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Shekhar looked at them, "I haven't given him my approval for this alliance."

Laksh looked at him without fear, "well I haven't asked you." He completely turned to Shekhar to face him, "I, Laksh, would like to ask for Ragini's hand," he raised his hand showed his palm toward Shekhar, Laksh turned to Ragini, "Ragini would you like to marry me?"

Parvati fumed in anger, "Oye how dare you to ask her in front of us. We are the elders and you just can't ask her directly!"

Laksh frowned at her, "of course I can, she is an adult. She can vote, she has rights and she has an own mind. She can take a decision for her life, she doesn't need your permission for anything, she is an independent woman!"

"An independent woman or a foolish woman?"

Laksh made a fist in anger, "how dare you?" The voice of his father raised the already heated atmosphere in the hall, "who has asked for your opinion?"

"Don't forget you are here to ask for hand with my..."

Laksh shook his head, "I'm here as Laksh not Lakshya Maheshwari. As usually you have no idea what is going on, so please Mr. Durga Prasad Maheshwari stay out of this matter. It's non of your business!"

DP fumed in anger, his face expression changed and the redness on his cheek increased, being insulted like this in front of everyone, was something he had never expected.

"Laksh!"

"Yes, Laksh, only Laksh," he said determined not giving his father a chance to break his confidence.

"I don't care," Shekhar shouted, "she is still living under my roof, she will do what I will say her to do."

"Why Shekhar?" The familiar voice of Shamishtra gained everyone's attention, "why will she do what you will say?"

"Sumi leave it, they should do what they want," her mother tried to hold her back, but Sumi didn't listend.

"No Maa, Ragini has a right to decide whatever she wants in her life. I'm happy that she isn't like her father spineless, she fought for Laksh innocence and stood by his side, not like you Shekhar. You always hide behind your mother and do as she said, and look where it leads us. Janki never deserved what had happened, I'm not better than you, I stayed instead of leaving, but what you did was a crime. And now you are trying to do same with Ragini, like your mother did with you." Her heavy heart finally got relief from the burden she had carried for a long time.

Now it was like two sides of families, those who supported RagLak and those who were against RagLak.

"Oh Chori, why you are rushing, let me breath."

"Maa you are too much, Lucky Bhaiya is going to ask for Ragini's hand, do you really think I'm going to miss this, no way." Uttara entered the house and got a shock, "Baare Papa?"

Sujata entered the house with fear, "Bhai Sa, Baache hain {They are kids}," then her gaze fall on Laksh, "Lakshya!" She pinched his cheek, "Your mother is waiting outside, get her in."

Laksh shook his head, "no, if she wants she will come. I haven't called any of you, I'm surprised who has given the news to everyone," his gaze shifted from Omi to Uttara and then to Swara and Sanskaar, "privacy, is something we all should learn and respect."

"Lucky I don't know how Baare Papa got to know about it, must be from Dad I told him too to come and support you. By the way, he is also outside freaking scared like Baari Maa from Baare Papa."

"The speciality of DP Maheshwari to suppressed the freedom of his own family." Laksh said pointing out the truth everyone was thinking.

"Laksh please," Adarsh placed a hand on his shoulder, "you just focus on Ragini."

Laksh looked at his brother, "that is what I am doing all the time, I'm thinking of her and her happiness, what her father and grandmother can't see and not even my so called father." All those words were filled with bitterness and hate, but he had no control over his emotion, not anymore.

Another hand on his shoulder, he turned seeing his mother brought a smile on his face, "Maa?"

AP cupped his face, "I'm sorry Laksh for the delay. But now I am here, I will never stop supporting you."

"How can you say that!" DP shouted, "he has insulted us, he ruined our reputation, he ditched Swara!"

All looked down, not facing him or Laksh, days, weeks, months even a year has passed, but there was no clue about the culprit, who has framed Laksh in this case.

Laksh looked down, not sure what to say, when Ragini stood up, "I don't care. Laksh I accept your proposal. It's a Yes. I want to marry you."

Laksh anger, his pain all flew away when she hold his hand, intertwining her fingers in his making it clear, she won't listen to anyone than her heart.

"No!" Parvati said making a step forward to separate RagLak, but Laksh made a step toward her too, being a shield of Ragini, "try as much as you want but I'm not going without her."

Parvati was fuming in anger, "then tell us who did it and then I will give her hand happily in yours."

Laksh gulped, sweat pearls have formed on his temple.

"Laksh you know?" Ragini asked him confused and all saw at him, how he was trying to change the topic, "no," he shrugged, "I don't." His voice was shaking a lie only Ragini could caught.

"You know!" She looses the grip of his hand and moved backwards.

Laksh took a deep breath, "Yaar Omi!"

All looked at him, he shook his head, "what are you saying?" Omi stood up, "I haven't done anything."

Laksh looked at him, "you created this mess and still I'm thankful to you, you have been there when I had nothing. Sorry but I will move out."

Omi sigh in relief, "you ass, yes I know you are. Do you think that I haven't realised your things missing? You have found a place to stay, great."

Laksh nodded, then he looked at her, "Ragini," they all looked at her, but she didn't feared, "will you ever leave my hand again?"

Ragini shook her head, "no, but if you will keep secrets from me, I will surely make you pay for it." She huffed and crossed her arms around her chest.

Laksh rubbed his back head, "yes, I know who has done it, but I figured it out in little steps cause it was more like a puzzle, many small incidents had happened and come up together to this."

Laksh closed his eyes, "Maa," all rolled their eyes, another speech.

"You sent me to the office, so I will come late. You wanted me to be late, the wedding time couldn't be delayed as of the Priest saying. Mahurat has to be at the right time."

They all got a shock and looked at AP.

"You never liked Swara, therefore I'm not angry, cause of you I found Ragini, my true love and only life partner I could ever wish for."

"But Laksh I didn't kidnapped you!" AP hold his hand, "trust me, I would never hurt you."

Laksh nodded, "I know, it was Ragini's grandfather, who ordered the goons to abduct me."

Shekhar glares at his father, "what, is that true?"

Deendayal looked at them in anger, "I don't need to justify myself, I did what I had to do, he had rejected Ragini to marry this illegitimate girl. He broke her heart twice and his father ruined our reputation, black faced us. He had to feel the same shame and pain!"

"But?" Adarsh and Sanskaar walked to Laksh, "the Video? There must be someone else too!"

Laksh nodded, "I had no idea first, but then I thought who is left and maybe just did it to help someone else, Chachu?"

RP lowered his head, "it's true, when Bhabhi Sa sent you to the office for a file, which wasn't needed, I was confused. I saw your wounds Laksh, but I couldn't risk that Bhai sa will go mad on Bhabhi sa for this. I had to delete it, but I have made a copy in case Bhabhi sa hasn't done it."

RP took out the mobile phone and could prove the innocence of Laksh, who hasn't lied about the white van, masked men's and his real abduction.

Laksh just shook his head, "unwantedly you helped each other and framed me more into it, but it's okay. Ragini, how about Option B?"

They all got confused just not Ragini, "sounds good." She took his hand, "I don't want a scene," she whispered, "but can we make it now? I don't want Daadi to think she did a great thing giving my hand in yours."

Laksh kissed her cheek, "that's why I love you so much." He hold her hand tighter and run out of the house, he started the motorbike and Ragini sat behind him.

"I told you I will make you runway with me, only when they will refuse, but saying them yes, I don't wanted to give them the satisfaction of being a part of our life."

"Ditto!" Ragini hugged him, "and don't worry, I will not sleep on your back, only on your chest!"
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Epilogue ✌️