Rejuvenating Love

4) He played the game well!

But only Raghav's arrival had not been the cause of a sudden and unnoticed jolt in me. I recollected everything in my mind within the blink of an eye. If he is Raghav. Then! Was I talking to Mr. and Mrs. Rajput for so long? Realizing these facts of recently recognised truth I rubbed my temple and bit my tongue secretly.

Mr. Rajveer Rajput, city's most reknown business tycoon, known for his intellectual approach towards his every project. I remember he was featured in the 'TIMES city magazine' as the business tycoon of the year somewhat 5-6 years back. He also presided over a negotiation table at which our company was rightfully handed over the tender for the road dis-mantling work which was earlier offered to another company involved in some major corruptional activities by the board committee. Soon his era of business ended as our generation grew up and Raghav being the legal heir was handed over with all the responsibilities of Rajput Industries Limited(RIL). No doubt Raghav Rajput has been burning the midnight oil to step into his father's shoes. Well! This is how media promoted Rajput Industries which had recently accepted its new heir then.

And who doesn't know this beautiful charming lady, Mrs. Sunaina Rajput.

Being a lucky charm to her husband she is dedicatedly involved in various NGO works. She is the epitome of wealth and luck according to her husband. One of her popular missions being Mission Karuna which emphasises on the menstrual hygiene of the underprivileged girls of the remote villages. Till date many beauty peagant title aspirants run after her Personal Assistant to fix appointments from her busy schedule. They all approach to start their own missions of goodwill so that they add the titles to their modeling career. But Mrs. Rajput personally selects only the truely dedicated ones to assist. Rajputs are relishing the leverage and limelight for quite a few years now. It's only because I hadn't met them in person, otherwise they wouldn't have remained unrecognised by me.

Raghav touched the feet of my papa and mumma. I also was struggling to realise that it was him when he greeted me , "Hi! Kuhu".

I just gave him a persuaded smile because it was difficult for the words to come out of my locked lips. Probably a case of Lock-jaw I suffered then.

Aunty could feel a thick tense of air around me. She now insisted us to talk frankly and full of spirit. Oh again I would have missed her words under intense tension if Rashi wouldn't have whispered in my ears," Handsome greek god, Isn't he? I just rolled my eyes to her excitement. Old wisemen rightly said- Never judge a book by its cover. Only if she had known the truth behind him- appearances are deceptive!

Raghav was talking to papa. And my mumma! She was worth watching out. Her motherly love-struck starings at Raghav revealed a jealous creature out of me since her gazes signalled as if he is her own child and not I. I awed at her behaviour full of innocence. I wish I were in place of Raghav today to claim my parent's love. Raghav's success had already marked a design in my papa's mind and had sealed it with a stamp too. Papa got impressed with him after he came to know about the large business Raghav has setup 'Royal Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd.' paying off his own efforts at the age of 29. Coming to his debts from his parent, I must say he is decent like his mother but his looks has been borrowed from his father. He has cunningly stolen the shades of white from Mrs. Rajput and Mr. Rajput has built in him a very strong persona.  Papa and Raghav discussed global business, current affairs, political acquaintances, their ongoing constructional works and much more; all over just a coffee. They would have finished off the world agenda today, it seemed so.

"Beta, my daughter is too workaholic. Just tell her how to balance the time between her office and family. I am just pissed off her now after recklessly warning her. Being a girl withdrawing time for family is important. Till now it was all okay. After marriage this won't be allowed." My mumma complained before Raghav hoping for some fruitful changes in me in his company.

"Mumma now don't start over here before everyone." I got embarassed.

'Yeah, family is important.' Raghav smirked looking at me.

"Whom are you complaining Mrs. Rathore my son isn't a saint either." Mrs Rajput scoffed.

Everyone laughed aloud together sipping their beverages.

Rashi was then ordered to take us to the garden. She went alongwith him and I was just following them. She never leaves a chance to flirt with guys. Does she? But why am I bothered so much? I'm not interested in him. Infact my heart hates him to the infinity. As my mind followed the thoughts, tears filled my eyes but I didn't let them flow down this time for such a jerky i***t.

I didn't want Rashi to abandon us. Even she wouldn't have done that being busy talking with him in a very flirtacious tone. My heart was reluctant to face him. I didn't dare to look into his intimidating eyes in between their conversations. His black orbs have always stamped great dominating effects on me, I remember. On my way to all these random thoughts I was put on a brake by the coughing Rashi who was leaving us alone; now blinked one of her eyes teasing me. Urghhh!!! Everyone was keen on irritating me on such a wonderful day.

'You look better in sarees than office attire I must say.' I shifted my gaze to him now, confronting him. We sat opposite to each other on chairs led beside a small round colourful table, under the shade of a large umbrella above, admist the large garden at the entrance of Rathore Residence.

"Raghav stop playing with the feelings of my family. You will end up hurting them. The rivalry is between us don't bring our families into this. Please I beg of you. My family is innocent." After all the drama finally I got a chance to blast on him.

'Whoa...hey wait! You still talk non-stop like before. I am serious Kuhu. Am not befooling you or your family. From where did this rivalry come now?' His voice again reminded me of his playful nature. He said all these with a deadly smile imprinted onto his face. I couldn't apprehend his intentions.

"All of a sudden why do you want this marriage now? Everything was over. What do you want then? Want to break me again?" I asked all irritated with knitted eyebrows. He paused for a moment smiling mischievously at my reckless questions, breathed heavily and then being grateful to me he spoke eventually-

'See my parents were insisting on me persistently to get married which I always want to escape from. You know its nearly impossible to ignore them now. They have played the game of checkmate with me. So I had to surrender but not fully. I told them the girl would be of my choice so I washed their brains upgrading the respect for you and your family in their eyes. Apart from these I don't have any feelings of love or personal grudge towards you. So chill.' I was totally taken aback, how could he say it so casually in his fanciful voice? Thankfully the wizard opened up with his true intentions.

"Then how and when did you meet my papa and mumma? How did our parents agree for all these? Do our parents know anything from the past?" I was just curious to know to what extent a wizard could go. Did he berate me before my family speaking anything from the past before them?

'Well meeting your parent was a complete initiative from my mom and dad. And no one knows anything from the past, its just that I said my mom about you to get rid of this marriage responsibility.'

Marriage responsibility? Get rid of this? Then why me? Hasn't he gotten over hurting me yet? I clenched my fists supressing my anger.

"Mr. Raghav Rajput! Enough of your drama in my life now. We are not getting into any of your proposed plans. So kindly step back the way you had approached for this proposal." I blasted out all these without looking into his black dominating orbs.

"Did I say it loud enough for you to hear?" I spoke again on watching him unmoved by my clear-cut words of rejection for his plans.

'What if I don't?' A well-known mischievous smirk played through his lips boasting off his ever-lasting confidence. My pupil dialated to his actions, plans, behaviour further widening my eyes in response. It was hard to digest all of them at a time.

'You know your parent are quite impressed with this proposal. Of course its Raghav Rajput afterall. Once decided, and the thing is mine. If I go out and say a yes to this. You won't be even asked of your consent. There is nothing someone could reject in me for making me his son-in-law.',said Raghav by comfortably resting his back to the chair out of his strong credences in himself. He left the garden after a brief silence between us and moved towards the hall with a deadly and victorious smile. My dumb-struck silence at his master plan led him a faith to win again!

Once again he proved the negativity of him, the reason he is hated for. "I hate you!" My heart boasted louder and all these causes of my anger turned into helpless tears ready to fall off my eyelashes anytime. Why does he always win in his evil intensions? Even now he is so confident of hurting me. Struggling with my heart I thought - Will everything go according to him? Or will I be saved from this wizard?