'Only if you are ...' she replied tentatively.
Nachiket could sense the hesitancy in her voice, as he looked down from the balcony. Pam's apartment was on a dizzying 23rd floor and he could see people and cars hurrying along, resembling a swarm of ants.
'You called?' He asked.
He could hear her sigh from the other end. After a brief second, she responded
'There's nobody at home Nachiket ... Suhaani and Agham are at Pam's; Aarav is out with his friends, you took Ranbir along ... I was wondering if I should just leave for work or ...'
Her voice was tinged with sadness which didn't escape him.
'Nachiket?' she asked again.
He glanced at his wristwatch.
He would take at least half an hour to reach home.
'Wait for me Ragini ... please' he almost pleaded.
...
Ragini was listening to the morning news when Nachiket reached home. She was ready for work.
He went and sat beside her, taking her hands in his. She looked at him intently
'I have to tell you something Ragini' he started.
'You are seeing someone?' she asked him, all serious.
'What? No !' he was agitated. How could Ragini think like this? he thought. It was then he spied the small smile lurking on the corner of her mouth.
He grinned, as he leant forward and pecked on her lips, which took her by surprise.
He didn't however fail to notice the tentativeness in her eyes as he moved back.
'Ragini, we didn't go for a walk ...' he said
'But then? Where?' she asked, and then her eyes went wide in realisation.
He nodded
'Yes I went to meet Pam.'
Her hands were cold in his, as he unconsciously started massaging her fingers
'She understands how important it is for us now to be together as a family ... for ALL of us.'
Words seemed to fail him at this crucial juncture, and he realised their irrelevance as he saw tears well up in her eyes.
'NO Ragini, no more tears. I promised you many years back that I wouldn't let you cry again, but ... I don't want US to fail again. I am trying ... umm, you will have to tell me how though.'
'Why didn't you tell me where you were going Nachiket?' Ragini asked, finally finding the words.
'Where's Ranbir?'
He shifted towards her, a tad more
'He is at Pam's. Will bring Suhaani and Agham home by Lunch time.'
He glanced down at their hands, the fact that she had still not pulled away was a positive signal to him. He looked up at her and said in earnest
'I didn't tell you Ragini because I wasn't sure myself. About how things would be, how they would go ... I hope that there will be no repeat of yesterday's situation , in fact I am sure there won't be any.'
He slowly moved his hand to cup her cheek, his thumb wiping away the tears that now spilled over.
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