SS in Progress : Mrs and Mr Khanna ... Update on pg 275 - Page 181

'You are pulling my legs na?' he asked in return, as he slipped his arms around her waist, and kissed her forehead.

She pulled his cheeks in turn and rested her head on his chest

'It all seems like a dream Nachiket. I had never ever thought that my entire family would be here ... together. You and me, ever again.'

He sighed deeply, she could feel the sigh reverberate through. Her hands moved up to his back and massaged his sternum lightly.

'You are making me feel like changing my plans now ...' he smiled into her hair. He had promised the children that he would join them in the garden for a round of cricket.

Ragini pushed him away and looked at him in mock anger.

'Nachiket, here I am opening up my heart to you, and you ...'

'I know' he responded, putting up his hands in self defense.

'An angry you is much better than a sad you'

Ragini's eyes were on her husband though. She smiled when she saw him fighting with Ranbir over a point during their badminton match. He was like a kid now, let loose in a candy farm, and he was making the best use of the opportunities, bullying the kids to his heart's content. This was a side of Nachiket that Ragini had missed all along, and it warmed her heart to see him careless and happy.

And then his eyes were on her, and he ran inside the house, much to the children's protests. He returned in a while, and draped a shawl around her shoulders.

'Never' he shook his head emphatically.' You will always be my girl - beautiful and sexy.'

Ragini smiled at him. He had this way of being adorable, even when he was being funny.

'Nachiket, you remember we used to visit this roadside dhaaba earlier, some miles fro here whenever we visited the Farmhouse?' she asked.

He nodded

'Come, let's ditch the kids and go.'

He pulled her up from her chair and indicated towards the back door leading out from the kitchen.

...

A while later they had reached the dhaaba, it had not changed much and the food was still simple and tasty. Nachiket kept on looking at her, until she grew a bit jittery

'You are creeping me out a bit Nachiket' she said, her eyes dancing all over his face.

He smiled warmly.

'You are my world Ragini, I hope you know that'

Ragini is certainly his world

'Look' he indicated towards a distance. Ragini looked at wonder at a small lake, the water shivering now under the onslaught of a full moon.

'Let's go' she said, mesmerised by the sight. She had immediately recognised this quaint little nook, tucked away from the busy hyper world - this was where Nachiket and she would visit and spend time whenever they came to the Farmhouse, far away from all noise and grit.

They walked towards the lake, hand in hand, looking all around in amazement. She knew Nachiket's guard was up because of the desolate nature of the area, and it was pretty late in the evening, but she was exhilarated. This place held so many of their memories and she remembered show they would sit by the bank, under a tree, shielded from the world. Listening to his heartbeat, kissing him for eternity when alone ...

She turned to look at him, his eyes were glistening too.

'Not much has changed Ragini' he whispered, almost worried about breaking the tranquility of the place.

She shook her head

'Not much. But they now have a few seats'

As they slid down on one of the benches, he pulled her into his arms, her head now resting on his shoulder.

'I dreamt of this place so many times Ragini' he said suddenly, startling her.

'Did you?' she asked.

'Everytime I missed you, and that was nearly every moment of those torturous years. I don't know how I survived Ragini. Hating you every moment for not being able to hate you enough. For not being able to forget you, even for a while'

She rested her palm over his heart

'I know. We are mirrors to each other, even in our faults'

He kissed the top of her head, his voice now choking with emotions

"We are going back tomorrow, to our regular routine. But I want you to know that I could never love you enough ...'

Ragini murmured his name under her breath and snuggled deeper into his arms.