Shalini: "Did you just call him Papa?!" - She asked Ragini.

Ragini: "Ehm..." - She looked around - "Papa? Not Papa I said papaya... because..." - Sanskar widened his eyes covering his mouth to hold a laughter while Ragini was trying to make an excuse - "because... well he was my neighbor years ago and he had a papaya tree... and... and when I used to go to visit him he always used to give me papaya..." - She said the first thing that came in her mind. Sanskar raised his eyebrows hearing what excuse she had made.

Shalini: "But why would you call him papaya?"

Mahesh: "Yes but she was small and she used to call me Papaya uncle... everybody in the neighborhood used to call me Papaya uncle..." - Ragini kept showing her thirty-two-teethes wide smile while Mahesh cooperated with her lie. - "What are you doing here?" - Mahesh asked Ragini.

Ragini: "Nothing, I'm working. And what are you doing here?" - She tried to sound as casual as possible and threw a glance on Shalini making sure that she believed to their farce.

Mahesh glared at the lawyer: "That man took me here."

Lawyer: "It is because you didn't accept the amount I offered you."

Mahesh gritted his teeth but controlled himself: "Well, she crashed my car." - He said indicating Shalini and trying to sound as calm as possible.

Shalini to the lawyer: "I had asked you to solve the matter not to bring here the papaya... I mean papaya uncle... I mean him."

Mahima: "Everything is very interesting but I can't understand what SHE is doing here!" - She asked Shalini - "I thought I had been very clear when I told you that I don't want to see her ever! Didn't you get me Mom?!" - She yelled.

Shalini sighed and tried to calm her down placing an arm around her shoulder. Mahima glared at Ragini who looked at her hurt.

AT THE SAME TIME

Mishti was glaring at Jai angrily with crossed arms: "I want you to explain me right now what the hell you are doing here!"

Jai: "Calm down please! Do we need to start arguing immediately?" - He crossed his arms too.

Mishti: "All right, so let me be clear. I really can't stand you after what you have done!" - She roared.

Mishti was about to leave when Jai held her wrist: "Wait wait!" - Mishti jerked off his hand - "Can you please tell me what I have done? Why are you treating me like this?"

Mishti looked straight at him: "Oh after telling Ragini about me when I had asked you to keep it secret, you are asking me what you have done?"

Jai was about to say something but stopped remembering that Ragini asked him to let Mishti believe what she is thinking.

Mishti: "Let's be clear Jai. I don't want to see you so it's simple, if you stay in the Mastery, I will leave from here."

Jai bit his lip and shook his head looking at her stubborn behavior.

ON THE OTHER HAND

While Mahima was arguing with Shalini for letting Ragini stay in the school and Shalini was trying to explain her, Ragini took Mahesh aside.

Ragini: "Papa what are you doing here?" - She asked whispering.

Mahesh: "Stop calling me Papa!" - He whispered too.

Ragini: "You are right but I'm so nervous..." - She threw a glance at Shalini who was still talking with Mahima.

Mahesh: "Apparently the woman who hit my car is the principal of the Mastery."

Meanwhile Mahima asked Shalini: "How could you hire her Mom?!"

Shalini: "I will explain you how things have gone..."

Sanskar was just keeping a fist on his mouth trying hard not to burst out laughing at the situation. Yet another time he met Ragini and yet another time a mess happened.

Shalini to Mahima: "This girl came to me, she is orphan, she didn't have a penny, she didn't know where to spend the night and she asked me to give her a job Mahi!"

Mahima shouted: "I don't care! Do you understand that?"

Shalini: "Yes I understand but she begged me to give her a job, she requested me to hire her! Be a good girl Mahi!" - She tried convincing her.

Ragini to Mahesh: "You have to leave from here before anyone comes to know the truth! I know you're right but we can't ruin the plan!"

Mahesh smiled noticing the chef's hat she was wearing: "You look so pretty with this hat! I like the color!" - Ragini smiled - "I miss you so much dear..."

Ragini: "I miss you too Papa! I'm here alone, far from home... I get bored too." - She looked at Mahima and smiled - "Look, she is my little sister!"

Shalini was apologizing to Mahima: "I am sorry Mahi but..."

But Mahima didn't listen to her: "No, I'm not going to forgive you for this one!" - And with that she walked away from here.

Sanskar looked on finally turning serious.

Shalini: "Mahi!"

Mahesh commented: "Well... your little sister has a big attitude!"

Shalini blew the whistle she always wore around her neck and Sanskar, Ragini and Mahesh immediately stood up straightly hearing it.

Shalini to the lawyer: "See I can't really think about anything else except Mahima right now! So just give to Mr. Srivastava the amount he is asking to repair his car and end the matter here."

Ragini hiddenly showed a thumbs up to Mahesh who had a victorious smile on his face.

Shalini to Ragini: "You just don't worry; I won't send you away now that you are part of the school! You know what I'm going to do now? I will immediately tell Mahima that you are not the culprit for what happened in the party!"

Ragini smiled: "Thank you."

Shalini looked at Sanskar: "And you Sanskar can join the Mastery from tomorrow itself!" - She put her glasses on and looked at Sanskar carefully. He looked at her confused - "Sorry, it's just that I have this strong feeling like I have already seen you somewhere but I can't remember where and when."

Sanskar gave a quick smile and then looked down.

IN THE MEANTIME

Mishti angrily opened the door of her room and sat on a chair: "I can't believe it!"

Esha, Shreya and Preeti came there.

Preeti: "Mishti! You are here! We were looking for you!"

Esha: "We have something to tell you! Big news!"

Mishti: "I have a news too! But it's not a good one!"

Esha, Preeti and Shreya said with unison: "Our news is good for sure!"

Preeti: "Three new students have come! Three hotties!" - She said excitedly.

Esha: "They are so good looking!"

Shreya: "One more handsome than the other!"

Mishti looked at all of them not able to believe that her friends were already flat on these new guys.

Mishti: "One of those guys is the reason because of which I want to leave from here!"

Preeti: "Why do you want to leave?"

Mishti: "Because of Ragini and because one of those three boys is Jai, the idiot who told Ragini that I'm here."

Esha: "No really?!"

Preeti: "Oh that is why I felt like I had already seen him!"

Mishti: "There is no place for all of us here."

ON THE OTHER SIDE

Jai: "And I found her in front of me with the same bitter expression like usual." - He was telling Vikram and Rahul about his encounter with Mishti. - "Was it in her hands, she would send me away from here immediately."

Vikram: "She doesn't even want to see you here?"

Rahul: "We had warned you that it would have been difficult with her."

Jai: "Difficult? For me nothing is difficult. Plus I enjoy irritating this capricious girl! So if this is what I have to do..." - He acted to think and then smirked - "I will do it!" - He crossed his arms - "Even though I know Mishti well and she will not sit on her hands."

Rahul: "Well, don't worry. She can't get us out now that we are here."

Vikram: "Right! And if it would be necessary, we are all here together to help you. Mishti won't be able to do anything!" - He patted on Jai's shoulder.

MEANWHILE

Ragini was walking here and there nervously in the kitchen huffing and puffing. Sanskar came inside and looked at her.

Sanskar cleared his throat: "May I come in?"

Ragini: "What do you want?"

Sanskar looked at here from toe to top: "I wanted to see if you needed something since you look a bit nervous..."

Ragini chuckled: "Me and nervous? No! I'm good!"

Sanskar: "Ok, well then it's fine." - He looked away crossing his arms and then looked again at Ragini. He definitely wanted to know something - "A while ago, unintentionally, I overheard your conversation with the principal... you were saying that you don't have a family..."

Ragini: "Hmm... yes." - She shrugged.

Sanskar: "But unless I have a potato in an ear, you called that mister Papa... without any -ya." - He underlined the last part.

Before Ragini could reply, Sanskar's phone rang. She indicated his pocket with a finger avoiding to answer him.

Sanskar looked at the phone: "It's my girlfriend... excuse me."

Ragini: "Hmm..." - She made a face looking at him with a hand on her waist.

Sanskar attended the call: "Hey!"

Ananya, who was in a car, spoke from the other side: "Hey baby! I wanted to know how the meeting went?"

Sanskar: "I'm still in the collegium. Things got a little bit complicated."

Ananya: "Have there been some problems?" - She asked while her father came to sit in the car too.

Sanskar: "No, not problems actually... but the principal is a bit busy and I couldn't talk to her properly. But I have a good news: I got the job!" - He smiled.

Ananya: "Oh really? Well I don't know if I shall be happy or sad since... I have heard that professors of the Mastery have to stay there only and I can't bear staying away from you... Plus I'm a little jealous too."

Sanskar: "You have no reason to be jealous. There is no girl whom I could like here."

Ragini looked on clenching her jaw. Sankar looked at her too.

Ananya: "Ok, I hope so. I love you!"

Sanskar: "Bye!" - He cut the call.

Sanskar looked at Ragini who faked a smile.

Ananya's father asked her: "What did he say?"

Ananya: "That they hired him and he will have stay there now. What can I do now Dad? I can't think of anything and I'm so worried!"

Mr. Shah: "Don't worry darling, I will surely get an idea! Be sure that nobody can separate you and Sanskar."

AT THE SAME TIME

Mishti, Preeti, Shreya and Esha were in the classroom. Everybody, except Mishti obviously, were giggling and talking about the new students.

Mishti: "There is no need to be so excited about them."

Preeti: "And why?"

Mishti: "Because if they are Jai's friends then they are stupid like him only."

Shreya: "Well, they are so good looking that I actually don't care about that."

Preeti and Shreya chuckled while Mishti shook her head.

Jai, Vikram and Rahul came in the classroom.

Jai: "Hey hey hey! Mishti why don't you introduce us to your friends?"

Mishti smiled: "Not even if dead."

Jai: "No please don't die." - He said with a sneering grin.

Shreya: "What are you doing here?"

Jai: "We are just new students. I'm Jai and they are Vikram and Rahul. Don't you want to welcome us?" - He winked at the girls.

Preeti, Shreya and Esha just couldn't hold their smiles at his charm. Mishti gritted her teeth.

Just then Karan, followed by a friend, came there too and saw Jai, Vikram and Rahul laughing and chatting with the girls.

Karan: "Who are these new guys?"

"I don't like them at all." - Said his friend.

Karan: "I don't like them too. They are already flirting with our girls!"

Shreya to Jai and others: "Why have you been expelled? What did you do?"

Vikram: "We are rebels, dangerous like a virus in the system of the NASA."

Rahul: "Tremendous and spoiled but a limited edition."

Preeti: "They are so cute!" - She whispered to Mishti who was sitting near her.

Mishti: "Irritating you mean!"

Jai: "You'll witness our charm with time..." - Mishti stood up glaring at him annoyed and walked close to him - "Mishti?" - He cleared his throat looking at Mishti who walked towards Karan and his friend keeping a deadly glare on Jai.

Mishti stood with Karan: "I hate that guy!"

Jai chuckled looking at Mishti who made a grimace. Jai looked at her with a sly smile.

Karan went to Esha and took her aside.

Esha: "What happened?"

Karan: "What happened? Just stay away from that guy. I don't like him."

Esha: "Why?"

Karan: "I just don't like him, that's it." - He glared at Jai.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Ragini was standing near a tree and was looking emotionally at Mahima who was riding her horse.

Barson ke puraane zakhm pe marham laga sa hai
Kuch aisa rahem iss lamhe mai hai
Yeh lamha kahaan tha mera

A tear skipped on Ragini's cheek. She was dying to run to her sister and hug her but she couldn't.

Ab hai saamne, Issey chhoo loon zara
Mar jaaun yah jee loon zara
Khushiyaan choom loon yah ro loon zara
Mar jaau yah jee loon zara

Tarun came there and saw Ragini.

Tarun: "Ragini? What happened?"

Ragini: "Nothing... I just remember how little Farnaaz... I mean Mahima was... I just feel so bad. I went through a lot just to find my sisters and now that I have both of them near me, all this is happening. It's not fair." - She cried.

AFTER A WHILE

Mahima, who was in her room, gave a book to Tarun: "Take it and read it. I'm sure you will like it." - She smiled.

Tarun was surprised: "Is it for me?"

Mahima: "Yes."

Tarun: "Thank you! But why?"

Mahima: "To learn! It's on horses. Don't you know how to read?"

Tarun: "Yes I do but... well, thank you!"

Just then Shalini knocked at the door and came inside: "Hi Mahi, my gorgeous girl!"

Tarun greeted Shalini while walking out of the room. Shalini indicated her cheek with a finger to him and he gave her a kiss before leaving. Shalini smiled. She had always considered him as a son since the day she gave him a job and a shelter.

Mahima was about to leave the room too but Shalini stood in front of her: "Stop there!"

Mahima sighed: "What do you want Mom?"

Shalini: "A bird told me that there is my beautiful who must be so angry and why? Because I let Ragini stay in the Mastery! So I thought to let my baby know that Ragini didn't ruin her birthday party!"

Mahima: "She didn't? But Mom, everybody saw her!"

Shalini: "Everybody who? Where are these everybody? Error, everybody not found! Rita assured me that Ragini did nothing, the real culprit is one of the incorrigible children! Got it?"

Mahima crossed her arms rolling her eyes upwards. No, she didn't get it.

MEANWHILE

Ragini had a lesson in the kitchen with Mishti and Jai's class. She got surprised seeing Vikram, Jai and Rahul entering and a wide smile appeared on her face but she couldn't react since, according to the lie she had told, she knew nobody. Vikram, Jai and Rahul smiled at her and stayed silent to since they were aware of Ragini's situation.

After few minutes Ragini cleared her throat and said to Jai, Vikram and Rahul: "You three, come to the dispensary with me to get some stuff!"

Jai, Vikram and Rahul followed her out of the kitchen. Mishti, who was cutting some vegetables, threw them a glance wondering what is going on between them.

Ragini, Jai, Vikram and Rahul went inside the dispensary.

Ragini: "Guys what are you doing here?!" - She asked with a big smile on her face.

Jai: "Didn't you like the surprise?"

Ragini: "Of course, I'm so happy to see you here! But how did you manage to enter here?"

Rahul: "We could not leave you alone!"

Vikram: "The band has to stay united! And you are the one who keep us together!" - Ragini gave him a side hug.

Jai: "We got ourselves expelled from our college and here we are to stay near you!"

Ragini was touched: "Aww... Thank you so much guys! But we have to be careful because nobody shall come to know that we are friends!"

Jai: "Don't worry!"

Ragini gave them a flying kiss: "You are the best! Now pick up some random stuff from here and let's go back to the class!"

Jai: "As you command, Prof!"

Ragini hit his shoulder chuckling.

The four went back to the kitchen behaving casually.

Suddenly Mishti hissed as she slightly cut her finger. Jai was about to step ahead but Ragini rushed towards her first: "Mishti! Be careful!" - She said grabbing her hand.

Vikram: "I'll bring a patch!" - Jai eyed him.

Mishti: "No it's ok, it's just a small cut." - She took her hand back from Ragini. Her usual bitter expression had softened a bit seeing Ragini's care. For a second, she lifted her lip of a millimeter.

Jai whispered to Vikram: "She has never grabbed a knife in her hands in her whole life, this had to happen."

Vikram: "Don't be so cruel! Poor Mishti!"

Jai: "You can't use poor and Mishti in one sentence!" - He chuckled a bit.

THE NEXT MORNING

Rita brought Ayaan in the basement of the Mastery.

Rita: "So look around, as you can see there are lots of crates, bottles and other stuff here. I don't know why I suddenly want it empty so you have to clean out this place!"

Ayaan: "But I have already cleaned the stable as my punishment!"

Rita: "That wasn't enough!"

Ayaan huffed understanding that there was no use to complain.

LATER

Rita and Shalini were in what looked like a kid's room. There were some teddies, a baby cot, lots of pictures and toys.

Shalini: "Forgive me Rita for diverting you from your schoolwork but this room needed to be tidied up too..." - She said while adjusting some frames.

Rita: "Don't worry, this is part of my work too."

Shalini: "Come, sit here!" - She asked Rita while taking her place on the sofa as well - "This is a drawing that Veer had made..." - She showed Rita a drawing she had framed.

While Rita was looking at the drawing, Shalini stared at a picture of a little Veer with a smile: "I was thinking that Veer..." - She looked upwards as her eyes welled up a bit - "He would have had more than twenty years today and... I'd like to imagine how my life would have been if he was with me and how he would have been at this age... I know I have spoiled Mahima a lot..." - She let out a laughter that hided pain - "Sometimes I wonder if I would have raised Veer the same way too... I don't know..."

Rita: "I think that you will never know it so it's better if you stop thinking about those who are no more and torture yourself like this... please." - Shalini didn't look so convinced and looked down sadly. - "Pain has to end at a certain point, isn't it?"

Shalini shrugged: "I don't know." - She looked at Veer's picture - "The pain I feel for the son I have lost will stay with me forever." - She wiped a tear.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Jai was passing near the dining hall when he saw Esha, Shreya and Preeti having breakfast there.

Esha: "Girls we have to hurry up otherwise we'll get late for the Physical Education lesson!"

Jai opened the door. The girls looked at him.

Jai: "Ops. Sorry, I thought my friends were here!"

Shreya: "No, they aren't here."

Esha: "So, how do you feel in the collegium?"

Jai came inside and sat near them: "It's good!"

Preeti: "Well, you just came here."

Jai: "How much it's been that you girls are here?"

All the three replied: "Too much!"

Jai: "I'm sorry."

Esha: "Yeah... we're not doing great here unfortunately."

Jai: "No actually I meant that I'm sorry because so many guys don't have the opportunity to know such pretty girls!" - He smiled flirting.

The three smiled.

Esha: "That's really sweet of you!"

Karan and his friend came at the doorstep.

"This guy is crossing his line!" - Said Karan's friend.

Karan: "Yes. We have to do something and teach him a lesson!" - He exchanged smirks with his friend and then they left from there.

Jai: "I'd stay here to talk with you girls forever but I have to leave for martial arts class."

Shreya: "And we have to go to the physical education lesson."

Jai got up: "Well, see you later then!" - And he left after giving them his charming smile to the girls.

As soon as he left, Preeti said: "He's so cute, I can't!"

Shreya: "But he flirts a lot!"

Esha: "Let's just stay quiet. If Mishti hears us, she will get mad since she hates him so much!"

AFTER A WHILE

Sanskar was having lesson with Mishti and the other girls.

He introduced himself while standing with a volleyball ball in his hands: "Hi! My name is Sanskar and I'm your new Physical Education Professor. I want you to do immediately three series of fifty crunches, twenty-five push-ups and then we will revise the regulations of volleyball." - He looked at the surprised faces of the girls and smile - "Just joking! Just play and show me your skills!"

He gave them the ball and went aside as his phone rang.

Sanskar: "Hi."

Ananya was doing jogging on the other side: "Hey baby! Why didn't you call me?"

Sanskar: "Sorry, I'm having a lesson right now. I can't talk now Ananya." - And with that he cut the call going back to the girls who had started playing volleyball.

Ananya was shocked. She looked at her phone with open mouth: "He cut the call! No, this is not done Sanskar!"

MEANWHILE

Ayaan looked at the empty basement: "Well, it looks like I have finished. Rita shall be satisfied."

He was about to go upstairs when he saw a door that was earlier covered by the boxes. He opened it and went inside. There was a dark corridor and the curious kid decided to go to explore it. He had just taken some steps when his feet slipped into something and he dashed into another door at the right falling into a room. He looked around. It was the same kid's room Shalini and Rita were cleaning a while ago.

Ayaan: "Where am I?"

He started looking around at the stuff when his eyes went on a picture of Shalini with a baby. He grabbed it and looked at it.

IN THE GYM

Jai was stretching his arms and warming up for the martial arts lesson. He, like the other students, was wearing a Karate Gi, the traditional uniform used for Karate. Suddenly Karan came there and grabbed his arm from behind flipping him and making him fall on the ground with a Karate stunt.

Karan stepped on Jai's arm and bowed down near him: "Stay away from the girls, from my girlfriend especially, or you'll come to a bad end." - He threatened Jai who looked at him gritting his teeth.

IN THE KITCHEN

Ragini was trying pancakes recipe for the next lesson. Clumsy as usual, she had mistakenly put some flour even on her cheek. She was shaking the batter she had put on the pan to check if the underside of pancake is ready when Sanskar entered in the kitchen.

Sanskar: "May I come in?"

Ragini look up to glare at him and then looked down again at her batter: "What do you want?"

Sanskar smiled a bit seeing the flour on her face and then said: "I just came here to get a glass of water but don't worry act like I'm not here."

Ragini: "Hmm... I have already seen you so can't really act like you're not here." - She murmured.

Sanskar went to get water and was giving his back to Ragini when she flicked the pan upward in order to flip the pancake so that it ends up on the other side but... she used a little bit too much of force and the batter hit the ceiling, getting stuck there.

Ragini looked upwards at it: "Ops."

Sanskar turned around: "What happened?"

Ragini indicated the pancake: "Ehm... and now?"

Sanskar stood beside Ragini and looked upwards too. He tried to suppress a smile but felt the corner of his mouth twitch.

MEANWHILE

Jai was standing with Vikram and Rahul and glaring at Karan and his friend who were on the other side of the gym.

Jai: "What's wrong with that dude? I don't even know who his girlfriend is and he threatened me like this but now I'll show him!"

Vikram: "Why didn't you react?"

Rahul: "Yes you should have given it back to him!"

Jai: "He caught me off guard otherwise you know I could have knocked him out within a second!"

Vikram: "I have a feeling that it will be difficult to get some friends here!"

Jai: "And who wants these idiots as friends?! They picked a fight with the wrong person." - He glared at Karan who was smirking.

Everybody recomposed as the martial arts master came there. They stood up straight in front of him.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Ragini was standing on a small step ladder. She was holding the ladder with one hand while with the other she was holding a spatula with which she was trying to remove the pancake batter from the ceiling.

Sanskar was standing near her: "Wait, be careful!" - He said keeping a hand on her hip since she was having difficulties to keep balance on the ladder.

Ragini: "I just can't!" - She said as she wasn't able to reach the batter.

Sanskar: "Let me do it since I am taller!"

Ragini looked at him smiling: "Well, let's not exaggerate. I'm not that..." - And just then she lost her balance and slipped.

Sanskar grabbed Ragini's wrist and waist but she fell on the ground dragging also Sanskar who fell on top of her.

Ragini: "Ouch!"

She opened her eyes which she had closed while falling and saw that Sanskar's face was just inches apart from hers. Both looked in each other's eyes.

Sanskar: "You should have let me do it." - He said in a husky voice.

Their eye-lock got interrupted when the door opened and Ananya stepped inside. Her eyes widened seeing Ragini and Sanskar in that position.

Ananya: "SANSKAR?!" - Sanskar and Ragini looked at her - "What the hell are you two doing?!"

Sanskar: "Nothing!" - He replied while getting up and helping Ragini to stand up as well.

Ragini: "It's just that it got stuck!"

Ananya: "Who got stuck to you? Him?" - She asked glaring at her.

Sanskar scratched his head while Ragini indicated the ceiling and replied: "Nope... the pancake."

Ananya looked up and just then the batter of the pancake fell down... straight on Ananya's face.

Sanskar covered his face with a hand while Ragini put both her hands in front of her mouth trying to hold a laughter. Ananya took a deep breath and gave a deadly glare to Ragini who was trying hard not to bust out laughing.

CHAPTER ENDS