As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the temple grounds, air was filled with the sound of chanting,each person's curiosity raised by imposing figure of Raghav. His broad shoulders and confident demeanor seemed to attract attention, even in the the festival.
The ceremony continued until afternoon, they had food in the temple, later that day twins bounced up to Pallavi, their eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can we go to the fest nearby?" they implored, their enthusiasm infectious.
With a knowing smile, Pallavi agreed, and they set off toward the fair, Raghav walking beside her, the twins practically dragging her along.
The fest was a filled with colors and sounds, with stalls lining the pathways. The scent of fried snacks mingled with the sweet aroma of cotton candy, creating an atmosphere of delight. There were booths filled with vibrant clothing, jewelry, and games.
The twins, unable to contain their excitement, tugged at Pallavi. "We'll meet you at the food stall in an hour!" they declared before darting off into the crowd, leaving Raghav and Pallavi to navigate the festivities on their own.
As they strolled through the fair, an awkward silence enveloped them. Raghav shifted restlessly, his fingers brushing against his arms, scratching his arms,it was still irritating him.
They passed several stalls where the vendors recognized Pallavi, their faces lighting up with familiarity. "Pallavi! So good to see you!" one exclaimed, drawing her into a warm embrace. Raghav watched, intrigued by the ease with which she mingled with people.
As the vendors insisted she choose something special, Pallavi ended picking few pieces of jewelry.
"I'll take care of this," he said, pulling out his wallet handing money to the vendor
As they wandered through the fest, Raghav's eyes darted around, scanning the crowd for the twins. After an hour, just as they reached the food stall, he finally spotted them. Bhavya appeared uncomfortable, while Tanya seemed to be in a heated argument with a couple of boys.
With a furrowed brow, Raghav made his way over, his tall frame intimated the boys as he slipped between the twins. He wrapped an arm protectively around each of them, casting a stern glare at the boys. "I hope everything's going well here," he said, his voice low and steady. "Are these your friends? Wouldn't you introduce me?"
The twins hesitated, their eyes shifting between Raghav and the boys, who looked unsettled under his imposing presence. Raghav could sense the tension; it was clear the boys were making the twins uncomfortable.
"Anyway, let me introduce myself," he continued, his tone shifting to something more commanding. "I'm their brother, Raghav. I hope we can all get along." With that, he extended his hand toward the boys, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air.
The boys, clearly intimidated, were around the same age as the twins but appeared dwarfed by Raghav's presence. They weakly offered their hands in return, but Raghav's grip was firm, conveying a silent message: any misstep on their part would not be tolerated.
The air thickened with unspoken tension as Raghav assessed them, a protective instinct surging within him. He kept his gaze steady, watching for any hint of disrespect. The boys exchanged nervous glances, realizing that they had crossed a line. Raghav's presence alone was enough as they stammered out awkward introductions, clearly eager to distance themselves from the confrontation and ran away.
The twins expressions brightening with gratitude as Raghav led them toward the food stall. He quickly purchased their favorite food, from crispy samosas to sweet jalebis. Laughter bubbled between them as they eagerly picked out their food, the earlier tension fading away.
From a distance, Pallavi observed the scene with a mix of emotions. She noticed how Raghav's gaze seemed to seek out connections with every woman he encountered, always looking for a reflection of his sister, Keerthi. Same thing happened with Nandini and Preethi. To Raghav, it was always a matter of brotherly fondness, an innocent longing.
Pallavi's heart ached at the realization. While others had moved on—Sunny had found a new partner, and his mother embraced Preethi like a daughter—Raghav remained in his past, still yearning for the sister he lost.
Raghav's tendency to see Keerthi in Nandini and Preethi was proof of love for his sister and a source of confusion for those around him. His intentions were always pure—an innocent desire for connection and brotherly affection
because of her own insecurities she doubted him. She found herself wondering if Raghav had developed feelings for Preethi. she realized how misguided her fears were. The bond he shared with Preethi was pure.
As she wiped away a stray tear, Pallavi's heart swelled with empathy. She smiled as she watched the twins chatter happily with him, their laughter ringing clear. They approached her table with food.
"Look what we got!" bhavya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Raghav chuckled, setting down a plate before Pallavi. "I hope you're hungry."Pallavi smiled through her tears, nodded at them.
After enjoying their meal, the group wandered around for a bit longer before finally heading home.
Once inside, Raghav retreated to his room. As he pulled off his shirt, he scratched at his arm, irritation evident on his face. Just then, Pallavi entered, holding a bottle of oil. She walked over to him and suggested he sit on the floor while she applied it to his skin. Raghav nodded in agreement.
As she began to work the oil into his arms, Pallavi said, "When I got home, Tanya mentioned she put some leaves in the water you bathed with, which might be why you're feeling so itchy."
Raghav looked up at her, his brows furrowed. "I figured that out this morning. But I can't help but wonder why she seems to dislike me so much—I've never even met her before."
Pallavi sighed, her expression turning serious. "It's complicated. She doesn't get along well with her father. He always wanted a son but ended up with three daughters, and he mistreated his wife. After he fell ill, he started to see how much sacrifice Krishna was making for the family. While others accepted him, Tanya is still struggling to move past it."
She continued, "She might have overheard Krishna and I talking about you and assumed you were the same type of person. In her own way, she's just trying to protect me. I've told her to stop, but I think she has started to warm up to you."
Raghav considered her words, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I get it. So, you've talked to Krishna about me. Did you miss me ?"
YOU ARE READING
another chance
RomanceRaghav, who had lost everything in a tragic turn of events, had become a cold-hearted person, driven by an unyielding determination to acquire what he desired. Nothing could stand in his way, and he refused to let emotions cloud his judgment. Pallav...
