Hidden Hues Of Henna

Mann meet

Raghav's heart was beating out of his chest.

He was sure.

The moment Pallavi Deshmukh softly leaned onto his front,dropping her head to rest on his chest,his heart had gone haywire. The beat was so fast and strong he was sure she could hear it too.

"Sorry.." She kept on repeating almost as if to herself.

Raghav's gut clenched hearing her small sobs and sniffles. She was trying so hard to keep it together,he could feel it.He went through all the words he said to her looking for a sign of what might have triggered her tears but he could decide on nothing. As always the woman and her thoughts remained mysterious to him. But that didn't make him worry any less.That gentle feeling he had suppressed seeing her sick the other day was rearing it's head again.She was affecting him again.

Slowly gripping her arms,he gently pushed her away from him whispering,"Saree ka dukaan?" His own voice came out weak and confused.

As he looked at her face scrunched up in sadness with tears leaking down those marvellous eyes which were blinking rapidly as she tried to stop the tears,he felt like somebody punched him. He cursed his own self for taking out his frustration over Keerthy at her.But he could not help it.Hell,he could hardly help his own thoughts and actions anywhere five feet within this woman's proximity.A sudden need to comfort her,gather her close and wipe her tears emerged and Raghav was unable to handle it.He was unable to handle any more of his foreign feelings which seemed to rise to life only in the presence of this particular female.Hence,Raghav slowly shook her.

He wanted her to break out of whatever haze she had entered or was it him he wanted to free from the shackles of the gentle warmth which was beginning to surround his heart as he witnessed her tears.

Whatever it was,he shook her to break them away from it. To come back to normal where they could go back to despising each other.

"Saree ka dukaan..." He whispered once more and this time she heard it and quickly pushed him away.

Raghav felt relieved yet saddened at her action.Lord knew what was happening to him.Mentally shaking himself,he began to call her again, trying to sound as uncaring and casual as he could.

"Saree—"

"Just-Just please leave Raghav." She turned away from him facing the other side as she hurriedly wiped her tears with both hands. She sounded embarrassed."J-just go!"

Raghav contemplated. As much as he wanted to go away from her and this awkward moment they shared owing to her sudden vulnerability the source of which he was sure was his own words. He didn't think it was a good idea to leave her alone.

"How do you go home?" He asked instead.

She stilled at his words and slowly turned around. Frowning with her puffy eyes glaring at him she countered."Why does that concern you Mr.Rao?"

A smile threatened to break on his face but Raghav controlled it.They were back to being normal and his uneasiness vanished in seconds as saree ka dukaan went back to fighter mode.

Stepping forward,he reached behind her and lifted the shop shutter in one quick pull.He felt Pallavi flinch as the metal sheet noisily folded upwards. Going to stand by the enterance,he looked back and gestured outside to her.

"You see how late it is saree ka dukaan? It's going to be ten soon and you should be at home if you are so keen on sleeping. Not here putting yourself up for being robbed or something worse than that." He frowned as he thought of the possibility of somebody else having spotted the empty shop in where this godforsaken woman was having the sleep of her life. An idea occurred to him suddenly and he spoke before she could open her mouth completely,"You know what,since this my property I want you to go by my timings.Hence now this business of yours will wrap up at seven every evening. I don't care if you need power naps. You can have them at your home." He shrugged nonchalantly at her fuming figure.