Hi ya! Back with another update.

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 10 - Calm Before the Storm

#Ram Maheshwari's Room#

Ram massaged his temples as he could feel a tornado about to burst in his head. "Why now? Why would you want to cause me so much headache?"

"Dad, look! This is the only way to unite Lucky bhai and Ragini. So, you need to add this scene to the film." Uttara reasoned. "Besides, mother's going to throw you out of your shared room if you fail to make Ragini her daughter-in-law, remember?" she reminded with a sly grin.

Ram pulled his hair in frustration. In fact, with the amount of trouble Uttara caused him, he was surprised he had any hair left to pull. "Fine! But who's going to film it?"

Uttara smirked. "Don't worry. I've already made some of the crew men install some hidden cameras in the forest. There's a total five of them in different locations."

"Didn't you say you planned to get them near the Maple tree?" he asked in confusion.

"I did. But just in case our plan goes haywire, I installed some more cameras elsewhere. Call me paranoid, but whatever! The best laid plans always go haywire."

Ram got up from his seat with a defeated sigh. "Fine fine. Let me go check the script again. I need to make some changes to fit in the new scene. A whole load of work. All thanks to you!"

"Your welcome old man."

"Keep quiet you!"

Uttara waved and smiled at him as he went away, knowing it would irritate him further. Once alone, she took out her cell and flopped on the bed.

A few seconds later, the door flew open again as Swara burst in, looking out of breath.

"Wow! Where's the fire, Swara?"

"Di, Di, Di! Ragini Di already went with Udip to the forest! What do we do? What will happen to our plan?!"

Uttara gasped. The phone fell from her hands in shock and bewilderment. "No no no! She wasn't supposed to go now! My thugs aren't here yet! Why would she even agree to go with that jerk?!"

"Exactly! I don't understand either!"

"What do we do?! What do we do?!"

Swara looks at her with large worried eyes. "I thought you would have a way."

"Don't worry Swara. I'll find a way." Uttara assured. Although, she was panicking inside.

"Alright enough!" Nikhil shouted as he came inside the door. "No more games. No more deceptions. You both are going to tell me what the heck is going on Right. This. Instant!" He shouted, completely pissed off.

The girls could only look at each other in dread.

#Outside#

A van came to stop at the film site. Five people got off and looked around. One of the men came towards another. "Kuwar wh-" when he noticed him glaring, he corrected himself. "I mean boss. Boss, where is that Udip you spoke about?"

The one called Kuwar nodded in satisfaction.

"He should have been right here. Whe-" Kuwar felt his phone buzz and checked the message.

Come into the forest. Towards the east. - Udip.

Kuwar put his phone back in his pocket. "Boy's, lets go." saying that, he marched on towards the forest with his men following.

#Elsewhere#

Five men stood there, each getting ready in front of the mirror.

"How do I look?" asked one to another.

"Like a barbie doll! Why the heck have you put on more up you idiot!?" shouted the other as he came near and splashed water on the other's face.

"But don't we have to dress up for our roles?"

"We do. But we are to be thugs. Thugs don't have pretty make up on!"

"Enough." spoke one of them, no doubt their leader.

He moved to the center and clapped his hands to get the attention of the rest. "Alright boys. Lets sum up the facts." They all gathered around him to listen.

"Our manager told me we are being appointed by someone to act as thugs, alright? My name will be Buster for the mission. You all are my men, alright? In fact, start addressing me as Buster from now on. It will be good practice." he waited for all of them to nod. "Am I clear?"

"Yes sir. Buster sir!" chorused they.

"Good. Now, we will go the place that we have been told to and ambush the girl named Ragini. Once someone called Laksh gets there, we will fight him for real. Our employee wants to make it believeable for these two."

"Hai!" they agreed.

"And we won't pay attention to anyone other than those two. Got it? That is a must."

"One question boss. How are we going to know who is Ragini and Laksh?"

"Good question. Our manager sent me the pics. Although, I haven't seen them yet. One second." Buster checked his pocket for his phone. However, it wouldn't come out. He jerked it out harshly, making it fly out of his hands and out of the window.

There was silence for a moment. If it was a cartoon, sound of crickets would have been heard.

Finally, one of the actors dared to speak. "Oops! Buster, I guess we should go and ask for the pictures again."

Buster swallowed hard. If he did that, he knew their manager would no doubt insult him. 'He never leaves a chance to call me irresponsible anyway!'

"Um...boss?"

Buster tried to handle the situation. "Ahahaha...I lied to you all! Of course I looked at their picture when I got it. I would be able to recognize them."

"You sure? You seem nervous." pointed out one, with the other three nodding.

"Of course I am. Let's go!"

The men finally nodded and followed him, not knowing that Buster himself was in a fix as to how he will recognise the pair. 'Well...I guess I'll just have to wing it!'

#Forest#

'How do you tell someone 'shut up and piss off' in a polite way?' Ragini thought to herself.

She had half a mind to tell Udip to shut up if he didn't have anything useful to say. The entire time they had been walking, he had spoke nothing other than boasting about his own achievements. Although she nodded and smiled at each word of his, she was finding it hard to maintain her facade of politeness.

"And I've been also asked by a famous director to play the hero in his next film. I'm just that handsome, I guess." Udip boasted.

"Wow! That's so amazing!" Ragini acted impressed and smiled at him, although it came out more like a flinch.

"Thanks." He turned to look at her quizically. "Say, I've told you all about me. Why won't you speak anything about yourself?"

'I would if you gave me the chance to speak, you moron!' Ragini fumed inwardly. "Um...my life isn't as interesting as yours."

"Oh come on! There must be something spicy in your life, eh?" Udip wriggled his eyebrows at her. "Maybe you can tell me why you seemed so pissed at Laksh?"

"It's not li-"

"Yes, it was. You were talking quite rudely to him. Any good reason?"

Ragini felt her eye twitch in irritation. 'What business does this guy have to interfere in our matters?' Ragini paused as she felt shocked by her own thoughts. She was acting possessive over his and Laksh's conversation. Conversation which couldn't infact be called proper ones, but was mostly an argument. 'It's just something I don't want to share. It's personal. It's ours!'

But on the other hand, his words were also bringing back her memories of Laksh and his words to his mother.

"So? What happened?" Udip questioned again.

"It's nothing. Just a rich pompous guy being heartless." she answered spitefully.

Udip smirked inwardly. He thought it was the best opportunity to ruin Laksh's good image in Ragini's mind. He had always been jealous of Laksh's success in business life. This was one moment where he can cast dirt over his character. "So he ended up insutling you as well, eh? Nothing new. He does that to everyone."

Ragini looked at him with hesitation. Although she was hurt by Laksh's words, she didn't think Laksh would act rude to everyone.

"He does that to anyone who he thinks has the potential to best him at anything." he spoke in fake seriousness. "He isn't a good person. Trust me."

Ragini looked at him in disbelief. All the time she had been on set, she hadn't seen anyone who was mad or irritated by Laksh. In fact, they praised him and wanted to be chat with him. Laksh was someone who didn't discriminate on basis of class or caste. "You got a wrong view of him Udip."

"No, I didn't. I'm right. He hurt you too, didn't he? Like he does with other girls he toys with!"

"No way! He's someone who shy's away from girls instead of flirting." Ragini reasoned. "Also Udip, he didn't do anything to hurt me intentionlly. It was actually something I heard him say to someone else. I mean he...he didn't mean to actually insult me."

Udip tried to convince her in a new way with this little bit of information. He didn't know what she heard Laksh say, but knew he could use it to his advantage. "But he did, didn't he? Who knows if he knew you were there and he was acting? I bet its you who is just trying to defend his wrong actions."

Ragini stopped walking and turned to look at him fully. "It's not that Udip. Laksh isn't like that."

Udip stopped as well. "Yes he is. He doesn't care about others. All he cares about is 'competition'. Every matter is just a competition for him where he will do anything to emerge victorious."

She looked at Udip in anger. Sure Laksh had hurt her when she heard him call her broken and imperfect. That didn't mean that he was a bad person. She remembers her conversation with him when they had taken a walk together, how he empathized with her. He showed genuine care for her. "That isn't true."

"Ragini, stop defending him. He has hurt you with his harsh words. Tomorrow, he will do that to someone else! And than to another someday after that! That is how he is. I'm his cousin. I know him better."

Ragini outright glared at Udip. "With all due respect, I disagree. He may be your cousin, but I think you are mistaken. Yes he is harsh in his words and maybe doesn't show his emotions much. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care for others."

Udip though she was defending Laksh to save her role in the film. She may be fearing him ranting about their conversation to Ram. "If you think I will complain to Ram uncle about you badmouthing Laksh, then chill. You can speak out your hate for him. I won't go and tell his father. Laksh is a bastard and that's it!"

"I'm not defending Laksh out of fear. I know he isn't a bad person. It's you who is wrong!" Ragini shouted back at him, completely pissed off.

Udip was shocked. He didn't expect this reaction from her. He was sure she would start seeing his side of things. "You say he hurt you with his words and yet you defend him?! That...that good for nothing prude?!"

"Yes, I do. It's because he deserves it." Ragini uttered in rage. She couldn't stand insults against Laksh. "Unlike a wretched, perverse, idiotic maggot like you!"

Udip looked outright offended. "How dare you...you bitch!?"

"You would know one since you're a dog yourself, aren't you!?" she was now red with anger. However, she tried to calm herself with a deep breath. "I think its time we cut short our walk. Goodbye Udip." Ragini moved past him to leave. However, before she could go further, she was held back by the wrist by Udip.

"You came with me here on my wish. And you will leave when I want you to." he spoke in a dark tone.

Ragini tried to break free of his hold, but he only tightened his grip. She could feel the pressure increase on her wrist. "Let go of me!"

"Hahaha...I've not held your hand to let go this easily." He pulled her near him as hard as he could, making her collide into his chest. "Hello love. Now you'll see the real side of Udip."

#Hotel#

"Uttara di, ever seen a volcano explode?" Swara whispered to her.

"No. Why'd you ask?" Uttara whispered back.

"Well... I guess we are about to witness one." she responded while pointing towards Nikhil. Uttara looked over and simply nodded with a grim face. Nikhil did indeed look like he would explode in anger.

Ever since Uttara explained her and Swara's plan to Nikhil, he took a seat on the couch and held his head in his hands. They sat quietly near him, unable to predict how he will react.

Suddenly, there was movement from the couch. They sat up straight as they saw Nikhil get up and come to stand in front of them.

He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. He was taking deep breaths, as if to calm himself and stop himself from shouting. "I won't try to make you both understand how notorious, irresponsible, dangerous and insane your idea was because you both will never accept that truth. So instead, take me to the place you were about to send Ragini."

"Why?"

"Because your so-called actors may be there right now. Please. Understand it's urgent."

Uttara blinked at him in confusion. "If they are, its a good thing, isn't it? It was a part of the plan."

"It isn't a good thing. This plan is ridiculous and we're sending them back. Come on!" He pulled her up by the arm, gave her her coat and pushed her forward. "Lead the way."

Swara got down from her seat and came to stand in front of him. "But Niki bhai, thi-"

"No buts Swara Gadodia! I've had enough of your antics. Now come with me silently." he spoke in a harsh tone, one he usually spoke only when he is royally pissed off. Swara knew this and flinched at his words. She simply nodded.

Only time Nikhil called her full name instead of 'Shona' or 'Swara' was when he was really angry. She sulked and put her hands in her pockets with a huff. She reluctantly followed him and Uttara towards the forest.

#Forest#

Ragini felt frozen in her tracks at Udip's words. She knew he was stronger than her. Also, there was no one, other than them, in the forest currently to help her. She was at his mercy.

"Aww... is Ragini scared of little old me? Don't worry I won't hurt you if you don't resist me." Udip spoke with a sinister smile as he pulled her closer by the wrist.

"Let go of me!"

"Hahaha...! As if!"

"Please! Let go of me I said!" She pleaded, crying out in despair.

Ragini struggled as hard as she could. When he showed no signs of letting go, she bit his hand, making him shut out in pain and letting go. She at once took the opportunity to run away.

He was right behind her, but she quickened her pace. However, she stumbled in the snow and fell down on the cold ground.

Ragini felt Udip grab her by the arm and pull her up. "How dare you bite me!?" He pushed her towards a tree, making her collide with it. Ragini let out a scream as her shoulder hit the trunk with force.

"Now, you pay!" Udip moved forward with a shout to hit her. However, Ragini moved away from the tree, just in time to escape him. She ran as fast as she could, with Udip following closely behind. Her throbbing shoulder was paining her, but she gave it no mind. She had to escape.

Suddenly, without warning, Udip leaped forward and grabbed her by the knee, making her fall down. This hurt her shoulder further. She felt helpless and her eyes filled with tears of pain and hopelessness.

"Haha! I've got you!" Udip grinned a nasty grin, tightening his grip on her leg.

However, before he could do anything, someone kicked him out of the way, making him roll all the way and hit a tree. He felt the trees spin in his vision and shook his head to gain back his senses. Slowly, Udip got up with a groan and looked back at his assailant. His eyes widened in surprise and anger. "You!"

"Yes, me." He spoke with a glare.

Ragini felt hope resurface in her hearing his voice. She looked up with tears in her eyes at him with a soft smile. "La-Laksh."

Laksh turned back and extended a hand for Ragini to take. "Hey. Sorry I was a bit late."

Ragini accepted his hand and got up. "No. You were actually on time before..." she shuddered at the thought. She flinched as she accidentally moved her shoulder with force. She moaned in pain as she held her hurt shoulder.

"Ragini, are you okay?" Laksh asked with a worried face.

Ragini tried to smile. "Y-yeah. Just a little scratch."

"Good thing I came after you into the forest. You are a magnet for trouble, aren't you?" he tried to joke and lighten the mood.

Ragini smiled. But soon, her face turned into one of confusion. "But...but how did you know we were in this region?"

"I didn't. I was searching randomly when I heard your scream. I ran towards your voice as fast as I can. You're okay, right?"

"I'm...I'm fine. But if you were late I..." Ragini felt tears trickle down her cheeks at the thought of what could have happened to her. She moved forward and hugged him as the only source of comfort.

Laksh, although taken aback at first, hugged her back and let her cry on him. After a moment, Laksh slowly broke the hug and rubbed away her tears. "Hey, it's okay. It's alright. I'm here now, see? He can't hurt you." Laksh looked to the side and glared at Udip. "You low life! How dare you lay your dirty hands on her!? You're nothing but filth of the society!"

Udip got up and stretched his muscles. A dark chuckle was heard from him. "Thanks for the titles, but it doesn't affect me. I'm shameless!" he gloated. "Now move aside. I want to have my prize." He spoke, looking past Laksh towards Ragini with a perverse look.

Noticing his gaze on her, she hid further behind Laksh, grabbing onto his shirt with shaking hands. It was only then did Ragini realize that Laksh had no coat on himself to protect him from the cold. 'He said he came to find me. Was he so concerned for me that he forgot about his own safety? But why? Why care so much?'

"Stinking, lecherous, pompous, good-for-nothing beast! I'm not even letting you go near her shadow. I'll protect her no matter what!" Laksh shouted back.

"Then I guess I need to remove your existence first." Udip took out a knife and smirked at Laksh. "Goodbye Maheshwari. She's mine."

"Never! I'll die before you get to her."

"Well...so be it!"

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹