seem more like friends, so i decided to write about RagLak and this FF will be completely focused on them. I am really really very sorry to all those i have disappointed. but i sincerely hope you like this FF and give it a chance.

Lots of Love!!

Eshana 🙂