And thus, like everything has an end, this fic too comes to it's swan song. Time to close the curtains on this fic with this chapter.

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations.

Chapter 10

Mansi kept looking around her in horror at the people there. They were giving her looks of disgust and disbelief, some even hiding their kids.

She raised a shaky hand and covered her mouth. However, she knew it was useless.

The damage was already done. Whatever she shouldn't have said, was already out in the open. Neither could she take her words back, nor could she call the speaker a liar, as it was she herself. 'I dug my own grave. How could I be so stupid!? Damn it!'

"That wasn't so tough to admit now, was it?" Nikhil taunted.

"You! It's all your fault!" Mansi accused.

"Well, self-appraisal has never been in my nature. But if you insist, then I'll gladly take the blame."

"It wasn't a compliment you jerk!" from the corner of her eyes, she saw Laksh looking towards her with wide eyes.

Mansi reverted back to her weeping state and went to stand before him. "Laksh? Laksh please listen to me once. I di-"

"You...you killed him?"

"Laksh liste-"

"Your own husband? You killed your own husband!?"

Mansi grabbed onto Laksh's arm and cried as hard as she could. "Laksh please listen to me once!"

Laksh removed his hand from her hold. "And you even wouldn't hesitate to kill Mishka? That...that innocent little girl?!"

"Let me explain Lak-"

"Explain what!? The fact that you purposefully trapped me?! Made me believe that I killed Abhimanyu?! How could you!?"

"Laksh, it wasn't my fault! He wouldn't buy me the flat I wanted. I have my wishes, my own desires!"

"That doesn't give you the right to kill anyone!"

"Why?! Don't my dreams matter? Don't I deserve to have what I want?!"

"You're free to choose what you want. But not at the expense of other's happiness or lives." Ragini chided. "Your husband loved you. He may have been trying day and night to satisfy your demands! You didn't know to value his love!"

"Shut up! I'm not talking to you! You don't have the right to speak when I'm talking to Laksh."

"She has every right to speak. She has every right to have equal opinion on my decisions. After all..." Laksh smiled at Ragini. "She's is my other half. Moreover, she was, is and will always be the one who deserves the rightful place as my wife."

His words made a genuine smile form on Ragini's face.

"Laksh please. Please believe me!" Mansi continued pleading with her crocodile tears. "Don't listen to this bit-" her words were interrupted by a stinging sensation on her cheek. It took her a moment to realize that Laksh had slapped her. "You...you raised your hand on me?"

Laksh pointed a finger at her, his eyes red in fury. "You insult me, fine. You hit me, okay. You attempt to murder me! I may forgive you even then! But call Ragini any names, there won't be any person worse than me!"

"Lak-"

"You disgust me Mansi. You killed your husband and even stooped low as to agree to kill your own daughter?! Unbelievable! I can't believe I trusted you so much! I ca-" Laksh closed his eyes in distress.

Ragini placed a hand on Laksh's shoulder as support. She may not have forgiven Laksh entirely, but she couldn't see him in pain.

Kaira flinched as she saw Mansi getting slapped. 'If she fails to convince Laksh, it may be game over for me as well.' she was about to move towards them when a hand blocked her way.

"Going somewhere?" Uttara questioned, looking at her with a smirk. "Looks like you want a tight slap like your friend there, don't you?"

"N-no!"

"Then stay put!"

Kaira gulped and nodded vigorously.

"It's not true. All are trying to trap me Laksh!" Mansi tried to lie. She continued her fake drama, despite knowing that no one believed her. "Lak-"

"Shut it Mansi! How much more will you lie?" Sanskar accused. "Enough is enough! Your truth is revealed and everything's out in the open now. Just admit it!"

Mansi turned to look at him in anger. "No! I won't when I didn't do anyt-"

"Ugh! Come on! Stop being an prat and admit it! Oh, wait..." Sanskar chuckled. "You already did. By yourself. Without anyone forcing you. And guess what? We have it all recorded!"

"What?!"

"Would you stop shouting already! I'm right in front of you you know?"

Mansi grabbed his collar in anger. "Give me the recording! Give me the recording I said!"

"Woah-oh-oh! 😵 St-stop shaking me! You're making 😵 my 😵 head 😵spin! 😵 " Sankar croaked out getting dizzy. 'Now I understand why Nikhil meant by Monjolika vibes.'

Annapurna moved forward to break her away from Sanskar and pushed her back. "Keep your dirty hands away from Sanskar!"

Sanskar coughed and breathed in deep gulps of air. Nikhil poked him on the arm. "Say, would you like to share your experience on how it felt like being shaken like a dice?"

"P-please die."

"I've called the police. They'll be here any moment. In the mean time..." Annapurna turned to Laksh. "What punishment do you want to give her, Laksh?"

"No Laksh, its a misunderstanding!" Mansi spoke in panic. She noticed Kaira standing to the side. She went near her and grabbed her hands. "Kaira. Kaira please help me! I'm your best friend. Please Kaira!"

'Mansi's pleading to me? She doesn't seem to remember about the reports I burnt I guess. The first time I'm glad she's an idiot!' Kaira thought with a smirk. 'If I help Mansi, the police might arrest me as well. Even if I don't get arrested, Nikhil would never forgive me for siding with her. That means he won't ever marry me! No!'

"Kaira!? Are you listening to me?"

Kaira removed Mansi's hands from hers. "I...I can't believe you could do such a thing Mansi. I trusted you!" Kaira shouted at her, faking tears in her eyes.

"Kaira? Kaira what are you saying!?" Mansi shouted in disbelief."

'She might expose me. Think Kaira think.' Kaira quickly formed an idea to save herself. "Nikhil, it was such an intelligent idea to expose her!" she exclaimed, diverting Mansi's attention to him. In the panicked state, Mansi was being easy to manipulate.

Mansi's eyes fell on a smiling Nikhil. She could feel her blood boil. "You! You bastard! It's all because of you!"

Nikhil put a hand over his heart dramatically. "Why thank you! I'm more than happy to take the praise."

"And what about me? I played an important role too!" Sankar bit out.

"Well, every hero needs a sidekick. So I guess you helped too."

"Security! Security! Take Mansi away from here! I can't bear to watch her face anymore!" Laksh shouted.

"How could you do this to Mansi!? Security, just take her away!" Kaira cried out with fake tears.

"Laksh no! Listen to me Laksh! Kaira! Kaira?! How could you!? How dare you!?"

Kaira moved near Nikhil. "Nikhil, I was wrong to hide her truth. But now I realized my mistake. Please accept me now." she requested, blinking her eyes at him innocently.

Nikhil looked at her seriously for a minute. Then, he smirked. "Oi Laksh! Not only Mansi, but even this Kaira lied to you. She knew the truth all along!" Nikhil pointed out happily.

"Security, take her away too!" Laksh added.

Everyone watched as the guards dragged away the two women out of the hall screaming and shouting for them to be handed over to the police.

Ragini watched everything play out. Finally...finally things were going right. Her family was happy. The Maheshwaris had a smile on their faces. The guests were whispering at the spectacle that took place, but that was to be expected. Sanskar and Nikhil looked the happiest. They were looking like kids with candy.

Everyone seemed to be happy.

However, Laksh didn't look so. "Laksh? Are you okay? Laksh, it's a time to be happy. Why so sad?"

"Ragini you...have you forgiven me? I know its too much for me to ask but...but I promise I'll never leave you ever again."

Ragini smiled at him and took his hand in hers. "Don't make promises when you don't know if you can keep them."

"I can Ragi-"

"Laksh please. I know you'll do your best, but...but you've considered me only an option than a priority so many times that...that I've lost trust in your words. I trust your love for me. But I fear to trust you."

"Then tell me how to get it back. Tell me how I can get back your full trust on me."

Ragini patted his hand. "You have to earn it by your actions." she smiled at him playfully. "Besides, we'll be married soon. You'll get enough time to earn it back."

Laksh nodded with determination. "I swear Ragini. I'll earn it back. I'll earn it back!"

"I'm counting on it." Ragini admitted. "Now, I think you need to have a talk with Mishka."

"Oh right! I need to tell her the truth as well." Laksh rubbed the back of his head in uncertainty, thinking of how he would tell Mishka about her father's death.

"It's okay Laksh. She knows."

Laksh looked up at Ragini so fast, he was surprised he didn't give himself a whiplash. "What?!"

"Yes. She knows Laksh. But she was afraid to say it because of Mansi."

"I see." he put forward his hand. "Will you help me talk to her?"

Ragini smiled and took his hand. "Why not?"

Together they left the hall towards the stairs.

Annapurna turned to the pandit. "Pandit ji, I'm sorry bu-"

"It's okay. I can understand. We will wait a few minutes for them to return and then continue with the marriage."

"We all have no problem to wait as well." spoke one of those guests, while the others agreed.

"Thank you so much everyone."

"Aaahh! Finally everything's alright." Sankar sighed in relief.

"I hope so." Uttara spoke out.

"Don't worry Uttara. Everything will be alright. Ragini will get her happiness now that she's with her Laksh. You all just get ready to dance after their marriage!"

"Finally my dream of becoming grandmother will be fulfilled soon!" Annapurna exclaimed with joy, while the others just laughed.

Suddenly, it struck Sanskar that Nikhil was missing with his sarcastic jabs.

He looked around and noticed Nikhil stting in a chair at a distance. He had been there for some time it seemed.

Sanskar went near Nikhil and poked him on the arm. "What are you doing here looking tensed? We won! Lets celebrate!"

"Y-you didn't se-e the l-loo-k L-La-Laksh gave m-e-e. He's going to kill me!" Nikhil stuttered out.

"Nah! No way! Laksh is a good guy. He wouldn't go to extremes."

"I hope so. But I'm telling you. I'm never ever going to act as Ragini's lover again! Ever! Otherwise, Laksh will surely kill me."

"Oh, by the way, Swara accidentally may have lied to Laksh that you kissed Ragini." Sankar admitted, snickering at the horror-stricken face of Nikhil. "You should take caution. Just giving a heads up."

"No no no! Why me? Why me?! Why oh why me?!" Nikhil cried out. "Help me write my will, would you?"

"Hahaha... Chill dude."

"Would you be able to chill when you're at gunpoint!?"

"Hmm...point."

"Sanskar, make sure you bring flowers to my grave everyday. Also, write a good eulogy for my funeral. I think I would die tomorrow in Laksh's hands." Nikhil cried out. "I'm dying a bachelor. Why me!?"

Sanskar rolled his eyes at Nikhil's antics. "Enough already! If I can't stand one thing, that's seeing a grown man cry. Now come on! I'll treat you to anything you wanna eat in the name of our new found brotherhood."

"My last meal on earth." Nikhil cried out. He sighed dramatically. "Fine fine. At least if I die, I'll die with a full stomach. Let's go!"

🎀🎀🎀🎀 The End 🎀🎀🎀🎀

If you liked, do vote! Thanks!
~ 🌹 Mona 🌹

Btw, is fic ka epilogue I want to give. But yaar, epilogue pe kya dalu iske?
Yehi end thik lagraha meko.
😂😂😂😂😂