Ragini's nose flared up again for the fifth time when Diya closed her eyes enjoying the dinner. She clutched the fork in her hand so tight that it was about to melt any time now. It would be an understatement to say that she was annoyed at her twin sister.

“Ragzee” her mother called and she looked away from her sister. “Have food. What are you waiting for?” her mother looked at her plate which was untouched. “I lost my appetite” she let go of the fork and wiped her mouth.

“Peaches” her father called but she did not listen. Diya who lowered her head knew what exactly was wrong with Ragini. “D... Tell me you have not pulled an idiotic prank on her this time?” her mother glared her. 'How does she even reads my mind' Diya thought but then looked up smiling at her mother. “What can I possibly do mother? She is my sister. Don't you trust me?” she asked feigning innocence.

Her mother had already understood that Diya was acting. Before she could confront her she felt a hand under the table squeezing her free hand. She turned to her left where her husband signed her to let it go. She sighed and complied. Mr. Kapoor was a wise man and he was always right when it was about their kids. He understood them better than her and she did not deny the fact.

Diya walked to her room once the dinner was done. She found her sister busy with some book. She immediately understood that Ragini was not reading but just waiting for the conversation to start. She closed the door behind knowing this night is going to be too long.

“Did he...?” Ragini took a real long breath and closed her eyes to control the tears which were threatening to leave her eyes. Diya could not see the pain on her twin sister's face. “Did he really proposed you D?” her voice trembled.

“You think I have no better work than making things up?” Diya hid her pain and maintained the tone of her voice throughout the sentence. “I did not say that” Ragini spread her one hand. “Really twin sister? But your question intended the same thing” she pointed her looks at Ragini.

Ragini sighed. “Why are you making it difficult for me?” she looked at Diya who rolled her eyes. “I guess you should blame yourself for it not me” she turned the other side. Ragini neared her and turned her to face.

“What do you mean?” she asked furious. “The fact is twin sister Mr. Professor had moved on from you. And you better do the same. He loves me and that's fact. And if you don't back off from this only thing you will get in return is pain. I don't get your deal like there is a person who can keep you always happy and instead of him why are you running behind a man who never was serious about you. I guess you like crying all the time” Diya released herself and walked towards the bed.

“Has...” she stopped as her throat was paining now. “Has he really moved on?” she had a hope still. Diya stopped closing her eyes. She had to do this. Because from her point of view the man her sister fell in love with was not the right person for her.

And to take him out of the way of her sister's happiness she will do anything. And that anything came with a bigger price. “He has” she lied on her bed not facing her sister who was breaking down.

Ragini wanted to cry. She wanted to burst into tears and collapse but nothing really came out other than the painful breaths.

***.***

Sanskar sighed when he lowered his head. “Karan will you stop cat walking in front of me? My head hurts” he held his head. “Of course bro. After making my life hell you are complaining about your headache. Just great. Just the words I want to hear right now” Karan crossed his arms.

“And your walk is going to reduce any of the mess which is already created?” Sanskar looked up at Karan. “I don't care” he continued to walk.

“Karan” Sanskar placed a hand of comfort on Karan's shoulder. He stopped and took a deep breath to cool his anxiety. “Why is she doing this?” he sat covering his hand across his face. Sanskar really felt bad for his cousin.

“Because she hates me” he stretched his lips forming a thin line. Karan looked at him confused. Sanskar nodded his head. “Why?” Karan asked still confused. “Because Ragini loves me” he sighed.

“What?” Karan was more confused. “I know it's complicated but I don't know how to explain it to you” Sanskar looked down at his fingers.

“Bro. See I have already lost my mind okay. Now please don't make me end my life” Karan looked annoyed. “Diya said that you proposed her because she hates you. I mean who does that?” he asked throwing his arms in air.

“Diya does” he pointed out. Karan stood up frustrated.

“I know she is bit crazy okay...”

“Bit crazy? Are you kidding me? She is the brand ambassador of crazy island, if anything of that sort exist” Sanskar interrupted Karan.

Karan glanced at his cousin who was terrified. “Okay. That was like too much” Sanskar shrugged his shoulders apologetically.

“But she is crazy okay. And she has really very weird logic. I don't know from where she gets it? But you cannot deny that she will probably do it just to torture the very person she hates” he tried to make sense and Karan could not disagree to that.

“And God know why she doesn't want me and Ragini together. For that she will do anything” Sanskar's shoulder dropped in defeat. “And why didn't you tell me this earlier?” Karan asked.

“Because....” Sanskar felt bad. “You were still confused about your feelings bro. And trust me I did not wanted to influence your feelings. I did not wanted to hurt you more. Because I know how it feels okay”  Sanskar looked concerned.

“And I know all this because I keep denying it many times but I love Ragini. More than anything or anyone I love her. And I will always love her” Sanskar closed his eyes and a tear skipped his eye.

“God I wanted to tell her that I have not felt it all my life. I wanted to tell her how special she is to me and I can't even breath without her” he collapsed on his knees.

“But what I did Karan? I always hurt her. I hurt her to an extent I would never do to anyone. And I don't know why” he looked at Karan who was beside him consoling him.

“I love her Karan. And I think I will lose her for forever” he looked at Karan as more tears made out of his eyes. Karan dragged his head and placed it over his chest and comforted him. He had never seen Sanskar this vulnerable. He felt happy that his cousin was in love and she was the right person for him. Because she was changing him.

***.****

Diya was startled when she felt someone literally jump beside her. She closed the locker and looked at her right. “What the hell Karan?” she placed her one hand over her chest.

“Hey” he smiled and forwarded a bunch of flowers. She looked at him confused. “Wrong number dude. I am ain't Ragini” she walked from there. “Oh no. They are not for her. They are for you” he quickly walked and stood in front of her. She jumped a bit in her place to stop herself from hitting him.

“Why?” she asked crossing her arms. “Just felt like” he shrugged his shoulders. He brought her hands forward and placed the flowers. Giving a huge goofy smile to her he walked from there leaving Diya confused.

“Hey D...” Rebecca stopped just outside the class. “Woah. Flowers?” she widened her eyes looking at them. “How romantic” she cooed. “Shut up Reb” Diya snapped at her. “What they are beautiful” Rebecca pouted.

“Oh yeah. And they belong to someone else” she smirked and walked inside the class. Ragini was scribbling something in her note book. “Here” Diya forwarded the flowers and Ragini looked at them and then looked up.

“What?” Ragini narrowed her eyes. “Your boyfriend gave” she shrugged and sat beside Ragini and Rebecca sat on the other side. “Why has he given it to you? Was I invisible to him lately?” she mocked and pushed the flowers aside.

“I...” Diya struggled to form words. “I don't know...I think he was shy” she closed her eyes. 'Great D... What a lame excuse' she cursed herself.

“Oh really? Then I am equally shy” Ragini covered her face smiling weirdly. “I don't want them either” she got back to scribbling. The class started. Every time Ragini squeezed a flower under her hand it pained Diya. She used to look at it for a longer time.

“Diya” she heard the teacher shout and jerked in her place. She turned to the board where their professor was standing crossing his arms.

“I....” she stood up nervous. “I asked you something” Mr. Dan spoke. “Um..yeah the hyperbola is a parabola which could not go any further hyper” she blabbered. “What?” he scrunched his nose narrowing his eyes.

Everyone in the class burst out laughing. Ragini could not control her laugh too. “What the hell is a hyperbola?” asked he confused. “Some term in math. I wish I knew” she lowered her head. “For your kind information Ms. Kapoor. This ain't math class.” he smiled at her mocking. “Oh yeah. I did not realize you don't have a jerk...” she closed her mouth soon but it was not very soon though.

“Oops” Rebecca whispered. Ragini's eyes went wide when she realized the consequences of that half deadly sentence.

“Detention” he smiled wickedly as the bell rang. Diya collapsed on her seat and touched her forehead to the desk. “Happy detention sissy” Ragini smiled widely and walked out of the class and Rebecca giggled following her.

“You also have to wait for me in the library twin sister. Don't forget” Diya called and Ragini turned to her fuming. “Why will I do that?” asked Ragini. “Because you are my sister” Diya smiled sheepishly. “Oh god those puppy eyes gets me always” Ragini huffed and walked away.

****.***

Diya's head fell again and she looked up to realize that her detention time has not yet ended. She turned to the door of the classroom when it opened.

Karan stood grinning at her. “Don't tell me you knocked Mr. Fryer's burger again Karan” Mr. Dan spoke in a tiring voice. “I did” he giggled like a small kid who just saw a huge Christmas tree and under that there are so many gifts are waiting for him.

Diya rolled her eyes when he sat beside her waving cheerfully. “I am ain't your sunshine” she spoke with a sleepy tone. “No... you are not sunshine. You are more than that” he confessed and Diya shot her head in his direction. “You are my Diya” he smiled and Diya looked confused.

“I..I actually tried searching a name for you which will be better than anything I have come up with till now” he caressed his neck. “But... I like to call you your name. Just that. Because there is no word which defines you better” his eyes sparkled.

“We are in detention. If you don't shut up we will end up here for eternity” she looked at Professor Dan who was near the window looking into his phone.

“And I won't mind that” Karan smiled looking into her eyes. “As far as you are with me I don't mind sticking up anywhere for eternity Diya” he said and Diya's cheeks turned pink when her name rolled out of his tongue.

“Karan you are dating my sister” she hissed. “I am not. I don't want to” he looked at her pleading. “All I want to do is spend my life with you. Just you” he pressed her hand on the desk. She tried to withdraw it but he held it tight.

“Karan don't do this to me. I had told you I can't face you” she whispered. “Are you for real woman. I just confessed that I want you in my life and only you. Then why aren't you accepting that you love me” he begged her.

“I don't” she stood up and everyone in the room turned to her. Professor Dan walked there. “Any problem?” he cocked his head forward. “Of course” Diya closed her eyes. “Can I have a detention some other time Professor Dan. Because I don't feel good” she said and her professor looked at her confused.

Karan was looking at her shocked. “Yeah sure” he nodded his head. “Thank you” Diya walked out quickly. Karan looked at the professor. He understood and nodded his head and Karan walked behind her.

“Diya...Diya... wait” he held her by her shoulder and turned. She looked down moving the hair strand which blocked her face. “Karan let me go” she spoke sternly. He just held her more tightly this time.

“Karan” she looked up at him. “Diya please... please stop punishing yourself. I beg you please” he pleaded her. She looked away.

“I know you want your sister to be happy and all. But you are pushing her into something which will never make her happy. Stop being stubborn” he spoke defeated.

“I know better than you okay” she looked up at him. “No you don't. Because from where I am standing Ragini loves Sanskar and he also loves her. And I love you and you also love me. Then why are you hell bent on getting me and Ragini together?” he asked and Diya shot him a glare.

“He doesn't love my sister okay. And I don't love you” she pointed her finger at him. “You love me” he neared her. “I don't” she looked away. “You do” he neared her more. “I said right I...” she was interrupted when his lips crashed on hers. Karan closed his eyes pulling her close locking her in his arms and she hit his hard chest.

Diya's eyes boggled out due to shock and she tried to breath, think, act all at the same but couldn't do any of it.

Karan dragged himself away from her and looked at her red face. “You know what you talk without thinking” he touched her forehead with his.

“All I ask is a happy life for my sister” she looked at him and her eyes accumulated water. “Shh” Karan wiped the tear which left her eye with his thumb and kissed her forehead.

“Trust my bro. She will be happy” he smiled. The mention of Sanskar only made her furious.

“Trust him? Trust that jerk?” she snarled pushing Karan away. “Shhh...” he placed his finger on her mouth. “He is a professor. You can't talk about him like that” he narrowed his eyes.

“Whatever. I don't give a damn” she pushed him a bit away. “Has he given one reason to trust him so far? All he did was hurt my sister. All the time. He blamed her that she is playing with people's feeling. He never let her be happy. And you want me to trust him?” she asked.

“Diya” he neared her cupping her face. “I know him more than you. And I assure you one thing. You won't find a soul who will love Ragini more than him. Trust me” he smiled at her.

“I can't” she nodded her head. “Okay deal. Just give him a chance okay. And if he does anything bad I promise I will make sure he won't be in your sister's life anymore” Diya smiled hearing him helping her.

“But you also promise that you won't screw up his attempts to redemption” he bent his head on her side. Diya frowned. “What you think I am?” she asked annoyed.

“Queen of bad timing” he shrugged his shoulders and Diya fumed chasing him.

***.****

Hope you have liked the chapter.

Love

Sally 🤗