Namaskaram 🙏

Date of Update: 15.08.2023

****

Sanskar entered the house smiling brightly. The smile is not leaving his lips. This was one of the best afternoons for him. He had the best time with Ragini. He blushed a little remembering how she kissed him. As he entered he saw everybody in the hall. His smile shortened and a frown grew thinking what must has happened seeing everyone together. He sighed and moved towards them.

"Bhai!" Uttara chirped and moved giving place to him.

He sat beside her smiling a little.

"Is any important discussion going on?" He asked.

"No! Today is Friday right. Every Friday evening we all sit like this and spend some time talking to each other. We have been doing this since few weeks." Uttara said.

"Oh!" Sanskar could say only that.

Suddenly he felt he is some stranger in that house. Not that he doesn't want to stay with them. He loves them too but the things they had did to him and his parents made him to take the decision of going away from them is better option. He got up to go to his room when Dp called him.

"Sanskar!" Dp called him.

"Ji bade papa!" he replied stopping from going and turning towards him.

Dp signed him to sit. He nodded and sat back.

"So when are you coming back to office?" Dp asked.

"Ummm... I need some more time bade papa." Sanskar spoke.

"It's been more than six months Sanskar." Dp spoke.

"I am on break bade papa." Sanskar said.

"Already you have wasted so much time and money in these months in the name of break." Dp spoke a bit angrily.

"Sorry? I didn't waste any money Bade papa. Even if I did it was my father's hard work. I have right on it. And my father has no problem in what I do." Sanskar spoke calmly not even sounding rude but speaking the truth.

"And that money is given to him by me." Dp spoke a bit more loud.

"Sorry? You are giving it to him? It is my father's hard work. In fact he is getting very less compared to what he has given to the company. I have not used a penny that belongs either to you or your sons bade papa." Sanskar spoke with same tone, same calmness and not sounding rude.

He stood up before speaking again.

"If my father doesn't have any problem in what I am doing I don't feel it necessary to answer to anybody else in this house. Thank You!" Sanskar spoke.

He held Uttara's hand and left from there to his room not letting Dp to talk anything and even if he speaks he doesn't want to stop or listen to anything.

"Your son! He has become manner less. See how he is talking to me Ram!" Dp spoke angrily.

"He spoke with whole respect bhai sa. He neither raised his voice nor he spoke rude. He spoke what he wants to speak and kept his point strongly. That's all." Ram spoke.

"So you say that he is right. Don't forget that it has to be me who has to give money to you. You stop giving him money for his useless vacation. He has wasted enough money." Dp said angrily and left from there.

Everybody except Ram Sujatha went from there. Ram and Sujatha stood there just reminding those words said Dp.

"Bhayya why did you drag me here? I want to listen what more Bade Papa would say. I am sure he would have insulted dad." Uttara said angrily.

"Uttu calm down bacha. I know he would have said some words for me and then insulted dad but I don't want dad to feel bad if we get out of control on our words and say something to Bade Papa. You know he speaks anything and everything and never respects anybody's opinions atleast. So let Dad to deal with it." Sanskar calmed her.

Uttara nodded and sat on the bed.

"Ji!" Sujatha kept her hand on Ram who kept staring at the way his brother went.

He was hurt to beyond today. His eyes turned teary. His brother indirectly meant that they are living just because he is giving them money and he indirectly meant that whatever efforts and hard work he had kept for the growth of the company are nothing. Ram wiped his tears.

"Sanskar was right Sujatha. We should leave!" Ram said.

"Ji? Bhai sa doesn't mean that..." Sujatha does not want her son to get the mark of separation of two brothers. She is not ignoring the fact of what happened today. It was beyond limits.

"No discussions Sujatha. I will look for a job in Mumbai only. We are leaving along with Sanskar once his work gets completed." Ram said and moved from there towards Sanskar's room.

Sujatha wiped her tears and nodded understanding what her husband wants. She also followed her husband.

"Sanskar!" Ram called him.

Sanskar looked at his father.

"Ji dad!" Sanskar responded.

"We will come with you!" Ram said and Sanskar nodded.

He felt happy. He hugged his dad.

"I am very happy dad. It's time for retirement finally for you!" Sanskar said happily.

"No. I will just look for a job..." Sanskar interrupted Ram.

"No! No means no. You are resting now. You have done more than what you have to do. You have done everything for us. Now it's time for me to take the responsibilities. Your time to rest has come. You just concentrate on how to make mom happy. Spend time with her. Go outings with her. Enjoy every bit with mom." Sanskar said.

Ram smiled at his son.

"I will definitely do what all you want me to do. But not now. I will retire when I get my little grand son or grand daughter. I will retire once I am sure that my Uttara also got someone who can love her and take care of her like how Me and my son takes care of her. Just look for a job." Ram spoke.

Sanskar looked at his mother and she assured him. Sanskar sighed and nodded. He hugged his father tight.

'Now there is only one work. Getting Ragini's family's concern for our relation. Everything will be sorted.' Sanskar thought in his mind.

*****

Few days passed. It's just three days for Swara's marriage. Sanskar has maintained his distance from whole family while Ram stayed silent not talking much to anybody. He spoke to anybody only if he needs anything. Sujatha also made some distance from everyone. Not that Ap has not noticed it but still she chose to stay silent.

Sangeeth is next day. Sanskar just entered the baadi to make some advance arrangements since their team decided to do few things before day so that the time would be adjusted. As soon as he entered he saw Ragini holding her head and about to fall down.

"RAGINI!" Screaming her name he ran towards her and held her before she could touch the ground.

"Oh God! She is burning with fever!" Sanskar exclaims in worry.

By then all the family came out and surrounded Ragini. All the staff who are working also came there.

"Water! Some one get some water!" Sanskar screamed.

He didn't realise his eyes are flowing with tears seeing Ragini in unconscious state. Swara ran inside and came back with water. Sanskar sprinkled water on Ragini's face but no use.

"Swara open the car door!" he screamed throwing his car keys towards her and just lifted Ragini.

Shekhar who was about to take Ragini into his arms stopped seeing Sanskar doing it already. Everybody ran behind him while he just took driving seat asking Swara to sit with Ragini behind and drove off.

Shekhar took auto ignoring every one and followed his car. Others followed them in another auto.

"Just park the car and come. I am taking her inside!" Sanskar said still letting his eyes flow with tears and taking Ragini again into his arms as soon as they reached the hospital.

Soon he got a stretcher and few nurses helped him to take Ragini into an emergency ward. They took her into ICU first before calling the doctor.

Doctor while going inside stopped near Sanskar to ask what happened.

"She... She fell unconscious doctor. Her body is very hot... I... I think she got fever... And she must also have heavy period pain. It's her second day of her periods." Sanskar spoke wiping his tears continuously but he was not able to control his tears.

Doctor nodded and went inside. Sanskar stood there seeing Ragini from the glass door and letting his tears flow.

Shekhar and everyone who came there were just looking at the way Sanskar was reacting.

"You know Ragini is on her periods Swara?" Shekhar asked looking at Swara.

Swara shook her head as no. He looked at other two ladies of his house who just shook their heads as no. He held his head and just moved close to the area where Ragini is being treated.

Sanskar's phone is continuously ringing. He was getting irritated of it and about to switch of his phone when he saw 'Mom' on the id. He immediately took the call and spoke while sobbing silently.

"Mom! Ragini!" he sobs silently in phone.

Other side

"Ragini?" She asked confused.

"She is in hospital mom!" he said sobbing and with chocked voice.

"What!" Sujatha exclaimed shocked and standing from the couch.

"Which hospital?" Sujatha asked immediately wiping her tears that flew.

"XYZ Hospital!" Sanskar says sitting on the floor there and crying silently.

Sujatha cuts the call, holds Uttara's hand and starts moving out of the house not listening to Uttara who is worried and asking her what happened.

Ap who heard Ragini and Hospital got shocked and confused at a time. The name 'Ragini' made her shocked while hospital word made her confused. She immediately followed them but stopped seeing Laksh who was also standing at the entrance stairs. He also heard those words when he was entering into the house. He was equally shocked to hear that name after months in their house. He nodded his head to his mother and they both followed Sujatha and Uttara.

"Sir you need to fill details of the patient!" Nurse said as she stood in front of Sanskar who is staring blankly while tears flowing from his eyes.

He nodded and stood from the place. He was about to take the pad from the nurse but it got snatched from the nurse by Shekhar. Shekhar ignored him and started filling the details. Sanskar stayed silent. He once again moved towards the ICU and kept staring at the way doctor is treating his Ragini. She looked pale and doctor is injecting her. She was already been injected by glucose. She even had oxygen mask.

Sanskar clenched his fist tight feeling pain in his heart. He looked at her painfully. Sujatha who came there kept her hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw her. He immediately hugged her and started crying in her embrace. Sujatha looked at Ragini through the glass door and let her tears flow from her eyes. Uttara also stood teary eyed. Gadodias stood there seeing all of them. For now nothing is important other than Ragini. That is the reason why Shekhar stood silent all this while. They were just standing with worry and also many questions running in their mind. Except Swara nobody could figure out the answers to those questions.

"Shh... She is the strongest person I have ever seen Sanskar she will be fine. Don't worry. She will get well soon. Nothing has happened to her. She must have not eaten anything and must fell unconscious because of weakness. That's all." Sujatha consoled her son.

Sanskar broke the hug shaking his head as no.

"Mom she was burning with fever. She must be in a lot of pain too due to her periods. Last few months she was having lots of pain that she even took leaves from work on those days. She is not fine mom." Sanskar says while sobbing.

"Shh... Calm down. Come sit here." She made him sit and she sat beside him and he immediately hugged her.

She just kept caressing his hair. Ap and Laksh were standing a little far being shocked seeing everything there. They had reached there just behind Sujatha and everything was almost clear for them. But only question ran in their mind was 'How and When?' Ap held Laksh's hand and took him away from there silently. He moved away from there too silently.

Few more minutes later doctor came out. Sanskar just moved close to her and started his questions.

"Doctor what happened to her? Is she fine? Is anything serious? When can I meet her? Please speak something!" he asks restlessly without giving any gap between the questions.

"Mr.?" Doctor asked.

"Sanskar!" Sanskar replied.

"Mr. Sanskar you please calm down. And listen to me. She is suffering from fever with high temperature. Her Blood Pressure went really low. It was hard to get her blood pressure back to normal. But now yes her blood pressure got to normal. Due to low BP she fell unconscious. May be she would have severe pain too due to her periods. For now she is still unconscious. Let us wait for few more minutes. She would get conscious. She has to stay at hospital for today for examining her BP. I hope I cleared all your doubts." Doctor told everything to him.

Sanskar just sat on the chair with thud and held his head sobbing again. Doctor left from there instructing nurse about Ragini's treatment. Sanskar is crying like anything while Gadodias are also worried.

"Papa! I think you all should go back home. I will stay with Ragini." Swara said.

"No beta. She hadn't got consciousness yet." Shekhar said worried for Ragini.

Swara nodded sighing. All just sat there. Sanskar is just sitting looking down. He is worried like hell. Sujatha and Uttara sat on both sides of Sanskar. Everybody are just waiting for Ragini to get conscious.

Few more minutes passed and nurse came out.

"She got conscious. I would inform doctor and we may shift her to normal ward. Then you may meet her." She said looking at Sanskar who immediately stood and about to ask her.

Sanskar smiled a little and nodded yes. He left a huge sigh as finally he can speak to her. She was brought out of the ICU still on stretcher and before anybody could approach near Sanskar moved towards her.

"Hey Sweetheart!" He said lovingly holding her hand.

Ragini smiled with pale face and held his hand back assuring him with her eyes. Sanskar kept moving along the stretcher while everybody followed them.

"Just five minutes. Not more than two should stay with her." Nurse said once they reached the normal ward.

Sanskar just sat there holding her hand.

"Didn't I asked you to take rest? Then why did you come out and started working? You always want to worry me right? You love seeing me worried for you!" Sanskar spoke.

"Sanskar! I am fine!" Ragini said with weak voice.

Shekhar wants to just pull away Sanskar from her and just hug her but he doesn't want to make any drama there and make Ragini's health worse. He is controlling himself not to burst out and so did Dadi and Dadaji. While Swara already knows his love for her is witnessing his unconditional love and praying for God to help her sister to gain her love without any further problems. Sharmishta was surprised by the Sanskar's love for Ragini. She definitely had understood and adored his love and care for her. She has definitely thought of the past but also thought mostly of Ragini's happiness.

"Yeah! I can see how fine you are. Atleast once listen to me. Stop worrying me atleast from now." Sanskar says glaring her.

"Okay!" Ragini said not wanting to argue with him as she could see his eyes red due to continuous crying.

She could see that he was worried like hell. He just held her hand kissed the back of her palm. Shekhar had enough now. He clenched his fist tight and moved towards Sanskar. He kept his hand on Sanskar's shoulder and pressed it really hard that Sanskar felt pain though Sanskar didn't even hiss in pain he got the hint of hatred and anger Shekhar has for him. He stood from there and moved back giving place for her family standing near his mother and sister.

Ragini looked worried but she knows she shouldn't talk about it here. It wasn't the right situation.

"How are you feeling my Laadoo?" Shekhar asked caressing her hair.

"Better papa!" she said getting up carefully to sit.

Shekhar and Dadi helped her from either sides. Both of them sat beside her and Ragini hugged her father putting her head on his chest.

"Papa relax. I am fine." Ragini tried relaxing her father.

Only she knows that there is something else other than her health too which is worrying her father. Shekhar just kept silent. Everybody spoke to Ragini except Sujatha and Uttara. Sanskar stood silently all the while looking down.

"Papa now you all go home. I am fine. Tomorrow morning I will come back home." Ragini said.

"No beta..." Ragini interrupts Shekhar.

"Papa please. You go home and look after Sangeeth arrangements. I can't look after them from hospital right." Ragini spoke.

All sighed and Shekhar nodded.

"Ma you stay..." Again Ragini interrupted Shekhar.

"Ma will stay with me papa. Dadi will also come along with you home." Ragini said and looked at Sharmishta who immediately nodded yes.

"See! I will be fine. You all go home. Take some rest and get back to work. Sanskar will talk to staff." Ragini said.

Shekhar glared Sanskar but then nodded at Ragini. Gadodias except Sharmishta left. As soon as they all left Sujatha and Uttara rushed towards her. Sujatha hugged her tight and let her tears flow.

"Mom! I am fine!" Ragini said hugging her back.

Sharmishta looked surprised by the way Ragini has addressed Sujatha. She also felt hurt and bad that Ragini didn't feel to share with her about her love.

"Bhabhi!" Uttara hugged her once Sujatha broke the hug.

"I am fine Uttu!" Ragini caressed her hair.

"Mom she might had got fed up of saying the words 'I am fine' Now." Sanskar joked to make the atmosphere normal.

Ragini pouted while Sujatha and Uttara laughed, Sharmishta smiled.

"Mom you both go home. I will stay back with her." Sanskar said.

"But ma is there right. You go and look after the arrang..." Sanskar interrupted her.

"Chup! Finger on your lips!" he said and Ragini immediately puts finger on her lips.

Everybody smiled seeing her.

"You don't have right to talk. So just sit silently. And Mom Uttu you both go home. Call me after reaching home." Sanskar said.

Sujatha nodded. She kissed Ragini's forehead lovingly and left along with Uttara asking her to take care.

"You have any pain?" Sanskar asked.

Ragini shook her head. He checked her forehead which is normal and nods satisfied. Sharmishta's phone rang so she went outside to talk. Sanskar sat beside Ragini and she kept her head on his chest letting him hug her.

"Everything got messed!" She said sighing.

"Hmm!" he hummed and kissed her head.

"Don't worry! We will sort it out It's good that everybody got to know. We can talk to them directly now." Sanskar spoke.

"You think it's that easy?" She asked looking at him.

He cupped her face and stared into her eyes.

"I don't like easy ways!" he said and winked at her while she glared him and hit him a little making him chuckle.

He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"You just scared the hell out of me!" he said caressing her cheek.

She smiled seeing his love for her. He slowly moved his thumb to her lips and caressed them. Ragini looked into his eyes and so did he.

"I just need the assurance that you are fine!" he said moving a little close.

Ragini closed her eyes and Sanskar removed the remaining gap. He placed his lips on hers. Just stayed there doing nothing but feeling her lips closing his eyes.

"Oh No!" they heard and he immediately moved away.

Ragini opened her eyes and saw the nurse looking other side.

"Nurse!" Sanskar called while Ragini looked down.

Nurse turned and glared Sanskar.

"This is Hospital not your room to make out!" she said angrily.

"And we didn't!" Sanskar countered back while Ragini hit him a little.

Sanskar shrugged his shoulders.

"I need to check her Blood Pressure!" Nurse said moving close to Ragini.

"You need to get these medicines. And she has to take them once she has some food. Get something for her." Nurse said giving a prescription to Sanskar after checking the Blood Pressure for Ragini.

Sanskar nodded. Sharmishta entered once nurse left.

"What was nurse saying?" She asked.

"She needs to take these medicines after having something. I am going to get something for her. What would you eat?" He told and asked.

Sharmishta nodded and asked him to get anything that would be light as it is hospital. He nodded and left from there giving a look to Ragini. Sharmishta sat beside her.

"You want to lay down beta?" Sharmishta asked.

"No ma!" Ragini shook her head smiling.

Sharmishta smiled and caressed her head.

"May I ask something?" Sharmishta asked.

"Ji ma!" Ragini replied.

"You still are angry on me for everything happened in past? You didn't forgive me yet even after so many months?" Sharmishta asked.

"Ma? Why are you asking this all? And why will I be angry at you ma? I forgot everything that has happened in past. And if anything happened in past means that also because you cared for me. You always wanted my happiness. And why are you asking me now after these many months ma?" Ragini spoke.

"Then you have not told me about Sanskar till now. You hid from me also." Sharmishta spoke in hurt.

"Ma I never wanted to hurt you. I just doesn't want to say to anybody atleast till Swara's marriage. If by mistake papa gets to know he would make huge mess. I don't want any mess as these are Swara's special days. I want her to be happy in the last days with us. So I didn't tell you too. That's all ma. I am sorry if that hurt you!" Ragini hugged Sharmishta.

Sharmishta smiled hearing her and wiped her tears as she understood her daughter's intentions.

"He really loves you!" She said kissing Ragini's forehead.

Ragini smiled and nodded.

"And I hurt him a lot though unknowingly. He went through a lot ma. And I was blind!" Ragini said.

Sharmishta looked confused. Ragini told everything. Sharmishta was surprised.

"Swara knew about this too!" Ragini stated.

"Shona knows!" Sharmishta said and Ragini nodded.

"He told!" Ragini said.

Sharmishta nodded in surprise. Ragini smiled. Sanskar entered with food and fed her. The day went on with Ragini resting whole day and Sanskar managing everything through phone.

***

Thank You for reading.

With Love

Dharani (Dhaరणि)