Ragini : no you were not. You clearly did not care about my happiness, my dignity. You were just getting me married to him because they were giving a huge deal to our business. And i was the price you paid or tried to pay for that deal.
Shekhar : how can you say that? I am your father
Ragini : dad. Its alright you don't have to keep the act going now. I always knew money was important to you. But i recently realized that it was more important than my happiness or my dignity. So its okay.
Shekhar : you are worried about your dignity. What about our respect? Because of your ruthless behavior me and your mother were humiliated so much in front of everyone.
Ragini : you wouldn't have had to face the humiliation if you had cancelled the wedding.
Shekhar : and why would i do that?
Ragini : because i asked you to.
Shekhar : oh you ask for so many rebellious thing. I wasn't going to fulfill this one even though I have always fulfilled all of your ridiculous wishes.
Ragini (chuckling humourlessly) : oh so playing the guilt card, are we?
Shekhar : yes.
Ragini : well then even i can play it. Father. Being your daughter i asked you to cancel this marriage since he tried to force himself on me. But you did not listen. DAD.
Shekhar : didn't your grandmother teach you to always do whatever your husband wants.
Ragini : even if he wants to rape you.
Shekhar : it wasn't rape. He is morally and lawfully allowed to touch you. He is your Husband (shouting)
Ragini : (matching his tone) he is not my fucking husband. He was just a random fuckboy who came to see me. A random fuckboy who wasn't even my fiance. But he still fucking thought and so did you all that its his fucking right to touch me even though i dont fucking want him to.
All this while laksh, sia and ryan were listening to the conversation feeling disgusted beyond the imagination. They couldn't believe that this is what ragini had to deal with on the daily basis. They were all furious. But no one more than laksh.
Shekhar : you would have gotten married to him in some time.
Ragini (through gritted teeth) : so?
Shekhar : so your dignity belonged to him and him only.
His word made everyone shock ragini was on the verge of crying while laksh was ready to lash out. He was about to yell but he was stopped by raginis finger on his lip. She shook her head in no with tears in her eyes. Laksh didn't want to back off but the reasonable part of his brain reminded him that this will only make matters worse for ragini. And she didn't need that. Not right now. He will deal with this godawful man by himself later.
Ragini (after composing herself) : my dignity belongs to no one. Not that fucker. Nor my grandmother. Neither you. It belongs to me and me only.
Shekhar : we will see about that
Ragini : we will. But didn't we already. I did run away remember.
Shekhar : i will get you married to him by hook or by crook. You will marry him.
Ragini : keep on dreaming dad. I am never coming back to that cage. Ever.
Bye.
Saying so she hurriedly ended the call
Ragini stood there in the middle of the bed taking deep breath and trying to not have a panic attack but she was failing miserably. Her world was spinning ecen breathing seemed like a heavy job to do. Hse couldn't focus on anyone or anything.
Laksh : ragu, what's happening to you?
Ryan: oh my. Laksh it looks like she is having a panic attack.
Ryan said with a horror look on his face which soon matched with lakshs.
Since Ryan had a friend who also dealt with panic attack he tried to calm ragini down.
He held her face between his both palms and forced her to look at him in the eye.
Ryan: look at me. Focus. Focus on my voice and my breathing. Try to take deep breath...... Yup just like that. Again....... You are doing great.
Soon Ragini was back to normal, sia rushed to her with a glass of water while laksh stood there looking at her confused.
Laksh : when did these attack start?
Ragini : after my encounter with nikhil.
Laksh : oh.(furious) And you have been dealing with them alone?
He guessed her answer but was hoping that maybe she will say something else. Take someone else's name.
Ragini : no. I had karan.
She replied making laksh hate himself all the more than he was doing a while ago.
Laksh : it should have been me. You know? It should have been me. To be there when you needed a shoulder to lie on, to cry on. It should have been me.
Ragini : lak...
Laksh : no. (snaps) no. It would have been me if you hadn't pushed me away. If you had the fucking guts to say exactly how you felt. If you would have just asked me to stay (almost whispering)
Ragini : you know i couldn't have done that. None of it.
She looked at him intently and the look in her eyes completely matched with the look in his. They were staring at each other but they were interrupted by a loud fake cough.
Sia: i am sorry to interrupt guys but what are you two talking about?
Ragini looked at her and then looked back at laksh with a raised eyebrows as if asking "you will tell them or do i need to" laksh blinked at her as if saying "you do it" ragini gave him a pointed look saying "they are your friends" then gave him a smirk and then turned around.
Laksh (murmurs) : betrayal.
Making ragini chuckle.
Sia: guys.. What is it?
Laksh : ac... Actu.... Actually...
Ryan : stop stuttering and just say it.
Laksh : actually me a ragu we... We
Ragini (sighing loudly) : i didn't know that you were so embarrassed about it.
Laksh head snapped in her direction with furious eyes.
Laksh : i can never be embarrassed about anything related to you. (gritting teeth)
Ragini : calm down. I am joking. Its just you are taking so much time.
Laksh (taking deep breath) : me and ragini. We. We (ahem) we were in a relationship.