rajveer naina - fated

epilogue

/Epilogue

He watches as she completes one of the tasks easily in the practical examinations, marveling at how far she's come in the time she's been here. He remembers a time when, angry and defensive, she had messed up every task, he remembers everything that has happened since then, all the pain and uncertainty, the way that her feelings had changed over that time, the way that his feeling had changed…

He can feel Shalini glancing at him, knowing that he's watching Naina, but he doesn't mind. Soon she will graduate and he will finally be able to speak his mind… finally. As she completes the task she turns to look at him at him, knowing that he will be there, knowing that he will be watching her.

He grins at her, giving her a thumbs up and the smile that spreads across her face in return…

He could die for that smile.

He doesn't know what the future will bring, doesn't know whether they will have a happily ever after or whether the tragic fate that seems to follow them will catch up with them once again but one thing is for certain… one thing will never change.

He will love her forever.

There are days when she wakes up that she remembers Asha first, and on other days Naina.

It always takes her at least a few moments, lying there in their bed, to reconcile the two parts of her together, to make them fit. Yet Naina has only to turn her head to look at the man sleeping next to her, to receive the reassurance that she needs that it really does all make sense. Revelling in the evenness of his slow breaths, she will wait for him to wake, to open his eyes and give her the same smile that he always does, warming her from head to toe.

It is six months since they were married, and Naina knows that there will never be anything more precious to her than to be able to wake up beside him, to see him there next to her alive and well, and know that he is hers, that she is loved. She will revel in it for the rest of her life, she will never stop treasuring it.

Her parents had not agreed to their marriage.

The day after their visit to Gehlot, Raj had shown up at her house, along with Aalekh and Abhimanyu, hoping to make a good impression. It had not gone well. Her parents had informed him that they would never bless the marriage, that they could not see their daughter throw her life away on such a man who could never give her anything.

How could they ever understand that he was everything for her, that there could be no life without him? Naina had told them that she hoped they would understand in time, packed her remaining belongings and left the house, staying the night at Amiya's.

They had married two days later in a temple, surrounded by their friends. Pooja had prepared Naina herself, draping the sari, arranging her hair and choosing her ornaments. When the time had come, she had been proudly led to the mandap by her friends, to where her groom waited. It had been a day of such joy for all of them, that Naina cannot remember a happier one in either of her lives. It was an impossibly perfect day, the day that she had never dared to dream of until recently, and as they had taken the seven rounds of the fire she prayed that it really would translate into seven more lifetimes, that they may be together in every lifetime from now on.

There had been tears to shed at the end, tears of joy at an accomplishment long awaited, at the fulfillment of their relationship. There had not been a dry eye among their friends, and as they had hugged them one by one, accepting their blessings, Naina had felt well and truly whole. She may not have received the blessings of her parents in either lifetime, but the well wishes of those who truly love them more than make up for the absence.

They were not so entirely without resources as Asha's parents had predicted either. On Naina's death she had willed her parents's house to Ali and Pooja, that they might have somewhere to begin their married life together, and her friends now happily return it to her, having long since established their own residence. Naina thinks of returning to that house, where there had been such sadness, and creating a new set of memories, a new life together.

Their friends had taken them to the airport, to see them off for a honeymoon that they had only been told they would be taking the day before, and Naina had wanted to laugh at the eagnerness of everyone to see them well settled and happy. For far longer than they have wished for a happy ending for themselves, it has been craved by those who have watched over them, protecting them, bringing their story to this conclusion that it has now reached. She will always be grateful for her fate in having them with her through this journey, Naina knows that she and Raj may never have made it this far without them.

That first night after marriage as Raj had reached for her, his hands had trembled, his breath coming unevenly as he had grasped her, and Naina had realized that even she was shaking, barely able to hold herself steady due to her nervousness. This was not like the first time, unthinking and confident passion, spurred on by a combination of fear and desire, the truth of who they were still clouded. She sees him now with her own eyes, with Naina's eyes, and knows what it is that he struggles with, that he may finally have her as his own after so many years of waiting, that he does not need to deny himself for any longer. It is with a full consciousness that he loves her now, with all the knowledge of what they have been through to reach this point. Naina had shuddered against him as his hands had run lightly across her skin, needing him. She will always need him.

"Naina," he had whispered before he had kissed her, his lips soft upon hers, almost uncertain. There was no hurry this night and they had undressed each other slowly, whispering words of love and reassurance as they took their time to learn each others' bodies properly. There was such a bittersweetness to their lovemaking, so many years after it should have taken place, and she wonders if she will ever truly become accustomed to it, to being allowed to love him, to knowing that he is with her and hers completely. Naina doesn't think so, she thinks that somehow the feeling will always have the same precious quality that it does now, of a treasure that has been hard won.

It takes the night, but they grow more confident with each other, their touches becoming more daring and less nervous, passion overtaking any lingering uncertainty that their happiness might still be taken from them. It had taken the entire night to be able to truly believe that this luck was hers, but when she had awoken in the morning to find him still beside her, his head buried in the curve of her neck, his arm wrapped around her waist, heavy and warm upon her, she had known that this was true, that this was her future and that nothing could steal it from her now. She would awake this way on every morning from now on, for the rest of her life, and that was all that mattered.

Raj stirs beside her now, his eyes opening sleepily, tightening his hold upon her as he stretches forward to kiss her softly, gently, smiling against her lips.

"Naina, my love, good morning." He greets her, and she can't help but smile too, pulling his head down for another kiss before she releases him at last.

The sounds of the base coming to life around them filter in through their window, the sounds of their duty calling them, and they cannot linger overly long.

There are days when she wakes up that she remembers Asha first, and on other days Naina. It does not matter, all that matters is that he remains beside her, for the rest of her days, and Naina believes, she truly believes, that they have a long and happy life ahead of them.

Fate corrected its mistake