Petrichor to his Heart

2.13

"Amma didn't come..." he asked Keerti, a sharp pang of hurt followed his heart as they stepped down the stairs and his eyes searched for his mother at the party.

"you know her Raghav, isn't it good, we had such a good time in the morning..." reminding him about the morning Keerti tried to cheer him up, and taking the moment Pallavi left the siblings to have some time for themselves.

"hmmm." he tried to feel good about the newly discovered warmth Amma was showering on him even if it was hard for her to join his party or shift to his house.

"you told me you wanted me to meet someone..." she reminded him about his words from the morning.

"Oh Yes...Farhad..." he called him and when he joined him he stared at his face and then at his demeanour.

"everything ok Farhad?" he enquired eyeing the area for a possible danger that made Farhad anxious and his eyes landed on the centre of their problems nowadays.

"Is bare me bad me baat kerte hain, Anna." seeing Keerti there Farhad thought to let it go and Raghav complied.

"it's okay Farhad, I'll go to Pallavi and you guys can discuss it." Keerti tried to put a smile on her face and attempted to leave them when Raghav stopped her and with the suddenness of the turn, she took, her dupatta started slipping and Farhad leant to catch it before it touched the floor and then extended it to her.

"thank you Farhad." with a genuine smile Keerti secured it around her neck and thanked Farhad, such a small gesture didn't go unnoticed from a pair of eyes who were fixed on Farhad.

"Farhad, Are Mr. Bala Krishna and his family are here?

"haan Anna, they are sitting in the meeting room as you advised." Farhad told him. "should I tell them that party has started?" he asked him.

"Yeah...and Keerti come with me, I want you to meet Mr Bala's younger brother, he seems a good guy, just completed his MBA and is about to join his brother...I thought...

"Raghav, you should have at least hinted to me about him.." she gritted her teeth not wanting to create a scene.

"to kya hua... I am telling you this very moment and you just have to meet the guy...aisa thode hai ki tum dono ka aaj shadi hai." Raghav snapped.

"i swear aaj tumhara Bday na hota na to ...

"achha , vo dono aa raha hai ab be a good girl..." he put his arm around her and walked to them.

"hello Mr. Bala..." he greeted his business partner and followed by some formal talks he came to the point.

"so Mr. and Mrs Bala, Meet my sister Keerti, she is working..." and that's when he felt a strong kick on his foot and looked at her.

"i can talk...Raghav." she put a smile on her face and eyed him to leave them alone.

He waited for a moment and then fully believing her sister's communication skills walked to meet and greet others.

"Raghav..." rolling his eyes on the chirpy bird he turned towards the person.

"chipkoo ladki...tum aa gaya aur baki pieces matlab baki sab kahan hain" he tried his smile to be genuine but he could not help the boredom that passed on his face.

"Happy birthday Raghav..." she wished him and in the next moment threw himself to him.

"bas bas... ho gaya Amrutha...Raghav ko mil gayi wishes" Milind, Pallavi's kaka touched her younger daughter's shoulder rather embarrassingly.

"kya baba..." Amrutha was indeed not happy with his father but didn't say anything.

A moment of understanding traversed between the two men and Raghav thanked him through eyes, proceeding to greet others.