6 months later...

Ragini's POV:

'Nat....I'm nervous...' I said holding her hand and she smiled saying...

'Relax my baby doll...you will be fine...why are you so worried...it's just an interview...' she said pouring some more milk into my muesli bowl and I was still worried.

'Mam...you topped your batch...you cleared all 3 rounds of interview yesterday...this is the final round...it's a managerial round...you will definitely clear it...I can tell!!!' Ryan tried to cheer me up but I don't know I was still very nervous...

'Maiiii (aunty) Tia loves you...here take this kissie' saying she kissed on my cheek and I smiled at this blue eyed munchkin of ours...' and Malini giggled at her daughter's cute antiques...

'Ragini....relax...you will just be ok...we are all here for you' she said and I nodded smiling nervously...

Keeping hand on mine she said...
'Heyyy I know you are missing Siddhu na...but you know him if Sona wouldn't have called him up and if it wasn't urgent he would never have gone...but he will be back within a week and I nodded.

Honestly I really needed Siddhesh with me here...I had really worked my ass off to top my batch this semester. I had excelled in my studies such that I was one amongst the very few to make it to the final round of one of world's best hospital groups since last 20 years...

Sehgal Hospitals

And if I clear this round I would be hired as the in-charge of their London Branch. I was extremely nervous but I really wanted to do this. This was necessary for me. I and Siddhu sacrificed a lot for my this achievement.

Siddhu did everything to make sure my concentration isn't diverted and I worked really hard to make sure I buck up and cover up for all the blunder I made in my grades in last semester. And our hardwork paid off.

But suddenly Siddhu had to go to India as he received a call from Sonalika...I mean Siyara and I couldn't stop him. But today is my final round interview with Sehgal Group.

I had my breakfast and went to college where the final round of campus placements were taking place and my interview was conducted on the first floor. I was nervous and was having sweaty palms when I realised my phone isn't on silent. I was about to switch off my phone when I got a message...

Don't be nervous...
You know you are the best...
You give your hundred percent and leave the rest to God!!!
And for the rest...it's just another interview...
My love for you would still be same...
Go for the kill Jaan

Yours
Siddhu...
❤️

And I had a bright smile on my face. Suddenly all my nervousness vanished like thin air.

I smiled thinking how much he affects me...just a simple message from him boosts me up...he keeps me calm...he makes me happy...

In last six months my sugar levels are also under control...I am not on pills
...my HBA1C reports are all normal... ofcourse I have healthy food and walking everyday but it's the happy atmosphere in this house which keeps me content. Nat's jokes, Ryan's silly pranks, Malini-Bill's weekend visits, Tia's warm kisses and the man who rules the throne of my heart...
My Siddhesh's mere presence...completes me...

At times I craved him...I wanted to touch him, feel him, kiss him whenever I saw Bill-Malini share a kiss or any of my classmates speak off their boyfriends I would crave to run into Siddhu's arms but I knew all this was only for my good. He would also miss me but he maintained his distance from me always although our hearts were never distanced.

He made sure to take care of me like the little kid whom he always took care of...I would find him staring at me intensely sometimes which would unleash butterflies in my stomach but the very next minute he would lighten the atmosphere with some silly jokes. However I knew it wasn't easy for him either. Today I had to do this for myself, my Siddhu, my family.

Like how Ryan buys gifts for Nat and takes care of her expenses, I also want to do that to my parents. My dad has gone soft on me since Siddhu's showdown which happened in Mukund Bhavaji's house 6 months ago. Maybe he realises that daughters are no less than son...he speaks politely to me...calls me once in a week...

Ajjo tells me he realised his mistakes after Rohit kicked his parents out of his house and tricking his parents in selling their ancestral property by starting a business which didn't work out and he finally went on to marry a rich businessman's daughter and now stays in the girl's house. His parents were in an extremely bad condition... Although they were never good with me...no parents deserve this...so when I got to know about this, I requested Siddhu to help them and I offered them to stay in Nayak Nivas...

My dad although never liked them but this incident was so painful that even my dad extended them help. Siddhu offered Rohit's father a job in his organization so they could be on their own. Last month they shifted to an apartment which was funded by Siddhu's company. They keep asking me for forgiveness but I am no one to forgive anyone. I feel bad for them now because you reep what you sow. They wanted Rohit to find a rich and successful family. They made him a monster who knows nothing other than money and now the same homegrown monster is sucking their blood. Indeed upbringing is everything!!!

I entered the classroom where interview panels were been setup. There was a lady who looked of an indian origin although in a business suit, grey hair, short pony tail must be in her late 50's. She passed me a bright smile and somehow I felt suddenly relaxed...

She asked me to take a seat and asked me a couple of questions and I answered them all. Then she suddenly looked at my profile and narrowed her eyebrows.

'Ummm this maybe a personal question...but I'm just curious...are you married to the business tycoon Siddhesh Pai?' she asked and I nodded with a smile.

She smiled and nodded again saying...
'Ok...I'm just more curious now...you could have simply chosen to work in his organization...he owns publications, media houses, a few small scale financial companies too...then why Sehgals?'

I cleared my throat and said...
'Because my husband is a self made man Mam...that's what I have learnt from him too...to grow into an independent individual. I want to earn my job because I'm Ragini and not because I'm Mrs Siddhesh Pai...and as much as I have read about Sehgal hospitals you and your husband started this all on your own inspite of your father in law Mr Mahir Sehgal and his wife Mrs Bela Sehgal were huge during their times...but you both still started on your own..from a clinic to a multi-speciality hospital to finally a chain of hospital across Australia, UK, Europe and now India. Let's say I am inspired my you!!!' I said and she smiled brightly.

'Nicely summarised Ragini... you are hired!!!' she said at once and I closed my mouth with my palms while she smiled flashing her dimples and said...

'Siddhesh is my son's bestie...my son Aahir Sehgal...I think he was the one who treated your grandfather some months back if I'm not wrong' she said and I nodded

'But don't think we are hiring you because we know your husband...we are hiring you because you have earned this job. Dedicated, strong and independent women always make me happy Ragini.

Aarya Sehgal doesn't usually get impressed with any and every one. You seem to be the perfect one for our London branch. So I'm just extending my hand to welcome you to the Sehgal Hospitals...' and she extended for a handshake and I smiled back and returned the favour.

Author's POV:

Ragini was extremely happy that she had finally done it. She is now on her own. She is a independent woman now. She made her family proud...her Siddhu proud. She had tears in her eyes as she was handed a printed copy of the offer letter and she couldn't wait to run into her Siddhu's arms.

While Aarya who signed upon the offer letter smiled and wished that someday her son Aahir also finds a talented, beautiful, smart, intelligent and a independent woman like Ragini. Her only worry was her son. Although a successful cardiologist in Australia he never really found that one who could skip his heartbeats. She tried setting him up with her friends daughters but he was always busy for them, she tried enrolling him to various clubs but he would always get bored and escape back home only to settle down to watch some boring documentaries along with some Greek salad and tofu, she tried planning vacations for him at exotic locations expecting he would atleast find someone there but he always told 'Mumma there is an emergency sorry!!!' and would escape. Last resort she even got him enrolled on a social media site but he never paid any heed to any requests or messages.

Aarya would now only expect a miracle for her son. But little did she know the one for his son was about to enter his life soon...of course their story wasn't going to be easy...no stories are easy...

Aahir's and Neiyat's story wasn't easy either!!!
Their love story was going to be
Destinies Apart!!!