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"Do you guys think that it was a joke? And you expect us to be mere spectators while you jump into more and more stupid decisions?" Durgaprasad roared listening to Ragini while she flinched at the stern voice.

"But Papa" Ragini tried to explain.

"Papa, I accept my mistake. Please don't get upset on her or anyone else." Lakshya stated hesitantly earning a glare from Durgaprasad.

"All your mistake?" Adarsh asked.

"Ofcourse, Lakshya! You couldn't think of the future when you declared to marry Ragini?" Sujatha retorted. "And you Ragini, we can understand Laksh's impulsiveness. But you! You were not like this."

"Chachi, I..." Ragini closed her eyes and took a breath. "Please understand, now its useless to argue on past. So I think we should do what is better for future." She mustered up whole courage in her.

"Durgaprasad Ji, I apologize for the sudden step taken by Ragini. This is not our opinion, but what children need. We, parents always dream to see children leading a peaceful life. I think this time they've made decision after thinking deeply." Shekhar tried to bring down the pressure among the two families.

"We can't take a sudden decision, Shekhar Ji. Need to think about it. We genuinely thought of having a talk but never thought of annulling Laksh and Ragini's marriage, it was unexpected from your side. Anyways give us sometime." Annapurna told the Gadodhia family realizing the matter will get worse in the wrath of Durgaprasad.

•~•×✿ו~•

"How much time you spend for deciding this?" Sanskar asked.

"I don't know. Ragini only decided." Came Swara's reply, her voice distant and cold.

"You're fine now, right?" Laksh asked with concern. "I never expected and wished Ragini to back out from this relation."

Ragini rolled her eyes on Sankar's question. "Do you think I'm that much weak, Dosth?"

SwaLak and RagSan were having conversation after the elders' discussion. The whole atmosphere was tensed and it affected Ragini the most even though she tried to put up a courageous face taking a stand for her future, in other way, SwaLak's marriage. The friends decided to have a light time pouring their hearts out (may be, not everything).

"No. You're so strong Ragini, far from what I thought." Sanskar expressed his feeling. "I know how it feels to lose one's love. But you're letting go of yours for your sister. That needs guts. I never thought you would do this."

"I also never thought." A lone tear escaped from Ragini's eyes. "Are you feeling good to be my friend? Do you feel that I'm not worthy of your friendship? Or maybe I'm..."

"Ragini..." Sanskar held her shoulders. "You know what I'm proud of having you as a friend. In fact, you're my best friend. I'm lucky yaar. One second, am I worthy of your friendship?"

"Do you know Sanskar, I'm indebted to you. You saved me from being a typical negative character." Ragini smiled looking Sanskar who is having 'what! Me?' look. "May be I would have gone to any extent to get Laksh if you had continued with your revenge. But you got me into another track which is much peaceful. Now with this, I think you don't have to prove your worth. You're very precious for me, Sanskar!" Ragini held Sanskar's hand in hers.

"Are you sure about giving upon your love?"

"I have faith in my love, Sankar. That's why I'm able to respect Laksh and Swara's love. Can you imagine your wife longing for her love in front of you? Death would be better than living such a life, right? I can never choose such a life."

"Then.." Sanskar knew there was more which he needs to learn. He wanted her to open up herself. Seeing Ragini stiffening, Sanskar sighed and shook his head.

"I trust you, Dosth!" He smiled giving his assurance to Ragini to which she sighed in relief.

"And if she never backed out? What would have you done?" Swara asked Laksh, her demeanor the same.

"May be I would have agreed to be in this relation." Laksh said to Swara observing her reaction. "I have already hurt her a lot of times. Now again, I couldn't think of it Swara. I never want to lose you but this time I was fed up of myself."

"You would have sacrificed your love? Me?"

"No!" Laksh answered instantly and stared her blankly. His words are contrasting as if he is not sure about what he wants.

"Well, that would also be fair. Ragini is doing the same. Sacrificing her love!" Swara said eyeing the blankness upwards. "I talked to her this time. I said her not to lose anything for my sake. But she.. just knocked down my words. Why one or the other needs to lose something."

"How you went missing all of a sudden? And she agreed to marriage! I couldn't register everything because of my anger."

"It's all fate Laksh. We can't change it. Always remember that Ragini did everything keeping me ahead. I'm so lucky to have her besides me, Lucky!" Swara chuckled sadly at the last sentence with a layer of tears in her eyes. "But you! Saying that you disappointed would be an understatement. I'm happy that I went missing not anything that followed.I could see how much trust you have for me!" Swara spat, her agony spilling out as rage. "I feel selfish! I love her, I never wanted to snatch anything from her but everything..."

"Swara,it was all...." Laksh trailed off as tears pooled in his eyes. "The anger, the defeat, the pain coursed through at that point was something I couldn't handle. I just wanted to kill myself." His voice was pleading. 

Swara looked away as tears rolled down from her eyes.

"All resentment I felt at that moment came out as few words I spoke and actions I did. I know I did hurt you, I did hurt Ragini also but along with that I was also hurting. Ragini's decision came out as a shock but when she accused me of treating her like a rag doll, I was guilty. I said that I love you;and I knew she knows it. Something in me was breaking, accusing of everything and I crumbled in front of everything."

"What she said---

"Is true! I know." Laksh whispered defeated.  "I wish everything was normal. I--"

"Nothing will change, Laksh! We're not going to--"

"Swara, I love you! I can vouch with my life for that, trust me!"

"Trust is what we lack, Laksh." Swara gritted her teeth. "And one it's gone, you have to earn it! You lost my trust by not trusting on me and I do care that. Right now, I have no feelings towards you. All I feel is a failure which is far better than losing my self-respect."

"Swara.." Laksh tried to hold her hand, scared of losing her.

"All know Ragini and your decision. But Laksh Maheswari, you and are--"

Swara's words trailed off as Sharmishta and Ragini came looking for her. She turned around and wiped off her tears furiously, not wanting to let her mother and sister see them.

"Shall we go?" Sharmishta asked to which Swara nodded softly.

"Sorry Aunty, for everything." Laksh expressed his apology with folded hands to which Sharmishta reacted by a faint smile and turned down his hands.

"Children do mistakes. Elders are bound to forgive and correct them, okay. Well, make sure that you get a control over your anger. Such mistakes should never be repeated."

Laksh glanced at Sharmishta who had an expressionless face. Ragini stood beside her, her face turned away from her husband.

"That, I guarantee you Aunty." Sanskar got in the conversation. "Just send your daughters here some days in between. Our Lucky will be cool cool in our company! What say girls?!!" Swara and Ragini smiled lightly with a 'thats right' manner.

"Bye!" The ladies said to the brothers. Laksh passed a silent sorry and thanks to Ragini for which she stretched her lips in an attempt while Sanskar delightfully said bye back.

The brother stared at the sight of Gadodhia family fading away from their eyesight.

"You didn't talked to Ragini. You should have." Sanskar suggested Laksh.

"I wanted to but didn't had the audacity to speak to her. Huh! Life is so complicated, hai na Bhai?" Laksh asked to Sankar in a mumble.

"Life may not be complicated, Lucky. But human makes it extra-complicated for sure." Sankar pulled Laksh into a side hug and went inside Maheswari Mansion.

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*Thud*

Ragini threw herself into Swara's bed in Bose' house. She wanted to stay alone for sometime. Tears began to flow realizing the loneliness around. Slowly mere tears turned to sobs and then vigorous cry as the need to empty her grief was overwhelming her.

In the past 3-4 days, she faced far more what she faced her whole life. She dragged pillow under head and closed her eyes trying to feeling the pillow as her mother's lap. Yes! She needed it now. She needed her mother. She dipped her face into the pillow and cried silently over her loses. How much can she handle? How much should she suffer?

As moments passed by, she felt a hand caressing her head. She looked up with tear stained face to see her Maa, her Mishti Maa in tears seeing her pain. Without waiting further, Ragini hugged Sharmishta tightly and cried her heart out while Sharmishta slightly rubbed her back to ease the war going inside her heart and mind.

"Let it out, Ragu! You had been holding for long!" Sharmishta whispered as she continued soothing her daughter with affectionate caresses.

Ragini felt the warmth of mother's hug seeping to her and couldn't hold back tears. The more she tried to bring the tears to halt, the more Sharmishta tightened her hug realizing it. A mother can feel the battle going inside her child. But...

Ragini looked into Sharmishta's eyes in between her sobs. She could feel the affection in those orbs, it was worried for her, it wanted to soothe her. She yearned for such a person in her life since she lost her mother and, even though late, she got her.

Gradually, her sobs decreased. She felt her heart light and looked at Sharmishta again.

"Feeling better?" Sharmishta asked making Ragini simply nod her head.

"You are already in this much pain; there is no need to increase it by losing what you're having now, bachha. Leave the stubbornness to sort out things losing your happiness. We still have time. They didn't decide anything. Or maybe it will turn out as they're not ready to give divorce a chance." Sharmishta said looking into her eyes. 

Ragini slowly lowered her head and placed her head in Mishti's lap to which she responded by caressing her forehead. She felt as if there are no worries around her. 'It's true that Mom's hand has magic. Why I got it so late?' She thought.

"No, Maa. They'll agree. And if it happens don't think that my grief will increase. I just wanted to empty my heart now. That's all. Don't worry. I'll be fine if you are with me like this always." Sharmishta pecked Ragini's forehead assuring her support.

Swara smiled seeing her mother and sister's bond as she stood at the doorstep. She came to check the duo, realizing their absence at home. On seeing Ragini's condition her heart felt heavy. Was she the reason for her sorrow? Yes! But she never wanted to be!

Swara turned to other side and a sob threatened to escape making her cover her mouth quickly, recalling how their fate is testing them. She slid down the wall in between her silent sobs, making sure that she doesn't startle the duo. When the painful whimpers of Ragini became intolerable for her, she ran to her room and saw Shekhar waiting for her. Her father came to her, calling her to his soothing embrace as she let out her helplessness seeing her sister's sorrow. At last, what could they do?

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Thanks again; Love you all! Take care.