Huhuhu...for some reason, I always like writing on the Abhimanyu track.

So, this is the nineth OS of this series. Hope you all like!

Scene created / Idea credit : Dharani17

I made a little change though... in the Laksh's arrival at the Gadodia household part. Hope it's okay Dharani.

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes." - Talking

'Word in single quotes.' - Thoughts

(Words in braces)  - Phone conversations.

Timeline - After Ragini hurts herself while trying to slit her wrist. She thinks Laksh came, although everyone tells her it was all in her imagination.

Finding His Solace

"The sh-"

"Shadow that looked like Laksh. You told me." Swara stood up with a pained look. "But it was just your imagination Ragini. I'm sorry."

Ragini sighed and turned around in bed, hiding her tears. "I just miss him so much."

"I understand Ragini. But you need to rest. It's been hours since you're crying." Swara switched off the light. "We'll get him back. Promise! But you need to stay strong, okay?"

Ragini laid there, steady tears wetting the pillow as she watched the city lights out of the open window.

Suddenly, she noticed a white light flash by.

It was past midnight. And the community didn't have guests or residents entering at that time.

Her breath hitched. 'Maybe it's him?!' abruptly, she got up and looked outside the window. It gave her vertigo as her blood rushed to her head from her sudden action, but she didn't care.

To her disappointment, it didn't stop and passed, crushing Ragini's hope. 'I should have known...it was too good to be true.' with eyes downcast, she turned to leave.

However, she paused as she noticed it stopped at a distance. The street lights weren't that clear for her to make out the face of who got out. But one thing wasn't mistaken by her.

He was looking towards their house.

Because of the curtains, he couldn't see inside. But Ragini could make out his silhouette. She knew him by heart.

Ragini watched as the person tried to be discreet as he walked towards their house. Since the gate was closed, he was peeping through.

Ragini sniffed, but had a smile on her face. Like a moth catering to a light, she rushed down the stairs as fast as her feet would carry her. 'He's here.'

Outside...

Laksh sighed. The gate was too high for him to cross over.

Why did he come here? What happened? He didn't know himself.

All he knew was that around dusk, he was seized by a fear like no other. He felt like he was dying. The fear that he felt was making it hard for him to breathe.

Laksh drank a glass of water to calm his nerves. He even ran out of the house to get some fresh air. But no matter what he did, he couldn't relax. He just got in his car and started driving around the city to calm his mind. Even he himself was shocked to find himself stopping at the Gadodia residence.

The pone rang breaking him from his thoughts. "Hello?"

(Papa? Where are you?)

'It's past 12.30. Why is Mishka awake ti-' Laksh grit his teeth. 'Mansi must have put her to this.' he changed his voice to a cheery one. "Hey beta! It was too hot. So I came to the beach. I'll be back soon."

(Okay Papa! Good night.)

"Good night." Laksh cut the call and sighed. "I don't know why I came myself. It's like I was drawn here by some connection."

"Yes. Your connection to me."

Laksh looked to find Ragini coming out of the gate with a big smile.

Despite her red, puffy eyes and disheveled state, she was still beautiful to him. He took a minute to drink in the sight of her. It had been so long since he had been able to look at her face peacefully.

Ragini looked back with a same longing. Oh, how much she wanted to embrace him and never let go.

"I was right. You were here some hours ago, weren't you? You came..."

Laksh looked away, his trance broken. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He wasn't lying. He really wasn't there. It was only now he came because of the feeling that wouldn't leave. 'Come to think of it, my restlessness began some hours ago. Did...did something really happen to Ragini?' his heart clenched at the thought of Ragini being in harm's way.

However, she was standing alright before him. That was a relief.

"When..." Ragini showed him her bandaged wrist. "When I was threatening to slit my wrist."

Laksh's face turned into one of horror. "What?!" Laksh walked forward, covering two steps in one and checked the wound. "Are you suicidal?! Why would you do such a dangerous thing?!"

Ragini kept smiling at him, her smile widening with each second.

"Stop smiling! Don't you have any concern for your family?! Don't you realize how scared they must have been?!"

"Just like you are?"

Suddenly, Laksh realized his error.

He was supposed to be Abhimanyu Khanna. Not Laksh, Ragini's husband.

At once, he dropped her hand and put some distance between them.

"O-of course! As another human being I would  definitely be worried."

"It's more than that. You were really scared for me. So, you came."

"I didn't come. I'm not lying!" he replied. 'Although I wish I had. What if she had really hurt herself badly!?'

Ragini could see the truth in his eyes. However, she wasn't disappointed.

Because although not then, he was here now. "But you came because your heart knew I was in danger."

Laksh looked away. "It's nothing like that. I di-."

"Don't even try to lie. I heard you say you were drawn here."

"You heard wrong then! I...I just came to get some fresh air." Laksh lied.

'How much will you lie?' Ragini's lips twitched as a smile threatened to appear. "Okay, let's go with that. But this part of town is most polluted if I remember correctly."

The end of Laksh's ears turned red. He was embarrassed and running out of excuses.

"Fine! I was feeling guilty, okay?"

"Eh?"

"Laksh looks like me. So it's me who brought painful memories to you. Thus, I came to check on you." he lied, coming up with a valid alias.

Ragini scoffed. "You mean to tell me you were so guilty that you couldn't wait for it be daylight? Puh-lease!"

'What the...when did Ragini become so haughty?' Laksh shook his head of those and glared. "I am a kind person. Is that a crime?! Why would I worried about you otherwise? I have a wife and child to think about!"

Ragini was getting irritated with his constant excuses. "Wife and child?!" a sudden idea popped in her mind. "Maybe you are cheating then!"

"WHAT?!"

"I'm right! You've decided to have an affair with me, haven't you?! You know I like you. So, you're taking advantage! Some manners your parents taught you. They must have been terrible role models."

"Hey, watch it!" Laksh shouted, truly angry. It was one thing insulting him. But no one insulted his parents.

"Why? Did I hit a nerve? Tell me, did they have extramarital affairs too? They were so shameless then!"

"Ragini!"

"Your parents are frauds. Maybe Parineeta was right when she accused your father of cheating!"

"Ragini! Mind your tongue! Durgaprasad Maheshwari is an honest man. Yes, he might be proud and arrogant at times. But he had never taught any of his children to cheat others or do injustice to people. As for my mother... I've yet to meet a lady as pious as her in my life. So if you say anything against them, I'll forget I love you!"

There was only sounds of Laksh's harsh angry breathing as they stood face to face.

A single tear escaped Ragini, a small laugh breaking out from her mouth. Ragini closed her eyes and breathed in with her head towards the Heavens. "Finally...finally you admitted."

Laksh was confused for a second. However, his eyes widened comically when he realized what just happened.

She had pissed him off purposefully by insulting his parents. She knew he wouldn't tolerate it.

Laksh felt proud of Ragini, but at the same time, he felt panic settle in. Things were going astray!

As he kept looking at his shaking hands in distress, he felt a soft hand on his cheek.

Laksh looked up to find Ragini standing before him with a smile.

"When I look into your eyes Laksh, I feel like there is nothing I wouldn't be able to overc. If you stay beside me, every problem seems seems managable, every tear of mine learns to smile. I want to be the same for you." she held his hands, with him watching her, mesmerized. "Look into my eyes Laksh. Find your solace. Accept my love."

As Laksh kept looking, he felt a huge weight lifted. He felt no longer alone. There was a place where he could rest his worries. He could be himself and tell her everything, knowing together they would find a way. Yes, he was knee deep in trouble. But with her beside him, he could overcome it.

She was his home.

'It's time I returned back to her.'

Laksh grabbed her waist and pulled her into a hug.

Ragini breathed in his scent deeply.

No words needed to be said.

She knew her Laksh was back. Back where he belonged.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Awww... I had sweet vibes while writing the last lines.

Patting myself on the back. Yes yes, I'm proud of myself 😂 lol.

Had fun writing it. Hope you like it Dharani! 🤗

If you liked this chapter, consider giving it a vote by clicking 🌟. Comments always welcome! ❤

~ 🌹 Mona🌹