PROMISE TO BE YOURS

CHAPTER 12

No nightmares, no cold sweats, no insomnia no disturbance what so ever. Rudhi slept without any disturbance ensconced between her Raghav and their baby. She stirred and tried to turn towards Ragavi but Raghav tightened his arm around her. As a doctor she understood his fear. She was yet to see his report but the symptoms clearly said depression and a possible nervous breakdown. She heaved a long sigh when she remembered JRS telling her he was suicidal. Fate did play a big hand in their lives. She gently loosened his arm and turned towards her baby. She too was a fast asleep but will get up once the room lightens up. She turned towards Raghav again so they had some time till Ragavi woke up. Raghav was awake and looking at her. "When did you wake" "when you turned the other way" she cupped his face with her palm and gave him a long look. "what happened princess" "you need to get rid of all this hair. I cannot see my Raghav" "Okay" Rudhi leaned forward to peck him on his lips but he grabbed on to her lips as if it was a life line thrown to him. He let her go only when they heard a whimpering on the other side. Rudhi turned towards her baby and adjusted herself so she could nurse her child.

Raghav pulled himself up and peeped over Rudhi's shoulder. He kept his arm while he adjusted his position but felt a tiny hand pushing his hand away from her mother. Raghav kept his hand again. This time she pushed it off and possessively kept her hand on Rudhi's breast. "Whats her name" "Rudragavi" "its beautiful" he picked the child's little hand in his and gently kissed it. When they heard a knock on the door Rudhi adjusted her clothes. Mrs Silva walked in with the tea and the baby's milk. When she tried to take Ragavi she fussed so Rudhi took the bottle to feed her. Raghav leaned on the bed rest and looked at his daughter. After knocking JRS walked in with his cup of tea. "What are your plans today Rudhi" before she could answer she heard the cluttering of cup and saucer beside her and then a choking cough. She turned towards Raghav took his cup and left it on the night stand. She then gently palmed his face to see her "I promise, I will not leave you Raghav, but you must also promise that you will calm down if you don't see me and remember my promise" he was silent and staring blankly. "will you do that for me Raghav" she could feel him releasing a sigh and then relaxed his tensed self "you will never leave me" "I will never leave you" "Even if Radhikamma asks you" "do you trust me Raghav" after a long pause "yes". "Good, so I promise I will never leave you so you can relax and we are going to get well soon" "okay"

Rudhi had finished her milk and was sitting beside them playing with some lego pieces Mrs Silva brought. She leaned over her mother. "Ragavi who is this baby" "I don't like boys mamma" "okay that's a good thing but who is baby" "Lagav" "Ragavi this is your daddy and you have to call him daddy" "okay" and she then tried out the word daddy a few time. "and who is this" "Jay Arl Es" "Ragavi, this is your grandpa" "No JAY ARL ES she said loud" "okay no problem you can call me anything you want" "papa" "its okay Rudhi she is a baby, she will get it right now let her be" JRS got up from his seat "who is hungry in this room" all raised their hands "okay, I have a hungry crowd here, what do you want princess" this he asked from Ragavi. "panacke honey sugar banana chocolate milk " "okay that's a long list for a tiny person like you" "just pancake with maple syrup will do papa" "okay, who is coming with me to see me making pan cake and honey and chocolate milk" Ragavi raised her hand so he bent down and picked his granddaughter and walked away "let me give you some time alone" and left with her.

As soon as the door was closed Raghav pulled Rudhi into his arms and started to kiss her in earnest. They could not get enough of each other. Raghav pulled a weightless Rudhi into his arms and on to his body. "I want to hold you like this for ever" "what about Ragavi" "we will give her to dad" "okay" she said indulgently "that is if she is willing to stay with him" "she will Rudhi, he will spoil her worst than you" "Hey...... he never spoilt me" "Oh yaaa....... Ask your mother and me and we can give a whole list of things he used to do which he was not supposed to" "like" "Uff you talk too much Rudhi, come her I want to hold you in my arms and tell them they will never ever feel lonely in future, I want to tell the pillow that both of us will share it from today. Rudhi's eyes filled up when she heard him talking nonsense with so much need which told how much he missed her. "From today we will do everything together......okay" "okay.....I want you to call me stupid" "okay" "useless" "okay" he was trying hard to remember stuff. She sat up in bed and pulled him forward. She then took his face between her palms "we will do everything we used to do in the past" "okay" "and you have to promise me you will not get upset or angry when you don't see me" "Okay" "No you have to promise me Raghav" "I promise" "good, now you have promised me so if you don't see me you will not break things and make trouble okay" he gave a sheepish okay. "I don't want to live without you Rudhi, don't leave me even if Radhikamma tells you" "where are they Raghav" "after you left and dad found out why he asked everyone to leave the house" "I am sorry Raghav" and she started to cry. He gathered her in his arms and allowed her to cry for all the days they spent apart. He could feel tears running down his cheeks but he did not want to take his arms from around her.

When Rudhi and Raghav went to the kitchen they were in for a big shock. Ragavi sat in the middle of the huge dining table covered in flour. JRS had floor on his face body and even on his eye lashes. Mrs. Silva was looking at the mess helplessly when granddaughter and grandfather were making pan cakes. When Rudhi rushed towards the table "Jay Arles is a naughty boy mamma he is playing with flour" "I can see that and you are not an angel either" "Oh thank you Rudhi, I am going to leave both of them in your hands" she gave a long look at JRS "he is worst than the kid" and huffed out of the kitchen. From the corner of her eye Rudhi saw JRS winking at Ragavi. "papa you are going to spoil her" "of course I am, she is my little jewel, right baby" the little one nodded with all her curly ringlets dangling around her face. Rudhi carried Ragavi to the sink and started to wash. She asked the maid to continue making pancakes "papa can you clean up, you really look a mess" he walked up to Ragavi kissed her on her head spilling flour on her head and went out with a promise to come back. By the time the cleaning up was done breakfast was ready and they all sat around the table to eat.

Usually Mrs. Silva and Rudhi had a time to feed the child, but not today. She meekly sat on her grandfathers lap and ate without any fuss. Rudhi knew why but kept quiet. She knew JRS was catching up on lost time. After breakfast Rudhi went through the medical reports and was shocked at the strong medication given to Raghav. She did not want to alarm JRS so she decided to wean him out in time. Meanwhile she spoke to JRS about her clinic and house. Rudhi knew there was no going back now and she did not want to go either. Nothing in this world was more important than Raghav and if her absence was making him sick then she did not care about anyone elses feelings.