THE GLASS WALL : RAGNA(Ashna) FF, Part-24, Pg 141, 14/12/15 - Page 93

PART-24

Kalpi's eyes widened, a look of pure shock crossed her face; she was still unable to believe that it had ended like this. The events which had transpired that evening had left her shaken; but this one scene made her emotions climb the heights of ambiguity. Slowly she started blinking her eyes, trying to make herself believe that it was the truth. Slowly her eyes swapped up from the now lifeless body on the ground in front; and to the man standing some steps away. He was equally shocked as she was; Kalpi could gather that. How could he not, it all had happened so quickly.

Slowly tears started making their way down her cheeks, breaking all barriers of control. But this time the barrier was broken by an entirely different feeling. Her frame slowly started coming to life and her hands made small trembling movements as they rose in an attempt to touch what was her only treasure.  "Raghav" Kalpi mumbled as few more tears rolled down her cheeks. A mixture of pain and disbelief washed Kalpi over.

Yet the visuals of pure relief were clearly visible in her eyes when she examined the wound on Raghav's hand.

From the corner of her eyes Kalpi could see the others' disturbed faces also. But right now, all Kalpi cared for was Raghav. She was just so glad that her husband, her best friend, her Raghav was completely fine. Raghav was safe, "That demon Prem could not harm my Angel Raghav" she thought and closing her eyes, mentally thanked God. "Thank You So Much God, for saving my Raghav" she prayed while touching Raghav's lightly bloodied back of hand. The bullet from Prem's gun had managed to scrape the skin of his hand. The gun in his own hand now lay fallen somewhere at their feet.

She looked into Raghav's eyes and threw herself in his arms, crying the tension of past few minutes out. Raghav enveloped Kalpi in the safety of his embrace, murmuring sweet things above her head. As Kalpi pressed her face against Raghav's chest, he continued caressing her head. "It's okay now; it's fine. It is all over, you are safe; I am safe. We are together my love" he said and looked down at the dead body lying in front of him.

Prem Kapoor lay in a lifeless state, in his pool of blood. The bullet had directly pierced his heart, making him and the ground beneath him all red. Raghav himself was unable to believe that it was all over, just in the fraction of a few seconds.He was not unaffected with the way this all had ended. The dead man in front of him was killed with the bullet from his own father's gun.

Yes! Sahil Kapoor was the cause behind Prem's life coming to an end. But Raghav could see that this was not what Sahil had meant to do; Prem Kapoor was never the target of Sahil's gun. An involuntary shudder passed through Raghav's body when he thought that it could be him instead of Prem. He and everyone else around knew that when Sahil had fired that shot, he meant to kill Raghav not Prem.

Had it not been for Kalpi finding the last minute courage; and her body had not swung into action the resulting scenario could have been very much different from the current one. It could have been him instead of Prem. Not that he cared much about his life, but he knew that Kalpi's tears wouldn't have let his soul rest in peace. Raghav did not want to go that way even in his worst nightmare.

But no, maybe God wanted to punish Kapoors in the worst way possible. A father had killed his son with his own hands; and the shock all around was very much palpable. A stunned silence was headily mixed with the air particles around them. This was certainly not something anyone of those present there could have even imagined would happen. Curiously moving his eyes around Raghav saw Sammy, Vitthal and Chhaya along with some of the policemen; all wore the same shocked yet relieved expressions on their faces.

Silent tears of grief had started flowing down on Pakhi's cheeks. Her fingers were digging into Sammy's arms who was giving the best support possible to his wife. "Prem, chocopie" Neetu had at last found her voice; as she screamed out Prem's name in pain, wailing bitterly. Not caring about anyone else, she was now running in their direction; her shaking hands touched Prem's dead body. "Prem, Prem, Prem, my son...chocopie get up..."; "Look we will do whatever you want. You want to get rid of Raghav and Kalpana?" Neetu cried. "I will help you chocopie, but please get up" Neetu continued crying out, saying non-sensical things, desperate to hear her son's voice again.

Sahil Kapoor on the other hand seemingly had turned into a stone. The gun in his hand had slipped from his hand; his mouth was agape. His eyes showed a pain which Raghav was sure no father would like to feel. But Sahil did not utter a single word; it was clear he was the one most affected.

They all would have stayed on like this had the police officer in-charge had not decided to act upon his duty. "Mr.Sahil Kapoor, you are under arrest" he said and his juniors followed the orders. Soon Sahil was seen being whisked away in police custody; his arms held on both the sides by the policemen. Sahil did not protest, allowed them to do what they wanted to. His body was going away from that place, his back to all of them still standing there. But his eyes and heart were left behind, fixed at that place now for a long time to come. Sahil's eyes teary yet stony, kept looking backwards; his neck strained to see as much of the face of his dead son as he could.  

Neetu on the other hand was barely aware that not just her son but also her husband would be forced to leave her. She kept crying, until it was too late when she saw Sahil. He was being made to sit in the police van. Getting up, she ran behind the van but in vain; while Raghav, Kalpi, Sammy and Vitthal looked at her in pity.

Karmas had played their role; they'd bitten the Kapoors back. The pain of their bite was sharp enough to haunt Sahil and Neetu for the remainder of their lives.

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Raghav and Kalpi's car screeched to a halt inside the compounds of Singhania Mansion. Raghav could see that his newly wedded wife was still lost in thoughts. The whole ride back home, Raghav had tried his best to soothen some of her thought processes. He knew very well what was bothering Kalpi. He wished to hold Kalpi's hand all through their journey back home. But he could not because he was driving and because he knew that a little of her own space was what Kalpi needed. So he did what he could do best, he was just there for her, with her. He knew that too much had happened too suddenly. His Kalpi was different, yet the dreams she had harboured for her marriage were just like any other ordinary girl.

The fact that she did not get her Aai's blessings, did not get to see her home even once must have certainly bothered Kalpana a lot. The colours of pain, sadness, shock were surely mixed with the colour of joy in Kalpi's eyes in those moments.

Raghav sighed; aware of a police jeep escorting them had also come to a stop behind them. He needed to do something and bring Kalpi back in the awareness of beauty which was still theirs in present. Thinking so, he got hold of Kalpi's right hand and gave it a loving, squeeze.

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The touch of her husband's hand on hers brought Kalpi out of the world of her thoughts. The emotions she was feeling right now, she could not even begin describing. Today was the happiest day of her life; today she'd got tied for life with the love of her life, Raghav. Her happiness was beyond words. Kalpi could not believe that it was real, that she and Raghav are in fact husband and wife now. It was the feel of mangal sutra in her neck and sindoor in the partition of her hair which reminded Kalpi that it was indeed a true moment.

Yet, the fact that life always gave her incomplete happiness or tested it was troubling her. All through her life in order to get something, she had to lose something. In the first place, her Aai's love was not with her; the dreams she'd seen for her career, even they had suffered big test previously. Not to forget, even her Baba had distrusted Kalpi when she was forced to break her and Raghav's marriage.

Today was the happiest day of her life and Kalpi could not help but see the pattern in her life being repeated once again. Her luck had not given her the right to be given away as a bride, from her own home. Theirs was a wedding day quite different; no bride and groom attire; no relatives and friends to participate in her happiness. A normal bride spends her days before marriage collecting and making more memories. She cherishes the moments a girl spends in her home as a daughter. The voices of relatives, festivities' atmosphere surround her; and she gets her both parents' blessings when she gets married.

But today her brother Pakhya and Aai were not a part of her happiness. Her Aai did not even know probably that her daughter is a married girl now. Not to forget, she wanted her Vidaai ceremony to take place at Chawl. She wanted to meet everyone, cry in the arms of her parents, hug her friends and give one last look to her home. But once again she was deprived of something over which she had an inherent right.

Kalpi's heart tried to remind her gloomy self that all is not dark. There were bright colours of life and joy in her life now. After all she and Raghav had to endure, she'd got married to Raghav at last. It did not matter how and where; what mattered was that they were life-partners now. The thought itself had brought a small smile on her lips.This time Kalpi did not hold back her smile; she looked into Raghav's eyes and smiling brightly hugged him. Raghav once again took Kalpi within the cocoon of his arms, whispering in her ears, "I cannot wait to see you enter as my wife in our home."

Saying so he broke their embrace, caressed Kalpi's cheek, got out of the car and walked around to open the door on Kalpi's side. Opening it, he extended his hand for Kalpi to hold. Kalpi had looked up shyly and given her hand to her husband hesitantly. The little touch sent shivers of anticipation and pleasure down Kalpi's arm and shoulder; and she stepped out. The police jeep forgotten by both and the officers happily gave the newly married couple their privacy. The jeep was now parked at a safe distance from Raghav and Kalpi's car.

As for Kalpana, there was a surprise in store for her. She'd just landed her feet on the ground. Preparing to cross the short distance to the main doors of Singhania Mansion, Kalpi had taken only one step forward when she found herself lifted off the ground. Startled, Kalpi had looked up; Raghav was carrying her in a bridal style. A small smirk played on his lips, "You are Raghav Singhania's wife; and my wife's first step in her home has to be special" he said. Eyes all the while on Kalpi, Raghav had only stopped walking at the main door. He put Kalpi down again gently, unlocked the door of their home; and after instructing Kalpi to stay there disappeared inside the home.

Kalpi waited for Raghav, anxious and nervous, feeling the cold air of night touching her face. After few moments she saw Raghav returning with a Kalash (pot) and an "aarti thali"; and Kalpi could not help but smile. Knowing that Gauri was to stay in the security of police till the trial of Kapoors continued, Kalpi had wondered who would welcome her in this new home. Raghav had sent even Sammy away since Pakhi was anything but normal then; the man who had died was still her brother.

But like always, her Raghav had solved all her problems. He came to stand in front of her and after lovingly performing Kalpi's aarti, told her to push the rice filled pot with her foot. Eyes gleaming, Kalpi nodded and did as told. The rice which fell out of the pot welcomed her officially as Mrs. Raghav Singhania in her home; and Raghav hugged Kalpi again. "My only wife; my Kalpana; welcome home" he said and held Kalpi's hand. Kalpi's eyes never left Raghav's face as he took her to the new lanes of their new life. "All this is so unreal" she thought with happy tears in her eyes, "Can I also be lucky? Can I also have my share of happiness?"

 The serene look on Raghav's face which she was seeing after a long time made Kalpi believe that it was indeed true. It was indeed true that now she was "Mrs. Kalpana Raghav Singhania"; it was indeed true that Singhania Mansion was her home now. It was indeed true that now she was about to step inside their bedroom; her and Raghav's; that now for the rest of their lives she and Raghav will be sharing a bedroom.

"Wait bedroom?" Kalpi halted midway, at the door of Raghav's bedroom. "No no, our bedroom now!" she thought nervously gulping. Kalpi was so happy that what might lay ahead tonight hadn't crossed her mind. Her cheeks warmed just at the thought while her hold on Raghav's hand tightened.

Curious to know what had stopped Kalpi, Raghav turned only to see a nervous and blushing Kalpi. He chuckled mentally, seeing she was looking everywhere but at him. Shaking his head, he bit his lower lip. He had a shy wife to deal with and Raghav decided he was going to have fun doing that. His desirous eyes roamed on Kalpi's body from head to toe, making him smile. He could not believe it, they were each others' now. But his desires could wait; it was a tiring day for his wife. He would keep needs of Kalpana a priority. "I'll just hug her while sleeping; with her in my arms I will be a happy man" Raghav thought and attempted to pacify Kalpi's fears.

Keeping his forefinger under Kalpi's chin, Raghav made her look into his eyes. "Do you trust me?" he asked Kalpi. She nodded her head and Raghav smiled. "Then don't be afraid of anything. I will not do anything which makes you uncomfortable. Alright?" he asked and was content seeing an immediate relaxed body stance of Kalpana.

She smiled widely and hugged Raghav, "Take me into our bedroom Raghav" Kalpi said. He obliged, again lifted Kalpi in a bridal style as they both entered together in their personal haven.

Raghav took Kalpi straight to a walk-in closet attached with their bedroom. All those days ago, before Kalpi and he were separated, Raghav had stocked this closet with the best of clothes for Kalpi. He had wanted the best for his life, his wife, his Kalpana. For days henceforth, this closet and every inch of his bedroom had reminded him of their incomplete dream. A dream which had become a reality only now; it was complete now. He sighed in peace and said, "This is all yours, for you. Change into something comfortable." With these words he caressed Kalpi's cheek and went out.

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Kalpi had spent a good ten minutes in just taking a stock of the huge stack of clothes Raghav had bought for her. Her eyes were wide in amazement as she observed each fabric closely. Even the night dresses had a huge range to choose from. "Oh Raghav" Kalpi thought and smiled, "What did you do?"

She let out a huge breath, highly confused what to wear. Her eyes finally zeroed in on a white coloured, silk nightgown, with thin straps. Smiling she took it out and kept it on the drawer table, preparing to get out of her pink suit. The dupatta was already off her body; her hand was behind, trying to unzip the suit when she realized something. The zip was stuck refusing to budge down howsoever hard Kalpi tried. After a few failed attempts and tired arms Kalpi sighed, "This is not working.What do I do now?" she wondered.

As her mind raced to find a solution, her eyes widened also in nervousness, "Does this mean I will have to take Raghav's help?"

She covered her face and eyes with her palms, aware of her ragged breaths, "Oh No, Kalpi you are definitely gone now."

Precap: Ahem ahem. 

 Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show "Ek Mutthi Aasmaan" on "Zee TV". The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show.