Hi there! Back with the update.

It's a bit shorter than my usual chapters. Will lengthen the chapters after this one!

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Phone conversations

Chapter 24 - Confrontation

Parvati opened the door to find Sujata
waiting there, Sanskar right beside her. She let them in. After all, it was she who invited them.

She led them to her room and closed the door behind her.

Sanskar sat on the chair, looking confused. "So? Would someone tell me why you both have become best friends all of a sudden? It can't be only your common vamp attitudes."

"If it wasn't for Sujata, I would throw you out!" Parvati gritted out.

"I'm sorry for his sarcasm. It's a bad habit that doesn't leave." Sujata pacified. "So tell me. What have you decided?"

"About what Maa?"

"I had a deal with her. About your marriage to Ragini."

Sanskar's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

"Beta, I can't see you suffer anymore. You're so bent on revenge, I rarely see your smile. But...but it all changed with Ragini by your side. And I know you like her. Don't even try to deny." Sanskar looked down, unable to refute her. "That's why, I'm asking her hand in marriage to you. Parvati Ji, what do you think? Like I said. Sanskar loves her. And he is Maheshwari with one share of the entire property in his name. She will never know poverty or mediacore with Sanskar as her husband. She'll eat, sleep and live with enough money to last her grandsons!"

All of this indeed effected her Dadi's opinion. After all, she wanted Ragini's life to be a comfortable one with a husband that loves her. "Oi. You aren't playing with her heart, are you boy?!"

Sanskar stood up. "I hate her. That's true." Parvati was about to speak, but Sanskar put up a hand. "I'm not done. I hate her, yes. But it's because she managed to create a place in my heart which was filled with revenge. I didn't care about anything but revenge. However, the small place that she occupied grew and grew until...until it pushed my revenge to the side. I didn't realize she mattered this much to me until her life was in danger."

Parvati kept looking at him with suspicion. Finally, she sighed. "I've lived enough to know when a person is lying. And you seem to be saying your words from your heart. Then..."

"Then?" Sujata asked with hope.

"Then let it be. I'll agree to this marriage. But first!" she glared at Sanskar. "You need to find a way to reveal that you're okay and not a lunatic. I won't bear people saying I married my Ladoo to a lunatic!"

"I'll ta-"

"MAA!"

All three of them got alert hearing Shramishtha's shout.

"Maa! Ragini!"

At once, Sanskar threw open the door and rushed out, Dadi and Sujata following close behind.

Shramishtha was confused to find the two Maheshwaris there. However, she had more important things to worry about.

"What about Ragini Shramishtha?"

"Maa look! This text from Swara."

I've found Ragini. She's in the forest to the east. There's a hidden resort here. Come fast! Please! Bring the police as well.

"Finally...finally we found her."

"Not we Maa, Swara found her. She finally found her sister like she promised." Shramishtha spoke with tears in her eyes.

'No. Swara is the one who had her kidnapped. What are you playing at Swara?!' Sanskar gritted his teeth. Nevertheless, he decided to accompany the rest to where Ragini was found. No doubt, everyone would ask him to stay back. But he can play his 'mad' card to let him come along. 'Whoever has her...if he so much as touched a hair on her body... He. Will. Pay!'

#Nikhil's Residence#

He groaned as he came to his senses. There was a dull ache in his head. However, he was sleeping on something soft.

Laksh blinked his eyes open and found a familiar face peering at him. "Ragini..." he smiled goofily, thinking he was dreaming. "Don't worry Ragini. I'll find you. I'll find you no matter where you are in this world!"

However, his dream Ragini sighed as if she was annoyed.

'It's my dream. So, shouldn't she smile like I want to and say she'll wait?' Laksh blinked a couple of times and realized the soft thing his head was on was Ragini's lap.

He tried to recall the events from before.

*flashback*

"You're so dead!"

"As if!"

Laksh ran faster and faster after Nikhil. Suddenly, to his surprise, Nikhil stopped abruptly, making him hit him from his speed and both fell down, one top of the other.

"Now I got you! Where is Ragini?!" Laksh screamed, holding him under him by the collar.

"Hahaha...!"

"Stop laughing. You're at my mercy!"

"Hahaha...! I just realized how much of an idiot I am running from you at my own porch." Nikhil sneered. "Men! Get this guy!"

The guards who weren't doing anything thinking Laksh was a friend who brought Mishka home, at once grabbed a hold of Laksh.

"Bye bye Sleeping Beauty."

Laksh didn't have the time to scream our before Nikhil hit him hard on the head with a bat.

*flashback end*

Laksh flinched. "That would explain the headache."

"Are you feeling any better?"

Laksh slowly got up and nodded. "Uh...yeah. A bit."

"Um...good." Ragini looked away and got up. She went to sit at the corner of the room silently.

There was an awkward silence in the room. Last time they were face to face, they were busy arguing at the mall. Laksh was wondering how to apologize without sounding like he was trying to be romantic, while Ragini was determined not to show how worried for him she was. She wanted to throttle Nikhil for touching her Laksh.

Ragini grit her teeth to stop the blush when her mind thought of Laksh as hers.

"Ragini, I...I'm glad you're okay."

Ragini nodded with a smile.

Laksh smiled back. 'Well that's a good way to start breaking the ice.' he looked around. "So, where are we?"

"Nikhils hidden house in the forest. He brought me here. But...but how did you know I was here?"

Laksh shook his head. "I didn't."

"But just saw you near your car. I was about to call out when Nikhil got to me again."

"I was...I was just..." Laksh looked away. "I was just wasting away my tears. After all, I'm so useless I couldn't even protect you from getting caught even when I was with you at the mall!"

Ragini's eyes softened. "Don't blame yourself Laksh. It wasn't your fault."

"It was." he sighed. "If I just listened to you and stopped following you and Ratan out of my jealousy, maybe Nikhil would never have had the chance of kidnapping you. Ratan is an amazing guy, I agree. And I think he would have protected you better if it wasn't for me messing up!"

Ragini looked down in guilt. How should she tell him that deep inside, she too felt glad that he was there. She was just another girl who no doubt liked her crush giving her attention. And it made her feel giddy knowing how possessive and jealous Laksh was being.

In a way, she kind of thought Laksh deserved it for how he treated her when he was in love with Swara. However, it made her feel all the more guilty.

"It's okay Laksh. I don't like Ratan in a romantic way either. I was kind of...kind of glad you came."

"Really?"

Ragini nodded with a shy smile. "Yes." However, instead of Laksh's chuckle, she found his face turn into one of misery. "Is something wrong?"

"Why are you confusing me Ragini?"

"Eh?"

"I confessed in front of the entire family that I love you. I put my whole heart in my words. And yet...yet, you refused me. But these tiny little things you say, the little glances, the smiles that you give me...it all signal that you feel the same for me...still!"

Ragini looked away.

However, Laksh would have none of it. He got up and grabbed her arm, pulling her to stand in front of him. "Look into my eyes and tell me that you don't care. Tell me that you are ready to love another!"

Looking into his eyes, she felt like she was being sucked into a black hole. However, she didn't want to escape. It was time she let it all out. "No. I'm not. Because I do love you...still."

Laksh smiled, a genuine one at her words. However, it dimmed when she continued.

"But I don't want you to return my feelings."

"W-what?! What d-do you mean?"

"I'm thankful to you for making me experience what it is like to live someone. I know what loving unconditionally feels like. I'm thankful you showed me what it's like to be in love, which I thought was only possible in stories." Ragini smiled at him. "But you also made my heart get pricked by the thorns while seeking the rose of love. I...I can't go through that anymore Laksh."

"You won't! I promise you Ragini." he held her face in his hands. "I promise never to break your heart! I promise. I realized my love for you. Never would I break your heart or refuse your love again!"

Ragini put away his hands. "Once was enough. And...and I'm too afraid. The sweet torture you made me go through...the smiles you gave which made me happy, as well as broke me knowing you gave them to me for helping you get Swara close." Ragini's breath hitched as she thought of Swara. She was still in shock over Swara's betrayal.

Laksh held Ragini's wrist in his hand. "Ragini...I'm so sorr-"

"Don't be. You can't help who the heart loves." Ragini smiled. "As for me, it's true I'll always love you, care for you. But I'm happy knowing I have someone to love unconditionally. But I'm not ready to face the pains of a heartbreak. So, it would be best if I don't surrender my heart to you again."

"You don't trust me to keep it, do you? You think I'll break it again?" Laksh spoke with a broken voice.

"I am sorry. But that is the way it is."

"What about me? I can't love another when I know you are my true love."

"You have to get over me Laksh. Because it will take time for me to trust my heart to anyone else again. And...and I doubt it will be easy. So please...please let go."

"You'll always love me. So why don't you just trust me...just this once and let me prove I will cherish your heart more than my life?!"

"It's how it is. But know this. There will always be a place in my heart which will always love you...always and forever."

Laksh sighed with a teary smile. Here he was hearing her confess her love for him. He longed to hear it. And yet, he couldn't find it in him to be happy. The irony of it. 'This is my punishment for making her suffer. And now, Fate is making me go through the same. I deserve it.'

With a shaky smile, Laksh let go of her wrist.

But they knew it meant more. He was letting her go.

He was letting go of his heart...

Elsewehere...

"I'm glad you hid me before Laksh spotted me."

Nikhil scoffed. "I did that only because I didn't want you to reveal my past to Mishka."

"Whatever. You didn't put him in the same room as Ragini, did you?" Swara got up abruptly with a look of horror.

"No. I put them in separate rooms." Nikhil replied. He mentally thanked his high school drama club for giving him good acting skills.

"Good, good. I'll be leaving then."

"Wait! The room Laksh is in. He might see you since it has a front facing window."

"You idiot! Go move him then!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get my men to it." Nikhil got up to leave. "There's coffee packets in the kitchen. Make some for us, will ya?"

Swara nodded. As he was about to open the door, she shouted his name.

"Now what?!"

"Have you seen my phone? I haven't found it since I ran out of Ragini's room."

"You don't say! I'll go get it from there then."

"What are you being so dramatic today?" Swara narrowed her eyes at him. "And being so nice to me?!"

Nikhil smirked. "I'm just in a good mood. Ciao!"

Swara looked down in thought once he left. 'Is he planning something?' she shook her head. "Nah! Not as long as I know of his past. I've got him trapped!"

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹