Hi ya!

Back with another chapter. Hope you like it!

Moving on... 🎉🎉🎉

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts.

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations.

Chapter 5

"Mishka!?"

Silence prevailed over the room as they stared at each other. While Ragini and Nikhil looked at Mishka in horror, Mishka looked at them with tears in her eyes.

Ragini gulped and took a step forward. "Mi-Mishka what you heard was ju-"

"Was just the truth." Nikhil concluded, making Ragini turn to look at him in disbelief.

"Are you crazy Nikhil!?" she turned back to Mishka with a nervous smile. "He's just joking Mishka beta. You know he can be an idiot most of the times, don't you? Haha..."

"I'm not joking."

"Yes he is Mishka!" Ragini glared at Nikhil as hard as she could. "Nikhil, I'm warning you." She whispered to him in anger.

"I'm not backing down Ragini. Not this time." Nikhil crossed the room and kneeled before Mishka. "Mishka, the truth is that your father Abhimanyu is de-"

"Nikhil!" Ragini pulled him back, interrupting his sentence. "Are you mad!? This isn't the time or the place to speak of such things."

"But Ragi-"

"No 'buts'!" she patted Mishka's head. "It's past your sleep time Mishka. Please leave. Tomorrow's a big day, isn't it?"

"No. He's not joking. I know." Mishka spoke, surprising the two of them in the room.

Mishka stepped inside the room and closed the door behind her. She took Ragini's hand and led her towards the bed without a word. Once near, she sat on it and made Ragini sit beside her. "Ragini, you said you are my friend."

"And I am Mishka. I am your friend."

"Then...then can I ask you something?"

"Anything you want."

Mishka lowered her gaze as if afraid to question her. However, she clenched her fists in determination and looked back at Ragini. "Ragini is...is my Papa dead?"

Both Ragini and Nikhil gasped at her words.

"Ragini...Ragini tell me. Please! Please tell me." Mishka requested with tears threatening to flow from her eyes.

"I...I..." Ragini was in a fix as to what to do. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Nikhil signal her to speak the truth. However, she feared something happening to Mishka. Laksh wouldn't forgive her for it.

She herself wouldn't be able to forgive herself if something happens to the child! 'Should I tell her? But what if something happens to her?!'

"Tell her Ragini." came a voice as the person entered through the door.

"But Sanska-"

"Ragini, look at her. Look at her eyes. Look at how desperately she wants to know about her father!" Sanskar requested. "Do you really want to lie to her? Would you deprive the truth about he truth about her own father?"

Ragini gritted her teeth hard in indecision. Finally, she nodded. "He...he is."

Sanskar, Nikhil and Ragini waited with baited breath to see what Mishka's reaction would be. They were ready to leap into action if anything happened to the child.

However, to their utter shock, Mishka simply nodded. "So...so they weren't lying."

"Wh-what? What do you mean Mishka?"

Mishka looked up at Ragini with moist eyes. "Yesterday when...when Kaira aunty came to our home, Maa told me to go play in my room. I did as told but I left my teddy in Maa's room. So I went back to take it and..." her breath hitched as sobs threatened to break through her tiny body.

Ragini pulled her close and hugged her. "It's okay Mishka, it's okay. You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."

"No! I...I want to." Mishka rubbed her eyes and coughed through her sobs. Nevertheless, she continued. "I-I heard her say that she...she wants t-to marry for money. She s-said that...that was t-the reason she ki-killed my Papa!"

"So you overheard them. That explains you weird behaviour towards Laksh in at the road." Nikhil concluded. 'Which means Kaira knows everything and yet, she's helping Mansi. How disgusting!'

"I cried so much Ragini. I-I cried for w-whole night!"

"Oh Mishka..." Ragini hugged her tightly as Mishka weeped in her arms. Ragini wanted to console her somehow.

But what could she do? It was the bare truth. Only thing she could do was being there for her and let her cry on her shoulder.

"The o-one who acts as m-my Papa now isn't my real P-Papa. He's someone else. H-He's...he's not my Papa!"

Sansar kneeled down before them and put a hand on Mishka's head. "Mishka, he's Laksh. Laksh Maheswari. My cousin brother and Ragini's husband. I...I know its hard but that is the truth."

Mishka broke the hug and looked at Ragini. "Your husband?"

Ragini nodded with a sad smile. "It's true."

"T-then you must hate me! I-it's because of me that...that your husband had t-to pretend to be my...my Papa."

"No Mishka! I would never hate you." Ragini assured her. "I am and will aways be your friend. Whatever happened isn't your fault. None of it is your fault!"

"So...s-so you're not...not mad at me?" Mishka asked with a sniff.

Ragini rubbed away her tears. "Of course not!"

"But Mishka, why didn't you come to us. Why didn't you tell anyone the truth?" Nikhil questioned.

Mishka looked down in guilt. "I didn't want to. I...I thought he would leave if I told the truth. I still wanted a father. But...but it's not the same. I...I miss my Papa. I m-miss him too much. The new Papa can never be my real Papa!"

Nikhil felt like the most wretched being on the planet now as he looked towards the crying child. He looked away unable to meet her eyes. "I can't believe I helped Mansi in hide such a deed. I feel ashamed of myself!"

Sanskar placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's the past. Now, you're fighting for the right cause. That's all that matters now."

"He's right. Tomorrow we will expose Mansi and get Laksh back." Ragini declared. She looked at Mishka with determination. "And also get revenge of your father's death Mishka. Don't you worry."

"I assume you got the reports then?"

"Yes Sanskar. Wait! I'll bring them over." Nikhil stood up and went to get the papers on the table. "Here."

Sanskar took and began to go through them.

"You really don't hate me, right Ragini?" Mishka asked in a soft voice.

"Really, I don't." Ragini said with a smile. "How about you draw me a new picture tomorrow?"

Mishka managed a small smile despite her sorrow. "Yes. I will." She leaned forward and gave Ragini a kiss on the cheek. "Good night Ragini." saying so, she got down from the bed and left the room.

"Good night Mishka." Ragini called after her. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Nikhil smiling at her. "What?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking how you're so good with kids." He sat down beside her. "Laksh already cares a lot for Mishka. I can tell you do too. After Mansi goes to jail, Mishka will be without a parent. So...so why don't you and Laksh adopt her?"

Ragini looked shocked by his suggestion. However, it didn't make her uncomfortable. Yes, she would need sometime to think about it, but the idea didn't offend her in the least.

A gasp made them look up at Sanskar, who's face was one of horror and utter bewilderment.

"Ragini, Nikhil...are you sure these are the papers?"

"Yes of course! I checked it before coming out of the hospital." Ragini responded. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Ragini these...these aren't Abhimanyu's reports! In fact, these aren't any reports at all! These are just papers about car adds!"

Ragini and Nikhil got up abrupty in shock.

"But how!? How can this be possible!? Ragini had them with her through the entire ride! No one had int-" Nikhil's eyes widened as he remembered the incident on the way. "Kaira!"

#Elsewhere#

"How's the heat Mansi? Is the fire warm enough?"

"Yep! Just the right temperature Kaira." Mansi responded, sipping on her hot chocolate.

"Of course it would be." Kaira responded. "After all..." she smirked. "I just added Abhimanyu's reports to it."

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹