"I m sorry."

The sting of the slap didn't hurt as much as her sister's broken voice. Swara locked eyes with her younger sibling's red puffy ones. The colour of her face had drained from crying. The sight was nothing short of a nightmare. Not because Swara was scared of it but because it was hard to see.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, this time her voice even smaller than before in the large bedroom.

Swallowing the lump in her throat Swara made her way to the window where Ragini stood. Her eyes no longer possessed the fear they did when she slapped her. They were filled with guilt and pain. A pain Swara couldn't understand the presence of.

"Why?" was the only question she managed.

"I-i don't know." Ragini sighed turning away. She was already drowning in a pool of guilty. She couldn't stand the accusing eyes that were now boring into her. It was too much.

"I know you know. You just can't say it." Swara said to the back that was now facing her.

"Than why are you asking," she mumbled to herself. She roughly wiped the tears that were staining her cheeks and continued, "I don't know. I was frustrated and... I just snapped." it wasn't a complete lie. She didn't let herself think too much or she could have never done it.

"Frustrated about what?"

Why does she have to be so damn attentive? "Whatever was happening. You not trusting me, questioning me like I m a criminal and want to see my phone. It was invasive."

"How do you expect me to trust you?"

"With your heart." her voice was so fragile. Swara wanted to hug her and tell her everything will be fine. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Right now she needs to know the truth.

"My heart trusts you. It's the brain that's unable to understand your behaviour and is screaming for answers. Ragini, tell me whats going on. I want to help you." she carefully took a step forward and place a soft hand on the small of her back. Although Ragini flinched Swara dared to take another step forward. "Let me help you."

A sob involuntary left Ragini's lip. She was hoping- begging for someone to get her out of this mess that now surrounds her. But now even when the hand has been extended she can't hold it.

"Swara, nothing is going on. I was just having a moment and I m sorry I took it out on you." she clenched her fist to stop the next round of tears but in vain. "Nothing is go-going on." her voice cracked.

Swara removed her hand and crossed arms in front of her chest. "Look me in the eye and say that you are not hiding anything. That everything is fine and you did what you did in the heat if the moment. Tell me that what I saw in your eyes then was anger and not fear and guilt." she could almost feel the sitarist walls coming up.

"Swara I m sorry so drop it! It hurts me as much as it hurts you. I never meant to do it. Nothing is going on!" she shouted.

Anger. The only emotion that was remotely familiar to her these days. When things were spiring out of control she clung to it. It was only constant right now.

She swiftly spun to meet the eyes of her sister. "Nothing is going on. Everything is normal!" lying through her words was easier but her body chose to finally let someone know how scared and lonely she was feeling. Her eyes darted around the blue room as she muttered the next words, "I m fine."

Swara grabbed her hands and pulled her to the bed. She sat her down and kneeled before her and held her gaze. "You are not fine. I know it. So please tell me what is going on. I can't watch you like this."

"Nothing..."

"Tell your angel what is bothering you," she held Ragini's shivering hands gently. "She will listen. She will take away all your problems just like she used too." her voice had nothing but concern and slight desperation.

"She will?" Ragini asked bearly above a whisper. She slightly tilted her head to the side. She was a lost child that wanted someone to reach out and assure her that this was just another passing storm. And right now, that someone was her sister who had her arms wrapped around her protectively. "This is not just another dream that I wake up to and find myself at those crossroads again?"

Swara rubbed her back soothingly and gave a soft kiss on the crown of her little sister's head. "No, this is not a dream. I m really here. So please tell me whats going on. What crossroads do you find yourself at?"

Ragini defences finally let up. She couldn't do this anymore. She hiccupped but managed to narrate the happenings to Swara. In the end, they both were a sobbing mess.

"I m sorry Swara. I'm- m sorry. I shouldn't have done that no matter what. I m sor..." Ragini chanted on as the events from the past couple of days started to sink in. she had slapped her sister just because a stranger asked her to. She was a bad person. She doesn't deserve the comfort she is getting right now.

She tried pulling away from Swara. She struggled and struggled but the older woman's hold just seemed to get stronger. "Swara. Please let- let me go." she tried once again but what Swara said next ceased her actions.

"I m sorry. I never imagined this was possible. I judged you but I didn't have the right to do that. You were going through so much and I didn't even realise it. I m sorry."

"You don't have to be. This is my fault. I screwed like always. Please let me go," she said, once again resuming her struggles. "You don't have to pick up after me. I'm going to fix this."

Swara held on even tighter. This time she wasn't letting go. "We are going to fix this. you don't have to be sorry. You saved Ayush. We wouldn't even have found him if it wasn't for you. In fact, I m proud of you. Ragini, you are so strong. Even after all this, you didn't give up. I'm so proud of you," she pulled away slightly so she could wipe her tears away. "And now you don't have to do this alone anymore. I m here for you. You are not alone. We will catch that bastard together. We will get Ayush back. We are Swaragini." she smiled intertwining their fingers.

"Swaragini." it was like a magic word. A promise. Ragini instantly returned the smile hearing the name or promise. She felt so much better after letting it all out. After so long she felt hopeful. A hope that had died when she started keeping this secret. it was killing her and along with it their relationship. But that was over now. They were together. No more secrets, no more lies.

"I love you," she said burying her face in the crook of her angel's neck. "I promise to never leave you either. We are together hamesha and forever." she knows that she doesn't have to say anymore, these words said it all.

Swara rocked them back and forth. She felt Ragini becoming heavier in her arms and realised she had fallen asleep. She chuckled and carefully laid her on the bed wrapping the blanket over her. She sat beside her running her fingers her perfect raven locks.

The situation right now was less than ideal but one thing was for sure. As long as they were together, they could overcome anything.

"Hamesha and forever," she promised.