Hidden Hues Of Henna

Apna-paraya (II)

Part-2

Raghav could feel himself floating on air as he fled down the stairs to reach the main door of his house.

And sure enough,just like Farhaad said,his mother and his sister were at his doorstep.

The mere sight of them caused his sleep and tiredness to vanish completely.

"Amma...." He whispered as his eyes glossed over.

His eyes went from his mother to his sister and then back to his mother. Containing the grin that was almost threatening to split his face in half,Raghav took quick steps to reach them quickly pushed the servant who was standing at the door out of his way.

"Amma, Keerthy,"He beamed."Please come in, please!" He stepped aside giving them a wide way to enter the house.

"We are not here for your hospitality Raghav. Call Pallavi and we'll be on our way." Keerthy told him in a crisp tone.

"Pallavi?" Raghav muttered confusedly and then all of it came back to him. The euphoria of his family's appearance wore down in a second when he realised why they actually had arrived at his doorstep. For that saree ka dukaan?

"Yes Pallavi. She's here, isn't she?"Keerthy asked.

Raghav felt his heartbreak a little and as if sensing his overwhelming disappointment Farhaad appeared from behind him.

"Pallavi is asleep. She's not really in the state to travel." Farhaad explained causing Keerthy to gasp in outrage.

"What really happened Farhaad? Tell me now! And I only want the truth."

Raghav looked up at his sister's face,her concern for Pallavi clear as day on her face. Moving his eyes he looked at his mother who looked just as concerned.

"Keerthy, nothing serious happe-"

"Great!" Keerthy snapped."Now you have begun to lie to just like him."She threw a glare at Raghav.

"We are not lying. We just don't think it is important for you to know all the details.Your friend is alive,be thankful." Raghav snapped right back pushing Farhaad behind him. He did not appreciate the tone which Keerthy used on Farhaad neither the accusatory stare.He was not liking Keerthy's attitude at all.

"Ragh-"

"Where is Pallavi?" Jaya asked cutting her daughter off,her eyes fixed on her son.

"She's inside, Amma." Raghav was quick to answer."Please come I will take you."

Upon his offer,he could see the contemplative looks that took over the face of both the ladies. And that hurt Raghav more than one would think it did. His own mother and sister were hesitating to step into his house. Life really was unfair sometimes.Not willing to see any more of their troubled contemplations,Raghav turned around himself and began towards his bedroom.He decided that Farhaad would deal with them better.

Reaching his room,he heard them right behind him as he opened the door and walked in.Turning around to face them,Raghav gestured to the door with his arm not knowing what else to speak. With a gasp,each of the two ladies scurried across the large room to reach the bed where right in middle lay an injured Pallavi Deshmukh.

"Shit." Raghav heard his sister curse and turned around once more to finally look at saree ka dukaan.

She was asleep.Exactly how he had left her last night. A part of him relaxed a little at the sight of her.