Wow... Just wow! Never have I taken so long to update this fic. Damn I'm lagging behind!

Anyways, Onwards!!!

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 18 - Of Interruptions and Confessions

Swara always loved watching superman as a kid. It looked so cool when he would shoot laser guns from his eyes. 'I wish I had such powers. Then I could vaporize this guy in an instant!' she thought as she glared at Mani. He sat opposite to her, beside Raj and Shikha. Because of her parents, she calmed herself and sat politely next to Ragini. However, she still wanted to kick Mani out of the house.

Mani, on the other hand, was busy eating. He looked up as he felt someone's eyes on him. On seeing it was Swara glaring, he simply opened his mouth and showed her his chewed food.

At once Swara felt her stomach turn and bile rise up her throat from the dirty sight. "I need to go!" she abruptly got up and left the place to go puke.

'Heh...Mani 1, Swara 0!' Mani cheered in his mind, going back to eating again.

"So Raj? Have you thought of a girl for your son?"

"Shekhar I've tried to tell him many a times to find the right girl for himself, thinking that he might not like our choice. But he doesn't listen! He flirts with many girls. But when I talk about marriage, he says none of them are right for him."

"Shekhar ji, your elder daughter Swara looks well bred and is so beautiful." Shikha stated. "Have you found the right guy for her?" she asked, hoping Swara was single. Ragini was her first choice the moment she saw her. However, to her disappointment, Ragini already had Sanskar.

Mani choked on his food at his mother's words. "Me marry Swara? Maa, are you planning my murder? That girl is an abomination!"

"Shut up Mani! Elders are talking."

Shekhar chuckled at their exchange. "Mani is a great guy. But unfortunately, my daughter already has someone. His name is Laksh Maheshwari."

"Aww... And here I was hoping she was available." Shikha admitted.

Mani was delighted. "I'm saved!"

Ragini giggled at his antics.

"You seem to find him pretty interesting, don't you?" Sanskar whispered to her in a clipped voice.

"Hehe... Yes. He is so childlike. It's good to see such liveliness in people."

"I can be lively."

Ragini looked at him in amusement. "Is it me, or are you getting jealous?"

Sanskar sniffed in indignance. "Me? Sanskar? And jealous? No way!"

"Aww.... You are, aren't you?"

Sanskar looked at her in irritation. He got up from his seat. "Raj uncle, Shikha aunty, Mani...please excuse me. I have some work to do." they nodded and Sanskar left, without so much as a glance towards Ragini.

Ragini got up as well. "Please excuse me as well. I will be right back." she left after him.

Shikha smiled at Raj. They could tell that it was some sort of lover's tiff between the two. From the corner of her eyes, Shikha saw Mani still busy stuffing his face with food. She smacked him on the head as hard as she could.

"Ow! I didn't do anything!"

"Stop eating. What is wrong with you? You're embarrassing us!"

"But Shramishtha aunty's cooking is so damn delicious!"

"Hahaha... It's okay Shikha. Let him eat. There's plenty in the kitchen." Shramishtha replied in good humor.

"There is?" Mani at once got up from his seat. "You all talk. I'll go get it!"

#Sanskar's room#

"Sanskar open the door. Sanskar? Sanskar!"

"Go away Ragini. Go and be with Mani! After all, he's more entertaining than boring me, isn't he?" came Sanskar's voice from inside.

Ragini stiffled her laugh, knowing it would only make Sanskar more angry. 'Sanskar acts so immature sometimes. But, it's kind of cute.' She cleared her throat to speak. "Sanskar I'm sorry for teasing you, alright? Please let me in."

"Go away!"

"Sanskar?!"

"He's not here. Go shoo!"

Ragini's eye twitched in irritation. "Okay then. I'm leaving. I asked you nicely, but you're 'shoo-ing' me, eh? Fine then. I don't want to talk to you either. Bye!"

"Yeah, go away. I don't care!" Sanskar shouted back. However, he didn't get back any reply. 'Did she really leave?'

He got up from the bed and went near the door. "Go away. I don't care if you don't talk to me." he leaned on the door and placed his ear on it, trying to listen if there was any sound from outside. 'I can't hear anything. Did she really get mad at me and leave? She said she won't talk to me. Oh no!'

Sanskar opened the door as quickly as he could and started calling her name. "Ragini! Ra-" to his surprise, he saw her standing near the door with a playful smile. Without giving him a chance to close the door, she pushed her way in. "You... You cheated!"

"That, I did. I need to play over-smart if my boyfriend tries to be smart."

"Whatever! Get out. I'm still pissed at you."

Ragini gave him a smirk and started walking forward towards him. Sanskar looked at her with uncertainty. With each step she took forward, he took a step back, weary of her intentions.

"H-hey! Why are you looking at me like that?" Sanskar asked with a stutter.

"Because I want to." she replied, still walking forward.

"Ra-Ragini, whatever you're planning, it's no-oof!" Sanskar exclaimed as his back hit the wall behind him.

Ragini reached him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "So you don't forgive me you say?"

"N-no." He spoke in a panicky voice, their closeness make him uncomfortable. 'Man up Sanskar!What is wrong with you!? You're embarrassing yourself in front of her!' he cleared his throat. "Absolutely not!"

Ragini's smile widened. She stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Now?"

Sanskar closed his eyes, letting the moment sink in. "N-no."

Ragini chuckled and leaned up. She placed a kiss on his forehead. "What about now?"

Sanskar looked at her with narrowed eyes. He knew what she was playing at. She was trying to convince him by showering him with kisses. He wanted to be angry at her, but it was hard for him to do so seeing the situation he was in. He smiled at her playfully. "Nope. I'm still angry at you."

Ragini smirked at him and moved closer to his lips. She closed her eyes on instinct. Sanskar encircled his arms around her waist and brought her closer, closing his eyes as well.

"Annnnd ooommaaah!" exclaimed a voice from the door, making them turn to look at him. "Hey, why'd you pause? Go ahead! Kiss already!"

Ragini blushed and abruptly broke away from Sanskar, hiding her face in her hands.

Sanskar glared at him. "Did you have to interrupt Mani?"

"Oops! Sorry dude. I couldn't help it. I shouldn't have spoken."

"Yes, you shouldn't have. Why were you peeping into my room in the first place?"

"Hey! It's not like it's my fault. I was searching for the kitchen. Besides, the door is placed in a room so that you use it. It's your mistake for keeping it open."

"It is your fault! At least you could have kept quiet till they kissed you idiot!" shouted another voice from the window. They all turned to look at Swara standing there with a death glare towards Mani. On realizing that she exposed herself, her eyes widened. "Oops!"

"Swara?! You... You were there the entire time and wa-watching us?" Ragini exclaimed, aghast.

"No need to be embarrassed Ragini. You were great! About time you showed Sanky who's boss!"

Ragini turned beet red and promptly ran away from the room.

"Ragini, wait! Ragini?!" Sanskar shouted after her. However, she didn't come back. He glared at both Swara and Mani. "You both ruined my kiss."

"Not me. It was him! I'm innocent!"

"Innocent? My foot! You were peeping on them."

"Yeah, but they would have never found out and hence, they wouldn't be affected. But you totally ruined the moment!" she shouted as she came and stood before Mani.

"You shouldn't have been peeping in the first place!" Mani shouted back.

"Who are you to tell me what to do in my own house!?"

"Well, technically it's your parents' house. And I'm an honorary guest. Show some respect!"

"Respect?! Even my sandals won't respect you!"

Before Mani could reply, both he and Swara were pushed out onto the ground by Sanskar. "And stay out!" Sanskar shouted, slamming the door behind him.

Mani blinked in bewilderment. "Wow! He's got quite a temper."

"Yeah. How rude!"

"I think that's the only think we both can agree on."

Swara nodded from her position on the ground.

"Um...what exactly is going on here?"

Mani and Swara looked up towards the voice to find Laksh looking at them with wide eyes. Only then did they realize the position they were in.

Mani lay on the ground with Swara above him, her hand on his chest and his hand on her waist. Abruptly they broke apart and stood up. They both started to explain why they were in that position at the same time, creating a chaos.

"SHUT UP!" came a shout from Sanskar's room, making them stop their rant.

Laksh stifled his laugh. "Okay. So what I could make out from your gibberish is that Sanky basically threw both of you out because you were causing a nuisance?"

"Yes Lucky. That's it. That is why we were in such a position. Yo-"

"Calm down Swara. I never accused you two of anything. Chill. I know you won't cheat on me."

"I'm glad you have so much trust me." Swara smiled at him. However, Mani found it a bit odd. Trust was one thing. But being her boyfriend, there should at least be some sort of reaction from Laksh on the entire incident. It almost looked as if Laksh didn't care.

"Of course I do. Say, do you know where Ragini is?"

"Yes. She is in her room."

"Thanks Swara. I need to ask her something. Bye guys." he looked towards the closed door. "Bye bhai!" saying that, he left.

"Wait a minute. Bhai? Sanky is his brother?"

"Yes." Swara replied to Mani's question.

"Then why is he jobless? I mean, shouldn't he be involved in the family's company as well? He is also a Maheshwari after all."

The door behind them opened to reveal a pissed off Sanskar. "I'm only Sanskar. Sanskar. Only. There is no Maheshwari tied to my name!"

"But Sa-" before Mani could finish his sentence, Sanskar shut the door in his face again. "What a rude guy!"

"You shouldn't interfere in other's matters." Swara said with a glare.

"But I only want to help. Such a talented person like Sanky doesn't deserve to be jobless."

Swara folded her hands across her chest. "And you think you can help? How exactly?"

"I want to appoint him in my company. He will be a good asset for it's progress."

Swara looked at him with hope. "You...you mean it?"

"Of course! I even offered him the job, but he outright refused. He said he doesn't want a job just because of his friendship with me. What an idiot!"

Swara patted him hard on the back. "Well, then I guess we need to make him accept the job."

"How?"

Swara let out a devious smirk. "I've got the best plan!"

#Ragini's room#

Ragini looked up as she heard a knock on the door. "Laksh? Come in." she was delighted to see her best friend. She couldnt wait to tell him about how Sanskar reacted to her advances.

"Hey Ragini."

"Hi. What brings you here? If you're looking for Swa-"

"No. It's not her that I'm looking for." Laksh said, closing the door behind him and locking it.

Ragini looked at him with uncertainty. "Why...why did you lock the door Laksh?"

"It's because I want to talk to you alone, will without anyone interrupting us or listening in on us."

"Oh. What might that be?" Ragini asked, coming to stand in front of him.

"It's...it's about us."

"Us?"

"Ragini I...I just..." Laksh looked at her in distress, unable to express himself.

"Yes? Don't hesitate to talk to me. I'm your best friend, remember? You ca-" before she could finish the sentence, Laksh came forward and hugged her.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner. But I do now. I really do. I really do! Swara was my obsession Ragini. I realize it now. Accept me back Ragini. Take me back in your life. Please!"

Ragini felt her blood go cold at his words. She could understand what he was implying, but desperately hoped what she thought was not the truth. With shaky hands, she tried to break free of his grip, but he only tightened it. "Laksh, y-you don't k-know what you're saying. I t-think you're drunk. L-let go!"

"Don't do this Ragini. Don't push me away. I love you Ragini. I love you!"

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹