Here is the last chapter :
The sun had said good bye for the day when Ragini opened her eyes and looked at the Jesus who was on crucifix and her lips curved up into a smile. When her eyes moved to the bleeding hands and legs suddenly her face turned sad. Why people were so merciless to treat anyone in such way she wondered. She felt a soothing touch on her head and instantly that smile came back on her face like it had never gone.
“Mother” she looked up with gleaming eyes. “Yes my child” Mother Janaki who was the head of the orphanage caressed her cheek. “You are disturbed” Mother Janaki said effortlessly guessing Ragini’s sadness. “You have told me why Jesus was crucified. But you never told me why were those people so cruel to make him undergo that? Didn’t they had minimum humanity? How could someone see suffering and still remain unmoved?” she sat beside Janaki’s legs.
Janaki smiled at her. “You know something you are very special child of Jesus” Ragini looked at her confused as her answer did not match the question. “People always accuse someone evil. But you are asking what made them evil? That’s where you win Jesus’s heart when you don’t judge people for what they are but try to understand why are they this way” Ragini just gave her a ear to ear smile.
“Evil is just another face of good” Ragini was again confused. “Evil is evil because good is so attractive and everyone wants it around them. So in a turn evil is jealous of good. But it forgets that like everyone it is also getting attracted towards good” Ragini immersed in her thoughts trying to understand what Janaki meant.
“In short evil is bad but not the person who is evil. He is grown up in different scenarios where this evil was apt to choose. Nobody becomes evil by choice you know that. It’s just that they did not had any option or they are blinded by the evil is lurking them with” Janaki shrugged her shoulders .
Ragini gave her a wide smile with a understanding nod before she hugged Janaki. She just caressed Ragini’s hair. “Ragu” they heard Akshat and turned towards the door of the church. “F..food. Mess” he said looking at the ground and moving aimlessly.
“Hey Akshat come inside and pray she will come” said Janaki. A mischievous smile played on his face as he looked around. “God is just a myth” said he emotionless. “Akshat…” Janaki was interrupted by Ragini who nodded her head in a NO. “Popu just one minute I will come” she turned to Akshat.
He nodded his head still looking at the ground. “Don’t pressurize him Mother please. He has a reason to be rude in this matter and I don’t want him to remember all that again” she whispered to Janaki who gave a nod with a confusion in her mind. “Come let’s have dinner” said she dragging Janaki along. “I will be there in 15 minutes. I have to keep the documents inside the cupboard” said Janaki excusing herself.
Ragini turned to Akshat and walked to him. Like always snaking her one arm around his neck she dragged him with her. He was still looking at the ground. “Popu what you learned today?” she asked and he looked at the walls and then at the floor. “I could not read anything. You know Pakya did not let me read” he said with still no expression.
“Oh this Pakya dared to disturb you. Come first let me teach him a lesson” said she and dragged him to the right in the hallway. “Ragu… Fighting bad” said he trying to stop her. “I’m not fighting popu. I’m teaching a lesson. You forgot what Hitler says teaching is a noble profession” said she as they walked.
“Kyu be? Why aren’t you letting my Popu study ha?” she asked not getting any response. “Oye Pakya. I’m talking to you” she placed her hands on her waist. “Abbey bhaire I’m talking to you” she screamed a bit. A person who was dancing turned to her.
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"You talked to me?" Pakya asked removing the head phones. "No I was teaching the mosquitoes to sing" she gave him a sarcastic smile crossing her arms. "Hein?" he asked confused. "Uff" she took a deep breath. "How dare you disturb my Popu while he was studying?" she waited for his answer.
"Oh wow Ragzee chill. Why will I disturb him? I was just cleaning his room." he shrugged his shoulder. Ragini moved her head to Akshat. He was still staring the ground when he felt the pause in the conversation he understood that he is supposed to respond. "And he had turned the music system ON. And volume so high" Akshat reasoned. Now Ragini turned to Pakya. "I..I" he struggled to reason. "You know I can't work without my music and my phone battery was dead" he gulped in scared.
"Pakya ke bache" Ragini chased him all around. Picking the bucket filled with water near the garden she splashed it on his face. "Damn" he cursed as he was dipped in water and the droplets tripped off his body. He wiped the water on his face with two fingers of his right hand.
"Dare you disturb my Popu again" she warned him and nuzzled her nose and walked to Akshat. Holding him protectively she walked to the dining hall of the orphanage. "T…that was bad" said Akshat looking at the ground. "I'm just bad Popu not evil" she shrugged her shoulders.
"And if you were evil Satan would have taken retirement" they both stopped hearing Rashmi's voice. "Oh no Hitler. How did I forgot Pakya is her chamcha" she bit her tongue. Both turned slowly and Ragini gave her a sheepish smile. "Give me some good reason this time" Rashmi nodded her head and walked passing her. "Bappa God please save me today" she looked up pleading.
"I.. I told you" said Akshat. "Wish I had the wisdom to understand your words" she said giving him a helpless look. "I wish too" said he and smiled still looking at the ground. They walked to the dining hall and sat in their usual places for the dinner. When all were thanking almighty for the day's food Akshat was playing with cutlery.
"Popu" Ragini complained when Akshat messed his shirt while eating. She wiped it and made him to wear the napkin and fed him the food and after that she had her food. Rashmi smiled looking at them from the place where she was supervising the dining table.
After the dinner Ragini walked to Rashmi's room where she had to take her daily scolding pills. "So?" asked Rashmi sitting on her bed and looking at Ragini who stood in front of her. "Mistake was his" said Ragini. "So? You have rights to punish?" asked Rashmi. "I agree I don't have. But then when it is about Popu you know I can't tolerate anything and anyone" said Ragini pouting.
"You know you are not making him strong but making him dependent on you" said Rashmi concerned. "You also know he can't be strong Hitler. He isn't like all. And whatever happens he needs me" said Ragini helplessly. "And you will just be with him always?" asked Rashmi.
"I will" said Ragini with determination. "Don't you have your own life?" asked Rashmi. "I have and it isn't without my Popu" said she. "You are so stubborn" said she nodding her head. "Got the training from you" said Ragini. "Fine. This I don't even remember the count that final warning for you" said Rashmi giving up.
"Good night Hitler" said Ragini with a warm hug to Rashmi. She held Ragini's hand and at last that smile crept her lips. "Jhalli" she hit Ragini's head playfully. "Meri Jhalli" said she kissing Ragini's forehead smiling who drooled happy.
***.****
The first day always sends shivers though how much ever you try to be confident. Even after sending a special prayer application to Bappa she was hell nervous.
Ragini held the locket in her neck tightly as she stepped in the office. "Hey" she waved at the girl who was the only familiar face to her as she was the one who completed her joining formalities. The girl smiled at her. "Um. Can you please guide me with my work desk?" asked Ragini playing with her bag strap to reduce her nervousness.
"Yup sure. It's the first desk on the right side of that cabin" she pointed at the desk behind Ragini. "Um. Thanks a lot" said Ragini and the girl nodded her head with a smile. "By the way I'm Mahi" the girl shook her hand with Ragini. Later that Ragini walked to her desk still playing with the bag strap. She bent to pick the paper which was on her way and held it to handover to someone who just dropped it.
"Thank…" Karan stopped his words as he looked up. "Mention not" Ragini gave him a wide smile before he could even complete and walked passing him. 'Damn. She got that work desk' Karan looked at the work desk after Ragini sat on it and was analyzing everything.
"I think you are mistaken. This ain't your desk" Karan stood near her desk. "Hun? But the HR told me this is my desk" said she confused. "See this desk is…." he struggled to speak not finding a good reason. "Don't tell me you make our Prime Minister sit here?" Ragini chuckled.
"Sarcasm hein?" asked he with a bore look. "Don't be so boring. Compliment me. It was the best one you ever heard" she said proudly. He looked up huffing. Though his mind did not disagree on that.
"Look" "Looking" she countered him. "Listen" "Listening" she looked at him with her hand under the chin. "Have you lost the screw to your brain?" asked he annoyed. "No I thought as my brain was properly manufactured why don't I donate it to needy people like you" she pointed at him.
"Fine. Now I'm not responsible for your fate. If you so want to be in trouble" he walked away. She looked up with the attitude smirk and nodded her head. "Brainless" she uttered while continuing to admire her new place.
She was given some files by Mahi to study and she engrossed herself in studying the company profile. "Mahi" Karan stopped her. "Why did you made her to sit there? It isn't Sanskar Sir's secretary desk?" asked Karan. She smiled at him. "That was Sanskar Sir's order in the evening yesterday" said Mahi and walked away from there. "This girl is seriously going to end up in trouble" Karan looked at Ragini who was looking in the files.
His gaze moved to the clock on the wall which ticked 10. As usual he looked at the entrance and Laksh entered playing with his goggles and all the girls were just looking at him dreamily. "Hey Mrs. Mathews" he gave a boyish grin to Mrs Mathews one of the senior Clarke of the office. He kissed her hand's back like a gentlemen and she blushed looking at him.
"How are you doing today?" asked he. "I'm good Sir. Thank you" she said with a wide smile. "Ohho Mrs Mathews I have strictly told you to call me Laksh or Lucky or Son at least. But you never stop being formal" said he complaining. "Oh I always forget" she said apologetically. He gave her a warm hug and walked to his cabin.
"How sweet" Jessy looked at him dreamily admiring. He closed the cabin door and settled in his chair. After opening the laptop he looked up and his eyes stopped at the girl who had the power to stop his breath. Ragini was busy reading the file. His memory lane traveled back in time to last evening.
****Flashback****
"I don't know anything. She should be sitting on my secretary's desk and working for me tomorrow" he was at the door of Sanskar's cabin. "Why are you doing this for a mere girl? She is also a human Laksh not any thing" Sanskar's words made him to stop.
"And why in the world you have to always cross my path? Don't you get tired of it?" Laksh turned back. Sanskar just stood not willing to answer. "You know what you are right she is just mere a girl for whom I'm baiting the most dearest thing to you. And you don't need my guidance to think what I'm capable of Mr. Sanskar Maheshwari" Lakshya smirked and Sanskar closed his eyes annoyed.
Laksh walked out not waiting for his response.
***End of Flashback***
He played with the pen which was between the two of his hands. His lips formed a curve as she tucked the hair strand behind her ear. Her intercom jerked her and she picked it up placing the file on the table. "Come to my cabin" she did not recognize the voice but surely it had the power to raise her heart beat. She looked around not sure if it was Sanskar's voice.
Her gaze stopped on a male figure beyond the glass who was looking straight into her eyes. Those hazel eyes made her throat dry and she gulped in nervous.
She was confused as the face did not match that of Sanskar but someone else. Then her eyes moved to the cabin's door where the name plate stated clearly "Lakshya Maheshwari Executive Director"
She blankly placed the receiver back on place. "Hey Mahi" she called Mahi who was walking in front of her. "I was appointed as Sanskar Sir's secretary right?" asked she. "Management decision dear. You have to work under Laksh Sir" said she.
"But" Ragini felt loss of words. "I don't fit in the department. It will be the loss for the company" she said and she herself was not aware of her reluctance to work under Lakshya.
"That ain't your concern. You are appointed in the company and you have to serve in the position the company offers you" said Mahi. "Um" she was not sure how to face this. Mahi looked at Lakshya's cabin who was signing her. "Your boss wants your presence in his cabin. Please follow the instructions he gives as even I don't want you to be fired on your first day itself" said Mahi and walked after giving Ragini a formal smile.
Ragini huffed looking up and turned to Lakshya's cabin. She felt she was entering a hungry lion's cage where the beast was ready to pounce on her. She did not realize why was she feeling all this negativity around her suddenly.
She held her note pad tightly and stepped gathering all her courage.
"Excuse me sir" she peeped inside. Laksh turned his chair towards her and signed her to enter the cabin. She walked nervously and stood in front of him. As his gaze moved all over her body she felt a weird feeling. "Sit Ms?" he asked. "Ragini" said she and sat on the chair not looking up at him.
"Melodious name of melodiously beautiful girl" he said bending towards her. She smiled at him weakly. Her throat could not utter a thank you due to its dryness.
Though she hated the men who flirt, his flirting did not felt like he was flirting with her in any way. "By the way you already know me I guess" he said turning the chair a bit to the right and then back to the position. "Um Yeah I read the name plate" she lately realized what she said.
"I mean I was told by the HR team" she corrected the sentence.
"Oh… You know beautiful girls look more beautiful when they lie" he said smirking at her and her cheeks turned beet red as blood rushed to them with each of his cheesy yet effective lines.
She did not knew why she was not getting annoyed which she usually gets when someone talks like this. Though she had not faced the situation like this where the commenting one was her boss she was so sure of herself that she will back fire in such cases. But in his case she was not able to do that.
Instead her heart fluttered with joy like a colourful butterfly which has just come out of the cocoon she was imprisoned in. "Sir dictations" she tried averting the topic. "Oh yeah. I usually land in my dreams when I see someone so irresistibly gorgeous" again the blood rushed to her cheeks.
He dictated her and she noted down. At a point her hand moved to tuck her hair strand behind her ear. And that moment just stopped his heart beat for a second. The breeze which was already flowing around felt fresh and dipped in her fragrance.
For a strange reason he felt the tune of violins like there were two guys invisible angels playing beside him on his either side.
"Chand mera Dil…. Chandani ho tum. Chand se hai dur Chandani kaha" he sang the song lost. She smiled at him blushing and looked at him dreamily.
"Sir" a bit louder voice of Ragini jerked him. He looked around and realized that he was dreaming all that. "Hun. That's all. Send this mail to the email id I gave you, And Chand…" he closed his eyes annoyed.
"I mean ask Karan where are the other files and make a list of contacts" said he looking in his laptop. Ragini stood up and walked out of his cabin.
He collapsed back on his chair. "What's wrong with me?" he questioned himself. Then his eyes moved to Ragini who was busy typing on her computer. Again he felt the violins sound.
"Damn. I better visit an ENT expert soon" he brushed his thoughts and looked back at his laptop.
****.****
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