Namaskaram 🙏

Date of Update: 01.03.2022

Happy Maha Sivarathri!

***

"Ragini!" Hearing the voice she stopped in her tracks and turned immediately with happiness and shine in her eyes.

But finding none her expressions changed and sorrow took over her eyes.

"Missing Sanskar?" She heard her friend's voice.

Her heart urged her to nod yes.

"Why would I?" She replied looking away trying to hide her tears.

"Yeah! Why would you?" Her friend taunted.

"Let's go! It's time for the program to start." She said.

"Well heard that he is returning tomorrow!" her friend said ignoring her previous words.

I know! She thought in her mind.

"Oh!" she said looking at her friend.

"No one said to you?" Her friend asked.

"What do you want me to say Sapna?" she asked frustrated.

"The truth!" Sapna said.

"We are getting late!" She diverted the topic the nth time like she has been doing since three years.

She walked away before her friend speaks something else. Today is convocation for her MBA. She sat in the place allocated for her and just kept staring at the stage where the event has started. She looked at her friend who got settled beside her and then at the stage again.

"You know you can't run away from me like this every time." Sapna whispered.

She just stood from there, went and sat in another place. She wiped off her eyes which got moist. She took a deep breathe and controlled her emotions. She didn't even meet her friends and left as soon as the event got over.

"Ragu how did the event go?" Her mother asked as she entered the house.

She ignored her mother and just rushed to her room.

"What happened to her?" her mother asked herself being confused but then thought she must be tired and didn't disturb her.

She fell on her bed and started weeping hiding her face in her pillow, her best friend since three years and has been letting her shed her tears on it.

****

@ U.S.A

He looked at the T-shirt holding in his hand and smiled at it painfully.

"Will you atleast come in front of me?" He spoke looking at the T-shirt.

"Though I hate you so much I still want to atleast see you." He again whispered to the T-shirt.

"You will see the Sanskar whom you have never seen till now Miss. Ragini Gadodia. You will also feel the pain which I had been going through since three years. It's my promise." He whispered as his eyes turned red both in anger and pain.

*****

"No ma I won't come." She said to her mother who is forcing her to come to airport along with her and her father to receive Sanskar.

"What's wrong Ragini? Why are you behaving like this? He is your best friend!" Janaki spoke irritated.

"He was my best friend! We both stopped talking long back." Ragini revealed in irritation.

"What?" asked shocked Janaki.

She didn't knew this and her daughter was successful in hiding it for three long years. Ragini realised what she said and looked on.

"Three years! Every time I asked you about Sanskar you told you spoke to him and it was every time a lie. Sanskar also lied to me. What has happened that you both had stop talking?" her mother asked shocked and angrily.

"Ma it's between me and him. If we want to we will sort it out otherwise we will not. You don't come in between. And yes you will get late go." She said to her mother irritated and puts her earphones back in her ears.

Janaki was about to speak something when Ragini's phone rang.

"Ma it's an interview call. You please don't disturb me. Go." She said irritated.

Her mother went sighing at her daughter while she took the call to attend the interview thanking her interviewer who has texted her about the interview call just when she was arguing with her mother and she immediately said yes to give the online interview so that she can avoid going to airport to receive Sanskar.

***

He came out of the airport dragging his bags looking around searching for his family or especially her. Though his brain wanted to ignore or neglect her thoughts his heart always craved for her glance. That's when he saw his dramatic mother holding a small board with his name written on it. He shakes his head and moves towards his parents who are giving attitude looks to each other.

"If you have to do what you do at home why did you even come to receive me mom dad?" he spoke as he stood in front of them.

"Sanskarrrrr!" his mother, Sujatha shouted so loudly that all the airport looked at her.

She immediately pulled him into her embrace. Sanskar hugged his mother but looked around awkwardly.

"Sorry!" he said a little loud and everybody got back to their work while his mother didn't leave him.

"Mom I am not going back. You can leave me." He said chuckling.

Sujatha broke the hug and hit him lightly.

"My drama queen I Missed You so much!" he said cupping her face and kissing her forehead.

She smiled with teary eyes.

"Three years! You don't know how much I missed your this gesture. My bacha!" she caressed his cheek fondly.

He smiled brightly.

"Ahem... Ahem!" they heard a throat clearing sound and turned towards Ram who is looking at them angrily.

Sanskar chuckled and hugged him immediately.

"I missed you so much Dad!" he says hugging his father tight with teary eyes.

He wipes off his tears and breaks the hug. His father caresses his face looking longingly.

"You could have atleast once visited us in these three years. But leave it you are back finally. Promise me you won't leave us again." Ram spoke.

"I promise!" he said smiling.

His eyes fall on three other persons. He smiles at them and moves towards them.

"How are you Janu ma?" he asked looking at her.

"Very good after knowing that I was lied by my both children for three long years." Janaki spoke.

His smile faded. Janaki moved away from him while he looked at her painfully.

"What's wrong Janaki?" Shekhar asked looking at Janaki who is going away.

"Nothing! You guys meet him and come back. I am sitting in the car." Saying she went not even looking at Sanskar.

Sanskar looked at the way she went painfully. He looked down controlling his tears and looked above smiling again.

"I will deal with it Uncle. How are you?" he asked looking at Shekhar.

Shekhar smiled and hugged him. He then looked at his best friend Rohan. Rohan just hugged him tight.

"I Missed You so much!" He whispered to Rohan as he hugged him back.

Rohan smiled as he broke the hug.

"Let's go home Sanskar. I have made all your favourite dishes. I am not going to leave you until you finish them." Sujatha spoke pulling him out making him smile at his mother.

"Mom there is this one thing making me confused from the time I came back." He said as they got settled in the car and moving.

"What?" Sujatha asked.

"You think I won't be able to identify you when I came back after three years that you held a board with my name written on it?" Sanskar asked.

Sujatha hits him while he and others in the car laugh. He takes her into his embrace smiling at his dramatic mother. How much he missed his mother!

****

"Janu ma!" he called her going inside their house after spending his time with his parents.

Janaki ignored him and continued her work in kitchen. He just back hugged her stopping her.

"Please!" he whispered as his voice chocked.

Janaki melts. She cups his face as he is back hugging her.

"What happened?" she asked.

He sighed.

"After dinner! We will go on an ice cream date. I will tell then. Is it okay?" He asked.

"Better you tell me everything. That daughter of mine is not telling anything!" Janaki spoke.

His face turned stiff but he composed himself. He just nodded.

"I am going now. I will sneak into your house to take you on a date tonight." He says winking at her.

She chuckles and nods. He was about to go but stops, turns back and hugs her tight.

"I Love You Janu ma!" he says to her.

"I Love You too my bacha!" She says caressing his hair.

He smiles breaking the hug. He waves bye to her and walks out of the kitchen. When he is walking he saw her standing at a distance staring him. He stopped at his place and looked at her after three long years. Both their eyes locked and fell in eye lock. Both of their eyes screamed pain. Both of them missed each other a lot.

He suddenly looked away and moved out of the house letting his eyes flow tears. Ragini's eyes also flow with tears and she just ran into her room. She looked into the window to see him staring her room from his room. Seeing her there he closed his room window and leaned to it closing his eyes.

Ragini kept staring the window and smiled painfully with teary eyes as she reminded their first meet.

@ flashback

She is having a chocolate, smearing all over her face when he came there along with his parents. He smiled seeing her when she looked above her chocolate. She immediately forwarded the chocolate to him. He smiled brightly and took a small bite of it with his hand. 

"Thank You Cutie!" Little Sanskar thanked her smiling.

Little Ragini smiled toothily with her chocolate all over her mouth and teeth making Little Sanskar chuckle.

"Sanskar Ragini" both of them heard their parents calling them and move towards them.

"Oh you already became friends!" Said Shekhar seeing a piece of chocolate which Sanskar is still holding in his hand.

RagSan nodded vigorously making elders chuckle at their cuteness.

"Sanskar let's go play!" she pulled him away holding his hand from elders into their house garden.

"What will we play?" He asked eating the chocolate as she shared him another bite.

"There are two cute rabbits there. We will play with them." She said pointing towards the other side of the garden.

He nodded immediately and they both ran towards the other side of the garden as they completed eating the chocolate. They started playing with rabbits when Sujatha and Janaki came there.

"Sanskar we need to leave beta." Sujatha spoke.

"You are leaving?" Ragini asked with teary eyes.

"Aww... Ragini beta we aren't going any where. Our house is just opposite to your house. See that one." Sujatha pointed at their house.

Ragini looked at the house and then at Sanskar. Sanskar nodded. Ragini smiled with her teary eyes and nodded yes.

"Chalo Ragu say bye to Sujatha aunty and Sanskar." Janaki said.

Ragini waved bye to both of them smiling brightly. Sanskar waved back and they left.

That was the first meeting and they became friends just like that. They had been best friends for years. Both of them studied in same school. Though not same class but whole school knows Ragini and Sanskar are the best friends and if anybody messes with any of them the other will come to take revenge and show hell to the person who had messed with them.

Ragini is sixth class when Sanskar is in ninth class. There is a boy in Ragini's class who intentionally spoiled Ragini's book. He made challenge with his friends that he will win against RagSan and intentionally messed with Ragini. Ragini is always particular about her books and studies.

Ragini banged his bench angrily as he is sitting with his friends.

"Why did you spoil my book?" Ragini asked angrily.

"Just like that!" He said laughing.

As soon as he said that he felt his head might burst in pain. His head has been hit to the bench angrily by Sanskar. Ragini smirked at the shocked friends of that boy. Sanskar left the boy and the boy looked above shocked and also painful.

"This is just sample. You want me to show what will happen if I do something seriously?" Sanskar asked angrily holding Ragini's hand.

The boy gulped and shook his head as no immediately.

"And what will you tell everyone who asked you about what happened to your head?" He asked dangerously moving close to the boy.

"I fell down in the ground and accidentally got hit to the head." The boy says gulping.

"And?" Sanskar asked looking at the book on the table.

"I will write whole book and give it back to Ragini in two days." The boy says scared.

"With Good Handwriting!" Ragini stated and pulled Sanskar along with her.

"You should stop being violent Sanskar!" She stated looking at him as they both are having ice cream out of the school.

Sanskar looks at her and just nods.

****

"How many times should I tell you Sanskar not to behave violent?" Ragini asks fed up of Sanskar's behaviour.

He punched a guy who held Ragini's hand as she was about to fall. They were in a mall and when Ragini is walking her leg tripped. A boy who was going that way observed her and held her hand preventing her from falling. Sanskar who was entering the mall just then saw that and thought that the boy held Ragini's hand intentionally and punched his face.

"But I thought he was teasing you and touching you." He said.

"If he is doing that I would myself punch him don't you know that? Thank God he accepted my apology and left from there otherwise you would have ended up in jail." Ragini fumed and left from there.

Sanskar looked on.

"Knock! Knock!" She heard his voice when she is sitting angrily in her room with an open door.

She doesn't even give a look at the door and is still staring outside the window. He sighs and enters into the room. He sits in front of her but she doesn't look at him.

"Chollyyyy!" he says like the way she says sorry every time to him.

She still sits upset.

"Ragini!" he calls her seeing no response from her.

"I am really sorry Ragini. I will be careful from next time. I Promise!" He says taking her hands into his hands.

She looks at him this time. Her eyes are teary.

"Hey!" he cups her face while she immediately hugs him and sobs in his embrace.

He hugs her back rubbing her back.

"Shh... shhh... what happened Ragini?" He asks consoling her.

She sobs for few more minutes, then composes herself. She breaks the hug and looks down wiping her tears. He cups her face again.

"What happened?" He asks.

"Promise me you will not get yourself into a fight again!" She says forwarding her hand.

He immediately places his hand in hers.

"I promise!" He says and then pinches his neck.

She giggles lightly seeing him pinching his neck. He smiles seeing her giggle. He cups her face.

"I don't know why Ragini but I am really possessive about you. This is not something that had got into me since few days or something but it has been from the time we met. I am not just possessive but really protective about you that I lose my calm if I think there would be atleast a small harm to you. These tears you have now in your eyes gives me a lot of pain and all that I feel to is to remove that thing which brought tears in your eyes. I think nothing but that one thing to make you smile and I forget every thing including my calmness. I just lose it and end up hurting you doing something which you don't like. I am very sorry. And I promise I will try my best to control my anger from now." He says everything looking in to her eyes.

He wipes her tears and she smiles holding his hand.

"And that anger of yours really scares me. Scares me in such a way that it might make you stand in a place where you don't deserve to. Scares me to that extent that it may snatch you away from me. You are my only Best Friend with whom I share everything and anything. I can be the way I am with no filter with you. I can't even think of losing you. And your anger scares me to hell." She says holding his hand.

"Sorry!" he whispers again.

She smiles and nods.

"Let's go have ice cream!" She says.

He smiles and nods. She pulls him out of the house not listening to her mother who is calling them. He gives her the ice cream which he got for her and sits in front of her. She immediately starts having the ice cream while he kept staring her lovingly.

'I lied to you that I don't know why I am possessive and protective about you Ragini. I know it since two years. But I am waiting for you to realise about the same feeling you have for me. You need time to realise it and I am going to wait for that time you will realise that you also Love Me as much as I am in Love With You.' He thinks in his mind smiling brightly at her who is having ice cream cutely.

She looked at him and pouts. He chuckles and moves his ice cream tray towards her and she immediately grabs it without a second late having it grinning happily. He shakes his head with smile and continues his work of staring her.

****

"Thud! Ouch! Phut!" These sound are heard as Ragini continued punching a boy who tried to misbehave with her classmate while they are leaving from college.

He tried defending and in the process pushed her. She was about to fall on the floor on her back but somebody held her and she knows who it can be. He made her stand properly staring the boy angrily. He curled his fingers into a tight fist glaring the boy. He looked at Ragini calmly still with tight fist.

"Should I control my anger now?" He asked calmly.

She smiled lightly and immediately shook her head. That's it he just pounded towards the boy and hit him badly until he felt that he will die if he continue. He spoke nothing to him and looked at Ragini. Ragini moved towards the boy holding her classmate's hand.

"This is what happens to anybody who tries to misbehave with anybody. Remember this next time you feel to tease someone or try to touch someone inappropriately you will get scared and the thought goes away from your mind." Ragini said glaring the boy.

The girl with whom he misbehaved takes the ring he has adored her during their engagement and throws it on his face.

"I am happy that it's not too late for me to understand who you are. My father would be proud of my decision after knowing which type of man you are." The girl says with disgust and looks away.

Sanskar is sitting silently in his room when Ragini entered the room. She sat beside him and hugged his hand. He looked at her and held her hand.

"I am so proud of you!" she said.

He just nodded.

"Something is wrong?" She asked moving away from him.

"Just a bit mood off. That's all!" he says sighing.

"Why? Did something happened?" She asked.

"Nothing!" he says not looking at her.

"I can find out if you lie to me Sanskar!" she says.

He looks at her but a smile appears on his face.

"I was scared of the thought that something might happened to you if I didn't reach there on time and hold you before falling. There is a rock there behind you where you were about to fall. What if you got hit to it?" he said his worry and also asked her about his concern.

"Then I would have got injured and I would have made you my servant making you lift me all the time I want to move and make you do all the services to me. I would be enjoying like a queen." She said smirking.

"You don't need to get hurt for enjoying like a queen. I can do those all things even if you are fit and fine." He says huffing.

Here he is in tension and all that she thought is to make jokes.

"Aww... why are you chooo cute my cutie pie?" She pulled his cheeks while he pushes her hands glaring her.

"Do not pull my cheeks Ragini!" he says irritated.

Ragini giggles seeing his irritation. He shakes his head in disbelief and smiles finally.

"Finally!" she says sighing in relief and falling on the bed on her back.

He smiles seeing her.

"Waise what happened to your Visa?" She asked sitting suddenly.

His expressions changed. His face became stiff.

"It's done. I will be leaving next month!" he said with stiff face.

"Wow... congratulations Sanskar!" She immediately hugged him tight.

He hugged her back tight but not in the happiness but in pain. Pain of being away from her for three long years.

"Dr. Sanskar Maheshwari will be soon a paediatrician." She says pulling his cheeks as they broke the hug.

He just smiles lightly.

"What happened Sanskar?" she asks seeing his sad face.

"I will miss you... all!" he says indirectly that he will miss her the most trying to give her a hint that how much she means to him.

"We all will miss you too!" she said smiling sadly at him.

He smiles seeing her sad face. For the first time her sad face brought smile on his face realising that the sadness is for him, for missing him making him realise that she will miss him as much as he will miss her.

"Anyways Rohan wants me to throw a "Party" since I am going abroad to study!" Sanskar said changing the topic and quoting the word PARTY in a mocking way.

Ragini laughed seeing his expression.

"So I had decided to throw Party on his face along with his girlfriend urf your another best friend Sapna on next Saturday at 'Saturday Pub'. So be ready by 7.00 pm on that day." He said making faces.

Ragini laughs and nods okay. He smiles seeing her laugh. She looks at him who is staring her lovingly and stops laughing.

"You okay?" she asks looking at him.

He looks away and nods yes. She looks confused but shrugs her shoulders.

"You don't need to shop?" she asked excited.

He smiles shaking his head as no.

"What? But why?" she asks getting sad.

"Because I want you to handle my shopping. You know I hate shopping. You do it for me. I will give you the list." He said pulling her cheeks who started grinning as soon as she heard his first sentence.

"That is why you are my bestest friend!" she says hugging him again.

His eyes turn teary as he hugged her back. He composes himself as she breaks the hug.

"I will give you list tomorrow. You go with mom. She and you can enjoy." He said looking down.

She grins happily and nods.

"Okay then I will go plan with Suju ma about shopping. I think you are tired. You look very dull. Take rest." She says looking at him concerned.

He nods and she goes. He looks at the way she went and falls on the bed thinking about how will he live not meeting her for three years at U.S.A. He couldn't stay atleast a day without talking to her. He makes sure he meets her even if he is very much tired after his duty. But after one month he wouldn't be able to meet her for three years. He doesn't know whether it would be possible for him to come in the middle or not. His eyes flew with tears which he didn't mind to wipe and let them flow trying to lighten his heart.

****

She is dancing like a mad on the dance floor while his eyes didn't leave her as if he is taking care of her just by his looks making sure nobody come near her. His eyes widened seeing something and immediately rushed towards her. He held her hand and pulled her towards him making her front hit his front. He turned her suddenly making her back hit his front now. He kept his chin on her shoulder and moved his lips near to her ear.

"Your zip is coming down!" He whispered.

Her eyes widened.

"Come with me." He whispered again.

She just nodded. He moved with her in the same position to a corner where nobody can see her, though it is dark he wants to make sure they aren't in between people so that atleast by chance she has to face something. He made her stand towards the wall and came in front of her. She immediately tried zipping her top but she couldn't. He held her hand seeing her struggle.

"Let me do it." He said moving close to her.

She looked into his eyes while he is already looking into her eyes while his hands are behind her trying to close her zip. Both of them are in deep eye lock. Sanskar closed her top's zip. His right hand slowly cupped her face while his left hand is balancing on the wall behind her. He moved his eyes towards her lips and then again to her eyes. He stared those for few more moments and moved close to her lips. Ragini closed her eyes and moved close to his lips. He placed his lips on her lips kissing them lovingly. Ragini held his shoulder tight and responded to the kiss as lovingly as him. Both of them got very much lost in their kiss. They broke the kiss when they felt difficulty in breathing. Sanskar looked at her while she is already looking at him. He caressed her cheeks staring her lovingly. He was about to speak something but he felt vibration of his phone. He moved back and took the call while Ragini kept staring his back looking the way he left. Her lips slowly curved up showing her happy smile. Her eyes turned teary.

"I Love You Sanskar!" she whispered keeping her hand on her heart.

Sanskar came back and looked at her while she is sitting silently along with their friends Rohan and Sapna.

"Guys I need to leave to hospital." He said loudly so that they can hear him.

Ragini immediately looked at him.

"Let's go back then." Rohan said.

Sapna also nodded.

"We will drop Ragini. You go to hospital." Sapna said.

"No... I will drop her and then will go. You guys carry on." Sanskar says.

Rohan and Sapna nod while Sanskar looks at Ragini. She nods and moves towards him. She holds his hand and they all move outside.

Sanskar is driving back home while Ragini is looking outside remembering the beautiful moment that happened before sometime between Sanskar and her. Her lips are curved up into that beautiful smile of hers. Sanskar kept taking glances of her every now and then. He wants to talk to her but is very much scared about how she is feeling about the moment they had shared few minutes ago. He definitely doesn't want to apologise for that as he could easily figure out that she has feelings for him the same way he has for her. And he felt it completely okay as she has responded to his kiss as passionately as him. The kiss has given him 100% confident about her feelings towards him. He stopped the car as they reached home.

"Bye!" she bid bye and turned to go.

"Ragini!" he called her and she turned immediately towards him.

"Good Night!" he said smiling at her.

"Happy working!" she said smiling at him and moved inside.

He sighed and drove towards his hospital.

****

"Have you gone mad or what Sanskar?" Rohan almost screamed after what Sanskar has told him.

"No Rohan. I took the decision after thinking a lot. Finally when I got to know that she loves me too I can't go away from her that also for three years. I am going to propose her and as soon as she accepts my proposal I am going to tell everybody that I am not going to U.S.A." Sanskar says smiling.

"But Sanskar it's about your career. Ragini would wait. And trust me she also would want you to go." Rohan tries to make him understand.

"I know she will wait. But I can't go away leaving her. Even before I know that she has feelings for me I was feeling very much difficult just by the thought of going away from her for three years now I got 100% confirmation so I am not leaving. That's all. Now I just need to prepare how to propose her and make her feel special." Sanskar says excited.

"But Sanskar it's your dream. Uncle and Aunty were very much excited about your choice of career. But this will definitely hurt them." Rohan again tries.

"It was my dream but Ragini is my life Rohan. And about mom and dad I will make them understand." He says.

"Do one thing ask Ragini to come to U.S.A for her MBA. Then it would be just one year you would be away from her. She will finish her graduation this year and she can immediately shift there so that you both can stay together and complete studies together. Then come back together. It is better idea no." Rohan tries to give an alternative.

"No. One year is also too long time. And I can't even stay one day away from her. More over Ragini doesn't like going abroad. She always wanted to be in India no matter what. I don't want to force her for anything." Sanskar says.

Rohan tries to say something but stops himself as he felt Sanskar has made up his mind and he is not going to listen to anybody. He sighed and just nodded.

"Now go do the arrangements which I asked you to do. If I had time I would myself do them but I have duty till tomorrow evening continuously." Sanskar says.

Rohan nods and moves out of the room. Ragini who was standing outside the room and listening to their whole conversation hides to make sure they doesn't know that she heard them. She thinks something deeply and leaves from there.

****

"You are the only one person who can change anything in me. I would do anything without thinking a moment if that is related to you. A day without seeing you would always be a hell to me. I want to be in heaven every second of my life, with you in my life will be as equal as heaven to me. Would you let me live in that heaven by entering into my life? I promise your best friend will be your best friend even after the change of our relation. I will try my best to balance both the roles I play in your life once we enter into the relationship called Love. At the end the three magical words which I have been craving to tell for you since three years I LOVE YOU Ragini! I Love You a lot!" he spoke everything looking into her eyes straight and holding her hands in his hands while the beautiful smile on his face never left.

Ragini kept staring emotionlessly at him all the while. He brought her there saying he has something for her and she understood at that moment what that is. She kept quiet all the time only thinking about the conversation she heard of Rohan and Sanskar few days back.

Sanskar looked at her confused. He has been observing her since few days she started being silent when she was around him. She is also behaving different with him. He didn't understood anything.

"Ragini!" he called her making her look at him.

She looked at him and smiles. Sanskar smiles back seeing her smile. She slowly takes her hand from his hands making his heart beat faster. He felt something wrong.

"I... I never felt that way towards you Sanskar. You were my best friend always and I want you to be that forever. That's all." She says looking at him with blank expression.

"It's a no?" he asked to confirm once again.

Ragini looks down controlling her emotions.

"That kiss we shared that night? You kissed me just like that?" He asked.

That hurt her more but she controlled her emotions and looked at him.

"It...it was in the heat of the moment!" she said with difficulty.

He chuckled painfully. He started clapping his hands making a mocking face.

"I never knew that my best friend kisses someone in a heat of the moment. Am I the only one you kissed in the heat of the moment or..." he got interrupted as she slapped him.

He smiled seeing her with teary eyes. Her eyes are teary too.

"Well I know you would be reacting the same way when I am saying those words. Yet I said them to see am I right or am I hallucinating the love I have been seeing for me in your eyes. Yes I spoke those words even after I know those will hurt you and I don't regret because it proved me that I am not wrong about you. Thank You for loving me yet not expressing the love you have for me. If you want this then okay. From today you will not have a best friend named Sanskar in your life. Good Bye Miss. Ragini Gadodia. We are strangers now." He said everything looking at her painfully.

He moves away from there wiping his tears. Ragini fell on her knees and started crying badly. He came back to see her once but stopped seeing her crying.

"I hate you for making us like this. I will not ask you why you are doing this but I will also not try to know why you are doing like this. It has to be you who has to come to me and tell me what's wrong. I am leaving now Ragini. I can't stay in front of you at this point of time. I need to leave. I will hate you so much that after coming back you will feel every bit of pain that I will go through all the time. I promise to be back just to get you back. I Hate You yet I Love You!" he whispered to himself and left from there waiting outside for her.

She came out after more than an hour while he kept the keys on the car and moved away from there not speaking anything. She looked on the way he left.

"I know you are very angry on me. But it's for your career Sanskar. I have seen how much Rohan has tried to convince you to go but you aren't ready. I don't have any hope that you would go even if I try to convince you to go, so I have to lie to you. I am sorry. I Love You Too!" she whispers to herself and blows a flying kiss from behind looking at his back.

She took the car and drove off as she knows he needs time and if she keeps following him she also would lose herself and might end up telling him her feelings.

*****

He started packing his bags as soon as he entered his room. Sujatha entered the room to see him doing things in irritation.

"Sanskar beta!" she called him.

He stopped on his tracks and controlled his emotions. He smiled and turned towards her.

"Haan mom!" he responded to her.

"You have three days time. You already started packing!" she said seeing his smile.

"Yeah mom! I don't want to forget anything so I thought let me start doing things from today only." He said smiling.

"You look different today. Is everything okay?" she asked.

His eyes turned teary. He hugged her immediately tight and sobbed in her embrace. Her eyes turned teary too.

"I will miss you so much mom." He said in between his sobs.

"I will miss you more beta!" she said in between her sobs too.

He pulled her away and cupped her face.

"Stop crying na. I want to cry alone but you are giving company. I don't like your company in crying." He says whining.

Sujatha hits him laughing a little. He smiles and wipes off her tears while she does the same to him. He kisses her forehead lovingly.

"I promise after three years I won't leave anywhere again. Just three years." He says.

She nods yes caressing his cheek.

"Now help me in packing. I am irritated of how to do these all." He says.

She nods. He knows only his mother would help him in diverting himself from what all happened few hours ago.

****

He bid bye to his parents and looked at ShekJan. He hugged both of them smiling. He then hugged Rohan and Sapna bidding bye to them. Rohan and Sapna are angry on Ragini but they could do nothing to help them as it is the matter between RagSan. He looked at her but immediately turned away.

"Bye!" she herself told seeing him.

He gave her a look and moved away from there. Since everybody are busy talking to each other they didn't observe the way they both are behaving to each other but Rohan has observed them. He felt sad but could do nothing. He left to U.S.A giving a last glance to her and returned after three long years.

The three years were very much difficult for both of them. Sapna kept taunting Ragini for rejecting Sanskar while Rohan stopped talking to her. On the other hand Sanskar concentrated on his studies as much as he could and was living a dull life. He felt all alone there except when he was with his two friends Elena and Damon. Both of them are U.S. native and were very much close to Sanskar.

@ flashback ends

He sighs and looks at Janaki. She turns to him with teary eyes.

"I am sorry beta. She has hurt you so much and I can do nothing." Janaki said.

He hugged her.

"Why do you think she did it Janu ma?" he asks.

"Because your career is important than my love Sanskar!" Ragini said to herself as she is still staring at the his room window.

"That you have to find yourself bacha. I know you still love her and will love her no matter what. All that I want to say is don't give up." Janaki says here to Sanskar.

Sanskar and Janaki are sitting on one of the benches of the park which is open even during the night. Sanskar sighs and nods.

"Let's go back." Janaki says.

Sanskar nods yes. Ragini looks at Janaki and Sanskar from her window and smiles seeing Sanskar's smile. She blows a kiss to him again and this time he looks above unintentionally feeling different. She looks away immediately while he stared her few minutes before going to his room.

*****

"Mom my friends Elena and Damon are coming. They will be here for two months. I asked them to stay with us only." He said as he came back from the hospital after his duty.

Ragini who is sitting at the dining table in Sanskar's house looks at him. He has ignored her all these days as if she doesn't exist in his life.

"Okay beta. You freshen up and come. Food is ready. You can have and take rest." Sujatha said.

He nodded.

"Suju ma I am leaving." She said as he is about to go to his room.

He stopped moving and looked at her.

"Arey Ragu when are you leaving to Bangalore?" Sujatha asked stopping Ragini.

"Sunday Suju ma." Ragini said and gave a look to Sanskar.

He frowned hearing his mother and also her. He went from there before Ragini could observe his expressions. Ragini bid bye to Sujatha again and left.

"What? She rejected a job here in Mumbai and accepted the one she got in Bangalore though the salary is more here in Mumbai Company!" He said in phone as Janaki told him about why Ragini is going to Bangalore when he asked her in phone as soon as he entered into his room.

"That's what I told Sanskar beta. You repeated the same." Janaki said huffing.

He chuckled but his mind went into thoughts in next moment.

"She doesn't want to stay in front of me. If she stays she might be falling weak and have to tell me she loves me. She is running even now." He says thinking about it.

"May be!" Janaki said.

"Hmmmm....." he hums sighing deeply.

"So what are you going to do? I don't know what you will do I have decided mentally that if she is getting married then it is only to you." Janaki said strictly.

"I am not planning to let her get married to someone else Janu ma. Don't worry. She is not going to get freedom from me in this life for sure." He said.

"Then okay!" She said sighing in relief.

Sanskar smiles.

"You get the address of where she will stay." He said.

"She will stay in a flat. I will send you the address." Janaki says.

He says okay and cuts the call.

"Time for action Sweetheart. It's high time. Now I need answers. And I need you back." He said to himself staring at the picture of hers which is in his mobile.

*****

"Mom these are Elena and Damon. They wanted to visit India from so long and finally they got time." Sanskar said side hugging Damon.

"Yes Aunty! And it is because of Sanskar " Elena said kissing Sanskar's cheek.

Ragini who just entered the house widened her eyes. Sanskar chuckled seeing Elena who kissed his cheek. Sujatha frowned seeing them but kept quiet as she is a guest.

"Come on guys I will show your rooms. You freshen up and then we will go meet my Janu ma and Shekhar uncle, then we will go visit some places." Sanskar said excited.

They nodded smiling. Ragini huffed and entered the house murmuring some curses to Elena whom she knows as Sanskar's friend. She entered kitchen to see Sujatha also murmuring something.

"Suju ma what happened?" she asked shrugging her thoughts.

Sujatha shook her head smiling at Ragini.

"You come help me with this Ragu." Sujatha said.

"Mom!" Sanskar called Sujatha as he came to tell Sujatha something but stopped seeing Ragini.

Ragini glared him while he ignored her. Sujatha suddenly pulled him out of the kitchen.

"Why did that girl kiss you? That also in front of me, your mother." Sujatha huffed angrily.

Sanskar chuckles.

"Mom she is from U.S.A and beyond all that we both love each other. I wanted to tell you that when she is here and now I came to tell that only. She is really good. She will be really good daughter in law." Sanskar said.

"She? I didn't like her. Didn't you get someone in India like Ragu?" Sujatha asked.

Ragini who was listening everything looked down in sorrow. Sanskar looked at her through corner of his eyes and smirks mentally.

"Mom don't say like that. Now you have to accept her. Anyways you can take your time. Papa is already okay about us. I told him last night." Sanskar said.

"Fine! Now I can't say no to your selection. Will try to understand her." Sujatha said huffing.

Ragini got shocked and immediately left from there. Sanskar smiled at Sujatha.

*****

She bid bye to everybody but ignored Elena, Damon and Sanskar. Sanskar smiled at the way she went.

"I hate you now!" she whispered to herself as she got settled in the flight and sighed sadly.

"You said you will stop her but see she went." Janaki hit his back angrily.

"Ouch Janu ma!" He screamed.

"And who is this girl? You said you love my daughter to me and your mother is saying you love this girl!" Janaki asked looking at Elena angrily.

Elena and Damon chuckled and moved away from Sanskar and Janaki.

"Wait and watch no." He whined.

"Pakka?" She asked.

"Promise!" He pinched his neck.

She smiled and nodded.

"Ten more days your daughter will be calling you telling she loves me. And she will be back only after an year as she wants to work somewhere before she takes up Gadodia Company. Let her do, It's her career." Sanskar says.

Janaki smiles. He smiles at her and nods assuring her.

*****

"What? Why don't they stay somewhere else? Why only my flat?" she asked irritated.

As if the pain she is going through all these years isn't enough now all three are coming to stay with her in her flat.

"Come on Ragini he is your best friend and can't you be the host for just few days to him and his friends." Janaki said.

Ragini huffed and cuts the call.

"Ahhh! I hate you Sanskar! Why are you torturing me like this? Are you taking revenge for saying no to your love? If yes then please don't! I am already dying every second from that day. You don't know how difficult it was for me to say no on that day. At the same time I can't let you spoil your life just because you want to stay with me as you love me. Please Sanskar please don't do this." She spoke sobbing looking at Sanskar's picture that is on the table beside her bed.

****

"Hey Ragini it's okay Damon and Sanskar will adjust in the hall on the couch while we both will share the bed." Elena spoke.

They came to Bangalore before an hour and Ragini is trying to tell them it's not possible for them to stay there as they have only one bed room.

Ragini sighs listening to Elena and nods. Sanskar looks down and smiles. Damon chuckles silently looking down as he saw Sanskar smiling happily.

*****

Ragini entered the house and heard some sounds from the bed room. She frowned and peeped into the room to see Damon and Elena kissing each other. Her eyes widened in shock. She got angry on Elena as she is cheating Sanskar. She curled her fingers into fist in anger. She wants to barge into the room and slap Elena but stopped herself. She closed the door without making sound and went to kitchen to cool herself by grabbing an ice cream from refrigerator.

At that time Elena entered the kitchen. She smiled at Ragini. But Ragini ignored her.

"Well Elena you love Sanskar right?" She asked eating her ice cream.

"Yup. We will soon get married." Elena said.

Ragini nodded controlling her anger. At that time Sanskar, who came back from a conference which he had to attend, entered the kitchen to take some water.

"Hey Sanky!" Elena immediately hugged him and kissed his cheek.

Sanskar smiled at her hugging her back. Ragini clutched her ice cream cone tight because of which that fell on her dress. She stamped her leg to the floor and turned to wash basin to wash herself. Sanskar and Elena winked at each other.

"Elena you wanted to roam right. I had arranged a vehicle so that Damon and you can roam. Go get ready. You have to leave in ten." Sanskar said.

Ragini murmured some curses under her breath. Sanskar controls his chuckle as he heard her words while fetching some water.

Damon and Elena went to roam around the city. RagSan are alone in the flat. They are having dinner silently. Ragini cleared her throat. Sanskar looked at her.

"Actually..." she gets cut by his phone.

He looks at her and takes the phone. He speaks to the call for almost an hour. Finally when he got free Ragini comes near to him.

"Do you have atleast five minutes to talk to me!" she asks irritated.

He looks at her and nods.

"That girl Elena is cheating on you." She said in one go and angrily.

He frowned.

"How do you know?" He asked her.

"I saw Damon and Elena kissing in the evening." She said biting her lower lip.

He looked at her fore few moments.

"She might have kissed him in the heat of the moment!" He said.

"Who kisses someone in the heat of the moment Sanskar?" she asks angrily and irritated of his attitude.

"You did! You forgot?" he mocked her.

She looked at him shocked. Sanskar kept looking at her.

"What happened? Now say!" Sanskar asked.

She suddenly felt weak and her eyes turned teary. She started crying suddenly. She sat on the couch and started crying vigorously hiding her face in her palm.

"I am sorry!" she said while crying.

Sanskar sighed and moved closed to her. He took her into his embrace while she clutched his shirt and cried more in his embrace. Once she calmed down she broke the hug and looked at him.

"I am sorry!" she says again.

"For?" He asked this time.

"For everything. For everything I had done three years ago and after that." She said looking at him.

He just nodded. She looked at him expectantly.

"You really love her?" she asked expecting the answer she wants.

He looked at her and nodded a little. Her eyes turned teary.

"Can I have my best friend for few minutes? The one who was more than three years ago." She says.

He nods yes. She immediately hugs him tight.

"I had my reason for saying no on that day. I heard your conversation with Rohan. I couldn't let you ruin your career just because you love me. I know you would not listen to me so I had to say to you. I always loved you and will only love you. If not you nobody else." She said clutching his shirt tight.

He smiles brightly hearing her. He tightens his grip around her.

"I Love You too!" He whispered in her ears.

She got shocked and looked at him. He nodded yes smiling. She hugged him more tight than before and sobbed in his embrace. He caressed her hair letting her to let her pain. His eyes are teary too. After few moments she broke the hug and just placed her lips on his lips making him shocked. He came out of shock and responded to her kiss.

"Is this also in the heat of the moment?" he asked as they broke the kiss.

She pouts and hits him. He smiles and hugs her.

"If you would have spoken to me may be I would have understood and we would have been happy all these three years too. No you have to make all this mess. Idiot!" he hit her head a little.

"You weren't listening to Rohan and was very much adamant to stay back. I got only this in my mind and did it. I am sorry for hurting you." She said looking at him from his embrace.

He sighs and nods. He doesn't want to stretch this anymore. They had enough pain all these years. He pressed his lips on her forehead lovingly.

"I Love You!" she said looking into his eyes.

"I Love You too!" he said smiling happily.

"Who is that girl?" she frowned cutely and spoke in cute anger.

"My girl friend!" she heard a voice and turned to see Damon and Elena standing behind them near the door smiling at them.

"You lied!" she said angrily looking at Sanskar.

He laughed while she started hitting him which he stopped pulling her towards him making her lips touch his lips again. Her eyes widened and moved away while he chuckled again and hugged her to his chest. She clutched his shirt tight smiling happily. Damon and Elena smiled happily seeing them.

"Ma I want to say something important!" she said to her mother in phone as she stood in Sanskar's embrace in her flat's balcony.

"Yes Ragu tell me." Janaki said controlling her excitement.

"I Love Sanskar and we both sorted everything just today and confessed." She said smiling as Sanskar kissed her forehead.

"Reallyyyy!" Janaki almost shouted in happiness.

Ragini smiled at her mother's happiness.

"Yes!" she said and her mother just ran towards Sanskar's house leaving the phone on.

"Sujuuuu we are going to be relatives very soon. Sanskar and Ragini sorted everything and confessed." Janaki shouted happily hugging Sujatha.

"Hein?" Sujatha asked.

"Wait let me explain!" Saying Janaki started saying everything while Ragini cut her phone.

"You told ma everything but not Suju ma. Why?" She asked looking at him.

"Because mom will tell everybody. She can't hide anything from anyone." He said.

Ragini hits him.

"Do not say anything to my Suju ma." Ragini said cutely.

Sanskar laughs and nods.

****

"Bye guys. Will miss you!" Sanskar hugged both Damon and Elena as they both are leaving as they had got some emergency in Elena's house.

"We will miss you both a lot. Will try to come again once everything gets settles there. Four of us will enjoy properly this time." Damon said.

Ragini side hugged him and then hugged Elena tight.

"Thank You for everything." Ragini said to Elena.

Elena smiled and nodded. They left and RagSan went back to their flat.

"You will also leave tomorrow!" she says pouting.

Sanskar kisses her head as she is in his embrace.

"I have to as I have my duty there. I will try to come again or you come there next weekend." He says.

She nods sadly.

"But let's meet my friend before you go back. I told her already that my friends are here and she was asking continuously to introduce you to her." Ragini said.

"I am your Just friend?" He asked frowning.

"Haan we are 'Just Friends'" she said smirking.

"You will get punishment for that Miss. Gadodia!" he said pulling her but she pushed him and ran laughing while he chased her.

*****

"Put her down you idiot!" Ragini screamed putting her hands on her waist while Sanskar showed his tongue to her along with his cute little daughter who is sitting on the roof as she is eating chocolate.

"You know what, you both don't talk to me. I am katti Saanvi and Sanskar." Ragini said and moved out of the kitchen.

Sanskar gave hi-fi to Saanvi.

"But Dadda mumma is angry." Saanvi pouted.

"Mumma is acting. Anyways don't worry if she is angry also dadu and dadi are there no to pacify her. She will melt just like that." Sanskar said kissing her cheek.

Saanvi giggled and nodded before continuing having her chocolate.

"You should stop spoiling her idiot!" Ragini hits him as they are laying on the bed once Saanvi slept in her room that night.

"Oh please if I don't spoil her who will spoil her? You are always strict to her. Khadoos mumma and Khadoos Dadda then my princess will have to face a lot. So it's better Khadoos mumma and Spoiling Dadda." He said.

She looked at him pouting but nods.

"Stop giving so many chocolates atleast. Her teeth will get cavities." She said.

"I am a paediatrician. I know about it. I am taking care of it. Don't worry. Yes stop being Khadoos." He said.

She hits him again while he chuckles and hugs her.

"I Love You!" she whispered.

"I Love You too!" he whispered back.

She hugged him tight while he kissed her head lovingly.

The End!

****

Thank You for reading.

With Love
Dharani (Dhaరणि)