Petrichor to his Heart

2.23

Before the moment became any more strange Nikhil stepped forward and gave Raghav a warm hug inviting him inside along with Farhad. After touching Vijay and Sharda's feet and exchanging a few words Raghav took a seat in the drawing room far from the small setting for Mansi's ceremonies.

"Pallavi, Beta it is already late...I think now I should..."The words hung mid-air when Jaya's steps faltered seeing who was sitting just in front of her, she had been so engrossed with one of her friends she met in the ceremony earlier that she failed to see Raghav's arrival. The abrupt transition was not noticeable to others but Pallavi felt it and tried not to react.

With silent steps, Raghav moved towards his mother and touched her feet she mumbled a blessing and smiled as if nothing was wrong then he walked towards Keerti and she hugged him wholeheartedly whispering a Congratulations to him which softened his features and Pallavi smiled at the small exchange that went unnoticed again by people around them.

"arey Nikhil, bring something for Raghav na and Farhad don't stand there, come inside." Sharda went to Raghav's side who was now meeting Mansi and wishing her on the big day.

A smile warmed Pallavi's insides and for a small moment, she tried to imagine a similar day when she was sitting where Mansi was.

"hmm hmm, lagta hai bhai ne kisi ko to surprise kiya hai." Keerti teased Pallavi.

"Actually yes, I am a little surprised and did you notice he has chosen the kurta we brought for the ceremony Amma wanted to hold for us." Pallavi pointed towards the guy who didn't think twice about the new packet kept in his side of the cupboard.

"i was wondering the same," Keerti replied and they giggled attracting Raghav's attention who narrowed his gaze at them before Sharda and Amrutha served him with sweets and Vijay took a seat in front of him to let him swallow whatever was kept in front in silence.

"Vijay uncle doesn't leave a single chance to intimidate my brother..." Keerti quipped earning another of Pallavi's giggles.

"Baba don't even do anything, I don't know what it is between them that it feels some tension is there in between them," Pallavi said.

"achha Pallavi, talking about tension did you feel Amma did look shocked on Bhai's arrival, did they fight or something?"

so Keerti too had noticed the daggers Amma and Raghav threw on each other.

It was wrong to keep Raghav's sister in the dark so resigning to the circumstances she told Keerti all about how they went to request Amma to live with them, at least for the sake of this new member joining them, and how Amma denied at last moment as per Raghav when Pallavi felt she never really agreed.

"Oh, so that was the reason Amma was so silent when we left for here... I used to feel bad for them but now I have accepted this strange equation these two share." Keerti said and tried to smile but it didn't come naturally.

"Pallavi..." Amrutha bent to whisper in Pallavi's ears. "ask Raghav whether he would have dinner here with us or ..."

"Oh yeah, I don't think this early he has eaten anything but I'll ask him... Pallavi replied and left the leftover flowers they were collecting while talking and the suddenness caused her to feel dizzy, she stumbled alerting Keerti who grabbed her arm in no time and steadied her.

"Pallavi..." Keerti left the flowers and stood up as well.

"I am fine Keerti, just a few things this little one does for me to not forget him or her." Pallavi smiled and looked in Raghav's direction who had seen the moment because he was eyeing her from the moment he had entered the house.