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Almost at the end. Last third chapter!

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"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 14

#Hospital#

The receptionist looked up as some people came rushing towards her.

"Where is Ragini? Where is she?!" questioned a panicked Shekhar. Shramishtha stood beside him, with Sujata and Ram close behind.

"Excuse me sir. Who are you looking for?"

"Ragini Gadodia. Where is she admitted?"

The receptionist looked it up in the computer. "She's to be transferred to room 30. But right now, she's in the ICU. It's to the left." At once, they rushed towards the corridor.

#Outside the I. C. U#

Caleb stood, jerking his knee up and down in anxiety. Laksh held onto Swara as she cried in his arms. Ever since they got there, Swar's tears hadn't stopped flowing. He was trying hard to console her, but he couldn't deny the fact that he himself was over-worried for Ragini's safety.

Sanskar was the worst.

Laksh saw his brother biting his lip in worry and pacing around the room. He stopped and looked towards the door, as if he wanted to break it and go in. However, he controlled himself and started pacing again.

That was what he had been doing ever since they got there.

Sanskar wasn't someone who was easily scared off by others. But now, Laksh could see his hands shaking and his eyes moist with tears. His brother's mind and heart was in total chaos. Ragini's injury really had him worried to the extremes. If Laksh had any doubts about his brother's love for Ragini, it all disappeared seeing Sanskar's genuine stress and worry.

"Laksh, Sanskar, Swara, Caleb!"

They looked to the side hearing that shout and saw the elders come towards them. Shramishtha went to Swara and pulled her into a hug. Laksh stood up and moved aside. He knew the Gadodias needed each other the most at the moment.

"Don't worry Shona beta. It's alright. Ragini will be fine in no time! But we need to stay strong for her."

"B-but Maa, the doctor said...he said that Ragini lost a lot of blood and...and she could...she could..."

"Shhh beta. Nothing will happen to Ragini. She'll be alright. She'll be okay. Don't lose hope Swara." Shekhar came to them and pulled both of them into his arms giving them a sense of safety.

Caleb's phone rang. It was from him parents. "Um..excuse me. I need to take the call." saying so, he went out.

Ram and Sujata came near the boys. Sujata immediately started inspecting Laksh for injuries. Sanskar didn't stop his pacing for her to inspect him.

"Maa, we're okay. You don't need to worry!"

"Lucky, are you sure? You aren't lying are you?"

"I'm not Maa." Laksh responded.

"I'm not sure your brother is okay though." Ram pointed out, looking at Sanskar. "Physically Sanskar may be okay, but he seems distressed. Although it's Ragini that is hurt, it's as if he feels the pain."

"My poor boy..." Sujata went and stood before Sanskar, blocking his path. "Sanskar, stop. Please. Tell your mother what ails you. Speak to me." Sanskar adverted his moist eyes, and tried to move past her. However, Sujata held his face and turned him to face her. "It's okay to cry. It's okay to care. Don't hide your tears from your mother Sanskar. Let it out beta. Let your pain flow out as tears instead of bottling it up."

Her words had the desired effect and he could no longer keep his tears at bay. "M-Maa Ragini she...she t-took the bullet for m-me! She gave her...her life without a s-second thought to save me!" Sanskar stuttered out in between his tears. "I d-don't deserve such l-loyalty and devotion from her Maa. I'm not a...a good person!"

"That isn't true Sanskar."

"You don't know the e-entire matter Maa. I forced her into...into this marriage. If I didn't then...then maybe she would s-still be okay!"

'If she didn't like him, she would never risk her life for him. I guess he thinks so since Ragini was injured because of him. He blames himself.' Sujata thought to herself. "Sanskar...come with me. Come with me and try to stay strong, okay? For us, for Ragini." she led him to the nearest bench and made him sit.

"So? What exactly happened?" asked Ram to Laksh, once Sujata and Sanskar went away.

"I got a call from one of our trusted sources that someone was in the mall planning to shoot bhai. I called the security as soon as possible. I called Sanky as well to warn him and tell him to leave the mall. But he refused! He believed that if he can catch the sniper, we would have proof against the Singhanias attempt to murder him."

"That idiot of a brother you have!" Ram exclaimed, running a hand over his face. "What happened next?"

"I wasn't there at the time when the gun as fired, but I was on the phone with Sanskar. Caleb and Ragini were probably there since I heard their voices over the phone. While speaking to bhai, I heard Ragini shout 'there!' and then...then the shot." Laksh turned to look at his father with remorse. "I wish I could reach them sooner. No one would have been hurt if we were more efficient. Papa, Sanky would have been shot if Ragini didn't come to stand before him. She...she took the bullet for him Papa."

"I see. She must really love him. Just as he loves her. But..."

"But what Papa?"

"Look Laksh...I understand they love each other and I'm not against their marriage. But the thing is, we cannot risk your brother's life, and neither can we risk Ragini's. This time they managed to survive, but what if they can't the next time?"

Laksh looked down with a grim face. After all, his father wasn't wrong. "So what do you suggest?"

"I...I think we should cancel the marri-"

"What!? Break their marriage? That's...that's just..."

"Hear me out first. I think we should cancel the marriage for now. To save Sanskar, we need to send him away from here somewhere safe and secure. Once we get proof against the Singhanias and get them arrested, we'll bring Sanskar back and marry him to Ragini."

"But Papa, bhai loves Ragini! Do you really think he will agree to it?"

"I don't think so. But Laksh, try to understand. If we don't take this step and convince him, both he and Ragini could be killed. This must be done for the greater good at the end."

Laksh balled his hands into fists in anger. However, he knew his father was right. "Okay. Okay I...I'll try to convince bhai of it. I hope I can at least do something right, unlike last time." he bit out, his remorse over being late to save Ragini and his brother still fresh in his mind.

His father placed a hand on his shoulder. "Relax Laksh. You're doing the best you can for your brother. This time you were a bit late, that's all. You're only human after all. As for Ragini, she's been given immediate care."

"Yeah. That's another thing in our favor. The way the doctor rushed Ragini inside for treatment was shocking. I mean I understand that doctors do it for all patients, but in this case, it looked like he was worried about her like he knew her."

"I see. Well, in a way, it's a good thing. Ragini will be operated with more efficiently."

#One hour later#

The door to the I. C. U opened and the doctor came out still wearing the safety mask. Ragini's family and Sanskar rushed to him. Caleb, Laksh and his parents followed close behind.

"How is she? She's alright, right? She's okay, right?" Sanskar asked in a hurry. The doctor looked at him with a serious look, making everyone there hold their breaths.

After a moment, the doctor nodded. Sanskar's feet trembled as he felt a great burden lift off his shoulders and he fell on the bench near him. He let out a loud bark of laughter while tears sneaked out from his eyes in relief. "She's okay. My Ragini is okay."

"See? She's alright Swara." Laksh consoled Swara while pulling her into hug.

Ragini's parents smiled through their moist eyes. Sujata and Ram breathed a sigh of relief as well.

"Thank goodness!" Caleb exclaimed in glee, happy that his bestie was okay.

"But..." the doctor removed the mask from his face. "But the wound was fatal. A minute late and things could have turned worse. But one thing I can't understand is how did an innocent happy going girl like her get into a gun fight?" questioned the doctor.

"How do you know how she behaves such?" questioned Laksh in suspicion. At his words, Sanskar looked up at the doctor as well.

"You?!" Sanskar recognized him instantly and abruptly leapt up from his seat. "But...but how?"

"Yes. Me."

"You're the person who sat beside Ragini in the rollercoaster. The one she had accidentally pushed off first!"

The man nodded with the smile. "Yes. And also the one who dined with you before we all came out of the carnival. That is why I know this obnoxious girl." he said with a chuckle.

"So that's why you seemed genuinely worried for Ragini." Laksh concluded.

"Yes." responded the doctor. He turned to look at Shekhar and Shramishtha. "Your daughter is a sweet person, albeit a troublesome one. She is filled with life. Anyone would want to hang out with her once they got to know her better."

"I don't like where this is going." Caleb pointed out. "Are you implying th-"

"Don't take in the wrong sense, I don't like her in romantic way. But that day, she helped me a lot. Maybe even more than she herself knows."

"How?" Sanskar questioned.

The doctor opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it and changed the topic. "Forget that. The main thing is that she's okay." he put forward his hand for him to shake. "I'm Adarsh Delgado. I'll be in my office. If you need my services, send a nurse."

"Wait! Can we see her? Please?" Sanskar pleaded.

"Not now. Later, when she would be moved to her room, you can see her. Let her rest for now." saying so, he left.

Swara rubbed away her tears and turned to her parents. "Maa, Baba, Ragini would be admitted here for tonight and maybe a few more days. Why don't you go rest today, and come back fresh tomorrow? I'll stay here with my Di for tonight."

"But beta, you must be exhausted."

"It's okay Maa. I want to stay for Ragini."

Laksh went and stood next to Swara. "It's okay Shramishtha aunty. I'll take care of her. You can rest assured. I'll stay back as well." he looked at his parents. "I think you all should go and take Sanskar bhai with you. Today has been really a hard day for him. Ragini's state has him most distressed of us all!"

Sujata nodded. "You're right. He needs to have some rest after all this emotional turmoil. Sanskar won't agree easily, but I'm sure I'll be able to convince him somehow."

"Will you two be okay here?" Shramishtha questioned Swara and Laksh.

"Not two, three." Caleb uttered. "I am in a way responsible for delaying them. I will stay with Swara and Laksh in the hospital."

"We'll inform your parents then." Shekhar replied.

#11:31pm#

'Level 100 crossed!' Caleb put away his phone and looked over at Laksh where he sat. It seemed Laksh had finally fallen asleep. 'Typical rich brat. He couldn't keep his eyes open for long.' he looked towards the room which Ragini was transferred. She woke once, but since she still had trouble speaking, the doctor gave her a sedative to rest.

Caleb noticed Swara coming towards him. "Yes?"

"I...I need to use the washroom. Keep an eye out for trouble, alright?"

"Sure."

Swara nodded and went away.

As Caleb waited, he heard footsteps approaching and looked up. It was a woman passing through the corridor. She seemed ignorant of him as she passed him. 'Why does she seem somewhat familiar?' before he could contemplate more on it, another figure came and turned him towards himself. "Sanskar? You here?!"

"I just couldn't rest without seeing Ragini. Did she awake? Did she ask for me? Is she okay? Did sh-"

"Dude, calm down. She's out of danger, like totally! Ragini has been transferred to another room, but she's still weak. So she's put to sleep instead of letting her converse with us."

Sanskar smiled a teary smile. "Where is she? Can I...can I at least see her?"

"Of course! That's her room straight ahead."

Sanskar nodded and rushed past him towards Ragini's room.

'Why isn't Swara back yet? I hope she hasn't lost her way.' Caleb thought to himself. 'If something happens to her, Shramishtha aunty will have my head! And once Ragini wakes up, she'll rip me apart!' he sighed to himself and went away to find Swara now that Sanskar was with Ragini.

Sanskar slowly pushed open the door to Ragini's room. As he stepped inside the room, he stopped in his tracks, overcome by sorrow.

Ragini, the usually bubbly girl, vibrant with energy and vigour, was lying among the various devices. In the white bed that she lied, she looked so small...so frail.

Sanskar went and sat beside her on the stool. With a shaky hand, he reached out and took her hand in his. "Ragini I...I'm so sorry Ragini. So very sorry. It's all because of me this happened. If I hadn't been so stubborn and listened to you and Lucky, you wouldn't have been hurt! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" he touched her hand with his forehead and gripped her hand hard. He let his tears flow free in the lonely dark room, where the only to comfort to him was his shadow.

"Ragini, why did you do it? Why Ragini?! I know I managed to become your friend. But you didn't love me, remember? You never wanted to marry me. Then...then why? Why do this? Why risk your life like this?!" Sanskar cried out. His despair was quickly overcome by anger. "You're an idiot! Was it your urge to play hero? Did you want to be great!? Well, damn that greatness that needs you to sacrifice your life! You're nothing but an idiot and an arrogant brat, you hear me?! Do you hear me Ragini?!"

When her face didn't show any changes he broke down crying. "Come on Ragini! Speak something. Fight me, argue with me, snark back to me. And this time, I'll even let you. Just come back to me. Come back to me!"

#Outside#

The woman stopped and looked around. 'That boy from earlier seems gone. The other one is asleep. Great!' she walks towards Ragini's room and peeped from opening in the door towards Ragini. 'I'm terribly sorry bachi. I didn't want to hurt you. I'm really sorry about that. You reminded me of my own daughter that day. I would never have hurt you! It's just because of that Sanskar Maheshwari!' she looked at Sanskar's figure in fury as he sat beside Ragini. 'He is the reason for all of this! If he would have died like I planned, then you wouldn't be hurt and I would get my money! Well, this changes now.' she slowly reached into her jacket and grabbed onto her gun. With one hand, she held the door handle, ready to open it, and with the other, she gripped her gun tight.

***********************************

To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹

So? Any guesses?
Will the woman be able to shoot him?
Would anyone save him on time?
Will Ragini wake up?
Will Sanskar leave Ragini?
Will Sanskar and even Ragini figure out her true feelings for him?

Stay tuned!