Fragile Hearts

Chapter 8

"I will be back soon" Raghav informed as he placed his luggage in the boot of his car. An emergency had occurred at a branch of Jayati Jewellers and his urgent presence was required. Although he hated the idea of leaving Pallavi alone, taking her along wasn't an option. A huge consignment containing his diamonds had been seized and the situation needed to be dealt with as soon as possible before the media caught a whiff about it. It could possibly mean two days away from her. He had ensured that she would be safe and surrounded by his trusted bodyguards at all times.

"Come back soon Raghav" she was standing between the door and fiddling with her pallu. He smiled at her then nodded positively. There was a hint of sadness in her voice, he would miss her terribly. "I will miss you,"as he spoke she came and hugged him. He tilted his head back and put his hands on her shoulders. He could hardly believe this was happening, her eyes were teary. She rose up on her toes and pecked his lips. It was all happening. "I will miss you too"

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Pallavi was unhappy because he wasn't going to be around but also relieved that she got a little time to herself, to figure out her feelings towards him. Did she really love him? She found herself walking to his study involuntarily, late at night just out of habit, hoping to find him there to annoy him for one thing or the other. Not seeing him there today made her chest ache.

Her gaze fell on the bundle of files she had brought home from his office, she decided to go through some of them before going to bed. Sleep was taking over yet a very familiar name in the books of accounts caught her attention. Vijay Deshmukh. She rubbed her eyes and read it again, after checking the entry she realised that Raghav had transferred a sum of 5 crore in the name of Vijay Deshmukh. It was on the date of their wedding. It came as a sudden blow to her.

What could be the reason behind it? Thinking about it now she wondered why he always asked her to not contact the Deshmukh's. There was no one around her, what could possibly go wrong if she called Vijay. Her restlessness grew with each passing second and she anxiously dialled his number. This user does not exist; an annoying robotic voice spoke from the other end. Her failed attempt further irritated her, she dialled Amruta's number and half expected her to cut the call at the first ring yet she was surprised when she picked up the call. "Hello Amruta".

"Pallavi, how are you" Amruta genuinely sounded concerned. Although they were never on amicable terms, Amruta pitied Pallavi for she was now the devil's, Raghav Rao's wife. "I am...good. How are you and baba and Aai?" Pallavi enquired. "We're good. Actually I'm getting late for class. Can I call you sometime later?"

"Class? This late at night?"

"Pallavi...." Amruta took a long pause before she continued "We're in London. Didn't Raghav tell you?" She spoke haughtily as if flaunting.
"No he didn't " it came as a rather huge shock for Pallavi. "Anyways. Talk to you later. Bye." She curtly cut the call and Pallavi was left alone in the silence of the huge mansion. She would get to the bottom of this.
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Two Days Later.
"Welcome back sweetheart" Pallavi stood at the gates of the mansion to greet him as he stepped out of his SUV. She was wearing a beautiful black saree, just like the one Raghav had imagined her wearing in his dreams, she looked so enchanting that he almost stumbled while walking towards her. Wait, had she called him sweetheart. He sighed and kissed her forehead as she hugged him. "Looks like someone missed me" he teased her and silently inhaled her perfume. Pallavi playfully smacked his arm and gave a cheeky smile. "Let's go inside, I made lunch"

Raghav was stunned to see all the delicacies presented on the table for him. They both had lunch together and Raghav tried to sneak into his study cum den before his wife would force feed him some gulab jamuns. Had he not eaten a bit extra today he wouldn't have disappointed her at all. As he stepped in his study he found a few things unusual, firstly, it seemed ta lot tidier than he had left it, secondly, his laptop was slightly misplaced.