Finally got time to add a few more chapters to this fic.

Anyways, Onwards!!!

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Previously - Abhi saves Pragya from the chandelier . However, there is a tear in her dress and Dadi takes her away to change. Sanskar and Swara doubt that someone had purposefully cut the rope holding the chandelier. However, they keep this information a secret until they are sure of their doubt. Rishi and Tanuja seem like they are the only ones having a good time at the party. Elsewhere, Abhi is amused by Laksh's jealousy as he glares at Ragini getting buddy-buddy with Karan, the famous star. Finally, Laksh ends up confessing his love for her. Maya notices Samay smirking at her and realizes that it was Samay's doing. She follows him outside, with Arjun following her.

Now -

Chapter 17 - More Than What Meets the Eye

She fumed as she waited outside in the dark night to meet him. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him coming out of the party into the parking lot. At once, she marched up to him and glared at his smirking face. "One thing! Just. One. Little. Thing! That is all I told you to do. And yet, you couldn't even do that properly!?"

"Relax Tanu darling. You'll ruin your make up."

"Samay, I'm serious!"

"I'm serious as well. After all, you wouldn't want your age to show if your make up falls off, would you?" Samay said with a smirk.

"How dare you!?" Tanu raised her hand to hit him, only for it to be caught by him in a vice grip.

"Just because I was was your boyfriend once, doesn't mean I will tolerate you now. Watch it."

Tanu gulped seeing his glare. She knew how bad he could be for his enemies. "I...I'm sorry, alright? Its just that I can't bear that Pragya! I thought you would surely end her tonight. I never thought that the great Samay Randhawa would fail at such a tiny task."

Samay put a lock of hair behind her ear in a loving gesture. "Darling, even the best ones have their bad days, don't they? But don't you worry. I'll take care of her for you. After all, you were once my girlfriend."

"You sure you don't want any help? I can ask Nikhil to help yo-"

"No need. Samay works alone Tanu. You can go home and relax. Soon Pragya will be out of your way." Tanu nodded, convinced and drove off in her car. Samay chuckled as he looked on. 'Foolish girl. I could have ended that Pragya if I wanted to tonight. The reason I put her in danger was not for you Tanu, but because I wanted to test Maya. You're just a pawn in my game. I'm the King who wants his Queen, Maya, for himself! And I'm willing to do anything to get her.'

"Samay!" Samay smiled when he heard someone holler his name. He knew the owner of the voice without turning back. In fact, he was sure he knew everything about her.

"Maya darling. You followed me outside? You must be missing me dearly, weren't you?"

Maya walked towards him in anger and slapped him.

Arjun, who had followed Maya outside, got in time just to notice that. He hid behind a parked car and watched the events play out. 'Oo! That ought to hurt his pride. He should have known better than to mess with Maya. That girl is like a female Bruce Lee!'

However, instead of getting offended, Samay caressed the spot where Maya hit him. "Well, at least you touched me."

"You sick bastard! How dare you target my sister!? How dare you try to harm Pragya!?"

Arjun's eyes widened on her words. 'Samay was the one who tried to hurt Pragya? But...but why? Pragya probably doesn''t even know him, does she? And more importantly, why is Maya angry? Didn't she say that she didn't care about her sisters? What the heck is going on here!?'

Samay chuckled. "Intelligent as always. So you figured it out that it was me, eh?"

"Why are you after her!? Answer me!"

Samay smirked and grabbed her arm. Maya tried to break free of his grip, but her efforts went in vain. He tightened his grip and pulled her closer to him. "I'm not after her. You and I both know who I am after, don't we Maya?"

"You think you can threaten my sister's life and get away with it? You can't escape the law."

"The law won't believe you unless you have evidence. And by the time they find it, I will already have killed them. Do you really want that Maya?"

"Let go of me!"

"Oh, but I don't want to to." Samay pulled her closer.

Maya felt her skin crawl at his touch. No matter how hard she tried to break free of his grip, he only tightened it more. Her heart thumped in panic and she desperately hoped someone would come to save her. Arjun's face flashed in her mind, but she knew he wasn't there to save her. 'Not to mention the fact that he already hates me.'

Arjun felt his blood boil at the sight of Samay pulling Maya closer to himself. He wanted to go there and break off Samay's hand. However, taking rash actions may cause more harm than good. That was the only thing that kept him in place. He didn't realize it, but he was gripping the car handle so hard, it was a miracle it hadn't broken off.

#Inside#

"I won!"

"No, I did!"

"I did!" 😣

"Damn it. I did!" 😠

"Sanky, I did and that's it!" 😡

"No, I did Ragu!" 😤

"Swara! Tell him that I won. You saw it yourself, didn't you!?" Ragini asked Swara, confident that her sister would side with her.

"Swara, you saw me win right?" Sanskar smiled at Swara lovingly, trying to win her vote.

Swara gave a miserable sigh and smacked herself on the head. 'Sister against my potential future husband. Never thought I would have to make this choice. Why me!?'

"Ragini! There you are!" all three of them looked up towards the voice to find Laksh approaching them. "Ragini, I wasn't done talking to you. Why did you leave?"

"Because."

"Because?"

"Yes, because."

"Because is not an answer Ragini." 😑

"It is from now. So deal with it." Ragini got up from her seat and patted Sanskar while leaving. "Alright future jiju, you won."

"Aha! Finally you admitted. Now give me the fifty rupees."

Ragini nodded miserably and took out fifty rupees from her pocket. "Here you go."

Laksh looked at Sanskar in bewilderment. "You're a model, that too a highly paid one. And yet, here you are demanding a fifty rupee note...that too from someone younger to you? Like seriously?"

"Yea, so what? I won the game. So its only fair she pay me. After all, there is a different pleasure in earning form a gamble." Sanskar replied with a wink.

Ragini rolled her eyes. "Whatever! Bye! I need to leave as some unwanted guest has appeared here." Ragini glared at Laksh and went away.

Swara giggled at her sister's antics. "What did you do this time Laksh?"

"Nothing! I just expressed my love for her. Isn't this what she wanted?"

Swara gasped in wonder. "You did!? Wow! Congratulations Laksh. And as for Ragu, I'm sure she's taking revenge on you. Like you used to ignore her, she's now ignoring you. Go get her!"

"Yea Lucky. Go get your girl." Sanskar encouraged.

"Thanks guys. I'll get going then."

"Bye Laksh! All the best. Knowing how obnoxious my sister is, you'll need it! And congrats once again. This is such a great news!"

"And Lucky? See this paper?" Laksh looked at the paper Sanskar was holding up and nodded. At once Sanskar tore it up into pieces, crunched them in his palm and threw the into a nearby bin. "If you play with her feelings, that is what will happen to you."

Lucky abruptly moved away from Sanskar. "Su-sure! B-Bye!" He ran away quickly to avoid Sanskar's scary look.

Sanskar turned to look at Swara who was smiling at him. "What? Is something on my face?"

"Nothing. Its not that. Its just that you're so different when you are with Ragu. You act so calm and composed with everyone. But with Ragu, you fight like a kid. And yet, you care for her as well."

Sanskar shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? Ragu brings out the fun side of me. In fact, she has become like a little sister I never had. An obnoxiously irritating and troublesome one, but a little sister nevertheless." Sanskar folded the fifty rupees and put it in his pocket. "I wonder how angry she is after knowing that she lost against me."

Swara chuckled. "Actually, its you who is the loser here."

"Eh? How so?"

"Didn't you think that our stubborn Ragu admitted defeat too easily?"

"Now that you point it out, it did kind of seem odd." 😐

"That's because it is. Check your pocket." On doing that, Sanskar's eyes widened. "Didn't find your wallet, did you Sanskar? Ragu stole it when she leaned down to congratulate you."

"What the...how did...argh!!! Ragini!!!"

"Quit screaming like a banshee Sanky. What's the matter?" Abhi asked as he came near them, followed by Rishi and Tanuja.

"Nothing Abhi. Its just that he got outsmarted by Ragu."

"Ahahaha..!"

"Shut it Abhi."

"Why should I? You know, She's becoming my favourite saali day by day."

"You look like you are all set to marry Pragya." Rishi teased.

"Why not? I like her. I'm sure she likes me. So why not?" Abhi looked around for Pragya. "Its been half and hour since Dadi took Pragya with her to give her another dress. Where are they?"

Tanuja smiled at him and pointed towards the stairs. "And there she is. All set to amaze you."

Abhi turned to look at the stairs and felt his breath stop at the sight. Pragya looked simply amazing.

Rishi closed Abhi's mouth with a chuckle. "Keep your mouth closed. You don't want flies going in, do ya?"

"Careful Rishi. He might drowl on you in his fantasizing for Pragya." Sanskar teased as he saw Abhi stare at Pragya in wonder.

"Rishi, can you go check the guest list and make sure everyone came?" Abhi spoke without looking away from Pragya, as if in a trance.

Rishi patted him on the back. "Okay Abhi. You go get your girl."

Abhi didn't need to be told twice. He at once rushed forward towards Pragya. "You look mesmerising Pragya."

Pragya blushed at his praise. "Thank you. I've never worn so expensive clothes. So I'm a bit nervous. What if I ruin the dress somehow?"

"The dress is replaceable. You aren't."

A waiter came near them. "Would you like something sir?"

"Right now, I have everything I need in front of me."

Pragya giggled at his words. "Abhi, could you be anymore cliché?"

Abhi smirked and cleared his throat, taking a grand pose. "Thou art Pragya. A rose by any other nameth, is just as sweet! Thy beauty bedazzled me!"

Pragya burst out laughing at his words. "You Abhi, will never improve. You love to act like an idiot, don't you?"

"I may be an idiot. But I'm your idiot, aren't I?" Abhi asked with a goofy smile.

Rishi chuckled at Abhi's antics. "He's never going to change, is he?"

"Nope. He's a lost cause." Sanskar responded playfully.

"True." Rishi straightened up. "Alright then. I'll go check the guest list. Bye Sanskar, Swara an-" He paused when he saw Tanuja come and hold his hand.

"Rishi, I'll help you with the work. That way we can finish it quickly." Tanuja offered. The truth was that she wanted to spend more time with Rishi.

"I would love that. Come on." saying that, they moved away from the rest.

#Outside#

"Let go of my hand Samay! I'll never be yours!"

"Today was just a sample Maya. If I want, I can kill your sisters. One By. One. Do you really want me to do that?"

"I don't ca-"

"Oh don't give me that 'I don't care about them' speech." Samay glared at her. "I know you care about them. Just like you cared five years ago. Even then, you lied to save them."

Maya froze in shock at his words. She shivered as she remembered the events that happened five years ago. However, she refused to show weakness in front of him. "That Maya was weak. This one isnt!"

Maya managed to break free of his grip and pointed a finger at him. "I swear Samay. If you so much as touch a hair on any of my sisters' head, I will end you!"

Arjun watched all that was happening in front of him. Now he knew why Maya said she didn't care about any of her sisters. 'She was actually trying to show that she didn't care so that Samay doesn't go after them! That was why she chose to take the danger on herself, rather then let her sisters get hurt. And I...I misunderstood her.' He thought while looking at her apologetically. 'I'm so sorry Maya. I guess there is much more to you than meets the eye.'

If he had looked towards the front door of Abhi's Mansion, he would have seen Ragini storm out towards the parking lot.

Ragini fumed with each step she took.

"Ragini? Ragini, stop! Slow down!"

She could hear Laksh shout from behind her, but she kept walking forward, ignoring him.

Laksh quickened his pace and finally reached her. He grabbed her wrist and made her turn towards him. "What the heck Ragini!? I've been calling you non-stop! Why won't you stop when I asked you to?"

"Let go of me Laksh! I don't want to talk to you!"

"Eh? But why? I thought you liked me. You should be happy now that I told you that I liked you back." He spoke as he raised a hand to touch her.

However, Ragini smacked his hand away and jerked her other hand away from his grip with a glare towards him. "Yes, I do like you. But I don't shun you away just because I don't like your quirks!"

Laksh looked at her confused. "Shun you? Are you saying that I push you away?"

"Yes! Not once or twice, but everytime! You think I don't realize, but I do. Everytime I be my own self, you act like I'm embarrassing you and your move away! I've seen you do it in front of your friends and that...that other brown haired bimbo!"

"Um...her name is Kavya." Laksh pointed out helpfully. However, he knew it was the wrong time as he watched Ragini get more pissed off.

"I don't want her name! Go be with her since you care about her so much. Go away from me!"

"Ragini, will you just listen to me for once? There is a re-"

"I don't give a damn about your reasons. Just leave!"

Laksh shook her by the shoulders. "Ragini, I don't shun you away because you embarrass me! Its because I don't want anyone to spread rumors about us! Yes, it is true that I thought you were a spoilt brat when I first met you. But as I got to know you better, as I spent more time with you, your flaws bothered me less and less. I began to accept your flaws. In fact, I fell in love with your flaws! I love you Ragini. Not just your perfections and beauty, but your imperfections, your mischief, your faults...everything! I just want you to be mine for the rest of my life. I...I really do."

Ragini looked at him speechless. His words had touched her heart and soul. Each and every word of his was spoken with so much truth. She felt like she would melt at his intense look. All she could do was stare at him with a smile.

Laksh looked at his love. Even though she had tears in her eyes, she looked so beautiful. Unconsciously, he leaned closer to her.

Ragini gasped as his lips touched hers. Her eyes closed on instinct.

Laksh felt his heart explode with happiness as he felt her responding to his kiss. Her lips felt so soft to him.He was in complete bliss.

Next thing he knew, he felt a hard sting on his cheek.

Laksh held his throbbing cheek and looked at Ragini in shock. "Why would you hit me all of a sudden?!"

Ragini's eyes welled up with tears. "You...you kissed me? You kissed me?! That too in a parking lot!?"

Laksh looked at her confused. "Why does the place matter?"

"I-it does to me!" Ragini cried out. "That was my first kiss and I Wanted my first kiss to be special! You...you ruined it!" Ragini plotted down on the ground and began wailing.

Laksh's eyes widened on seeing her state and looked around in panic. "Shhh! Stop crying! Or else, people might gather and blame me for harming you. I'll get beaten up! Come on, give me a smile, okay?"

Ragini sniffed, still crying."Y-ou ru-ruined everything! And n-now you w-want me t-to freaking smile!" Ragini continued her cries despite his pleas.

'Laksh sat down beside her. "Ragini please stop! I'll make the next one special alright?"

"T-that was my first one ever! It w-was supposed to be special!"

Laksh smiled at that. "I'm the first one to kiss you? I really am Lucky."

Ragini looked at him, pissed off. "You're smiling at my misery?! How dare you be so cruel!? How can you be so stone hearted!?"

"Ragini that wasn't...I didn't..." however, looking at her face, he knew she was angry beyond limits. From the corner of his eyes, he spotted his brother hiding behind a car at the parking lot. At once he ran towards him.

"Arjun, save me bhai! Rag-"

"Shut it Lucky."

Laksh abruptly shut up. His brother sounded dead serious. 'I wonder what has him so worked up.' Laksh peeped over the car's top to find Maya standing at a distance with some other guy. She looked pissed off.

"No use hiding from me Laksh. I fo-"

"Shh Ragini." Laksh pulled her behind the car and pointed ahead. "Look ahead. Its your sister."

Ragini glared at him but looked where he was pointing. At once, her demeanor changed. Her look of anger changed into one of horror. "Sa-Sa-Samay?!"

While Laksh looked at her in confusion, Arjun looked at her in shock. "You know him?"

Ragini shivered and hugged herself, as if afraid of something...or someone. "How could I not remember that...that monster! The one who tried to kill me five years ago."

"What!?" Laksh asked in anger and disbelief.

Arjun placed his hand on Ragini's shoulder and looked at her eyes. "You don't need to be afraid, alright? We're all here. Tell us what happened."

*****************************

To be continued...

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