Why are people selfish? A question probably nobody has an answer to. Is it the greed or just blindness of the soul. Why don't they understand a simple truth about life. It is what it is. You cannot change it. You cannot deny it. Only thing you can do is fight back. Your destiny will be still uncertain.

Sanskar stirred. There was light at the end of the horizon. Where was he exactly? Was he dead or was he just imagining things up in his sleep. His mind was like a white paper right now. Neither he could recall anything nor he was able to feel anything. So was that the end? Was he dead? If not then why was he not hearing anything or feeling anything. Why his limbs weren't responding to his brain.

“He is waking up” he heard a distant voice. As the first sound fell on his ear drum all his senses returned in a fraction of second. He could breath, he could hear the sound of his breathing. He could feel, he winced as a shot of pain hit him. His head still hurt. That means he was alive. But why is he not able to move? The heavy dosage of chloroform was working on his muscles.

Ragini's eyes and face flashed like he was hit by a current and opened his eyes instantly. “He is up” now the voice was near. He looked around to understand his surrounding. “R... Ragini” he uttered finally saying the one person he right now wanted to see more than anyone. But he got no response from the people there.

“Ragini...” this time he used all his strength to call her name. “Relax” the doctor tried to calm him. “Ragini” he sat up and the doctor kept insisting him to lie down. “My... my wife... where is she?” he asked pushing the quilt aside. The nurse who was on the other side of the bed tried stopping him but he did not budge.

“Mr. Maheshwari.. You need to calm down” the doctor pushed him back a bit. “No... no... my wife” he said taking deep breaths. “Where is she? I want to see her now” he pushed the doctor and was ready to get off the bed. But the doctor held him back. “You are weak” the doctor pleaded him. “I don't care” he said with heavy breath. “I want to see her” he said and the doctor tried all his strength to stop him.

“You cannot get out of here. You need medication” the doctor reasoned. “My wife was hit” Sanskar used all his energy to scream. And as a result he collapsed a bit but the doctor held his stubborn patient. “She was hit. I need to see her. I just want to see she is okay. Then I will do whatever you say” he formed each word with difficulty and begged the doctor.

“Fine I will help you. Just this one time” the doctor said and Sanskar smiled a bit. “Nurse get the wheel chair” he asked the nurse who nodded her head and walked to the corner where the wheelchairs had been arranged. She brought a wheelchair and the doctor helped Sanskar to settle on it.

He pushed the wheelchair in the hallway to reach one more ward. Sanskar's heart beat was at peak and he felt it will stop beating anytime if he didn't see Ragini soon.

Why is she not beside him already? That meant one thing that she was hit severely. And that feel was killing. His eyes pricked dropping tears. The doctor stopped at a door which had a nameplate as ICU. He took a deep breath before pushing the wheelchair further inside the room.

Sanskar looked up and his eyes stopped at Ragini who was still unconscious. She was alive. And it was evident by the machines attached to her to track her heart beats which beeped. He sighed. But he wasn't completely happy about it. She was in ICU. And her eyes closed and the machines attached to her. It made him feel sore in his throat.

“What happened to her?” Sanskar asked the doctor. But he got no response. Sanskar moved the wheelchair by himself to reach her. And her calm face gave him a momentary happiness which was so short lived like it never happened.

“Ragini...” he called her name hoping she will respond. But she did not move. “Hey” he caressed her cheek and moved his hand towards her head. “Ragini...” he called again. But like earlier there was no response. “You're listening to me? Stop playing prank with me alright? Get up now. We have to get back to home. Mom will be worried” he said moving her but she wasn't even trying.

“Mr. Maheshwari” the doctor stood beside him. “What happened to her? Why is she not waking up?” he looked up. “She hasn't woken up” the doctor said and tried to sound normal. But was it even possible.

“Why hasn't she woken up? I am awake right? So why hasn't she woken up?” his eyes were literally emitting fire. “She is still recovering. There was a lot of blood loss and you were just drugged so we could get you back soon but she was hit very badly. We had no hope that she will survive but she is a fighter” he smiled looking at unconscious Ragini. “She needs time to recover. And I hope you will give her that” he  turned to Sanskar who was dumbstruck hearing the doctor.

“She was hit very badly...” the only sentence from the doctor kept ringing in Sanskar's mind. His memory traveled back to the time when the man in covers hit Ragini on the backside of her head and she collapsing on the ground helplessly. Her head developing the blood and those droplets traveling on her forehead and then nose and falling on the ground. He wanted to snap himself out of that nightmare.

He reached for her hand and clutched it tightly. “Hey” he spoke controlling his emotions. “Ragini” he touched her head with his and closed his eyes. “I... I don't know. I don't know if you are listening this or not” the doctor who was treating Ragini tried to stop him but the senior doctor who was with Sanskar signed him not to.

“I love you okay. I love you more than anything. And I...” he hiccuped. “I need you to know this that the one person without whom I cannot even breath is you. I never told you in a most appropriate way what you are to me. I have told you many things till now which meant nothing but today at this moment I want you to know that you are my life. You are my life okay. And if you are not going to be with me for the time I live then I don't want this life. I don't want” his eyes dropped the held tears.

He raised his head when he felt her moving. “S....” she whispered the only name she wanted to speak. “Sanskar...” she called his name and he watched her dazed. “Ragini...” he wiped his tears and cupped her face. She had her eyes still closed and eyebrows narrowed.

“Sanskar” she again called his name. “I'm here.” he wiped his face looking at her with that hope which was dead till now. “Sanskar” she opened her eyes slowly. “I am right here Biwi” he smiled at her with his glistening eyes. “Are you okay?” she asked gathering that little strength she had. “After you woke up” his smile widened. “I am more than alright” he looked at her emotionally.

“Where are we?” she asked looking around. “Guess where? Church” he chuckled. “What?” she asked him. “You were hit so badly and where do you expect you will be?” he asked her. “Damn your sarcasm. Ouch..” she held her head. “Hey” he sat beside her worried. “It's hurting” she said without looking up. “What you think you are wonder woman? For heaven's sake you were hit” he said rolling his eyes. “I think she needs some more medications” the senior doctor stated.

“Right” Sanskar adjusted himself on the wheelchair again. “I will be out” he said ready to move. “Sanskar” he held his hand. “I need to tell you something” she looked into his eyes and he narrowed his eyebrows.

“Ragini” they both turned their heads towards the door from where Sumi entered with her moistened eyes and behind her was Sujatha, Annapurna and Uttara. Sumi sat beside Ragini worried and Sujatha knelt in front of her son worried. Ragini looked at Sanskar and he back at her.

“Oh my god. I was so worried” Sumi hugged Ragini. “How did all this happened?” Sujatha analyzed Sanskar. “And when did Ragini leave home?” Sujatha turned to Ragini who had no explanation for leaving home. “I...” she struggled to answer her mother in law.

“I called her. I wanted to take her for lunch” Sanskar spoke and Ragini looked at him surprised. “Excuse me” they heard someone and looked at the door where Rudr stood with one of his constable. “We need to take the statements” he placed his goggles inside his pocket.

“We had called the police” the doctor cleared the air of confusion. “Can I speak to Ragini? Alone?” he asked and Sanskar twitched his lips and tried to contain his displeasure. He surely couldn't say no to him right now. “Yeah sure” Sujatha nodded her head and helped Sanskar out of the room and all others followed.

Sanskar was out and the constable started with his interrogation where as his attention was on what was happening inside the room whose door was slightly opened. He saw Rudr sitting beside Ragini and asking her questions. She was nodding her head and at times telling some details. When she felt it difficult to talk Rudr offered her the water. He remembered how he had witnessed Rudr presenting her something when she was out on the day after Laksh's accident. He wasn't doubting on Ragini but he was worried for her as he never trusted Rudr. After some time he saw Rudr smiling at Ragini and walking out of the room.

“So Mr. Maheshwari. What happened to you suddenly while driving?” he stood in front of Sanskar. “I don't know. My head started to pain suddenly and I felt it difficult to drive and stopped the car” he spoke remembering the incident.

“We found traces of some medicine in his blood which stimulates the pain in the nerves” the doctor spoke. The already shivering of Uttara's hand increased which sure made Rudr to smirk but he changed his expression quick.

“Anything you ate before driving?” Rudr turned to Sanskar. “Nope. I actually did not even had the breakfast in the morning as I was getting late” he said rubbing his temple. “No the drug acts only after 15 hours. So you might have had it in the night” the doctor interrupted.

“I had dinner at night nothing else and it was at home. So if anything was there in the dinner then others also should have been affected” he said. “Unless you ate or drank something which is your personal possession” Rudra stated. “Mr. Maheshwari in any case you have a private bar in your room?” Rudra turned to Sanskar.

“I actually have a private bar where the only drink served is water and that's called the water jug” Sanskar rolled his eyes mocking. And then his eyes narrowed when he realized what he just spoke. “Which easy to dispose also” Rudr looked at Sanskar with the same expression.

“So this was planned?” Sujatha asked looking at them. “But nobody can come inside our house that easily” she spoke. “Unless there is a power cut” Sanskar spoke. “And there was a power cut last night and the inverter was out of order same morning” Sanskar dug the mystery more. “Wait a minute. That means it was planned” Rudr stated. Uttara looked at him horrified. She pleaded him through her eyes where as Rudr was enjoying her condition.

“But why will anyone want to harm my son?” Sujatha asked dazed. “It was not just for harming ma'am. It was for killing your son” he spoke and looked at Uttara who choked suddenly. “Uttara” Sujatha worried looking at her daughter. “Uttara” Sanskar asked her worried.

“I think she is stressed” Annapurna looked at Uttara worried helping her. “I will take her home” she said and walked from there.

After some time Rudr walked out of the hospital leaving a constable sighting the safety of Ragini and Sanskar. Sumi was taking care of Ragini and Sujatha was nursing Sanskar.

“Ragini had the food?” Sanskar asked as he saw Sujatha helping him to have the food. “Sumi ji is there. She must be feeding her” Sujatha forwarded the spoon full of soup. “I need to check on her first” he stopped the spoon and Sujatha nodded her head. “I will talk to the doctor and get you both shifted to the same room” Sujatha helped him to sit on the wheelchair. “I will manage” he stopped Sujatha from pushing the chair with a weak smile. She smiled looking at her son.

Though the situation was painful she was happy that it reduced the differences between Ragini and Sanskar. Sanskar pushed the door of Ragini's room and Sumi turned to look at him and greeted him with a warm smile.

He saw Ragini sleeping. “She ate the food?” he asked. “Yeah and doctor has given her sedatives so that she gets sleep” Sumi smiled at him. He nodded his head with a weak smile. “Thank you” she  spoke and Sanskar looked at her confused.

“Thank you for not leaving her side Sanskar” she said with wide smile. “She had been through a lot. Whenever she expected a little love all she got was rejections and ignorance. I am happy that you will never do that to her” she spoke and Sanskar smiled at her. “I don't know anything else do with my life. She is the reason I am having a life. And I would never want to let her go” he looked at his wife who was peacefully sleeping.

“Promise me one thing” Sumi forwarded her hand. Sanskar looked at it and then raised his head to look at his mother in law. “You will never leave her side” she spoke and Sanskar placed his palm over and smiled. “I will never leave her side. I will never let anything happen to her” he said with a bright eyes and wide smile.

***.***
“You did your job great sweetheart” Uttara closed her eyes as she heard Rajat's voice from the other side of the phone. “Please Rajat. Why are you hurting my family?” she asked helplessly. “Who said it's me? It's you who is hurting your family because you love me” he smirked.

“I don't love you” she tried to suppress her screams. “It was the biggest mistake of my life that I ever met you” she closed her eyes letting the tears flow. “And I still regret for that” she spoke wiping her face.

“It's too late to think of it Jaan. I have already started the game and you are just one of the pawn among others. So do as I say if you want safety of your family. You already saw the trailer of what I can possibly do” he spoke sternly.

“Then why did you hurt Bhai and Bhabi?” she asked furious. “It was just the trailer love to test your loyalty. And congratulations you have earned it” he mocked and Uttara fumed.

“Your camera in your brother's room helped us to know when did Ragini leave and we could save her on time when Sanskar caught her outside Khurana's office before she could know more dangerous things and risk her life. You know my brother loves her crazily and I don't want to hurt his love” he smirked.

“For god sake she is married to my brother. She can never be your brother's” Uttara spoke annoyed. “Not unless your brother dies” he mocked. “Dare you even thought of touching my bro” she warned him. “Haaye you kill me with this attitude of yours” he placed his hand on his chest.

“Aren't you too much worried for the brother who did not trust you?” he asked. “That's between me and my brother. You are nobody to be concerned about it. Just stay away from my brother” she fumed. “So that's also in your hands. Do as I say and I will spare your brother and my brother will have his love without killing your brother” he smirked. He disconnected the call and Uttara threw her phone and sat on her bed covering her face with her hands.

“Wait a second. Who attacked Ragini Bhabi then? I am sure Rudr will never approve of it. And Rajat will never ever want to hurt someone who is dear to his brother” she looked thoughtful and the person who was out of her room smirked in darkness.

***.***
I know took a lot of time but needed a bit time to do that.

Hope you enjoyed it.