Author's pov
Orni just reached Rudraksh's house. She wanted to thank him personally because of his effort in the court. Maybe she didn't get the desired result at least Rudraksh tried a lot.
Looking at the two-storied building a chuckle left her mouth. He is indeed a nature lover. There were various types of plants in front of the house and on the terrace.
Ringing the doorbell she waited for a moment. She wasn't expecting that a little girl whose age would be around 5/6 years old will open the door. An affectionate smile appeared on her face looking at the girl who was staring at Orni with curiosity.
" Raksha, who is it?" Orni heard Rudraksh's voice from behind.
Raksha replied with her baby voice," It's a pretty aunty."
Holding a plate of food Rudraksh came in front of the main door only to find Orni. A surprised expression appeared on his face seeing Orni here. Orni wasn't expecting him to be married while he wasn't expecting her in his house.
" Ms Patel?" Rudraksh mumbled confusingly.
Orni asked chuckling," Umm....... Are guests allowed here?"
" Yeah. Sure. Please, come inside," he said letting her come inside when an embarrassed expression covered his face.
Leaving Orni with Raksha, Rudraksh went to the kitchen to make coffee for Orni. Raksha was staring at Orni with curiosity like she wants to say something. It wasn't unnoticed by Orni that a pair of innocent eyes were gazing at her.
" Hey, sweetie pie come here," Orni called Raksha.
Taking a few baby steps Raksha reached in front of Orni. Placing Raksha in her lap Orni ruffled her baby hair.
" You have such beautiful hair," Orni complimented Raksha who looked down shyly.
Then, Orni asked sounding curious," Do you go to school? Do you have friends?"
" I go to school but I don't have any friends. Nobody talks to me because I am fat. They call me ugly," Raksha answered almost crying.
Orni felt extremely bad seeing the poor girl crying. She hugged Raksha tightly to console her. With soft hands, she patted Raksha's head and cooed in her ear. Breaking the hug Orni wiped away Raksha's tears gently.
" Only blind people will call you fat. You are cute," Orni said smiling.
Raksha replied politely," Thank you, pretty aunty."
" I have two sons just like you. Do you want to meet them someday?" Orni asked touching her nose playfully.
Raksha nodded her head in the positive. Suddenly, Orni tickled Raksha's belly and she couldn't control her giggles. Entering the room with a tray of snacks Rudraksh was amused seeing his daughter so comfortable with Orni. It's the first time he is seeing something like that. Even Raksha's nanny couldn't make her giggle like that.
" You live here with your daughter. Where is your wife?" Orni asked frankly but instantly regretted asking like that because of the sudden sadness on his face.
Pulling Raksha into his lap he answered forcing a smile," She divorced me after Raksha's birth. Since then I am living alone with my baby girl."
Saying that he looked at Raksha to avoid Orni's eyes. But, she noticed the sadness and pain in his eyes. Just looking at his facial expression she can assume how much he loved his wife. Rudraksh didn't feel good sensing Orni's pitiful eyes on him. He doesn't want to be pitied by anyone.
" Anyway, why didn't you bring your kids? Raksha would have loved their company," Rudraksh asked diverting his wife's topic.
Orni answered chuckling," Thank God I didn't bring them here. They are way too mischievous to handle."
" Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you. The way you fought against that cunning lawyer was really praiseworthy. Thank you so much," Orni showed her gratitude to him.
Rudraksh replied letting out a breath," The outcome wasn't in our favour. Don't thank me. That criminal should have gotten the death penalty or life imprisonment."
" But, I am still contented about the consequences. 30 years isn't less," Orni answered looking out the window.
After that, they talked for a few moments about random things. Orni enjoyed his company a lot. He seemed like a gentleman to her. After a long time, Orni felt good talking to a man. Because of VR, Orni was failing to trust or think positively about any man except her father and brother. But, today Rudraksh changed a lot of things in her.
" Pretty aunty, when will you come to visit me again?" Raksha asked Orni innocently.
It was time for Orni to return to her home but Raksha wasn't letting her go anywhere. Bending down to her level, Orni kissed Raksha's chubby cheeks.
" Maybe next time you will come to visit me in my house," Saying that Orni looked at Rudraksh who wasn't understanding what to answer.
Caressing Raksha's cheeks Orni suggested to Rudraksh," You can leave her in my house with my sons. She is always invited there."
" Only she?" Rudraksh asked raising one of his brows.
Orni answered shuttering," I mean..... You too......."
" See you later, Mr Joshi," Bidding him goodbye Orni left his house hurriedly.
Unknowingly, a smile formed at the corner of her lips thinking about Rudraksh who was also smiling while thinking about Orni.
A few days later
" Pandit Ji(priest) hasn't come yet, Orni?" Srilekha asked checking the prasad(offerings).
Orni answered taking the flower bucket," He will be here soon, Ma."
" Mrs Patel, don't worry. I talked with the priest just now. He is on his way," Niyati informed Srilekha.
Orni looked frontwards and noticed the kids talking to each other. Roman, Rion, Neela & Raksha. They get comfortable with each other very soon. Diverting her gaze at Rudraksh, Orni was literally gawking at him. He was looking handsome in kurta & pyjama. He was talking to her father and Shivansh. The way his dark pink lips were moving, the way he was moving his hands having a serious expression was feeling attractive to Orni.
" Shit," Orni mumbled looking somewhere else when Rudraksh caught her red-handed staring at him.
She turned red due to embarrassment but he chuckled seeing her red cheeks. She looked cute with that pink taint covering her cheeks.
Well, It's been days since VR is out of Orni's life and everything is going great in her life. She is living peacefully with her family members. For the last few days, Orni & her family members went through many difficulties. Since Srilekha is a very religious lady she decided to do a puja for her family's peace & prosperity. She invited Shivansh and Niyati but Orni invited Rudraksh and his daughter.
" You have such a pretty Mumma," Raksha said to Roman & Rion looking at Orni with sad eyes.
Roman answered looking at Rudraksh," And, you have a tall and muscular Daddy just like my Daddy."
" But, Mumma said our Daddy isn't a good person," Rion said sounding extremely sad.
Roman added sighing," The police took away our Daddy. Mumma said he is horrible but he did nothing horrible to us."
" I have Daddy and Papa both but Daddy doesn't come to meet me. And, my Mommy doesn't like my Papa," Neela said looking at her mother who was busy avoiding her father.
It was Rudraksh who heard the kids conversation. He felt genuinely bad looking at Roman & Rion. He still remembers the day when VR was shifted to the central jail and Roman & Rion saw him with the police. To make them understand what kind of person is VR, Orni made them see that sight. That day his heart bleed looking at Roman & Rion's teary eyes. Diverting his eyes at Raksha his face fell seeing her looking at Orni with longing eyes.
Rudraksh raised his eyes at Orni who was standing on the balcony. The puja will be starting soon. What is she doing on the balcony? He wondered. Taking some slow steps he stood right behind her.
" What are you thinking?" He asked standing beside her.
Orni replied shortly," Future."
" So, what did you think about your future?" He asked sounding curious.
Orni replied smiling," I always wanted to be a classical dance teacher. I want to make my mother's dream come true. She wanted to build a dance school for girls."
" I also want t....... I wan.........." Orni started shuttering suddenly.
She felt her body becoming paralysed like any time she will collapse on the floor. She felt her lower region cramping badly. She will just collapse on the floor when Rudraksh held her.
" Are you ok?" He asked worriedly.
In response, Orni only nodded her head that she is fine. But, Rudraksh was suspicious. He noticed her eyes that were looking a little bit yellowish than normal.
" I am fine. Maybe my glucose level decreased," Orni answered removing his hands from her body and forwarding her legs to leave but Rudraksh wasn't convinced by her response.