STAY IN MY ARMS.

CHAPTER   12

FLASHBACK

Raghav and  kalpana danced  lost in their  own  world.......two  people   so much in love   oblivious to their surrounding....."kalpana ....''  Raghav whispered  ......kalpana looked  up at  Raghav ,  '' yes.....''  kalpana  ''murmered.....let's   get away from  the  crowd....Raghav  suggested.......''far  from the  madding crowd ''  whispered   kalpana  and   wound  her arms around  Ragha'v  neck.....her  fingers    touched   his   ears  and  she  tickled  him  but  he  was   not  tickled   but  in  turn  she  felt  the  pressure of  his  hand  down her  back,,his  eyes  were  smouldering,.....Kalpana  stopped  at  once  and  tried  to   remove  her  hands away.....but  he   trapped  them    with  his  own....then  he  loosened  his  hold  when he saw  his  mother  watching  them  both.......they  were  not  officially   husband  and  wife  yet..his  mother  smilled  and  came  forward....'' kalpana....come  i  want  to  show  some  family  jewels........''  Kalpana  followed  Rubina  to  her  room....it  was  huge  and  so beautiful.........Rubina   unlocked her  safe  and  brought  out   a  few  sets  of  expensive    jewelery  sets and  placed it  on her  bed....'' choose  whatever  you  like.. Kalpana........kalpana   could  not  find  words  as  she  looked at  all the   jewels..........'' can  i  have  something  simple...''   mother.......kalpana  finally   spoke......addressing  her  future  mother in  law''
at  this  junture  Raghav  walked  in........''are  you  sure  you  don't want any of these ...'? 'asked  Rghav
'' i would  like  something  simple...please'' kalpana  stood  her  ground
Mother   can  i  have  grandmother's  gold  chain and pendant  ''   Raghav   said
"" what  !  that  old  thing......."' exclaimed  Rubina.........dissapointed  that  Kalpana  did  not  choose  the  eloborate   jewels........
"yes  mother.....please,  can  i  have  it..... Raghav insisted   .Rubina   had  no  choice  ,,she  went  back  to  the safe  and  brought  a  velvet  case  and  handed it  to  Raghav........Kalpana watched as  Raghav  took  out  a  gold  chain  with a  swan  design  pendant  and  showed it  to  her''
kalpana  delighted  in  what  she  saw  and  smilled'''do  you  like  it  kalpana'' Raghav looked  at  her
kalpana nodded  and  Raghav  gave  the   chain  to  his  mother  while  he  walked   up to Kalpana  and  lifted    her  ponytail  up  and  gestured  to  his  mother  to  fix  the  chain  round  kalpana's  neck.........the  gold  chain adorned   kalpana's  neck  beautifully.....kalpana smilled and  thanked  Rubina......hand in hand  The  young couple   went downstairs........ Rubina  came  down a short while  later....
'' Raghav   ,,kalpana............both  of  you are  engaged  to  be  married......be  careful  of  your  surroundigs   i  don't want   any evil  eyes falling on  both  of  you.........stop  hanging around unnecessarily   until  the  wedding ceremony  is   over'''i want  both of  you to  promise  me''
Raghav nodded   and  held kalpna's  hand  tightly as  they  went  out......Rubina  watched  from behind   the  curtains of her  bedroom
Raghav drove  kalpana  back to her  home  and  kissed  her  goodnight...........and  waited  till kalpana  went  inside  her  flats....she  waved to  him   as  he  drove away.....
kalpana  stood  in  front  of  the  mirror  admiring  the  gold  chain and pendant,,,,,it  was  simple  but  beautiful..she  had fallen  in love with it  the  minute  she  saw it........kalpana  held  the  pendant  and  loooked  back in her  mind  to  her  9th  birthday;;her  prents  had  given her a similar chain and  pendant,,but  it  was snatched  by her unruly  relatives......'' kalpana''    dear...you  need to  get  lots  of  rest''Meena's  voice  broke  her  thoughts.....kalpana  brushed her  teeth.....took  a warm  shower  and  settled  back in her  tiny  cosy  bed..a smile on her lips....her  prince  charming  Raghav Gupta  will be  hers  forever....the wedding was just around the corner...
one  week later   Rubina  took  Kalpana  out  to  purchase  wedding  outfit.....Kalpana   choose  a red  sequineed  saree......but  refused any  jewels as  Meena  and  Joshua  had  also given  her  jewels .........still    Rubina insisted but  Kalpana refused.......in  the  end  Rubina  gave  up  and   witnessed  another side of  Kalpana's  character.....this  girl was really  something  wondered  Rubina.....as  they  browsed  in the  large   stylish   boutique,,,someone  knocked into   kalpana  so hard  that  kalpana  lurched  forward and hit  her  hand on the railing of the  stairs of  the three storey boutique.......''ouch.....''  kalpana  winced in  Pain......and  clutched her  hand.......''Oh  my  God  !  Rubina   almost  shouted  as  she  hugged  Kalpana  and  called  for  the  security  guard  and  apprehended  the  guy  who  had  knocked  into  kalpana
'' madam  i am   so  sorry,  it  was  an accident'' he  apologised...i  am the  delivery  boy,,and  i was running  late...
''get  away  from  my sight'' Rubina   said  almost viciously as  the  young  boy  ran  upstairs  to  get  his  work  done
" kalpana  are  you alright''  Rubina  showed concern   as  her  eyes  strayed  outside to the road,,to  a waiting  car..
''  my  arm  is  aching......i  want  to  go  home''kalpana  winced  in  pain again....... Rubina  let  her  out  of the boutique  and  helped her  into  the  car  .....Rubina   ordered  the  chauffer  to  drive   them  to  the nearest  clinic........Rubina   gave  a smirk  at  the  person  seated in the  car  parked outside......' the  first  victory.' .....
Sureka  Patel   took out an envlope   and  waited  inside  her car,..the delivery boy  who had  knocked into  kalpana  arrived  shortly  and   took the  envelope  of  money  from  Sureka.....''Thank  You  maam.......if  you  need  my  help  again  please do not hesistate to  call......
''I will  have  you eliminated  if  you  open  your  mouth''''now  get  away from  me.''' Sureka   chased him  and  drove  away   from there.
As  soon as  Raghav  heard  what had happened  he  left  his  meeting and   his  office    he  rushed like  mad  to  the clinic  where Kalpana was taken for treatment''Kalpana  ,Raghav rushed to her side as the doctor was rubbing  ointment  on her hand''.....
" i will break  the  arm of  the  person who did this  to you...'' Raghav fumed in anger,,,his  beloved was in pain
"'no  Raghav  please,,,the  boy  apologised ,it  was an accident " Kalpana  said  gently'' looking  up at Raghav
''Mother  from  now on till the wedding day  Kalpana will stay  with  us''  Raghav  said  his  anger slowly subsiding''
" Raghav ..it  is  against  the  tradition  for   the bride  to  be  to  stay in the groom 's  house    prior  to the marriage ..Rubina  was shocked at Raghav's decision.'"
''  Mother  i have  made up  my  mind....unless you  prefer me to stay will kalpana in her  home'' Raghav said without flinching...
Rubina   sighed  and  hid  her  anger..  Raghav  was determined
''Okay Raghav  there is  no need to be defensive.....we  all care about kalpana's well being..Rubina  said
''a  nasty  bang, but  nothing  broken.....she will be  fine in a couple of days..the doctor concluded.....rest  your arm  child  and  be sure  to  rub  the ointment i have prescribed..'' 
a  young nurse helped kalpana  to  her feet   ....Raghav who was standing near Kalpana    scooped  her in his arms  and  walked to the door leaving Rubina  in another state of shock......
back home Raghav carried Kalpana  upstairs  to the  his  late  grandmother's  room....it  was in shades  of  pink and blue ,,the  room was maintened well by the maids.....''.....I want you  to rest well   Kalpana..do  not  worry about anything......i have sent  for  your clothes...the  maid  will be  here soon  and  help you  change,....Raghav sat on the bed  beside kalpana  when Rubina arrived with a glass of  warm  milk..and  made  Kalpana  drink.........'' if  you  need anything  kalpana  just  let  me know''Rubina said sweetly and  kissed kalpana on her forehead............Raghav  hugged  his  mother''thank you  mother  for  your love  care  and  concern   for  kalpana''...............to be  continued.......Evelyn.....