Ragini and Laksh were sitting on the sofa of Laksh's room close to each other since the book was only one. Ragini was trying to make Laksh, who had finally worn a t-shirt, understand a piece from Hindi literature.

While Ragini was explaining him, Laksh was getting distracted by the continuous beeping of his phone.

At the umpteenth time that his phone beeped, Ragini put down the book and angrily glared at Laksh who was looking at the book with a pencil in his teeth and as Ragini closed it, he looked up at her with questioning eyes: "What happened?" – He asked taking out the pen from his mouth.

Ragini: "Are you seriously asking me that? Can you please put your damn phone on silent mode?!"

Laksh: "But then what if someone calls me and I don't hear? And it turns out to be something important? Actually the messages I am receiving now could be important too, can I check my phone one second?"

Ragini: "You have already checked it forty times in the last twenty minutes without asking so why are you asking me this time?"

Laksh acted to think and then said: "Actually you are right, why I am asking you?" – With this he opened his messages and started to read and reply while Ragini angrily glared at him.

Ragini: "Give me the phone!"

As soon as Ragini came ahead to take the phone from Laksh's hands, he put his hand with the mobile behind his back: "Why should I?!"

Ragini: "Because I have taken the responsibility to make you pass and if you keep getting distracted, that won't be possible! Now give me the phone!"

Laksh: "Take my life, but not my phone!"

Ragini moved ahead again to take his phone from him but he immediately stood up keeping the phone behind: "No no and no! You won't get my phone at any cost! I can't live without it even a second!"

Ragini: "I will teach you surviving without phone too!" – She stood up too and went to Laksh and tried to get the phone but he rose up the hand with which he was holding it.

Ragini scowled at Laksh putting her hands on her waist and then tiptoed trying to reach the hand of Laksh who was teasing her.

Suddenly lights turned off. Ragini screamed and immediately hugged Laksh closing her eyes tightly. As she bumped into his chest, Laksh lost his balance and fell on the bed and Ragini fell over him. Laksh looked at her: she had her eyes closed and was gripping his t-shirt in her fists.

Laksh chuckled a bit: "Are you afraid of darkness?"

Ragini slowly opened her eyes and their eyes met as she looked up at him.

Just then the door of Laksh's room got opened and lights turned on. Sanskar came in the room and was shocked to see Ragini and Laksh like that. He felt very uncomfortable.

Sanskar acted to clear his throat making Ragini and Laksh return in the reality.

Ragini and Laksh saw him and recomposed immediately.

Ragini looked down setting her dupatta on her shoulder: "Light... light... turned off suddenly and darkness scares me a lot... so... "– She tried to explain herself feeling embarrassed.

Ragini took her bag and her book and said: "I think it's enough for today... I must leave now."

With this she went out of the room. Sanskar followed her.

Sanskar: "Things got sorted out between you two?"

Ragini slowly walked towards the door looking down: "Nothing like this... I still can't stand him."

Sanskar: "But you didn't seem like two persons who hate each other..."

Ragini stopped at the door and looked at him: "See whatever I think about your brother is that he is dumb and nothing else. I have to give him tuitions under compulsion. Please don't make situation worse for me." – With this, she went away.

Sanskar snorted looking up: "What's wrong with me!"

Laksh came there and said: "Bro your timing is so bad! I had just started enjoying tuitions but you interrupted us! Bhai I must say that you did very well by bringing such a fantastic teacher for me but you did wrong by coming inside on that moment!"

Sanskar got irritated by his words and he went in his room angrily closing the door hardly.

Laksh followed him and knocked at the door: "Bhai, is everything ok? I was just kidding!"

Sanskar was sitting on his sofa and was trying to concentrate on a book: "Lucky don't disturb me!"

Laksh slowly opened the door and entered in the room. He saw Sanskar looking at the book but he was holding it upside down.

Laksh: "What are you doing Bhai?"

Sanskar looking at the book: "Can't you see I'm reading a book?"

Laksh: "I didn't know you are able to read a book holding it upside down!"

Sanskar realized what was he doing and closed the book looking around but not in Laksh's eyes: "I was trying to read in a different way!"

Laksh sat next to him: "You aren't angry, right? You didn't take my words seriously?"

Sanskar: "Were you serious?"

Laksh shook his head.

Sanskar: "So why should I take you seriously?"

Laksh smiled and hugged him: "Bhai you know I don't want to see you upset so I get worried whenever I notice something wrong on your face!"

Sanskar laughed a little and hugged him back: "Yes I know! And don't worry; there is nothing wrong with me!"

Laksh smiled.

NEXT MORNING, IN THE ACADEMY:

Everyone was in gym for PE lesson.

The teacher clapped to grab everyone's attention: "Ok guys, two minutes of warm up while I check the roll book and sign the students who are absent!"

While doing warm-up, open hair were annoying Ragini so she stopped to gather them in a ponytail.

Laksh and Sanskar looked at her while doing warm-up exercises.

Karishma angrily glared at Ragini noticing that her boyfriend Laksh was staring at her.

After few minutes, the teacher scooped everyone's attention with a whistle and all the students gathered around him.

Teacher: "So today I want to see girls vs boys in a basketball match!"

Karishma's eyes widened hearing this and she looked around gulping down. Just then she put a hand on her forehead and pretended to faint thinking that Laksh, who was beside her, would have held her, but Laksh was too busy in thinking about the match for paying attention on her. Karishma fell on ground and was fuming from inside but she stayed still since she didn't want to play the sport she hated the most by revealing that she just pretended to faint.

Teacher: "Someone take this girl to the infirmary!"

A friend of Karishma took her away.

Laksh smirked shaking her head: "These girls! How can they compete with us if they are scared by just the name of basketball?"

Ragini: "Hey mister! Only your girlfriend is like this. I can beat you with closed eyes!"

Sanskar coughed: "Sorry Ragini, but this time Lucky is right. Girls don't like basketball and even if they do, they can't compete with boys! Come on, are we kidding Sir!? Please let only boys play!"

Ragini: "Why shouldn't boys compete with girls? Are they scared that they may lose?"

Swara put her elbow on Ragini's shoulder and looked at Laksh and Sanskar: "We will show you that no one can beat Gadodias' sisters!"

The two teams took their positions on the court and looked at each other with challenging eyes.

They heard a whistle and the teacher threw the ball in the field.

Ragini immediately caught the ball with a jump and ran towards the basket. Laksh and Sanskar weren't able to move since they were surprised by Ragini's agility. She immediately made a point.

The other boys angrily looked at Sanskar and Laksh since they didn't move when Ragini ran towards the basket. Sanskar and Laksh returned in reality and Sanskar took the ball running towards the basket. Swara came in front of him. Sanskar looked at her; Swara got hypnotized by his eyes and Sanskar grabbed the occasion and passed the ball to Laksh who was near the basket and made a point. Sanskar and Laksh exchanged a hi-five.

AFTER A WHILE

Girls and boys were equal: 8 and 8.

Teacher: "So, this is the match point! The team that will score now will win!"

A girl passed the ball to Ragini. Swara was on bench. Ragini ran towards the basket with the ball, Laksh was behind her. Ragini was about to score the point when suddenly Laksh slipped and screamed. Ragini was about to jump to make the point but the ball fell from her hands when she heard the scream. She turned and saw Laksh on ground so she ran towards him worried.

Laksh was lying on the floor holding his leg and hissing for pain. Ragini rushed to him: "Are you ok?"

Sanskar was about to go to Laksh when the latter winked to Sanskar making him understand that he was just pretending.

While Ragini was worrying for Laksh who was screaming like a kid, Sanskar took the ball and threw it in the basket, making the point which made his team win.

The boys started to cherish their victory shouting and clapping.

Ragini turned to look at them and realized that she lost. She looked at Laksh who was standing and looked absolutely fine. She widened her eyes snapping her brows together and glared at Laksh with open mouth.

Ragini: "Sir, this is cheating!"

Teacher: "They didn't force you to leave the game and go to Laksh. You got distracted and this is the consequence but must say Ragini, very well played!"

Ragini glared at Laksh who winked at her and smirked. Ragini gritted her teeth fuming with anger.

Sanskar went to Laksh and put his arm around Laksh's shoulder.

Sanskar: "And boys won as usual!"

The two cousin-brothers exchanged a hi-five.

Ragini ran towards the changing room and slammed the door. Sanskar and Laksh looked at each other seeing her leaving with so much anger.

Ragini wore hear zipper sweatshirt and pulled up its zip looking on with tightened jaw. She took her bottle of water and drank recalling Laksh pretending to be injured, Sanskar making the basket, Laksh winking and the two cherishing the victory they didn't deserve. Ragini threw the bottle with water on ground angrily.

Swara came in the changing room and rushed to her putting her hands on Ragini's shoulder: "Ragini are you ok?"

Ragini: "How can I be ok?! They cheated!"

Swara: "Ragini, it was only a game!"

Ragini: "But they won it by cheating! You know if there is a sport I love and can't accept to lose that's basket! How can they..."

Swara: "Ragini forget about this! We both know you are the best!"

Ragini: "But..."

Swara: "But nothing! Ragini look at me!" – Ragini, who was looking down, looked up at her – "You were and you are still the best basketball player I know! They won but they cheated, you were about to win!"

Ragini looked at her and hugged her: "But Swara I didn't win!"

Sanskar was looking at them from the door and spoke up: "I thought you were not playing to win but to prove us that you can beat us, and you did that! We had to cheat to win while you were about to make the basket without any cheating! Wasn't it for Laksh's stupid trick, we would have lost for sure!"

Ragini looked at him: "Why did you cheat then?"

Sanskar sarcastically laughed: "I am surprised Ragini. I was sure you are a mature girl; I didn't know that you are a kid for whom winning and losing such unimportant matches is so important! It was just fun, I thought."

Swara smiled hearing these words from Sanskar while Ragini looked down.

Sanskar: "Swara, sir is calling us. We must go, Ragini needs time to think if she is mature or not."

With this he left from there.

Swara: "Ragini he is right." – With this she followed Sanskar.

MEANWHILE

Laksh didn't know why but he was feeling guilty for what he did thinking that he might have hurt Ragini seriously once again.

He asked permission to the teacher to go to drink and left towards the boys' changing room.

He was about to enter there when he heard some sobs coming from girls' changing room. He went to check and opened the door a bit. He is surprised to see Ragini sitting on ground with her back against showers' door, hiding her head in her lap and sobbing. He felt so guilty!

First he hesitated but then he decided to enter, he slowly went near Ragini and sat near her. He put a hand on her shoulder and slowly said: "Ragini..."

Ragini looked on. She had tears in her eyes. Laksh felt such a regret inside him for being the reason of those tears, a regret that he rarely feels.

Ragini said weeping: "What are you doing here?"

Laksh: "It's a bit difficult to me coz I never said this to anyone... but still... I am really sorry Ragini. I shouldn't have done this. I am a stupid; I would do anything to win! But I really didn't want to hurt you..."

Ragini stopped sobbing. Laksh looked down. A smile appeared on Ragini's face slowly and she started laughing,

Laksh looked on surprised. Her laughter was divine but was confusing him.

Ragini got up wiping her tears: "Do you think you are the only one who can pretend? I have never lost a basketball match but you cheated and won over me. You have never apologized to anyone but I cheated and you said sorry to me! Now we are equal!"

Laksh was shocked.

Ragini laughed seeing her expression: "I can't believe you thought that I was crying for this!" – Ragini was increasing Laksh's anger – "I might be angry but I surely won't cry! Aaahh!"

Suddenly Laksh grabbed her by her arms and pulled her closer. His grip over her arms was very tight.

Ragini: "Leave me!"

Laksh pinned her against the door of the shower cab: "How dare you to show attitude to me? What do you think of yourself? I'm Laksh Maheshwari, how could the idea of doing this even touch your mind? Think twice before trying to make a fool out of me coz I'm not going to spare you!"

He slammed a hand on the door of the shower cab which got opened and since Ragini's back was pinned against it, she lost her balance and held Laksh by his collar but she ended up slipping inside the shower cab and dragging Laksh with her. Ragini accidentaly touched the shower handle and water started falling on them. The two looked at each other. Ragini's back was glued to the wall and Laksh had only his hands on it while his sturdy body was covering Ragini's petite one.

''Paaya maine paaya tumhein

Rab ne milaya tumhein

Honthon pe sajaya tumhein

Nagmein sa gaya tumhein

Paaya maine paaya tumhein

Sab se chupaya tumhe

Sapna banaya tumhein

Neendon mein bulaya tumhein...''

Laksh couldn't take his eyes off from Ragini but she was feeling uncomfortable due to the closeness so she moved her face right making Laksh return in the reality.

Laksh stepped back: "Hope that the water has refreshed your mind. Do not mess with me." – And with this warning, he left from there.

Ragini glared at him from behind with no expression on her face.

AFTER A WHILE

It was break time and Swara, Ragini and Sanskar were in the courtyard of the academy when Laksh, Karishma and their gang came to them.

Swara: "What do you want now?"

Karishma: "Calm down baby!"

Laksh: "We just wanted to invite you for tonight's party!"

Sanskar: "Party for what?"

Laksh: "To celebrate the beginning of another academic year!"

He gave the party leaflet to Sanskar and was about to give one to Ragini too but she refused: "Thanks but no thanks."

Karishma: "Leave it Lucky, boring people like them don't even know the meaning of party!"

Ragini: "A gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking and entertainment. Oh my God, we know the meaning! Now what Karishma? Keep quiet before talking nonsense please!"

Karishma scowled.

Laksh: "You know the meaning of party so why don't you want to come? Don't you know how to eat, how to drink or how to enjoy so you don't wanna come?"

Ragini: "I can eat, drink and enjoy at home too. Thank you so much for the concern."

Laksh: "You are a walking dictionary, aren't you? You know the meaning of boring? Oh, let me help you with this one. There is a synonym of boring and that's Ragini Gadodia."

Ragini gave him a death stare.

Karishma grabbed Laksh's elbow: "Let's go baby."

Laksh looked down on Ragini and then left from there with his squad.

Sanskar to Ragini: "But Ragini, it could be fun! Why don't you give it a thought?"

Ragini: "I actually don't like parties much. Plus our parents may not allow us to go out alone at night in a city we are yet not familiar to."

Sanskar: "But I can pick up you and drop you home if you guys want."

Swara's eyes brightened up and she looked at Ragini: "Ragini please!"

Ragini: "I don't know Swara... What will Maa Papa say?"

Swara: "Ragini we are not 5 years old kids. The party is here in the academy only and Sanskar is with us so how can they not give us permission. Ok then, if you don't want to come nobody will force you. I want to go to this party at any cost!"

Sanskar: "That's the spirit Swara! Leave Ragini, we'll go and enjoy!" – He said giving a hi-five to Swara.

Ragini: "So mean of you guys, you're ready to go without me? Great!"

With this she made an angry bird face and acted to leave but Sanskar held her wrist and made her turn around. Doing this, he pulled her towards himself: "Hey!" – He stopped her.

Ragini looked at him.

Sanskar: "Don't you dare to leave now and I'm telling you, you have to come to the party tonight. Topic ends here."

Swara looked at them and felt a bit uncomfortable.

Ragini to Sanskar: "And what if I don't come?"

Sanskar: "Swara... is your sister a ticklish?"

Ragini looked at Swara with big eyes shaking her head but Swara giggled and nodded in a yes: "Oh yes she is!"

Sanskar stepped towards Ragini with a mischievous smile and Ragini backed off shaking her head: "No Sanskar no!"

As Sanskar made another step towards her, Ragini ran away and Sanskar chased her.

Sanskar held Ragini's wrist from behind while she was running and pulled her towards him making her back hit with his chest. He surrounded her with his arms and tickled her on the stomach while she laughed hard.

Ragini: "Sanskar no please!!" – She chuckled – "It tickles a lot!!" - She said laughing.

Sanskar: "I'll stop as soon as you agree to come to the party!" – He said tickling and chuckling too.

Laksh was talking and laughing with his friends when his eyes went on Sanskar and Ragini.

Karishma, who was with him, noticed that he was looking at them so she said: "I know you must be thinking too that Sanskar used to stay away from girls then why is he so friendly with Swara and especially Ragini, right? I'm noticing that too! Look at them!" – He pointed at Ragini and Sanskar with her chin – "He never behaved this way with any girl!"

In the meantime Swara came to Ragini and Sanskar: "So Sanskar, did your tickling formula work?"

Sanskar looked at Ragini who nodded smiling: "You two na! This was not fair!"

The three kept talking while Karishma, Laksh and their other friends were looking at them.

Laksh: "How can Sanskar stay with this girl? I can't even bear to see her face! Seeing her is enough to spoil my mood!"

Karishma: "You don't know how cunning these small town girls are! They easily trap rich boys with their innocent look. See... that Ragini is doing the same with Sanskar!"

Laksh was feeling angry and he didn't know if the reason of his anger were Karishma's words or seeing Ragini and his brother being so friendly with each other.

A girl said: "Why are you saying like this Karishma? I don't think Ragini is a girl like that. She seems really sweet."

Karishma: "SEEMS."

Girl: "Plus I think Ragini and Sanskar look cute together. I'm already shipping them."

Another girl added: "Don't say like that Pooja! Don't mind Lucky, your brother is very cute and good looking! I tried so much with him but he never gave any response... and this Ragini! They know each other since few days and look at them! I'm with Karishma, I don't like Ragini."

Boy: "Oh come on! You girls are just jealous of Ragini. By the way stay alert Lucky and Karishma! Ragini and Sanskar are the latest couple in town, by how people are shipping them it seems like your popularity gonna drop a bit in front of them."

Karishma: "Oh shut up guys! Stop talking rubbish! Let's just leave from here! I can't tolerate this anymore! Lucky lets go baby!"

He held Laksh's elbow and took him away from there, followed by the rest of the group.

IN THE EVENING

Sanskar was getting ready for the party: he was wearing a white shirt with ripped jeans. He was whistling while tying a black tie when he looked at himself in the mirror.

Sanskar: "What's up Sanskar? Why are you looking so happy?" – He talked to his reflect and then smiled.

"Haule Haule Se Hawa Lagti Hai...
(Slowly Slowly (just as) a breeze drifts)
Haule Haule Se Dava Lagti Hai...
(Slowly Slowly (just as) medicines work slowly)
Haule Haule Se Dua Lagti Ha...
(Slowly Slowly (just as) prayers are answered slowly)..."

Sanskar stood there recalling his moments with Ragini in the academy.

"Haule Haule Chanda Badhta Hai...
(Slowly Slowly (just as) the moon rises slowly)
Haule Haule Ghoonghat Uthata Hai...
(Slowly slowly (just as) A veil lifts slowly)
Haule Haule Se Nasha Chadhta Hai...
(Slowly Slowly (just as) intoxication hits you slowly)"

Sanskar shook his head sitting on the bed. He took a deep breath closing his eyes and then opened them again.

"Tu Sabar To Kar Mere Yaar...
(Have a little patience, my love)
Zara Saans To Le Dildaar...
(Take a deep breath my dear)"

Sanskar: "What is happening to me? Why I am continuously thinking about Ragini?"

As he mentioned Ragini's name, her face came in his mind again.

"Chal Fikr Nu Goli Maar Yaar...
(Go shoot all the fears away, my love)
Hain Din Jindri De Chaar...
(Life is too short for that)"

Again a smile appeared on Sanskar's face. He shook his head and stood up fixing his collar while looking into the mirror.

"Haule Haule Ho Jayega Pyar Chaliya...
(Slowly slowly you will fall in love my dear)
Haule Haule Ho Jayega Pyar...
(Slowly slowly you will fall in love)"

ON THE OTHER HAND

Ragini came out of the washroom drying her hair with the towel. She was wearing a simple white kurti and black salwar.

"Ragini! You aren't ready yet?"

Ragini turned and her eyes went round seeing Swara. She looked at her from bottom to top with big eyes. Swara was wearing a short red dress.

Ragini: "Swara? What are you wearing?"

Swara: "Ragini it's a party so I'm wearing a party dress! What are you wearing? It's already 7pm! Get ready!"

Ragini made a face: "Yeah... but I don't know what to wear! I can't wear a dress like yours. I would not feel comfortable."

Swara: "But you can't go to a party wearing salwar kameez or anarkali!"

Ragini: "I told you I didn't want to go! Let me see something in the wardrobe..."

Swara sighed and sat on the bed. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled recalling Sanskar asking them to come to the party and giving her a hi-five.

Swara: "Sanskar is so nice, isn't he?"

Ragini, who was looking for a dress in her closet, replied: "Yes, he is very nice. An amazing person, must say."

Swara: "Hmm..." – She was still in her dreamland.

Ragini closed the closet and looked at Swara: "I don't have anything to wear for this party."

Swara: "How is it possible? There must be something! Jeans, top, blouse, skirt, dress, anything?"

Ragini shook her head.

Swara: "Wait; let me ask Mom if she has any idea!"

With this she went to ask Sharmishta while Ragini looked around with her hands on her waist: "I shouldn't have promised Sanskar... what I will do now?!"

She went on the balcony while thinking about a solution and just then she heard:

"Why are you looking so tensed? And you didn't get ready yet?"

Ragini looked left and saw Sanskar standing on the balcony of his room. Sanskar and Laksh's flat was next to Gadodia's one so Sanskar's balcony was near the one of Ragini and Swara's room too.

Ragini: "I told you I don't like these parties at all! And one of the main reasons are the dresses that girls have to wear! I don't feel comfortable in wearing dresses or shorts!"

Sanskar: "But you don't have to wear shorts or short dresses necessarily... you could wear... jeans!"

Ragini: "And what with the jeans?"

Sanskar: "Hmm... a blouse, an off shoulder top, or even a tee with a jacket on it!"

Ragini: "The tops I have are not to wear in such party for sure!"

Sanskar tried to think about a solution.

Ragini: "See, it's better if I don't come tonight."

Sanskar: "What about a jumpsuit?"

Ragini put a finger on her chin and thought about it.

"Swara loves jumpsuits and had bought me one once. Maybe that... but I have never worn it!" – She said.

Sanskar smiled: "I'm sure you'll look beautiful as usual! You have the grace to carry anything you wear!"

The corners of Ragini's mouth turned up: "Thank you so much Sanskar! You are the best, really!"

Sanskar chuckled: "Go now and get ready, we have to leave at 7.45 sharp!"

Ragini: "Ok Sir!"

Both laughed and then Ragini left from there while Sanskar looked at her from behind smiling.

LATER

Sanskar pushed the intercom button of Gadodia's apartment.

The door opened.

Sanskar, who was looking at the phone, said: "So, Swara and Ragini are you..." – He couldn't finish his sentence since his mouth fell open seeing Ragini in front of him.

She was wearing a black and white striped jumpsuit and had left her hair open with puff and had put on long earings too.

Sanskar was left mesmerized.

Laksh came out of the flat too: "Let's go Bhai!" – He said while closing the door.

Laksh had simply worn black trousers, white t-shirt and a navy blue jacket.

Since he didn't get any response from Sanskar, he looked towards him and just then noticed Ragini. Laksh, who was locking the door of the flat, remained still looking at Ragini from bottom to top, awestruck by the beauty he had in front of his eyes.