Raksha Bandhan
This story is based in an AU where the show storyline is followed till the Sangeet episode. So no abortion track, no photos and no Sunny. The events take place a while after that. Keerthi and Amma have moved into the RR Mansion. Raghav and Pallavi are dating. For those of you who have read my Drabble series this takes place a few months after the final drabble - Dance. Here’s a link to the Drabble series for those interested.
“Amma you need to rest,” Keerthi looked at her stubborn mother with a mixture of exhaustion and exasperation.
“I’m fine Keerthi. How do you expect me to go home when Raghav is admitted in the hospital?”
“Amma the doctor has said I’m fine now,” Raghav interjected.
“But..”
“Jaya Aunty, they are right. You need rest,” Pallavi said her part too.
“Amma go home, eat and then take your medicines. I doubt I can handle two patients at a time.”
“Fine I’ll go. You all don’t need to gang up on me. Keerthi take care of yourself and Raghav. Pallavi you also go home. Your Aai Baba will be waiting. Raghav be nice and don’t do something silly.”
With that list of instructions Jaya Rao, walked out of the hospital room with Pallavi in tow. Raghav and Keerthi were left alone in the room. An awkward silence filled the room.
“How are you?,” Raghav chose to break the silence.
“Everything is good. You’re the one on the hospital bed. So tell me, how are you feeling?”
“Much better now.”
“Do you need anything?”
“No I’m fine.”
Keerthi hummed in response and began searching for something in the room to focus on. Raghav stared at the clock. A couple of minutes passed before the nurse waked in with the food and medicine.
“Soup! Can’t I get something remotely tasty to eat?”
The nurse trembled hearing his raised voice.
“I’ll handle it. You can leave,” Keerthi reassured the nurse who left.
As soon as she left Raghav spoke,“I didn’t mean to scare her or be rude.”
“I know, spending time with Pallavi has made you nicer.”
Raghav smiled, “She has that effect on people.”
“That she does.”
Keerthi adjusted Raghav’s bed and sat on the chair beside it. She raised the spoon.
“Do I have to eat this?”
Keerthi nodded and moved the spoon to his lips. Raghav tasted it and pulled a face. Keerthi gave him a pointed look. He grudging took a large sip while Keerthi bit back a smile. They repeated the process until Raghav managed to finish the entire bowl. Keerthi gave him his medicines and water and put the tray aside.
“Did you eat?,” Raghav asked Keerthi.
“No, not yet. I’m not hungry.”
“Just eat a little. I’m pretty sure you haven’t eaten in a while.”
“I’ll go to the cafeteria when I feel like it. Don’t worry.”
Raghav opened his mouth to argue but chose to leave it at that.
Just then the nurse walked in to take the tray. Her phone rang and she looked at Raghav nervously. He smiled and nodded. She walked out of the room and came back in a minute.
“Sorry sir, Today is Raksha Bandhan so my brother keeps calling me.” She took the tray and walked out with a thank you.
The awkwardness from before was back. Raghav diverted his attention to his hands.
“It’s been ten years since we’ve celebrated Raksha Bandhan.” Keerthi spoke.
Raghav turned to face his sister.
“Ten long years. I remember all the chaos. You and Arjun would take very long to get ready and I would end up crying. When everyone was finally ready Arjun would want to choose his rakhi first,” Keerthi continued lost in her memories.
“And Amma would yell at him since it would take him ages,” Raghav added.
“Finally you’d choose a Rakhi for yourself and he’d point at it and say,”
“No Anna, I wanted to choose that one!” They both chorused and broke into laughter.
The laughs wore down as the weight of what could have been settled in.
“I miss him,” Keerthi said and took a pause, “I’ve missed you too you know.”
Raghav looked up in surprise. His surprise changed to hurt.
“Then why didn’t you come? I was all alone.”
“You know why I couldn’t.”
“Because I caused the death of our brother and father.”
“That wasn’t the only reason. You had begun to hang out with different kinds of people. Guns, Alcohol and Money. I didn’t recognize you any more.”
“I did it for you. I wanted Amma and you to live like queens so that no one could ever hurt our family again.”
“But I didn’t need all of that. I needed my brother.”
After a long time Raghav saw his younger sister in her eyes. He saw the same pain that he had seen in the mirror for the last ten years.
Keerthi abruptly got up from her chair, “I’ll be back in a while.”
He felt his heart sink as he watched her leave.
Keerthi came back in fifteen minutes with a half eaten sandwich in her hand. She sat on the chair beside his bed and finished it. As she got up to throw the wrapper Raghav spoke nervously, “Are you still angry with me?”
Keerthi sighed, “I wasn’t angry with you to begin with.”
Raghav let out a relieved breath. Keerthi held his hand.
“I believe I too am at fault for the past ten years. So, I’m sorry,” Keerthi apologised.
“I’m sorry too.”
Keerthi cleared her throat. She went threw the wrapper in the bin and then brought out a brown packet from her bag.
“I also got this. ” she said as she drew out a Rakhi from the packet. Raghav teared up as Keerthi tied the Rakhi to his wrist.
Keerthi looked up to face him,“Happy Raksha Bandhan Raghav.”
“Happy Raksha Bandhan to you too Keerthi.”
They smiled. A ten year old wound had begun to heal.
A/N: Since Raksha Bandhan is tomorrow I wanted to post a Raghav Keerthi one shot. I don’t think the show has done justice to their relationship and on the contrary extremely butchered Keerthi’s character. Hope y’all liked it. Also this isn't proof-read so kindly ignore grammatical errors.
Because I’m shameless about self-promotion- apart from my Drabble series: Here are some of my other one shots on this forum if you're interested:
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Real Estate
Seher Hone Ko Hai
