Raglak Few Shots by Bela: Cocktail (Prologue)

Okay guys, Bela here. So I had a bit of a free time after my pre boards and decided to catch up with a few Raglak stories and observed Nikky. And when I thought about it, she is right. We are getting less Raglak stories in number. So I have decided to write a few shots on our fave pair Raglak. It is not related to Swaragini. It is about Raglak in a different world.

I am afraid I won’t be regular. This is the prologue. If you want I will continue but please don’t expect this to be regular.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Ragini, I know you find yourself too young to marry. But what is the harm in SEEING the boy once? If you like him, just enter into an engagement and marry some years later. At least see him beta, he is my friend’s son. Who knows, you may like him?”

I shuffled uncomfortably. How should I tell Papa that I already like Sanskaar? My best friend Sanskaar who is a playboy, a spoilt rich brat? Papa liked him but not enough to allow me to date him, knowing of his reputation. And wait, Sanskaar wouldn’t even date me, first of all.

Lakshya was Papa’s childhood friend’s only son, a billionaire who was heir to the prestigious Maheshwari empire. They owned hotels, resorts, schools and restaurants all over the country. Recently, Lakshya took over part of the business and even started gyms across the metropolitan cities of India. The most Eligible bachelor out there. Hmph.

I remember our time as kids. He is based in Mumbai while we live in Delhi. His family was now shifting to Delhi so as to allow his father, Mr. Durgaprasad Maheshwari to enter politics. He got in touch with Papa, one thing led to another and now I was being cornered by my beloved parents into ‘seeing’ this Lakshya. I wondered how he was now. He was a bit slow when we were kids………….

“I…….I will meet him.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“A girl, did you say?” I asked Papa incredulously. Papa glared back at me.

“I may be modern but I would never bring rishtas from boys for my only son!” He replied curtly. Maa giggled uncontrollably at this while even I smiled.

“Papa, you know I already like Kavya and we have an off-on thing going on………”

“Which is exactly why I want you to consider a SERIOUS relationship! You are 26 for God’s sake! You are already heading some of my business ventures perfectly and you are eligible. She is using you! Ragini Gadodia is Shekhar Gadodia’s daughter. She is the heiress of the biggest fashion house in this country- R-Bazaar. Not in ruins like your girlfriend’s family, who are desperate to fill their family treasury! And I am not asking you to go and fill her hairline directly. Just meet her, talk to her. If you like her then pursue this. I want you to at least START beta. There is nothing left for you in your relationship with Kamya…….”

“Kavya, Papa.”

“Who Kavya?”

“My girlfriend Papa.”

“Wasn’t her name Kamya?”

Maa burst out laughing when she saw Papa’s confused face. I slapped my forehead in irritation.

“Whatever. I just know that she is the daughter of that useless drunkard Kapoor. All he does is come to our parties and drain our wine cellar! Imagine that girl as my bahu? I want a daughter, not someone who I want to slaughter!”

I sighed. It was no use trying to make him understand. Anyways, it is just a date. I would go, meet her and kindly reject her. And even pay the bill. I am a gentleman after all!

“Please try and understand Lakshya. She is your Papa’s childhood friend’s daughter Ragini. You used to play together as kids, remember?” Maa asked me gently.

A memory of a girl with pigtails in a pink frilly frock, two years younger to me, shrieking at me to not spoil her dress came to my mind. I muffled a chortle that was about to escape my lips. That wimpy girl………with a small nose and round lips and oiled hair, I wondered how she must look now………..

“I will meet her.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“We reached Delhi. Finally. Now, we will rest and in the evening, you will go and meet Ragini at our hotel.” Maa said to me as she wagged a finger at me. I smiled politely while she grinned and kissed my temple fondly. “Mera Raja beta. Sab sahi hoga!”

I wore my brown Ray Ban aviators and assumed my haughty expression which guarded me from people. Inside though, I prayed to God to let this meeting with Ragini Gadodia turn out to be a dead end.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“They are here. Now, Ragini beta, remember. 5 pm at Lucky’s Caffe. They own it, so you may be escorted to the private chambers. Okay?” Maa said to me as she kept the phone down.

Lucky’s Caffe. It is a REALLY bomb place. Styled fashionably, it is world class. I have gone there numerous times with Sanskaar and his girlfriends. This was the first time though when I was going on a date myself. I would go, listen to him kindly, gently reject him and even offer to split the bill. I am kind, if not anything else. Yes. Plan on!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

CHARACTER SKETCH:

RAGINI GADODIA (24)

A beautiful, kind and rich girl who is heiress of R-Bazaar, the biggest fashion house of the country. She is a businesswoman by blood who genuinely enjoys designing and is working under her father currently, ready to take over anytime. Has a major crush on her childhood buddy Sanskaar. Is practical but hopelessly romantic.

LAKSHYA MAHESHWARI (26)

Part owner of the Maheshwari empire and soon to inherit the entire business, he is a suave, smart, handsome and arrogant ‘gentleman’ who is nevertheless kind to people. He loves his parents a lot. Is in a headache inducing on-again, off again relationship with Kavya Kapoor. He is practical too but has issues in letting go. Is very stubborn.

SANSKAAR SINGHANIA (24)

A handsome playboy who has a new girl on his arm every week. Is best friends with Ragini and considers her his ‘bro’. He is to inherit his father’s law firm and is so, training to be a lawyer.

SWARA BOSE (23)

Beautiful, rich and spoilt, Swara is a supermodel who is Sanskaar’s new girl. She is a go-getter and what she wants, she gets. Is daughter of a rich politician Kaushik Bose and a former air hostess Sharmishtha Bose. Arrogant about her looks.

SHEKHAR and JANKI GADODIA

Parents of Ragini. Love her immensely. Shekhar owns R-Bazaar and is waiting for the day he leaves it to his daughter to enjoy with the love of his life, his wife Janki who is a doctor. They were childhood lovers. They are aware of Ragini’s infatuation with Sanskaar and are worried for her which is why they pressurised Ragini to meet Lakshya. Very fun-loving and understanding.

DURGAPRASAD and ANNAPURNA MAHESHWARI

Parents of Lakshya. Annapurna is a philanthropist who inherited schools from her rich father. She married Durgaprasad who was her betrothed. They had an arranged marriage but fell in love afterwards. They are worried over Lakshya’s stubbornness to not move on and wish for a good girl for their only son. In this FF, DP is a cool dad.

KAVYA KAPOOR (25)

She is the younger daughter of Kewal Kapoor who is on the verge of bankruptcy. She likes Lakshya but is selfish and narcissistic. Is after him only for his money. She is pretty and trying to make it into Bollywood. Lakshya is a hurdle for her.

What will happen now? Will Raglak reject each other? Or will sparks fly at their meet? Keep looking for ‘Cocktail’ a romcom set in Delhi 2017