STAY IN MY ARMS.

CHAPTER 25.............Reminder....this  is  purely  my  own  fiction........i  hold  the  copyright   ,,,,so  do  not  attempt  to  reproduce  any  part  of  this  story............

Raghav  ran     to  the  edge  of  the  godown..........Reshma  was  not  there............''I  am  sorry  '' Sunil apologised.......i  was  not  thinking....straight...i  only  wanted  to  talk  to  her..........''.......Learn to be a  man  Sunil..and  not  a scumbag.............i have  warned  you  many  times,,,,,,,,some  day  your  sins   will get  to  you.........and  if  anything  bad  happens  to  Miss Raj,, i will hold  you  responsible.......now  get  out  of  my  Sight.......i  swear  i  will  hit  you  again..if  you  remain...in front  of  me.......Raghav  snarled.......and    viciously  kicked  a rock in front of  him.....it  went  flying......to  the  forest   close  by......
Raghav   sat  on  an  old  guard's  chair.......waiting..........just  in  case......Reshma   appeared..........the  feeling  of  waiting  for  Kalpana   emerged    all over  again....Raghav  sighed.......twice..this  girl  had  come  into  his  arms.......again  his  body  had  felt electrified....by  her  touch..........what  the  hell was  happening  to him
.............
Reshma sat  crouched  in the  bushes.....watching   Sunil   Get  Slapped...then  he  left  but  Raghav Gupta  remained....she was drawn to  him  for  his  compassion......there was something  about  him.....she  could  not  fathom..............he  still waited   ..........she  was too scared to  move  in  case  Sunil was still lurking  around,......how  long  she  remained  there  she  did not  realise.......she  watched  from  her   hideout.........Raghav  was  not  there,,there was no  sound,,,,except.....for  the  night  insects   ...........Reshma.....slowly   crawled  out  from  the  bush.....and    took   a  few  glances.....to  her  right  and  her  left,,then  raced  in the darkness   ......and  ran  to  her   hostel........she  showered   ......got  herself  a  glass of warm  milk......and  picked  up  her  phone  and  dialled  Raghav's  number

The  mobile  phone  rang  for  the  third time......Raghav   answered  the  call''
''hello...Mr  Gupta...."'..Reshma.... spoke...her  voice  was  calm
Raghav  on  the  other  end... nearly...dropped  his  phone.....her  voice...........reminded  him of   Kalpana.......or  was it  just  his  imagination......he  had  been  in  the  shower.....thinking  of  kalpana....
Thank  you  for  saving  me  once  more  sir...please  tell your  brother...not  to  disturb  me  anymore..i  came  here to  work....i  need  money  for  my  mother's  operation......though i do  not  have  any  expert working  experience....KD  SOFT TOYs  offered  me  this   juniour  secretary  job.....i  want  to  stick  on  working  here  sir.........please  help  me.....Madam  Shivanee    said  i  can  trust  you.
Raghav  listened attentively.......while   Reshma  spoke.............her  voice   was  more  coherent....and  she  seemed  more  confident  now  unlike  earlier...she  had  been  crying.......that  Sunil was  chasing  her.........
:why  didn't  you  come  back  to  me   .....where  were  you  hiding.....i   was worried  about  you......Raghav  asked.......
" i am  sorry  sir.....but  i  was scared   that  Sunil   Sir, was  going    to  come  after  me  again..........can  i  see you  personally  sir....
"'where  do you  want  to  meet  me....let  me  know'''any place  you  choose  sir....i will meet  you........Reshma    confirmed.........
i am   sorry.....sir  for  troubling.....you  and  thank  you  once  again.
Rest  well Miss Raj..........we  will meet  soon........Raghav  hung  up........and      lay  on  bed.....holding  Kalpana's  cushion  to  his   chest......'he  slept   well.........tomorrow  morning   he  promised  to  take  his  daughter   to  get  toys  for  her  puppy......Father  and  daughter  named  the  puppy.....Chester..............
early  next  morning......Raghav  and  Sanjana.......went  out  for  their  walk.........Sanjana   sat  on  her   daddy's  shoulder and  laughed  gleefully.........and  Krish  put  the  dog  on  the leash  and  walked  beside  Raghav.............together  they all  went  to  the  pet  shop  and  got  toys  for  puppy......Chester  was  yelping....as though  he  was  all excited  for  all the  toys   for  him.............Raghav  paid  for  all the  puppy items.....while  Krish    went  to   the  gents.......and   Puppy  suddenly  broke  free  from   Sanjana  and  tore  across a  lawn  and  on  to  the  street,,,Raghav  gave  chase   and  managed to   get  Chester  back,,Sanjana  stopped  crying.....and  was  holding  Krish's  hand
" naughty  puppy.....'Sanjana  scolded.....while  both  the  grown  men  tried  hard  to  surpress  their  laughter.......Krish's  mobile  phone  rang'''
"Raghav  sir  ...i  need  to  go  home  immediately........My  father  is  not  well......and  is  asking  for  you.......
Krish,,Raghav  and  Sanjana   went  to  Krish's  home....old  uncle  Girish   Raghav's   first  chaeuffer   was  almost  80  years   of  age'
he lay  in  bed  eyes  bright......watching  the  door........and  slowy  sat  up  on  bed.....when  Raghav   walked  in  and greeted  him
''uncle  Girish.......held   Raghav's  hand......and    gestured  Raghav  to  move  closer  to  him
''Yes  Uncle  .....tell  me.....Raghav  wanted  to  know....why  Girish   sent  for  him
''  I  saw  your   Wife  kalpana  in  the  moonlight......''' i saw   kalpana  Deepti  Tejwani  in  the  moonlight....and  she  was crying.....then   Girish  Gripped  Raghav's  hand  so  tight  and  repeated  the  same  thing,....over  and  over  again........
Raghav   was  at  a  loss  for  words........Krish  put  his  hand  on Raghav's  shoulder
" I 'm  sorry  Raghav  Sir....my  father is    old  and senile.....he  probably   dreamt  of  madam kalpana  or   remembered  seeing  her  so  long  ago.....i  did  not  expect  this......from  him....
" it  is  okay  krish.......he  still clearly  remebers  kalpana's  name....
"Daddy  .....did  this  grandfather  just  mention   mummy's  name...?..sanjana   asked...and  Raghav nodded'' yes  sweetie.....'''he  did
you  said  mummy  is  in heaven....but  this  granfather  said  he  saw  mummy  in  the  moonlight........
"'Sweetie  ..grandfather   dreamt  of  seing  mummy  in  the moonlight,,that's  all....
Sanjana  became  all quiet  suddenly....''is  mummy  really  in  heaven  daddy.....,,you  never  showed  me  mummy's  photo..... Sanjana  stompted  her  feet  and  sulked..
''you  look  exactly  like  mummy......,Angel.......Raghav  swallowed  hard   before  he  answered   that  painful  question
''krish...take  Sanjana   to  the  car  and  come  back.............krish  did  as  he  was told
"'I   did  not  want Sanjana  to  pine  for  her  mother..after  looking  at  her  photos.....that  would  hurt  her  and  me  badly....take  care  of  your  father  well...Krish......Girish  has  always  been  good  man............Raghav  hugged   Girish  and  went  back to  his  little  girl  waiting  patiently  in  the  car............
Raghav   pulled  little  Sanjana  on  to  his  lap......and  for  a few  minutes  tears  fell.....imagine  a  child....growing  up  without  her  mother  and  worse  still...Sanjana  never  saw  her  mother's  face............all the  painfull  memory  and  feelings  rushed  in  suddenly.......to  be  continued....Evelyn