Tere Sang Yaara
Chapter Three

. . .

Unhappy

Ragini and Parineeta enter a room and Ragini glanced around, impressed by the decoration and the way the room was arranged.

"You can use my washroom." Parineeta smiled at Ragini who nodded, "thank you Bhabhi. Your room is very pretty." She complimented and Parineeta felt proud, "thank you, I actually decorated it myself."

"You did a good job." Ragini said and Parineeta felt shy, "you use the washroom, I'll be back in a bit." Ragini nodded yet again as a response and Parineeta left the room.

Finding herself all alone in the room, she relaxed a little and inhaled a deep breath, reflecting on what happened few minutes ago. Her eyes began to water and she sighed, taking a seat on Parineeta's bed. She didn't want to cry but was losing so badly. Her tears were already seeping down her eyes before she even realised.

Her phone started ringing and she glanced down at it, instantly answering after seeing the caller ID. "Hello?" Feeling the pain, she started sniffing which soon turned into a cry.

"Why are you crying?" The caller questioned concernedly and Ragini sobbed, "I'm. . . Engaged. . . Again." She informed and the caller gasped.

"What? No ways! How? Why? When?"

"Da. . Daadimaa. Durga Uncle. . . I. . ." She couldn't complete and neither form sentences due to her breakdown.

"What! Your Daadi got you engaged to Durga Uncle?"

"No!" She screeched, in between her cries. "To h. . . His son!" She added, crying even more.

"It's never about what I want, it's always what they. . . They think it's right for me but I'm so done, I can't take it anymore."

"Shhh, calm down. Don't cry."

"How can I not cry. . Ni? This was the limit. Daadimaa knew I wasn't happy, she looked me in the eyes and still forced the engagement." Her cries had become louder than before, after the thought of what her grandma did, hit her.

. . .

In the corridor.

Tears seeped down Lakshya's eyes while he spoke on the phone, "Papa betrayed me Omi, he played me!"

"Chill Lucky."

"How can I chill? Omi, I'm engaged. . . I barely even partied freely! I, I'm too young to be committed and she's not my type. He double crossed me, no wonder he was in a hurry to have me back! I can't believe it, he just can't play with my life like that!" Lakshya was frustrated and angry yet emotional and upset, he couldn't believe that his father had just done that to him, without even informing him.

"He won't Lucky, don't worry. I'm coming. . ."

"Come quick Omi, I need you. I wouldn't be able to do it alone, my minds blank at the moment. I still can't get over how Papa's making me marry the girl that Sanskaar rejected." Lakshya irritatedly yet worriedly says, feeling heartbroken and betrayed.

Lakshya was aware of the situation that occurred between Ragini, Sanskaar and Swara, as he was updated by Uttara. Right now, he was feeling a sense of hatred towards them which he knew would be gone in few days but at this moment, he was burning with rage. He wasn't mad at Swara and Sanskaar for loving each other, as it was their right to, but he was mad at Sanskaar for loving Ragini's sister Swara as now to pay for what Sanskaar has done, Durga Prasad got him engaged to Ragini.

"I'm coming buddy, so wait. I won't be too long."

"Hurry!" Lakshya exclaimed and disconnects the call, squeezing his phone in his palm, wanting to break it.

After he was silent for few seconds, he hears sounds of cries and creases his forehead, he then followed the voice, narrowing it down. He stopped in front of Adarsh's room and peaked inside without thinking.

"I never wanted this, please help me." She whispers as she cries, emotionally breaking down.

Hearing footsteps, she immediately disconnected the call and stopped her breathing, her heartbeats increased out of fear and she instantly wiped her tears.

Lakshya glances around, finding Ragini's back faced towards the door.

"This isn't Bhabhi. . ." He whispered to himself, recognising her by the clothes. "It's that girl." He adds a whisper as he realises it's Ragini.

There was an awkward silence, spreading across the room and the only sound that Lakshya could hear, was the air.

Lakshya doesn't understand, he thought he had heard someone cry but there wasn't a single sniff, he then moved his head away and Ragini turned, seeing him gone from the door. She finally let a big sigh out and wiped her remaining tears.

"Laado!" Parvati yells, alerting Ragini and Ragini makes her way towards the mirror, standing in front of it and glancing at herself, she sees her glassy eyes and pulls out a tissue from the tissue box, wiping the water from her eyes and cheeks.

Lakshya slyly looks through the door and sees her composing herself in order to present herself in front of the people downstairs, confirming that it was indeed her who cried, he could see her wiping her cheeks. Ragini forced a smile on her lips, trying to make it seem real so no one can see the pain behind it.

"Laado!" Parvati shouted again and Ragini inhales a deep breath, facing the door and Lakshya moves, hiding away.

Ragini throws the tissue in the bin and heads towards the exit.

Lakshya comes out from hiding and watched her rush away. 

. . .

"We will leave now." Parvati uttered and they wish each other goodbyes.

After Ragini and her family left, Lakshya stormed down the stairs, glaring at Durga Prasad in anger. Durga Prasad was proud and happy, knowing that his status will remain high, now that he got his son engaged to Ragini. Earlier he felt embarrassed and ashamed to this extent that he couldn't raise his head, all because of Sanskaar. He had fixed the alliance of Ragini and Sanskaar, but seeing how things turned out really put him in a lot of stress. He could now raise his head up in pride again.

As he turned to leave, Lakshya shouted "wait!" He halted and turned towards Lakshya. "What is all of this? Why didn't you tell me you were going to get me engaged?" Lakshya angrily snaps while stepping down the last step. 

"If I told you then would you have agreed?"

"No. . . And it's still a no! What made you think I was going to say yes anyways?"

Durga Prasad glared at Lakshya, taking his hand behind his back "You're marrying her and that is my final decision!"

"I'm not!" Lakshya barked back, wanting this to be a mere nightmare.

"It's my house so my decisions shall be accepted here. If you have a problem then you're free to leave!" He sternly shouted, silencing the whole hall.

Lakshya clenched his fist, wanting to burst out like a volcano but the threat had made an impact on the way he thought.

"Why are you so bossy?" Lakshya sighed, frustrated and angry by the decision. "You finally showed how low you can fall. By getting me married to the girl of your choice, your standards won't raise!"

"I don't need to raise my standards for people like you who have no respect." Durga Prasad insulted, triggering Lakshya's argumentative side.

"Don't get me started!"

"You've got yourself started, now it's time for you to stop!" Durga Prasad roared. "Now the decision is yours, either you accept this marriage as soon as possible or you get out from here and change your surname. Your cards and everything would be blocked and as a Maheshwari, we or I won't be taking care of your expenses!" He added as he declared his final decision and walked away, without wasting anymore time on Lakshya and his baseless talks.

Lakshya was stood there helpless, he knew he couldn't live without the lavish life and if he actually left, his condition would be worsen than a beggar.

Sujata, who was listening from the other side of the line, curls a winning smile. "So this is the matter. . ."

. . .

Gadodia House.

Shekhar, Sharmishta, Parvati and Ragini enter their house. Ragini goes straight to her room and closes the door. Parvati glances around just before heading towards her room and Sharmishta and Shekhar start heading towards their room.

As they were walking, Shekhar stops Sharmishta and releases a small sigh.

"Why did you stop me?" He asks as he faces Sharmishta and she blinks at him.

"I. . . I really didn't want you and Maa to have an argument in front of them, it wouldn't have been nice." She replied, lowering her gazes "I think we should give Lakshya a chance, I have a feeling he won't repeat the same mistake Sanskaar did."

"But. . ." Before Shekhar could continue, Sharmishta gazes up at him and talks over him, "Shekhar, I'll go and check on Ragini."

Shekhar nods his head positively and Sharmishta turns around, starting to walk towards Ragini's room.

Shekhar sighed, shaking his head in disbelief as he heads towards his room.

As Sharmishta was walking, Parvati blocks her way by standing in front of her, surprising her by her sudden appearance.

"Good, continue keeping your nose out of my matters!" Parvati warned with a smirk and heads towards her own room proudly.

Sharmishta watched Parvati close her room door after stepping inside and a memory occupied her mind.

"Okay Durga Ji, I'll bring Ragini in today and we will get her engaged to your son." Parvati happily uttered as she disconnected her phone, she turns and finds Sharmishta standing there and her smile fades.

"Maa, you can't do that. . . You can't fix Ragini's alliance without her knowing."

"Stay out of it Sharmishta, I'm her Daadi and I have rights to make decisions for her!" Parvati yells, irritated with Sharmishta's interference.

"But Maa, did you even think how Ragini will feel when she finds out?"

"Look Sharmishta, mind your own business and stay in your limits. If you interfere again then I'll tell Ragini that you're not her biological mum!" Parvati threatens and walks away.

Sharmishta was shocked and scared, not wanting Ragini to start hating her for keeping such a big secret hidden from her.

Parvati stopped, remembering something and turned towards Sharmishta. "And yeah, make sure no drama happens today, otherwise one drama will happen in this house." She warned again, turning back around.

Sharmishta looks on as Parvati's figure started to disappear.

Sharmishta comes out of the flashback as she stands in front of Ragini's room. Her hands were shivering and she swallowed her spit. She couldn't bring herself to knock on Ragini's door.

Ragini opened the door and moved forward but stopped, seeing Sharmishta standing in front of her. Ragini instantly hugs Sharmishta and Sharmishta hugged her back with teary eyes.

"Maa." She cried and hugged her tighter, "what is happening? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm sorry Ragini. . ." Sharmishta hugged Ragini tighter too, "I'm really sorry. This decision was made by Maa all of a sudden that it didn't give me any time to think, I found out this morning." Sharmishta replied and then started sobbing, feeling guilty towards Ragini. However, the fear of Ragini finding out Sharmishta hid that she wasn't her biological mother scared her, she would never want Ragini to resent them for not telling her.

"It doesn't feel right, being engaged to someone I don't know, again!" She exclaimed in between her sobs and Sharmishta broke the hug, cupping her face. "You should give him a chance Ragini. Trust me, my heart is saying he won't deceive you like Sanskaar did. If you gave Sanskaar a chance then why can't you give Lakshya a chance?"

Ragini's eyes moist and looks at Sharmishta. "Maa, I don't think I have the strength to go through that again."

"I don't think. . ."

"Maa. . . He's not happy with this relationship, you can tell. Maybe he was forced by Durga Uncle too."

"If that's the case then you need to talk to him and clear it out."

"And what if he doesn't want to get married to me?"

Sharmishta places her hand on Ragini's hand, staring at her with concern. "Ragini, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry, I couldn't. . ."

"No Maa, this isn't your fault." Ragini interrupted, hugging her mother again.

Sharmishta starts to sob while tears dribbled down her cheeks and seeing her emotional, Ragini starts to cry.

. . .

Maheshwari Mansion - 10:00pm - Lakshya's Room.

Tossing and turning, Lakshya had finally given up. Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, Durga Prasad's words repeated like a radio and ruined it.

"This is so annoying! I can't even say NO!" He frustratedly clenched his fist and pulled his blanket off his body.

He sits up and holds his head in his hand, "come on Lucky, think! Think! Think!" He was starting to get angry at himself and smacked his fist on the bed.

'I can't say no. I can't say no. I can't say no.' His inner-self continued to repeat the same thing again and then finally his expressions changed.

"I can't say no. . ." He mumbled, finally getting an idea. "But she can!" He exclaimed brightly, a smirk curled over his lips. "I can't say no but she can, so if I get her to say no then Papa won't kick me out. Yesss!" He happily relaxed and laid back on his bed, finding peace of mind.

He knew this plan was going to be successful because he sensed that she didn't want to get engaged, so all he has to do is talk to her and tell her that he doesn't want to get married and get her to say no, that way he wouldn't be kicked out of the house, he could continue living his lavish life.

. . .

Gadodia House - 10:30pm - Ragini's Room.

Ragini was changing sides on her bed while thinking. 'Should I give him a chance?' She wondered to herself, in her mind, but regretted it straightaway. 'Why did things have to be this embarrassing. This is so annoying, it's better I say no to him first before he says no to me. I know he wasn't happy with this alliance either.' She concludes and closes her eyes, praying she would fall asleep after this traumatic day.

T o  B e  C o n t i n u e d

. . .

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