Hi ya! Good morning!

Do tell if it ain't displaying.
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Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 31 - Pieces in a Puzzle

She squeezed her eyes closed as the morning sunlight hit her face. She slowly brought a hand to her face to cover her eyes. However, her sleep was already broken. 'Guess it's better to just get out of bed.'

Ragini yawned as she stretched her limbs to awaken fully and sat up straight in bed. She blinked in a daze and looked around the room.

She looked at the alarm clock beside her bed. It was almost 8am.

Something seemed amiss.

It didn't take her long to know what it was.

'It's nearing 8 and Sanskar is no where? Usually he would be the first one to wake and wish me good morning at 6.' she removed the blanket and stepped down from her bed.

However, she felt something beneath her legs and looked down.

She gasped as she saw the sight.

Red petals of roses lay there on the floor. With the sunlight shining on them, they looked more beautiful.

Only then did Ragini looked around the room properly. There were red roses near her table, near the window panes as well as near the door. However, the most beautiful one lay on the bed beside the space she was occupying a minute ago.

Ragini noticed a note under it as well. She picked up the rose with affection and unfolded the letter.

Good morning love. Had a nice sleep?

Ragini nodded with a smile as she read the first lines of the letter, no doubt in Sanskar's handwriting.

Liked the decorations?

"Liked? I loved it!" Ragini spoke out loud. She was imagining Sanskar to be present before her.

I know you did. And see this rose I've left for you? It's the prettiest of all of them.

"That it is." Ragini agreed.

I removed all the thorns from the rose as well. You are too precious for me to let you be hurt in any way.

Ragini looked at the stem of the rose. Indeed it was devoid of any thorns. Ragini smiled at soft dreamy smile. "Oh Sanskar..."

I can't see you hurt Ragini. I don't want you to be sad. You may hide it from me, but I know you still fear me leaving.

Ragini flinched at his words. 'He need not worry about me so much. I'll tell him once I find him.' thinking so, she began rereading the letter.

And I know what you're thinking. You think you'll just talk to me and convince me that you're okay, aren't you? That's not going to work. Even you can't stop me from helping you this time Ragini.

Ragini paused at his words. She felt a sense of happiness as well as fear. Fear that Sanskar had found out her insecurities. She feared he may be angry with her for thinking about him leaving, even after he assured her he loves her many a times.

But there was also a sense of happiness from the over-protectiveness Sanskar was showing. She felt loved and valued. She shook her head of her thoughts and continued reading.

Ragini, go get ready and come for breakfast soon. I have a surprise for you.

With love, Sanskar.

Ragini giggled, excited to know what her surprise might be. She folded the letter and kept the rose beside it, heading towards the washroom.

After sometime...

Ragini stepped inside the dining room with slow and silent steps. 'Sanskar's planning to is surprise me. But I'm sure I can catch him off-guard first!' she thought in mischief.

However, she could see him no where. Ragini looked from right to left, but there was no trace of Sanskar.

She blinked away a water droplets which entered her eyes from her wet hair. She brushed away her wet locks of hair as it fell over her face. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a rose on the vase on the table.

Ragini went near it and picked up the rose. She noticed that there was food on a tray, covered with a plate beside the vase. Ragini uncovered the food. There wasn't anything grand there.

Just a little sandwich.

However, what made it special was how it was arranged. The way it was beautifully cut out in the middle to a heart shape was amazing.

'Wow! It looks beautiful. Sanskar must have given a lot of effort to make it.' she noticed a note beside it as well. Ragini picked up the note and unfolded it. As she read, she sat down and began eating.

Like the food? I made it for you. Well...tried to at least. Swara kept giving the instructions to me though. Hope it tastes good.

Ragini chuckled. She could just imagine the sheepish look Sanskar would have been giving at that moment.

And sorry for destroying the kitchen. Please do not go inside! I don't want you to be angry at me just yet. Nevertheless, I made the food successfully! Well, I think I did... I guess... I think? Ugh! Whatever! I'm rambling again
(-_-)

Ragini choked on her food as she tried to stifle her laughter. 'You'll never improve, will you?'

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I love you. I know I tell it to you often, but it's still not enough if you ask me.

Ragini's eyes softened on his words "I love you too."

That reminds me. The place and circumstances under which I proposed was quite dramatic, wasn't it?

Ragini nodded with a chuckle. She turned the letter. However, to her surprise, it ended there. She rechecked to make sure she wasn't missing anything. 'But it looks incomplete.'

She finished her food and put the dish in the basin. Ragini moved out of the dining room and checked all the other rooms. However, there was no trace of Sanskar anywhere. 'Where could he have gone to? That too without informing me? He's being too cryptic fo-'suddenly, a thought struck her and she ran back to get the note.

Ragini ran her eyes over the last lines once more. 'The place where he proposed...the beach!' Ragini chuckled. "What are you up to Love?" nevertheless, she headed towards her room to change into something better.

#Beach#

She could taste the salt of the water in the air. As she breathed in the fresh air, a different kind of peace filled her heart. The sound of the waves hitting the rocks and the seagulls flying above was music to her ears.

Ragini walked to the place where Sanskar had admitted his love for her...where he told her how much she meant to him. The place where their love story began.

However, as she scanned the place, she couldn't find Sanskar there either.  'Eh? Did I mistake his clue? But I'm su-' she heard a loud rumbling which startled her. It took her a moment to realize that it was actually the sound of someone snoring.

Ragini went behind a rock and blinked in surprise at the sight.

Mani lay there snoring in broad daylight.

Ragini went near him and poked his arm. "Mani bhai? Mani! Mani, wake up!"

Mani woke up with a jolt. "No I didn't fall asleep! No water please!"

Ragini looked confused at his reaction. "Mani, why would I drop water on you for no reason?"

"You wouldn't. But your idiot of a boyfriend would! Sanskar wa-"

"You know where he is?" Ragini asked with hope.

"Seriously, I think he had some sort of mutual enmity with me in his previous life or something. He ju-"

"Mani please! Did you or did you not see him."

Mani rolled his eyes at her impatience. "You're starting to sound like him as well." Nevertheless, he took out a note from his pocket and handed it to Ragini. "Sanky came to my house and told me to wait here for you and give you this note. Usually, I would have punched the person that dared to wake me before 8am, but..." he smirked at her. "Sanky seems like he's planning a big surprise for you Ragu."

Ragini smiled in anticipation.

Mani faked a serious face. "As a brother, I think I should spy on what he is upto. Who knows if he intentions are more than just innocent?"

Ragini blushed at his words. "Mani, you and your jokes." as she opened the letter, something fell down. Ragini bent down and picked up the rose with affection. She stood up straight and read the words in the letter.

Roses are red 🌹
Violets are blue...
...
...
Okay, I quit! I can't write poetry. I'll probably end up butchering English language if I start my epic poems.
(-_-)

Ragini giggled at his words. 'That, I agree.'

But whatever!
All I want to say is...

When I first met you, you were the key to my revenge.
When I got to know you better, you were the key to my salvation,
When I lost you-

Guilt gripped Ragini as she remembered how she had distanced herself from him because she thought he had only used her throughout. 'I should have trusted you better. I should have listened to you at least once.' with these thoughts, she continued reading the letter.

When I lost you, your memories were what kept me alive...
And when I got you back, I felt my life come back to my body.

And now, after I know the bliss of receiving your love and affection, being with you, sharing my love for you...

I don't think I'll ever be able to survive losing you again.

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. I would do anything...anything for you.

I love you to the Moon and back.

"Moon, eh?" Mani spoke, peeking over her shoulder.

"Mani bhai! You shouldn't peep into other's secret letters." Ragini chided. However, her voice came out in a soft and shaky voice, still overcome by emotions over Sanskar's words.

"Hehe...sorry...not really."

Ragini shook her head at his antics and proceeded to read the last lines.

I'm at your house. Come soon!
With love, your Sanskar.

'Eh? Why my home?' Ragini thought in confusion and distress. Last time they were in her house was when time they left the house...forever.

Even if the truth was out now, everything wasn't solved. There was still some tensions between her and her family. 'But I trust Sanskar. He won't do it unless he has a good reason.'

"Oi! Where to?" asked Mani as he saw her walk away.

"To where my Sanskar awaits for me."

"I see. Well...have a nice time." Mani waved as she went away. He himself turned to leave to get his car.

"Mani?"

Mani turned around at the voice. However, on seeing the person, his eyes widened. "YOU!"

"Yes. Mani I wa-."

"Shut it!" Mani shouted in rage. He could feel his blood boil at the sight before him.

#With Ragini#

Ragini stepped down from the auto and looked at her house. She wasn't sure what to expect inside. Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and headed inside.

Once she entered through the gate, she spotted Swara outside.

Swara stood there leaning on a pillar.

Swara smiled a broad smile at her. "Finally here?" with those words, Swara headed inside silently. Ragini followed her.

The moment Ragini entered the house, she saw an unexpected sight.

Her mother, father, Dadi and Swara stood there together, as if awaiting her arrival. Her mother and Dadi had tears in their eyes. Her father had a stoic demeanor, but had a small smile playing in his lips. Swara was grinning from ear to ear. In fact, Ragini was sure that no human can smile further than how much Swara was.

However, Sanskar was no where to be seen.

"W-what? Swara?" Ragini stuttered out in confusion. Although her parents came to know of the truth, she still hadn't had a moment to reconcile with them.

Shramishtha moved forward and hugged her daughter. She cried into her shoulder and held her tight. "Raginibeta, how are you?"

"I'm...I'm fine Maa." Ragini spoke out. It was a long time since she last got to hug her mother. She could feel her tears gather in her eyes.

"Good. Good Ragini." Shramishtha broke the hug and looked at her with a smile. "And you're eating and sleeping at the right time, right? I hope you are."

Ragini nodded, too overcome by emotions to speak.

Shramishtha smiled a teary smile. "I missed you so much beta. Because of our own mistakes we lost you. Never should we have doubted you. We thought you were weak. But it was us who always pulled you down. All you needed was for us to understand you, to give you the support and strength to stand strong." Shramishtha spoke in a broken voice. She was crying profusely by then.

Ragini's eyes teared up automatically at her words. "Maa, you sh-"

"Let me speak today Ragini." Shramishtha continued. "Family. Family is the one who should be this support. But Ragini beta, we gave you nothing. You always thought only for others, loved for others. And we...we took you so much for granted that we never thought of you as someone who has their own will, their own problems. Every time we would impose our views on you and you silently accepted them."

Ragini looked to the side as her father came to stand beside her mother. "Baba, please tell Maa not to apologize."

"Your mother is right Ragini." spoke Shekhar. "We never valued you enough. We never showed you how much you mean to us beta." Shekhar admitted. "But we're glad Sanskar found a gem in you. He understood you, believed in you no matter what. Even at odds, he trusted you and yet...yet, I, who had raised you from your birth, failed to understand you. I'm sorry beta. I'm so sorry. Will you ever forgive your father for it Ragini?"

Too overcome by emotions, Ragini simply nodded vigorously. She let out a sob and pulled her parents into a tight hug.

Dadi and Swara watched from inside as the three sorted out everything.

From the corner of her eyes, Swara saw Dadi tear up. "Eh? You're crying? Awww..."

"Chup reh Shona! I'm not crying. I don't cry."

Swara chuckled at her words. To an outsider, Parvati might sound rude. But that was how Dadi was. 'She may be harsh to me, but ever since yesterday, she and I had become a team.' Swara smiled to herself recalling the previous day's incident with Dida.

Dida had been bad-mouthing Ragini non stop, even after knowing the truth. Hence, Swara decided to teach her a lesson. Dadi, once she knew her plan, helped greatly.

'It was a good lesson for her indeed.' Swara thought in mirth. After all, it made Dida leave their house and go to stay at her second son's house.

"Don't lie! I saw you cry Old Lady." Swara teased Dadi.

"Oi! Who are you calling old?"

"Haha...no need to get cranky. Here, let me give you a hug. You're crying because you're not getting one, aren't you?" Swara teased as she hugged her Dadi.

"Ack! Let go, let go!" Dadi exclaimed. However, she couldn't stop the little smile that threatened to escape her lips. She didn't mind Swara's jokes. After all, Swara was her granddaughter too. 'And now that Shekhar and Shramishtha have solved their problems with Ragini, we can all be a happy family again.' she thought, looking at the three near the door.

"Oi! Me and Dadi are feeling left out!" Swara exclaimed, making Ragini and her parents look at them.

Dadi glared at Swara and hit her over the head. "You notorious child!"

Ragini chuckled at their antics.

Everything seemed to fall into place. She had her family back, Swara and Dadi had solved their differences, her parents had realized their mistake...everything was getting better.

Like a pieces of a puzzle being put together again.

Like all the pieces of her life are fitting right on their own.

However, there was still a piece of the puzzle that wasn't there. A vital part without which, Ragini's world would never be complete.

Sanskar.

She now knew why he wanted for her to come home. He wanted to solve her problems and tensions with her family. He seemed to know how much her family meant to her. Sanskar had planned everything and made sure there was nothing left to become the cause of her sadness.

"Maa, where is he?"

"You mean Sanskar?"

"Yes Maa." Ragini replied.

Swara at once rushed towards Ragini and grabbed her hand. "He isn't here. But he told me where to take you. Come on!" saying so, she pulled away Ragini without giving her a chance to say anything.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹