'R'

Sanskar stared his palm on which the letter was visible in the darkest shade possible. He couldn't do anything but smile, reminiscing the comments he heard in the function. The women teased Ragz that her husband will be so loving while some other said her 'saas' will be. The most precious thing was the glow on her face, something which everyone yearned to see. She was smiling, shying and sometimes giggling. Everyone could see the tint of happy tears in Shekhar's eyes while Sharmishta was always besides her. Three nights to pass, then it is RagSan's WEDDING.

Sanskar stared the sky which was evenly lit by moonlight while the cool breeze comforted him. Suddenly realization struck him, like a thunder.

"Lucky!" Sanskar banged the door for the fifth time. Swara is at Badi since last day owing to marriage.

"You were sleeping?" Sanskar asked surprised as he expected the lovebirds to chirp over the phone whole night.

"Was washing clothes; would you like to join?" Laksh asked scratching his head irritated. At midnight, what else does a normal human suppose to do?

"Okay." Sanskar rolled eyes in sarcasm. "Bro, I'm getting married after 3 days!" He cried out.

"Is it? Congratulations on the realization, All the best for your marriage and, AND good night for now." Laksh joined his hands dramatically.

"It's not a joke!" Sanskar smacked his head awakening him from his half-slumber.

"Arrey yaar! You only decided to get married. Engagement has been done, Sangeet and today Mehndi was also done in your presence. Why are you pestering me now?" Laksh felt his patience seeping gradually.

"I didn't realize that it's all so soon. Need to talk to you." He dragged a dumbstruck Laksh with him to the garden.

***

"What are you thinking? About marriage and my jiju?" Swara teased Ragini.

"Jiju?" Ragini scrunched her nose.

"Or what? Jiju-cum-Jedji." Swara giggled to which Ragini joined. "You know what. I'm so happy. You'll be with me in that house the whole life. We will enjoy every blissful moment together. And Sanky, he will treasure you. Well, I have my own benefits too. I can wake up a little late, be lazy in cooking and be a little childish also. You will be elder to me in relation, no?" Swara winked.

"As if you're not childish now. Dream about all these, but remember all will remain as dream only." She pinched Swara's nose. "About being with you, it's a blessing for me. I never thought someday we would be married off to same house and be Sanskar's wife."

"He's a gem. He cares for a friend like family and family like god. You know what, he is the one who calms down either Laksh or me when we argues."

"Not unexpected." Ragini chuckled. "I feel blessed Swara. But sometimes..."

"I know. You might feel afraid of embracing happiness. But you should Ragu. Every time, things won't go in the wrong manner. Keep such thoughts out of your mind. We all are with you. Neither Sanskar nor you will go wrong. Even if something happens, we are there, no?"

"Hmm."

"What you're humming?" Swara asked raising her eyebrows. "Well, you talked to Aru?"

"Yeah. He said he might not be able to make it to wedding."

"I knew it. That idiot would say some stupid reasons to dodge the wedding. His attitude was always like that only. You sleep now. I will call him tomorrow and make him hear an earful."

"He badly needs it." Ragini pouted before drifting into sleep.

***

The bridal dress was hanged in her room while the jewellery was arranged on the dressing table. She was ordered to rest. Tomorrow is going to be a tiry day. She is nervous also. Tomorrow is the day when her life will change. Ragini sighed holding her head. Again, her mind is deviating to various paths.

She laid down on her bed staring the ceiling. Sleep was nowhere approaching her. Swara went to Maheswaris as she had been called urgently. 'From tomorrow, she will be my devrani too.' Ragini thought; her trail of thoughts being broke by a call - from Sanskar.

Ragini worriedly stared her bridal dress again. No! It can't be happening again. She clutched her phone and sneaked out of Badi. At the gate, there stood a man besides a car.

"Ragz, I want to meet you. It's very important. I'm coming to Badi, so you come outside. We will go somewhere and talk."

Ragini feared the worst for a second. What does he want to talk so important the night before their wedding?

"Sanskar, but at this time? It's eleven now."

"That's what I'm saying. Saying it tomorrow won't make sense, Ragz and I don't want to regret later. Okay, so come out slowly. I'll be there in five minutes."

"What is it Sanskar?" Ragini asked as she approached Sanskar.

"Get inside. We will talk."

"But you can say now." She told expecting the extremes.

"No. You come with me. I will talk to Shekhar uncle and Dadi, if needed."

'That's it! So everything will be back to square zero. Why my life is like this?' Ragini thought.

"You seem lost, Ragz." Sanskar observed a silent Ragini during the drive.

"Sanskar, just tell the matter. What is the need for going somewhere?"

"It's needed and we reached." The car came to halt.

The park! Where they shared their worries and happiness to each other; everything is going to be shattered at the very same place. What she feared all these days; is it happening? Ragini stood freeze at the entrance of the park.

"Come na!" Sanskar dragged her along with him.

As they entered into darkness, she felt the grip on her hand loosening and it vanished in seconds.

"Sanskar" She called out. She sensed panic overpowering her senses and she screamed in horror at the sound that reached her eardrum.

'BOOM!'

Ragini felt glitters falling over her and opened the eyes to find Sanskar besides her who is also bathed in the same but his face adorned a smile. Loud cheers were heard - of Swara, Laksh, Uttara and some of their friends.

"Sanskar, all these?" Ragini asked in shock. "And Swara?"

"Ragz, I told na. I don't want to regret later. At night of our Mehndi, I realized my bachelor life is going to end, so yours. So I discussed with Laksh for a party so that we both can enjoy this day to the fullest. You and I are bride-groom. But here for the groom 'I', you are friend and for bride 'You', I am friend. You understood?" Sanskar explained the matter in a go.

Ragini's eyes widened, her eyebrows twitched for a moment following which a small smile crept across her face as she realized all her worries were of no cause.

"So I want us to celebrate the last day before marriage." Sanskar said as he joined others pulling Ragini along.

Ragini's face gleamed in the sudden surprise. But she composed her herself with a cute anger in her face and hands on her hips facing Swara.

"Sorry!" Swara said holding her ears. "Actually Laksh told me about this today morning. And we wanted it to be a surprise for you." She squealed in joy and hugged Ragini to which Uttara also joined.

And the night was celebrated by them together. The songs 'Kar gayi chull' to 'Coco Cola' were played; they danced their heart out, shared various incidents of their life and played some games.

"Thank you!" Ragini didn't forget to express her gratitude with a wide grin on her face to everyone while they dispersed.

***

"What were you thinking from the time I called you?" Sanskar asked making a cheerful Ragini go silent while they were walking to his car.

"Wo.." She stuttered.

"That I will back off from marriage?" He tried a shot and her reaction confirmed his doubt.

Ragini closed her eyes biting her tongue on remembering her stupid thoughts.

"Seriously?" He was shocked. They did talk on the same matter several times where he tried to convince her and he thought that he did succeed in it. But now!

"Your 'Saying it tomorrow won't make sense' and 'I don't want to regret later' dialogues made me mad." She pouted while he chuckled.

"Ragz, do you think that I will hurt you like that?" Sanskar stopped and held her hands.

"No." She said shaking her head. "But my fate can't be trusted."

"You need to trust. You must expect a bright and blissful tomorrow. Else how will we find happiness? Ragz, I can't say that our life would be perfect. It will have highs and lows. The thing is, we will be together. Whatever happens, we can handle it together. I'll be there for you and I won't disappoint you." He assured her as they continued walking.

"I know Sanskar but my mind. How much ever I try to tame it, it reaches the same point again."

"Destination is not yet reached Ragz. It's so far. To where, we should be hand-in-hand in the journey. You need to convince your mind that it's not necessary to have complications in every step of your life. Trust your decisions. Nobody else can do that."

Ragini smiled on the words of Sanskar.

"From tomorrow, everything will be different. Isn't it?" She asked.

"Who told? Nothing will change. I will be the same Sanskar and you will be my Ragz. Nothing will change, especially our friendship."

Ragini can never stop admiring Sanskar. He always tried to keep her comfort may it be in the function or between his relatives and friends. He never disappointed her till now. Height of care he showered is something she is experienced without the question of why. The transition from being a friend to her fiancée was evident from his approach towards her. He made sure that she enjoys the wedding like all other girls, smiling, shying, keeping all the worries aside.

"Party in the park; isn't it a little weird?" Ragini asked drifting from the topic.

"You didn't like it?"

"I loved it. It's the place which makes me happy the most. But, is it allowed?"

"Lucky handled that. I don't know more about it. Well, let me clear, I said I'll talk about 'this' if Shekhar uncle or Dadi catch us returning late." Sanskar giggled.

Ragini joined him, "I thought you will talk about.." She didn't complete the words as her giggles continued.

"Ragz, we decided to enjoy every moments. Marriage happens only one time in our life. That's why I thought about this out of blue. Keep your weird thoughts away and now, be ready to become Mrs. Maheswari. Get excited for the new journey, my lady." He said opening the car door for her. "We have a long way to go."

***

Sharmishta adorned Ragini with the red chunri. She took kajal and touched behind Ragini's ears shooing away the evil eyes from her. Swara adjusted Ragini's dupatta securing it to be perfect. The bride was busy playing with her fingers and biting her inner cheek to hide her smile on the thought of getting married within few hours. Yes! Now, she is strangely excited.

Ragini could hear the arrival of baarat as the ladies ran downwards for rituals. Her heartbeat fastened all of a sudden. She's going to be married!

Sanskar smiled seeing his bride descending the stairs accompanied by her mom and sister. As a bride, she looks beautiful! No one can deny it. She lowered her gaze with a smile after glancing him once. The smile which reached his eyes faded as the bridal attire of Ragini got printed in his brain; fear overshadowed his happiness and Ragini sensed something amiss as she neared to sit beside him.

Sanskar's hands got wet in sweat as he stole his eyes from the crowd. A sudden panic made him feel to run away from the place and hide somewhere away from the moment. He felt hard to breathe as his brain made him travel to somewhere else. But he succeeded in hiding all these from the families who were busy in checking everything.

"Sanskar" Ragini called him in a low tone keeping in mind not to invite others attention. "Any problem? You look anxious."

Sanskar closed his eyes in dismay not able to utter a single word. A relief ran through him as Ragini placed her hand over his fist.

"I.. I just.." He stuttered.

"Everything is fine." She assured to which he gave a faint smile. He returned the smile back relieved from the sudden anxiety.

Ragini could understand where his mind would wander seeing her as his bride. It will take him towards the dreadful day of his life. But, like he was there for her; now she is there for him, the whole life.

While marriage ceremony started, the whole family settled in the pooja with the widest smile one could have. The couple exchanged garlands, kanyadaan was done by Shekhar and Uttara did the ghatbandhan. The Seven Pheras binded Sanskar and Ragini more with each other; promising to stand for each other and with each other in all the ups and downs of life. The couple was showered with flowers along with unvoiced blessings.

The Pandit handed over mangalsutra to Sanskar to adorn Ragini. Her eyes closed held prayers for their future with joined palms. He filled her maang with a pinch of sindoor which declared her as his wife in front of the world while a lone tear escaped from her eye. The pandit declared "Vivaah Sampann Hua!"

Now, she is RAGINI SANSKAR MAHESWARI.

The couple approached the elders for blessings where they got them wholeheartedly. Shekhar and Dadi's eyes overflowed with happiness. The happiness turned to happy-cum-sad moment when the time of bidaai came. Yet their minds were calm; the satisfaction of settling their daughter's life waved in Gadodhia family.

It was not new to step into Maheswari House for Ragini but today she felt different. Her nervousness hiked as if she is entering for the first time. The Gruhpravesh rituals were conducted leaving the red footprints of Ragini on the floor. Contrast to past, this time a beam of happiness appeared across her face which reflected on Sanskar's face.

AND A NEW CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF MAHESWARIS AND GADODHIAS STARTED; IN THE LIFE OF SANSKAR AND RAGINI.