Took long to update. Ya know, I'm always like - this time, I'll only take two days interval to update the next chapter. But then I end up being lazy and the plan crash and burns.

Hehe...forgive the delay please.

Moving on...

"Words in double words" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 44 - From Happiness to Dystopian

Ragini hummed to herself as she dried the washed glasses with a cloth. Sujata and Ram had left with Shikha to shop for the engagement. Ragini blushed to herself thinking of that day.

The day she will wear the ring which will tell the world that she is Sanskar's and he is hers. She bit her lip to stop a squeal that threatened to break out.

The ring of the doorbell broke her out of her thoughts. "Coming!" she put down the cloth and the glass, heading for the front door. There was a skip to her steps, obvious of her inner happiness. It was hard for her to not be giddy with the prospect of her engagement to Sanskar.

'Oh hush you! Will you stop thinking about it for even a second?' Ragini chuckled as she knew the reply would be a 'no'. 'You're so smitten in his love Ragini.'

She reached up and unlocked the door to find the person of her thoughts standing before her. "Sanskar! Welcome home." she went forward and hugged him with a bright smile.

"Woah there! Someone seems over-excited."

"Yes!" she stood on her tip-toes and kissed him on the cheek. "I have all the reasons to be over-excited and happy since I'm with my man."

'She called me her man.' Sanskar smiled a goofy smile and followed her inside like a puppy following their master. As she continued to do her chores in the kitchen, he stood beside her leaning on the counter, simply watching her work.

Ragini chuckled and looked at him with a smirk. "You know, I won't get anything done with you looking me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you want to keep me in your embrace and never let go."

"How did you know I was thinking that?"

"Haha...! You are an open book to me Sanky."

He shrugged with a cute grin and hopped on the counter. "I'll just sit here and try not to distract you then."

"Really now?"

"Don't underestimate me. I can stay not looking at you every second."

"Okay. Whatever you say."

He hummed to himself and swung his legs as he looked around the kitchen. Unfortunately, he could only do it for a few seconds, before his gaze landed back on Ragini. To avoid being scolded, he took a glass and acted as if he was examining it.

Ragini couldn't help it and smiled to herself. She could see everything from the corner of her eyes. She turned to him with her hands on her hips. "Firstly, that glass is washed properly if that's what you're looking at. Secondly, it's transparent and I know you're actually watching me."

"No. I'm watching the glass. It's interesting."

"You mean to say it's more interesting than me?" Ragini questioned with an angry look.

"What? N-No! That's not what I meant. Never did I mean to say something like that. Trust me!"

Ragini snickered. "I was only joking Sanky. You're too serious sometimes. You're gonna grow old soon if you keep this up. Then, everyone is gonna say that I married an old man."

"I'll have you know that I'm someone most girls crush on at the office. I'm the most se-" it was only after he said the words that he realized his mistake. 'Well, I hammered my own thumb, didn't I?'

"You mean you're flirting with girls behind my back!?"

"No, no! I am not! They are the ones who come to talk to me."

"Aha! So you enjoy their attention, don't you!?" Ragini accused, this time angry for real.

"Come on Ragu. You know I won't do that. Or is it that..." Sanskar got off the counter and walked towards her with a smirk. "Or is that you're jealous?"

"Me? Jealous? No way!" she shouted in a high pitch voice, trying to lie. She took some steps back as he kept coming near. She kept moving back until her back hit the counter behind, and she couldn't move further.

Sanskar's smirk widened as he came closer every second until he was right in front of her, with their noses almost touching. He leaned over her and put his hands on either sides of her, trapping her. "You are, aren't you? It's kind of cute, you know?"

"I-I'm n-not!" Ragini stuttered. She had already shared kisses with Sanskar before. But nevertheless, he never failed to make her feel flustered every time he came so close to her. "It's you who...who flirts with girls in office. Did you do it today too?!" she accused with a pout.

Her question automatically reminded Sanskar of Manisha and the entire drama a t the office. He had left after a few minutes with Mani letting him off for the day. Her reminder changed his romantic mood to one of irritation. He sighed and moved away from her. "That Manisha is what happened today."

"Manisha? But...but why would she go there? You said Mani warned her not to, didn't you?"

"But she came anyway, despite his warnings! She's just..ugh!"

"Oh..." Ragini looked down in sorrow. "I wish she wouldn't do such things that would widen the rift between her and her family. If she wants them back, she should try to be more careful while dealing with Mani bhai."

"Seriously Ragini? You think she's back to unite with her family?"

"Of course. Why else would she be back? Maybe she wants to change? But we can never know if we never give her the chance."

Sanskar sighed, trying hard not to shout at Ragini for always being so optimistic. Yes, he liked that trait of hers. But when it came to people like Manisha, he didn't think there was any hope for change. 'Besides, she made it clear what her true intentions are today. She wants my attention. I think I'll pass on telling Ragini the truth since she will get hurt unnecessarily.' Sanskar loosened his tie around his neck. "Forget about her Ragini. She's of no importance to her. Instead, go change into something better."

"Eh? We're going somewhere?"

Sanskar nodded. "Don't you think we're forgetting to give the news of our engagement to someone?"

Ragini thought about it. She remembered calling her parents and Dadi. 'Oh no! I almost forgot about Badi Maa and Bade Papa!' Ragini looked at him with wide eyes. "You're right! I'll go get ready right away."

#Maheshwari Mansion#

Uttara stood beside Laksh, who had a gun pointed at Adarsh and Swara. His parents and Parineeta watched in shock.

"Wh-what are you doing!? Put it down!"

"No way Adarsh! You've pissed me off too far! You tricked me and expect me to forgive!?"

"Don't be crazy! Put it down I said!"

Laksh grinned maniacally at Adarsh. "Oh no big brother. This is the end of the line for you and Parineeta bhabi. Along with your accomplice, Swara!"

"You'll go to jail for murder Lucky. Don't think you can escape!" Parineeta shouted. "Be reasonable!"

"Reasoning left the moment you angered me. Now, you suffer!"

"N-No!" Adarsh felt true fear from his little brother for the first time in his life. He looked towards his parents. "Maa, Baba! Tell him to stop! Tell him to stop! He will listen to you."

Annapurna looked at him helplessly. "Don't you think we would have stopped him if we could? He doesn't care what we tell him."

"Baba? Aren't you going to do anything?!"

Durgaprasad turned to his younger son. "Laksh stop!" Durgaprasad shouted. His voice boomed throughout the room.

However, in response, Laksh only laughed hysterically. "As if I would listen to you! You disowned me, remember!? You left me when I needed your support!"

"Stop it! You can't kill us. The law will not leave you!" Swara shouted, acting shocked and afraid. 'Any minute now, the main drama shall unfold.'

"You are the main culprit!" Uttara shouted, walking towards Swara. She reached for the papers and snatched them away. At once, she ripped them to shreds. "There goes the signatures. There goes your property. Hah!"

"NO!" Parineeta shouted in anger and desperation. "No! After everything...after coming this far...no!"

"Hahaha! Now what?!" Laksh taunted, walking closer. "You don't get nothing now. Neither will you get the property, and neither will I spare your lives!" he took off the safety of the gun. "Now, I'll enjoy killing each and every one of you traitors! Startin-oof!" suddenly, his foot hit the carpet and he stumbled. He tried to balance himself but it was all fruitless. With a loud thud, he landed in a heap on the floor, the gun sliding out of his hand and lying far away.

Adarsh wasted no time to run towards it and grab it. He grinned and picked it up with glee. "Now who's the one having the last laugh, eh?" he laughed out loud as he pointed the gun back at Laksh, who was slowly getting up from the floor with a look of horror.

"Sh-shit!"

"Bhai! Oh no! Bhai, what now!?" Uttara uttered in panic, fearing for her life.

"Now, you are the ones who are going to die, that's what!" Parineeta gloated, coming to stand beside her husband with a smirk. "Don't kill them yet, dear. Let me get the other papers from our room."

"I thought you had forgotten about them. Go get them soon."

"Do-don't shoot! Don't! You can't Adarsh. I'm yo-your brother, right? Please!" Laksh pleaded. "You're being delusional!"

"Ahahaha! Are you for real? Weren't you the one trying to kill me a few moments ago? How does it feel to be on the receiving end, eh?"

"Adarsh bhai, no please!"

"Shut it Uttara!"

"Here they are!" Parineeta happily came near and placed the papers on the table. "Now, hand over the property by writing it down in your own handwriting. Think of it as your will."

"But it will actually be our will in disguise." Swara smirked, coming to stand beside Parineeta. "Do it! And maybe Adarsh might spare you."

"O-okay! I'll do it. I'll do it! Just please don't shoot!" Laksh grabbed the pen and sat down near the table. "I'll sign this and return the property back to Baba. D-don't shoot us."

"Whoever said we want them to belong to them?" Adarsh replied with a sneer.

At his words Durgaprasad and Annapurna's eyes widened.

"What are you saying beta? Aren't you glad laksh is returning the property back to your father?"

"Oh please! I've had enough of it being the second malkin of this house." Parineeta shouted. "Now, I shall be the Queen of this mansion, with my husband as the King."

"And what about us? This property was established by your father Adarsh. Why are you doing this!?" Annapurna cried out at her son. "What has made you change so suddenly?!"

"Suddenly?" Adarsh laughed. "This has always been my plan ever since Laksh and Sanskar joined the family business ten years ago. I thought I would be your first prodigy to carry the business forward. It was me who should have got the right ownership over more than half of the property! I'm your first son!"

"I see all of you equally. Sanskar, Laksh and you are equal to me." Durgaprasad reasoned. "You've become misguided by greed Adarsh."

"Shut up! I'm not misguided." he pointed the gun at him in anger. "I'm just taking back what I deserve! An-" he stopped speaking when the front doors were opened and two people stepped in.

The box of sweets dropped from his hands at once at the scene that he saw before him. Ragini, who stood beside Sanskar, had a hand over her mouth to cover her shock.

"Bade Papa...Badi Maa..." Ragini looked towards Adarsh who had a gun pointed at them. "Wh-what is this?"

No one answered. There was only erriness and silence.

"What...what's going on?" Sanskar asked in a quiet voice. The tension was so thick, one could hear a pin drop.

"Ragu, Sanskar?! What are you doing here!?" Swara shouted, breaking out from her shock. 'They weren't supposed to be here! What if they get hurt in this mess?!'

"Get out! Get out right this instant!" Adarsh hollered. "This doesn't concern you, you brat!"

Sanskar gritted his teeth in anger. "You have your gun pointed at my Bade Papa, my sister, My Badi Maa and my brother! It is my business!" he took some steps forward. "You dare shoot them and I'll kill you with my bare hands! You have to go through me to get to them!"

Adarsh glared and turned to point the gun at him. "Then you shall die first." he gripped the gun harder.

"No!" Ragini let out a shout and ran forward as fast as her steps would take her to reach her love.

"Goodbye Sanskar. It was good knowing you brother." with that, Adarsh clicked the trigger.

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹Mona🌹