So here's the first OS of this collection.

Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes." - Talking

'Words in single quotes.' - Thoughts

Timeline - After Sanskar first storms into Ragini's house and holds the knife on her neck, she pacifies him and convinces him to calm down. She makes him sit and brings food for him.

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Unplanned Friendships

He watched as she broke another piece of the chapati and held it before his face. Unlike others, there was no pity or disgust at him for his disheaveled state.

She was treating him like a human.

"Open wide!"

Sanskar wanted to roll his eyes. However, he needed to put up the act. So he ate from her hand.

"Good boy. Now, drink this."

Sanskar nodded and grabbed the glass.

From the corner of his eyes, he noticed her touching her neck and flinching.

It made him feel guilty.

Yes, he had grudges against the Maheshwaris. But Ragini was innocent. She didn't deserve to get hurt. He wanted revenge, but he didn't forget his humanity. 'I can't even give her first aid since I have to act as a kid. But I can do one thing.'

As he noticed Shramishtha passing, he shouted. "Blood! Blood!"

"Shh! Don't be scared. It's only a scratch."

"A scratch?" Shramishtha walked closer and examined the wound. "It's all red! Ragini, you need to look after yourself. Oho, this girl!"

"Let me wash the dishes first. He's done."

Shramishtha glared and took the utensils from her. "You! Stay here."

Ragini sat back down with a sigh. "You're a naughty person. You made her worry for nothing." she playfully chided. "How's your hand?"

Sanskar watched as she took her hand and checked the dressing. He could see the genuine worry in her eyes. 'She doesn't even know me. Not to mention I tried to slit her throat.' Sanskar shivered. 'Am I really turning into such a monster? I...no! I mustn't forget my goal. I'll do anything for revenge!'

Ragini gasped as she saw his fist tighten. "Hey, don't do that! It'll bleed again."

Sanskar almost said sorry, but caught himself. He pouted instead. "Then you can just kiss it to make it alright." he grinned innocently, but inside he was laughing. It amused him as to how quickly she blushed. 'I don't think she has ever had a boyfriend. She's so innocent.'

Ragini cleared her throat to cover her blushing face and got up, pulling Sanskar along with her. Heading towards the bathroom, she opened the door and pushed Sanskar in. "Go freshen up. The green colored one is the shampoo, okay?"

"Okay! Me have a bath!"

Ragini chuckled snd closed the door, leaving for her mother's room.

Later...

Sanskar wore the clothes that Shekhar passed him. It really felt good after a good shower. With a genuine wide grin, he walked towards where Ragini sat in the living room. Her neck had a white bandage, no doubt her mother treated her.

"Hello dost!"

Ragini looked at him. Without a word, she came near him, leaning closer.

'What the...' Sanskar wanted to jump back and demand answers. But, he had to keep up the act of a clueless child. He sat there praying Ragini doesn't see his panicked state.

Ragini sniffed and moved back. "So I was right."

Sanskar let out the breath he was holding. "What do you mean dost?"

Ragini smirked. "There are three green bottles in the bathroom. But you chose the right one, even if I only told you the color. Which means you must have read out which one was the shampoo."

"Shit!" came out of Sanskar.

"Yes buddy. I caught you!" Ragini smirked. "I had a suspicion about you being truly mad or not."

Sanskar sighed. "Fine. You caught me. You'll call the police now?"

"It's unnecessary. I kind of guessed you acted so because you wanted to escape those men. They looked ready to kill."

Sanskar decided to go with that excuse. "Yes, I stole food because I was hungry. But they went extreme! So I put up the act."

Ragini nodded. "But don't steal next time. It's not legit. Instead, find some work for yourself. Th-"

"Hey Ragini! Have you seen my cell phone?"

"It's in my table. You left it."

"Thanks!" Swara winked and left with a salute.

"That's my little sister. She's so cool, isn't she?" Ragini sighed. "No wonder she gets the attention of the boys. Laksh is no exception."

Sanskar already knew everything, but decided to fake ambiguity. "I'm guessing whoever this Laksh is, you like him?"

"Yes. But, I think he likes Swara." Ragini spoke in a sad voice. "Laksh pretends he likes me for his family. But I know he will break the engagement eventually. Why wouldn't he? She's so amazing after all. And me?" she let out a bitter chuckle. "I'm just a behenji who wears her heart on her sleeves."

It touched Sanskar. Such a kind soul didn't deserve to be treated like this. 'That Lucky! Will he ever change?!' Sanskar scoffed. "What's so amazing about Swara. She didn't look any special to me."

"But she can talk smart, she can have witty arguments, she dresses trendy and she has so much confidence that..." Ragini looked down. "That I feel inferior."

Sanskar snorted. "You know, confidence is when you walk into a room and the others feel motivated because of you. If Swara makes everyone feel low about themselves, then that's just arrogance."

"Laksh doesn't think so."

"Then he's a puny brain and an idiot."

"He's studied overboard. He's smart."

"Well then, he's doubly puny brained. If he only knows to judge a person based on their looks and haughty attitudes, then he had better sell that brain of his."

Ragini blinked. And blinked again. With a snort, she burst out laughing, uncaring if it was unlady like.

Sanskar, on the other hand, was on a killing spree in his mind, shooting Laksh and Swara. "Bilingual bitches with good-for-nothing people skills that's less than that of an amoeba. What do they think of himself?!"

Ragini laughed harder as she noted the changing expressions on Sanskar's face. "S-stop stop! Or else I'll die out of laughter!"

"What's there to laugh? I'm serious!" he pouted.

"From Harry Potter?" Ragini joked.

"You follow the Harry Potter fandom, and you think you aren't cool?! Get lost!"

Ragini giggled. "I'm glad you think I'm cool. Wish Laksh saw it that way."

Sanskar rolled his eyes. "Listen. It's easy to be cool like Swara. You know why? Because wearing trendy clothes, acting haughty, being rebellious...these are easy. What's tough is to genuinely be happy for others. To sacrifice your wishes for others'eyes happiness. To pretend everything is alright, just so that others don't get worried. That's the tough part. That is being truly amazing. And for me, you are as amazing as a human can be."

Ragini looked up at him with soft eyes. "You really mean it? Everyone else seems to see it as my weakness."

"Huh? I would like to see them stay quiet when their supposed boyfriend is twisted. I would like to see them not to spit out the truth to their boyfriend's parents. I would like to see someone praise their sibling even if they always put them down. Do those two have it in them? Besides, it's you who figured out my truth. Not some abroad studying brat or the haughty fashionista!"

"Laksh never met you. And Swara only saw you now."

"Whatever! My point is that they can't be selfless like you. And that's an unique strength, not weakness. They can't do it, can they?!"

"Um...ow!" Ragini rubbed the spot where Sanskar hit her.

"Not 'um'. Say 'no!'"

"No."

"I can't hear you!"

"No...NO! THEY CAN'T!" Ragini shouted.

"There you go! Good girl." he complimented, like she had done when he was eating.

Ragini leaned back and smacked herself in the head. "What are we doing? We're being ridiculous, aren't we?"

Sanskar chuckled. "So? I'm mad for the world, remember? What's your excuse?"

"Oh about that..." Ragini bit her lip. "Mother told me to get rid of you or...or she wants to call the authorities."

Sanskar sighed. It's not like he didn't expect it. He was planning on using Ragini. But now he couldn't since she  found out the truth. 'And even if she didn't, I don't think I want to use her. She doesn't deserve to be a tool.' with a nod he got up. "I'll be leaving then. It was nice meeting you Ragini."

"Same here." she smiled at him. "I'll see you off."

She watched until he disappeared around the street. 'Oh no! I didn't even ask his name!'

"Hi Ragini!" came Laksh's voice.

"Hello Laksh." she nodded.

"Where's Swa-um...how are you?"

It saddened Ragini knowing he was actually there for Swara. "She went out."

"Oh."

As she stared at Laksh, Sanskar's comical face came back to her when he was cursing Laksh as a 'puny-pea-brained-pork-head!' she laughed out loud.

Laksh was bewildered "Eh?"

"Haha...its nothing. I just miss someone already."

And suddenly, Laksh's fixation on Swara didn't bother her. She knew she deserved better.

After all, there was someone who thought she was amazing.

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Here's the first OS. Hope you liked it.

Votes and comments much appreciated. ❤

~🌹 Mona🌹