Upto Chance (Tejran)

Part 35

The next morning, Ragini woke up early, glancing at the wall clock that showed 6 AM. Sitting up, she noticed the empty space beside her and heard faint rustling sounds. Moments later, Karanveer emerged from the closet, already dressed in a sharp business suit.

"Good morning," he greeted her warmly.

"Good morning," she replied, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Are you going somewhere this early?"

"I have a site visit," he explained while adjusting his tie. "Need to leave early today."

She nodded, watching him leave. Something about his hurried departure left her uneasy, though she brushed the feeling aside.

After breakfast, Ragini decided to call home. She dialed Swara's number, but it went unanswered. Frowning, she made her way to the dining area, only to be met with tense expressions on the faces of Dadaji and Anditha.

"What's wrong, Dadaji?" she asked, her worry mounting.

Dadaji sighed heavily, glancing at Anditha, who stepped closer to Ragini.

"Ragini..." Anditha began hesitantly.

The uncertainty in her tone only heightened Ragini's anxiety. "What happened, Chachi?"

Taking a deep breath, Anditha revealed, "Shekhar Ji called this morning. Your Dadaji suffered a heart attack yesterday afternoon."

The news hit Ragini like a bolt of lightning. Her breath caught as she stared at Anditha in shock.

"He was rushed to the hospital," Anditha continued gently. "Thankfully, he's out of danger now. Swara and Shekhar Ji tried calling you last night, but you didn't answer. So, they called Papaji instead."

Ragini's mind reeled as she tried to process the information. "I..." she began but couldn't find the words.

"Take a deep breath, beta," Anditha said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Everything is under control now. Why don't you call and speak with them?"

Nodding, Ragini quickly dialed Shekhar's number. He answered promptly and explained what had happened. She spoke briefly with Deendayal, her grandfather, whose frail voice did little to ease her worry.

After ending the call, she retreated to her room, needing a moment to herself. The weight of the situation bore down on her as she sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

A little later, Anditha came in to check on her. Sitting beside Ragini, she offered some comforting words and gently suggested, "Do you want to visit your family? you would feel better meeting your dada ji."

Ragini hesitated. She wanted to go but wasn't sure how to bring it up.

"Inform Karanveer," Anditha encouraged. "He'll understand."

Taking her advice, Ragini dialed Karanveer's number. It rang several times, but there was no response. She tried again a little later, only to be met with the same silence. Determined, she decided to visit him at the office and inform him in person.

Packing lunch for Karanveer and Arjun, she headed to the office. Upon arrival, she noticed the tense atmosphere—employees whispered in hushed tones, their movements brisk and purposeful. The stress was palpable, and Ragini couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

The secretary escorted her to Karanveer's office, but as they approached, she heard his raised voice echoing through the hallway. He was in the middle of a heated meeting. Ragini decided to wait outside, quietly settling on a chair in the corridor.