Trying to be faster with the updates lol.

Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 37 - No More Lies

Sanskar was lost in his own world of misery. Not even the world's biggest guitar would be enough to make him smile.

Today, in his songs, he had expressed his love for Ragini.

That was the only way.

Sanskar knew he would never do it in reality. He didn't want any harm to come to her because of him. That's why he has decided not to confess his love and stay away.

And the second reason was his twin. Ansh loved her and Sanskar would gladly play the role of best man in their wedding.

Besides, he knew his brother could keep her happy and give her enough love. Maybe...maybe even more than himself.

And he? He knows now that what he feels for Ragini is true love. He believed won't be able to look at another with the same feelings.

But life would have to go on. And so, he  would try to live his life. 'At least I would have the consolation that at least I managed to keep my brother and my love safe. Doesn't mean it would lessen the pain in this heart though.'

Sanskar sighed and closed his eyes.

He tried to remember Ragini's face in his mind. Her smile, her angry frown, the scrunching of her eyebrows when she was irritated and her shout of 'Sanskar!'. He loved how she spelt his name from her mouth.

"Sanskar!"

'Yes. Just like that. She says it so beautifully. Its so enchanting that I'm being able to imagine it exactly as she says it. I wish she was with me right now.' Sanskar thought with a sad smile.

"Sanskar! Damnit stop!"

Sanskar paused his steps and opened his eyes in confusion. 'She isn't supposed to call out like that. I was imagining her calling out nicely to me. Why would I imagine her cussing at me?'

"Sanskar! Sanskarrr!"

At once, he turned around. To his surprise, he saw Ragini running towards him. "Wow! I was just thinking of her voice and here she is. I guess some wishes do come true."

Ragini stopped once she reached him. "Stop! *huff* Finally got you! *huff* I've been searching *huff* all over for *huff* YOU!" She could barely talk between her panting and huffing.

Sanskar watched with a raised eyebrow as she tried to gain back her breath from all the running.

"Relax. I'm not going anywhere. Why were you searching for me anyway?"

Ragini straightened up and looked into his eyes. "I want to know what's wrong with you. You left abruptly from the College and you even seemed depressed. Why?"

Sanskar clearer his throat and looked away. Ragini noticed. And she's doubting me now.' He tried to think of an excuse. "Its nothing like that. I left because I didn't want to watch the rest of the boring performances. And as for the depression thing... it's
just me being tired from worrying over the chip. You know how much of a headache it can be." he joked.

However, Ragini wasn't convinved. "Don't even try to lie to me. I know there is some other reason for your behaviour. Tell me please. I want to help."

"There's nothing wrong, alright? Stop bugging me and go attend the Fest. I'm bone tired and I need rest. That's why I came back home in the first place."

"If that's the reason, then why are you roaming about and not inside your home?"

Sanskar didn't have an answer to that and looked down.

"Sanskar please." Ragini pleaded. "Tell me the truth. I thought we are friends, aren't we? You can trust me."

Oh how he hated that word 'friends' from her mouth. He wished he could be more. "I told you it's nothing!"

"Sanskar...please."

Sanskar looked away from her desperate look. "Ragini I... I can't tell you. Try to understand. You called me your friend, right? So please try to understand."

"What if..." Ragini steeled herself and took a deep breath. "What if I want to be more? What if I...what if I want to be someone whom you could trust more than anything?" Ragini questioned, looking into his eyes.

Sanskar's eyes widened on hearing that. By saying those things, she was only increasing the pain in his heart. Because that's what he longed for her to be. That's what he wanted... For her to be one he could trust above all, love the most and have beside him...forever.

But he knew he won't confess it to her. For her sake and his brother's.

"Go home Ragini." He tried to push past her. However, she held him back by the wrist.

"Sanskar please. Don't push me away. Don't shut off your emotions! Please tell me what's wrong. I can't see you in pain."

"Why?!"

"San-"

"Just leave damn it!" he shouted. If she stayed any longer, he would end up shouting the truth in anger mixed with his sorrow. "Why do you even care if I'm upset?!"

"Because it pains me!" she shouted back in anger and helplessness. "Seeing you in pain feels like someone is hurting me, like my heart is suffering, not yours. Tell me the truth. Please Sanskar." Ragini pleaded desperately.

Sanskar's heart broke more with each word she uttered. However, instead of showing grief, his anger took over.

It was the only way he knew how to handle hurt and pain.

He snatched his wrist from her grip. "Why!? Why can't you just leave me at my state!? Why can't you just go away, be busy with your friends instead of being with an emotional mess like me? Why do you care so much!?"

"Because I love you!" Ragini screamed out, with tears in her eyes. "Yes, I love you damn it! I love you."

#Mount College#

Prasanth reached the campus and parked his car. He was about to head in, when he saw Samay and Nikhil rush out and head towards their bikes. They looked distressed.

"Oi! Idiots, what's wrong?"

"Shramishtha aunty called. She said that she could see some men in black suits around her house. They're trying to remain hidden, but she saw them."

"And you both think its a good idea to just stroll in there without any help?" he asked with a glare. "Its not some film where you can take down all those men. Get off you bikes and come with me. I need to tell Vinod."

"No time. We need to reach there as fast as we can." Nikhil replied and was started his bike.

However, Prasanth kept blocking their way.

"Get away!" Samsung shouted in urgency. Both brthers looked pissed off. However, Prashant didn't relent.

"Get off your bikes, or else"

"Else what!?"

"Else, I'll ask Vinod to take you both back to Mumbai. We will handle the situation from now on since you two are being so wreckless! Do you want me to do that?" Prasanth questioned them with a glare. "Now, come with me."

They wanted to argue, but relented. They didn't want to be kept of house arrest. How would they protect Ragini then?

They sighed and followed Prasanth to his car.

At the same moment, Ansh was heading out of the College when suddenly, he spotted them.

Ansh had looked everywhere to find Ragini and get out the entire truth. However, Ansh couldn't find Ragini anywhere. So, he thought of asking Samay or Nikhil.

However, he saw them walking with Prasanth towards his car. 'Shit no!' Ansh hurried towards them as fast as he could.

"You say Shramishtha aunty is at home. But where's Swara?" Prasanth enquired the brothers.

"She went back home an hour ago. As for Ragini, I couldn't find her anywhere." Nikhil replied in honesty.

"Ragini is at Sanskar's apartment. Don't worry, she will be safe there. I dropped her off on my own."

Samay and Nikhil breathed in sighs of relief at Prashants's assurance.

"Okay then, let's roll."

Prasanth chuckled and got in, ready to start the car.

To his distress, Ansh reached the car just when he started it. Thus, he failed to meet them. However, he had been near where Prasanth spoke of Ragini. 'So she is at Sanskar's apartment. I'll go find her there then!'  Ansh ran back towards his car and drove off. 'I'm finding out the truth today, no matter what!'

#With Ragini and Sanskar#

Sanskar looked on speechless at Ragini.

The love of his life just confessed her love to him. He felt happiness like never before. It was everything he ever wanted to hear.

Sanskar was about to tell her that he loved her more than anything as well. However, he stopped at the first syllable. Ansh's face flashed before his eyes.

And he remembered the reality.

The reality of his life being in danger. The reality of his brother being in love sigh Ragini.

He recalled why he couldn't be with her. Not only for his brother, but also for her safety.

Sanskar looked down in anguish. He was thankful that his long hair covered his eyes as they would no doubt reveal his miserable state to her. He was a man with everything before him, yet he couldn't have anything.

Sanskar felt happy that she confessed, but sad at the same time as he has to give her up.

He wanted to pull her close. But at the same time, he wanted to push her far away.

He wanted to tell her that he loved her too, but knew he had to act like he didn't if he wanted to keep her safe.

Sanskar steeled up and balled his hands into fists. With a cold look, he stared at her face. It crushed him to see her face which was full of hope and joy. He felt like the worst person on earth, knowing he would be the reason she would lose her smile now.

"I'm... I'm sorry Ragini, but I don't love you."

Ragini's smile dropped. "Wh-what?"

"I meant that I...I don't love you like you love me. I'm sorry."

Ragini froze. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She was sure that she had seen the love in Sanskar's eyes for her. No way could he have mistaken it. "You...you're lying right? You're messing with me, right? I saw the love in your eyes. No way was I mistaken!"

"I don't know what you saw Ragini, but it wasn't anything like that." he lied. However, it was physically paining him.

Ragini could feel her heart shattering into pieces. "N-no... No you're lying. I'm... I'm sure I-"

Sanskar gritted his teeth. 'Like a bullet, I should hit the mark and make you hate me forever. If I don't it will...it will only keep killing you slowly and painfully.' Sanskar put on his playful smirk. "Oh come on Ragini! Why would I fall for a middle-class girl like you? I have lots of amazing, rich, beautiful fangirls after me. If I have to choose, I would choose one of them. Its funny that you even think you could give them a competition. In fact, you don't even matter to me. You're nothing but a pest."

Sanskar wondered if he deserved an Oscar. For he was acing the heartless dialogues. However, with each word, he wanted to hit himself as hard as he could. He would rather take a bullet than have to repeat the words...ever.

Ragini stumbled back in shock and hurt. Sanskar could see the pain that he was causing her. All he wanted to do was comfort her, hold her close and shield her from all the pain in the world.

'No! I must not forget my aim. I must keep her away. Besides, in a way, its good. Now, Ansh can be her hero, while I become the villain in this story.' Sanskar thought in his mind.

Ragini had tears leaking from her eyes each drop dropping like a heavy weight on his fragile heart. Sanskar turned around so that she couldn't see the pain in his moist eyes and walked away. 'If I stay any longer, I'll end up breaking in front of her.'

Ragini could feel her nails digging into her palm out of anger and sorrow. "So you never cared for me?" she shouted. "Not even as a friend? Then how do you explain all the time we spent together!? How do-" she looked down as she couldn't continue. It was too much for her.

Sanskar took deep breath to compose himself and turned around with a smirk. "I still needed you to assist me in the competition, remember? That's the only reason I was nice to you. Besides, Saara wouldn't have performed if I treated you like trash. And you're helping us with the entire matter with the chip. That's why I'm tolerating you. Otherwise, I don't give a damn about girls like you."

With each word, it was like a needle being bright down to pierce her heart.  Each word of Sanskar was like a blow she felt to the core.

Ragink clutched her heart in pain and closed her eyes to stop her tears from flowing, refusing to show any weakness to him.

Sanskar, too, felt like someone was ripping out his heart seeing her state. He couldn't see her like his anymore and turned to leave. However, just as he was about to take a step, he noticed a red light falling on the ground. Slowly it reached him, and then it fell on Ragini. He looked to the source to find a sniper pointing his gun at her from a distance.

With horror, he realized his intentions. "Ragini, move!" he shouted.

However, she was too lost in her emotions to hear his multiple shouts.

"Shit! Ragini!" Sanskar rushed forward as fast as he could to save her.

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹