Good morning!

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 14 - Contemplations

Laksh groggily opened his eyes. 'I wonder why my mattress is so hard tonight.' he thought to himself. After all, he couldn't remember keeping stones under his bed.

As he opened his eyes, an entirely different scene greeted him. 'Eh? When did I paint my room white? Is this...is this snow? How did it snow inside my room?'

He saw a small fire flickering near him, giving him warmth. As he looked around closely and noticed that he wasn't in his room, but a cave. Soon, the events of the day came back to him.

The last thing he remembered was hugging himself as tight as possible due to the cold. He remembered Ragini coming near him and giving him her scarf. But after that what happened, was blurred in his mind. He recalls speaking something. But he couldn't remember what.'Maybe that was because of my fever. That must be it.'

Laksh nodded to himself with this understanding. He felt better now though.

Much better actually.

He took in a deep breath, enjoying his recovery. Suddenly, through the tiny hole that was left in the entrance of the cave, a strong gust of wind blew in, putting out the fire.

"Damn! How troublesome!" he sighed to himself. "Well, I already got a lighter in my pocket. Better light up the fire again." Laksh tried to get up from his position. However, he felt a weight on him. Something was holding him down.

In the dark, he couldn't figure it out what it was and so, he tried to touch it.

He felt soft skin as he touched the weight with his fingers. He traced his fingers along the shape and realized it was Ragini's face.

He smiled to himself. 'I should make sure she doesn't wake up. She's sleeping so peacefully.' he tried to get up slowly without making a noise. However, as he moved his hand, he felt something poke him on the side. As he tried to move away, he felt more of the poking. He let out a loud squeal as he felt something get inside his shirt.

"Wha-wha?!" exclaimed Ragini as she was rudely woken up by his shout. "Laksh? What happened? Why are you shouting in the middle of the night!?"

"I f-felt something poke me on the sides. It's p-poking me as we speak! Something w-went inside my shirt as well!" Laksh spoke in a panicky voice. "OhmyOhmyOhmy!"

Ragini couldn't see his face in the dark, but could imagine his frightened look. She chuckled. "Laksh, chill. Its just the leaves that I put over you."

Laksh's shock turned to confusion. "Leaves?"

Ragini nodded. When she realized he won't see it in the dark, she explained. "I found some dry leaves inside the cave. Don't know where it came from, but I thought they might help keep you warm." Ragini blushed suddenly. "I guess I fell asleep on you. Sorry."

"It's okay Ragini. These leaves saved me from my fever." Laksh spoke in relief.

"Yeah."

"Um...can we light up the fire now? I kind of don't like the dark much. Here's the lighter."

Ragini rolled her eyes. "Don't you mean you're scared of the dark?"

"Not scared. Just apprehensive."

Ragini simply smiled and got up to light up the fire.

"So? What happened after....um...you know I...err...passed out." Laksh spoke in hesitation. He felt embarrassed to admit that he had fainted. 'Damsels faint. But here, it's me who fainted and Ragini became my saviour. Damn my male pride!'

Ragini was too busy trying to cover up her own blush to notice his embarrassment. She could still feel his lips on her. She tried to think of a way to start the conversation. "W-what was the last thing you remember?"

"Eh?"

"Take it as a game, will ya Laksh? Now, speak."

"Well, you were giving me your scarf and then..."

Ragini held her breath. "Then?"

"And then I..."

"And then you?" Ragini waited with batted breath. "Yes, finish your sentence." Ragini encouraged.

"And then I..." he looked directly into her eyes.

Ragini felt an excitement in her heart, hoping he would explain why he kissed her.

"And then I....I..." Laksh made a sheepish face. "Then I went into the la-la land of sleep."

"Wh-what?" she asked dumbfounded.

"I guess I lost consciousness after it." Laksh scratched his head. "No?"

"What?!"

Laksh rolled his eyes. "I'm saying that then I don't remember anything after it. Probably because I passed out, right?"

Ragini cleansed her fingers in anger and frustration. She couldn't believe he forgot such an important detail. However, she tried to smile.

"Falling asleep in a snowy cave. Haha...! Snow all around and in a white cave. Does this make me Snow White?" Laksh joked in good humor. "So, I'm right or did something else happen?"

Ragini looked away. "Y-yes. That's exactly what happened." she replied, hiding the truth. "You're...you're not wrong."

Soon, they descended into an awkward silence as they sat by the warmth of the fire. Ragini refused to look at him, while he sat there wondering if he spoke something wrong.

#Hotel#

"Found something?"

"No sir. All of these cameras only seem to show nothing but greenery."

Ram sighed in frustration. He was getting worried for Laksh, Uttara, Ragini and Nikhil. 'Please. Please be okay!'

He and Swara had called the technicians and told them to show them the footage captured in the cameras. Till now, they hadn't found anything.

Ram looked at little Swara. She sat there in silence. Although Ram doesn't like her obnoxious nature, he didn't like seeing her so sad either. It was better when she was lively and energetic. Sorrow didn't suit her.

"Swara, we'll find them. Don't worry beta."

Swara looked up at him with large brown eyes filled with hope. "Are you sure?"

He gave an assuring smile. "Of course beta."

Swara looked down with a gloomy face. Her lower lip seemed to be quivering. Suddenly, she surged forward and hugged him. "I'm scared. Is my Di okay? Did Udip do something to her?"

"Shh beta." Ram patted her head with affection of a parent. "Child, Laksh went after them, didn't he? And I know my son. He will protect your sister no matter what!"

Swara nodded and hugged him tighter. "I...I hope you're right."

"Sir! Look at this!" came the voice of one of the technicians.

Ram and Swara at once moved towards the monitor and watched carefully.

"Sir, this is the footage from camera number 5."

They watched as a pair ran past the monitor.

Swara at once jumped down from Ram's hold. "That's Ragini di and that Skunk!" she shouted in joy as Ragini and Laksh came into view. "Udip isn't there! That means...that means you were right! Laksh saved my di from him!"

"See? I told you."

"Sir! Here's another." exclaimed the other one. Ram looked to find Nikhil and Uttara running across the area.

"These two locations. Are they near?"

The technicians checked the locations. "It would seem so sir. They aren't that far. The forest may make it difficult to locate each other from within because of its density. But both the places are quite near."

Ram nodded. "I see. But in this cold night, I don't think they would be roaming around. Check if there is any safe place near this part of the forest."

The man checked over the area in the computer. "Yes. There seems to be a settlement near this area. It's a bit further into the forest. But it's the closest area of civilization I can locate from that part of the forest."

Ram nodded. "Then I guess they went there to seek shelter. I'll get my vehicle ready."

"I would advice against it sir."

"Why so?" Ram asked in confusion.

"Because it's too cold out there. And the area is so sloppy, in the dark you won't be able to navigate through the forest."

"But I can't just sit here while the kids might be in danger!"

"Sir, we understand. But going out now, you won't be helping anyone. Neither will you be able to help them, nor will you be able to keep yourself out of trouble."

"But th-"

"They're right." spoke Swara.

Ram looked at her. "I thought you wanted to save your sister."

"I do. But going out now would mean you would be putting yourself in danger. You will create trouble for yourself and later, create more problems to worry about for them." she reasoned. "I know my Di. She's strong. And you said Laksh will protect her didn't you? And Niki bhai is there for Uttara Di. Besides, if they are in some village nearby, then they are surely safe."

Ram let out a defeated sigh. He knew she was right. "Alright. But the moment dawn approaches, I'll get going with my men."

"Don't forget me! I'm going too!"

#Cave#

Laksh sneaked sneaky glances at Ragini's face. Ever since their last conversation, she seemed to have distanced herself from him. It was like he had offended her in someway. He cleared his throat, hoping to gain her attention and start a conversation. The silence was killing him!

However, on seeing her glare, he simply smiled and looked down. 'I think its better to die peacefully from boredom than get shouted at by her.'

Ragini's eye twitched in irritation as she watched him smile towards her. 'He goes onto kiss me without permission, not that I minded of course. But that's not the point! The point is that how could he just forget something like this! How how how?!' However, Ragini knew she was being unreasonable. After all, Laksh had a high fever at that time. He didn't know what he was doing. 'But why did he kiss me all of a sudden! He once told his mother that he doesn't want a broken person like me. And then this? Ugh!'

Laksh, on the other hand, was going over the conversation he had with her in his mind. 'Nope! There doesn't seem to be anything offensive I had said to her. Could it be my bad breath? Nah! She wasn't that near to smell it. Besides, my mouth doesn't smell bad! It only smells bad if I don't brush after having chicken. Ooo yum! I really wish I could have biryani right now! That reminds me, Maa said she would send me some tomorrow. Would taste more delicious with the chutn-'

Laksh shook his head off his wondering thoughts. From thinking of Ragini's anger, he went to think of chicken meat. He chuckled to himself at his ridiculous train of thoughts.

However, this seemed to irritate Ragini further and set off her anger.

"Shut up!"

Laksh blinked at her, shocked at her outburst. "Eh?"

"Just who do you think you are huh!?" Ragini shouted.

Laksh looked on with wide eyes in shock and bewilderment at her behavior. "Um...Laksh Maheshwari? Owner of Maheshwari Industries?"

"Shut up! That's not what I meant!"

Laksh simply blinked at her, cocking his head to the side, giving her a confused look.

"Why aren't you answering me now? Just what do you think of yourself huh!? Answer me!"

"Well, no offense, but you were the one who told me to shut up. Just decide. Do you want me to speak or shut up?"

Ragini got up in frustration and threw some leaves at him. "You headless ape! You don't care about others' feelings, do you?! Everything is just some joke to you!" Ragini shouted. She knew it wasn't his fault that her forgot about their kiss. But she couldn't help herself from venting out her frustration on him. "I'm a joke to you. A simple tool that you are using for your father's film!"

"Hey! That's not true. Ragini, what are you saying?" Laksh got up as well, now getting serious. "I never thought that way about you."

"Oh really now? Is that why you talk behind my back, laugh about how broken I am?!"

Laksh looked at her, shocked. "Ragini, I would never do such a thing! I would never make fun of of these things. How...how could you accuse me of such things!?"

Ragini let out a humorless chuckle. "Oh come on! Don't even try to act like you care. For you, I'm nothing but a broken piece of item. Just a poor orphan that you can use as you wish, talk to as you wish, kiss as you wish!"

"What!? I never did that!" he saw Ragini advert her eyes. "Ragini, you're not telling me everything. Tell me what happened before I passed out. Ragini, Tell. Me." he stressed, coming to stand in front of her.

Ragini looked away and tried to move past him. However, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his eye level. "Tell me the truth Ragini."

As they stared into each other's eyes in the light of the fire, they knew that whatever revelations were going to happen would no doubt change their friendship forever.

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹