The sun shone and it lit the morning of winter a pleasant one. As the rays gave a relaxation over the chilly morning I opened my eyes still holding my shoulders tight. A smile which never left my lips was depicting my happiness to be here. I took a lump of fresh oxygen and rubbed my shoulders. Finally I”m here. Here in Darjeeling. The place felt homely and I don’t know why. I stretched my hands and got up from my seat. I took my bag and headed out of the bus. As I stepped on the snow covered land I felt new. New feeling to be in a new city. I started loving this city with the first meet only and now I believe love at first sight. I looked around towards the busy city. Everyone busy in their works. I walked to a shop.
“Uncle can you tell me way to Kapoor Villa” as I spoke the shop keeper looked at me and gave me the directions. I thanked him with a sweet smile and walked further to follow his instruction. As I walked on the lane it looked like I’m in some Desney movie. I smiled looking at small kids playing around. Their innocence is something soothes you always.
“Hello Uncle” I greeted Mr. Kapoor Dadda’s best friend. He welcomed me with his warm embrace and smile. As I walked with him he called Sumona aunty his wife and she welcomed me with her sweet smile. She accompanied me to the room where I will be staying for next two years until I finish my medical internship in one of the best medical institute of India “Medical Institute of Darjeeling, the MID” in short. I arranged my cupboard with my clothes.
Dadda did not wanted me to stay in hostel. So he specially requested his best friend Mr. Ram Kapoor one of the leading businessman of Darjeeling for my accommodation. Ram uncle and Sumona Aunty were no less than Mumma and Dadda to me. I missed them so much. I missed everyone. My twin storms also. They might have made the home hell by this time. I imagined mom sitting in between the messed up house and Shona and Vikky still fighting around. I laughed remembering them and my phone buzzed. I know they miss me equally….
“But Pari bhabi did not mention about Ragini” thought Sanskar closing the dairy and thinking. He observed Ragini entering the room and swiftly hid the dairy. She lowered her head and walked to the bed. She lied on the bed facing her back to him. He placed the dairy in the drawer near the bed and lied on his couch. “I was so right Ragini was in London that time so Pari bhabi might have missed mentioning her. I’m simply cracking my head. I don’t think I will find anything in that dairy regarding Ragini so better I keep it back in Adi bhai’s room tomorrow” he thought and closed his eyes and dozed off.
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“What the” Sanskar whispered annoyed as a water droplet fell on his face and disturbed his sleep. He opened his eyes to look around for the source and there she was. Ragini was wiping her hair with towel as she had come out of the washroom just then. She hadn’t worn her Jewels and Sindhoor. Just looked fresh. For a strange reason he could not take his eyes off her. His gaze traveled on her fresh clear face as the water droplets moved over her skin it made his heart flutter and he did not know why. A wet hair strand bunch was dangling across her fair disturbing his view. As she lifted her both the hands to tie the hair her bare back and milky skin gave him an urge to approach her. She took the Sindhoor box and placed it on her hairline and for the first time it gave Sanskar a pleasure that she is his wife.
As she placed the box back on the table and was wearing the Mangal Sutra her gaze fell on Sanskar through the mirror and he closed his eyes feared swiftly and acted as he is still sleeping. Ragini felt weird she had seen him gaping at her and now his eyes are closed. Was he really looking at her. She was confused. She brushed her thoughts and looked at him once and headed out from there
“What the hell is wrong with me? Why is she affecting me. I should not let this happen” he thought getting up and controlling his thumping heart. He looked at the mirror. He was surprised as Ragini appeared wearing Sindhur and Mangalsutra. He hit back of his head to come back to reality. “I have to get rid off her before she makes her place permanent. Whatever I did till now was only for humanity. I have other ways to get rid off her and I will do that.” He shook his head and headed to washroom to get freshen up.
“Was he staring at me?” a question popped in Ragini’s mind. She remembered the incident while she was arranging the break fast on the table. It gave her shivers when she imagined Sanskar staring at her. A new feeling of happiness filled her heart. A small curve spread on her lips. She blushed and she don’t know why. “Maasi” Piyu’s voice brought her to reality and she turned and looked at Piyu’s room up and walked. “Kya hua Piyu?” asked she entering Piyu’s room. “Look na this choti. I’m not able to put it properly” cried Piyu. “Aww mela sweetu” said she and walked to Piyu and knelt near her. “But you always put a pony tail na why this today?” she asked taking the comb from her little hands and combing her hair. Piyu pouted angry. “New Princi new rules. She has strictly told no Pony tails from today. Otherwise she will cut the pony tail. You know na Maasi how much I love my hair…..” Ragini stopped combing and looked blankly.
“Ouch Vikky” screamed Pari when Vikram held her hand strand while holding her shoulder while hiding behind her. “Sorry sorry dee” said he pleading. “You know na how much I love my hair. Now wait” said she and took the water bucket filled with color and splashed it on him but he bent and the water fell on Ragini. She jerked and screamed. “OMG” said Vikram horrified. “Ab tho tu gaya” said he scared and looked at Pari and Swara who were glaring him.
“It’s ok Pari maa, Shona dee last time please forgive bhai” said Ragini wiping her face. “You come with me” said Pari taking Ragini inside. “Vikky Bandar. How dare you” said Swara chasing him. “Oh hello Chipkali it was Pari dee who splashed water not me” said he. “Whatever happened because of you only na Bandar, couldn’t you take the water for Ragu’s sake” she screamed. “Oh hello best sister in the world I wasn’t aware that she is standing behind me” said he and stopped. “Shona dee. I’m fine that’s okay” said Ragini. “See she is smart not like you. My Intelligent bacha” said he pulling her cheek and she smiled like a small kid. Swara nodded her head smiling looking at her smile. Pari looked at them leaning to the door. Though she spoke less but Ragini could make people feel her happiness and sorrows.
“Maasi” said Piyu bringing Ragini to present. She smiled at her and started combing her hair. As she plaited her hair she kissed Piyu’s forehead who smiled at her widely and kissed her cheek hugging her. And it made Ragini smile. Life is never easy, you have to make it easy and Ragini knew to appreciate small things in her life.
She held Piyu’s hand and walked out of her room. As she was walking beside Sanskar’s room her eyes fell on him. He was fixing his hair. He wore a olive blazer complimenting his skin shade. She did not wanted move from there. Her eyes glued on him. He felt someone’s gaze and turned towards the door. Ragini nervously shifted her head to the other side and walked swiftly with Piyu. “Was she staring at me?” asked Sanskar confused. “Why should I care” he said to himself and kept his thoughts aside and continued his work.
“What the hell is wrong with me? I can’t let my thoughts divert” said she in her heart as she descended the stairs. Her heart was still beating fast. She tried cooling it. Love cannot be pre planned. She was getting drawn to him without her knowledge and same was happening with him. And both were not realizing it.
Sanskar was planning something and Ragini was planning bigger thing. How will they clash now in this battle. Are they against each other. May be and may not be. Are they together. Can’t say. Just time could answer this and solve the equation.
Ragini made Piyu sit. “I will just get AJ” said she and walked to his room. “AJ” she called entering his room. “Ragu… Ragu….” screeched he happy finding her. She sat beside him smiling. He clapped his hands like a small kid and bit his lower lip. He looked at her sheepishly. She was confused. She cocked her eyebrows and asked him what through eyes. “Close your eyes” said he. “Why AJ” said she. “Do as I say” said he. “Okay okay fine” said she and he forwarded her hands front. She was confused. As he placed a box in her hand she opened her eyes and looked at the gift box in her hand and was surprised. “What is this?” asked she and tried opening. “Don’t open it now. Surprise Ragu. Open it in the evening” said he pouting. “Okay” said she and placed the gift box in cupboard. “I will take it in the evening. Now come breakfast time” said she and headed out with him. As she was walking towards dining table she saw Sanskar descending the stairs and their eyes met. Today felt like both doesn’t want to avoid eye contact. And world around them seemed blur. Was it attraction. Kind of.
Dhoop se nikal ke chaav se phisal ke Ham mile Jaha pe Lamha tham gaya
Aasma pigal ke sheeshe me dhalke jam gaya tho tera chehra ban gaya
He walked slowly towards her without his knowledge
Duniya bhula ke tumse mila hu Nikli hai dil se yeh Dua
Ragini was walking lost and her leg stuck in carpet and she was about to fall
“Ragini” screamed Sanskar and approached her swiftly and held her from falling. He was holding her shoulders and she had placed her hands on his chest and both looked at each other.
Rang de thu mohe Gerua…… Ranjhe ki dil se hai dua……..Rang de thu mohe gerua…….
And the time stopped again.
Ram, Sujatha and Piyu who jerked due to his scream turned and looked at them. “Ragu are you okay” Adarsh came near to her and the time moved for them and they composed themselves. “Can’t you be careful?” asked Sanskar coldly. Ragini looked at him. His sudden change in tone pained her and she did not know why. She just smiled at Adarsh and said “I’m fine” and continued walking with him. She not answering him bothered Sanskar. He kept staring her. Sujatha observed him. There was something new in his eyes today. It wasn’t hate but and she was happy for that. She smiled looking at them. Ragini looked at him from the corner of her eye and walked and Sanskar’s gaze fixed on her.
“Mom tomorrow Mr. Khanna is having a business party. Be ready all of you at 7” said Sanskar as he wiped his face. “Party. No beta Piyu and Adi will be alone at home. We wont be able to attend it” said Sujatha. “You can take maasi” said Piyu. The spoon in Ragini’s hand slipped and she looked up nervous. “No beta your maasi is not comfortable with me. Let her stay” said he. Was he giving a hint that he is trying to move on. He himself was confused why did he say that. He looked at Ragini and her expression changed a bit. “Are you dracula that she is not comfortable with you?” asked Sujatha. Everyone chuckled hearing her. Sanskar glared her. “Yes I’m dracula who sucks blood” said he showing his teeth. “Haaw when did you get exchanged?” asked she surprised. “What?” asked he confused. “I gave birth to a human being only. When did they exchanged you?” asked she and Sanskar who was looking at her confused gave her was that a joke look. And everyone burst out laughing.
“She will attend the party with you” announced she and his heart felt a joy.
Ragini looked at her horrified and pleaded her. Sujata assured her nothing will happen and smiled. They finished break fast and Ragini walked out holding Piyu’s bag with her. Sanskar walked behind her. Ram and Sujatha looked at them and smiled.
“Bye Piyu” said she waving her hand to Piyu as the school bus moved. “Black” said Sanskar standing beside her wearing his goggles. She looked at him confused. “Party dress code black” said he and sat in his car which came and stood beside him as the driver halted it. She stared at his direction. “What is wrong with him?” she thought and headed inside the house.
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“Ragu. You wear that necklace tomorrow” said Adarsh. “Which one AJ?” asked Ragini who was covering him with bed sheet and knelt beside him. He hit his forehead and said “You did not open your gift box?” “Oops I forgot”she moved to the cup board and took the gift box out. Adarsh sat back and waited for her to open the box. She sat beside him unwrapping the box. Her eyes opened wide when she opened the Jewel box and found the necklace.
“Yeh Meri Ragu ke liye” said Adarsh showing a necklace to Pari in a Jewel shop. “She doesn’t like all that Adi” said Pari. “Ragu” he called out and Ragini neared him. “You liked this?” asked he showing the necklace. “A…AJ… Th…This is so good” said she and smiled. “P…Pari maa will l…look good with it” said she. “Not for your Pari maa. It’s for you” said he. “N…no AJ. I don’t like it for me” said she making faces. “See I told you” said Pari. “Okay fine. Not now she will wear it after marriage for sure” said Adarsh. Ragini looked at him confused. “She will not wear it then also Adarsh” said Pari and burst out laughing. “Will see. I will gift her for her marriage” said he dreaming.
“Ragu” called out Adarsh bringing her to reality. She looked at him and her eyes were filled. As the tears went down her cheeks she wiped them and smiled at him. “You remembered this?” asked she painfully looking at Adarsh. “Haa how can I forget you only liked it in Darjeeling” said he and Ragini closed his mouth with her hand. “Shhh AJ” said she and looked around. She removed her hand and forwarded her palm in front of him. “Promise me you will not say you met me in Darjeeling. Or for that matter anything related to Darjeeling” said she. He looked at her confused. “Promise me” she insisted. “Okay okay fine. No more Darjeeling talks. I promise” said he placing his palm on her palm. She smiled and made him slid down the bed. She caressed his hair till he slept and kissed his forehead and headed out to her room.
“She was in Darjeeling not London” said Sanskar who was hiding behind the pillar near Adarsh’s room. He looked at the dairy in his hand and held it and walked to his room. As he entered the room he looked at her she was lying on the bed with closed eyes. As she turned in her sleep her anklets made chiming sound and it made Sanskar’s attention move to her legs. He brushed his thoughts and moved to the couch. He placed the dairy back in the drawer.
“Darjeeling. Something is there in that place. I will read Pari bhabi’s dairy soon and find out what is Ragini trying to hide. What is she upto. She sounds dangerous. But her eyes. Her eyes feel like they are hiding some pain. Deep pain. And I will find out. For the sake of our friendship Ragini. You might have forgotten it but I haven’t. Aur mai apni dosti nibhavunga. Zaroor” he thought looking at her and closed his eyes
Ragini opened her eyes and looked at Sanskar “I know Sanskar I’m confusing you. But I have to keep this with me. I can’t risk anybody’s life now. I cannot. You are my friend and I will never let you go through all that. Its a friend’s promise. A best friend’s. Though you hate me I still care for you. And I want you to hate me. But I will never let you come across the truth which will break you. Never” she said to herself and closed her eyes and let the tears flow painfully.