Hey ya!
Vacations are gonna be over soon. Meehhhhh bummer! 😥😥😥

Anyways, Onwards!!!

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 18 - Of Revelations

"How could I not remember that...that monster! The one who tried to kill me five years ago." Ragini spoke in fright.

"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."

They heard a thud and saw Samay lying on the ground, Maya standing on him with her heel on his back. "Mind my words Samay. This time, I will kill you, even if it means I get imprisoned for life." saying that Maya turned around and stormed off inside to the party.

Samay turned around and looked at her go with a smile. "Oh how much I love you! Soon you will be mine."

Arjun grit his teeth in fury. Laksh could practically hear his teeth grinding with each other from his place beside him. 'Eh? Is it me or is bhai getting jealous? But I thought he hated Maya.'

Arjun saw Samay leave and turned to Ragini once again. "Ragini, tell us please. We want to help. Samay seems like a dangerous person. Don't you think it would be best if me and the other boys help?"

Ragini looked down in thought. After all, he wasn't wrong. She nodded. "His name is Samay Randhawa, a top dog in the fashion world. He collaborated with Maya Di on one of her projects."

"So that's how he came to know of Maya."

Ragini nodded. "The day he and his manager came to our house to finalize the deal with Maya Di, we sisters saw how he was looking at her like a love sick puppy. At first, we teased Maya Di with his name. But we knew Samay would get his heart broken because Maya di didn't have any such feelings towards him. After the deal was over, he proposed to her. But Maya di outright refused saying love was just a waste of her time."

"He didn't stop trying, did he?"

"No. In fact, he became more desperate. He would come to her office, try to please her with expensive gifts and did whatever he could possibly do. It became intolerable when he went so far as to threaten our parents that if they didn't marry Maya Di to him, he will destroy us."

"What did your family do?"

"Tanuja Di got him arrested. But because of his connections, he got out the very next day." Ragini took in a shaky breath. Laksh could feel that whatever happened next effected her greatly. He pulled her into a hug to make her feel safe. Ragini held on tight to him.

"What happened then Ragini?"

"Bhai please. I think that's enough of questioning."

"But Laksh, we need to know everything if we want to help." Arjun stressed his point. 'I need to know everything if I want to save Maya from that BS-er.'

"Bhai, Ragi-"

"It's okay Laksh. He's right." Ragini said as she broke free of his hug, giving Laksh a smile. "Although I wouldn't mind being in your arms again. You're comfy."

"For you, I'm ready to be a cushion for life."

"Oh? Then I guess I need to find someone else to be my boyfriend."

"I'll make him wish he never touched what's mine."

Arjun rolled his eyes at them. "Hello? Guys, keep your love chats for later. Now can we discuss the important things?"

Ragini patted Arjun's head in a patronizing manner. "Calm down kid. Don't be so impatient."

Laksh laughed but stiffled his laughter on seeing Arjun glare at him.

"Not funny Ragini." Arjun bit out.

"Okay okay sourpuss." Ragini got serious and continued from where she left. "As I was saying, Samay got out. You know where he went next? My college. I was eighteen at that time."

"But why your college? Didn't you say he was after Maya?"

"He was. But he knew that the only way to make Maya Di marry him was blackmail. I was the youngest and hence the most easy target."

Laksh balled his hands onto fists. "Did he...did he manage to kidnap you?"

Ragini nodded gripping her hands tighter. "He did. He took me to an abandoned warehouse and locked me in a dark room. I was kept there for hours! I still get nightmares because of that."

Laksh could feel his nails digging into his palms from the force with which he was balling his fists, while Arjun looked at Ragini with sympathy.

"Maya di tried to make him leave me by trying to convince him that she didn't care for us. She even cut the family ties to show it. When he called, she told him that he could kill me, thinking that it would convince him she didn't care for us and he would let me free."

"Did it work? Maya should have at least thought before speaking. I mean, what if he really killed you?" Arjun asked in worry.

"You underestimate my Di. By that time, the police were already at the ware house. By keeping him busy on the phone, she was just keeping him distracted." she said with a smile. "But he did point a gun on my head to kill me. However, the police shot him on the shoulder before he could do anything."

"They should have shot him on the chest." Laksh gritted out.

"Aww... My boyfriend is getting over protective. Cute!"

"I'm a boy Ragini. You should call me handsome. Not cute." 😑

"You're cute and adorable!" 😏

Laksh sighed in defeat. "There goes my male pride in shreds."

"This guy is now doing the same what he did five years ago. However, this time his target was Pragya." Arjun spoke in anger.

Ragini gasped. "My Di?"

"Yes. I heard him tell Maya that he was the one who made the chandelier fall on Pragya."

"Unbelievable! This wretch needs to be put behind asap!"

"We don't have any evidence Laksh. Only thing we can do now is stay alert ourselves." Arjun straightened up. "Considering how dangerous this guy is, we need all the help we can get. We must tell the others."

"Yeah bhai, you're right. This guy is half crazy, half vengeful. He can go to any extent."

"Let's go inside." Ragini and Laksh nodded and moved along side Arjun for the party.

#Inside#

"A rose by any other name, is just as sweet!"

Pragya laughed put loud. "Enough Abhi. Will you stop with the Shakespeare quotes already?"

"Want me to narrate Donne's?" Abhi asked with a wink.

"Di?"

Abhi and Pragya looked up to Swara and Sanskar as they stood before them.

"Yes Swara? You needed something sis?"

Swara looked at Sanskar as if asking how they should tell them.

She and Sanskar had decided that it would be best if they tell Pragya and Abhi about the attack on Pragya. If Pragya knew it, she would be more careful from there on. And they knew that there was no one who could keep Pragya more safe than Abhi could. He would save her life before his own.

"Sanky? What's with you two? Why do you look like you're about to tell is something life threatening?" a thought struck Abhi. "Hey, are you two here to confess your love for each other?" Swara and Sanskar's eyes widened on his words. "If you're scared we won't accept you, then chill. I'm pretty sure every single one of our gang knows about you two lovebirds besides you two."

Pragya chuckled. "He's right. Swara, Sanskar...you've got our blessings. Well, I don't know about Maya. But Swara, I'm sure she values your happiness more than her anger on Sanskar. She'll accept him as a brother-in-law."

While Sanskar coughed to hide his blushing face, Swara was beet red. "T-that's not w-what we came to t-tell you!"

"It's not?"

"No! We came to tell you about the assault on you Di."

This caught their attention and they looked at them in shock.

"What is she saying Sanky?"

"She's right Abhi. The chandelier incident wasn't an accident. Someone wanted to hurt Pragya."

At once Abhi got up from his seat in anger. "Who. Did. It?"

"We don't know Abhi. The only clue we have is the rope which was clearly cut on purpose. That is why I didn't want to tell you right away. I had a doubt if my guess was true or not. I'm still not sure, but Swara convinced me to tell you."

"But...but why would anyone want to harm me? I mean, I don't have any enemies. Moreover, there is no one from your line of business that knows me to make me an enemy Abhi. Then why?"

Swara placed a hand on her shoulder. "We are wondering the same Di. But you need not worry. Nothing can harm you as long as you have all of us. We all are there for you."

"No one can harm Pragya as long as I'm alive. Once I find this man or woman, whoever tried to hurt you, I'll make sure they will regret it!" Abhi shouted in anger.

Pragya smiled at his concern. "I trust you Abhi. But we need to tell the others as well, especially Tanuja Di. She's the eldest among us sisters. She deserves to know."

"Does this mean we need to tell Maya too?" Sanskar asked in a meek voice.

"Of course! The more help the better. If all of us know about it, then they all can help know finding the culprit. And who knows if he's planning to harm another one of us!?"

Sanskar gave a defeated sigh. "Well, I guess it makes sense. Let's go."

As Sanskar moved ahead, Abhi turned to Swara. "Why doesn't he want to tell Maya?"

"He thinks Maya will kill him if eventually this entire thing turns out to be false. So silly of him!" Swara replied as she went behind Sanskar.

Pragya turned to Abhi. "Let's go. We shouldn't delay."

"Um...now that Swara pointed out the facts, do we really need to tell Maya? I mean she's ki-"

"Shh!" Pragya glared at him. "You should know that Maya is the closest among all the sisters to me. Don't even dare insult her. Mind it!"

"Okay okay, I'm sorry." Abhi pacified her. 'Note to self - never insult Maya in front of Pragya. She will scratch your face off.'

#With Tanuja and Rishi#

"The Misakis?"

"There they are. Check!"

"The Mehtas?"

Rishi peered around the room and found them. "Check! They are here as well. Next?"

He and Tanuja were checking if everyone from the guest list came or not just as Abhi asked. However, when Tanuja didn't say the next name, he turned to look at her. "Tanuja, wh-" however, he stopped looking at her face.

Tanuja sat there looking at a name on the list in horror. She looked as if she has seen a ghost. "R-Rishi?"

"Yes Tanuja? What's wrong?"

"Rishi this name? Rishi he..." Tanuja gulped looking at it.

In confusion, Rishi came to see what she was pointing at. "Samay Randhawa? Oh yeah, he was college friend of Abhi. However, Abhi doesn't like his attitude. Only reason he invited him is because Samay's manager is Abhi's good friend."

"Rishi this...this guy isn't right! Rishi he..." a thought struck her and she looked around in panic. "Maya? Ragini? Where are Maya and Ragu?! Where are they?!"

"Tanuja? Tanuja calm down. What's wrong? Tell me please!"

Tanuja continued looking around. She spotted Maya sitting at the bar and walked briskly towards her. "Maya?"

Maya looked up from her drink at Tanuja. Before she could say anything, Tanuja pulled her into a tight hug. "Tanuja? Something wrong?"

Rishi reached there as well. Maya looked at him in question, but all he could do was shrug his shoulders, clueless.

"Maya, I'm so glad you're safe. We must find Ragu as well. I can't let her see Samay. She'll be terrified!"

Maya patted her back. "It's okay Tanuja. Samay's gone."

Tanuja broke the hug to look at her. "You...you met him?"

"I confronted him before he left. Ragu's safe."

Tanuja could smell a strong scent of alcohol from Maya. "Maya, how many drinks did you have? You didn't over do it, did you?"

Maya got up from her seat. "I did over do it a bit. But you and I both know I can handle my liquor." she saw Tanuja about to speak. "I know I know. I shouldn't have drank so much. I'm sorry. But Samay just messes me up!"

Tanuja sighed. "Alright Maya. I'll excuse you this time."

"Thanks Tanuja. I'll...I'll go wash my mouth and freshen up as well." saying that, she moved away towards the washroom.

"Will you tell me now what's wrong?"

"Okay Rishi. The thi-"

"Tanuja di! Tanuja di!" Ragini shouted as she came near them, with Laksh and Arjun following. "Di Samay! We need to tell you about him."

"We?" Tanuja looked at the Sharma brothers. "You both know about Samay?" Tanuja enquired.

Laksh and Arjun nodded in affirmation. "Yes. Ragini told us."

Rishi looked at Tanuja with a pout. "Great! Ragini knows, Arjun and Laksh knows too! You tell everyone about it but you don't tell your about to be husband? Just fan-freaking-tastic!"

"Rishi it's not that. Look I'll tell you everything now. Sam-"

"Tanuja, there is something you need to know!" Sanskar shouted as he came towards them, with Swara, Pragya and Abhi following close behind.

Sanskar, Ragini, Arjun, Swara and Pragya started speaking simultaneously.

Rishi cringed at the ruckus they were causing. "Guys? Guys, one by one. Guys?! At least listen-hey stop pushing! Arre listen to wh-guys!" However, his pleas went on deaf ears.

"DAMN IT, SHUT UP!"

All of them, including Rishi, closed their mouths abruptly on Tanuja's shout. The girls knew Tanuja only shouted when she was extremely irritated with them and kept quiet in guilt. The boys were shocked to hear the otherwise timid and quiet Tanuja shout and were shocked to silence.

Tanuja took a breath to calm herself. "Okay. Now speak one by one. Pragya, you go first."

"Di, Sanskar and Swara think that the chandelier falling on me wasn't an accident."

"Yes. We checked the rope and it seemed to be cut on purpose. But we're still not 100% sure."

"But I am." Arjun spoke up. "I heard Samay say that he did it while he was arguing with Maya."

"Di, he's doing things like what he did five years ago." Ragini said in a meek voice. Rishi, Sanskar and Abhi could hear a stutter in her voice. Swara and Pragya moved forward and held Ragini, as if making sure she was there with them, safe and sound.

"Okay, what is going on here? Tanuja, please explain."

Tanuja nodded. "I'll tell you all everything. It seems Samay is back to get what he wants. We could use all of your help."

After sometime...

"If Maya said she doesn't love him, why can't he let her be? Why make her life miserable?!" Rishi spoke in disbelief.

Arjun nodded in agreement. "Not to mention his act of kidnapping and trying to kill Ragini? Someone who is innocent and has done nothing to him. How could he be so low?"

"And now he tried to hurt Pragya." Abhi looked at Pragya in concern. "If I hadn't moved you on time..."

Pragya placed a hand on his shoulder. "All that matters right now is that I'm safe. I'm alright, see? So stop thinking about the past."

"Besides, Samay got di by surprise this time. Otherwise, he won't be able to harm her easily. Especially with you watching out for her now Abhi." Swara pointed out.

"She's right. Samay caught us by surprise. But, we should be alert from now on. Don't hesitate to call for help if anything unusual happens." Sanskar adviced. "What worries me most is how do we get Maya to agree. I'm 100% sure she isn't going to accept any help from us."

"I don't care Sanky! Only thing I know is that she will take help from us and that's it!"

"Calm down Arjun. I know you want to help. But we need to think things through before taking action. And as for Maya, if you try to force her to take help from us, she'll never take it. In fact, she might even become closed off from her sisters."

"Then are we just supposed to let her be vulnerable to that predator!?"

Laksh placed a hand on his brother's arm. "Bhai, you'll figure something out. You always do Arjun bhai."

"This time, I'm not so sure Laksh."

"Um...guys? There is another person we're forgetting who will no doubt cause a problem." Abhi spoke while pointing at Ragini.

"Hey! What do you mean cause a problem?"

"You really expect me to believe that you won't rebel if we attempt to tame your wildness? You do reckless things and get yourself into trouble. You're bound to protest or trouble us when we lay some restrictions on you for your safety."

"I'm not reckless!"

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not! It's you who is reckless Abhi!"

"Not me. You are!"

"I'm not! You are!"

"Not me you are!"

"You're not and I am!" Ragini spoke, changing her tactics.

"I am and you're not and that's final! That's the truth and that's it!" Abhi huffed out in anger, finally feeling victorious when Ragini didn't speak again.

However, on seeing her sly look, he realized what he just said.

"Okay jiju. I accept your view wholeheartedly." Ragini said with a playful smirk. "Want to argue with me again?"

Laksh chuckled. "So Abhi, you finalized that you're reckless, eh? Okay, I'll keep it mind." everyone broke out into laughter on seeing Abhi's dumbfounded expression.

"That's just... She did... I didn't...ugh! Just shut up all of you!" Abhi shouted in embarrassment and frustration.

"Ahahaha...she's becoming my favorite saali day by day!" Sanskar exclaimed, mimicking the same statement that Abhi used when Sanskar got tricked by Ragini.

"Taking sweet revenge, huh?"

"I don't know what you mean Abhi." Sanskar replied with a smirk. "Doesn't feel nice to be on the receiving end of her pranks, does it?"

"Alright then!" Arjun put forward his hand. "All in favor of protectiing Maya from Samay and putting him behind bars?"

"Hai!" all of them put their hands above his, shouting together in unison.

"My, my! All of you my saviors? How touching." spoke Maya from behind them in an uninterested voice. "Save it for someone else. I don't need any help from anyone." she turned to look at her sisters. "There is no need to involve them in our personal matters."

"But May-"

"No buts. We're leaving." saying that, she moved out without giving anyone any chance to respond.

Tanuja looked at Rishi helplessly and turned to leave. The rest of the sisters followed her lead and did the same, while the boys looked at them go.

"Maya isn't going to be easily convinced."

Arjun balled his hands into fists. "Doesn't matter to me. I can't lie to myself anymore. I love her. I acknowledge that now. And to protect my love, I'll do anything it takes. Even if it means going against her wishes." Arjun smiled to himself. "I'll protect you Maya. Even if you end up hating me, I'll protect you. That is my promise to you."

************************************
To be continued...

If you liked this chapter, please consider giving your vote. Thanks!
~ 🌹 Mona🌹