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"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 20 - A Test of Trust

"It's a wonderful neighborhood Shekhar."

"I knew you would appreciate it Raj." replied Shekhar. He and Shramishtha had taken Raj and Shikha outside to show them around the place. The two women were amicably chatting together as he and Raj conversed among themselves.

"I wonder if I can get an apartment in this place. This area is so peaceful." Raj remarked. "Then you and I can hold debates over silly things every evening."

"Haha...we'll piss off the entire colony with our loud shouts." Shekhar joked as they neared his house. "You wou-"

"Shekhar?"

Shekhar looked back at Shramishtha on her interruption. "Yes Shramishtha?"

Shramishtha pointed ahead of them. Shekhar looked to see an unexpected sight.

Durgaprasad's car was parked in front of their house.

"What's wrong Shekhar ji, Shramishtha?" Shikha asked in confusion.

"We're just as clueless as you Shikha. Let's go and find out." Shramishtha responded as she walked ahead with them following. As they were about to enter, they heard a voice from behind them.

"Shekhar? Who are these people?" asked Parvati.

Shekhar approached her and took the bags from her hand. "Maa? You're back from Masi's house so soon? And as for these people, this is Raj, my childhood friend. That is his wife, Shikha." Raj and Shikha greeted her with a 'namaste'.

"I see. And why is Durgaprasad's car here Shekhar? I told you I do not want to see the faces of those Maheshwaris."

"Maa, let's just go inside for now, alright? I don't know what they are doing here either."

Raj looked at Shikha. They could feel that it was some family feud. They didn't want to interfere in their family matters and make them uncomfortable. Shikha nodded and signaled him that they should probably leave.

"Shekhar, I just got an urgent message from a family friend. We must leave at once."

"But Swara and Ragini must have prepared lunch for you."

"It's okay Shramishtha. We'll have it another day. I'm sorry, but we must really leave." Shikha told her as she gave her a parting hug.

Shekhar could feel that they were lying because they didn't want to intrude in their family matter. He was thankful for their understanding mentality. "Alright Raj, Shikha. But do visit soon."

Raj gave him a parting hug. "We sure will. Me and Shikha are leaving in my car. Can you tell Mani to leave for home as well?"

"I sure will. Goodbye Raj."

Raj nodded and left with Shikha.

Parvati stormed inside in anger. Shramishtha looked at Shekhar in worry.

"Shekhar I have a bad feeling about this. I hope everything is alright."

"I hope for the same Shramishtha. Let's go inside and find out."

#Inside#

As Shekhar, Shramishtha and Parvati stepped inside, they found and unusual sight.

Durgaprasad, Mani and Annapurna sat on the couch with grim faces, while Laksh stood there ahead of them. Swara sat opposite to them in tears. Dida was sitting beside Swara, comforting her, while glaring to the side. Following Dida's line of sight, they saw Ragini there on the floor, weeping to herself.

In the room, where everyone was expressing different emotions, only one remained lifeless. It was Sanskar.

Sanskar stood away from everyone, looking ahead at particularly nothing. Only sign that indicated he was living was his breathing. Other than that, he looked dead.

At once, Parvati rushed to Ragini's side. "Ladoo? Ladoo, what happened? Ladoo, tell me."

Ragini looked at her helplessly. "I didn't do a-anything Dadi. B-believe me. I-I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't betray Sanskar." she spoke in between her sobs.

Parvati rubbed away her tears. "Of course you wouldn't do anything such. We all know that. What's the main reason? Why are you crying? Ladoo, answer me."

"Arre, what will she answer? I will tell you the entire truth." Dida snarled out, standing up. "She tried to trap Laksh! That's what happened. She knows Laksh loves Swara. But still she isn't over him. She still lusts over Laksh. And today...today she tried to seduce him in her room!"

Shramishtha and Shekhar gasped at her words.

"N-no Dida, I didn't. Trust me! It's all a misunderstanding. Laksh was the one who confessed to me, but I disagreed. He wasn't letting me leave and...and in the scuffle, my dupatta dropped an-"

"Shut up! Stop building more stories you low life! I'm even disgusted to be related to you!" Dida screamed out.

"Be in your limits Bangalan!" Parvati warned.

(Author's note : I don't know Dida's name. So using the nickname that Parvati uses to call her. 😝
Hope it's okay with y'all.)

"I know my Ladoo well. She would never do something like that. Ever!" Parvati shouted in Ragini's defence as she helped Ragini to stand.

"Of course you would side with Ragini. She is Janki's daughter. So you will call her innocent even if she murders someone in front of your eyes!" Dida spat put and sat back down beside Swara. "Shramishtha, look at your daughter. Look at how broken she is. All because of that Ragini! She made Laksh fall for her. That wretched home breaker!"

"Trust me Dida. Please trust me! I didn't do anything! Laksh, tell her! Why won't you tell everyone the truth? Why won't you say what actually happened?!" Ragini cried out in anguish.

Laksh looked uncertain. If it was only Ragini's family there, he would have told the truth. But his Maa and Papa were there as well. He didn't want his father to disown him. "It's true that is was a misunderstanding as you said Ragini. Nothing was happening between us. But as for me proposing you, that isn't true."

Ragini looked at him shocked. 'At the time when I need you the most, you betray me? You claim to love me, but in fear of your parents, this is what you do? I'm ashamed of calling you a friend. In fact, I'm ashamed I ever loved a coward like you!' she looked at Sanskar for support. However, only thing she got in return was silence.

"Trust the likes of you Ragini? Never!" Dida shouted in utmost hate. "You tried to ruin my Shona's love life. As if I could ever forgive you!"

Ragini went near Swara and crouched before her. "Swara please. Swara, believe me. I would never ever do anything to hurt you. Laksh is the one who is betraying you. I'm not trying to ruin your life Swara. I could give up my life for you."

"Lies! All lies Swara. Don't let her fool you with her crocodile tears." Dida warned.

Swara didn't know what to do. On one hand, she wanted to desperately believe her sister. While on the other hand, Laksh and Dida claimed that she was lying about Laksh's proposal.

Mani watched everything like a spectator in a theatre. He wanted to help. But what could he do when he didn't know anything about their past?

Durgaprasad let out a heavy sigh. Annapurna looked at him moist eyes. "What do you think about this? Whom do we believe?"

"I don't know Annapurna. From how much I know Ragini, I know she can't and won't stoop so low. As for Laksh, if he had loved Ragini before, than I may have accused him. But we all know how desperate he was for Swara. Its hard to believe Ragini's claim that he proposed her."

"Don't be so sure about that. I think our Laksh is guilty." Annapurna spoke, glaring at Laksh.

Laksh panicked. 'Shit! If Papa finds out the truth, he'll throw me out of the house and disinherit me from the property! Think Lucky think!' he went and crouched at his father's feet. "Papa no. Do you really think I would disobey you? Will I risk your reputation? No Papa, I would never!"

"Liar! You're lying!" Ragini screamed at him. "You tried to forcd me to love you even when I told you I only love Sanskar. You said Swara was your obsession. How dare you lie now Laksh?"

"Ragini, I think you are imagining things. I agree with you on the fact that it is all a misunderstanding. But the proposal thing? Why are you lying about it? Why Ragini?" Laksh faked innocence. However, he adverted his eyes, to guilt ridden to look at her.

'You disgust me Laksh.' Ragini turned to Swara. "Swara, believe me. Swara please. Please believe me."

Swara looked towards her mother. "What do I do Maa? I...I don't..." she held a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.

Shramishtha looked at Shekhar. When he nodded at her, she knew he was thinking the same. They both mover towards their daughters. "We both know you two well. And we know that Ragini could never do something so disgusting."

Ragini smiled at her parents and hugged them. "Thank you. Thank you Maa, Baba for believing me."

Dida looked offended. "Shramishtha! How could you trust that liar? She's destroying our Shona's life an you're trusting her? Are you a mother or not!? Shouldn't you want your child's happiness?"

"I do. I do want my children to be happy. I do not only want Swara's happiness, but Ragini's as well." Shramishtha replied. "Like she said, it's all a misunderstanding. And I believe her. You should too Maa."

Shekhar nodded. "I fully agree with her."

Ragini felt relieved that her parents believed her. However, the person whose decision mattered the most was still not responding. He still stood there, unresponsive. 'Sanskar, please. Don't do this to me. I love you. I would never betray you. Believe me, please!'

"That is the right decision Shekhar. I'm proud of you." complimented Parvati. She glared at Laksh. "It's this wretched bastard th-"

"Parvati! Mind your language. My son already said he didn't do anything. Do not falsely accuse him." Durgaprasad shouted in anger, defending Laksh.

"Durgaprasad ji, calm down please. We know Laksh is innocent as well." Shekhar remarked, shocking Ragini with the news.

"But...but Baba, you said you believe me."

Shekhar place a hand on her shoulder. "We do Ragini. We believe you that it was all a misunderstanding. But about Laksh's proposal to you, I think you're mistaken about it. We think you both are not at fault. Rather, it is the situation that is to be blamed."

Ragini looked at him in disbelief. "What!?"

Shramishtha came to stand before her in support of Shekhar's decision. "Beta, we think you...you imagined it. I mean, we all know how desperate Laksh had been for Swara. Why would he want you? We think in your mind made it up as you still weren't fully over Laksh's betrayal."

"I love Sanskar! I don't have any feelings towards Laksh Maa."

"I didn't say it was your love for him. But we think it was your spite. It's your hate for him. That is why you're falsely accusing him." Shramishtha held Ragini's face in her hands. "Beta, we don't blame you for that either. You're right in your place. Laksh had betrayed your trust and used you to get closer to Swara. You're taking revenge on him. We can understand why you want revenge. We forgive you."

Ragini looked at her mother and father, nonpulsed. It was clear to her that no matter what she did they would not believe about Laksh's treachery. No one would.

She swatted her mother's hands from her face and stepped back. Her father stepped forward, but stopped seeing Ragini's glare.

"Don't. Just don't come near me. Don't even dare come a step towards me!" Ragini shouted in anger. "I requested, pleaded, begged even! Yet, none of you...none of you believe me! I would die for all of you, but you wouldn't believe one word I say about Laksh? Yes, he loved Swara. But now, Laksh is after me! However, none of you would believe me. All of you believe his fake drama!"

"I believe you Ladoo."

"Thank you Dadi. Thank you so much." Ragini turned to Swara. "Swara, if it was just about me, I would have let this go. Everyone accepting it being a misunderstanding and my spite for Laksh? I would have been okay if it only concerned me. But if I don't object now, your life will be ruined."

"But Laksh loves me...doesn't he?"

Ragini held her sister's shoulder. "He doesn't Swara. He's a liar and a cheat! Believe me Swara. All I wa-"

"Shut up you characterless girl!" Dida shouted, pushing Ragini away, making her stumble.

Ragini closed her eyes as she felt herself falling towards the hard floor. However, she felt two arms hold her and prevent her from falling. She opened her eyes to look at her savior. "Sa-Sanskar?"

Sanskar pulled her up and gave her a hard stare. "Why were you in Laksh's arms with your dupatta lying on the floor? Why were you alone with him in the room? Why did you not shout if he really was being forceful? Why didn't you leave the room at once?"

Ragini felt tears cloud her vision. By asking her those questions, by questioning her values, by doubting her, he was breaking her heart. She believed that no matter what, even if the world was against her, Sanskar would take a stand for her. He would be her shield, her strength...her savior. 'But you're doubting me? I would have rather chosen to die than to live and see this day.'

She looked down in sorrow, unable to look into his eyes. However, Sanskar raised her chin to meet his eyes and continued. "I won't ask you any of those questions."

At his words, Ragini felt hope bloom in her heart. "W-why? Everyone wants to clear their doubts. You do to, don't you?"

Sanskar shook his head. "No. I don't need to clear anything. Yes, it's true I let you hear their harsh words till now. And I'm sorry for taking this long to realize the truth." he gave her a smile. "The truth which is the love I see in your eyes for me. The truth which is the innocence and goodness that I can see in your eyes."

Ragini's face broke out into a smile and she hugged Sanskar tightly, thanking him with unspoken words.

"Sanskar, seeing is believing. Did you forget that you and I caught them red-handed? It isn't any misunderstanding as everyone believes. It was her seducing Laksh!" Dida shouted.

Sanskar stood in front of Ragini. "Yes. We saw it with our own eyes. It took me sometime, but now I realize it wasn't Ragini who was holding Laksh, but it was he who had her in his grip. When we told her about her dupatta, it was Ragini who looked like she would hyperventilate. Laksh didn't seem to care."

"Sanky, that's not tr-"

"Shut it Lucky. I always did have a hunch that you were after Ragini. I wish I kept her away from you in the first place!" Sanskar spoke in fury. "In fact, if you ask me, I think you would have admitted you want Ragini if it wasn't for your parents. It's their fear that's keeping you grounded."

"I wouldn't want any advice from the likes of you. Who knows maybe it was you who made Ragini cook up the plan of trapping Laksh." Durgaprasad accused. "You must have told her to blame Laksh so that his and my reputation is tarnished."

Sanskar felt hurt at his Bade Papa's words. However, he remembered Parineeta bhabi's words from the park clearly.

"Bade Papa even called Ragini a character-less girl who traps people for their money! Ready to go to any extent for it!"

An insult to him, he could handle. However, someone calling Ragini characterless was beyond Sanskar's tolerance. "Bade Papa, whatever you said to me while throwing me out of the house, I listened without a word. But if you dare say a word against Ragini, I won't keep quiet. You should preach values to your good-for-nothing son rather than accusing Ragini of crimes she didn't commit."

Ragini looked at him with a teary smile, happy that he still trusted her, believed her. She didn't know what she would do if he accused her as well.

Durgaprasad looked at him in fury. "How dare you Sanskar? How dare to talk to me in that tone?!"

"I'm sorry for being rude. But I'm not sorry for defending Ragini." Sanskar looked at Ragini's parents and Swara. "You disgust me. My family not trusting Ragini, I can understand. But you three? You three are no strangers. You're her own persons. And yet, you treat her like this?!"

"Of course you'll defend her. She's your girlfriend. You were a liar and now, your girlfriend showed her true nasty colours as well!" Dida shouted at him. "You both are trash!"

Sanskar gave her a wry smile. "We're trash you say? Fine, we are. I agree with you. People like me who tried to destroy their family could be called trash." He looked at Shekhar and Swara's Shramishtha. "But people like you who abandon their child at the time when they need them the most are lower than trash."

Shekhar and Shramishtha looked down in shame, now feeling guilty about their error in judgement.

Laksh tried to use a different tactic. "Sanky, let's discuss this okay? I'm sure we can solve this amicably. If we ca-"

"No."

Sanskar's single word uttered in a calm tone made everyone look up at him.

"No?"

"Yes, no Lucky. No more trying to settle matters amicably. No more trying to explain things to anyone. No more trying to hope everything will turn out well. No more of hoping that one day would come when me and Ragini could live a life free of any accusations and hindrances."

Shramishtha felt a sense of dread in hearing his words. "Sanskar beta, we are rethinking our decision. Maybe Ragini was right. Ma-" Sanskar raised a hand in front him to stop her speech.

"No. I refuse to hear any of your excuses anymore." he turned to look at Ragini and grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers. "Whatever decision I take, are you willing to agree with me?"

Ragini looked at their joined hands with a smile. "I would go to the world's end if you ask."

Sanskar smiled back and tightened the grip on her hand, holding it firmly. "We're leaving Ragini. Not for hours, not for days or years. But forever."

***********************************

To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹