Hi ya! Updating the next chapter. Hoping you like!

Moving on...

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 3 - Leaving

'I wonder how long it will take them to realize that I have left for good. Would it even matter though? After all, all I ever do according to them is disgrace them, defy them...rebel like a family fiend.' Sanskar gripped the bag harder. There were enough supplies to last him with food for two days, money that he could survive with for at least two weeks. He didn't take all of his belongings so as to avoid suspicion. Taking only a few clothes and some basic necessities, Sanskar left home at the crack of dawn.

His mother and Badi Maa would probably think he went on his morning stroll. His father and Bade Papa were people he didn't talk to after the Kavita incident. Hence, they would just believe he was avoiding them at the breakfast table. As for Lucky...

Sanskar grit his teeth in anger. 'Not Lucky, but Laksh. He's not someone I should call such endearing names. I considered him my own brother instead of a cousin. And yet...yet he went and spilled my secret meet-up to Bade Papa. If he hadn't done so, Kavita wou-' he shook his head to rid himself of these thought. After all, there was no use thinking about these things of the past.

"Excuse me. Why isn't the bus here yet?"

The tea stall owner looked up to him at his question. "It's probably because of the heavy rain yesterday night. The road gets slippery, so the driver must be driving slow."

"I see."

"Would you like some tea beta? It would do you good in this cold weather. Nothing like a fresh cup of tea at the beginning of another wonderful, cheery morning."

'Wonderful? Cheery? I don't think those word exists in my dictionary of life.' he thought with a wry smile. Nevertheless, Sanskar bought a cup of tea for himself.

Putting the bag on the bench, he sat beside it. As he held the warm cup in his hands, he could not help but sigh in contentment as it warmed him up. He took a sip, enjoying the beverage with closed eyes.

"Wow, what a coincidence! We meet again!"

He opened his eyes to look at the voice. "Oh. It's you again. I thought I recognized that voice from somewhere."

Ragini smiled a bright smile at him and sat down beside him with a huff. "What are you doing so early? Out for a jog? It doesn't surprise me though. After all, I guess it's the secret of your fitness."

"Actually I..." Sanskar stopped. He didn't see the need to tell her he was leaving the place. It didn't concern her. He simply nodded and looked forward to watch if the bus had arrived.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw her shiver. "Would you like some tea? That ought to warm you up."

"It would be nice. But...but I didn't bring my purse you see. I was out on my morning jog as well."

"That's okay. I'll buy it for you." Sanskar paid the man and passed her a cup of tea.

"Thanks a bunch!" she blew the tea and brought it near for a sip. "Eep! Hot, hot, hot!" she fanned her tongue. But

"Of course it's hot. You should of been more careful." Sanskar looked at her as if she was a lost cause.

"Aww...now my taste buds are ruined for the entire day."

Sanskar rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. 'Where is that bus? It should have been here by now!'

"Don't mind me asking, but..." she pointed at the bag he was carrying. "people usually do not go jogging with their luggage."

'If I don't hurry, they might find me here and try to convince me to go back!' Sanskar panicked from within.

"Um...dude? You listening?" she poked him on the arm. Hearing no response, she poked him again. And once more more just for the record. 'I really don't like being ignored.'

Although it was cold in the autumn morning, Sanskar could feel beads of sweat on his forehead. 'I must escape before th-aah!' he screamed out in real as well when he felt a burning sensation on his finger.

"Sorry dude, your fault for not paying attention." Ragini spoke with a chuckle, not at all sorry for what she did...which was dipping his finger into the tea.

"Are you crazy?! You could have just patted me or shook me by the arm damn it!"

"You didn't answer my question. Why are you carrying that bag?"

"I'm leaving."

"Eh? Where too? On a vacation? Or a field trip maybe?"

Sanskar shook his head. "No. I'm leaving this place...for good."

Ragini's eyes widened. "What? Why?"

"Maybe because I keep running into a troublesome girl who can't keep herself from meddling in other's matters."

"It's a girl who's troubling you? Tell me who it is that troubles my friend! I'll go an-" she paused as it struck her. She looked at his snickering face. "You meant me, didn't you?! Ungrateful person you! You should be happy that you ran into me. I helped you!"

He sighed, half in amusement and half in resignation. It seemed no matter how much he tried to think he shouldn't keep sharing his plans with this stranger, he ends up telling her eventually. "I'm leaving because I don't want to stay with my family any longer. I'm sick of them!"

"Wow!" she stated with a flat face.

'That was definitely not what I was expecting.' Sanskar couldn't help but feel amazed at her level of indifference.

"They must have done something terrible to make you speak of them in such a way." Ragini added. "Family is supposed to help you find happiness, not steal it away."

"I guess my family doesn't understand this concept. For them, family is all about upholding the family name and pride!" Sanskar grit out. "What's the use of having a big ego, if you can't even keep your family members happy?"

"I agree. One should put their ego aside. Only then can they reconcile by accepting their fault and also forgiving another if necessary."

Sanskar balled his hands into fists. "They are the reason I lost my love in the first place!"

Ragini titled her head to the side in a questioning manner. "But you must have done something unacceptable for them to hurt you so much...whatever they did that is."

"Unacceptable? Unacceptable?! How is loving someone an atrocious crime? How!?"

"They made you suffer because you loved someone whom they didn't like?" when Sanskar nodded, she continued. "Then why didn't you just leave them then and there if they were so narrow minded?!"

Sanskar looked down in regret. "Maybe it would have been best. But...but I just thought that maybe they would understand. Maybe they would change. But I was wrong. Those selfish and arrogant beings!"

Ragini shook her head. "I don't get it. If you knew they didn't approve of whom you loved, why did you expect such people would change? You say they are selfish and arrogant. And yet, what? You thought they would be lenient for you?"

Sanskar flinched at that. "I know I was wrong. Don't rub it in my face." he looked at his hands. "It's just that...it's just that I thought I mattered to them as much they do to me."

Ragini was reminded of how selfish and arrogant Swara and her mother acted despite everything she or her parents did. They treated them like low-life instead of human beings who deserve to be treated well. "Well dude, if I had to live with people that are like you say, I would give them a piece of my mind! I wouldn't tolerate people who always disrespect me!" she huffed out. 'Only reason I haven't spoken against Swara is because Mum and Baba warns me not to. Or else!'

"Well, it's not that they always disrespect." Sanskar drawled out. Although he hated his family right then, and it was true that they didn't entirely support him.

But there were loopholes. Thinking back, he could recount many instances where he was saved by them. They laid their full trust on him.

"You're defending them now? What is this? Some Stockholm syndrome, or something?" Ragini was genuinely confused.

Sanskar rubbed the back of his head in uncertainty. "Or something I guess."

"Dude look! You should have already known it. If they despised you, then of course they wouldn't want you to be happy."

Sanskar blinked. Her words made him think back before the incident with Kavita. 'Despise me? Did they despise me?'

He remembers how Laksh would always rush to him and share his heart out to him like he was his own elder brother. He remembers how Bade Papa always praised him as his most admired son. Every time he would crack a business achievement, every member of his family would be more happy then he himself. "I...I don't think they despise me."

"Oh come on! They must despise you. That is why they would want to steal your love from you. Otherwise, if they loved you, why would they do such a thing?" Ragini reasoned, as if it was the most obvious thing.

What she didn't realize is that the more negatively she was talking about his family, the more he was reflecting back on how much they cared for him before Kavita's incident.

"I...I don't..." Sanskar was speechless by her words. She didn't know what impact they were having, but it was like he was seeing everything from a new light.

They didn't want him to marry Kavita. They didn't want his happiness. Laksh complained to Durgaprasad. That was what led to Kavita's leaving of him eventually.

Those were the facts that he believed and wouldn't see it any other way.

It was all separated into either good or bad. That was how he was thinking...like a simpleton.

But now that he thought about it, did he ever think why they would do it? Yes, it mattered that Kavita was not of the same class as them. But because of Ragini, now that he thinks about it, his family always wanted his happiness. Why would they take such a step of attempting to kill Kavita if they knew he would be distraught?

Moreover, he assumed Laksh complained to Durgaprasad. But now that he thought back, Lucky was someone who had even once risked his life for him. He even fought against Adarsh verbally when Adarsh attempted to criticize Sanskar. 'Could that same person really be responsible for gossiping to Durgaprasad? Am...am I misjudging Lucky?'

"Well?"

Sanskar didn't know what to reply. "I don't think they don't want my happiness. I think they meant for it to happen...maybe?"

"Eh? Why are you so bent on defending them now? You said what they did was unforgivable!" Ragini accused.

Sanskar didn't know any more if that was really the case.

Was their intention to kill Kavita unforgivable? Or was it he who was too confident in his claim that they wanted to kill her?

Was Laksh the one who betrayed his trust? Or was it he who was wrong in thinking he would betray so treacherously?

Was it his family who was wrong? Or was it he who was biased in not even letting his family explain itself?

Sanskar could feel his head reel from all the questions that had popped up in his mind.

"Ragini!"

That shout broke him out of his mental turmoil, making both him and Ragini look up.

Sanskar didn't miss how Ragini's body tensed at once and her lips formed a thin line. She didn't seem to like the person that was approaching them.

"What are you doing here? I have been looking all over for you!"

Ragini got up. "I was on my morning jog. I take it everyday on the same time if you forgot."

"Don't try to play smart!" the girl hollered.

Sanskar looked at the girl carefully. She was acting all haughty and proud.

She was wearing a track suit. However, the lipstick, the eyeliner, the earrings, the glittering clips and the fresh smell of nail polish made it clear that she was hardly working out for real.

He decided he didn't like the girl then and dare. Moreover, Sanskar didn't like the tone she was using against Ragini. However, he didn't want to interfere in others matters. Moreover, knowing how outspoken Ragini could be, he knew she would lash out if she got offended.

"What is it that you needed Swara?"

Swara flicked her pony tail over her shoulder in arrogance. "That's more like it. Now listen up. Today is Ria's birthday and I want to look perfect for the party. I want you to come with me shopping and make sure I look absolutely pretty."

"Oh my! And here I thought you had an amazing fashion sense. Didn't you say you were the fashion queen? After all, you dress up so well." Ragini spoke in a polite tone, filled with sarcasm.

Swara gritted her teeth in anger. "I am! But I'm feeling too lazy to choose today. So you do it!"

Ragini rolled her eyes at her stupid excuse. "I'm have some work. I will be busy. Sorry."

Swara smirked. "Do I look like I give a damn? No. If I say you'll help me choose, then you shall!" without waiting for a reply she grabbed Ragini's hand and dragged her away.

Sanskar was surprised at the compliance shown by Ragini. She didn't act like the spitfire he thought she was. He half expected her to punch the other girl or at least shout some curses at her. "Interesting..."

"Sir, the bus. It's here." informed the tea stall owner helpfully.

"Oh, thank you." Sanskar grabbed his bag and got up. He could think about Ragini on the way.

He saw the bus that he planned to board on arrive. As he stepped onto the platform, he felt uncertainty set in. 'Is this the right decision?'

He was sure it was.

That is until Ragini made all sorts of questions pop up in his mind.

'What shall I do? Shall I leave forever? Or shall I say? What do I do? What do I do?! WHAT NOW!?'

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

If you liked this chapter, consider giving a vote. Thanks!

~ 🌹 Mona 🌹