You know, I've noticed one thing. Ragsan seems to be more popular than Raglak this season. 😉

Anyways, Moving on! 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 4 - Cries That go Unheard

"We've decided to break off our engagement." Ragini and Laksh spoke in unison.

Their parents gasped, as well as the rest of the family members of both of their families. Swara was bewildered. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'After all the convincing that I and Maa did, Ragini still decided to break off her engagement? Doesn't Ragini realize she is giving up her own happiness!?'

However, if she would have paid more attention to her own emotions, she would have realized that although she felt miffed that Ragini didn't listen to her, she didn't feel any sorrow that Ragini was losing her love. She was more concerned about Ragini disagreeing to her wish, considering the fact that Ragini always did what others wanted.

"Ladoo? Ladoo what are you saying?! You must be joking!?" Parvati turned to look at Laksh with a glare. "You! You are the one responsible for this, aren't you!? You told her to do this, didn't you wild wretch!?"

"Mind your language Parvati! Your granddaughter has her own brain to think on her own. She can take her own decisions." Durgaprasad shouted back.

"After that day you took Ragini to the beach, she has been behaving odd since then. You must have told her something!" Shekhar shouted in anger.

Adarsh stepped forward. "I respect you Shekhar ji, but please don't blame my brother. I know my brother well. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her in anyway." He would have spoken more if it wasn't for Parineeta holding him back.

Annapurna and Shramishtha remained silent. They both knew Laksh's truth, but kept quiet for the sake of his safety. Dida and Swara didn't know what to say, bewildered by Ragini's decision. Sanskar, on the other hand, was frustrated by the turn of events. Nothing was working in his favour. He went away towards his room, unnoticed by anyone. Well, that's what he thought. If he would have paid more attention, he would have seen his mother following him.

Ram moved ahead and stood beside Ragini and Laksh. "Please, stop it all of you. Let us listen to the two of them first and ask them why they took this decision before arguing like kids." Everyone quietened down at his voice and turned to look at Ragini and Laksh.

Laksh gave Ragini the first chance to speak. "Dadi, Laksh isn't the one who made me take the decision. It was my own. I...I finally realized my dream, my passion. I want to sing Dadi. I want to become a singer."

"You can do that after marriage beta. The-"

"No Baba. Yes, no doubt Laksh would allow it. But I won't be comfortable with the fact that I would be concentrating more on my own career than looking after the family. I would feel like I'm being an irresponsible wife and daughter-in-law. I can't pursue my career with guilt in my heart and mind." Ragini tried to sound as convincing as possible. After all, she didn't want her lie to be caught.

Ragini squeezed Laksh's hand, signalling him that it was time he play his role. Laksh got the hint and got ready to speak.

"I value her thoughts." Laksh turned to look at Durgaprasad pleadingly. "Papa, like her, I too realized something. I realized how useless I was being to the family. You trusted me to get good education abroad so that I could help you run your company. Instead, I'm just being a teenage brat! How can I even think of marrying now? How will I be a responsible husband and father, when I can't even be a responsible son!?"

Swara and Shramishtha looked shell shocked. Ragini already told them that Laksh confessed the truth to her. She knew why he wanted to break the engagement and also that he was lying. But still she was not saying anything against him. Why?

Durgaprasad looked at his son in wonder. On one hand, he felt happy that Laksh was finally becoming the man he wanted. But on the other hand, he was calling off the marriage. "But son, Yo-"

"Papa, I've realized my mistake now. I...I want to learn from you and bhai and be someone responsible. Only then do I want to marry. Please Papa, please bhai. Please understand my point."

"But Sanky ne-" Adarsh's words were cut off by Ragini.

"Don't worry Adarsh bhaiya. I will come here to give Sanskar company until he recovers."

(Author's note : Sanskar was still faking his madness at that time, remember?)

"Yes bhai. Ragini will come to visit Sanky so that he doesn't cause a scene in the house."

Durgaprasad looked at Ragini. "Are you okay with his decision?" Ragini nodded in affirmation. Durgaprasad took off his glasses and gave a long suffering sigh. After a moment, he nodded . "Alright Laksh. I am happy with your decision, yours as well Ragini. But I want to know what your family thinks about it."

Parvati and Shekhar looked at each other in indecision. Ragini went and stood before them and joined her hands in front of them. "Please. Please say yes. I really want to achieve my dream. I can't do that if you disagree with my decision."

"Ladoo, are you extremely sure about your decision?"

"Absolutely dadi. My passion for singing surpasses my love for Laksh."

Parvati nodded. "Fine then. So be it! This marriage won't happen now."

"I agree to it as well." Durgaprasad spoke. "Laksh, you and Ragini shall marry once you both have achieved your goals."

Shekhar nodded. "I agree as well. The happiness of the kids are what matters more than anything to us, right Shramishtha?"

Shramishtha was still confused about why Ragini lied, but smiled at Shekhar. She saw Dida agree as well. "I guess I agree too. Nothing is more important than their happiness."

"Well said Shramishtha, well said." Durgaprasad spoke in a friendly voice.

Ragini and Laksh smiled at each other, finally successful in their plan. Although their families still think that they will marry in future, they at least managed to stall the wedding for years. And they were sure that in those years, they would be able to make Swara fall for Laksh and also convince Durgaprasad to accept Swara as his daughter-in-law.

"Aiiishh!" They all looked towards Parineeta at her exclamation. "I ordered sweets of every kind available at the market for tomorrow! It has arrived already and are in the refrigerator! Now that there is no engagement, what celebration will we eat them for?"

"Oho my sweet wife. I don't need a reason to eat sweets. I just need them to be served before me." Adarsh teased, heading for the kitchen.

"Don't eat everything Adarsh! Adarsh, you bhukar, wait!"

Ram chuckled as Parineeta rushed after her husband. "I agree with Adarsh. Let's enjoy the sweets. If not for the engagement, we can share them for finally being able to put our differences aside and starting a new friendship between our families."

All of the elders agreed and headed towards the dining hall.

Swara came to stand beside Ragini. "Are you sure about your decision Ragini?"

"I am Swara. In fact, I've never been this sure about anything. You're overreacting for nothing."

Swara smiled. "Alright Ragini. I'm with you on every decision."

"Swara, Laksh was the one who made me realize my passion for music. He was the one who made me see the truth." Ragini praised Laksh, trying to make Swara forgive him. "Yes it's true that he lied to me. But eventually he helped me."

"I bet he has some of his own motives behind it. People like him don't change Ragini." Swara bit out, unconvinced. She moved after the rest of the family, not waiting to hear a response from Laksh.

Ragini looked at Laksh's disappointed face. "Don't worry Laksh. Everything will be fine. I'll help you make Swara realize her love for you."

Laksh turned to look at Ragini with a grateful smile. "Thank you Ragini. Thank you for everything."

"It's alright Laksh. You don't need to thank me."

"Yes I do! It's because of you that everything is turning out in the right way. Without your help, I could have done nothing! Even after everything...even after I wronged you so much, you are still there for me. You're even ready to help me get my love." Laksh stopped his speech, looking uncomfortable. Ragini knew why.

"Yes Laksh. But I'm doing this as a friend. You don't need to be uncomfortable around me. Like I said, I understand that you have romantic feelings only towards my sister Swara. The only thing you are to me is a good friend now. That is how I see you now."

At this, the tension seemed to disappear from Laksh's face. "That's great Ragini! I...I thought I was hurting you by talking about my love for Swara. But you've moved on. I'm so glad." he gave her a thumbs up. "I know you will find someone awesome who will love you like I love Swara. Such a good person like you will get an amazing husband. I just know it!"

Ragini giggled at his words. "Thank you Laksh."

"Lucky."

"Um...what?"

"Call me Lucky. That is what my best friends call me."

"Okay then Laks-oh I'm sorry! I mean Lucky."

"Aha! There you go."

"Now that everything is solved, let's go." Ragini moved forward, only for her to be held back by Laksh.

"But there is still a problem."

"What's that?"

"I need to give you a name as well! 'Ragini' is too long."

"Are you insulting my name?" 😒

"Of course not! It's just that I want to give you a name since we're now best buddies."

"Ra-" Swara paused at the scene in front of her. She had come to call Ragini, but the scene in front of her was causing her an unknown distress. She watched as Ragini and Laksh chatting amicably with each other.

Earlier, whenever they were together, there was some tension because of Laksh or awkwardness because of Ragini's shyness between them. 'But now...now they look more closer than ever! Shouldn't Ragini hate him now that he told her the truth? Shouldn't she hate her like I hate him?'

But as Swara looked at them, she could feel a kind of longing. She could feel herself wanting to be the center of Laksh's attention. This rose another question on Swara's mind. 'But when he talks to me, I insult him and be rude. Then why do I want his attention? I should hate him for his deeds. I hate him. I hate him so much...don't I? What is happening? Do I hate him or not!?'

She was broken out of her thoughts as she heard their laughter. She snapped out of her trance and remembered why she came there in the first place. "Ragini! Come to the dining hall quick! Or I'll eat all the sweets!" Swara shouted from the corridor.

"I'll be right there Swara. You go ahead!"

"Okay. But don't blame me if there are none left!" Swara left with a playful smirk.

Laksh chuckled. "She's adorable, isn't she?"

"Hehe... Yeah. She can act like a child sometimes, but she's really understanding and caring."

"I know. That's why I love her."

"Oho! You're really love smitten. Now let's go. Or we won't get anything to eat."

"Race you there!" saying that, Laksh rushed forward.

Ragini smiled as she watched him go, but didn't move herself. She looked around the place as she stood there...all alone. 'This is how I ended up, eh?'

She let out a dry chuckle. "Ironic isn't it? Laksh says that I'm the reason for everyone is happy. But on the other hand, I am more lonely than ever. I go on trying to fix everything, but I'm the one that's broken completely. I've got no one to understand me. I can't tell anyone my secrets in fear of breaking the friendship between the families. I told Laksh that I don't like him but...but I know it's not true." She confessed to herself. "I can't tell him the truth or he will be uncomfortable and silent around me. I would rather suffer silently than bear his silence towards me."

She sighed and smiled to herself. "But for everyone's happiness, I'll smile. I'll smile like nothing's wrong, pretend that everything is alright and act like everything is perfect. And maybe...and maybe if I keep on faking it, one day it will become reality. Maybe one day, I can be truly happy." However, she knew it was foolish to think so.

Ragini could fell a tear escape her eye. However, she refused to show her tears as she entered the dining hall. She took a seat near her mother and smiled at everyone. Her smile faltered a bit as she looked at Laksh.

'I tried Laksh. I tried to forget you. You shattered my heart and yet I love you. Every day I try to be strong, every night I try to forget you. But I can't. I can't! What did I do wrong Laksh? Why am I not good enough for you? Can't you see I'm falling apart? Can't anyone see my pain?! Why is it my cries that go unheard? Why!?'

She saw Laksh look up towards Swara with a loving smile as Swara kept chatting with Parineeta. 'You were supposed to be the one to make me smile Laksh. Instead, you became the reason I'm crying tears of sorrow.' Ragini looked away unable to bear the sight. 'What hurts the most is seeing the one you love, falling for another.'

"Ragini beta? Eat something. Don't you like the food?"

"Its not that Bade Papa. The food is great. Its just that...its that..." Ragini tried to think of an excuse. "Its because Sanskar hasn't eaten till now. I want to eat with my dost. Its been a long time since I spent time with him."

"He's in his room Ragini. It's so nice of you to take care of my brother. Thanks again Ragini." Laksh said with a smile, going back to staring at Swara.

"Alright. I'll take his food to him." Ragini said with a smile, although a fake one. 'I'm hurt, alone, depressed, I cry myself to sleep and I hate myself for doing all of it! And yet...yet I can't tell you anything in fear of losing you. If I tell you the truth, you might begin to avoid me.'

Ragini got up and left with two plates filled with food. 'No matter what, I'll always keep loving you and want you to be happy...even if it's not with me. Your brother's well-being and getting Swara means your happiness. And I'll help you get them, even if every moment of it would hurt me.'

Ragini paused her steps when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Did you need anything Badi Maa?"

Annapurna looked at her with tear filled eyes. "Laksh confessed to me about his feelings for Swara once. I know Laksh doesn't love you and I know you know that too. I don't know why you are helping him knowing that he betrayed you. But all I know is that you are the only reason everything isn't in chaos. If you had told the truth, our families may have ended up as enemies. Thank you for everything. You may not become my daughter-in-law in future, but you will always be a daughter to me. Don't hesitate to come to me if you face any trouble, okay?"

Ragini felt touched at her concern. She could only nod, too emotional to say a word.

"But Ragini...are you sure you'll be okay? I can tell by looking at your eyes that you still love Laksh. I...I wish I could so something in all this."

Ragini shook her head. "Don't feel guilty Badi Maa. The fact that you understand me is enough. I thought I was all alone. But now I have you to hold me if I ever break." She assured Annapurna. "And as for me? The sooner I accept the reality of things, the better it will be for me. I'll just have to be satisfied being Laksh's friend."

"And what will you do if Swara and Laksh married? Will you be able to bear it?"

Ragini smiled at her. "Well...I'll keep living, keep loving, keep hurting, keep suffering until...until one day...one day, I'm finally able to find my smile again. Until I can be happy somehow."

Annapurna placed a hand on her head. "And I hope the one who brings your happiness comes to your life soon. That's a blessing from a mother's heart."

"Thank you Badi Maa." Ragini excused herself and went towards Sanskar's room.

"Badi Maa? What are you doing here? Let's go to the dining hall. Else, your elder son is going to devour everything!"

"Haha... Coming Parineeta."

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹