'I dont want to do this,' Maya moaned, dragging her feet behind Ragini as they walked towards the squash court Ragini had booked for them. 

After the third–thankfully small–bunch pf pink oriental lilies turned up on her scooty, she had to get her anger and frustration out somehow. She didn't care what Meera bhabha said about Sanskaar anymore. The guy was an idiot! Didn't he realise what would happen if her mother found out? He claimed to love her and here he was hellbent on getting her in trouble. 

Ragini grunted. 'Too bad. You are not getting out of this.'

'What have I done to deserve this?' Maya drawled. 'I am bearing the brunt of being your friend.'

'Really, you are bearing the brunt!' Ragini snapped turning on her heel. 'What was it when I helped you get into Milind's room to destroy his things because he hurt you? What was it when I risked getting into trouble with Princi to help you get even with Shikha? What–'

'Okay! Okay! You don't need to rub it in,' Maya said, 'What has gotten your knickers twisted?'

Ragini glared and her and turned around walking towards the court.

'What?' Maya called out running behind her.

Ragini opened the door to the court assigned to them to find someone already there. This was just not her week! 'Excuse me,' she practically yelled.

'Ragini!' Maya ran in gasping behind her.

The person turned around.

'Handsome dude!' Maya yelped behind her and Ragini just stared at the man in front of her. 

Sanskaar was grinning at her. The nerve of him! Ragini strode towards him, ready to knock his lights out if needed.

'What are you doing here?' she bit out gritting her teeth hard enough that her jaw hurt.

'I didn't see you for a long time.' He shrugged his shoulders.

Ragini crossed her arms. 'What was it yesterday then?'

'You saw him yesterday?' Maya yelled into her ears, standing right behind her.

'Exactly,' Sanskaar said ignoring Maya. 'One whole day. I missed you a lot.'

'Awww.'

Ragini turned towards her friend, throwing her a warning look before turning back to Sanskaar. 'Stop missing me then.' Her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched the man before her grinning at her without any concern for the anger and annoyance that was coursing through her. 'How did you know I would be here right now?' Ragini asked as the thought hit her, 'Have you been following me?'

'You play squash every Wednesday morning.' he said taking a step towards her.

What was with this guy and trying to close the distance between them? She took a step back. 'You mean you bothered Meera bhabhi again?'

Sanskaar shook his head. 'You brother is too annoyed with my calls. I didn't want to upset him anymore. After all, I am going to marry his sister soon and I don't want him bothering us when we are on our honeymoon.'

Ragini's mouth slacked hearing him talk so casually about their marriage. Her eyes widened. The ball of nervous energy was back in her stomach, active as ever. He seemed to have developed a knack of throwing her off all the time. She heard Maya giggle behind her and shot her a warning look. 

'I am not marrying you,' Ragini shot back, emphasising each word as she narrowed her eyes at the crazy man in front of her. 

'We will see about that,' he said taking a step forward.

'There is nothing to see.' Ragini shot back moving back only to hit into Maya.

Sanskaar dropped the squash ball down, bouncing it with the help of his racket. 'How about we play a friendly game of squash?'

'What?' Ragini blurted before she realised what she said. She saw him grinning widely. 'I am not playing with you. And we are not friends.'

'Want to bet?'

'No.'

'Why? Scared?'

'I am not scared of anything.'

Sanskaar smiled brighter. 'I was hoping you would say that. I have an idea.'

'I don't want to know.'

'I do,' Maya blurted from behind her, making Ragini hit her arm.

Sanskaar continued ignoring their comments. 'If I win, you accept my friendship. If you win, I will do what you want.'

Ragini snapped back to look at him. 'Is this a trick?'

Sanskaar raised his hands in surrender. 'No trick. I mean it.'

'So if I win, you will leave me alone?' Ragini asked tentatively.

'If that is what you want,' Sanskaar said, moving closer, 'But I know that is not what you want,' he whispered when he got close enough.

'You don't know me. You don't know what I want.'

'Why don't we find out?'

***

Ragini smiled as she saw Sanskaar gasping for breath as he just managed to knick the ball enough not to lose. Serves him right for trying to harass her. 

'Ready to give up?' Ragini said as she hit the ball on the other side of the court and saw Sanskaar rush towards it. 

'Is that what you really want?' he asked, hitting at the ball. 

'More than anything in the world.'

'Be cautious of what you wish for, you might regret it if it really came true.'

Ragini huffed, 'Never.'

'So you didn't think of me yesterday?'

'Why would I?'

'You didn't think of me all of last night?' Sanskaar asked hitting another the ball.

'As if I would.'

'You didn't call Meera to ask about me?'

Ragini stilled, turning around to watch him with wide eyes. Did he know? Had Meera Bhabhi told him? Her heart raced.

She saw Sanksaar rushing towards her.  Before she could realise what had happened, he had hit the ball away from her. 

'Are you okay?' he asked softly

'How did you–'

'I know you Ragini,' he said quietly looking deeply into her eyes. 

Ragini opened her mouth to counter but nothing came out. Her eyes were stuck on his face as he looked at her with an expression so intense that she felt her stomach flutter. Ragini took a deep breath and looked away.

'Looks like we are going to be friends now.'

'What?'

Sanskaar titled his head towards the ball that lay on the floor. 

Shit!

***

Ragini tried hard to focus on the sandwich in the plate. She could feel two pairs of eyes on her. Her best friend and her new friend.

'Will you stop it!' she grunted finally when she couldn't take it anymore. It also didn't help that she realised he hadn't gasped for breath when he stopped the ball from hitting her–with ease. 

Sanskaar smiled and leaned in over the table, 'I cannot help it. You are too beautiful to look away.'

Maya giggled. Again! Ragini narrowed her eyes at her friend making her shut up, but Ragini knew it wouldn't last too long.

Ragini felt her hand being held and jerked around to see Sanskaar holding her hand in his, on the table for everyone to see.

'What are you doing?'

'Isn't it obvious?'

'Why are you doing it?' Ragini asked staring pointed at his hand holding hers.

Sanskaar ran this thumb over her knuckles, 'Look how perfect our hands look together.'

'Don't you have any shame?'

'What is the shame in holding the hand of the one you love?' Sanskaar leaned forward, 'Did you want me to hold your hand under the table instead? Like the do in the movies?'

'I don't want you to hold my hand at all!'

'I cannot let go off your hand now. If you want to, you will have to pull it out,' he said smirking.

Ragini stared at her hand and then pulled it out quickly. 'What will it take to stay away from me?'

'I cannot stay away from you.'

'I thought you loved me. Isn't there some rule that you have to do what makes the one you love happy?'

'You think me staying away will make you happy?'

'Immensely.'

Sanskaar leaned over the table and tucked her fringe behind her ear. 'You wont be able to stay away from me.'

'Want to bet.'

Sanskaar got up and walked towards her, leaning down inches away from her face. 'I will be waiting for you to find me.'

Thanks for reading. So what do you think of this Sanskaar? Do you like this Ragini?  Or do you wish she was different?

If you like this chapter, do comment and do hit that star and make this story shine. It is very difficult to know if you are writing something which is interesting unless there is some feedback, so please do share what you think of this one.