Author's POV:

When Siddhesh's dreamy eyes kept looking at the white cotton like snow ❄️ and kept narrating his most beautiful days to Natalie their deep conversation was disturbed by a shrill sound and they turned around.

Natalie stood up at once and said...
'Something broke???'

While Siddhesh chuckled saying...
'Well now that I have given you a brief about what she was you must know who it is!!!' he smiles and Natalie raises her eyebrows and gleefully smiles saying
..
'Your thunderstorm???' and Siddhesh smiles saying ...'Not easy to handle her Natalie...go to her...I'll call Ryan if I need something' he says and Natalie nods and leaves the room.

She walks towards the next bedroom and sees their house help Swebert picking pieces of a broken plate.

She sees the food is still untouched.
'Mam I tried to' says a middle aged Swebert and Natalie nods and signals him to leave.

Clock ticking a 11 pm.
Natalie picks the lone glass of milk and takes slow steps towards Ragini and  sits on the bed next to her...

'Atleast have this... please' she says to Ragini who doesn't look at Natalie.

'Well he has eaten a little and took his medicines too...if that information helps' Natalie says and Ragini breathes in a little and doesn't say anything...

When Natalie doesn't get a response she says 'He has asked you to eat and not sleep without eating' and Ragini shuts her eyelids tightly while a little moisture wets her eyelashes...

'Why does he care ..tell him he doesn't need to!!!'

Natalie caresses her hair and keeps the glass of milk next to her table lamp on the side table and turns around to leave while she listens...

'Did he speak? Was he speaking for this long?' while now Natalie smiles and asks curiously...

'Now why do you care?' and Ragini quickly covers up saying...

'Ummm nope...I dont...it's just that I'm guilty for my stupidity...but I really didn't expect he will eat it ..last time he was admitted to hospital because he ate a fish meal...I.....I....was scared..' she explains while Natalie smiles again and says...

'He is doing fine...we were speaking for the last 2 hours as he wasn't feeling sleepy and wanted to talk'

'About?' Ragini asks curiously and Natalie smiles saying...
'About him and a beautiful girl who probably is too stubborn to drink a glass of milk too' she says and Ragini's face tightens...she says nothing... and Natalie continues to walk away while Ragini says it in a split second

'So did your 'Sid' also tell you how well he manipulated my emotions??? Made me a butt of joke and broke my trust and my heart mercilessly' she spits venom at every single word she utters bitterly and Natalie feels the heat trying to grasp how bad things might have shattered between these two to go from childhood sweethearts to grown up broken hearts!!!

But she takes a deep breath and says...
'Not really...he was saying about the day how beautiful you looked in a Orange indian dress and how he couldn't take his eyes off you' and Ragini's lips part at once...she is left speechless but she tries to think on how to talk further...when she doesn't have a comeback and memories of their past linger in her eyes she staring at an absolute nothing and her cheeks rush more blood but suddenly she snaps saying...

'Didnt he tell you how ruthlessly he broke my heart that evening?' and Natalie turns around hoping she could have a conversation with Ragini about it making her feel light...but to make her speak up her emotions isn't so easy...so she tricks her...

'Ohhh yup ...Sid told me you were staring at him all the time even after he said you a No!!!'

Now that hits Ragini's big fat ego and she suddenly snaps back saying...

'He is lying... what is he??? Brad Pitt or Johny Depp??? Huhhh... It was him...he was staring at me all the while...his eyes never left me once...till I voluntarily told him...

'Im good!!! And I don't need his sympathy!!!'

Natalie still keeps a straight face saying...
'I think we can have this discussion as you sip your milk and I sip upon my jasmine tea' and Ragini nods...

Natalie definitely didn't want to have another cup of coffee ending up with acidity issues as she already had 2 cups while she sat with Siddhesh listening to his portion of past...but now it was important for Natalie to know an unbiased Ragini's version too...

With a cup of jasmine tea she sat next to Ragini as they both sipped upon their respective drinks ...

Ragini sips and says...
'It was HE who was staring throughout since he said a NO to me!!! But it was my sister's baby shower function where his jaws hung to knee length...

She smiled to herself and began drifting to her own world as Natalie listens to her curiously...

Flashback begins

Ragini's POV:

It had been 2 big days...I didn't want to step out of my room. I had cried enough to dry my tear glands so well that they don't pour more salt water from them. But I still didn't trust myself so I stayed in my room until it was Shalini's baby shower.

'You can't keep sulking...if he doesn't feel the same for you...you probably need to learn to move on Ragi' Shalini's words hammer my ears but still don't reach my heart...

'How do I convince my heart... although I try harder each time!!!'

But then there are guests at home... cousin's and relatives...my classmates and family friends too..I had decided to perform a dance number for Shalini's baby shower...

I must not screw up my niece/nephew's welcome just because of a stupid one sided emotion... finally mustering the courage I change into the same orange lehenga and match it with simple diamond jewellery...I pin my dupatta well so it doesn't fall off as I perform. I wear orange bangles with two simple diamond ones...a diamond Mang teeka (head piece), light makeup and finally a single dot of bindi and I'm ready to go.

The dress had three knots and I manage to tie each one and take a look at myself in the mirror.

I see it's a all women's event and men are seated outside in the backyard of Nayak Nivas.

The huge living room is all giggles and laughter now. Everyone keeps teasing Shalini who had sat there in a beautiful blue saree and a sonphool (gsb hairdo with jasmine flowers) and minimal jewellery. She looked beautiful. Her pregnancy glow was evident.

My cousin's performed for a few bollywood numbers like chittiyan kalaiyan and kala chashma.

While next was my turn and I performed a solo. I chose a song I had already performed in my college for the talent's day event.

🎵🎶

Mera mahi Bada Sona he...

Sone pe dil Khona he...

Mere yaar sa...

Dildaar sa...

Na koi hona he...

🎶🎵

While I am cheered loudly by the women and girls everytime I twirl and dance take a turn moving my hips.

It was a teasing naughty, raunchy dance number. I enjoy and dance comfortably as it's a all women's event. I'm not at all conscious. I dance like a freebie. Many women whistle and encourage me. A few girls join me in one the go.

I keep swaying...taking a twirl and shake my chest and hips in sync moving my hands and making every expression in the song like I meant it...

While I continue dancing I feel something opens up in my back...I take a turn and notice one of my knot of the dress opened up. But I still manage to dance as I didn't want to leave the performance half done... anyways it's all women...

So I continue dancing senselessly and enjoy every bit of it but now again I feel too much cold air at my back while this time Shalini calls me closer and says...

'I need to pee ...and looks like knots of your dress are opening up...you need to tie them before the last knot opens and you wouldn't want to seduce these aunties for sure' she says and I roll my eyes.

Excusing everyone I take Shalini along side to her room upstairs and on the way I freeze seeing a certain someone block our way.

I lift my head up to see Siddhesh stepping out of his room with a Bluetooth and his tablet in hand...

'Ill email it right awa'..... words die in his mouth as his gaze falls on me...I suddenly feel too conscious about how I look and I try to not look at him.

Remember Ragini...
'He doesn't feel for you!!! Stop acting like a despo and stay away from him!!!'
Avoiding his gaze I walk with Shalini next to her while she quickly says...

'Hey Sid what are you doing here now??? didn't you go downstairs???'

'Ummm I had a meeting' he says while I feel his strong gaze on me...

'Well.... The function began long back... women will make it a big thing if you walk out now..try leaving via the backdoor' she says while I notice him replying to Shalini 's questions however his eyes don't leave my face.

I realise... HE IS STARING!!!

I move my gaze away and shake Shalini a bit trying to remind that she is here to pee...and I'm here to tie my dress knots.

Shalini excuses herself and she almost rushes to the washroom. I stay there removing my dupatta a bit...my long straight hair falling on my back...

I move them on the right side of my shoulder and struggle to tie the knot as the dupatta is pinned too tight on my right arm and the waist chain held it too tight...I manage to knot the first one with a lot of difficulty while I struggle to find the strings to tie the second knot...

I feel cold fingers on my fingers!!!
I freeze for a brief moment.
While I feel hot air on my back and I hear a hoarse manly husky voice whispering a...

'May I?' too close to my ears...

And my heart very well knows the owner of that voice...It suddenly feels a drop and a sudden raise in my temperature.
I zone out as my eyes meet the pair of dark brown ones via the mirror.
I was numb!!!