Hi SwaSanians! Like I said before, this is an extension of the Shot-1 written on demand. This is where the story goes in a different direction (although a few dialogues lifted from the show), but nothing much could be done to the characterisation of Swara and Laksh. The track is slower than the overnight changeovers in the show. If I disappointed you here, totally it's my fault, and I'm sorry for that. If you enjoyed it, please hit Vote and let me know.

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The upcoming days became torture for Ragini - receiving the love from a sister she felt an obstacle to her happiness, took care of her introducing the feeling of guilt in Ragini. On the other hand, Laksh by whom Ragini longed to be loved, looked her with only feelings of disgust and anger. Swara's concern and Laksh's anger split Ragini into pieces.

It's been two months since Ragini's truth was unveiled. She had slipped into depression, not talking to anyone and living in her own time and world, hardly coming out of the room. The responsibility stayed with Swara to make sure she was eating on time and took her medicines promptly. Every week, a doctor came to check on her. Today, he told Swara, "She just doesn't want to come out of this. When the patient has no will, no medication or treatment will work."

Swara had raised her voice with desperation "She is my sister, not a patient!" If not for Sanskaar holding on to her shoulders, she would have thrown the doctor out of the house.

She rushed to her room and locked herself in. She took the support of the cupboard but slid down, broken and lifeless. What had things come down to? She wanted to see her parents together. In that pursuit, she had brought Ragini to this condition where people started calling her a patient.

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Sanskaar had followed Swara out of Ragini's room. Yet he was not quick enough to stop Swara from locking herself in. From the crack of the curtains, he watched her break down at the foot of the cupboard. He quickly instructed, "Uttara, ask Badi Maa for the spare key to this room and bring soon." Uttara ran at the word go.

Sanskaar banged the door repeatedly asking Swara to open. She didn't have to go through this alone. Damn, she didn't have to go through this at all!

Uttara rushed back with the key. Sanskaar threw the doors open with a force that they rebounded and shut back.

"Swara! Please don't cry like this. You can't break, Swara!"

"What can I do, Sanskaar?"

Sanskaar took her in his arms. He knew he couldn't win against Swara with words and he didn't want to argue. He wanted to see her stand up and fight. That's what his Swara would do. He would make sure she did.

"Sanskaar, why did I bring such grief in Ragini's life? I am the one to be blamed for her condition today. How did I become so selfish? I wanted her to stay so that Laksh would learn to accept her but things are going out of our control day by day. I can't find anyone but myself to be blamed."

Now Sanskaar was angry. Yes, he was furious at Swara. She was really talking nonsense. Why is she blaming herself when she has been the victim all along? "Swara, get up." He supported her to sit on the couch and passed her water. He had some to control his anger which would otherwise escalate things.

He then kneeled in front of her and took her hands in his. "Swara..." he started. "Stop blaming yourself. You have been a victim, and yet you are supporting Ragini. And you are blaming yourself for her punishment!" The water didn't help. Sanskaar could feel rage throbbing at the base of his throat. "This is ridiculous. She tried to kill you, and you are blaming yourself for her punishment. I would say Ragini brought this upon herself. She deserves it!"

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Swara pushed him and stood up. "Sanskaar! She didn't deserve it. She was forced into this."

"Seriously, Swara? Forced? By whom?"

"By you, Sanskaar." Her words hurt Sanskaar. The first nail drove into his heart. It was just the first. "In your bid for revenge, you have turned an innocent girl into a psychotic villain." The second nail drove in.

He tried to salvage the situation. "I didn't turn Ragini into anything. Yes, I took advantage of her broken heart. But I learnt from my mistake. She didn't. And you better get this into your head in bold font. I tried... I really tried to stop her from sinking lower, but she didn't understand. That sister of yours had adopted tawdry tricks to win, solely by her decision. No one asked her to push you into the river. No one asked her to make such a video. No one asked her to blame me with baseless accusations."

Sanskaar stopped himself before he went on with the list. He scrubbed his face as he walked away towards the door. Then he halted and saw Swara who stood confused, weak and lost. Swara and weak, with him around. That was the third nail.

He turned back and tried again. "Swara, I am sorry. I can't see you like this." The nails had ruptured his tight rein on his heart. "I love you too much to see you blaming yourself for Ragini's plight. I hate to see you feeling helpless and me not being able to do anything about it. The Swara I know, the Swara I love is a fighter. She would fight till the end yet not accept defeat. So please don't lose hope like this. If you just want to cry and let your frustration out, let me know. I will sit before you and listen to every word you utter. I will try my best to shut my mouth as well. But don't put yourself as the reason for someone else's sufferings. I can't take it. Just know that seeing you break hurts me to the core."

Swara was shocked speechless at his words. He said so many things stringed together that she got lost in understanding each bit of it. Sanskaar was going out of the room. He said, "I know this one-sided love is futile and I accept it. Just don't tell me that I am not allowed this happiness." With those last words still ringing, he left the room.

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Sanskaar walked down the stairs wary of the family gathered below. His Mom shot forward from the group. "Sanskaar, is Swara okay?"

Annapurna also showed her concern. "Swara had gone through so much. Maybe that's why she couldn't take it anymore. She would be fine after some rest."

Sanskaar looked at these women, who two months ago, wouldn't have cared if Swara died. He was still contemplating his answer without lacing it with his prejudicial thoughts when Swara ran down the stairs. "Sanskaar! Laksh..." she thrust the phone into his hands and clenched his arm with shaking hands. She still hasn't recovered, Sanskaar thought.

He took the phone and heard. It was Laksh saying "Swara, what kind of revenge is this?"

Sanskaar set the phone on speaker mode for everyone to hear. Laksh continued his nonsense on how Ragini has destroyed his life and how he plans to restore it. "Seems like he is drunk," commented Sanskaar.

"Oh, you are here. Good." Laksh walked into the house looking not so stable.

"Swara... today I want to ask you something before everyone." He walked towards Swara who further dug her fingers into Sanskaar's arm.

"Swara, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I still love you very much. I just couldn't forget you. I know you are acting like you married Sanskaar only to make me jealous. Swara, please come back. We can start afresh. No misunderstandings. I will divorce Ragini then we can get arrived like we have wanted before."

Sanskaar held him and tried explaining. "Laksh, you are drunk. You don't know what you are saying. We will talk some other time when you are in your senses."

Laksh disregarded his words. He moved to stand before Swara. "Swara, you still love me right? Even Papa said he will accept your decision. Forgive me Swara. I love you very much." He stepped forward and hugged her.

Swara stood motionless as Laksh hugged her. She felt it wrong initially, then a reminder blinked in her mind saying you are not exactly Sanskaar's wife. Still, she stiffened when Laksh hugged her in front of the whole family. She separated herself from him quietly and took two steps back.

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Sanskaar intently observed Swara's actions as Laksh went to hug her. The minute she stepped back, he felt victory kissing his feet as a beach wave would only to go back reminding of the reality. He took charge and held Laksh by his arm. "Laksh, you are not in a position to talk now. Can we talk later?"

"Sanskaar, you don't have to interfere in between."

Swara spoke up for the first time after his confession, and the words were the sweetest Sanskaar had heard recently. "Sanskaar has the right to be in between, Laksh. I am married to him."

Laksh sneered at the statement. He applauded and said "Swara, can we end this drama now? It's really enough. Ragini has accepted her truth. Isn't it time you accept it as well?"

"Laksh! Tell me one thing. Why should I forgive you?" Swara asked.

"Because I love you Swara. I am really sorry."

"Come with me." Swara dragged him to Ragini's room. Sanskaar and the rest of the family followed in their wake.

"Look at her! She is Ragini. Two months ago, she said the exact words to you. Did you forgive her? Did you accept her back?"

"There's a difference."

"There is no difference. If you really loved me, you would have waited for me. Waited until the truth came out. Sanskaar, who came to save me, is the very guy who initiated the trouble. You, who claimed to love me, didn't trust me. You married Ragini upon coercion. She didn't ask you to marry her."

"She was going to commit suicide."

"You will marry anyone who tries to commit suicide."

Sanskaar cracked a smile but quickly hid it. His Swara was back in full form. And it was near impossible to defy her logic laced questions.

"Swara, I just can't think straight."

"Exactly. You are drunk. You are not in your senses."