And thus, the truths about to be out! Mwhahahahaha...!

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations.

Chapter 9

"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.

"Something big is gonna happen now. Where's Mishka?" Sanskar questioned Swara.

"She's sleeping inside."

"Good. Go to her and make sure she doesn't come out. I don't want to stress the child."

"Are you sure you don't want any help here?"

"Nah! Everything's covered up. Go on."

"Alright."

Sanskar watched as his wife left the place and turned back to look at the scene in front of him. It looked like Laksh and Nikhil were in a deadly face-off.

Ragini had the same feelings. She looked from Laksh's face to Nikhil as they kept looking at each other in the eyes.

While Laksh glared at him, Nikhil looked on with a face of horror.

"Leave her Hand." Laksh bit out.

Nikhil gulped on hearing the deadly tone Laksh was using. He could hear spooky music play in the background. 'For goodness sake! What's up with the music!? Someone turn it off! Th-oh wait. It's just inside my head.' Nikhil smiled nervously at Laksh. "Hey buddy, a beautiful day, isnt it? A day to rejoice, a day to celebrate, a day to marry!" At once Nikhil knew it was a bad choice of words as Laksh's face grew more red.

"I said. Leave. Ragini's. Hand."

"S-sure, sure!" Nikhil tried to let go. However, Ragini grabbed it before he could extricate his fingers from her.

"Why should he? We're about to get married. We love each other Abhimanyu ji." Ragini taunted. "Why should he leave my hand?"

Laksh felt hurt that she refused to acknowledge him as Laksh even after he told her the truth. However, he had more important matters to worry about. "Just because."

"Because what?"

"Because I said so Ragini!"

"And why should we listen to you Abhimanyu Khanna ji!?"

Nikhil could practically see the red veins popping on the side of Laksh's forehead and smoke coming out of his ears. 'He looks like the top of his head is about to blow. Ahahaha...that would be epic!' he snickered to himself.

However, Nikhil's smile disappeared when Laksh turned to glare at him. "I. Said. Let. Go."

"Yes. I. Heard. You!" Nikhil put a hand over his mouth when he realized what he just did.

"Are you mimicking me!?"

"No no no! It just came out on reflex!"

"Leave. Her. Hand."

Nikhil looked at him in irritation. "Dude, what's with the dramatic pause? There's seriously something fundamentally wrong with you in the brain."

"Why you..."

Ragini pushed Nikhil back and stood before Laksh. "Stop threatening him! I said he need not let go. Just go and marry Mansi. Why are you trying to interfere in Nikhil and my relation!?"

"I won't let you marry him!"

"You speak as if you have any right over me." Ragini bit out. "Why do care about my happiness Abhimanyu ji?"

Nikhil watched on as both kept glaring at each other. 'Clash of the beasts I see. Better get away or I, the puny human, will get crashed in the crossfire.' he tried to crawl away discreetly. However, his attempts were of no use as Ragini kept holding onto him with one hand.

"Ragini, please. Change your decision."

"Why? Why do you want to steal my happiness."

"I don't want to steal it. I want to be the one who gives it to you!" Laksh stressed.

"But you're marrying Mansi."

"Not anymore." Laksh grabbed Ragini's hand and pulled her along with him near the mandap. As Ragini was holding onto Nikhil, he too was pulled along with them.

Laksh came to stand near the mandap and looked at Mansi apologetically. "I'm sorry Mansi, but I...but I can't marry you. I can't marry you because I...I love Ragini."

At once, murmers broke out amongst the guests and family. Everyone gave different reactions to his confession. Some were shocked, some happy, some furious and some confused.

Mansi could feel her world crashing down. "What is this Abhimanyu!? Is this some kind of sick joke of yours? This isn't funny Abhimanyu!"

"I'm not joking Mansi. I...I can't keep lying to myself anymore. No matter how much I tried to pretend to be Abhimanyu, I can't be him and forget my Ragini and my family."

Everyone gasped at his words, finally realizing the truth. Kaira, the one who had an evil scheme for every situation, was shocked speechless by the turn of events that she couldn't think of anything coherent.

"What!? You're my brother Laksh? Lucky!? You're Lucky!?" Sanskar feigned shock and ignorance, repeating the truth over and over again loudly, just to irritate Mansi futther. The Maheshwaris and the Gadodias acted shocked as well, although they already knew the truth.

"Sanskar, you're overacting." Annapurna whispered to him.

"Hehe...let me Badi Maa. I haven't had this much fun in years!"

Mansi got down from the mandap and walked near them. "What are you saying?!" Mansi brought her face near and glared at Laksh. "Why are you revealing the truth? Have you gone crazy!?"

Laksh shook his head. "I was crazy to hide the truth. But not anymore." he moved away and looked at the everyone. "It's true. All this time, I had been lying and pretending to be Abhimanyu Khanna. I'm Laksh. Laksh Maheshwari. The youngest son of Annapurna and Durgaprasad Maheshwari, and..." Laksh looked back at Ragini. "And Ragini's love."

"Then why did you lie all this time?" questioned a guest.

"Yes Laksh. Tell them why you lied all this time." Mansi uttered. "Are you willing to tell them how you killed the real Abhimanyu? Will you tell them you're guilty of his murder?" she whispered to him.

Laksh gulped and looked towards Ragini. However, she seemed uncaring.

Nikhil felt bad for Laksh as he looked at his helpless state. After all, he was aware how cruel Mansi could be. He nudged Ragini on the shoulder. "Do you think we should help him out? I mean he se-"

"No."

"No?"

"Yes, I said no. Laksh can't always rely on others to decide for him, to save him. If he wants to get out of this one, he's gonna have to do it himself."

"Okay. As you say Ragini boss."

Mansi continued poisoning Laksh's mind. "Just think of it Laksh. If you marry me, we both can live a normal peaceful life." Mansi spoke in a whisper. "But if you admit the truth, your crime will be out. You will be put in jail! Do you really want to suffer?"

Laksh looked down and nodded. "You're right. If I admit the truth, I might have to stay the rest of my life in jail."

'Hah! Gotcha!' Mansi smirked. However, his next words made her smirk turn into a frown.

"But I would rather live forever as a criminal and suffer in jail, rather thsn die every moment by knowing that Ragini is someone else's wife." saying so, he turned to the people. "I hid the truth because...because I was the one who killed Abhimanyu by accident."

The people gasped at his words.

"He died in front of my car." Laksh admitted. "When I was driving, Abhimanyu suddenly came in front of the car. I couldn't stop it before it hit him. And when I called his family, I found out that Mishka had a disorder. Her mother Mansi, fell into a coma hearing her husband's death and so...and so for that child, I took the role of Abhimanyu Khanna. I couldn't let an innocent child suffer because of me."

"Wow! He admitted it on his own, despite knowing everyone would blame him now. Unbelievable." Nikhil spoke in wonder.

Sanskar nodded. "I guess he has learnt his lesson. He finally decided to choose his love before his fear, his guilt...before anything else!"

Ragini let out a smile looking towards Laksh. "I guess he's finally beginning to take responsibility for his mistakes."

'No no no! He ruined my plans! This wasn't supposed to happen! Ugh!' from the corner from of her eyes, she saw Kaira standing there and moved towards her. "Kaira, help me. Do something!"

"Why should I?" Kaira smirked at her. "Now, Laksh will return to Ragini. Which means Nikhil would be available. I'm getting what I want, so why should I do anything?"

Mansion gripped her arm in anger. "Don't forget who brought you here!"

Kaira chuckled and removed her arm from her hand. "Darling, you should know better than to raise a snake. You never know when it will come back to bite you."

Mansi gritted her teeth hard, but knew there wasn't anything she could do to make Kaira help her. 'I need to find a way myself. That too, fast!' Laksh's voice brought her back to reality.

"I'm sorry for Abhimanyu's loss Mansi. I want to help Mishka as much as you do! But I realize now that lying to her wouldn't do justice to her father's memory. Neither would it do justice to Ragini or anyone else. Please try to understand! Family made on lies will never be a happy family." Laksh pacified.

'Mishka! She's the key!' Mansi walked forward and looked at Laksh with fake tears. "You spoke the truth without a thought. But now what? What about my daughter, huh? How would I explain her father's death to her? How would I console her?!"

"Mans-"

"What 'Mansi, Mansi'?! You ruined our lives, killed my husband and now...now you'll just go on living your life with your love! And what about me and Mishka, huh?! Did you even think once about us before blabbering out the truth? What will happen to us? What will happen to us now?!"

"She's right. Laksh should pay for his mistake." shouted one of the guests. Soon, the rest of the people supported the argument.

With each jab, Laksh could feel himself drown more and more in guilt. "Okay. Okay, Mansi. For Mishka I'll do anything. What would you have me do?"

'Now he's back on track.' Mansi smirked. "Marry me. Marry me and take responsibility!"

Laksh's eyes widened at her words. "Wh-what?!"

"Yes. Marry me!"

"But...but I can't do that! Anything, but that!"

"Nikhil? You know what to do next, right?" Ragini whispered.

"Ai ai! I'm all pumped up!" Nikhil responded. 'Time to take my revenge.'

"You have to Laksh!" Mansi screamed out with fake tears flowing down her face. She sat down in the middle of the hall hoping to gain everyone's sympathy.

"Go already before she screeches my ears off!" Sanskar grabbed Nikhil and pushed him forward.

"It was my fault." Nikhil exclaimed, stumbling forward from the push.

Everyone turned to look at Nikhil in shock. Kaira looked at him in confusion 'What are you planning Nikhil?'

"You see I love Mansi. There were always fights and arguments between both me and Abhimanyu because of it." Nikhlil recounted a fake story. "That day, me and Abhimanyu were arguing when things got out of hand and we ending up fighting with fists. That's when...that's when he punched me so hard, I hit a stone hard enough to make my head bleed."

While everyone kept listening to his story with rapt attention, Mansi and Kaira were utterly bewildered by it.

"What?!" Sanskar made a face of horror.

"Yes. I'm surprised I'm alive after that superman punch."

"Oh my Nikhil! What happened next!?" Sankar exclaimed, making Ragini sigh.

'These two...overacting ki dukan.' Ragini shook her head at their antics. 'Sanskar already was a dramenaaz. And now Jai found his Veeru.'

"Then, fearing my death, Abhimanyu ran away as fast as he could from there so that he isn't blamed. Unfortunately, he wasn't looking where he was going and ran in front of Laksh's car. And Laksh? How could he stop the car so abruptly? I mean it's not like he's got superpowers to know that a man would appear before him suddenly, did he?" Nikhil reasoned. "I was barely conscious to come near them and tell them the truth. Laksh took him away in his car before I got back my consciousness."

"WHAT!?" shouted Laksh. He didn't notice Ragini coming to stand beside him.

"Yes Laksh. I'm sorry I didn't have the courage to tell you the truth earlier. And Mansi? I'm so sorry I caused you so much hurt and pain. But I realize my mistake now. It's all my fault. It all began with me! And I...I should repent for my mistakes." Nikhil spoke in an apologetic tone. "That's why...that's why I'm willing to marry you and take responsibility of Mishka." Nikhil declared. 'Ew! I would rather remain a bachelor forever than marry Mansi. Thank goodness what I am saying is only a part of the plan.'

"What!? Have you gone crazy Nikhil!?" Kaira screamed. She couldn't believe her ears. 'He wouldn't marry me no matter what! But now wants to marry Mansi despite her betrayal to him!?'

'No! I don't want to marry Nikhil! He can't give me the luxury I want! Good-for-nothing idiot!' Mansi thought in anger. "I won't marry you! Besides, you're lying! You weren't even there!" shouted Mansi.

Laksh also realized that Nikhil wasn't there that day. In fact, there wasn't anyone nearby. He was sure he didn't see anyone.

He was about to say it out loud, when he felt a hand grip his arm. Ragini held him back and shook her head at him, as if telling him to stay silent.

Laksh would have spoken anyway, but he decided that he should trust Ragini. She wouldn't tell him to stay silent without any valid reason.

After everything he did, it's the least he could do and trust her.

"No, I'm not lying." Nikhil spoke with an innocent face, angering Mansi further.

"Yes you are lying you cheap liar!" she shouted, grabbing his collar.

"Mansi...Mansi calm down!" Kaira tried to pacify her. She knew Mansi speaks without thinking when she loses her temper. 'If she somehow reveals about me burning the papers, I could be trouble as well.'

"CALM!? HOW CAN I BE CALM IN FRONT OF THIS BIG LIAR!?" Mansi grabbed Nikhil's collar and jerked him forward.

"Nopety nope. I'm not lying!" Nikhil sing-songed.

"Admit it! YOU'RE LYING!"

"I'm not. I was the one who was there, woman! Of course I would know better than you."

"YOU ARE LYING!"

"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?!"

"BECAUSE I WAS THERE TOO!"

"YOU WERE NOT!"

"I WAS!"

"NO YOU WEREN'T!"

"I WAS THERE SINCE IT WAS ME WHO PUSHED ABHIMANYU BEFORE THE CAR MYSELF AFTER POISONING HIM! HE WOULD HAVE DIED ANYWAY! I KILLED ABHIMANYU AND PUSHED HIM TOWARDS THE CAR! SO YES DAMN IT I WOULD KNOW!" Mansi screeched out. So lost was she in her rage that she didn't hear the loud gasps that escaped the people there.

"DIDN'T YOU CARE ABOUT HOW MISHKA WOULD FEEL!?" Nikhil shouted back.

"I WOULD HAVE KILLED MISHKA TOO IF I COULD!"

"AHA! SO YOU ADMITTED!" Nikhil shouted back.

On the sudden realization, Mansi gasped and looked around.

Everyone was staring at her with different levels of shock and horror.

Sanskar put a hand on Nikhil's shoulder. "Calm down Nikhil, it's over. It's finally game over for her."

"YOU'RE RIGHT SANSKAR!"

"Dude, stop shouting." Sanskar chided. "Now, the silence would sound more deafening to Mansi than any other sound. After all, it's the calm before the storm."

************************************
To be continued...

If you liked this chapter, please consider giving your vote. Thanks!
~ 🌹 Mona 🌹