Siddhesh's POV:

She sleeps like a coy little furball. A little one. So soft so innocent and when she's up she's a fireball ready to shoot anything and everything around her.

My Thunderstorm for a reason I suppose. I smiled at that very thought.

I was glad she finally fell asleep after trying to hide those tears aimlessly after I told her about Ajjo (grandfather) being hospitalized. Her parents wanted me to tell her 2 weeks ago but I somehow got a hold on that. I didn't want her exams to be disturbed. I took care of everything including requesting my friend from Australia Dr Aahir Sehgal who was currently in India. He was kind enough to visit Mangalore in a short notice and Ajjo had a successful angioplasty. I broke the news to her today morning and since then she was fuming and screaming. But finally she understood the situation and calmed down when I told her Ajjo waa discharged and was back home.

We are currently travelling back to India and she finally slept after worrying all the while. I smiled looking at her baby face and I caressed her soft cheeks. Free hair falling on her face itched my hands to keep pampering her. Her dried tears clenched my heart. I wanted to see her happy again. I try to keep myself always away from her. Because she is a drug!!!

A got damn drug that craves me and I wanted to swallow her all. But I knew my boundaries with her. I have always had my guards high with her. But today her tired eyes made me feel terrible. I gave into my desire and leaped in to kiss her soft cheeks. My lips lingered on her soft cheeks for more than a minute I suppose and she flapped her eyes open. I looked at her.

Her eyes were looking into mine directly and I swallowed nervously. Her eyes narrowed on my lips and I wanted to take her right here right now. But!!! I controlled myself. I moved back and leaned onto my seat and closed my eyes. She kept looking at me for sometime and didn't ask anything. But I felt her gaze on me.

These moments when I so want her and yet I don't have her is so troublesome. I was now fearing my own hunger when I will have her all for myself. She still had another 6 months of college and then her internship. So there was atleast 6 more months of this distance between us. She has tried it all to seduce me and only I know how tough it gets to have a cold shower in London in the month of September that too at night. She was irresistible and I still wanted to resist.

Her education was important. I had promised Shalini and I wanted her to be an independent individual. Although it was easy for her to join my organization, but I still wanted her to achieve on her own. With all the thoughts I closed my eyes. Another few hours and we will be home.

***

'Why don't you take care of yourself Ajja...you know I can't live without you...so what if I live in London...one phonecall away I am and you guys hid such a big thing from me?' she said crying like a baby and rubbing her red nose while hugging Ajjo.

'Areyyyyy shhhhh...Ragini...Charda (child) I'm fine...and look baby you have to understand that I'm not forever...it's you and Siddhesh now and forever after and I see the glow on your face. I see them shine for him' Ajjo said looking at me and I was pink and I tried looking elsewhere.

'Oh God Siddhu you blush more than Ragini' Ajjo said and I smiled blushing more.

'Children...I need to see your union...I wanted to see you both married...it's my last wish' Ajjo said and I was shocked. I saw Ragini looking at me and I really didn't know what I had to say...

'Siddhesh...I know you had some concerns...but I know it's definitely not ego...but is your love for Ragini...but please son...agree for the sake of this old soul... please' he said holding my hands in his trembling ones and I nodded.

Ragini's POV:

Ajjo was doing fine was the news which breathed life back into me. I hugged him and caressed his chest where he had a surgery. He smiled and kissed my forehead saying...

'I can't be here forever my child...I am getting older...and I will go today or tomorrow but I want to see you both happy...I even have dreams to see your and Siddhesh's babies but I somehow feel I won't make it till then...so atleast your marriage is what I want to see' Ajjo said and I saw Siddhu leave the room

I found him near the fountain in the garden and he was deep in thoughts. I slowly kept my hand on his shoulder and he turned around...

'I can't lie to Ajjo Ragini ..but this marriage would only hamper your education and distort your goals...it's just that' I held his hand and interrupted...

'And what if I say it won't? I promise you to study well and my grades won't lower...I won't do anything stupid...Siddhu...' I tried completing the line but I couldn't...

He looked at me and I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath and kneeled down...

He froze and said .. 'Ragini...no... please' while I showed him my palm and took his hand in mine
..

I was 15 years old!!! When I realised I
I wanted to marry you!!!

When I realised you are not just a friend...
When you were all that my eyes saw, searched and craved for...' and his eyes welled up.

Siddhesh's POV:

She said it again...this time on her knees and my breath hitched. Her eyes were cloudy and she continued...

When you left to London over night you wrapped my little heart in your heart and took it away and I'm still a heartless witch!!! Not me the world calls me that

she said while I giggled.

Misunderstandings... differences...people... situations changed but my feelings for you which I fought every day and night... every minute... every damn second couldn't change!!!

I want you Siddhu .. always wanted you... because my soul belonged there...in you...
Forever after...

So Mr Siddhesh Pai...

I promise you...I will stay in my limits...I will behave myself...I will be a responsible wife...and won't touch you, do you, approach you without your choice...

That's why...

Marry me Mr. Siddhesh Pai!!
Because I love you...
Always had...
Always will

Forever' and my eyes welled up.

My Thunderstorm just proposed me again and this time to marry her.

Say yes Siddhu... else I would have to kidnap you she warned me while I chuckled.

I held her by her shoulders and made her stand up to my height and placed my lips on her forehead...

***

'We will need time for arrangements...it's a marriage, not a joke...there is a society we live in... already there is so much embarassment this girl has caused us because of her shameless nature...

Rohit...then travelling with Siddhesh to London... although I denied that you both won't stay in same house...you broke your word Siddhu...' Sumanth uncle said in an accusing tone.

I saw Ragini look at Sumanth uncle angrily and said...
'I don't think I have done anything to embarass you dad...yes Rohit was my mistake but I didn't run away with him...he was a looser and I was an idiot to choose him...but rest I don't see it as a mistake... That house there in London is my house...my Siddhu's house...our house...' she said looking into my eyes and smiled.

'Do you know what society is speaking about you both?'

'I don't care dad...honestly I don't even need this ritualistic affair...for me Siddhu is my everything... my friend, my husband and my love...a simple chain in my neck today or tomorrow can't change my feelings for him...I would love him either way... because I love him' she said it so casually that I kept blinking...

'I have a bunch of people to attend your marriage...we stay in a society unlike you who stays in a dreamland... anyways.. even I want to wash off this responsibility of marriage...you are a girl and anyways to leave...you can never be a part of our family...you were always a give away' he said and I saw Ragini's eyes welled up

It definitely hurt me as well as her.

'Well then I don't care dad!!! I don't care whom you are inviting I am getting married to my husband three days from now. This Sunday. With that this burden will be off your shoulders.' she said...her voice laced pain and hurt.

'Fine...I will fulfill my responsibilities...and you can leave...I'm tired of explaining to people and I'm glad you will be out from this place...from my house and my life too' he said and I saw Ragini loose her cool this time.

Tears spilled from her eyes and she asked...
'Why do you look down upon me so much dad?' and he replied...

'Because you are a girl and you can never be a real part of this family' and I closed my eyes while my tongue spat

'Sumanth uncle I think you are forgetting that this 'never real part' of your family is the reason you are having a roof on your head today.

'I will pay you Siddhesh Pai...i will purchase Nayak Nivas from you' Sumanth uncle said and I clenched my jaws and announced...

'Well then pay the real owner of this house please!!' I said and he looked at me in a state of shock.

'You sold this mansion?' he asked and I nodded. I saw Sumanth uncle collapsing on the wing chair nearby...

Even Ragini was shocked hearing the house was sold.
I didn't want to break the bomb like that...it was a surprise for everyone but I knew
.. nothing beyond her self respect.

I rushed to my room, pulled out a file from the suitcase and walked out.

Throwing the file on the glass table I said...

'The real owner of Nayak Nivas is
Mrs Ragini Siddhesh Pai!!!

She has already purchased it from Siddhesh Pai and please feel free to buy it from her!!!' I said while I saw Ragini's eyes in tears and she looked shocked...while Sumanth uncle was shocked.