RAGINI'S POV

Ever had the feeling when you wanted mother Earth to badly swallow you up to save the embarrassment the world is throwing at you? Well, that's exactly how I felt when I fell on the ground, my entire face flushing with embarrassment. I fell on my right knee, my ankle carefully twisted underneath as I saw everyone in the studio freeze. I can practically picture Swara's death glares from the other side of the room and  the pity looks from people around me.

Uh..what now?

I disentangled myself from the wires when I noticed a familiar hand help me stand up. I tilted my head to see Laksh, glancing at me with worry and concern. From the corner of the eye, I noticed Swara on the edge of blowing up, her face engulfed with vexation. Sanskaar beside her, was frantically trying to calm her down, but I knew better. He was most probably suppressing his laugh, but alas, I can't really do anything right now. Laksh, boggled by my behaviour, shook my shoulders gently, staring at me incredulously.

Well, I am sitting in the centre of the stage while the show is airing live. Great way to start my day.

"Thanks," I gave him by dazzled smile, scurrying myself off the platform.

The host wiggled her eyebrows at me while I felt the heated glares of the rest of the ladies behind my head, clearly portraying their wrath. Am I missing something?

I quickly removed my hand from Laksh before heading back to the stands where the rest of the ladies were seated, glaring at me, Nita in particular, looked like she was ready to rip my head off.

I would like to see you try that, I mentally grinned at where my thoughts were heading.

"Well, that was quite an entry," the host snickered as she resumed her explanation of rules, "As this is our special segment of Matchmaker, we are going to have some fun as I have tweaked the rules a little. Well, there are going to be three rounds. We are going to start off with a talent show, each contestant will have to do something to impress the gentleman here."

"I must say, I am quite picky. Unless you waited for me for two years, you wouldn't know," Laksh said, directing his gaze directly at me.

I scowled at his attempts to flirt, he can't even stop even while we are on a show.

"You all have five minutes to prepare an act for Laksh here while we make him do some work," the host continued, indicating us to get off the stage.

I crossed through the army of ladies fighting for the manager's attention for all the items they need for their 'special' act as I headed towards Swara and Sanskaar.

"Er, Swara, what is my talent?" I asked her bemused as she glared at me, the clipboard set on her hips, looking way too much like our high school principal.

"I don't know, falling down maybe? You can show them how to fall down in thousand different ways," she sarcastically retorted, her voice edged with fury.

"I could even say how we could fall on our sisters if they show way too much sarcasm," I played along with a bright smile on my face as I grumbled beneath. Why is everyone so damn determined that I fell on purpose. Why do they think I am? Some girl who liked to be embarrassed on international television? Hell no.

"Cut down the slack, idiots," Sanskaar intervened into our fight.

"Did you just call me an idiot?" Swara snapped back at him making him look at her incredulously.

"I think the important part if about my talent," I attempted to divert their attention to my problem.

"I did call you an idiot. In fact you are one so I don't see why it is a problem," Sanskaar argued back, proving how much of an idiot he is. Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut?

"I can't sing nor can I dance alone. I don't know any magic tricks, do you think-" I kept talking to him, despite knowing that they were too busy arguing.

"Whose ring am I wearing?" Swara shot back, literally shoving her hand in his face.

"Mine, so?"

"Oh, so you are saying that your fiancee is an idiot or the fact that I am an idiot for choosing you," Swara deadpanned while I turned her face back at me.

"Do you think I can mimic people? Wait! I am good at sarcasm, is that a talent?" I asked her jovially.

"Here's the thing, I didn't say that, stop twisting my words," Sanskaar responded from the side, successfully launching her into another argument.

"I am not twisting your words! I am elaborating them," Swara hissed back.

"Wow, you both do fight like a married couple,"I loudly declared which made them both turn back at me.

"We are going to get married!"

"Geez, chill. I was just joking. Coming back to my talents," I began when a hand tapped me on my shoulder.

"Why are you still here?" the manager asked me irritated.

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone is already in their seats," he told me, pointing to the place where all the ladies were seated.

"But I don't have a talent!" I exclaimed in worry.

He looked at me as I declared he was an orphan before saying, "Whatever woman, get on stage."

I turned back to Swara for some help but I heard her snapping at Sanskaar, "You cannot say that-"

"Don't tell me what to do!" Sanskaar burst out, ending my hopes on them as I walked with the manager on stage.

What a bunch of weirdos, they were fighting for no apparent reason.

For the next hour, several people showcased their unique talents which included teaching a dog to dance, applying makeup with food, dancing, singing, and even magic tricks. The magic trick was the best show I have so far, the girl looked extremely confident with her tricks but ended up throwing all the milk on top of Laksh. The poor guy lost it after that, if not for Sanskaar, I would bet Laksh would have fled off from here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LAKSH'S POV

I applauded as the girl finished her little singing session, honestly, it wasn't bad but I am not interested in classical music. It makes me sleepy, it's the kind of of music Ma used to play for us to go to sleep, acting similar to a lullaby. The concept of the talent show seemed fun in the beginning, before Saachi decided to spill warm milk all over me.

"Next up, we have Nita Talwar," the speaker's announced as Nita walked to the centre of the stage, beaming at me.

"So, Nita, what talent are you going to show us?" Julia, the host, enquired while I perked up with interest.

"Bring me any cloth and I can change it into a piece of clothing in ten minutes," she swanked proudly.

"Sounds like a challenge to me, please present her any cloth on set," Julia announced.

A spot boy ran towards her, handing her a piece of black cloth and her tool kit. The tool kit of nightmare, I remember how some needles in that kit pierced through my hand when I tried to steal candy from that kit. I am sure even burglars don't get their hands pierced the way I did for stealing and get this, I didn't even get to steal!

"Your time starts now," Julia declared causing the timer behind her to start.

Nita took a quick second for looking at the cloth before trimming out the edges, she took a few laces and started to pin the borders with needles. She took out a silver necklace, embedded with several studs, and attached it to the border of the cloth, molding the edges in such a way that they glued to the ends. For the final touch, she took out her silver marker and signed the cloth at the edge.

"Time up," I shot out the minute the clock hit ten.

"Ready."

"So, what is that?" I asked her curiously as I saw her lift the cloth up.

She grinned at me before wrapping the cloth around her neck acting like a scarf (A/N, like the pic on the top) and the entire set burst into applause. Well, she is a fashion designer after all, I couldn't have expected any less. She really deserves someone as talented as her and clearly it is not me.

"This is the best I have seen so far," I praised her as she gave us a quick bow.

"I second that. No one could have done anything better."

"Thanks," Nita mumbled before walking back to the seats.

"Next up, Ragini Gadodia," the speakers announced as Ragini walked to the centre.

I winked at her making her pass a death glare in my direction before confidently taking the mike.

"What are you talents, my dear?" Julia asked her warmly.

"Does sarcasm count?" Ragini asked irked when I chuckled.

"Uh, sure?" Julia blurted out unsure when Ragini interrupted.

"Just kidding, my real talent is racing."

I could see Swara from the corner of my eyes slap her forehead in dismay the minute the words came out of Ragini's mouth. This would be fun. Where is Swara going to get a racing track from? She was the organizer of this entire event.

"Seriously? Our groom himself is a racer. Why don't we have a race between both of you?"Julia started to rant quickly while I stared at Ragini who was looking hesitant.

"Whatever the pretty lady wishes," I blurt out when the camera focuses on my reaction.

"Stay tuned while we come back with a racing experience for you," Julia covered up the entire situation and brought in the commercials.

"Race track? We need a race track," Julia declared frantically, rushing to Swara for a plan.

"Why couldn't you just sing, dance or something. You need a race track, seriously?" Sanskaar began to shake his head in disbelief near Ragini.

"Well, I am sorry, I had no one to help me prepare because somebody was busy fighting with his fiancee," she snapped back and I made my way to them.

"Don't you have any other talents?" Sanskaar nudged her slyly while she smacked his arm in return.

"You could have just gone with your sarcasm," I replied making her scoff at me.

"Both of you stand here, we are going to find a video and throw your faces in it," Swara mumbled hysterically as she gave the photographer a bunch of instructions.

"You gotta be kidding me," Ragini pouted with frustration. What was she expecting? The set to magically transform into a race track?

"We have ten minutes before the commercials end, shut up and get going," Swara snapped while Sanskaar dragged us both to front.

"Just make sure I win," I called out to them once our photos were taken.

"I still cannot understand why I am here," Ragini mumbled as a yawn escaped her.

"To win me," I responded back with enthusiasm.

"You are the first person who likes to be known as a nonliving thing."

"Quit being a grunch."

"What's the next round?"

"Compatibility tests."

"How exciting."

"Is it done?" I asked Swara as she shoved me back to my seat.

"The video we found only showed the racers faces twice so we are good. Hurry up and get back to your place."

This woman needs to chill and I still don't understand why got on her nerves for her to behave like this.

"After that amazing race while both our contestants and the groom are getting changed, I would like all the other ladies to line up along the edge," Julia proceeded with the show once the video of Ragini's imaginary talent, "Laksh, your job is to hand out this white rose to top twenty contestants who have amused you with their talents."

Before I could understand, a bundle of white flowers were placed in my hand. I flashed the camera a smile before walking to the rows of girls. I handed the first rose to Nita and mumbled in her ear,

"Good job."

She blushed before muttering a thank you and I passed a few more girls and gave the fourth one a rose before mumbling in her ear,

"Good job."

I pushed past the rest of the line to Ragini who was eyeing me cautiously, her eyes narrowing at my smirk. Before passing her a rose, I mumbled into her ear,

"If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, my garden would conceal the entire earth."

Her cheeks caught on fire as I passed the rose onto her, knowing that her mood would instantly lighten up with my casual pick up lines.

Ah! I am so considerate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RAGINI'S POV

I frowned as Laksh came up to me, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he leaned in to whisper in my ear,

"If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, my garden would conceal the entire earth."

My breath hitched as I stared into his chocolate eyes filled with intense love, holding me prisoner to his eyelock. My heart accelerated at a speed uncommon to mankind as placed the rose in my hand and moved on. Of course, no one noticed our little moment but it was enough to leave me breathless. No matter how much ever cheesy and stupid his pick up lines were, they made my day. I had a feeling he knew that, which is why he comes up with all these. My former sulky mood was now replaced with idiotic smiles. This guy sure knows how to make a girl feel special!

He winked at me once more before taking his seat next to the host. The ladies without a rose were asked to leave and all of us, remaining, were sitting with our backs to the camera. The spot boys took turns handing us out small whiteboards and markers for the compatibility tests.

"Let's start, what is your ideal date."

I grinned in triumph, these were the same ones from Holi, we went through that without even knowing each other and now we would definitely get through this. The memories of my answers flashed as I wrote them down.

By the end of the round, we turned around to reveal our scores. I had matched all of them while there were five other people who got close. All the six of us stayed seated while the others left the stage.

"This is going to be the most fun round, we are going to have an auction! The auction involves bidding for items that will win Laksh's heart. Now, he has already picked thirty things from the entire set of hundred and fifty collections of different souvenirs. The one who picks out the most of his choices will get to go on a date with him."

My jaw dropped as they dragged on stage a huge open shelf filled with different souvenirs from Italian cutlery to Canada's CN tower. Oh great, how the hell am I supposed to know what he picked from here. It's not like we discussed all his trips before. He could have been to Australia for all I know! I glanced at Nita who had a sly smirk on her face, please don't tell me she knew all the places he visited. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEY!

Will Ragini ever be able to figure the thirty items of Laksh? Almost after a month right? My exams are running, infact I have still have one on Tuesday but still I am here for an update! SO I better get lots of votes!!!!! And all SwaSan readers, there will be more swasan scenes next chapter. 

VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE!