STAY IN MY ARMS.

CHAPTER 10

FLASHBACK

kalpana put on her t-shirt and  pulled on her jeans and quickly hurried to the university ...... Raghav was graduating.......she beamed with pride when he walked on stage to receive his scroll....he waved to her and she waved back to him totally unaware her future mother in law was in the hall........having received  his scroll  ....Raghav   ran straight to kalpana  and put his  hat on kalpana's head and hugged  her.......kalpana Deepti Tejwani ,,,'' I love  You''........." Oh  Raghav  i  love  you  too"  Kalpana  whispered in to his ears......Rubina Gupta  standing behind  a pillar was in utter shock and dissapointment  ......she  remained  hidden and heard  their conversation....."my  heart is full of happiness today...you have graduated..what next?...questioned Kalpana........'' the  next  is   we celebrate" said  Raghav  ,,he  quickly grabbed  Kalpana's  hand  and they both ran out  of the buiding    ..the  sun was shinning brightly....and  the  young lovers  heart filled with  joy   .while  inside  the  fully  air conditioned  hall......Rubina Gupta  was  fuming mad  and she  began to  shake ....she  moved   slowly  like  a panther   ready  to devour  its  prey.........
Raghav  gave  a slice  of  cake to Raghav .....she  took  the  cake  and  using a fork  sliced  it  and  held  it  to  Raghav,....Raghav  dropped  the  fork......"" Feed  me...."  Raghav  insisted....he  did  not  care   if  anyone  was  watching  them  both......Kalpana   laughed  took the  cake  in her  fingers .....Raghav  bit  the  cake  and  playfully  nibbled  on her  fingers.....kalpana  shrieked with  laughter  ,,Raghav became  serious   suddenly '' Mum  told  me  she  will  be here..i  did  not  see her...perhaps  she  is  busy......later  we will go home and there  you will be  able   to meet her.....i   don't  want to go home yet..i  want to spend the rest of the day with you...my sweet Kalpana...come on  let's  get  uncle..shamu's  ice cream.....
Rubina  followed  closely ....staying  hidden  all the  time,  her anger knew no bounds........she    followed  them  for nearly two hours then gave up and returned home.......she dialled  a  number and  within a few  minutes  a  man arrived......Rubina  spoke  to  him and  he  promised to be back within three hours  and he  kept his  promise  and  he  had  just  stepped  foot into  the  house  when  Raghav arrived  holding  the  girl's  hand........''       Rubina  gestured  to the man to come back  later  ...the  man dissappered   quickly   ..Rubina  noticed  Raghav  still holding      the  girl's  hand....Rubina   walked up to her son and hugged him........" mother  i did not see you in the hall....i was excited  and  was a little  upset  you did not  turn up''  Raghav  said  looking at his  mother,......Rubina sensed  his  dissapoinment  and    . said  .'I was tied up in a   business meeting  to  close a deal  son.''  Rubina  lied.......she  could  still feel the anger  within her but she  masked it well  with an apologetic  smile......
" Mother ...meet  kalpana''..Raghav put an arm around  her and  introduced  her to Rubina Gupta......Kalpana quickly  bent down and touched    Rubina's  feet as a mark of respect......
Rubina  remained  like a stone but  softened down  as Raghav was watching her......'' nice  to  meet you Kalpana..Rubina  found her sweetest  voice  and touched kalpana's  head in  mock blessings............he son Raghav  was more important  to  her
" Mother ,,kalpana  and  i  love each other deeply and we want to get married with your blessings"Raghav announced  cooly......Rubina clenched  her fist till it  bled........she  hid  her  anger
'' Come  child ,sit beside me''  Rubina  invited ............Kalpana  took a reluctant step  and turned back to look at Raghav.........'' go  on  Kalpana" Raghav  urged and he too sat beside Kalpana to give  her moral support.......Kalpana  seemed forlorn and out of place  suddenly...
Raghav squeezed her  hand  to  assure her he was there for  her no matter  what
'There is  no need to be afraid of me  Kalpana....."Rubina said  and  once again gave that  mocking smile................Kalpana  smilled in  great relieve,...her  future  mother in  law    was treating  her well......she  began  to  regain  her self confidence ..........Rubina  summoned   for tea and scones  for everyone.
Rubina  watched  Kalpana  closely......the girl in front of her had  large striking bright eyes and  she had fine  cheek bones.....her shoulder length  hair was tied up in a pony tail.......she  was  wearing a t-shirt which had seen better days.it was faded........what was Rghav  thinking   wondered Rubina.......she needed  to   handle Raghav carefully...she  knew him well.....
''Bring  your  parents  tomorrow Kalpana.....we  will talk'' Rubina said  after finishing her tea.....Raghav was thrilled at once,he  looked at Kalpana''see   i told you mother will love  you' you were so afraid''
"mother  Kalpana's  guardian will be  here  to  meet you"' Raghav provided this information when Rubina was about to question him about Kalpana's parents.......Raghav shook his   head and  that  hushed his mother up..much to her chagrin
Raghav and Kalpana left  a little later......the  man  who was seated in his car found his way back to the  house
'madam.......the girl is an orphan ''...he said   and  placed some papers and some  photographs in front of  Rubina Gupta......Rubina tore  the  photo of Kalpana  into  pieces........''  a  poor  filthy  gold digger  out  to trap  my  son......,,has  she  slept  with  my  son  ?.......cursed Rubina.....
The private investigator  had  gone  to  the orphanage  where Kalpana was placed  f till she was sixteen....and  she  was living with the elderly couple  who were indebted  to Kalpana;s  late  parents  who  had died in a car accident.........errrrr'''the  man  stopped''  madam about Raghav Sir  sleeping with the girl i don't  know   but  according to  The girl's  neighbours  Raghav sir and the  girl  are always seen together  ....he  spends  a lot of time  in her guardians two room flats......Rubina  gathered  the  papers  and  kept  it in the safe..then threw a stack of money  to the private investigator and  told him never to return  to the  house unless she called him...he  left contented  with the money he had received for  his  job
Rubina  sat at her table  fingers rapidly running on the keyboard...her business was also important to  her,,,that was easily done but  her son Raghav  was a little  hard  to handle.....he  always  had  his  own mind    .....just  like  his  father Shailendra Gupta.......eventually  Rubina  knew she would  get her way around Raghav.......Rubina promised herself'' Oh  Yes"......nothing in this  world  could defeat   her....she  had always been a winner and will continue to be one as long as she  lived...tomorrow she was going to meet  Meena  and  Joshua.....Kalpana's  guardians.............tomorrow  will be  the day................Rubina was glad  that her  younger  Son Sunil Gupta was in Australia   .....in   college...he  was  a nosey parker  at  times''',she   will handle   it.........to  be  continued.......Evelyn.....