Yo!

Well, chalo I'm in a good mood. So I'm updating sooner.

This will end in a few chapters though. Hope you like the track. Surprises await!
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Some chapters I had made private. Why? Aiwain
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"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts.

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations.

Chapter 2

And so the preparations began in full force. The Maheshwaris as well as the Gadodias contributed their best to make it grand.

Sanskar and his family took care of the expenses and the decorations. They weren't settling for mediacore. They were trying to reach perfection with it.

The Gadodias took care of the fooding. They tasted each dish and judged each and every chef before appointing them. Even the sweets decided upon were the ones which weren't usually found in Kolkata. They were of the best quality in the country.

Mansi was on cloud nine.

Everything was making her mind go bonkers! Never had she seen so much richness and luxury. It was as if she was a frog in a well, who was now being released into an ocean. She was like a bird out of a wooden cage thrown into a meadow filled with gold!

Her only worry about Ragini and the Maheshwaris messing things up was taken care of by her friend Kaira. She inspected each of them and removed any and every hindrance that might cause problems.

Mansi looked over at her best friend as she sat on the bed looking at the jewellery for the marriage. "Oh Kaira! You don't know how much you've helped me. Now, in two day's time, I'll be happily married to Abhimanyu and then...and then, I'll be living like a queen for the rest of my life!"

Kaira chuckled as she saw Mansi twirl around in the room. 'Dear Mansi, you're such a fool, aren't you? Do you really think I would come here just because you wanted my help? I have my own reasons for helping you marry Abhimanyu.' she leaned back and watched with a smirk as Mansi pranched around singing to herself like a clown. 'She might think of herself as wonder woman, but she's actually just a rat in a gutter. Why am I even friends with this idiot?'

Kaira got up from the bed. "Well, I'll go grab a bite. See you later Mansi."

"Okay dear. Bye! Let me try some of the jewellery!"

All in all, everyone was happy.

Well...everyone except one poor soul as he paced around in distress in his lonely room.

Laksh stopped and let out a breath of frustration. "So troublesome." Laksh sighed to himself in misery. "Am I the only one who feels like everything is out of place? Everyone's just accepting everything without a thought! Am I the only one who sees how wrong everything is?!" he asked his reflection on the mirror. He sighed in misery and went to stand near the window.

'Isn't this what I wanted? This is the only way to ensure Mishka's safety.' Laksh looked out if the window in distress. 'Even if it feels wrong, I have to live with this lie. Maybe once...once Mishka's surgery is over, I can divorce Mansi and...' Laksh shook his head. 'No! I can't do that. Mansi won't have any support. Not to mention she has to take care of Mishka. Does this mean...does this mean that I would live the rest of my life living as Abhimanyu Khanna?' from the corner of his eyes, Laksh's eyes fell on the front porch.

There he saw Ragini sitting amidst the flowers, weaving garlands for the decorations.

Different types of flowers and orchids lay around her. But amidst everything, only thing that Laksh found most beautiful was her face.

He saw her take a flower near her nose and smell it. Ragini smiled at its fragrance.

Oh, how he wished that flower was he himself! He envied it for being able to be close to her.

Laksh chuckled to himself. "I'm reduced to being jealous over inanimate things now? What has happened to you Laksh Maheshwari?" he joked in dark humor.

Laksh cupped both his hands together and made a heart shape. He closed one eye and peeped through it towards Ragini. "Just like this heart, you'll always be in the cocoon of my heart. Only you have the place in it and no one else Ragini." he put down his hands to his sides and balled them into fists in anger. "Although we can't be together, no matter how desperately I want it. We're connected by hearts, but separated by reality."

Suddenly, he heard laughter from outside. What he saw made his blood boil.

Nikhil stood there throwing flowers at Ragini. She, instead of protesting, was laughing and throwing back flowers at him. They seemed to be having a good time.

'Stop being jealous Lucky! You should be happy Ragini is trying to move on. You hurt her so much. But now she's finding someone else for herself. You should be happy for her. Be rational!' he screamed to himself in his mind, trying to calm himself. However, the more he saw them enjoying, the more angry and jealous he became. 'Rationality be dammed!'

#Outside#

"Stop already Nikhil! You'll ruin all the flowers."

Nikhil chuckled and sat beside her. "You look like you're in a good mood. Usually it takes me some time to make you smile."

Ragini shrugged. "I'm one step closer to getting back Laksh. Why shouldn't I be happy?"

Nikhil got serious. "Are you sure our plan will work Ragini? Because if it doesn't than..."

"If it doesn't, than Laksh will end up marrying Mansi for real. That's what you want to say don't you?" Ragini questioned. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "But it won't, trust me. It won't."

"You sound so sure about this. Aren't you worried about what Mansi would do?"

"I'll be lying if I said I wasn't worried. I am. I'm more worried than I've been all my life. Mansi has put me in a corner where I have everything I could lose."

"Then how can you be so confident?"

Ragini have a dark chuckle. "Nikhil, I may look like a cinnamon roll, but I don't break easy. If you search through my past, you'll find an evil mastermind who managed to not only get my love when he had no love for me, but also got hold of an business empire." she got up with a smirk. "Passionate lovers are dangerous. But I'm not just any passionate lover. I'm Ragini Laksh Maheshwari."

"And of course, don't forget the mastermind that made you." Sanskar joked as he came near them to pick up some garlands.

"But the risks are too high in this plan of yours." Nikhil reasoned.

"As one once said, desperate times call for desperate measures. Right Ragu buddy?"

"Yep Sanky!" she high-fived him like the good friends they were. Some might mistake their bond. But all they felt for each other were feelings of friendship.

"Come inside Ragu. Swara needs some help." saying so, Sanky left.

"Desperate measures, huh? You sure you're willing to take them? Despite the risks?"

"Yes Nikhil. After all..."Ragini winked at him. "What's the fun in love, if it's not a little rough?"

"Ragini!"

That shout broke caught their attention.

It was Laksh.

A.k.a Abhimanyu Khanna.

He marched forward in anger and stood before them with a stoic face. "Why are you both playing around with the flowers!? Don't you think as adults you should act a bit mature?" Laksh sneered.

However, the real reason for his anger was seeing their closeness.

"Uh...yeah, sorry about that Abhimanyu ji." Ragini spoke in a sweet voice, irritating Laksh further. "I promise I'll make everything ready soon friend."

"Stop calling me friend!"

"Eh? Why?"

"Because I'm you hus-" Laksh stopped mid-sentence as he realized his slip. He cleared his throat and continued. "Because I'm your um...your uh..."

"Yes? Abhimanyu ji? Do you want me to call you bhai?"

While Laksh looked at her in horror and shock, Nikhil choked on his breath to cover up his laughter that threatened to break out.

"What?! No! Don't ever...ever call me that!"

"Why not?" Ragini questioned in fake innocence, leaning her head to the side and blinking at him cutely.

"Just because!"

"That's not a reason."

"Well, it is if I say so." Laksh responded, enjoying their playful banter.

He missed it.

He missed talking to her.

Ragini opened her mouth, but closed it again. Instead, she picked up the casket of flowers and smiled at him. "I think I'll go help Swara with the rest of the arrangements. Bye Abhimanyu ji."

Laksh watched with a disappointed face as she went away. He was hoping their banter would go on. But she seemed least interested. 'Be it me as Lucky, or be it me pretending to be Abhimanyu, she still has me wrapped around her little finger. But I guess that's why I love her.' he thought with a smile.

"I think I'll go help her." Nikhil spoke up, about to follow Ragini. However, only after taking a few steps, he stumbled and fell flat on his face. "Ouch!"

Nikhil got up slowly and dusted himself. He looked back, but saw nothing there that could have made him fall. Only one that stood there was Laksh whistling to himself while he looked around. 'Did he...did he just make me fall?!'

Laksh looked at Nikhil feeling eyes on himself. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh, I don't know! Maybe because you're being a jerk. You made me fall, didn't you?!"

"Now why would I do that? It's your fault you walk like a new born."

"Why you..." Nikhil paused as an idea struck him. He sniffed and smiled goofily. "Whatever! Ragini may need help. I'm going to help my best friend! Bye!"

Laksh's eyes twitched in irritation as he watched Nikhil skip away merrily. 'Earth open up and swallow him please.'

As Nikhil walked away, he could feel a cold shiver run through him. He looked back at Laksh hoping to see him green with envy, but wished he didn't. 'It was bad idea threatening him. Laksh looks like he would vaporize me with his look alone!' as he wasn't watching where he was going, he collided into someone. "Oof! I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

"I wasn't before. But now I am." spoke the girl, looking up at him with a seductive smile. "Hello Nikhil."

Nikhil's eyes widened as he recognized her. "Kaira!? What are you doing here?!"

"I'm here for the marriage of course. What else?" she placed a hand on his shoulder and moved closer to him. "It's the means to my goals."

Nikhil glared at her. "Like I'm interested in knowing whatever are your volpous goals! As for this marriage, it won't ever happen!" he sneered in anger. He pushed her away and stormed off.

Kaira chuckled and watched as he disappeared around the corner. "This marriage will happen. It has to! Only if it does, will you be available for me Nikhil" Kaira sighed dreamily to herself. "When Mansi marries, she'll no longer want you. You will be all mine Nikhil. And anyone that comes in between..." she smirked darkly. "will perish."

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To be continued...

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Some chapters I made private.
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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹