" That is Sudharshan Babu... He is an aid to Ragini's birth family... and He came to fetch her" Badi Maa said

Laksh was losing his ground "Ragini...??" Laksh whispered

" Badi Maa..." Laksh called her.. "I don't understand..Why does that man want Ragini's whereabouts?..What.... what do you mean by 'her family'??... She has always been with you right??" Laksh bombarded AP with questions.

AP kept on weeping ,finding it hard to frame her answers.Laksh,Gautham and Sankar looked at Amu for answers.

"I don't know much Laksh..." Amu said ."It's just that This is not the first time that man came here and yelled at Teacher Maa."

"Why dint you tell me about this" Gautham asked sharply.

"We wanted to tell you, but she forbade us from telling anyone about this. Last time me and Rucha almost told to Ragini and when Badi Maa found about this, she asked us to lie to Ragini that everything was ok" Amu said miserably

"Why Badi Maa..." Sanskar asked gently.. " Why are you hiding this from Ragini??... It's her family right??

"Children...They are dangerous people" Annapurna said in a defeated voice... " They will hurt my Ragini..."

" No Badi Maa..." Laksh said sternly..." No one will hurt her... I wont allow that... We won't allow that"

Sanskar, Amu and Gautham nodded in a determined look.

" Now tell us Badi Maa..." Laksh requested

Annapurna shifted to her memory lane

"Laksh, Sanskar, Your Mausaji.. Durgaprasad Arora was a man of Social work, I came in contact with him during one of my assignments in Delhi.We initially formed a professional rapport, which became friendship and later decided to give our relation a romantic touch. After a term, we got married to each other and I officially started working as a teacher and was partly associated with his NGO." Annapurna's voice reflected the sweetness of memories with her husband.

" One day DP came in with a small baby girl, barely 20 days and said that she will be our daughter" AP continued. "We were childless, after years of marriage and DP was not a person who stressed on bloodline and he promoted adoption of orphan children. He didn't tell me anything about that baby and I don't like to interrogate him once he doesn't give me answers.. We took care of the baby as our own and named her Ragini..We started revolving around that tiny life.She was our reason for our happiness from then.One day DP was very disturbed and called Me....

DP: Annapurna... I Have to tell you something

AP: Haan Bolo(casually, holding a 2 month old Ragini)

DP: Our Ragini is in danger

AP: What??

DP:You need to take her and move back to a safe place

AP: Just a sec... Tell me clearly... I know you have been hiding a lot about her from me... I never asked any questions.But now i need answers( Ap starred at Dp)

DP: Ok ok... i will tell you everything.(sighed). Ragini is my friend Dheendhayal(DD)'s duaghter.You must have heard about them... The Goenkas..

AP: The Goenka group of Companies??

DP: Exactly...This is his second child..DD's dad Ashok Goenka and mother Pavitra Goenka are adrent followers of one stupid Baba...So it seems that That Baba predicted that this time he will have a girl child,the first girl child of the family, and she cant stay with them... should be sent on Van Vaas to a place with difficulties and no luxiries... Otherwise DD's son, the heir of the family will perish..

AP: What Nonsense??

DP: I know dear... When DD was about to send her to a place where only Widows dwell, I felt bad, Begged him and requested him to hand her over to me. After lot of convincing, He gave her to me and Now she is with us

AP: So what is the real problem?.

DP: DD called me and informed me that Recently his elder son fell from the stairs and is critical..So that heck of a baba said that we are taking good care of Ragoo, so the curse is rebounding and affecting their son... Its seems that she should suffer a lot so that their son lives happily and So DD was like she must be sent to that place with widows and asked me to return her.

AP:Noo.... We can't let this happen...

DP: I know Annapurna, I know... Thats why I am telling you that you and Ragini should leave

this place

AP:What about you?? We can't leave without you...

DP: I will join you soon, Let me give a last try and reason with DD

Annapurna continued her story " When we were about to leave that day, some men, including Sudharashan Babu came. Durgaprasad asked us to leave through the back door and wait for him at the bus stand. I dint want to go without him,so i hid at our neighbours.Later, I heard him shriek and ran to our house . That was the worst night in my life."AP gulped down her pain. "I saw my husband in a pool of blood, fighting for life.They left him to bleed and Die".AP closed her eyes in pain.

"I ran towards him" She continued after composing herself. " His last request to me was to keep our Ragini safe. I had to run from there... Couldn't even give my husband a proper burial". Annapurna cupped her face to hide her tears. "I thought that maybe Ragini's mother will have a different approach to this. I believed that ,a mother... will be mother...despite the gender of the kid."Annapurna sighed

""I called her, Told my situation... She was like she will meet me at the Bus station and she wants her baby safe. I was about to cut my call, I heard her informing her Father in Law and Husband about this and heard her father in law ordering to kill me and fetch Ragini...."

" I ran for our life... To keep my promise to DP... To save my daughter....I hid for many days... Did odd jobs to feed her and me... I couldnt contact my family as I feared that they would be exposed to danger" AP said between sobs.

Laksh had a vague memory of his mom being tensed about Badi Maa and crying when he was 3 years old.

" Finally I reached Kolkata, my sister's place, where i got associated to Orchid ...They immediately took me in as I was DP's wife as he was a benefactor of the orphanage...Everyone here maintained the word that Ragini was left by someone at the orphanage like other children, to mask her identity...And this became our life.." Annapurna exhaled sharply

.

"I was very disappointed and felt defeated after Ragini's affair and marriage with Karthik... But she escaped that bad luck and landed with you guys"Ap said to Laksh and Sanskar. "I was feeling a special kind of relief she settled with you Laksh. I thought that the hide and seek will be over now... she will never come in face with her past... But one day Sudharshan came to me and demanded to give her back ... He was like they always knew about our whereabouts.... But left us alone as they believed that she would be suffering as an orphan and moreover their son was safe. But now they wanted her back. I refused to talk to him about her. He threatened me many times, over the phone, came in person and gave me warnings... I dint budge...Today he was furious and attacked me when i ignored his demands. Annapurna concluded.

" Why do they want her now?? Laksh asked, carefully subsiding his anger under his gritting teeth.

" Because their Panditji said that her Van Vaas is over and she must be back home ... That too she must be back home to ensure the well being of their son."

Laksh got up... and walked with a determined look.With a fit of rage, He banged his wrist on wall, jerking all of them to reality.

"LAKSH...." Sanskar shouted and ran towards Laksh and grabbed his bleeding wrist.AP stood numb,supported by Amu. Gautham ran to fetch First Aid kid

"Badi Maa....They won't get her anymore" Laksh hissed flaring his bloodshot eyes... "She is Laksh Maheshwari's wife ..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amrita was helping Annapurna to get ready,while Laksh got into her office . He saw the picture of his Mausaji hung with a flower garland. He looked at that man's smiling face. He just saw him only in pictures..He and Sanskar were never interested in Badi Maa's life as they never connected to her, until Ragini came into their life.After that they got a real Mausi type of feeling from her.He examined his Mausaji's face. The man' face was contented and calm with a warm smile melting his heart. It ached him that his Badi maa had a life and She lost it saving Ragini...His Mausaji gave up his life to save Ragini....He was forever grateful to them. Laksh shut his eyes and folded his palms into a prayer. "I will take care of her... No matter what happens she will be safe.. I won't let yours and Badi Maa's selfless sacrifice go in vain... I promise you that" Laksh promised DP silently

Laksh released himself from the prayer and turned to see Sanskaar and Gautham paying their respects to His Mausaji.

Gautham placed his hand on Laksh's shoulder in comforting manner and smiled at him.Laksh smiled back.Sanskar took Laksh to a Hug.Laksh was in need of this support.

Laksh, Sanskar and Gautham moved to the orphanage mess for tea.

" When a child reaches Orchid, He or she is put under the supervision of a Teacher".Gautham told as he sipped his tea. Twenty children of different ages are kept under a teacher. We all came under Annapurna Teacher Maa.Fifteen Years back she was appointed as the chief warden, after that she didn't get anyone under her. Aarti and Pinky were her last children.Here, your Teacher is your mother and children under her are your siblings.After the child is twenty, they are supposed to find their future. I used to hate this place... You know my classmates at school used to boast about their parents and I was fed up with nineteen siblings and a single mother. I wanted to leave this place as soon it was possible.when I grew up I just left, struggled, studied, achieved my dreams and left for US.I barely made any contact after that until i met Amrita,three years back for work purpose through Internet.She told me how she, Ragini and Rucha decided to stay back at the orphanage." Gautham took a bite of his biscuit.

" I was surprised and seriously shocked.I dint know why, but that time i felt to come back.When i came I saw that almost all other siblings left,Theses three stayed on with Arti and Pinky.Teacher Maa became Chief Warden,Ragini was a MBA graduate, drawing good amout of money but a changed person ..due to her experience with Karthik..." Gautham trailed off..." Rucha was a doctor...After seeing these people i felt guilty...and decided to keep in touch with them.My relation with Amrita slowly took another shape and we decided to wear off Brother-sister tag.I bet you people must have heard very less about me."

" That's not the case" Sanskar dipped his biscuit in his tea. " Ragini talked about you in many instances, not as frequent as the girls...But we dint know that you were Amu's bae."

"Ah.... okay okay..." Gautham Said.."You have the habit of dipping biscuit in the tea right" Gautham mocked Sanskar. " Ragoo does that too"

" Actually me and She bond over tea and dipping biscuits, He also does that" Sanskar chuckled

"Did you know about DP Mausaji" Laksh asked casually

" Not really .. Known to us as Teacher Maa's husband... This is the first time that I am hearing his story.....Yeah we used to consider him as the 'imaginary father figure "Gautham said

"Imaginary father figure?? Dint get you??" Laksh was confused

"Hmmm... Do you know Ragini's last name??" Gautham asked

" No..." Laksh said... "We dint meet before marriage and after marriage she got our name.. Maheshwari',... So...." Laksh was feeling guilty with each other woord he was trying to frame.

" It's ok Laksh..." Gautham felt that Laksh was struggling....

"What is it??" Sanskar, who was equally guilty asked

"Usually at the orphanage , we are given the name ' Gandhi' as a last name for official purposes.... But Teacher Maa named us 'Arora'... " Gautham said with grace. "It was teacher Maa's husband's last name... Teacher Maa's too....Me, Rucha, Amu, PInky and Aarti share the same surname... All the children under Teacher Maa have the same surname...." Laksh and Sanskar was overwhelmed.

"I am feeling very guilty now..." Gautham said "I was always blaming this orphanage for my low standard of life but this man and Teacher dedicated their life for children like us....whose parents abandoned them... They gave us a respectable life and I really doubt whether we will be able to at least take care of one child, who is suffering like us" Gautham questioned himself, which was also tormenting Laksh and Sanskar.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laksh and Sanskar took Ap, Amrita and Gautham to Maheshwari mansion.Ragini, Sujatha and RP was eagerly waiting for them.Her bright smile trailed off as she saw AP with bruises and bandage on her fore head.Forgetting her pregnancy,Ragini ran to her Badi Maa and caught her

" Badi maa..." Ragini cried...Sujatha also followed her. " What happened to you??You are hurt??"

" Jija ... Kya Hua?" Sujatha was also worried.

It was a second later Ragini saw Laksh's wrist which he punched on the wall and bruises due to to the fight.

" Oh my God Laksh " Ragini took his hand in a swap which pained him, Ragini left him as he hissed.He could see that she was almost losing it.

" Ragini Beta ... I tripped and fell from the stairs, Laksh was trying to save me,but he slipped too, hurting his wrist too..." AP stumbled while lying..." But we are okay now....Sanskar fixed us tight..."

Ragini looked into Sanskar's eyes. He blinked in assurance.Ragini believed them as she found all the other three intact and fine.She gave a warm hug to Gautham, whom she was meeting after a long time and escorted Badi maa to the Guest Room. she also took Laksh With her to make him rest. Sankaar led the way for Gautham , who was also hurt during the fight. They hid Gautham's bruises with Amu's make up.It was decided by all of them to tell Ragini a convincing story and it was that they would keep this truth away from Ragini for the time being.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laksh sat at the steps of his balcony.he thought about the day's incidents. His mind was oscillating between whether to tell Ragini about her past. He found the information too important to hide from her.

Ragini came from behind and placed a wet kiss on his cheeks... She sat on his left side and slid her arm in his arm. Laksh smiled warmly at her.Ragini gently took Laksh Right wrist, the injured one.

" Is it painful now?" She whispered

" No" Laksh kissed her forehead. Ragini placed her head on his shoulder and caressed his injured wrist.

"Ragoo" Laksh called her name gently

" Hmmm" Ragini hummed

" Can ask a question" Laksh kept his words very guarded

" When did you start taking permission from me to ask questions?" Ragini chuckled

" See... Whatever I am going to ask you... Please don't feel bad... I'm just asking out of curiosity" Laksh explained

Ragini raised her head from his shoulder and cupped Laksh's face.. " I know very well that you will not intentionally hurt me... So no need for these intro-paragraphs... Shoot" Ragini smiled in assurance

"Ok... Have you ever thought about your real parents... The ones who gave birth to you? Laksh took his word gently

Ragini's smile toned down a bit for a while. She sighed and smiled again. " Many times...My teen was full of fantasies regarding my parents'' Her voice cracked slightly... '' I always wanted to feel the warmth of a family. I want to go on picnics with them, play with them and wanted to be an ordinary girl.I hated my birth parents for snatching my childhood But as I grew up... I felt that they might have their own reasons...Maybe they were poor... Maybe i am illegitimate... Maybe they died... That time I understood where i stood....Then I decided to push myself to attain a posting where I could stand in the society confidently."

" When Karthik came to my life ..." Ragini paused a bit and checked for Laksh's reaction. He flinched a little bit in hatred on hearing Karthik's name. " I dreamt of building a secure family for myself. I trusted him and thought that he was the one...After he cheated me... I was trying to build myself from those scratches with the help of Badi Maa, Amu and Rucha.Until I married you... I thought that dream expired... But now I am living my dream...With you, Sanky , Maa,Papa... and now Swara and our Tutu" Ragini placed her hand palm on her stomach.

Laskh hugged Ragini and tried to suppress his pain. He was guilty that he dint know anything about her feelings. It was true that he loved her ... Theuy spoke a lot about themselves and him... But never did it occur to him that there was this itching part within her , which was an important part of hers, which he ignored unknowingly...

Laksh was determined to keep her happy... Keep her safe.. Love her...and protect her from anything and everything... which included her past... She will not know about this past of hers. He decided.

Ragini released herself from the hug and smile" Hello Sir... It's very late... you dint have your food yet...We will have to get up early for tomorrow's pooja"

She got up and took tray with food and sat near Laksh.she tore a bite of paratha and kept it in Laksh's mouth.

" Did you eat??" Laksh questioned

"Do you think Maa will leave me out without eating??" Ragini raised her eyebrow...Laksh shook his head in negative

" Laksh..." ragini called "Why ask about my parents suddenly??"

Laksh hesitated a bit. " Simply"

" Not because Sanskar is getting an awesome Mother in law, who is going to feed him like a buffalo??" Ragini chuckled

"Oh Hello... Even before Swara... I am Mishti Maa's favourite...." Laksh spoke mouthful. " And Yeah... He is going to suffer when Swara will always pester him to drop her in Maayka...But You will always be with me... No one can claim you from me...." Laksh smiled brightly...

" Aww ... My possessive little naughty Hubby......" Ragini pinched Laksh's Cheeks... " Yup... I promise you that You will always be my first priority and I will be Yours forever....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ragini's effort to sleep early went vain... After feeding Laksh... they talked about Ragini's feelings ... Laksh made sure that he doesn't leave out anything about her.They didn't know when they dozed off.

When Laksh got up in the morning , He found Ragini all decked up in red for pooja. She was looking royal... She took out his kurta and pushed him to take a bath and went to look after the arrangements...as it was Sanskaar's wedding Pooja, Ragini wanted everything perfect. After getting ready, Laksh went to the Balcony. He was looking at the Arrangements in the Lawn... Everything was set and neat. He saw ragini behind the staff on her final check... He smiled involuntarily looking at her

Suddenly he saw some unknown people approaching Ragini.It was Sudharshan Babu and his goons. Laksh's blood boiled ... He just ran to her.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So Guys....Tell Me what you feel about Ragini's past and Laksh's decision to keep her away from it??

Do you think that she will be able keep her promise to him... Comment on