Upto Chance (Tejran)

Part 19

Throughout the ride, Ragini clung to Karanveer like a koala, her arms wrapped around him, her head resting on his shoulder. Karanveer, despite the weight of her leaning on him, found himself enjoying every moment of their closeness, the warmth between them filling the quiet space.

When they reached home, Karanveer gently laid Ragini on the bed. She had drifted off to sleep, her breathing soft and peaceful. He stood for a moment, watching her, before heading to the washroom to get changed.

As Karanveer was getting ready, Ragini began to stir. Her head felt heavy, and as she slowly woke up, she blinked in confusion. Weren't we just at the party? she wondered, disoriented. She glanced around the room, feeling as though she had skipped a beat in time.

Still feeling unsettled, Ragini got out of bed, though her steps wobbled slightly. Wanting some fresh air to clear her mind, she wandered to the balcony greenhouse and from there, she made her way into the garden.

Minutes later, Karanveer stepped out of the washroom, drying his hair with a towel. His eyes landed on the empty bed, and a jolt of panic shot through him. "Ragini?" he called out, but there was no response. His heart raced as he quickly began searching for her, glancing around each room.

Just then, he heard Ash, their dog, barking from the garden. Following the sound, Karanveer rushed outside and found Ragini sitting on the ground, her legs pulled to her chest, quietly gazing up at the sky. Ash was circling her, barking for her attention, but she seemed lost in thought, staring at the stars.

Karanveer let out a sigh of relief seeing her in the garden, safe but clearly cold. Before approaching her, he quickly returned to their room, grabbing a comforter. As he made his way back to her, he saw Ragini rubbing her arms, trying to keep warm.

Shaking his head with a soft smile, he took a seat next to her and gently placed the comforter around her shoulders. Ragini, startled by his sudden presence and the warmth of the comforter, glanced at him, momentarily unsure of how to react.

"What are you thinking about?" Karanveer asked softly, his voice breaking the silence between them.

Ragini blinked, taking a second to process his presence, and then shook her head saying it was nothing and turned her gaze back to the stars.

"You like stargazing?" Karanveer asked gently.

"Yes... Maa is there," she replied quietly.

Karanveer furrowed his brow in confusion for a moment before he realized she was talking about her birth mother, who had passed away years ago. An awkward silence hung between them for a while, filled only by the sounds of Ash's contented snuffles and the distant hum of the night.

"Do you think she can see me?" Ragini's voice was soft, filled with a vulnerability Karanveer hadn't heard before.

He looked at her, understanding what she was feeling, the loneliness, the longing for a lost parent. He reached over, gently taking her hand.

"Yes," he said quietly, his voice filled with warmth and conviction. "And she would be really happy for you."

Ragini's expression shifted, her initial gratitude replaced by sadness. "She'll be sad... for the way I've become," she mumbled cryptically, recalling her past, the weight of regret pressing down on her. Karanveer frowned, confused, trying to understand what she meant.

Then, an idea struck him, a playful spark lighting up his eyes. "Hello, Mother-in-law," he began, looking up at the stars, "I'm your ladoo's husband."

Ragini gasped, turning to him in surprise. "How do you know my nickname?" she asked, her eyes wide.