Chapter 36: chapter 36

Everything is going fine with Raghav's family. Raghav even approved for Rakshita's dream of opening a restaurant. Rakesh and Rakshita were so involved in it. Construction already started. Nikita helped Rakshita with purchasing utensils and finding suitable chefs and waitresses. Shally is preparing to set the interior and landscaping the area. Sachin also often meeting Shally, while she is out sort and acquiring things for her work. Their romance has developed ten folds. The stick with each other most of the time. Rakshita is already suspicious about Shally. As she often smile looking at her mobile screen and day dreams a lot these days. Nikita is so happy for her second brother. Now all that is pending is, she needs her father's approval and wanted to share the news with Rakesh and Rakshita before they find out themselves. As they would feel either betrayed or left out. Shreya, took her work seriously. She is back to herself, very confident and courageous. The companies finances also reached new hikes in her supervising. Jash, hasn't contacted her or disturbed her after that revelation at her house. He wanted her to come back to him. He wanted her to feel the pull, he is already feeling towards her. All was going well, until one afternoon. It was their mother's birthday. Raghav was at his study room that afternoon. Rakshita made him soup and went to his room, he was not there. So she looked for him at his study room, he was seated on a reclining chair facing the table. Looking at a photo frame intensely. Rakshita knocked the door twice, before getting in. Raghav gave a sad smile and nodded at her. She placed the soup bowl in front of him. He looked at her and said he has no appetite right now. She asked whether he was feeling unease. He again looked at her. His eyes were clouded. He said that it was his wife's birthday and he is missing her so much today. Rakshita didn't know what to say. So he just went and stood near him. She looked at the photo fram and said how beautiful his wife looked and told Nikita has gotten lot of her mother's features. She smiled and said that his wife would be so proud of him, that he has brought up his children so well. Rakesh and Sachin such a gentlemen and Nikita, is really an angel in disguise.  Raghav smiled hearing that. And said how fortunate they are to have Rakshita in their family. He also appreciated that his wife would have loved her so much and would be very excited about her dreams. As she was also such a great cook. Rakshita smiled at that and felt happy. She spent some more time with Raghav, as she doesn't want him to loathe alone. After sometime, Raghav said that he wanted to visit his office today and told he will have his lunch with his sons there. Then he left home.Rakshita called and informed Rakesh, that their father is on the way to office. Rakesh looked for Sachin, but he wasn't there, even his secretary had no idea where he left. This made Rakesh stunned. He was trying to reach Sachin but it was in vain. Meanwhile their father reached the office and went to his cabin. Though he visits only occasionally, his old room is still used only when he comes. He asked Rakesh and Sachin to meet him. But only Rakesh came and told that Sachin had gone for some important work. Though Rakesh was hesitant to lie to his dad, he had no option left which won't affect Raghav. So he came up with a lie. But Raghav could sense some discomfort in his tone and the way he didn't meet his eyes while saying that. He had a short talk with every important person in the office separately and gathered information about the current state of the company. Then, he sat in his room alone and closed his eyes. Memories of him and his wife flooded in his mind and he wondered how she stood along with him in all ups and downs and in achieving his dreams. As Sachin wasn't available, he hated to have lunch there. But then Shreya came in after her scheduled meeting. She gave him a long hug and reported him about the current money flow in company. Then she asked him to have lunch with her. He gladly agreed. But told her to take him somewhere before that. She agreed and took him to his wife's grave in their estate. Shreya and Raghav went to his wife's grave  after getting a bunch of saffron coloured France lily flowers, which was her favourite.  When they approached, there were already two people. From the silhouette, she could recognise it was Sachin standing there. But she couldn't see who the woman was. Raghav halted in his way. Though he is old, his eye sight is still keen and he clearly knew who they were. It's Sachin and Shally. He was surprised for a moment. But he did not react. He neither did go there nor got away. He held Shreya's hand too and stopped her from moving forward. Then reverted to his car. Shreya was shocked at his reaction. But had no choice other than leaving with him. He just went back home and locked himself at his study room. Shreya got back to office and did her chores. She waited till late evening, until Sachin came back to office. She confronted him and told him about Raghav's visit to the estate and told how hurted he looked when they saw him with a woman. Sachin got terrified. He felt guilty for hurting his dad that too especially on this day. He then rushed home to apologise to him.When Sachin reached home, everyone were already present, Rakesh, Rakshita and Nikita. But Raghav was not there. He asked Nikita and went to his dad's study room and knocked. Raghav's eyes were sad yet angry. It held different emotions at the same time. Hurt, pain, affection, anger and so much more. He did not utter even a word. Instead stood up and left the room. He came to the living room and asked Rakshita to invite Shally for tonight's dinner. Sachin who followed behind him stood there dumbfounded. Rakshita looked confused at his command but anyway did what she was told to do. Nikita saw Sachin in bewilderment. Shally picked up Rakshita's call. When she came to know about Raghav's invite, she felt nervous. Yet, she cannot disrespect him by declining. So she braced herself and agreed to come.