Hey guys! Hope you all are okay. I guess this will be the last chapter. Sorry for the delay.

Moving on...

"Words in double quotes" - talking

'Words in single quotes' - thoughts

Part 5

Ragini stood there silently, sneaking glances at Laksh who had been silent for sometime. Yet, that silence seemed more threatening rather than peaceful the longer it continued.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Ragini finally gathered the courage to approach him. "La-"

"Don't!"

She flinched at his harsh tone. "I know you're angry bu-"

"But what? But WHAT?!" he shouted, turning to face her. "What could you possibly say to change things...things that you ruined because of your so called care for me!"

"Don't mock me. I know I miscalculated and catapulted into a quick solution without giving much thought but...but I just wanted you to be able to find happiness without me being a burden!"

"Happy?" Laksh let out a bark of laughter. "Do I look happy to you? Do I look happy Ragini? Look into my eyes and tell me, do you see bliss in them?"

"I know I-"

"No, you don't know! You can't know what I have been through! The pain of losing you, the loneliness, the heartache!"

Ragini glared at him. "Don't say I don't know. I love you too! I was hurting as well. There has not been a day that I haven't thought about you! Each day I regretted my decision. But then..." Ragini smiled to herself. "Then I would see your face on the television, singing to your hearts content...giving yourself to the music and the melody...one thing that makes you truly happy. And...and it made me think my sacrifice was worth it. To see you shine is all I wanted for you Laksh. Its all I have ever wanted and will continue to want for you."

Laksh looked into her eyes and could see the genuine devotion she had for him. "Tell me then, if I ask you something now will you give it to me Ragini?"

"What is it?"

Laksh shook his head. "First answer me. If I tell you that this is one thing which will truly make me happy. It would also help me erase the loneliness in me, would you give it to me?"

Ragini looked at him with a smile. "Like I said Laksh... I love you and all I have ever wanted was for you to be happy. Of course I will give it to you. Tell me what I have to do."

"Even if it would hurt you, will you agree to it?"

Ragini gasped, but otherwise stayed silent. However, it took only a second for her to nod. "I will."

Laksh came closer and looked into her eyes with a grim face. "Then give me a chance."

She blinked, not understanding his words. "What?"

"I want another chance. I want to give our relationship another chance." Laksh spoke with honesty. "It's no use to blame you, for I had tried to do the same. I told you to give up on us and marry Ratan because I thought he would keep you safe and happy. You left me thinking you were a burden and a hindrance to my happiness. We were both fools! But...but I want to change that."

"Its been so many years Laksh. Not to mention now that Ratan and I will expose the truth about our fake relationship, the media will create a havoc! You'll be dragged into it as well. You-"

"I don't care!" Laksh told her firmly. "If they want to defame your name, then I will be beside you clearing the muck. I'm not leaving you alone! Whatever happens, we'll go through it together."

"But they'll create rumours."

"That's why they're called rumours Ragini. One day you're at the center of it, one day you're the one creating it. It's all a mirage. But..." he smiled at her and held her hand in his. "What we have is real Ragini. Our love for each other is real. That is why even after so many years, you're still stuck loving me, and I you. Nothing can separate our hearts which beat for one another."

Ragini's eyes grew moist at his confession. Yes, she held fears about what could happen once everything unfolds, but she was willing to face every consequence. She was no longer afraid...because she knew Laksh will be with her no matter what. His eyes spoke the truth and his presence gave her the safety she needed. "But this time...you have to promise me not to do something like you did in the past. Promise me that you will never let me go."

Laksh turned her hand and kissed her palm. "Never. I will never leave you Ragini. And I'll never lie to you about my personal demons. Whatever happens from now on, we'll decide on it together." Laksh smirked. "We'll sit at your tea table, gossip about it like teenage girls. Maybe I'll even braid your hair."

Ragini sniffed, letting out a small smile at his attempt to lighten up the situation. "Like you know how to braid hairs. Maybe I'll be the one who will braid yours. Maybe I'll paint your nails in neon orange and pink too!"

"Heck no!"

"Awww...but I thought you loved me. Won't you do that for your beloved Ragini?" she joked, blinking her eyes at him cutely.

Laksh understood her mischief. 'You don't try to con a con man Ragini.' he put an arm around her waist and pulled her near. "Then maybe you should give me a kiss first?"

Shaking her head, she stepped away from him. "I...I don't know Laksh. I mean its been so long since we knew each other. We've been apart for so long. I might have changed and you might not like me. You might have changed. And...and we both different lives whe-" Ragini was silenced by Laksh's hand over her mouth. He looked at her with a smiling face.

"Well, I don't know what has changed. But I sure know your habit of talking too much hasn't changed."

She glared and probably would have pouted. If it wasn't for Laksh's hand. Removing it, she glared harder. "Will you stop joking? I'm serious here!"

"I know." He put his hand on her cheek. "And it's okay. Maybe its true that we have both grown as individuals and seen different things. We've been through different situations, had different experiences which might have changed us. But my love for you and your love for me is still the same. Whatever it may be, I want to give us another chance. And who knows, maybe we'll have fun trying to know each other again. Won't it be an adventure on its own?"

Ragini stared at him, but nevertheless sighed with a smile. "Your stubbornness hasn't changed as well I see."

"That's my charm which you love, no?"

Ragini hit his arm and walked ahead with a smirk. "Don't flatter yourself. As far as I can see, you've turned into a pompous pig who has lost a few brain cells."

Laksh scoffed, following her with quick steps. "I'll have you know its not pompousness, but my confidence radiating. And as for my brain cells, its your fault I was emotionally stressed cause of you!"

"And I wasn't?"

"But I was more! You used your tragedy to create art and became famous from it!"

"And you created music out of your sorrow!"

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Don't copy me!"

"Me? You're copying me!"

As they left the corridor, Swara watched them from the corner with a small smile. "Finally, everything seems to be falling into place. My best friend and the person I consider as close as a sister finally found their happiness."

"All thanks to you." Spoke Sanskar, coming from behind and putting a hand around her. "It's your plan that made it possible."

"Awww...you're giving me all the credit even if you created this surprise for me. That is so sweet of you!"

Sanskar looked at her in confusion. "Me? I did nothing. I didn't even know about both of them coming here I saw your text this morning."

Swara blinked in surprise. "I didn't send you any text. It was you who sent me a message giving me the idea that I should invite Laksh without telling about Ragini."

"What?! No. That was the message you had sent me!"

Swara looked troubled. It was clear that a third person had framed everything. "Do you...do you think they could be in danger?"

"I don't know Swara. Lets go inside and keep an eye on them, yeah?"

"Right!" with her nod, they both rushed inside.

Once the corridor was lonely, there was a click of heels and a chuckle, followed by a pair of boots.

"I'm surprised you planned everything for them. The girl you hated the most, and the boy you desperately wanted once." Spoke the man.

"Meh. I have my interests in it."

"Awww....is my little kitten Kavya becoming a softie? Mushy, wushy hearted eh?"

Kavya scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "As if! I still hate that girl Ragini. As for Laksh...he was never so interesting anyway. So stop your sassiness Uday."

Uday grinned. "No really. Tell me the truth. You don't go out to help people. Don't hate me, but you are kind of a bitch."

"What did you just call me?!"

"Hey, hey! I still love you! But you could be real mean sometimes!" as she grabbed his ear, he let out a yelp. "Like right now! OW! Let go!"

Frowning, she let him go with a huff. "If I am a bitch, that would make you a dog. Doggie." She smirked hoping to irritate him. However, he just smiled and held her in his arms.

"I'll be whatever you ask. But only for you."

Rolling her eyes, she pushed him away, but nevertheless, smiled. "This is why."

"Huh?"

She sighed and looked towards the distance. "That night...when I tried to seduce Laksh...although I could have easily taken advantage of the situation I didn't. Because I truly did feel sorry for myself. Sorry because I would never have that undying devotion Laksh had for Ragini. I could have his body, but not his heart. I didn't even realize I was fighting a losing battle. I wanted that devotion. I wanted someone to love me like that." She looked at him with a smile. "And guess I eventually found my one and only in you."

Uday's eyes softened. "I love you too." Coming near, he held her hand. "Let's go inside and enjoy the party then, yeah?"

Nodding with a smile, she followed as he led the way inside.

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The End

Hope you liked the fic. Thanks!

~ Mona