PROMISE TO BE YOURS

CHAPTER 16

Raghav was resting on the bed leaning against the bed and little Ragavi was sitting on his chest and playing with the hair on it. "Lagav why do you have so much hair on your kukku (her pet name for breasts) "because I am daddy". She raised her tiny dress up to her chin and pointed at her body "but I don't have any – see" that is because you are a princess" "okay" after a quiet pause "so mama also princess" "No, she is my Queen and you are my princess" "I also want to be uieen" "okay you are also a Queen my darling" Rudhi walked in with her bottle of milk "mama see Lagav has hair on his kukku" "Ragavi we don't call daddy by name baby" "Can I call you Lagav pleaseeeee" she bent her tiny head on to her left and asked him with a pleading face and tone" Rudhi gave him a stern look "okay you can call me daddy but when you love me a lot you can call me by my name" "I love you all the time Lagav" "oh now that is going to be a problem" he whispered. "Do you love mama my angel" this was Rudhi. Little Raghavi, she kept her tiny palm under her chin and rested her hand on the other and kept moving her eyes this way and that way as if she was thinking "I will love mama if I can call daddy Lagav". Raghav burst out laughing and swallowed it in when he saw the stern look Rudhi gave him. "Don't be mean to Lagav mama" "yes don't be mean to Lagav mama" repeated Raghav. Ragavi leaned on Raghav's, took the bottle of milk and suckled hungrily. By the time she finished she had nodded off. She refused to leave him when Rudhi tried to take her but Raghav gently picked her and turned her so she could sleep on his chest. "She is so precious Rudhi" "I know my precious little chatter box".

"What happened after you left me at the airport Rudhi" "papa dropped me at the apartment and left, when I reached the door mama was there with fire in her eyes. Rudhi made herself comfortable so she could lean her head on his shoulder. She was silent for a long moment as if trying to recollect all the painful details. "Open the door Rudhi I want to talk to you" Rudhi opened the door and her mother followed. She went straight to Rudhi's room pushed the door and walked in. The room looked very much lived in and clothes were strewn all over the place. There were clear evidence that the room was used by more than one occupant. She stood running her eyes round the room "So this is why you wanted to live by yourself so you can dance the way you want" Rudhi knew there was no point defending herself so she remained silent. "Decent woman do not sleep around with men before marriage" "Mama" "Don't mama me Rudhi, I am ashamed to call you my daughter who is selfish and characterless"

Rudhi died a thousand deaths at the bitter barbs her mother kept throwing at her but she knew the best defense was to keep mum and she did. "I have never asked you for anything since I gave birth to you, so now all what I want from you is to get out of Raghav's life and stay out of it" "I want Shanika to lead a decent married life with Raghav" "before you only slept with a man, now you are doing the same thing with a man married to another woman" "The same way I managed to get him married to Shanika I will also manage to get him to lead a decent married life if you are out of his life" She was the least bothered to check her words or see the pain she was inflicting on Rudhi. Once all the venom inside her was out she moved to leave "I want you out of all our lives so we can lead a decent life, I don't want to see you ever again"

Raghav gently moved little Ragavi from his chest and placed her beside him. He then took a sobbing Rudhi into his arms and "I am so so sorry my princess, so so sorry for all the insults and pain you had to suffer because of me" He held her in his arms while she cried out for all the pain and loneliness she had to suffer. When there was no movement he turned to see she had fallen asleep in his arms as she did in the past. He gently laid Rudhi on the bed but she woke up. He patted her back to sleep and carried a still sleeping Ragavi to give her to Mrs. Silva. Today he wanted to be alone with his Rudhi. He did not want to share her even with their daughter. Rudhi was awake when he returned "Where is Ragavi" "with Mrs. Silva" "She will look for me in the night Raghav" "I told Mrs. Silva to call me if she woke up now young lady you are going back to sleep without a single worry in your heart". He got back into bed and pulled her closer to him. She placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Raghav had so many questions to ask but he decided to hold back his curiosity for the time being.