Ragini and her husband (part-3)

key points to remember in this story…

1. This story is happening around 1947’s the early days of independence.
2. The whole story happens in a small village.
3. Laksh and Ragini here are village persons. You have to imagine Laksh as a village boy with khadi shirt and dothi. Ragini in simple olden days half saree. Visit any old hindi movies to imagine them. I recommend, ‘mother India’ old movie.
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1st part: Click here

2nd part: Click here

3rd part: now……

As she looked at him, he moved his eyes away and tells, “Alright! It’s night already. You sleep inside. I will sleep out.” Says Laksh.

Ragini: No! It wouldn’t be good if anyone sees

Laksh: Don’t worry about it. It’s not good for us to be in same place at night.

He laid his bed outside. Ragini was thinking something.

Next morning when he woke up he was surprised to see muggu (Rangoli) in front of house. The house was nicely cleaned. The milk was taken from cows, even they were cleaned. His horse was kept with food also. Then he remembered that he was married. Then only Ragini came out.

Laksh: why did you do all these things alone?

Ragini: I have made your life choice less by asking a weird promise. Otherwise, you would have married a nice girl than me. I’m already a trouble to you. That’s why.

Laksh laughed and said, “It is not at all true. Moreover we are wife and husband only to the world not by our hearts. So you need not do this.”

Then Ragini, “At least let me do some works. I’m also living here.” asked.

He said, “Alright! You take the cooking work. I’m really bad at cooking.”

After sometime Laksh was about to go out for work then only he looked an old woman who was struggling to carry a water pot. Laksh helped her to put it in her house.

Ragini felt happy looking at Laksh’s helping behaviour.

Then again one young man asked Laksh to put a bunch of heavy logs in bullock cart. Laksh did so. But that man stood simply. Ragini felt anger with this. She came out and asked that man,
“hey! You are capable enough to do that work. But why are you asking him? Laksh is not your servant.”

Then a lady beside told, “It was not even one day, Ragini started her superiority over Laksh. I think she will not let him anymore to help anyone.”

Ragini: it’s not like that akka (Didi)! He can help who are in need. But not to the lazy people like this.

That man gets angry with her words.

Laksh: you are right Ragini! Did you hear her words Nikil? Work hard from now. Alright Ragini! I’m going to Jamindar’s house. I’m gumasta (accountant) over there.

Laksh tells and goes away. Nikil was angry with Ragini and Laksh.

On racha banda(the villagers assembly place) some old men were talking,

“Laksh is a lucky boy, because Ragini is a nice girl.”

“But Laksh and Ragini never talked with each other as I know. They only know each other by name. That’s it.”

“Then how both married without loving each other? Her parents never asked an alliance with Laksh.”

Nikil listens to their conversation and says,
“It’s all happened because Laksh forced Ragini to marry him.”

Everyone looks at Nikil amazingly.

“Shut up you idiot! Laksh is not such a boy.” shouted an old man.

“If he did not, then how do you think both married? Ragini never talked with any boys in this village. Laksh too never spoke with Ragini. Ragini’s parents never asked him to marry their daughter. So, believe me. That Laksh might have forced her.”

They all became calm with his words.

“I kept the first doubt in their mind.” Thinks Nikil and goes away.

Laksh goes to the place of his work. Ragini was alone in the house. She doesn’t understand what to do. She remembers her mom cooking food and taking it near her father when he is in work. Ragini too wanted to do the same thing.

She prepares nice food and takes to Laksh’s work place in afternoon. In Jamindar’s(Jamindar means Village head) house Laksh was about to go to lunch.

But one worker comes and tells that Ragini has brought food for him. He amazes. Jamindar laughs and says,
“Go dear boy! I think your wife Ragini has brought all love in that lunch. Enjoy it!”

Laksh will go out. She is waiting under the Neem tree.

Laksh: why did you bring lunch? Did you come all this way long for this?

Ragini: that’s not a big problem. But I wanted to do this…

Both sits under the tree, she severs food to him. He will eat first bite and changes his facial expressions.

Ragini: I know I did not cook well. Actually, I have never cooked. But I will improve…

Laksh: no Ragini! You have cooked very well. Even in Jamindar’s house also it is not this much tasty.

Ragini: don’t say because I will feel bad. You can say the truth.

Laksh: yes Ragini! It is really tasty.

She feels happy. “Really, let me taste too.” She says and takes a bite from his plate. He amazes for her behaviour. “Yes! It’s really good.” She says.

Laksh: you did not eat food still? Didn’t you taste it?

Ragini: come on Laksh! A wife can’t eat before husband’s meal. She has to eat only after husband eats.

He again amazes. He will be looking at her. She looks at him. Both will smile.

Two ladies will see them from beginning and talk,
1st lady: they are very friendly. They are Lovely couple. Ragini is lucky to get Laksh. Even he is lucky to have her. She is a nice girl.

2nd lady: yes… she loves him a lot. This is first day of their marriage. She brought lunch for him.

Then itself Nikil comes and tells,
“What love? That Laksh has forced her to marry him.” He tells all false news as he said to everyone.

Those ladies are amazed. “Can Laksh do like that?” they thinks.

To be continued….