Namaskaram 🙏

Date of Update: 13.10.2023

****

"You can walk right?" Sanskar asked her again when they are moving inside baadi after Ragini got discharged from hospital the next day.

"Sanskar should I just hit you on your head?" she asked irritated.

Sanskar shuts his mouth while Sharmishta controls her smile. Dadi who was waiting for them smiles seeing Ragini but frowns seeing Sanskar. She ignored him and did aarthi to Ragini before letting her inside.

"You go inside your room and start resting. You will do nothing!" Shekhar said holding her hand and taking her into her room already.

"But papa let me check the arrangements once. Please!" Ragini tried her luck but no use.

"No need. Stay inside. You are not doing any work!" Sanskar spoke before anybody could say anything.

For which he had earned a glare from both dadi and Shekhar. He ignored that and sat beside Ragini.

"See you are just resting. If you don't now, you will not even attend Sangeeth in the evening." He said.

Ragini pouted and looked at Swara. Swara tried controlling her chuckle and moved to Ragini.

"Sanskar you go do your work. I will look after my sister." Swara said.

Sanskar was about to speak but Shekhar held his hand and pulled him away.

"Thank You for your time Mr. Maheshwari. We would take care of our daughter. You don't need to take so much tension!" Shekhar spoke.

Sanskar silently moved from there giving a look to Ragini. He doesn't want any mess for now. He wants Ragini to rest.

"Take some rest beta." Saying Shekhar took everybody outside the room except Swara.

"What to do now?" Ragini asked.

"I don't know!" Swara said shaking her head.

"Let's wait till your marriage gets over. I don't want any mess." Ragini spoke.

Swara nodded. Sanskar called Ragini and she took the call.

"Don't stress. We will sort it out." He said as soon as she took the call.

"You go home, take some rest, freshen up and come back. Here everything will be managed. Don't worry!" Ragini said.

"Yeah! I am going!" he said while taking the driving seat.

Ragini said bye and cut the call. Swara sighed along with her.

"He was whole night in the hospital and you didn't tell me!" Shekhar spoke to Sharmishta angrily.

"Shekhar he was taking care of her." Sharmishta said.

"Then why did you stayed there if you can't take care of her Sharmishta? Can't you just take care of your daughter for one single day. Oh! I get it... She isn't your daughter! I should have thought about it..." Shekhar keeps speaking in anger while Sharmishta interrupts.

"Enough Shekhar! Every time you just speak whatever comes to your mind. Before speaking think first. Ragini is my daughter and I love her as much as I Love Swara. Yes things were not good in past, you were also responsible for what all happened to Ragini, she forgave everybody and we all moved on except you. You are just struck there, either it is about me accepting Ragini as my daughter or Sanskar and Ragini loving each other. Get out of the past and see how much they both love each other. May be you didn't see the love he had for our Ragu, but I had seen it. He had stayed awake whole night even though it wasn't necessary. He just sat beside Ragini made sure that she stays calm. He kept patting her head whenever she just moved, he kept caressing her hair if he just saw moment in her eyeballs. I have seen his care for her, his love for her, I have seen the trust for him in her. But you, you only are blind of the past. They both moved on. And you have to do it too. Otherwise you will lose your daughter this time forever!" Sharmishta spoke and left.

Shekhar glared the way she went angrily.

"I will make sure that this time she won't get hurt by those Maheshwaris!" He spoke determined.

****

Sanskar entered the house thinking to freshen up and go as soon as possible so that he can make sure that Ragini doesn't come out of the room. He was about to take stairs but stopped by Dp.

"Sanskar!" He heard Dp's voice.

He sighed and looked towards the direction to see Dp coming towards the hall from the dining area. Everybody are also following him. Sanskar moved towards the hall too.

"Yes Bade papa!" Sanskar responded.

"Where were you whole night?" he asked.

"Huh?" Sanskar was surprised with the question.

Sujatha, Ram and Uttara moved close to Sanskar.

"Speak up!" Dp shouted a little.

"Why are you asking?" Sanskar asked.

"Because you stayed out whole night." Dp said.

Sanskar controlled himself from rolling his eyes.

"Now will you speak?" Dp asked.

"Dad do you want to know where I was?" Sanskar asked looking towards Ram.

Ram shook his head as no.

"Mom?" He asked.

Sujatha shook her head too.

"My parents doesn't want to know. So no I am not saying as I don't think nobody else would need it." Sanskar spoke and about to go but again stopped by Dp.

"You manner less! I am not done!" Dp spoke angrily.

Sanskar turned.

"What are you doing with Gadodias in that hospital?" Dp asked straight now.

"Ahhh! Now you got to the point! You should also know the reason!" Sanskar spoke.

"How can you love that girl?" Dp asked angrily.

"How? I don't know. Why? I don't know. But how much? It's not measurable!" Sanskar said smiling a little.

"After what all happened between both the families you still stayed in touch with that family, even fell in love with that girl. That girl did so much to us. But still we forgave her and was ready to accept her. But Laksh had decided he doesn't want her in his life and we have decided we wouldn't have any contact with that family. But you again wants to bring that girl to this house and make things complicated. I don't want anymore complications. I don't want that girl in my house again." Dp spoke angrily glaring Sanskar.

"First thing she is not any girl she is Ragini, my girl friend and she will be my wife soon. Second thing I never asked you whether you want her in this house or not." Sanskar spoke.

"Sanskar! You are behaving so arrogant!" Dp shouted.

"Might have got your genes!" Sanskar spoke.

"Sanskar!" Dp screamed.

Sanskar just closed his ears.

"Stop shouting bade papa! I can hear." Sanskar says irritated of his shouting.

"Ram! Ask him to control his tongue and behave properly. And let me clear you to all I don't accept this relationship." Dp said strictly.

"Then it's time we pack our things and leave bhai sa!" Ram spoke finally.

"What?" Dp asked shocked while all gasped.

"I have decided! We are leaving!" Ram said.

"Pack your things Sujatha!" Ram said and turned to leave.

"Ram! What are you speaking?" Dp asked moving towards Ram.

"We are leaving bhaisa!" Ram said again.

"Ram!" Dp spoke with a soft voice.

Ram moved away from there. Sujatha and Uttara went to their rooms to pack while Sanskar stared at Dp.

"You got us into this bade papa! It's always you!" Sanskar spoke and left.

Dp stumbled but Ap held him, Laksh and Aadharsh rushed towards him and made him sit while Parineetha passed him water. Ap regretted for saying about the previous day's incident to Dp while Laksh looked at his brother's room. He rushed towards Sanskar's room to see Sanskar coming out of washroom.

"Bhai! What is chachu speaking? You can stop him bhai!" Laksh spoke.

"I only asked him to leave Laksh! He thought and accepted it!" Sanskar spoke closing his suitcase.

"Bhai!" Laksh spoke shocked.

"Atleast he would get the respect he deserves if we all leave." Sanskar said with expression less face.

"Bhai! Nobody are disrespectful to him bhai!" Laksh spoke.

Sanskar looked at him and gave a sarcastic smile which shut Laksh's mouth. He looked down and remembered all those disrespectful encounters he had with his chachu, chachi and Sanskar bhai. He fisted his hand tight understanding there is no stopping from his chachu now. He slowly moved back.

"Laksh did you speak to him? Did you convince your chachu?" Dp asked as soon as he saw Laksh coming towards the hall.

"Nobody can convince him papa. Not me, not bhayya and not you." Laksh spoke sadly.

Everybody came out of the rooms. Sanskar held Uttara's hand and started moving while Ram looked around the house and so did Sujatha. They had tears in their eyes but still they walked out of the house. All the others just looked on.

"Ram where will we go now?" Sujatha asked worried.

"Mom! Don't worry!" Sanskar spoke side hugging Sujatha before Ram could even respond.

He asked them to get into the cab. He doesn't even want their car. They reached a house.

"Whose house is this bhayya?" Uttara asked.

"Zoya's... I mean her parents' house." Sanskar said and moved towards watchman who handed him the keys.

"But Sanskar..." Sujatha was interrupted by Sanskar.

"Mom... Zoya's parents are at Zoya's house. The house is empty. I spoke to Zoya. She said we can stay here. It's just matter of few days. Later we will go to Mumbai!" Sanskar explained.

Sujatha looked at Ram who nodded. She nodded at Sanskar while Sanskar smiled seeing his parents.

"Let's go!" Sanskar said and moved inside.

"Mom take Uttu with you and get the groceries and vegetables. There is a super market in the next lane. I need to leave otherwise I would have come with you." Sanskar said.

"It's okay beta! We will look after it. You go." Ram said.

Sanskar smiled and hurried to baadi.

****

Dp moved towards Ram's room the next day as soon as he got up just thinking that all that happened was a bad dream. He was sad whole day and stayed back in his room not even went to office.

"Ram, Sujatha!" he called softly.

But all he got was disappointment. He looked around the room and his eyes fall on something. He moved close to the table and took the credit cards and debit cards present there. There is a letter there. He opened it and started reading.

"I don't want someone to call me a thief later on bhai sa. So here are all the credit cards and debit cards that belong to you and your sons. I am not breaking the relation I am just protecting my family's and my self respect. I will think that I just did service to my brother all these years. From atleast today I will take proper care of my family which I never did all these years." Dp read the letter.

He sat down on the bed there after reading. All he could remember was his happy moments with his brother and Sanskar. Later he also memorized all the insults or disrespectful incidents that kept happening to his brother all the while and how he had neglected everything because of his ego. He wiped his tears that flew from his eyes remembering the past and takes his phone. He dials a number and it got answered which he never thought would be.

"Ji bhai sa!" Ram responded.

"Ram come back please! I am very sorry for everything that had happened. I understood what I did to you. But you are my brother and you mean a lot to me. I need you. Please don't go away from me. Please." he pleads and apologizes to him.

Ram feels sad but he knows now nothing could be normal again.

"Bhai sa I am not leaving you. It's just that I am going to live separately from you. Whenever you need me I will be there. Now I need to be with my family. They need this and I need this too. I am not angry or I have any grudges on anyone. Whatever I am doing is needed for me, for you, for everyone. Please understand." Ram explains.

Dp looks down letting his tears flow.

"Okay! But you will keep up your promise that you will come whenever I need you." Dp says.

"Yes!" Ram says.

"I will talk to our lawyer. Atleast I would give your right." Dp says.

"No bhai sa..." Ram gets interrupted.

"I am giving my brother's right to him. That's all. Atleast don't make me feel guilt of stealing something that belongs to you." Dp says.

Ram stays silent. Later Dp asks about where they are living and everything which Ram tells him so that his brother wouldn't get worried and spoil his health. Thinking about his brother's health only he has taken the call.

****

Swara's marriage was over. All the decorative items are being removed. Sanskar suddenly pulled Ragini into a corner and pinned her to the wall. Ragini's eyes widened in shock.

"Four days you kept enjoying and we both did not get any time atleast for five minutes. You didn't even rest properly. So now stop jumping around and rest properly for two days. Later we will talk to everybody and we will go back." He said.

Ragini smiled hearing him. She suddenly pecked his nose making him wide eyed.

"You just pecked my nose, right?" he asked shocked.

Ragini giggled. She hugged him tight while Sanskar kissed her head lovingly with smile.

"Enough now. Let's go before papa or dadi come here and make a scene!" Ragini said breaking the hug.

He nodded and they both turned to go but stopped seeing Sharmishta standing behind.

"Ma... We..." Ragini tried to say something but couldn't say anything and pouted.

Sharmishta chuckled seeing her. She moved close to her, cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

"I know Ragu! I don't have any problem with your relation. The past is past. Swara also told me about how he had been waiting for you from so long. I am very happy for you." Sharmishta said looking at both of them.

Ragini hugged her tight while Sanskar smiled at her.

"Ma but papa?" Ragini said worried as she broke the hug.

"We will talk to him. Don't worry!" Sharmishta said.

Ragini nodded.

"I need to go." Sanskar left from there.

Ragini also nodded and followed him.

****

Next day Sanskar came there as they have a meeting on zoom. He was entering the house while talking in call with client.

"Yes Mr. Sharma. I understood your requirements. Once we get into the zoom meeting we will discuss everything. Just give us ten minutes." Sanskar says and signs Ragini, who was sitting in the hall with all, to open the laptop.

Ragini understood and opened the laptop.

"He is going to eat up every bit of our energy!" Sanskar said taking the laptop into his hand and creating a zoom link.

Shekhar, dadi and Dadaji are just glaring him.

"We need to talk to him before he calls me again and start his bak bak." Sanskar said looking at Ragini.

"Woh... In my room!" She said.

Sanskar looked at Shekhar who is ready to punch him. He gulped, turned his face and went from there following Ragini.

"It's high time! I should do something and make this Sanskar away from Ragini." Shekhar whispered to himself.

For the next three hours RagSan had a hectic zoom meeting. Sanskar sat there with his hands on his head due to severe headache. Ragini is resting her head on his shoulder tired of the person's demands and specifications.

"I am hungry!" Ragini said.

"Go have your lunch. I will also..." Before he could complete he was pulled away from Ragini.

He looked up startled at the person to find Shekhar glaring him. Shekhar pulled Sanskar out of Ragini's room and Ragini ran behind him.

"Mr. Maheshwari stay away from my daughter. And Ragini either search for another job or stay home!" Shekhar said strictly.

"Papa..." Ragini tried to speak but Shekhar stopped her.

"Not a word Ragini! You lied to everybody about him and here he is taking advantage of you. I won't let these Maheshwaris to hurt you once again." Shekhar spoke.

Sanskar stood silently not speaking anything.

"We will talk later!" Sanskar was about to go saying that to Ragini but Shekhar spoke again.

"There is nothing to talk Mr. Sanskar Maheshwari. Don't try to trap my daughter with your words. Already you had spoiled both my daughters' lives once. And what else is left that you came again into our lives. Can't you and your family stay away from us and let us to live happily?" Shekhar asked angrily.

Sanskar's eyes turned moist when Shekhar said that he spoiled both his daughters' lives. He clenched his fist to control his emotions and about to go but Swara who just came along with Sahil stopped him.

"It's high time Sanskar. Sort it out!" Swara said.

Sanskar looked at Ragini and she just looked on with her teary eyes. Sanskar sighed and turned.

"Swara you don't come in middle. Let Shekhar handle it!" Dadi spoke.

"I am not coming in middle dadi. I am trying to stop something that might hurt my sister once again. Just listen to them. Please!" Swara spoke.

"What's there to listen Swara? He was one of the biggest reasons for whatever happened to Ragini!" Shekhar shouted.

"And you did nothing right Mr. Gadodia?" Sanskar spoke finally.

Everybody looked at him.

"You are not at all responsible for anything that has happened to Ragini right? You were the best father in the world right? You had always respected her feelings right?" Sanskar spoke.

"Sanskar don't take that topic. Talk about us nothing more than that!" Ragini warned him.

"See! She can't hear a word against you but you, you can't see anything especially her happiness. She forgot everything and moved on, she is happy with me but you, you just keep reminding her those past moments again and again only to cause pain to her again. Atleast she has tried to move on and accepted me, you and everybody here; but you are not even ready to give a thought of why she must have given me a chance, how everything happened between us and how we both want to become one. You only want past as if it was only me and my family who has been responsible for everything that has happened. You speak as if you all are just victims and my family are just culprits. Just try to remember Mr. Gadodia that everybody present here are culprits." Sanskar spoke.

"Sanskar go from here!" Ragini says and about to pull him outside.

"Ragini I am talking for us." Sanskar said stopping her.

"I know. It's hurting everybody here. I told you I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. Please... We will talk tomorrow. Please!" Ragini spoke with teary eyes.

Shekhar looked on while Sanskar cupped her face.

"I am not hurting sweetheart. It's needed here. Everybody should understand what you went through, how it wasn't easy for you to accept me. They have to know that we both love each other, we both have moved on from past." Sanskar tried to explain.

"I will explain them everything you please go. Please!" Ragini spoke removing his hand softly from her cheek.

"We both decided to sort this together." Sanskar said.

Ragini could only sigh helplessly. She looked at her father, dadi and Dadaji who are standing like rocks. They are not ready to understand anything atleast now. Ragini knows they need time. But Sanskar is not ready to stop.

"Okay!" Shekhar spoke suddenly.

Everybody looked at him confused about what he is okay.

"I am ready to listen how Ragini has accepted you. What's your role to move on from past for her?" Shekhar spoke.

Sanskar looked at Ragini who smiled a little. He turned and moved towards Shekhar along with Ragini.

"Uncle, dadi, dadaji sit!" Sanskar said.

They three sat while Sanskar held Ragini's hand. He started telling how they met in Mumbai and how everything went until their confession. He also told them how much he loved her from beginning. How Swara had understood him and how they stayed friends.

"It wasn't easy for her uncle. Neither for me. It was hell seeing her in front of me but as my brother's wife. It wasn't easy at all!" Sanskar spoke and wiped his tears.

Ragini hugged his hand with teary eyes. Shekhar, Dadi and Dada ji sat silently.

"Even after hearing everything if you don't understand their love Shekhar you don't have the right to claim that you love me." Sharmishta spoke.

"Papa I have always seen how much he had loved her. I have seen how much he respects her and you have seen his love on that day when Ragini fell ill. You have seen how much he had cared for her." Swara speaks.

Ragini moves towards them and sat on her knees.

"Papa I had did many mistakes, you forgave me then why not him as well. Just see the love and care he has papa not as my father but as a person who had fought for his love after many years too." Ragini spoke.

Sanskar moved towards them and sat beside Ragini on his knees.

"Dadi Dada ji I know I was one of those persons who had hurt her and you are concerned for her. But I swear Dadi I Love her, I Love her a lot. I am ready to do anything to prove my love for her." Sanskar spoke.

Three of them kept staring at them. After few minutes of silence Dadi spoke.

"Will you leave your family if I ask you to get Ragini?" Dadi asked.

"No!" Ragini spoke.

Everybody looked at her.

"He will ask me to leave you all and come with him, may I also go?" She asked.

Sanskar smiled a little hearing her. He side hugged her and looked at Dadi.

"Dadi You have problem with Laksh and my family or me are no more staying with them. We actually came out of the house and I have decided to move to Mumbai along with my whole family and Ragini includes my family." Sanskar spoke.

"What?" Ragini asked shocked as she doesn't know that they came out of the house.

"I will tell you later!" Sanskar said.

"Why? Why not now?" Shekhar asked frowning.

Sanskar sighs and says everything.

"Sanskar you no need to do it. I..." Ragini gets interrupted.

"I didn't do anything alone for you Ragini, I did it for my parents' self respect which they have to keep compromising always in that house. My sister, she has to compromise on her dreams. I can't bare anymore. It's high time we stay separate and it's better than breaking the relations and become enemies after few years." Sanskar spoke.

Everybody looked on. Everybody are in deep thoughts.

"Ask Your parents to come and meet us tomorrow. So that we can proceed with this relation!" Saying Dadaji left inside the room making it clear that his decision is final.

Ragini looked at Dadi who nodded assuring her. Ragini looked at Shekhar. He sighed and nodded putting his hands on both RagSan's head and blessing them.

Ragini smiled wide while Sanskar just hugged her tight squealing happily. Shekhar shook his head in disbelief while all others smiled happily.

"I Love You sweetheart!" Sanskar screamed.

Ragini giggled in his embrace. Sanskar broke the hug and looked at Shekhar, who is smiling. Sanskar stood and immediately hugged Shekhar.

"Thank You papa!" Sanskar said.

Shekhar smiled patting his back. Ragini also stood and hugged Shekhar while he kissed her forehead seeing the happiness in her eyes.

Swara and Sharmishta crushed Ragini at a time in their embrace while Sanskar smiled moving a bit away from them so that he don't fall down due to Swara's jumping. Sahil hugged him congratulating him.

****

"Ragu stop!" Swara stopped Ragini who was running around the baadi looking after her own engagement arrangements.

Ragini pouted and opened her mouth and Swara fed her another morsel. Ragini was about to run again but stopped seeing Sanskar standing infront of her with his hands folded to his chest.

"I....I..." Ragini stammered.

"You?" Sanskar asked glaring her.

Ragini pouted, took plate from Swara and went inside home stamping her foot angrily to have food. Swara chuckled while Sanskar shook his head in disbelief. Shekhar and Dadi who were seeing them from the entrance of the Gadodia house smile seeing Sanskar. Shekhar went inside the house while Dadi smiled more seeing Sanskar talking to the staff who are taking care of the arrangements. She went into a flashback.

@flashback

The day when Sujatha and Ram along with Uttara came to talk to Gadodias regarding RagSan's marriage. Sanskar was busy regarding some work while Ragini went to Swara's house since Sahil is going out of station for a day and Swara was adamant to take Ragini along with her. Sujatha, Ram and Uttara were entering the baadi when they heard some women gossiping.

"Hey did you see that Swara's ex husband? He has been a regular visitor to this house since a month. Infact he only arranged everything for Swara's marriage." One woman spoke.

"Haan. I have also seen how happy Ragini was around him. Did you see that day when Ragini fell unconscious how he reacted? He was even crying." Another woman spoke.

"I think I heard from someone that they both had affair, that's why Ragini's ex husband left her and Swara also gave divorce to her ex husband!" Another woman spoke.

"Really?" They heard an unusually loud voice and turned to see Sujatha glaring them.

They gulped.

"Did you see both of them romancing? And having affair?" Sujatha asked angrily.

They gulped and shook their head as no.

"Then how the hell can you create such disgusting gossip on my daughter-in-law and son? Keep your tongue under control. If I listen anything wrong about my daughter in law or my son I will just pull that stupid tongue of yours from your mouth and break your teeth. Understand!" Sujatha screamed angrily.

Hearing the screams already Gadodias came out and saw what all happened there. The women nodded.

"If any one of your stupid talks reached my daughter in law's ears, then next second you will forget the fact that you can speak." Sujatha screamed angrily and moved from there glaring them.

Gadodias glared the women and welcomed three of them inside. Everybody except dadi left inside while Dadi kept glaring the women who were seeing at that direction. Dadi's glare made them scared and ran away from there to their houses.

Dadi saw inside to find Sujatha murmuring some curses to the women while Ram and Uttara are asking her to calm down.

"What calm down? Huh. Did you hear what those stupid women were saying about Ragini? Good that Ragini is not around otherwise she would have felt miserable hearing them. Leave me for five minutes!" Sujatha shouted at both of them not bothering that she is in Gadodia house but not in their house.

Dadi smiled a little or say satisfied and went inside to talk to them.

@flashback ends.

"Ma what are you doing here?" Shekhar called her bringing her back from her thoughts.

Dadi gave Sanskar a look with smile and shook her head as no to Shekhar and went inside to see Ragini murmuring some curses and having her food. Dadi chuckled.

"Correct person for you is Sanskar only!" Dadi said caressing her hair.

"Dadi ma he only keeps ordering me!" Ragini complains.

"And those orders have only concern for you!" Dadi said kissing her head.

Ragini grins happily. She runs out of the house after completing her breakfast only to see Sanskar glaring her.

"Now what?" She asked annoyed.

"You want to get tan in your engagement or what. Go inside and rest." He said.

"You also will get tan then!" She pouted.

"It's okay. But I don't want you to get tan. Go!" he held her hand and pulled her inside the house.

"Ma she should not come out of the house till evening up to the time of engagement." He said to Sharmishta who smiled and nodded.

Ragini glared him and left to her room and whined to Swara how he had not allowed her to look after her own engagement arrangements.

***

Ragini glared him as he forwarded his hand for her to hold when she was about to get onto the stage. He smiled at her while she couldn't help but smile giving her hand to her. He helped her to get onto the stage and they both stood beside each other posing for the photographs. They exchanged the rings officially getting engaged making themselves and everyone around happy.

Dp and his family stood in a corner seeing the happy Ram's family. Ap held Dp's hand and consoled him. Ram and Sujatha went and invited them to the engagement. Dp was happy that atleast his brother didn't cut the relation completely.

"Where is my gift?" Sanskar whispered to Ragini as they were posing for photographs again.

"First annoy me, then ask for gift!" Ragini commented.

"Annoying you is my love for you. But your gift should be your love for me!" Sanskar whispered.

"Gift cancel. No Love also. Just revenge. Wait and see how I will torture you after marriage!" Ragini spoke.

"Good joke. I will laugh tomorrow." Sanskar said hugging her from behind giving a pose to photographers.

"Annoy me as much as you want now only. Later you should do everything on my orders!" Ragini said.

"Whatever! I will take my gift from you before going to bed!" He said kissing her forehead making Ragini close her eyes while Photographers got happy for the pose.

Ragini huffed.

*****

Thank You for reading.

With Love

Dharani (Dhaరणि)