Sun Saiyaan

"The most painful tears are not the ones that fall from your eyes and cover your face but the ones that fall from your heart and cover your soul!'

- Unknown -

. . .

Chapter 9

While exhausted and in pain, Ragini touched her chest and swallowed, starting to feel nauseous. She closed her eyes and inhaled deep breaths.

"Ragini. . ." She opened her eyes and turned around, facing Sanskaar, who was out of the bathroom after getting changed. "Are you okay?" He asked and approached her, she was relieved that he had come out of the bathroom and passed him a look and scoffed, "do I look okay to you?" She questioned and walked forward, grabbing the clothes Sujata gave her and brushed past him, heading to the bathroom.

She closed the door and leaned forward, touching her chest again. 'It must be because of all the stress' she wondered and then locked the door.

He sighed, and walked towards the window, closing it. "What can I do?" He asked himself, "what can I do to make her feel better?" He mumbled and turned around after closing the window.

He felt miserable seeing Ragini like this, he imagined her smiling and compared it to how she is now, she looked like a bird with shattered wings, feeling helpless and useless. But he didn't want that at all, he wanted her to be a bird who could fly free and happy and he was determined to help her by doing all it takes.

"Sanskaar." Sujata called from the other side of the door, grabbing his attention. He walked towards the door and opened it, finding Sujata with a tray of food. "I'm so stupid." She muttered and stepped inside, "I didn't even think if both of you might be hungry, I realised only after I went to the kitchen." She added and placed the tray on the bed, "have something to eat before you go to sleep."

"Mom. . ." Sujata looked Sanskaar in the eyes, "can you stay?" He requested and she narrowed her eyebrows "why, what happened?"

"I don't think she will eat if I tell her to." He honestly told and looked down, "she hates me at the moment and I think you're the only one who can encourage her to eat."

"Hmmm." Sujata understood what he meant and nodded her head, "okay, I'll feed her and then go. But you start eating now." She uttered and held a plate of Pulao and forwarded it to him. He took it and sat on the bed, starting to eat.

Soon Ragini stepped out after getting changed into comfortable clothes, she was surprised to see Sujata who walked towards Ragini. "Come, you must be hungry. Let's eat." She grabbed Ragini's wrist and took her towards the bed, making her take a seat next to Sanskaar.

She reached out for the plate of Pulao and smiled at Ragini, "here, have some." She offered a spoonful near her mouth and Ragini was flustered by her action. "Ahh." Sujata encouraged Ragini to open her mouth and then fed her the spoonful of rice.

Tears formed in Ragini's eyes and she continued eating, Sanskaar sighed a relief after witnessing that and let a small smile rest on his lips.

X

Swara & Lakshya's room.

Swara was sat distressed while Lakshya was sat beside her, placing his hand on top of hers, "I can't believe this happened Lakshya. I feel so bad for Ragini, she doesn't deserve all this." Swara sadly uttered as she faced Lakshya with a frown.

"There's no point in sitting here and beating ourselves for what happened Swara." Lakshya consoled and then put his arm around Swara's shoulder, moving closer to her, "Sanskaar may have succeeded in his plans, but not for too long. We will save Ragini from him!"

"I feel like I failed to protect her Lakshya. I could've stopped the marriage but I feel so useless. She must be so confused, shocked and heartbroken. We watched her marry Sanskaar against her wish." Swara sounded guilty as tears seeped down her eyes, "she must feel so lonely, what should I do Lakshya?"

"What could we have done, we tried but Daadi was hell bent for the marriage to happen to save Ragini's respect. It must've been Sanskaar's plan, I'm sure! He must've decided to bring Ragini here to use her against us. He saw that all his plans were failing so the last resort he had was to use Ragini." Lakshya uttered while gritting his teeth, clenching his fist. He was angry and heartbroken after finding out what the man he considered as his older brother did to him, and how he planned to sabotage his happiness.

Swara was shocked to hear Lakshya, yet in disbelief "I don't think he would do that, when I spoke to him, it seemed like he had a change of heart."

"It was all drama cause why else would he have jumped into all this and married her? Why did he go into her room at that time? He could've spoken to her after our marriage or the day before? He could've said no, but he let himself ruin her life! All so that he could ruin all of our happiness. That's how evil he is, he proved that his revenge was above his family. He doesn't care about us Swara, he would stoop so low to avenge us for his pain. Even though I had done nothing to him, he still targeted me and you and tried to sabotage our marriage, why?" Lakshya sounded betrayed and certain that marrying Ragini was Sanskaar's plan.

"Nothing feels good Lakshya. I don't even know if what you're saying is true, if this is one of Sanskaar's plan, then I swear I won't let it slide, I will kill him for ruining Ragini's life!"

Lakshya nodded his head and looked down at Swara, placing his hand back on her hands again, which were resting on her lap. "Don't worry Swara, he won't be able to win this time! We will save Ragini from him and end all his games. Let's rest now, tomorrow we need to speak to Ragini and assure her that we're on her side, just like she assured us that she was with us."

Swara nodded her head while looking at Lakshya, "we need to speak to Ragini. I don't want her to think she's all alone in this mess. I'll always be with her." Lakshya nodded his head and then cupped her face, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Let's rest now." He uttered after and she gave him a hug, "thank you Lakshya, you being here by my side feels so warm and peaceful. I feel strong again." He hugged her back with a smile, "I love you."

"I love you too." She closed her eyes and hugged him tighter too, and he closed his eyes, feeling relaxed and comfortable.

X

Sanskaar's Room

"Get some rest and we'll speak in the morning." Sujata says and exits the room with the food tray. She knew Ragini would hate that yet she was being selfish and wanted them to get along, just like they did before. She had already accepted Ragini as her daughter with all her flaws, but she wasn't sure if she'd be a great mother to her, that's what was making her nervous, she wanted to protect Ragini and her son Sankaar, now not caring about anyone. She was like the fearless lioness ready to tear anyone and everyone apart to protect her children.

Sanskaar closed the door after Sujata went out of sight and then faced Ragini, who was sat on the bed staring at the floor, listlessly and exhausted. Anyone could tell from a glimpse that she was done for today, in fact she had overdone herself. He cleared his throat, "Ragini." She didn't look up at him after he called her name, even if he called her 1000 times she still would've refused to look up at him.

Right now, he's on the top of her list, she absolutely loathes him. She knew looking at him will simply make her angry and hurt. Even being in the same room was viciously poking her, she wants him to be gone. She can't tolerate him, the hatred won't let her. Everyone she liked and trusted had ended up disappointing her but the disappointment that hurt the most was Sanskaar and her Daadima.

"Ragini." He called her again but yet again, she ignored him, "you can sleep on the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." He added and then headed towards his wardrobe, pulling out a blanket and a pillow, and his exercise mat to lay on top of.

She laid on the bed and pulled the blanket over her, closing her eyes instantly to avoid him. He put the mat on the floor and then the pillow, then he laid on it and pulled his blanket on top. He looked up at Ragini, whose back was facing him.

"Ragini, we're going to move out tomorrow. I'll look for a place and as soon as I pay the deposit I'll come back for you and Mom." He informed her, knowing she could hear and then relaxed.

Hearing those words made no different to her as her heart had already been broken that she felt numb and unresponsive, it didn't affect her. She couldn't care less where she was going because nothing was in her control anyways, nothing she wanted had happened, she felt like a robot being controlled by anyone who wants to use her. She lost her sense of self amid this chaos, not knowing if she'd ever find herself, the question that she keeps hurting herself with is 'who am I?' It kills her sense of joy and her peace, feeling devastated not being able to do what she wants and constantly encouraged to do what someone else wants. 'Is this life even worth living?' She couldn't hang out with her friends after school or during the holidays, she couldn't go to sleepovers, she couldn't go to a mixed college, she couldn't go out to eat unless it was with Parvati or Shekhar, she couldn't go to the cinema, she couldn't befriend boys, she couldn't have a job after graduating, she couldn't choose the course she wanted to do in college and instead was forced to take classical music, she couldn't marry Lakshya, she couldn't say no when being forced to marry Sanskaar. And just when she decided to be selfish and do what she wanted for once, she became the bad person. Someone evil, but was it always evil to want what you desire. She knew her obsession with Lakshya was uncontrollable but the trap set by Parvati from her childhood till now, she only wanted to break out free. She wanted Lakshya but because of her Daadima, she was now glued together with Sanskaar. It's not like she could choose if she had the option to because she feels nobody cares what she wants anyways.

Images of Lakshya flashed in her mind, his smile, his wink, his adorable expressions, him in his stylish clothes, and all those memories of him and her stung her like a bee would've. But the wound was left deep. Despite the love she has for Lakshya, there was also hatred now. She wanted revenge and he's in that list too. 'How could he do this to me? Did he not feel guilty or apologetic towards me once?' His selfish and ignorant nature had encouraged her to develop a sense of detachment, slowly starting to let go after seeing how he continued to love her sister Swara and ignore her feelings for him. It seemed as if her heart had enough of being broken that it shaded itself, starting to block any attachment or love for anyone, only wanting to protect it, even if it means to break other hearts.

"Do you think Lakshya could've loved me?" She asked after a minute of silence, and Sanskaar flapped his eyes, giving it a thought, he felt apologetic but he had to say the truth, "no, because he wouldn't have cared about your love, he is so deeply in love with Swara that he wouldn't have given you a chance. Swara would've always been on his mind and in his heart."

Ragini silently let the tears seep down her closed eyes, she knew it was true but hated to admit it. He watched her back concerned, until his eyes gave up.

X

Sujata and Ram Prasad's room.

Ram was asleep by the time Sujata had entered the room, she went to the wardrobe and started taking her clothes out, putting them in the suitcase that was on the floor, opened. She had decided to choose her son now, she already stayed with Ram for many years and feels it shouldn't matter if she left because her children need her the most. She decided to be selfish and rebel against Ram and Durga Prasad.

"I will not let them control me anymore. I will do whatever I want." She mumbled under her breath and continued packing.

Hearing few noises, Ram had woken up. He opened his eyes and sat up, watching Sujata pack in the dark. He was stunned and confused.

"What are you doing Sujata?" Not expecting to hear his voice, she jumped and faced him, startled and surprised. She sighed a relief and touched her chest. "You scared me!"

"What are you doing?" He asked again, this time sternly using his tone.

"Packing, I'll be leaving with Sanskaar." He was shocked to hear Sujata and grit his teeth, annoyed by her nonchalant shenanigans, "what is wrong with you Sujata? What are you even doing? Do you have any sense of respect or understanding? How can you act up like this?"

Sujata sighed, throwing the clothes she had in her hands and stood up, facing Ram. "I'm acting up? I've been silent for all this time and now that I've spoken you're getting agitated? Why? Is your Bhaisa filling your ears? Is he manipulating you like he always does?"

Ram had enough and glared at Sujata in frustration, "enough Sujata!" He yelled as loud and clear as he could, "the same Bhaisa that you badmouth said he's letting you and Sanskaar stay in here, giving you another chance. He said Sanskaar can stay despite what he did! He said you could stay after you disrespected him in front of everyone, what else are you after? Would you only be satisfied if he gave you the house?"

Sujata scoffed after Ram lashed out on her and then started clapping, "wow? Letting us stay here is such a heroic thing to do right? I mean who would've accepted evil, villainous, monstrous delinquents like us, right? Only your Bhaisa is pure saint to do such thing." She taunted and folded her hands, angering Ram to the core that he erupted like a volcano.

"Sujata!" He furiously yelled, "one more word against Bhaisa then you'll see the worst of me! I will divorce you!"

Sujata was stunned for a moment yet she wasn't surprised, "I think it's better that way anyways. I'm leaving with my son and I'll stay with him till my last breath. I'm also taking Uttara with me, there's nothing left between us anyways. You can live with your Bhaisa till you grow old. You need him anyways, we were never family for you, you never chose us for once, it had always been Bhaisa for you. So me and my children are leaving you don't worry. Eat Laddu's with your Bhaisa and his children!" Sujata angrily lashed out, bending down and zipping her suitcase.

Ram was shocked for a moment but looked the other way, she stood up and put her suitcase up. "I'll ask Sanskaar to send the divorce papers." She further added, starting to roll the suitcase out of the room.

Her eyes glistened and she held her breath to control her tears, it wasn't an easy thing to say for her, she still liked him but she loved her children more. While walking, she stopped and made eye contact with Annapurna who was standing in amusement, realising Annapurna had heard everything, Sujata then inhaled "your husband would've been delighted if he heard this Jiji, go tell him that we're leaving, and then he can happily stay in this house with his family!" She uttered and walked past Annapurna, opening the door to a room and stepped inside, closing the door afterwards, leaving a shocked Annapurna in the hallway.

"Mom?" Sujata looked at Uttara who was confused to see her luggage, she consoled herself quickly and flapped her eyes at Uttara, "start packing Uttara, we're leaving."

"What? Why? Bade Papa said you and Bhai could stay."

"I said we are leaving and that's it! Your father never cared for us, it'll be useless staying here. Now he wants a divorce so we're getting divorced." Uttara's mouth dropped and she gasped, she was shocked and flustered to hear such an absurd news. It felt like a bee buzzing near her ears.

"Mom. . ." She stopped after seeing Sujata's tears, unable to stay strong Sujata fell on her knees and started crying.

Uttara instantly got down from her bed and rushed to her mother, hugging her while consoling her, yet breaking into tears herself.

T o  B e  C o n t i n u e d

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