Chalo I'm in a good mood. Update dedi so. 😂

Moving on...💃💃💃

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

"Words in dble quotes" - Talking

Chapter 38 - Most Unexpected

Manisha grit her teeth as she heard everything going on in Sanskar's room. She had her ear glued to the door after all.

All she felt was deep rage. She wanted to burst in and tear away Ragini from Sanskar. In her mind, she was imagining Sanskar smiling at Ragini, whispering sweet nothings to her, holding her chin and caressing her cheek.

She felt her nails digging into her palm as she made an effort to control her rage. "He's mine. He's mine!" from the corner of eyes, she saw the cup that Sanskar had left outside on the table. "You're mine, aren't you? Why don't you realize that soon? When will you come to me Sanskar?" she picked up the cup and sipped from it, closing her eyes in contentment.

"This is an indirect kiss from you. You drank from here too, didn't you?" she looked back towards the door with a smirk. "Can't you see how I'm falling weak in your charm. My heart and mind can't get your face out. Oh how I want you to hold my hand, kiss my lips and hold me close in your arms!"

She walked towards the wall where a picture of Ragini and Sanskar, along with Swara was hung up. "You heartstealer." she looked at Sanskar's picture with lust. "Can't you see the love in my eyes for you babe?"

With a nasty smirk, she threw it on the floor, breaking their picture into pieces. 'Ragini can't have you cause you will be mine!'

Footsteps were heard as Sanskar and Ragini rushed to the door.

Sanskar opened it and looked to find the corridor empty. Ragini followed close behind.

"Oh no!" she stepped away from him and walked towards the fallen photograph. "Sanskar! Sanskar, it's broken."

"But how? No one seems to be here? Did the guest get in here?"

"Don't be ridiculous Sanskar. Why would she do such thing even if she was here? It must have been the wind.

"Wind? Inside the apartment?"

"Yeah. How else could it have happened?" Ragini reasoned, trying to clean the picture of the broken shards.

Sanskar noticed the nearby window. 'Buts it's too far. It couldn't have brought in the wind. Moreover, I'm sure I fixed the pictures well. They shouldn't fall off this easily.'

"Ah!"

Ragini's shout brought him out of his thoughts. "What happened?" he saw blood oozing out of her finger. "Why are you so careless Ragini!?"

"It's...it's okay. It's just a simple cut." she took her dupatta and put pressure on the wound. She stood up straight with the picture in her hand. "I was careful, but it ju-ah!" she stumbled as she had just put her foot on another shard.

Sanskar quickly held her, stopping hard fall. "Ragini!" he saw her squeeze her eyes and grab her leg. As he looked closer, he could see a tiny piece of glass poking out of the underside of her toe. "Gosh Ragini! You're a magnet for trouble, aren't you?"

Without waiting for a response, he brought his hand underneath her knees and picked her up like a new bride. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he carried her towards the living room, careful to avoid the glass shards.

"Oh my! What happened?!" Manisha exclaimed from her seat on the couch. She acted as if she never left the place. "Is she okay?"

"No she's not! She's hurt, can't you see?" Sanskar snarled.

"Sanskar, don't be rude. She's only enquiring." Ragini chided, still in pain.

Sanskar knew Ragini was right. He sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried for her." he confessed. 'And also the fact that for some reason, I can't find it in me to trust you one bit. Something seems fishy. And my instincts are seldom wrong.'

"I can understand." Manisha faked a sympathetic smile.

"Keep an eye on her would you? I'll go get the first aid box."

"I shall. Besides, she won't get into trouble while resting. You can calm down."

"Oh don't worry. She will find ways to hurt herself even while doing something harmless as resting sometimes!" Sanskar glared at Ragini, who pouted in response.

"Haha... Okay. I'll watch her."

Sanskar nodded and left.

#Maheshwari mansion#

"You know, I can't concentrate if you all keep glaring at me like that."

"We will!" came the response from the three.

"Alright, alright. It was my plan that had a little side effect."

"Little? Little, Mani?!"

"It's called butterfly effect Lucky. Like when a little thing goes on to create a big mess without yo-"

"MANISH DOBRIAL!"

Mani flinched at Swara's shout. "Ehehe... Okay it was big side effect I admit. But come on! Every great thing has a little glitch before its perfection. Can we not think about what went wrong and focus of what we shall do now?"

Laksh sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I guess he isn't wrong. What do we do now?"

Swara glared at Laksh. It's not like she forgave him. She couldn't be so forgiving like Ragini. His fake act and his betrayal was like a fish bone stuck on her throat, still stinging her. Nevertheless, what he said wasn't wrong.

"Bhai, I'm scared. What will happen to them? Will Maa and Baba be okay?" Uttara spoke in a broken voice. "Did we take a wrong step?"

Laksh can and pulled her into a hug. "We didn't do anything wrong. Remember why we are doing this. We both want our own parents saved from Adarsh and Parineeta bhabi. We can't fall weak!"

"But...but Maa and Baba? They left the mansion. Where will they go? I can't imagine them having to live on the streets!"

"Hey, hey, don't cry Uttara. We will figure out a way to slice Chachi and Chacha's plight, alright? Trust me on this."

Uttara sniffed, but nodded.

Laksh signaled Swara with his eyes to talk with Uttara.

Although Swara didn't like him, she cared for Uttara and came to console her.

Laksh left them and went to stand before Mani. "I hope you have a way, Mani. I can't see my sister cry like this. Do something!"

Mani sighed in guilt. No matter how he tried to see it, he couldn't deny that he never foresaw this flaw in his plan.

His plan was simple.

Make the family believe that Laksh was now the owner, and Uttara his helpful right hand person. Then, anger Adarsh and Parineeta enough to make them take such a step that they reveal their intentions. Then finally, tell the truth about the entire drama.

However, Mani never thought Durgaprasad would bring up the topic of leaving home.

Durgaprasad didn't leave though.

Well, he wanted to. But Adarsh and Parineeta convinced them that he shouldn't leave. They told Annapurna that Durgaprasad's health could detoriate and gave other excuses. However, Mani knew it was because they knew that if Durgaprasad wasn't there, they would have more problems getting the property back.

However, Ram and Sujata didn't listen. They were adamant to leave. And indeed they left the mansion.

That was the problem that they were now discussing in Laksh's room.

"I'm waiting Mani." Laksh reminded.

"Would you cut it out already?" he walked towards the wall and dropped to the floor. He then balanced himself on his hands and stood upside down on the wall.

"I fail to understand how that will help." Swara spoke with a confused look. "Mani, I call you an idiot. But I didn't mean for you to take it seriously."

"Shut it! I get good ideas in this pose. Now hush!"

Swara was about to retort, but heard Uttara giggle. 'Well, at least he's able to make her smile.' Swara thought. However, she couldn't help but feel sad about it. 'Is it because I like Mani?' she shook her head of those thoughts. "You better think of something quick Mani. Time's running out."

#Ragini and Sanskar's apartment#

"Ouch!"

"Don't move! I'm wrapping it up, can't you see?"

"Must you be so harsh San-ow!" Ragini exclaimed as he pressed a little too hard. "Okay okay, I admit it my mistake. Sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

"Hold still!" he ignored her look, knowing he would fall weak before it.

He finally was able to finish his work. "There. And done!"

Ragini sat up straight slowly. "Thank you. I feel better already!" she smiled at them. However, seeing Sanskar looking at her with hands on his hips and a glare, she looked down guiltily.

"Why are you siting up again? Are you trying to undo my work?"

"Relax Sanskar. I'm sure she's already sorry." Manisha spoke, placing her hand on Sanskar's shoulder. She smiled to herself as she rubbed his shoulder. 'My first touch upon what's gonna be mine soon.'

"Yes Sanky, I said I'm sorry." Ragini defended. "Now, I've got to go clean the cups. You guys chat." she tried to get up.

However, she was pushed back softly by Sanskar. Sanskar had moved forward to keep Ragini in place, making Manisha's hand fall down. "You're not going anywhere. I'll do the cleaning." without waiting for a response, he took the cups of Ragini and Manisha, stomping all the way towards the kitchen.

"Sanky can be such a child sometimes." Ragini chuckled. "Don't mind his rude behavior. He gets a little over protective sometimes."

"Haha... Yes, Sanky sure is acting like that." Manisha agreed. 'Sanky. I like how the name rolls off my tongue.'

Ragini stopped smiling at that. "Um...please don't get offended, other than Mani bhai, only I call him Sanky."

"Oh sure. sure. Oops! It was just a slip of my tongue. Hehe... It won't happen again." she lied.

"Thank you. I wouldn't want you to end up like that girl once."

"Eh? Which girl?"

Ragini let out an angry snort. "One whom we met at the city mall once. She thought she would get away by flirting with him. I think she still remembers the punch I gave her. Mwhahaha...!" Ragini stopped her cackling when she realized she wasn't alone. "Don't worry. You aren't like that, so I won't harm you."

Manisha's smiled a shaky smile at her. 'Guess I need to be careful. She isn't all the goody two shoes I thought she is. She won't hesitate to get her hands dirty if it means saving her love I guess.'

A knock on the door caught their attention.

"Coming!" Sanskar rushed from the kitchen to the front door. "Welco-" his words caught in his throat and his smile disappeared when he saw who stood there. "Wh-what's going on here?"

Ram and Sujata stood there looking anywhere but at him. Finally, Ram looked at him. "Ask your friend."

"Hey ya Sanky!" came the obnoxious voice as Mani peeped his head out from behind. He was standing at a safe distance, probably knowing Sanskar would hit him for doing things without informing him. "I brought them here since they are your parents and have no where to go now."

"No where to go?" Sanskar looked at them confused. On one hand, he still remembers the time Parineeta told them about how Sujata doubted Ragini's character. He hadn't forgotten Ram's mistrust over him as well. However, his concern over his parents safety overrode his hate for them. "What happened Mani?"

"Long story short, Laksh and Uttara took over the property and kicked them out."

"No. We left ourselves. We refuse to live under the same roof as them!" Sujata spat in disgust. "I cannot believe my own daughter could do this! Unbelievable!"

"So you decided to abandon her too? Without trying to make her understand or try to bring a change in her? Typical you." Sanskar sneered.

"This was a bad idea. We won't stay here." Ram declared. "We never had the intention of coming here anyway. It was only because this guy forcefully took our luggage and brought us here that we came."

"No! Please don't go!" came Ragini's voice from behind Sanskar, as she walked towards them while stumbling.

"I told you to rest, didn't I?" Sanskar chided, coming near her and holding her up. "You never listen!"

"What happened Ragu?! Sanky, can't you take proper care of my little sister like best friend? What the heck!?" Mani exclaimed, seeing the bandages on Ragini's finger and leg.

"It's alright Mani bhai. These are just small cuts."

"Whatever! Sanky you're so irresponsible. How can I trust you to marry Ragu and keep her safe, when you can't even prevent her from small cuts? I think I should search for a new groom."

"Mani, do you value your life?" Sanskar asked in a dark tone.

Ragini didn't pay attention to them, but smiled at Sanskar's parents. "Welcome Maa, Baba. It's your first time in our tiny adobe. I'm sorry I couldn't arrange anything properly."

Sujata and Ram looked at her with a smile. After all, they never hated Ragini.

Sujata felt betrayed by Sanskar, her own son. But she never harbored hate for Ragini. Ragini was someone who always was ready to aid others if she could. In fact, to tell the truth, although she kicked out Sanskar, she never got over thinking if he was okay. After all, she was a mother. It was the fact that Ragini was with her son that assured her. Ragini would keep him alright.

Ram too felt blessed that Ragini was beside Sanskar through thick and thin. He couldn't ask for a better daughter-in-law than her.

Seeing her in an injured state, they couldn't help but worry.

"Please don't leave. Stay with us. This is as much your home as ours. You're Sanskar's parents."

"What are you saying Ragini? Did you forget how they treated us?!" Sanskar reminded.

"It's all in the past. They were wrong to not give you another chance. But I believe we all have the capacity to change, can't we? I want you all to be a family again. A happy one." Ragini spoke with a soft smile.

There was silence for some moments as no one spoke anything, unsure what Sanskar would say.

"A-ha! The main home keeper has declaref." Mani stated out loud. "And so it's final. You both will be staying in this apartment. Sujata aunty will stay with Ragini in her room. Ram Uncle can st-" Mani gulped as he saw the glare of both father and son. "Okay, he won't be staying with Sanskar, but in the extra room near his. Fine, right? Alright, great!" Mani pushed past them and went to put the luggage inside.

"What are we? Superfluous? He didn't even give a chance to voice our thoughts!" Sanskar grit out. However, in his heart he felt relieved since his parents won't have to go struggle in the streets.

"YOU!" came a shout, shocking them all. It was no doubt Mani's. They rushed there to see Mani standing while pointing a finger at the girl.

"Oh, that's Manisha's. You know him Mani?" Sanskar questioned.

"Yes I do. How can I ever forget her!" Mani sneered.

"Nice to see you too." Manisha spoke in a mocking tone. "Big brother."

"Wish I could say the same, little sister." Mani grit out. "Get. Out."

"Why should I? I'm a guest here."

"Because I said so. Now, out!"

"Mani!" came a shout from the door. It was Shikha. "Mani, look whom I found in the picture. It's no-" she gasped as she saw her daughter stand there. "Manisha?!"

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹