Well, almost nearing the end of the fic. Chapter 8 is here. Hope you like!

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations.

Chapter 8

"Okay. It's alright that you want to marry both the couples together. But there isn't sufficient space to marry both the couples at the same time." pandit ji pointed out.

"Oho! What to do now?" Swara looked over at Sanskar helplessly. "Sanskar, only one couple can be married at a time."

"Okay then, which one shall be first?"

"Mine and Abhimanyu's shall be first!" Mansi exclaimed, butting in.

"I agree with her. They should marry first." Kaira stressed. 'I need time to break Nikhil's and Ragini's marriage before it takes place!'

From the corner of her eyes, Kaira saw Ragini coming back into the hall. 'That...that Ragini! How dare she try and steal my Nikhil from me!?' Kaira marched towards her and caught her by the wrist, pulling her behind the pillar. "You!"

"Yes? You needed something Kaira?"

"Needed something? First, you steal what should be mine. And then, you ask me if I need something!?"

"I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"You about to marry Nikhil is what I mean!" Kaira accused. "I thought you loved that Laksh. But now, you set your snares on Nikhil, you lusty woman!?"

"What?! But...but Nikhil said that he didn't have any girlfriend right now."

"Well sh-" an idea struck Kaira and smirked. "So...so you don't know about it?"

"About what?"

"About our love story? Ragini, we love each other! We love each other so much! It's only because of his parents that we couldn't be together." Kaira explained with fake tears. "Ragini, please let him go. Don't take him away from me please! Please Ragini!"

Ragini's eyes softened as she listened to Kaira's fake love story. 'Maybe...maybe I should tell her that this is all a drama. Maybe I should tell her that it's just a plan to make Laksh admit the truth and to catch Mansi. But she's Mansi's best friend. What if she goes and tells her?' as Ragini kept looking at Kaira's tears, it was getting harder for her to keep the secret.

"Ragini, please understand. Me and Nikhil are lovers!"

"Would you please keep your fantasy dreams to yourself please?" Nikhil bit out as he came near them. "Come on Ragini, let's go! I don't want your brain to be polluted by her trash talks. It's injurious to the ear."

Kaira clung onto his arm. "Nikhil, don't lie to Ragini because of your parents! Tell her we love each other."

"Bloody leech! Get off!" Nikhil exclaimed. "It's she who stole the papers Ragini. She's the reason for our distress."

Ragini gasped at his words. "She's behind it!? Disgusting!" Ragini shook her head and left the place. Nikhil was about to follow her as well when, but Kaira wouldn't let go of him.

"No! I love you Nikhil. Please don't leave me!"

"But I don't love you!"

"I don't care. All I know is that I won't allow you to leave me!" Kaira threatened.

"Okay Kaira, I won't leave. Instead, why won't you go buy a piece of land on Mars and leave me? You'll be happy among people like you and I'll be happy here!"

"No! No no no! You're mine Nikhil, you're mine!"

Nikhil edged away from her eyes looking at her maniacal state. "I'm getting 'Monjolika' vibes. Get her off of me! Help me someone!" Nikhil exclaimed in fright.

Lucky for him, Sanskar and Swara came near hearing the commotion and broke them apart.

#At the Mandap#

Laksh and Mansi sat ready for the rituals. However, Laksh was looking longingly at Ragini as she sat with Nikhil at a distance. Both were seated in chairs, sitting close to each other and holding hands further angering Laksh. He watched as Ragini smiled at something Nikhil said. Her smile looked so peaceful and beautiful.

Her words kept ringing clear and loud in his head.

I deserve to be loved, I deserve to be treated like I'm of value, and not something to be discarded when and whenever someone likes. Not someone to be treated like trash! Nikhil, no matter if he is simple or awkward or old fashioned. He treats me like I'm the most beautiful woman in the world.

'I...I'm sorry Ragini. I'm so sorry for never valuing you. For not giving you the importance that I should have as a lover and as a husband. I'm sorry for always taking you for granted. I'm sorry. So, so sorry.'

Mansi, on the other hand, had her own worries. Seeing Kaira coming towards them, she motioned her to step near her.

"What is it Mansi? I'm not in a mood to hear nonsense."

"Is Ragini really going to marry that Nikhil? But she said she loves Laksh! Not to mention the big, big filmy dialogues that she kept on lecturing us with. About all that pyaar and bandhan and...and all that! What happened!?" whispered Mansi to Kaira.

"Ugh! I wish I she didn't fall for Nikhil. But unfortunately, it seems she has him wrapped around her finger." Kaira bit out. "Mansi, you got to help me break off their marriage!"

Masnsi looked over where Ragini sat with Nikhil. 'She seems genuinely ignorant about Laksh. I think she has finally given up on Laksh and gone mad in grief. Just look how she's laughing with Nikhil, while I and Laksh are about to start the rituals. Bechari..'

"Mansi?! Mansi! Are you listening to what I'm saying?!" Kair whisper-shouted to her, putting a hand on her shoulder to bring her back to reality.

Mansi smirked at her and pushed off her hand from her shoulder. "Why should I? That's none of my business. I'm getting what I want and that's all that matters to me. Whoever Ragini marries other than my Abhimanyu is none of my concern. Got that?"

Kaira look at her in disbelief. "You...you double-crossing bitch!"

"That I am. Thanks." Mansi replied in arrogance.

Kaira stood up in anger. "You'll pay Mansi. You'll pay big time! I'll go tell everyone your truth!"

"Darling, you burnt the reports yourself. Without evidence, no one will believe an outsider like you. Your game is over." Mansi waved at her and turned back to the mandap, leaving Kaira to glare as hard as she could.

#With Nikhil and Ragini#

"Ragini, y-you brought me here to act. But now...n-now I regret coming here with you."

"Shut up Nikhil! Don't make that face. Smile and act like you're telling jokes to me. Like we're a happy couple in love!" Ragini whispered to him with a fake smile. To others, it looked like she was sweet nothings and affectionate words to Nikhil.

"Ragini, you didn't see Laksh's glare back then. If looks could kill, I would have been lying in a pool of my own blood. He was dissecting me like a frog under a microscope with his eyes!" Nikhil squeaked out. He tried to fake a smile for Ragini's sake, but it came out more as a grimace.

Ragini tightened her grip on his hand."If you mess up the plan, forget Laksh. I'll rip you apart into pieces! And whatever pieces will be left, I'll feed them to the dogs!" Ragini whispered, squeezing his hand in her vice grip. "Understood?"

"Ow ow ow! Okay okay! Let go! I'll act, I'll act!"

"You better!"

#At the mandap#

The rituals were about to begin. However, Laksh's attention was only focused on Ragini and Nikhil.

'That....that good-for-nothing champu! How dare he marry Ragini?! I should be the one marrying her. He doesn't deserve her! Who does he think he is!?' Laksh fumed with jealousy as he kept looking at Ragini and Nikhil. They looked like they were having a good time. Escpeically Nikhil. His face seemed to break out into a big grin when Ragini gripped his hand.

'Laksh bete, now time for me to have some fun.' Sanskar thought and crouched near Laksh.

"Don't they look good together Abhimanyu ji?" whispered Sanskar near his ear.

Laksh hurt his teeth so hard, it was a wonder they didn't break. "Sanskar, are you sure he is right for Ragini?"

"Yes Abhimanyu. Nikhil loves her truly!"

"But he could be playing with her, taking advantage of her innocence." Laksh stressed.

"Nikhil is a good guy Abhimanyu. Don't worry."

"But..but..." Laksh could not think of anything to accuse Nikhil of.

"Abhimanyu, you're not getting jealous, are you?" Sanskar teased.

"No. No way! Why would I be jealous? I'm happy for her."

'Hahaha., bechara Laksh. You can't lie to me bro.' Sanskar shook his head with a smile. "Yeah, what am I saying? Why would be jealous? You're Mansi's about to be husband, right?"

Laksh flinched unconsciously. "Sa-" from the corner of his eyes, he saw Nikhil kiss Ragini's hand. Laksh's eyes widened into the size of saucers.

Sanskar had no doubt that right now, Laksh's temperature would be sufficient to cook an egg. 'Nice acting Ragini, Nikhil. Oh, how I wish to record all of this right now!'

All Laksh could think about was grabbing Nikhil and stabbing him with a knife. Then, shock him and throw him in the ocean with some sharks. 'Or maybe I should bring Kavya and marry him off to her. Best punishment ever! Mwhahaha...'

"Abhimanyu ji, why are you cackling?"

"Ehehe...Huh?" Laksh blinked, coming back to the real world. 'Did I laugh out loud? Shit!' he cleared his throat. "Oh um...nothing Swara, nothing at all!" he looked ahead and saw Nikhil and Ragini chatting. 'Damn, he's alive! Only if wishes were real...'

Sanskar coughed and discreetly signaled Annapurna and Swara. They nodded and came to stand right next to where Laksh was seated in the mandap.

Both nodded at each other to begin their work.

"I'm sure Mansi loves Abhimanyu dearly and would make a good wife. Don't you think Swara?"

"Yes Badi Maa, you're right! They look good together." Swara replied.

Both were pretending to be discreet, but were actually aiming to make Laksh hear their conversation. Their plan seemed to be working, as Laksh straightened up a bit to hear them clearly.

"As for Ragini and Nikhil? I think they will be a good couple as well."

"Yes indeed. In fact...in fact you know what I saw earlier today?"

"What did you see Swara?"

"Badi Maa, I saw Nikhil kissing Ragini earlier." Swara responded, looking at Laksh's reaction from the corner of her eyes. Any doubt about whether he heard or not was cleared when they saw him straighten up like a rod and remain unmoving. 'Strike!'

'Ragini and...and Nikhil...kissing?! Kissing! Ki...KISSING!?' the same words kept ringing over and over in Laksh's mind like a broken record.

The fact that he had an over-imaginative mind didn't help. His mind immediately started creating images of Ragini and Nikhil kissing, of them hugging each other, of them touching each other and what not!

Laksh stood up abruptly from the mandap, shocking everyone.

"Abhimanyu? Abhimanyu, what happened? Abhimanyu? Abhimanyu, where are you going!? Abhimanyu!" Mansi shouted, as she watched Laksh get off the mandap and walk forward.

As they felt a shadow fall over them, Ragini and Nikhil looked up. Seeing Laksh, they stood up in shock.

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To be continued...

Votes and comments much appreciated. Thanks!
~ 🌹 Mona 🌹