Thank you all for commenting and I’m very happy to see so many Tamil peoples here. This is purely RANSAN FF. And keep commenting guys.
Character sketch :
Ragini:
Wife of Sanskar. A mischievous, playful girl who love’s her husband a lot in her life. An extremely protective towards Sanskar. Always tries to keep him away from all girls. Was died in a train bomb blast which occurred 3yrs ago.
Sanskar:
Is a widower. A photographer-cum-editor working in Indian Express. Reside in Navy Mumbai. Lost his wife Ragini a few years back. He still cannot take the situation. So he starts keeping himself busy in his work to get over his loss. However, the thoughts of losing ragini haunt him and he resorts to taking alcohol.
Sahasra/Sahu:
A 4yrz old, bubbly and very talkative girl. Daughter of sanskar and ragini. She’s the only reason for Sanskar to survive in his life.
Ram prasadh and sujatha:
Parents of sanskar and ani. They have only mission in their life, to see him married and happy again.
Ajay( played by Shaheer Sheikh):
An orphan. Best friend of Sanskar from childhood. Funny and lively character. Always treated ragini as his own sister.
Anita ( played by Tridha Choundhary):
Sister of Sanskar and wife of Ajay. Sweet and caring friend of ragini. For whom her whole family is her life. Loves ajay a lot.
Swara:
Sweet and innocent girl. Is a widower. Working as a bank employee in Mumbai. Reside in Navy Mumbai.
Sanjay (played by Gautham Rode):
Swara’s husband. Died in same train bomb blast which occurred 3yrz ago.
***************
3years leap,
@Mumbai,
“Sir, this is jui nagar area in Mumbai. Like tambaram area in your Chennai city” said the secretary of the apartment as unlocking the door lock. “There ji, that is kitchen. You can use this as dining hall” he showed an empty wide space. “And Sanskar ji, ten thousand rent and one lakh advance” he handed room Key’s to him and started to leave. “wo..secretary sir!” sanskar called out. “haa ji..” “wo.. I’ll take extra milk, from tomorrow onwards as my maa and papa was coming” said sanskar. “Don’t worry I’ll inform this to security as he’s responsible for this. And please, don’t hesitate to ask, if you need anything. I’m all at your service at anytime” he assured, making him comfortable. “You knw what? If my wife see’s you, she will surely make your cheeks become red”. “Why..?” Sanskar’s eyes widened in horrified as he thinks of some other thing and covered his cheeks with both hands. “Bcoz she love’s to pinch kid’s cheek” saying this he pinches his cheeks tightly. “Ouch… I’m not a kid” said sanskar soothing his cheeks. “But you are looking, not less than any kid’s”.
***************
“Finally, our rajkumaran proposed her and after a little time our rajkumari also accepted… THE END” Ragini screeched happy as finishing her story telling section to her unborn baby, holding her tummy. “Evalum thoongamatra. Enayum thoonga vidamatra (she too not sleeping and won’t allow me to sleep as well)” he mumbled in sleep covering his face and ear’s with the pillow. “Sanskar… sanskar utho…” she patted on his back recurrently. “Let me sleep ragu..” he turned to her and placed his head on her baby tummy in a sleepy mood. “You idiot get up from me, she will get hurt” she pushed him and he woke up rubbing his eye’s cutely. “Since you start enlarging in your mumma’s womb, she started avoiding me here, totally” he pouted looking at her baby bump, folding his arms. “Ohh… insecurities?” she held his chin to look at her. “Look who’s talking about insecurities. But I’m not, ragu. I’m feeling sleepy” he jerked her hand and turned other side. “Angry on me?” She turned him and looked at him. He twisted his lips with fake anger. “Sorry..” She pecked his lips and dragged him to a hug placing his head on her chest. “Seriously, you looks like a small boy when you twist your lips, Sanskar” said she and bite his cheek playfully. “ahh…” he cried and raised his head and twisted his lips again. “What, you want another dose?” asked she huskily and pecked his lips again and giggles.
“You are my first ever kid, Sanskar and my first preference always goes to you only. I love you more than my Sahu” she stroked his hair as staring at him. “But we’ll have some problem, until our Sahu turns one” said she. His eye brows shrank, as her words made him look at her confused. “The first year of our Sahu’s life will become most difficult for our date” she whispered and winked at him naughtily. “Don’t worry, Ani will manage her. We can date” he too winked at her rubbing his nose on her. “I love you ragu..” he mumbled, hiding his face on her bosom. “I love you too baby boy” she kissed his hair. “Don’t call me that” he warned her in his sleepy tone, dragging her more close to him and cuddled to her embrace like a small child.
***************
“Sanskar ji..” secretary shook sanskar, bringing him to present and asked he “Where were you lost?”. “N..nothing” he smiles at him weakly. Secretary nodes his head and stepped out of there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next day,
“Ram, I liked this new living room the most. You knw why? because you me sanskar ragini sahu ani ajay, we all can gather together to watch TV and that is the time we all catch up with eachother, ryt ram?” sujatha exclaimed in a chipper mood, as they were resting in the living room. Sanskar’s face became pale hearing ragini’s name. Sujatha’s smile faded as soon as she saw him and her eye’s turned moist when reality struck her mind. “Can’t you shut your motor-mouth for a while, suji?” ram whispered in her ear crisply. She composed herself and “wo.. kitchen also looks too big na, ram” she tried to cover up the situation, but instead she got glares from ram as a return. She smiles sheepishly at him and he hit his forehead in disbelief. Sanskar lips turned into small smile seeing their cute antics. Sujatha and ram smiled looking at his smile which made their heart smooth to watch him forgetting his pain.
“Maa, you are not the one going to cook here, anymore” sanskar got out of the sofa and walked to his room. “Why is that?” she looked at his direction confused. “If you are in kitchen for two hours, you’ll fall sick for next two days” said he in his room as getting ready for his work. “You have Arthritis problem na, he’s talking about that only” said ram. “You are asking me not to cook. How are we gonna have food, then?” she looked at him when he came out of his room with his belongings. “There is a mess nearby, here. I’ve arranged food for us there”. “Mess..?” asked ram shocked. “This is Mumbai, sanskar. my jaws will pain if I eat chapathi. Can’t we have rice?” he cried shedding his fake tears. “Papa, mess belongs to our state people only. And inform this address to the people you want to. I already messaged to Ajay. May be, he must be coming here, tomorrow” said sanskar. “Alone..?”.
“No maa, with my kutty(chote) princess” he bends a little and encircled his arms around her neck from back while she placed her hand on his right cheek. “Bye, maa. I’ll be back soon in the evening” he kissed her cheek and walked out. Sujatha smiles and rested her both legs on ram’s lap stretching her arms, yawing. “Very good. Your leg, your wish. You can keep wherever you want and do whatever you like” he gives impossible look to her. “Don’t I have that rights also. My leg is paining bcoz of train journey. That’s why I kept like this” she pouted folding her arms. “If anyone see’s you they will think that, you are kicking me” said ram and sujatha hit’s his shoulder playfully. “Maa, carriage will come at 12 o’clock. If anyone rings door bell, don’t open without asking. And papa, (he turned to ram) don’t leave maa alone and go” said he strictly as giving his brief lecture to them before leaving. “Hey, you first go to your office mahn. I’m looking after her for 27yrz. Don’t I knw that?” he huffed being irritated seeing their mother-son drama and murmured “Mumma’s boy” where sujatha giggles silently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Excuse me! I’m Sanskar from Chennai” he introduced him as he entered into his new office as showing the envelope to the receptionist. “Nice meeting you sir. Go straight and turn left that’s your cabin” receptionist directed him after giving a quick glance on the envelope. “Thank you” said he and headed towards his cabin. He takes ragini’s photo from his bag and placed it in the table and leaned to his chair with closed eye’s.
“Sanskar, what will you do, if I would go far away from you one day” Ragini placed her head on his shoulder holding his hand. They were sitting in beach. “Finally, god heard my wish. I’ll be free from this protective shield. Thank you, krishna” sanskar thanked folding his hands looking above. And the next moment his face smeared with sand facial. “Idiot..” she glares at him. “Then, what kind of stupid question is this?” asked he irritated wiping his face with her dupatta scarf. “I don’t mean that. I just asked, what if I would miss for a day and What, if it was your important day, means?” she cleared with her queries to him. He gives her impossible look when she makes puppy eyes and spoke he, “I’ll be seen more upset and will burst out my annoyance to others. No more queries or else I’ll show you now itself”
he threatened her showing his teeth like vampires while she gulped in scared. “But you shouldn’t burst out in that way. If you ever feel alone or missing me, just close your eye’s and think only about me… always knw that I’m somewhere wishing you the best, samjah?” she asked cutely holding his face in her palms while he looked at her lovingly and his eye’s turned glassy. “Alele… I made my baby boy senti.. chorry” said she pulling his cheeks. “Yuck, don’t call me that, ragu” cried he making faces. She smiles naughtily and held his shirt collar and leaned close to him where he tilted his head closing his eye’s and pulled her by her waist. “I will..” she shouted in his ear and ran from there showing her tongue to him. “I’ll take my kiss” said he brushing his shirt and ran behind her.
At present, sanskar opened his wet eye’s and let out a sarcastic smile realizing his fate. “We may be parted ragini, but you are always near to my heart. I can see you, feel you, hear you, but what I’m not able to do is that I can’t reach you. I’m missing you ragini, missing you so much” he pressed his lips hard to control his cry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ram and sanskar was sitting on dining table and sujatha was serving them. “Good night maa, papa” sanskar wished them getting out of the chair after finishing his dinner and walked to his room. “He never eat outside foods, but now he was getting used to it, for sake of my health. He’s hurting himself, ram. I can’t see him like this. If he get married again, he would change na” said sujatha looking at his room painfully. “We asked him many times, suji. We cannot force him” said ram wiping his hands and sighed her to eat.
After sometimes, Sanskar moved towards his cupboard and opened it. There were three variety bottles inside there. He took out a bottle of rum and moved to the balcony. He stood there looking at the dark sky. He opened the bottle, poured the content into glass and gulped it down and said sarcastically looking at sky, “My life is also in similar darkness of your’s. You looks dark without your moon presence, like me without my ragu..”. His mind stung with all the thoughts of her. He gulped down the drink, one after another and threws the glass on the floor in his anger. “Baby boy…” he felt her touch on his shoulder and his lips curved into million dollar smile. “Ragu…”. “Shh… come with me” she dragged him and walked to the bed. She made him sit on it and she sat beside him. He placed his head on her lap and she looked at him painfully. “Look at yourself, your eyes are looking so tired. Let your eyelashes hug eachother for few hours” said she closing his eyes and caressed his hair lovingly. He opened his eyes swiftly blinking at her and shook his head in no.
“You’ll disappear, if I do so” said he and cups her hand with his. She smiled at him and spoke, “My soul belongs to you, sanskar. How can a person live without his soul?. I’m always near to you” She kissed on his forehead tightly and he closed his eyes feeling her presence. When he opened his eyes, he found himself alone on the bed, he rubbed his eyes and then he realized he just hallucinated it. “I wish this pillow I’m curled up against was you” said he and buried his face on the pillow holding it tightly. “Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul, ragini. I find myself searching the crowd for your face like a mad. I know it’s an impossible, but I cannot help myself” he banged on the bed with his fist hardly crying bitterly. A million times he needed her. A million times he have cried. If love alone could have saved her, she never would have died. In life, he loved her dearly, in death he loves her still. In his heart she hold a place where no one else can ever fill. He broke his heart to lose her, but she doesn’t go alone. A part of him went with her the day God took her home.
**********FLASHBACK**********
Sanskar pov,
It was six in the morning and the town is already astir. Newspaper vendors with loads of paper on their motorcycles make their rounds. Here, I am accompanying my bestie, Ajay to the ground for our daily workouts. We walk under the street lights towards our destination. On the way we see people already on their way to work. I can see some school children too. Some of them are waiting near the yet unopened gate of their school. It remains me of my school days, where 3yrz back I’m also standing at unopened gate of my school like them. We stopped at the tea stall to have a glass of ginger tea before going to our workouts. The eastern sky is beginning to light up. I can see the first crack of dawn against the dark sky. Soon the sun will rise and the day will begin. From somewhere among the trees I can hear a birds chirping sound. It was so pleasant to hear. However I have to leave these beautiful sounds behind.
We finished our drink and pay for it. Our destination nears as we leave the road and enter a small footpath. This is a shortcut to where our practice section takes place. After walking a short distance past some tall trees we reach our destination. All at once, I heard a ‘roar’ sound. When I turned back, I saw a Black Chevrolet approaching towards us furiously, from far. No. not us, towards me. But why is that so?. “Driving over, speed limit. Hmmm? Sure. Mystery man, You will be charged with the offence of excessive speed”. I came out my inquiry section due to screech noise. The car stopped with a sudden break, inches apart from me, making the all sand raises up as storm. “ahek-ahek!” God. Where am I struck?
Did I landed in any shooting spot area? But no. It’s our regular workout spot only. “Sanskar..” where I’m coughing badly, I heard my “mustafa mustafa” friend Ajay’s voice. He came for my rescue. “Are you alright?” asked he with concern filled eyes to which I simply nodded brushing my shirt. He turned to the car and started lashing out. “You brat. Do you have any idea about what you are supposed to do? You were about to kill an innocent life. Which stupid gave you the silence to drive? come out of the car, first” he lashed out banging recurrently on the front of the car. And the door opened from passenger seat. My eyes widened looking at the person standing in front of me. She was there standing in front of me. 3yrz.. After 3yrz, I’m seeing her now. That’s it. Numbness washed over my sense.
A girl came out the car. She was wearing blue knee length dress, looking extremely beautiful. Her silky hair was dancing on her shoulder. Her eyes were covered with goggles. And a warm and sweet smile creased on her lips. She removed her goggles and moved forward and leaned in front of the car with crossed arms. “Gini..” a whisper escaped from Ajay’s mouth and his lips turned into million dollar smile.
***************
“Sanskar..” said ragini holding her cheek when he slapped her. “What’s your age now? haa? asked he holding her elbow and dragged her to him. She stood there with her head low weeping silently. “Can’t you heard what I asked..” he screamed jerking her. “Six…sixteen” said she sobbing. “16..! Don’t you knw that, this is not the age for all these nonsense” he tightened his hold on her elbow and she winces. “Behave sanskar, you are hurting her” said Ajay and tried to release his hold but sanskar pushed him, “You stay away Ajay”. “At least, convey your point quietly” said Ajay helplessly. “No Ajay. It wouldn’t register in her blunt head, if I say calmly. How many times should I explain her?.
She will understand in this way only” said he and turned to her. “Look here, it’s just an attraction, nothing more than that. Don’t waste your time and spoil your future roaming behind me. Got it?” he said sternly and his nails pierced her skin. She winces in pain clutching her uniform skirt. But this pain is nothing infront of the pain in her heart. She raised her wet eyelashes to face him. Her eyes locked with his, as he was looking at her already. “Over..?” asked she in cracking voice. He felt her pain. Her tears pained him. He wondered how she’s effecting him, though he don’t have any shitty feelings for her. He never felt such feelings for any girl in his life. He wanted to console her, but his ego did not let him to do so. He jerked her hand and turned other side to avoid an eye contact.
“I’m loving you for past 3months. But, why does you always run away from me, sanskar?” asked she and came infront of him. “Gosh. I’m confused now, how am I supposed to explain you?” he ruffles his hair in frustration. “You’ve the routine problem which every school going student faces. What can I do for that?”. “You don’t need to do anything. Just say you love me, that’s enough for me” said she. “Look ragini, this is the last time we are going to meet, as it is my last day of my school life. You’ll be some where and I’ll be else where in future. I’m sure, you’ll not even think about me” said he. “No I’ll not go away from you. I’ll always think about you. only you. I’ll wait till you accept my love” said she determined wiping her tears. “Let us see if such thing happens” said he and turns to leave, but she held his wrist. “What the h…” before he should say anything she placed her lips on his cheek shocking him. “Tit of tat” she whispered in his ear. He stood there with wide eyes holding his cheek where she kissed him and her words made him look at her confused. “For your slap” said she caressing her cheek. “Hellooo..” she waved her hand in front of him but no use of it.
She sighed and turned to Ajay, but to her surprise he was on floor. She looked down at Ajay who was acting like fainted. “What are you search there, Ajay?” asked she innocently. “Actually, sometimes before I saw an innocent look like girl called ragini, here. I’m searching for her only” said he like searching. “Very funny… oh come on Ajay help your friend to come out his coma stage” said she dragging him. “But why he’s over acting like you kissed him on his lips” asked he while she shrugged her shoulder like she don’t knw and looked at her wrist. “Oh god. Ajay, am getting late for my dance class, I’m leaving now. And leave your friend at his home safely” said she strictly and started to leave with her backpack. “Ajay..” he heard her voice from far and turned to look at her. “Give this to him, when he comes out his trance” said she and blows kiss to sanskar. “Nalla polapu (nice job)” said he irritated, hitting his forehead. “Catch it mahn” she screamed. “Yeah, matha” said he acting like catching it.
***************
“How are you, sanskar?” asked ragini standing in front of him. Sanskar who jerked due to her voice came to sense and looked at her blankly. “I still loves you sanskar. Don’t you say, I’ll forget about you? I’ll never forget you, infact I can’t stop myself from thinking about you also” said she. “I can wait for you till my last breath. At least then understand my love”. She leaned close to him and hold his shoulder, “Till then I’ll keep on following you” she whispered in his ear. He tilted his head and his eyes locked with her, where their lips were inches apart. “Still your eyes are beautiful as before” said she looking deeply in his eyes. He came to sense when her lips slightly brushed his. He jerked her hand and turned other side to control his thumping heart placing his hand near to his chest. She grins and next moment she was pulled into a bone crushing hug.
**********FLASHBACK ENDS**********