Well, guess we've seen Ragini's side of the story where Sanskar is turning into a cold-hearted guy with anger issues. A few chapters need Sanskar's side of the story too, no?

Moving on... 🕺🕺🕺

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes.' – Thoughts

52. The Shadows of the Night

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning."

"E-e-eh?"

Sanskar looked at the employee in irritation. "What!?"

"Nothing sir! HaveAGoodDay!"

'I'm hiring idiots!' shaking his head, he walked off towards the elevator.

Once he was safely inside and the elevator doors were closed, the employees in the floor all huddled together to discuss their latest topic of discussion- Sanskar Maheshwari, or the 'Glaring Demon from Hell' as they called, replied back in a normal tone...something which rarely happens.

Very rarely.

#With Sanskar#

Sanskar flopped down on his revolving chair, making it creak. He could already feel his headache worsening and it was only 10 am. 

He still remembers how he practically kicked Laksh out once he was in front of Mani's house. But Laksh only looked at him in worry and told him to get himself some medicine on the way. Although he wouldn't admit it, Sanskar felt touched by this small gesture. It has been a long time since he felt cared for. He felt a smile coming on his lips despite himself.

'Ragini always did. It is you who always pushes her away by your harsh words! That's why she stopped caring!'

Sanskar flinched as his mind supplied him with the truth.

"Hello Sanky. Goooood morning!" drawled the very object of his disdain. Sanskar looked up towards Manisha with a glare. However, instead of smirking and cooing like she shamelessly did usually, Manisha only glared back with a hiss. "If you're going to blame me, then don't even dare!"

'Blame her? So, something did happen!' Sanskar thought in distress. However, he schooled his features, careful not to reveal anything. If Manisha knew that he doesn't remember whatever happened, she'll take advantage of it and twist the truth to benefit herself. Sanskar knew that well.

"Yes. I will keep blaming you. It was you who initiated it!"

Manisha threw the files that she had in her hands onto the table. "How dare you scumbag bla-" taking a deep breath, Manisha tried to calm herself. "Look Sanky...its true that I like you. Heck, I lust after you and you know that! But what happened yesterday was not only me. You enjoyed every bit of it! You accepted it even, you damned dipshit!"

Sanskar felt like a bomb had been dropped onto him.

Dropped from the sky...so hard that he felt as if it had crushed him to the ground and sent him reeling into the core of the earth, suffocating him.

"You...you're lying! I. Would. Never! I would never cheat on Ragini!"

Manisha laughed a bitter smile. "Ragini this, Ragini that! To hell with it! It was me you sought comfort in yesterday, not Ragini! Me! Manisha! Not Ragini!"

Sanskar shook his head. "You lying bitch! You would go to any lengths to get what you want, but this crosses the limit of your lies!"

Manisha looked at him in frustration.

And was it tears that he was seeing in the corner of her eyes?

It was strange because ever since they decided to work together, he had thrown so many harsh words at her and she hurled back insults equally hurtful. That was another reason why he didn't end the agreement he had with her. She was the fire that could burn him back. He knew he was a scum with the way he acted with Ragini and Manisha never hesitated to point that out to him. 

He called her out for her sluttish behaviour, she called him out for his cruelty and obsession over money over family. She made him realize how low he had fallen and he believed he needed it. 

Because that was what he was.

A scum.

No.

Lower than scum.

For every tear that Ragini shed, he felt himself lost all the more and he used his work to consume him to distract himself from that deep ache in his heart.

Manisha was complete opposite of Ragini. She was evil, but a woman with a strong and cold heart who never shed tears, but destroyed the ones who pointed out her faults.

And yet, he saw a glistening over her eyes. But she blinked and was once more facing him with a glare.

"You...I knew but yet, I hoped. I really did hope that yesterday was the day that you would finally accept that I am the one you need. Money, power and lust...I can satisfy all this and you should pick me. I thought you finally understood it! But you are the same like all men! You just decide it was nothing and discard what happened betw-"

Sanskar slammed his hands on the table and stood up in rage. "Stop your lies this instant. I have had enough!"

"Why?! The truth is hard? You kissed me, made out with me an-"

"Lies, all lies!" Sanskar screamed, holding his head. Now that she was mentioning everything, flashes of the previous night was slowly coming back to him. He was seeing himself shouting at her. Blaming her. She was coming closer and he was angry.

And then?

Then what?!

'Why can't I remember? WHY!? I need to remember! She's lying I'm sure. I would never betray Ragini. Never! That's why I need to remember. I need to remember so that I can reveal her lies! She's even faking her tears to convince me! I won't succumb to her web of lies. I WON'T!' Sanskar tried to remember what happened but could only see his angry face and her seductive smirk.

"You're just a weakling who can't admit the sinful things he did!" Manisha laughed. However, her shaking hands and clenching and unclenching of her fingers betrayed her composed figure. "A year...an entire year and yet, yet when I finally thought you fell for me..." Manisha whispered, but it was all on deaf ears. 

Sanskar wasn't listening. All Sanskar could hear was a dull ringing that was slowly growing into a pounding sound in his head, aching and paining him. He clutched onto the edges of the table to keep himself upright. He felt dizzy and his eyesight was getting blurry. "Leave!" Sanskar demanded, not wanting Manisha to see his weakened state.

"No. You're not the boss of me. You can't just use me and throw me away! I'm done with you and your bullshit. I've realized what you are. You don't want power to protect. You're just a scum who wants money and power without caring what you do. Yes, I am guilty of manipulating you and turning you into..." she sneered at him as she pointed her long fingers at him from head to toe in disgust. "This! Congratulations! You've out-mastered your master in being a disgusting, selfish, manipulative scumbag Sanskar!"

"That's it! One more word and I'll forget we have a deal!"

Manisha scoffed. "You'll forget? As if you were ever the boss of me. I myself am leaving. I am done with a scum like you. No wonder Ragini doesn't like you anymore. You're worse than me now. Money has corrupted you like no other. You're the lowest scum on Earth! You're no longer the person that I lo-lusted after." Manisha stuttered the last part, almost as if she was correcting herself. "I'm leaving this company for good!"

"Good! Leave!" Sanskar spoke, too far gone to care. His head was killing him. he was sure she would slither back in later.

Manisha gave him a frustrated look, but there was also a look of defeat. "You never changed. You never will. That's what I hate. But that's also what I admired." With a shaky sigh, she marched up to him and put forward her hand. "Goodbye Sanskar Maheshwari. It was nice doing business with you."

Sanskar somehow managed to stand upright to look at her hand. Gritting his teeth to suppress the throbbing pain in his head, he raised his hand to shake hers.

However, before he could touch her, he felt his face turn right from the force of her palm.

She had indeed slapped him.

Slapped him hard.

"Good. BYE!" shouting at his face, she turned on her heel and stormed off.

Sanskar could only blink in utter surprise. He felt something trickle down his nose. Raising his hand, he touched his nose and watched as his fingers came out red. 'This couldn't be from Manisha's hit. Then wha...' before he could finish his sentence in his mind, he felt his consciousness slip.

Last thing Sanskar saw before his world went blank was Uttara's wide eyes at the door of his cabin.

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~ 🌹Mona 🌹