~◍☆-✿-☆◍~

The succeeding days brought a relief to both Ragini and Laksh. They felt as if some burden was taken away from them. Though Ragini continued to give cold shoulder to Laksh, she was feeling better around him. The feeling of suffocation is not there now. They both realized how much important it was for them to talk. She continued to be in the light anarkali suits which she started to wear after marriage though she always dreamt of getting adorned in lehengas and sarees. She can't give that much importance to this relation now. It may make her weak. She had to cover a period of 6 months. So she just continued to acknowledge the relation with just sindoor and her mangalsutra.

•~•×✿ו~•

~Baadi~

"How are you, Laado?" Dadi showered her love on Ragini.

Ragini smiled back to her Dadi. She missed this so much. Everything in her house gave her a feeling she can never describe in words. Her Dadi, Dadaji, Maa, Papa, Sister; the bliss of being with them can't be found anywhere else. Sharmishta has made Ragini's favorite dishes today. The last bite from her hand made Ragini reach the peak of satisfaction. It's true that mother's food contains their love. Shekhar was out of town with Dadaji today. She missed them. Now, her room must be waiting!

"Laksh dropped you?" Swara asked in between while Ragini was ranting about how she was missing her room.

"No. Sanskar did."

"Still upset with him?"

"No. But I don't feel like giving in so easily." Ragini replied with a smile.

"That's in fact, good." Swara chuckled.

Ragini was about to rise from the bed when Swara caught her hands. Her eyes seemed to betray any moment being watery.

"What happened Swara? You're upset on me not forgiving Laksh?" Ragini enquired cupping her face worriedly.

"Come, sit here." Swara pulled Ragini to make her sit besides taking Ragini's palms into hers.

"You know Ragini. I wanted to say this long before. But I felt Laksh should apologize to you first. Now, when he had done that I want to talk to you."

"You don't need to say anything. You're my.."

"Today I will say and you will hear. Understood?" Swara said making Ragini stop speaking further. "I took everything in an easy manner when the things were so serious. When we sum up everything and analyze, I'm also the reason for your tears, no?" Tears were gushing down her eyes.

"You're reason for nothing." Ragini tried to defend Swara but she intervened.

"I said you won't talk in between." Swara whined. "I ignited hope in you even after the engagement was broken. Even the second time, I became the reason for calling off engagement because Laksh fell in love with me. I should have been in my limits while interacting with Laksh, no?"

"What limits are you talking...."

"You won't talk." Swara placed Ragini's index finger of her left hand on her lips and took the right hand in between her own palms. "Then I have hurt you by reciprocating his love." Swara fixed the finger on Ragini's lips when she was about to talk in between again and nodded her head in sideways.

"You had let your love be mine for my happiness. But, fate again made me the reason of your sorrow by making me disappear on the day of marriage. What all emotional turmoil you would have gone through, Ragu? Because of me, you had felt suffocated in that house. You had to suffer everything yourself; you had to do what all things because of me! Don't you hate me, Ragini? Why do you love me even now?" Swara burst out crying keeping her forehead on their hands. "You....endured so much ...because of me.. Why don't you.. HATE ME?" Swara asked in between her sobs.

Ragini made Swara sit straight and engulfed in a tight hug. Both the sisters let their tears flow silently. At this moment, Ragini can be vulnerable; Swara can show her grief; they can settle the things in place together. Their hug showed the love, care and affection they had for each other.

"You're my sister, Swara." Ragini cupped Swara's face and made her look into her eyes. "You're my Shona. Do you see hate for you in my eyes?" Swara nodded a 'no' in reply. "Sisters can argue and fight over anything. They can do anything for each other, also. You were always besides me. Situations make people good or bad in front of others. Do others matter to you? No, na! We can love each other and we do understand too. How can you even think like that? And regarding Laksh, it's better for one to lose own love than two people losing theirs. Everything will end well, Swara. Don't regret for no reason. This too shall pass."

"Even if it is like that, I'M SORRY." Swara hugged Ragini while Ragini rubbed her back soothing her.

"Okay, apology accepted. AND I'M ALSO SORRY." Ragini showed her palm before Swara could speak in between. "I also did wrong things in between. I should also apologize, right? In between, I lost myself and selfishness overpowered where I was blinded to differentiate right and wrong. I'm sorry for that. I didn't ask you if you hate or dislike me because I know you won't. Well, the matter is now sorted. Don't ever come near me with your sorry face or attitude." Both of them chuckled, wiped each other's tears and joined their head in relief.

"So?" Swara asked returning to her usual self.

"So what?" Ragini raised her eyebrow.

"What are you planning to do with Laksh?"

"I hadn't planned anything yet. You need to help me. Or will you favor.."

"Nah! Don't ever think like that. This time he needs to suffer a little more. Well, are you sure you can move on from him?"

"Again you entered that topic?" Ragini took the pillow that was besides her and started to hit Swara playfully. "I said to end that. But you are bringing it again and again."

"Okay sorry, sorry." Swara surrendered holding her ears and both busted into laugh.

"I'll be fine. That's final. CHAPTER CLOSED."

•~•×✿ו~•

"Yo girls!" Sanskar barged into Swaragini's room excitedly.

"Hey Sanskar, you here?" Swara asked lifting her eyebrow.

"Why can't I come here? After all this is my bhai's sasural. I've free entry here."

"You both started?" Ragini entered the room rolling her eyes.

"We were not arguing." Swara justified.

"Yeah, why would we? We're friends now." Sanskar snaked his hand around Swara's shoulder while the girls looked him with raised eyebrows.

"That's an excellent development." Ragini smiled handing over the juice she brought to them.

"Well, when all are settling their apology scores, I should also make my move. That's why this sudden entry." Sanskar said sheepishly scratching his head.

"From where do you get all the information? Are you really a spy?" Swara asked surprised.

"Why does everyone think me as a spy? Ohh, Lucky told you, huh? Anyways, he only told me yesterday that the sisters were highly emotional yesterday. Well, if you both could sit..." The girls took their seats before Sanskar completed his sentence bringing a smile on his face.

"Look, you both are my friends. Someone has said, 'No Thank You or Sorry between friends.' But I can say for the mistakes I did before we were friends." Sanskar looked into both their eyes. Swaragini could sense his guiltiness.

"You don't need to repeat all those things. Come we need to go back, right?" Ragini tried to change the topic.

"After this." Sanskar pulled Ragini back to her seat. "You were the first one to care about me here, Ragini. Even then I took advantage of you. I'm sorry. I could never be a friend who supports you in your hard times; even made you against Swara. I'm really ashamed of myself. And Swara, it's true that I disliked you initially because Lucky loved you. But now, I can see the good side of you. I'm sorry for whatever I did and planned to do to you and thank you for being with Ragini. Being Laksh's brother, even as a friend I would have not been able to give her the relief you can give. Thank you so much."

"You started apologizing and ended thanking. You know what you're a gem Sanskar. You made Laksh realize the depth of his mistakes. In these days, you helped Ragini a lot in Maheswari Mansion. We're very lucky to have you as a friend and family." Swara said genuinely keeping her hand over Sankar's.

"Well I think from now the rule applies. No Thank You, No Sorry." Ragini crossed her arms and chuckled. "I didn't stop you because I felt the need to clear everything now. So that.."

"We can sing 'Yeh dosti hum nahi todenge...Todenge dum magar tera saath na chodenge.." Sanskar sang snaking his hands on both Swara and Ragini's shoulders while the girls shut their ears playfully.

"I can't stop myself from saying that that was HORRIBLE." Swara passed their unanimous comment to which Sanskar pouted cutely. "Aww that's cute Sanky." Swara said ruffling Sanskar's hair.

"Sanky!" Ragini exclaimed.

"Yeah Ragz.. Sanskar abbreviated as 'Sanky'. And Swarr..."

"Swara is better Sanky." The trio giggled.

•~•×✿ו~•

Sanskar and Ragini were chuckling during their drive back to Maheswari Mansion.

"Seriously Laksh; Sanky and Ragz! What names are they?"

"It's Sanskar here Ragz." Sanskar corrected Ragini bringing her chuckling to end. She shifted uncomfortable in the car seat. "Actually, he wanted to come to pick you but then thought you won't be comfortable."

"That's true Sanskar."

"He's truly ashamed of his approach towards you Ragz."

"Ragz!" She again exclaimed, feigning exasperation. "Anyways his repentance won't make a difference now Sanskar. The truth is I can't forget everything and act like an sweet friend to him. He's our family now and that will remain. Maybe we can sort and act normal. Please advise him to not expect beyond that."

"He's not expecting anything from you. Well, he himself said that it won't easy to convince you, to apologize to you. He just needs to lighten the tension between both of you. As far as I know him, this time he's not just thinking about himself. But Lucky will be Lucky, the way he thinks and what he blurts out will be day and night." Sanskar sighed and let out a chuckle accompanied by Ragini.

"Can we go to that park now? I want to be in a different environment."

Sanskar took a turn to the park they saw on their way back to home. 'She is right. She needs a break – from everything.' He thought with a slight smile.

"Do you think I should befriend him as he want?" Ragini wanted to clear her doubt.

"Ragz, there is no need to place someone before you, at least in this case. You should follow your heart in this matter."

"What you would have done in such a situation?"

"Me? Would have beaten Laksh to pulp and would say to keep his friendship offer in his pocket." Sanskar said dramatically making Ragini laugh throwing her head back.

"This much exaggeration!" She exclaimed. "Well, when are you going to be 'YOU' leaving this I-don't-care attitude?" Ragini questioned suddenly out of the subject.

"When did I come in between? And F.Y.I, I'm what I'm."

"You are never in between, Sanskar. Only we both are here. So we will be talking about both of us."

"What is there to talk about me, Ragz?" Sanskar asked her not meeting her eyes.

"How long will you hide yourself? Show your grief to others, at least to me you can; it's not weakness. You don't need to present yourself happy and care-free while caging the 'YOU' inside. I have noticed you turning 'off and on' your emotions. How long, do you think, you can do this?" Ragini asked with concern while grabbing a seat in the park.

"Let's talk about what you needed to, Ragz. Leave about me."Sanskar looked blankly into the sky.

"I asked to stop here for talking about this. We can have a heart-to-heart talk. You can trust me, Sanskar. We're friends, right?" Ragini tried to convince Sanskar to unleash his feelings.

"I trust you." Sanskar faced Ragini with a smile. "Ragz, if we bury our grief in ourselves, at least others will remain happy. You're right; you will understand my pain – the pain of losing love. It makes our heart bleed without leaving any sign outside." Sanskar pointed his fingers towards his heart.

"Kavitha! She used to be my life and I saw her struggling for life in my own hands." Sanskar stared into his open palm and a lone tear escaped from his eyes. "I couldn't die, Ragz, burning in the fire of revenge. And even now I can't, after giving hope to my Mom and Maa of their son being alive. I can't be a terrible son to deliberately snatch it again. I'm afraid that I may break down on behaving normally. Wearing a mask of happiness and fun in front of everyone helps me a lot; in controlling myself." He released his fist and looked his palm longingly.

Ragini had tears unknown to herself. This man, sitting in front her loved a girl immensely; even now knowing that she won't ever return to him. The longing in his eyes; every girl would dream to see that in her man! She looked his hands which he was staring longingly. A ring! No one would have noticed that.

"Kavitha made me wear this ring." Sanskar's voice broke in between. "This is the only thing I have now that I can carry with me till my death." He gently stroked the ring which was worn inverted with its head inside his palm. "No one will notice this ring. Likewise, nobody can realize our love and will never." Sanskar heaved a breath looking the sky and looked back at Ragini.

Ragini was dumb to react. Maybe because she never came across such a man who loves someone dearly; even though there is no chance of even meeting her once. Reality struck her; she always wanted someone to love her like this! Not only her, every girl deserves.

"You miss her?" Ragini managed to utter some words at least.

"I miss her with each breath of mine." Sanskar closed his eyes struggling to stop his tears.

"You can cry, Sanskar. You won't fall weak."

"She doesn't like me crying. She was brand ambassador of smile and laugh. And her smiles, giggles and chuckles are some of the treasures I have." He let a painful smile facing Ragini.

Ragini couldn't help but reciprocate the smile. 'Kavitha was so lucky. She has Sanskar to love her beyond death.' She could help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"I can't be the old Sanskar, Ragini. Either I will continue to be what I'm now or I'll be another devdas. So first option is the best, right?" Sanskar shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah. But you can be better by sharing you pain with your friends. Me as well as Swara are good listeners." Ragini slightly smiled. "You'll overcome this Sanskar. You'll get someone who will respect your love towards Kavitha as well as make her own place in your heart filling your life with colors."

"You're not going to tell Swara about this." Ragini tried to argue but Sanskar hooked his little finger with hers, "That's a promise from you; and first secret between us." Ragini initially narrowed her eyes and then smiled widely nodding in a 'yes'. "In addition, I don't expect someone that much understanding in my life. I would love to live like this ahead. I will try my best to fight in front of the warrior duo in my home."

"Warrior duo?" Ragini raised her eyebrow.

"Subject is 'marriage'; then who will be the warrior? Obviously mother. In my case, there will be two – Maa and Mom. I will be doomed to an extent postponing marriage."

Ragini chuckled on Sanskar's statement. "Well, I'm proud and lucky to have a friend like you who treasures 'love' like this." She said with pride.

"Same here. The way you are tackling this phase, I'm speechless. You're indeed so strong Ragz. I promise I'll be always a pillar besides you ahead."

"Ragz!" Ragini chuckled accompanied by Sanskar.

~◍☆-✿-☆◍~

STAY SAFE!