Fragile Hearts

Chapter 5

She was always ashamed to take. So She gave. It was not a virtue. It was rather a disguise. 'Now I am alone and suffocating because I couldn't give a voice to my emotions' Pallavi was deep in her thoughts when she heard the door unlock and Raghav entered the room.

Raghav noticed that she was still thinking about what had perspired between them earlier. However, in an attempt to lighten her mood he asked, "Pallavi, Would you like to go for dinner with me?" She was surprised by how normal he behaved and did not seem affected at all. Am I just another conquest for him? Who am I kidding? He will throw me out when he gets bored of me!' It appeared as if she was trying to convince her own self that he was the villain. He was the bad guy. But the way her body complied to him was just like magic and instead of feeling intimidated by him, his arms felt like a safe haven to her. She knew she was being immoral and unreasonable but the turmoil inside her mind was making her anxious and disturbing her ability to think straight.

"Pallavi!" She heard his voice again, only this time closer than before. She noticed his crisp white shirt was crinkled around the shoulders and the images of her digging her nails into his chest flashed before her eyes. She couldn't decipher the look in his eyes but he always looked at her like that, like she was the sun. It was a weird comparison to make yet it was true, rather nicely put he dared to look at her. Nobody looks at the sun. He looked at her and squinted his eyes as if basking her warmth and light. Yet the light which dared to make him blind didn't waiver his dedication to admire the it. She knew the whole world could crumble yet he wouldn't blink.

Still lost deep in her thoughts she touched his shoulder lightly and smoothened out his shirt with her feather hands as she leaned a little closer. The entirety of his focus, every inch of his being, was consumed in that oval-sized point of contact, where her hand shared its warmth with his shoulder. She noticed his breathing pattern had changed, he was taking much deeper breaths now. "Pallavi, dinner?" He asked her again. Her proximity was making him nervous. She came out of her reverie of thought and simply nodded in a yes, detaching herself from him and he felt that loss of warmth.
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The restaurant he had taken her to was quite beautiful. It was just by the river Seine, the atmosphere was quite and calm. He had requested for a table where they could have some privacy hence they were seated on the balcony. While Raghav chose to wear a black shirt and denims, Pallavi opted for a maroon flowing dress over which she wore a denim jacket. "You look gorgeous!" He complimented. She couldn't help but blush at his compliment. Raghav was stealing glances of her when she was busy choosing her order from the menu. She knew he was looking at her but she somewhat liked being the object of his prime focus.

"So Pallavi, tell me more about yourself?" He asked her in the mid of their dinner. Getting to know her was the only way he could ever extend her a hand of friendship. "What do you want to know Raghav?" She took a sip of her water. Raghav observed the rim of his glass and stirred the whiskey, "Everything!" He wanted to know what made her happy, what made her sad, what cheered her up and every other little thing about her. "But let's start small. Why don't you tell me about your parents?"

Her parents. She remembered only small bits of her mother's laughter, how warm her embrace was and that was all. "I grew up in an orphanage. I don't remember much about my parents. I remember how heartily my mother laughed and how stern my father looked in that one picture I have of him. The nuns in the orphanage, they looked after me." She saw him struggling to form words, his hands moved in the air and mouth moved but he didn't say anything. "I'm really sorry I never knew" Raghav spoke guiltily. "It's alright" Pallavi had felt better after opening up to him. "Tell me your story. How did you become the DON of Hyderabad, Mr. Raghav Rao?" She air quoted the 'don' and sneakily smiled at him.

"Ah I don't want to bore you. It's a long story." He gulped down the drink he had been holding in his hand. "We have the whole night don't we?" Pallavi countered.

Indeed, the night was long. They talked their hearts out to each other. The conversation varied from favourites to memories and to relationships. Pallavi had just realised how similar they were, there was something about the way they talked about their lives. They had been witnesses to many ordeals and lacked love and relationships they could fall back on. She found his ambitious and confident side to be really appealing. His assertiveness and the way he talked about her, the way he mentioned her as his 'wife' every time the waiter came to check on them, curled up her toes.

"We should leave now" Raghav spoke after taking a look at his watch. It was around 12:20 and the restaurant people had started clearing out tables.

They were the only ones left there. Instead of taking a cab, Pallavi suggested that they walk back to their hotel. They were striding down the cold empty street when Raghav asked, "So Pallavi, tell me about your ex-husband?"
He noticed her expression turn stern. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him, "Why are you suddenly asking about him?" Raghav thought maybe she didn't feel comfortable talking to him about her dead ex- husband. 'God, I'm such a fool to have asked this question. Congratulations Raghav Rao, what a way to ruin this perfect day.'

"I don't want to talk about him" She said nervously and he didn't say anything further. "I understand Pallavi" The rest of the walk was quite and Pallavi was again lost in her own thoughts. She changed her clothes and dozed off owing to the tiredness and Raghav too eventually slept.
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They spent the next whole week exploring the beautiful city of Paris. From cafe's at the corner of the street to huge amusement parks and museums, they left no stone unturned. Raghav was enjoying every second spent with her and was quite surprised at her adventurous side. He realised that the topic of her ex husband was still sore for her and never bought it up again. He even brought her a new phone and apologised for his impulsiveness earlier. Pallavi had forgiven him and their comradeship had grown over time. She felt free when she was with him, without a care in the world. However their trip was cut short when Raghav got a call from his office. They had to go back because he had to attend an urgent meeting. Pallavi asked for one last thing before they leave for India, "Can we go for a hike?"

He looked at her with nothing but love in his eyes. How could he ever say no to her? His answer had made her jump in joy and she hugged him. It was their first mutual hug ever. Raghav was elated to say the least. He looked into her eyes and wondered what his eyes would do if not look at her, what his arms would hold if not her and where his heart would put all that love.