I have a tendency of turning fics lengthy with exaggerations. Moreover, since I kinda get ideas to insert in between, they turn from 1 or 2 chapters to more. 😂

Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversation

Chapter 2 - Delving Deeper

'They say big things come in small packages. Well, I understand now what they mean.' Sanskar sighed from the awkwardness of the situation.

He still found it surreal of how he came to be in such a mess. 'I should have never corrected her mistake in the lyrics.' he thought as he turned to look at her. 'She's sleeping on my shoulder. I can't even get up without disturbing her!'

Her headphones had become his savior. It saved his ears from her loud snores. Although she was a petite girl, she sure could beat a bear when it came to snoring.

His arm had already gone numb long back because of how tight she had held it. In fact, if Sanskar didn't know better, he would think she was in a conspiracy to stop its blood flow to his hand.

It had been 30 minutes since she got her father's call. And yet, there was no sign of him.

At first, Sanskar didn't mind her presence since she wasn't being a loud mouth. But now that he thought about it, that would have been better. Then he wouldn't be looking like a joker with the colourful headphones on, and she wouldn't be snoring like a bear. 'At least the place is almost empty. Less people see this, the better.'

He knew he could just throw her off of his shoulder and walk off. However, he didn't have the heart to do that after all she did to make him smile.

Noticing the light coming from her cell phone, he checked the caller ID. He guessed it was her father since she had saved it as "Baba".

"Hey? Hey, wake up." if he recalled correctly, he had heard her refer to herself as Ragini Gadodia while screaming at him. "Ragini? Hey, wake up Ragini." since it had no effect, he decided to take another approach.

Sanskar extended his free hand towards the water and took some in his hand. 'Hope she doesn't scream.' with caution, he gently sprinkled some on her face.

Her face scrunched up as cold water hit her skin. She shook her head and tried to go back to sleep. But Sanskar did it again.

Shaking her head, she groggily opened her eyes. "Who turned the lights out?" she mumbled.

"It's night time idiot." Sanskar replied in good humor.

"Oh." she blinked.

And blinked again.

Only then did it occur to her that she was sleeping on his shoulder, with her arms wrapped around his. At once, she pushed him back and shifted back pointing an accusing finger at him. "Who are you!? How did you get into my house, you creep?! Bloody murder!"

"House?"

Ragini slowly looked around and noticed where she was. Slowly, everything came back to her, and the sleepiness from her train of thoughts lifted. "Oh damn! Sorry dude. I thought I was in my room. I need a second to collect my thoughts after I wake up."

"It's okay. Here." he handed her the phone. "Your father called."

She took the cell and checked the missed call, calling him in return. "Hello? Yes Baba?"

(I'm almost near the park. Sorry for keeping you waiting beta. The traffic is unbelievable!)

"It's okay Baba. Come soon."

(Okay dear.)

She cut the call and put the phone in her sling bag. She stretched out her hands and let out a loud yawn. "That was one heck of a power nap. You sure are comfy mister."

"Thanks. But I don't think my arm appreciates it." he rolled his elbow to remove the numbness from the joints.

"Say, what's your name? We've been chatting so long, and yet I haven't asked you."

"Sanskar." he sat up properly and smiled at her. "It's Sanskar."

"I'm Ragini. Nice to meet ya!"

He nodded. "These are yours." he handed her the headphones.

"Yeah. They and I are inseparable you could say." she responded with a giggle. The wind blew covering her face with her long bangs. "Ugh! Disturbing elements!"

Sanskar couldn't help but chuckle as she tried unsuccessfully to keep them away from her face. He couldn't help but find it quiet cute.

It wasn't that he was thinking of her in a romantic way though. It was just him appreciating something beautiful. Because that's what she was. She was really beautiful. Although she didn't seem to have any make up on, she could give those girls Lucky chased after a run for their money.

Being reminded of his cousin brother, his eyes turned dark. 'Trusted him like my own brother, trusted him to support me like a best friend for life. And what did he do?'

"These leaves are already shedding from the trees. Autumn is about to arrive. Don't they make a beautiful sight?" Ragini spoke, breaking him from his thoughts.

"Why do they have to fall? Does anyone question whether they want to fall? But then again, I guess they don't have much of a choice."

Ragini tried to change the gloomy topic. "Look at the ripples Sanskar. Aren't they unique little things?" Ragini spoke as she pointed at the falling leaves on the water.

"What's unique about them? The fact that they disappear like they never existed?"

"No. Because they have the capacity to go far and wide effecting the space as they go." Ragini looked at him with a confused look. "Oi! What's with you and this pessimistic attitude? Are you always like this or is this a special occasion?"

Sanskar let out a snarl and faced away. His eyes fell on the flower bouquet that he had with him. "You can say I'm like these flowers. Once fresh and blooming, now dead and ugly."

Ragini shifted beside him, unsure if she should say it or not. He watched as her face changed from uncertain, to resignation and finally of determination.

"You know....mum always says it helps if you share your burden. I know I'm a total stranger. But...but if you want, you can share with me you know."

Sanskar sighed in misery. "What good would it do me? It's not like you can solve it out."

"Well, I don't know! It's not like I'm an expert in these things." she noted the red ribbon on the flower bouquet. "It looks like its some matters of love if I ain't wrong. Did you break up with your girlfriend or something?"

"It's...it's complicated." Sanskar hesitated.

What was he doing? Why was he searching for the right words to explain the situation to her? She was a stranger he met only a few hours ago. Then why? Was he that desperate to tell someone what he was going through? Was he that longing for someone...at least someone to genuinely care for him?

"Try. Maybe you can make me understand?" Ragini smiled at him. "I'm a good listener."

"You could say that I lost her because...because of something. I gave up on her. But now...now when I want her back, she doesn't even acknowledge me! She doesn't want to see my face. Tell me. I said every possible words that could make her come back to me. I apologized, expressed my feelings for her. I even begged her to take me back!"

"But she rejected you, right?"

Sanskar flinched. "Gee, thanks. You sure don't sugar coat, do you?"

Ragini shrugged. "What's the use beating around the bush? The more slowly you take out a bandage from the wound, the more it stings."

Sanskar sighed and looked down, Kavita's angry and disgusted face flashing before his eyes. "I don't know what to do!" he felt a pat on his back. Ragini was patting him with an uncertain face. "What are you doing?"

"I um...I'm not good at words or at consoling. But isn't this what you're supposed to do?" she patted him again. "There, there? 😅 " she reassured. However, it came out more as a question rather than a comforting hand.

Sanskar chuckled. "Call me crazy, but although I'm knee deep in a mess, I feel like laughing. You really are something, aren't you?"

Ragini shrugged. "I'll take that as a compliment. Now then, explain what happened."

"It's a long story."

"I've got time." however, at that very moment, they heard the honk of a car. "Oops! I guess Baba's here."

"Then I guess you need to leave."

"Um-hmm." Ragini got up. "Well dude, I won't be here to listen to how it happened. But I can tell you one thing. If it's meant to be, it will be."

Sanskar turned to look at her quizically. "What do you mean?"

"If she is to be yours, then she will come back to ya. If she doesn't come back...well, then I guess you should just let her be happy with how she wants to live. You love her, don't you?"

"I do. Of course I do!"

"Then you should be happy with her happiness. It's no use drowning in hatred or depression. Best way is to reconcile with the fact, accept it and move on." she suggested with a wink. As the car honked impatiently, Ragini waved at him and ran away.

He watched her rush towards the car. "Accept it and move on, eh? Easier said than done though."

#In the car#

"I'm here, I'm here!" Ragini opened the car door and sat on the front seat. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."

"It's okay beta." came the response of her father, Shekhar, as he started the car.

Ragini nodded and looked at the person on the back seat.

He smiled and nodded at her. "Don't worry child. I didn't mind."

"Why not Papa!? She should be ashamed of herself!" came the sneer from beside him.

"Swara, I told you it's alright, didn't I?" the man in the expensive suit tried to pacify her.

"No Papa! You're too lenient!" Swara turned to glare at Ragini. "We had to wait for you when you could have just walked home long ago! It was father's idea to pick you up. Instead of being grateful, you dare come late?"

"It was only a few minutes." Ragini defended.

Ragini wanted to give her a few choice of words but refrained as she noticed her father give her a look.

"How dare you, you lowlife?!"

"Swara, enough." her father warned.

"Did you forget your place?! You're just our driver's daughter. Your mother works as our cook. If it wasn't fo-"

"That's enough I said Swara!"

Swara abruptly shut up hearing the strict tone. However, she refused to apologize. Instead, she huffed and turned to look outside the window.

There was silence as they rode back home. Once the car stopped, Swara got up and stomped inside.

"Ragini, I apologize for her temper. No doubt she's getting spoilt by her mother."

"It's alright Rana Saheb. She's not wrong after all. Ragini tends to get carried away." Shekhar replied for Ragini.

"You're too kind Shekhar." Rana smiled and left for his mansion.

Shekhar turned to his daughter. "Alright, let me park the car in the garage. You go ahead and tell Jaanki to make some hot tea, why don't you?" he smiled at her.

However, he was greeted by her turning her back to him and walking away in silence.

"Ragini? Ragu, are you angry about Swara? Forget it dear. You know how she is."

Ragini balled her hands into fists. "I...I know you and Maa love me, Baba. But whenever we are with them, you always speak of me like the fault was mine. You never defend me."

Shekhar looked down in guilt. "I know beta. And I'm sorry for it. But they are our masters Ragu. If I speak against Swara, then the Thakurain would throw us out."

"So what?!" Ragini turned around in anger. "I get insulted and you tell me to keep quiet. But she also insults you! I can't hear humiliation against you or Mum! All I want to do is slap Swara left and right! She deserves it for all the verbal abuse she has been feeding me since we were children! Can't you man up and defend me for once?! You don't even say anything if Swara insults you!"

Shekhar came near and hugged his daughter. "I want to. Trust me, I do. But Rana Saheb has given us a home to live, he paid for your education in one of the best schools and college. Now, you're in a University because he pays for you. And I'm grateful for it." Shekhar genuinely admitted. "I could have never given you this. I wouldn't be able to afford it. So, I'm willing to go through Swara's taunts if it's for your well-being."

"But...but it's not fair!"

Shekhar sighed. "It's not. But that's life. It's not always fair. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have its blessings." he broke the hug and rubbed away her angry tears. "I've got a beautiful baby girl, a beautiful wife and three meals a day. Even the entire world's money can't bring me the happiness that you two do."

Ragini sniffed, but couldn't help let out a smile. "You're such a sappy poet. You sound like those actors on daily soaps on TV."

"Hahaha...well, I'm sure I can put them to shame with my acting." he boasted with a comical huff.

"You wish!"

"Of course I'm good at acting. You can ask how I proposed your mother like Sharukh."

"Really?"

"Yep! Let's go ask your mother. She'll tell you all about it."

"Sure!" Ragini chirped happily.

Unknown to them, Swara watched them from the balcony with gritted teeth. Although she didn't know what they were talking about, she could hear the sounds of their laughter.

"What happened dear? Come in or you'll catch a cold." her mother advised as she came near. "Take a look at this new dress I bought you. Why are you wasting your time looking at them?"

"They are so poor compared to us, aren't they mother? Still, why do they act like they have everything?"

"Oh! That's just them accepting the reality. You really can't imagine Ragini wearing expensive dresses like yours. Look over there!" she pointed at the bed at her room. "Isn't that dress pretty?"

Swara turned to look at it. 'Mother's right. Ragini can never get such luxury, so she's coping with what she has.' with a smile she got inside to try out the new dress, letting herself get spoilt by material riches.

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹