Laksh enters the campus hopping happily as today it’s his birthday. Though he hates his mother he doesn’t judge the whole world with her behavior. He’s happy to be born and to have a father like Durgaprasad. He’s a retired army man who got ditched the moment he returned from army by his wife. All he found was a letter from her stating that she found her love and is giving the responsibility of her son to him. He was just 8 years old then. He couldn’t understand why did his mother disappeared all of a sudden as he was too young for it. As he grew up he understands the reality but more than hate for his mother it’s his respect for father which grew more. His father is his role model for life who still approached life with positivity and gave such a good up bringing for him. His father is the reason for his positive and bubbly nature.

It’s been already a week since he joined the college. From the first day it’s only Ragini who occupied his mind. He gets reminded of the time where he took a step towards her the next day.

Fb:

Laksh on his way sees Ragini going towards her class. By the time he has the got to know that she has zero friends to share her pain. So he decided to offer friendship to her and then solve her problem.

Lak: hi.. I’m laksh.. laksh Maheswari.. I’m sorry for yesterday’s incident. Let’s just forget and start a new chapter. Will you be my friend?

All he got was a glare that could dig a virtual hole on his head by its intensity and then she storms off. He tried many other times too. Once she complained against him to H.O.D for disturbing her continuously and once she threw water on his face. His friends scold laksh for bearing everything despite her continuous insults. Only laksh knows that there's a vulnerable dark side hiding behind that fake emotionless mask and he’s not going to back off until it wears off.

Laksh hops happily to his class and meets swara on the way. She was actually waiting for him and wanted to be the first one to wish when he enters. Swara was about to open her mouth when Ragini all of a sudden barged in shocking both laksh and swara.

Rag: I want to talk to you. Come with me.
Swara's mouth opened as side as possible while laksh reaction is no less.

Lak: you are talking to me?

Rag: are you blind or deaf? Can't you see or hear what I said? Yes it's you.. Now come

Laksh though she behaved rude is really happy with her first step towards him which she has never did with anyone. He happily agrees and runs after her..

Swara called out for him but he's too involved in Ragini that he failed noticing her.

Swara felt a sharp pain and mumbled I wanted to wish you first laksh"

Ragini and laksh stands under a tree while Ragini initiated the conversation.
Rag: you, whatever you are, stop flying high.. I called you as we both are in charge for farewell arrangements for our seniors. I wanted to discuss about it with you. I just don't understand how they did gave such a big responsibility to a newbie like you.

“it’s lucky's charm" He winked at her while Ragini rolled her eyes.

Rag: whatever. Ok.. Meet me in the library today after class. We will discuss about the arrangements then.
Saying so she started leaving but laksh called out for her.

Lak: Give me your number

Rag: what?

Lak: listen, you are willing or not we are going to be partners and we do need to contact each other for work.. So..

Ragini thought for a while and then gave her number in express speed and left. Laksh is however smart enough to remember it despite her dictating it with 100m/s speed.

In the evening:

Both laksh and Ragini met and discussed about their work. Before leaving laksh invited Ragini for a coffee.

Ragini just glared at him.

Laksh however made a cutest face possible and blackmailed her with his birthday. Though Ragini wants to turn down the offer despite his antics she's not cold enough to deny someone's wish on their birthday. She agrees after a lots of hesitation and they both left for cafe..
Whole college including laksh friends and swara looked gaping at them with an unbelievable look. The great Miss Lady Hitler is talking with someone and to the top of it is having coffee with him.
Ragini felt uncomfortable at their gazes while laksh seemed unaware of the reactions he's getting as he's totally into Ragini. Ragini for a moment felt to leave the place with her angry mask on as she doesn't want to become an easy target before anyone's eyes. She looked at laksh who seemed completely clueless about the surrounding. She couldn't help but admire him a bit for his I give damn to the society attitude. She's also not someone who breaks her promise, so she too decides to ignore the glances they are getting.

Omi : guess today someone mixed alcohol in my food.

Shivani: what?

Omi: I'm serious shivu. I'm hallucinating things. That too the weirdest things possible. Like Miss Lady Hitler having coffee with laksh. Everyone rolled their eyes at it.

Neil: Drama King stop it. Although I myself couldn't believe what's happening in front of my eyes.

Harman: So true. Did lucky's charm work on Hitler too? Aren't they are the same people who fought here in the same canteen few days back like cat and mouse

Everyone nodded yes.

They all are clueless, shocked, confused and what not. But more than them it's swara who couldn't bear the sight in front of her. Pain, anger, Jealousy everything flowed through all parts of her body.

Ragini started to leave after having the coffee as fast as possible but stopped hearing laksh's voice.

Lak: At least you could have wished me.
Her half heart wants to wish him but her broken part of the heart doesn't want to take the risk. So she simply walked away. After she leaves Omi, Neil, Harman and Shivani came to laksh.

Everyone looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Laksh sighed defeated as he mentally prepared himself for the war of question.

Laksh entered his home gate a tired and worn out. Though he failed to notice at that time he realized what impact his coffee with Ragini made in the college and it’s definitely not something to be happy about. He remembered how people spanned story with a small coffee treat.

“Guess he's using her as she's central minister daughter"

“Guess Miss Lady Hitler finally found her boyfriend"

" guess he's taking revenge on her for his insult"

“I think they area's know each other and were just pretending in front of us."

Uff.. How many guesses. How many stories over a cup of coffee..

He shook his head to clear off things from his mind and entered his home only to find it all dark. He panicked for a second if his father collapsed that he forgot to switch on the lights. However his worry immediately turned into a smile when he found his father standing in front of a cake with few of his friends around him. They all sang birthday song for him and laksh felt happy.
He cuts the cake and fed his father and they click pictures. After a few hours of meet and greet laksh left to his room after a hectic day and immediately dozed off.

From the next day Ragini is back to her old form of coldness. All her answers are either one word answers or a simple nod. Laksh tried hard to crack her true self but she never gave the chance. It’s the farewell day next day, means their regular meet up is also coming to an end. Everyone left the college while these two are busy decorating the auditorium for the farewell next day. As they both are engrossed in their works they failed to notice the time. By the time they realized it it’s already dark.

Laksh volunteered Ragini to drop her but Ragini turns down his offer. Sighing laksh starts leaving on his way while Ragini leaves to her class to get her back. Laksh is unaware of Ragini going to her class as he’s ahead of her. After reaching his bike he turns around but couldn’t find Ragini. A car passed by him and laksh thought that it’s Ragini leaving and leaves with his bike. Ragini after taking her bag gets shocked when the lights go off in the room. She finds the door to be locked too and gets panic. The room is designed in such a way that the power supply goes off the moment the door gets locked. She takes her mobile to call but being engrossed in works she failed charging and she doesn’t have any back up too. She starts shivering as the old memories starts rushing in her mind. She finds difficulty in breathing and falls down with a shivering body. She tries calming herself but the sounds from outside is not helping her either. She closes her eyes shut and sits with her hands holding her lungs more like a lost vulnerable kid. She keeps saying herself that “nothing will happen” but it only made the situation worse. She feels darkness engulfing her and the last voice she heard was of HIM.

Ragini opened her eyes with difficulty. She found herself in a hospital room. A syringe is stuck in her nerves and is connected with the glucose. Ragini felt tired and her whole body ached. She with difficulty found her father standing with concerned eyes.

Shek : beta how are you now?

Ragini just nodded. There are lots of questions in her mind but no answers. She tried asking him but her throat is too dry to let words out. She signals for water and shekhar made her drink water from his hands. She’s about to ask something but shekhar stops her.

Shek: I know you have lots of questions in your mind and I will answer them all but now you are too weak so please take some rest.

Ragini is too weak to argue and hence goes to sleep

It’s been a week already and Ragini is quite better now. Her father just informed her that it’s laksh who saved her, though she already knew it. But there’s something that he’s hiding from her Ragini has no clue about it. She entered the college after a week. That dreadful incident broke all her fake strength and attitude which she possessed till now. Right now she doesn’t have the courage to fake her Hitler mode. She feels timid but except her everything and everyone remained normal. People still see her with the same fearful eyes, no one dared to cross her path, it seems as if..

Laksh appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of her smiling.

Lak: did the sun rise in the west today? Ms. Lady Hitler is looking so timid today.

Ragini wanted to give it back with attitude but she knew that he has already seen her vulnerable side and won’t be intimidated anymore. Still that doesn't stop her from being cold with him. She clearly doesn't want anyone anymore.

Rag: Thanks for your help now please don't disturb me. We don't have to speak with each other anymore as the party is also over long back. Good bye..

With that she immediately leaves the place before he could ask or say something. Laksh looks at her with a soft smile.

Laksh “I know Ragini what made you to turn this way. Your father said everything to me. But he's right, there's more to it than what he said. It's known only to you and I'll make sure to find it, I will definitely bring out the old Ragini back and it's a promise”

By now Ragini realized that except her and laksh none from the college knows about the fiasco. Even the authorities have hides citing their image and Ragini felt relieved.

Ragini is sitting in library and gets shocked seeing laksh taking a seat beside her. No one ever dared to do that before. She's about to shout when laksh signaled her the board reading "keep silence". She understood that he selected this place so that she couldn't react towards him. She decided to give silent treatment to him but his next words shocked her to the core.

Lak "Your father said everything to me"
Ragini eyes widened hearing it.

Lak: Don't worry no one knows anything about it except me. But your father believes that there's more to it than he knew. Not only him even I also feel the same. Trust me Ragini. I know it’s difficult for you to trust anyone but try one last time. Trust me and say what happened then. Please.

Ragini looked furiously at him and walks off the place. Laksh sighed and recalled the moments a week back.

Flashback:

Laksh is on his way to his home and finds the car which he thought is of ragini's parked outside a restaurant and a couple came out of it. There seems to be no one else in the car and laksh understands that he misunderstood things. He immediately turned his bike and rode back to his college and searched for Ragini but couldn't find her anywhere. He decided to check in her class but finds it locked from outside. He's about to leave but earrings which was near the door caught his attention. He took the help of security to open the door only to find an unconscious Ragini muttering random things. He immediately called the ambulance and gets admitted in the hospital. He called her father and he came within minutes and rushed towards his daughter. Doctor said that she suffered a massive panic attack and thankfully she got admitted in the right time. If delayed, then it would have been very dangerous to Ragini. Shekhar gadodiya that's when noticed laksh and went to him.

Shek: laksh?

Laksh gets surprised about him identifying him at instant.

Lak: yes sir but how did you...

Shek: my daughter might be strong but that doesn't mean I'll do the same mistake again. My spies are still around her but don't know how they missed protecting her this time. From the day you joined the college my spies have only one name to report about Ragini and that is laksh. I very well know how everyone in the college see but you are the only one who tried to find the real Ragini. I immediately did your background check and realized that you are of no harm to my Ragini. But I never expected you to save her from such a horrible situation. No amount of thanks can be enough for what you did today. Please ask anything and I would give you without a second thought.

Laksh thought for a while and said,

Lak: yes sir I need something and you should promise to give it to me.

Shek: sure

Lak: I want ragini's past

Shekhar gets a bit taken aback.

Shek: what

Lak: I know I'm actual tricking you into this situation but I don't have any other option. I know something terrible happened in her life that made her change to what she's now. I've seen the Ragini who's broken from outside but beautiful from inside. I want to bring that beautiful Ragini outside and I need your help for it.

Shek: But what you are asking is something which should be revealed only by Ragini

Lak: I know sir I tried for the same but she's not ready to open up in front of anyone. Do you want to see your daughter suffering like this for life long? If not then please say what happened. I promise you to bring back the old Ragini at any cost..

Shekhar sighed and said

Shek: you are right. This is not the real Ragini. My Ragini was cheerful and bubbly both inside and out. She had lots of friends in her school and previous college. She never ever behaved like a central minister's daughter. All she wanted to spread was love but the mistake she made is that she believed that others too will be as good hearted as her. Though many loved Ragini for her nature but some are behind Ragini only for her status. Though I know this I didn't want to interfere in her privacy and that's why I've let it go. That's the biggest mistake of my life. Ceasing the opportunity her so called friends kidnapped her and kept her hostage and asked for many. However my security force rescued my Ragini and I'm happy about it. But from that day my daughter lost her smile. Her bubbly nature. Her innocence.. On the whole my Ragini lost herself and has become a new person. Many times I felt that something happened apart from the kidnapping that made her stone hearted but she's not revealing it to anyone.

Shekhar completed only to witness a shocked laksh.

Shek: I don't know why even after all the things that happened I feel to trust you with my daughter. If possible bring her smile back. Bring my old daughter back. Will you..

Lak: I promise uncle I’ll definitely find the full truth and will get back the old Ragini. No matter what.

He starts leaving but shekhar stops.

Shek: still I couldn't understand why you are so determined to support and bring back Ragini.

Laksh just smiles and walks off.
Flashback ends..

Lak "How will I not try when I myself was in that position once. But the difference is no one was ever there to bring me out of my misery. I myself strengthened me for my father and turned into the bubbly lucky who doesn't know anything other than loving people."

Laksh is seen walking only to find Ragini sitting in the garden with a book in her hand. She's back facing but no one could see what she's doing from any angle. Laksh doesn't need to see as he can very well say that she's crying. However he let her cry for some time. The more she cries and let's out her emotion the more the pain reduces. After sometime he sat beside her. Ragini sees him and is about to storm off but laksh held her hand and forcefully makes her to sit down.
Lak: do you think running away is a solution for any problem? If so then please say how long I should run so that I may also get my problem sorted out.
Rag: you find it all a. Joke? Just because you got to know about my past doesn't mean I'll let you enter my world. So get lost.

Lak: joke? Yeah joke.. Right... It’s a joke for others. My mom ditching me and running away with another man can be a joke and a discussion topic for others. But for me it's a pain. What crime did I do to deserve it? Is it my fault that my father spent half of his life in army? Is it my fault that she fell in love out of marriage? Is it my fault that she ran away? Then why the hell this world mocked me and taunted me for my mother's mistake? Why did I turn out to be a joke for them? No it’s not their fault. Only victims know what they've undergone and we both are victims not criminals. We don't have to bear the brunt of other's mistakes. That's the reason I turned out to be lucky from lakshya. If me being a joke can let the world smile. Then let me be a joke.. Let me be the reason for their smile. Nothing wrong in it.

Tears flows out of ragini's eyes seeing laksh's state.

Rag: They are about to molest me.

Lak: what?

Ragini nodded and continued

Rag: yeah... They are about to molest me. They touched me here and there... They... They took

Fresh drops of tears escaped out of her eyes while laksh immediately kept his hand on hers.

Rag: They showed me my inappropriate pictures which they took when I was friends with them. They took everything without even me realizing it. I thought they took my photos but they zoomed in to take my inappropriate pictures. They mocked ne for being such an easy catch even after being the daughter of a central minister. They made fun of the trust that I had on them. That's when I realized why most of the celebrities maintain a fake attitude. It’s their shield to not let anyone harm them. And I put those guards on me too but NY shield was extra strong that no one could penetrate. Still I don't know how you managed to get through it. I still remember the time when they were about to...

Tears rolled down from her eyes.

Rag: if not the force then.. I don't have words. That's the reason that I've shifted this college. How am I supposed to say that to my father? For the first time in my life I understood the importance of a mother in a girl's life.

Her whole body shivered while laksh tightened his grip on her hands. He's furious too, he just felt the urge to rip them apart but that's not the solution right now. He should find some other way to get the old Ragini back

Few days passed...

Ragini and laksh are now friends and the whole college looked at them with open mouth. Yeah Ragini is still cold with him like she's with others but she gave attention to him which she never gives to others.

One day laksh dragged Ragini by her hands and took her to his bike. Ragini starts protesting and tried to release her hand from his grip but in vain. She called for her security but they stood still without moving. Ragini looked at them open mouthed

Lak: why are you wasting your time? They can't do anything when I have your father's permission. Now sit at the back like a good girl.

Ragini fumed with her own father's plotting against her. Having no other way she hops on his bike and they both drove away.

Laksh reached a place and Ragini tightens her grip on his shoulders seeing the place. It's her old college. All the bad memories rushed into her and she starts shivering. Having expected this laksh took hold of her hands while Ragini looked at him pleading. He assures her with his eyes and for a moment Ragini felt lost. Suddenly she hears a loud scream. She turns to find her old bestie tanu shouting and running her way. She immediately engulfed Ragini in a bone crushing hug and Ragini felt emotional.

Tanu: ragu, how are you? You are fine right? You know how much I was worried about you? How could you do this to me? What mistake did I do? Why did you punish me and broke all contacts with me?

All of a sudden her whole old friend’s gang too rushed towards her and hugged her. Ragini is speechless. She felt lively after a long time.

Rag "She is right. What's her mistake? Only for those four people why did I punish them? They never ever used her in any way. All they showed was true love for her and how could I forget it? How did I forget that this world had equal amount of good and bad people? "

Rahul stepped in and took her in his embrace.

Rahul: ragu.. You are fine right? Don't worry about those morons.. Their own family ditched them for what they did with you. You know once they came to our college and we all thrashed them black and blue. They have gone back half dead. I heard that their bail also got cancelled and now they are rotting in jail.

Ragini had moist in her eyes. These people loved her truly and she chose to keep the negativity above their love. She felt bad. She looked at laksh who's by now standing at a distance. She mouthed a silent thank you and laksh assured her with his eyes.

She spent the whole day with them. They had fun after a long time. They ate together and Ragini takes a tearful farewell from them in the evening. She promises to catch up every month second Saturday and have fun.

Both laksh and Ragini are driving back to her home and she looked at laksh with admiration. She remembers tanu teasing her with laksh and her blushing without her knowledge. They reach and Ragini gets done from the bike.

Rag: a simple thanks will not cover for what you did for me but still I'm really thankful. I don't know whether I'll be back to that bubbly old Ragini but I'm definitely going to shred this lady Hitler facade. All because of you. You are really like an angel to my life.

Lak: I'm more than happy to be so Ragini. Anyways your papa must be waiting for you. I'm not saying about today. I'm saying about his wait for his old Ragini. Somehow I've fulfilled his promise. Now go to him and enjoy like old days. Bye
Saying so he drives off while Ragini looked at him with admiration.

From the next day whole college gets stunned seeing a normal Ragini who doesn't show attitude or anger. She's not bubbly but not angry too. She's behaving normal and now laksh is her best friend in college. Both RagLak felt something for each other but are too hesitant to confess. In the meantime swara feels suffocated with this new relationship. She tries so hard to keep laksh busy with her but in vain.

The next day is shekhar's birthday and Ragini arranged a small personal party for him in their house. She invited her old college friends, laksh and his friends along with his father for it.

The party takes place and Ragini friends comes there and wishes shekhar. Later laksh came with his father, omi, shivani, swara and Neil too. Suddenly all the lights go off and Ragini dressed in a beautiful white gown comes down the stairs with spotlight on. Laksh gets mesmerized seeing her while her friends hooted for her entry. She took the mic and thanked everyone for attending the party. She says that there's another secret guest who will be joining them to night. Everyone gets confused when another spotlight appears and a lady with a simple cotton sari descends down the stars. Laksh's eyes widen seeing her. All he could do was mutter a silent "MA"
Ragini took her hands and lead her to laksh and dp all the while with Meenakshi, laksh's mother hanging her head down.

Rag: I know you both will be furious at me for this but laksh you found the beautiful Ragini behind the broken one. What I found is a broken lost kid called laksh behind the beautiful lucky. You said right only the victims can understand others pains, then how could you think that I wouldn't have noticed the hidden pain of yours behind the fake smile. I didn't bring her here for you to accept her but you had lots of things that you wanted to clear with her and that's the reason she's here. Pour out your feelings, emotions, whatever it is just pour it out. Accepting her or not is your wish but it's my duty to convey something to you guys. The guy she ran away with ditched her the same day and ran away with her jewels and money. She's stood ashamed to face you both that she joined an orphanage and took care of the kids there all these while. Now it's between you three to decide what you want to do. There's a room over there. You three please go to the room.

Ragini signed Shekhar and he guided them to the room after few minutes the trio comes out...

Lak: my dad decided to give a chance to her but I'm not. So she'll be just my dad's wife for me.

Saying so he walks away from the mansion in rain while Ragini runs after him.

Rag: laksh.. Laksh stop.. Please listen to me once.

She caught his wrist while laksh falls down defeated.

Lak: why did you bring her back Ragini? Why did you want to bring back that broken laksh back? Why?

Rag: you said na laksh.. Running away is not the solution for any problem. Like I maintained a fake angry image, you were maintaining a fake happy image in front of others. I've dropped mine now it’s time to drop yours. Let's be Ragini and laksh... WE ARE BROKEN YET BEAUTIFUL

Laksh looked at her surprised while Ragini goes on her knees.

Rag: Mr. Broken Laksh Maheswari will you accept this Ms. Beautiful Ragini Gadodiya as your life partner?

Laksh sits down to her level and cupped her face.

Lak: Ms. Beautiful Ragini Gadodiya is actually a mad to choose this Mr. Broken Laksh Maheswari but I love this mad, broken, beautiful and the wonderful Ragini a lot. I want you as Mrs. Maheswari ASAP.

They both have tears in their eyes. Their heads merge and lips meet sealing their deal for the upcoming beautiful life of these broken souls.

They both returned to Gadodiya mansion and informs others about their decision. Everyone gets happy and starts celebrating. The party is on full swing and RagLak are dancing happily on stage. Swara unable to bear the sight anymore starts leaving but gets dragged immediately into a dark corner. She shouts but none could hear due to the loud music. Her eyes widen seeing an angry pair of eyes in front of her. The person comes out and it’s revealed to be Ragini.

Rag: what happened? Shocked? Never expected that I would have laksh right? Do you think that I didn't knew who locked me inside the classroom? I very well know that bitch that it's you.. But that's the reason I got my laksh and that's why I have let you go... Swara gets furious.

Swa : and what about you? You know very well I love laksh. You were near when I said to my friend that I wanted to wish laksh first on his birthday. Still you interrupted us and took him with you. How could you? What wrong did I do with you?

Rag: it's simple Swara Bose. You eyed something which is mine. Not only you laksh is my love at first sight too. But my condition didn't let me open up my feelings for him as I feared trusting people that time. But see what destiny planned. Laksh himself started following me and my feelings for him grew deeper and deeper too and now here we are. A couple. Do you know why? BECAUSE RAGINI IS MEANT ONLY FOR LAKSH AND LAKSH IS MEANT ONLY FOR RAGINI

Saying so she walks off smirking while swara looks terrified at the intensity that she held while saying the last line. She looks up to find Ragini back in laksh's arms and laksh in ragini's.

Swara “may be she's right. Something’s are destined forever and RAGLAK are one such destined couple". Sighing she walks off the place.

Uff finally..
Longest os of my life..
But I'm not complaining..
I thoroughly enjoyed writing it..
Hope others feel the same while reading it...

I hope i didn't disappoint you Live_Till_It_Hurts