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"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations.

Chapter 6

Ragini felt as if someone was piercing her heart with a knife and twisting it over and over again. Each breath that she took felt like inhaling something toxic. Each moment, each second that passed broke her more. But she couldn't do anything but sit there in numbness as the last ray of hope she held fled like sand in one's grip.

The report was the last way they could use to expose Mansi's crime to the world. But now...now that the reports were gone, there was no way to prove she killed Abhimanyu.

Nikhil snatched the papers from Sanskar and looked them over and over, as if willing them to change by merely looking at them.

"After everything we did...after every moment I spent dreaming of the day Laksh returns to me...this is what I get? This is what happens?" Ragini spoke in a passive tone. It looked as if she was just letting out all those thoughts without even aware that she was speaking them out verbally.

"We...we can still do something. We can...we can take Mishka's help, remember?!" Nikhil reasoned. "If she tells Laksh that she knows the truth about him, he no longer needs to act as Abhimanyu Khanna an-"

"It won't help Nikhil. It's not going to work." Sanskar admitted in misery. "You and I both know how much Mishka's scared of her mother. If she sees her glare, Mishka won't reveal the truth. It's...it's a lost cause."

"But...but..."

"He's right Nikhil. He's right." Ragini spoke in a soft tone. If it wasn't for the silence in the room, no one would have heard her sorrowful voice.

Nikhil balled his hands into fists. 'But that is the only way out! Ugh! Fine! I'll go talk to her myself!' without a word, Nikhil stormed out of the room, banging the door behind him as he went.

However, the force of that slam could never be as big as the slam Ragini got in her heart.

She could see her dreams shatter in front of her eyes. The home that she imagined with Laksh, the future that she imagined...everything...everything was gone in a flash. "I was building dreams from sand all along. Should have known only a mere sweep of wind was enough to blow it away."

Ragini felt someone put an arm on her shoulder and looked up at Sanskar with a dead look.

Sanskar didn't speak anything, but his eyes told her how sorry he felt. "I wasn't able to bring you back your love, buddy I failed as a best friend, as a brother and as a good brother-in-law!"

"You need not blame yourself Sanskar. You did everything you can for me and I'm grateful for. But...but now, it's over. We didn't suceed Sanky. Just...just go to Swara."

"But Ragi-"

"Swara is lucky to have a lover like you. I envy her for getting such a loving and caring husband." Ragini admitted with a soft smile, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "My love is true. But I guess our love will have to remain unfulfilled in this life."

Sankar looked away, unable to look at the sorrow in her eyes. He took slow steps back and left the room.

Ragini didn't stop him from leaving. After all, there wasn't anything he could say now that would help her. In her misery, she didn't want to pull him down as well.

After so much obstacles, Sanskar and Swara finally got to be happy together. How Sanskar had been able to live when Swara had lost her memories of him? Ragini didn't know. Swara was right in front of him then, but still far far away from him. She was amazed at the strength Sanskar showed.

'And maybe...maybe he can teach me how to live without love. After all, there is no way I can be with Laksh now.' Ragini closed her eyes to hold back the tears that were flowing down her cheeks. Soft sobs shook her body as she thought about Laksh. Her lip bled as she tried to keep herself from crying, but with no avail.

There wasn't anyway to stop the flood of emotions from her heart.

There was an eeriness in the room, which reflected the hollowness she felt in her heart. In the lonely room, the only audible sounds that could be heard were her heart wrenching sobs, while her mind was overwhelmed with the sounds of her heart shattering into pieces.

#11 pm#

Laksh stopped outside Ragini's room with a heavy heart. He knew she must be crying. He dreaded going in, but he wanted to see her.

Laksh couldn't sleep with what awaited him the next day. He was pacing in his room when he felt an unknown sadness in his heart. He didn't need to think twice to know it was because Ragini was in pain.

He knocked and called her name. On getting no response, he tried to knock harder. But the door opened on its own by his little force. Slowly, he pushed opened the door fully and looked inside the dark room. He searched for the swritches and switched the lights on. At once, Laksh's eyes fell on the figure on the floor beside the bed.

Laksh had expected Ragini to be sad. But what he saw left him speechless.

Her eyes held no emotion, they looked totally dead. It was as if she didn't even have more tears to shed.

Laksh had seen Ragini's eyes shining with curiosity, sad with sorrow, sparkling with mischief, narrowed in anger, glowing with happiness. But never had he seen her eyes so dead...so completely dead.

Laksh couldn't bear seeing her like that. He forgot all his rules, his obligations, but was only concerned about his love. His feet seemed to move on their own as he walked forward and pulled her into a hug.

She was his heart. And could he live without his heart? He would survive, but it would be as if he was just a robot doing his daily work, eating to survive another day.... but he would be dead from the inside.

Ragini however, pushed him away in anger. Her red eyes seemed to express how much she hated him right then. "Why are you sad? Isn't this what you wanted?" Ragini bit out. "Go from here. Please! I...I want to be alone."

She wanted to shout at him, to tell him that she was his wife and wanted him back, that she would die if he married another, that she cannot live without him.

But all was fruitless.

Because even if he loved her, he himself let her go. He thought of the Mishka, but not once..not once did he think what would happen to her.

'I guess it's true when people say that you are hurt most by those whom you love above all.' Ragini put her arms around her to stop herself from shaking. "Let me break Mr. Abhimanyu. Leave me to my state. Why do you care?!"

'Because I love you! And I won't hide the truth from you anymore!' Laksh thought in determination. "Ragini, I lo-" his phone buzzed interrupting his words. 'No call is important to me right now than Ragini. But who could be calling so la-' Mansi's face flashed before his eyes, which reminded him of Mishka.

"You...you were saying? Complete your sentence. Please!" Ragini requested, hoping to hear the three words of love from him after so long.

However, Laksh was in a fix. The thought of Mishka's safety kept him from saying the truth. He felt so useless and helpless at the moment. His eyes that kept looking at Ragini seemed to be begging for help. Without a word, he got up and practically ran away from the room.

Ragini slowly stood up and looked towards the way Laksh left.

How he looked at her made her feel again.

She saw the tears in his eyes. His eyes couldn't have lied.

And her heart couldn't have mistaken his look. The pain that he held inside of him. She was suffering, but he seemed to be suffering more with helplessness.

Ragini rubbed away her tears with a calm face. 'Laksh didn't say the three words I was hoping for. But his tears...his tears expressed his feelings. I had seen the worry, the concern, the love he held for me. Why do I need to here an 'I love you' when he completely bared out his soul to me?'

Several memories passed by in her mind at the moment.

Laksh talking to her rudely, him teasing her, him poking her nose, calling her 'my soul, my lifeline'. The slow flow in her mind then became a roaring tornado. Every shared moment of theirs came back to her.

All the love they shared, all the obstacles they faced, everything that she did to gain him, even to the extent of going against her sister and the rest, she couldn't give up on Laksh now!

She recalled how Laksh had stayed by her in tough times, how he helped her lie to everyone just to save her mother's baby. Yes Laksh took various rash decisions. Yes Laksh made many mistakes in life. He was an impulsive idiot, Ragini agreed to it.

He did many things wrong.

But once he accepted her as his wife, his love, he did everything in his power to keep her happy. Now, if someone told Laksh they would kill him for being with her, he would definitely be with her without caring for that threat.

But, it was to save an innocent child. Hence he was helpless.

Ragini clenched her hands into fists in determination. 'I had given up Laksh. But now...now I'm renewed with hope to get you back. I don't know what, I don't know how but...but I will stop this marriage one way or another.'

"It's useless to ask Mishka. You were right." Nikhil admitted as he came near her. "What do we do now?"

"Nikhi-" suddenly, an idea struck her and she smirked. "Nikhil, you don't have a girlfriend right now, do you?"

Nikhil blinked at her in confusion. "I got ditched by Mansi recently. And if you didn't realize, I was kind of busy helping you to expose her. So excuse me if I forgot to get myself a girlfriend!" he bit out in irritation. "Is this the time to ask things like this Ragini?"

"As a matter of fact. Yes."

"You know, like Laksh, there's something fundamentally wrong with you in the head too." 😑

Ragini rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm. "Come on, let's go! I need Sanskar's help with this. And maybe Swara and Annapurna Maa's help too!"

#Next day#

The guests came and the marriage celebrations began with pomp and gaiety. Everyone seemed to be having a good time there. After all, the marriage was a grand one.

Soon, it was time for the marriage rituals.

Mansi and Laksh were led towards the center of the hall and they took their places in the mandap.

Laksh looked distressed, while Mansi looked like she would burst with happiness. The rest of the Maheshwaris were standing near the mandap, except Annapurna.

Kaira was standing there nearby Mansi. Mansi told her to keep an eye on Ragini and the rest. However, Kaira didn't see anything out of place. She smirked to herself. 'Everything is going great. Just like I want it. Hah! Kaira's plan never fails.'

Mansi motioned Kaira to come closer. Kaira obeyed and acted as if she was trying to fix Mansi's dress. "What is it Mansi?"

"I'm having a feeling that something is about to go wrong Kaira."

"Like what?" Kaira whispered.

"I don't know! Something? Anything!?" Mansi whispered back in a panicked voice. "Ragini, Nikhil and Annapurna are no where to be found. What if they're planning something?!"

"Chill Mansi. I'm sure they are probably sitting somewhere drying each other's tears. We won and got Laksh to marry you. Its obvious they couldn't bear it and left."

"I hope whatever you said is true. But if something happens, don't tell me that I didn't tel-"

"Stop doubting me Mansi! My plans aren't half baked like yours." Kaira grit out in irritation and moved away.

'If she wasn't my best friend, I would have shot her on the day I met her!' thought Mansi in anger.

"We will start the rituals now." the pandit declared as he began chanting the mantras.

"Om mangala-" however, he was interrupted.

"Wait a minute! This marriage can't happen."

Everyone turned to look at the entrance from where the voice came. It was Annapurna.

Mansi at once glared at Kaira. "I told you so! But your highness, you wouldn't listen!"

'What new drama is this? Ugh! Annapurna and her emotional dramas. She's probably going to cry and blackmail Laksh emotionally to try to stop the marriage.' Kaira thought in anger. She moved forward to stop her.

"Yes Annapurna aunty, you're right. Of course this marriage can't happen until and unless you're not present! What took you so long?" Kaira spoke for all to hear as she approached Annapurna. She hugged her and whispered in her ear "Look old woman, if you think you will stop this marriage with your emotional blackmail, I'm warning you! You should just back down. Mansi is a better actress than you. We will convince Laksh in a flash!"

Annapurna smirked and whispered back. "I won't do any emotional drama. In fact, I don't think it would be necessary anyways."

Kaira broke free of the hug and looked her in the eyes. She thought Annapurna was bluffing, but she could see confidence in her eyes.

Annapurna pushed past her and spoke to all. "Yes, Kaira is right. But that's not the only reason. I stopped the marriage because I want to marry another couple here in the mandap alongwith Mansi and Abhimanyu. Come inside please."

Two individuals stepped in on her words. Seeing them, Laksh and Mansi stood up from the mandap in shock.

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹