"How did it go?" Lakshya asked the moment Sanskaar entered his own room.

"What are you doing here?"

"Quit stalling! Tell me how did it go?" Lakshya gritted through his teeth.

"She has sent this for you," Sanskaar handed the protective thread to Lakshya, biting his cheek to stop himself from smiling.

"What the hell is this? Have you forgotten why you went there? Do you want a reminder of what is at stake?" Lakshya warned.

"What did you really expect to happen? Do you really think I am going to be able to just waltz up to her, tell her what an horrible creature you are and she is going to break the wedding just like that?" Sanskaar shook his head.

Lakshya fumed at Sanskaar.

"Why should she believe me when I say anything bad about you? You are her fiancé. She is close to your biggest fan, Badi Maa. Let's not forget she has just met me," Sanskaar reasoned.

"So get her to know you; trust you,"

"I am no Harry Potter to use spells and change someone's mind at the snap of their fingers. Why don't you wave a magic wand and see if you can make that happen?" Sanskaar rolled his eyes.

Lakshya showed him a finger, before grunting, "Ahh!"

"Scream some more. May be that will clear your head of this stupid delusion of trying to break the wedding," Sanskaar rubbed his face as he sank into his chair.

Lakshya leapt at Sanskaar and pulled him out of the chair holding his collar, "You think this is funny!" he yelled shaking Sanskaar, "You think I am playing a joke here?"

Sanskaar pulled Lakshya's hands from away from his collar and shoved him away, "Stay in your limits!"

"Or what?" Lakshya challenged, "Or what?"

Sanskaar pinched his nose to reign in his anger.

"May be I should just talk to Raghav Bhai," Lakshya said in a quiet voice.

"Talk to me about what?" Came a voice from the door.

Sanskaar jerked up to look at Raghav. His heartbeats galloping in his chest as his throat dried. His eyes went back to Lakshya.

"I...umm...I," Lakshya looked at Sanskaar trying to come up with something.

Raghav narrowed his eyes as he looked between the two, "What is going on here?" He asked gravely.

Sanskaar shook his head, not finding the words to answer him.

"Lakshya," Raghav questioned firmly

"Nothing," Lakshya said quietly avoiding Raghav's eyes

"It doesn't seem like nothing," Raghav commented firmly, "Sanskaar?"

Sanskaar looked at Raghav. He opened his mouth to speak.

"We were talking about a secret," Lakshya cut in, giving a pointed look to Sanskaar.

Sanskaar's eyes snapped up to meet Lakshya's. His heart skipped a beat. He felt a lump form in his throat. His hands had gone clammy.

Raghav looked between them skeptically, "Secret? What sort of a secret?"

"It is just something between Sanskaar Bhai and me right now, right?" Lakshya titled his head looking at Sanskaar.

Raghav raised his eyebrow and looked at Sanskaar, "Sanskaar?"

"Umm...yeah...what he said," Sanskaar said quietly not meeting his eye.

Raghav looked between the two for a couple of minutes.

"Bhai, come on stop with this third degree now," Lakshya said teasingly, "We aren't going to reveal it just yet to all you elders!"

"Elders!" Raghav raised his eyebrows, "Since when did I join the ranks of elders?"

"Bhai, you aren't going it out of us," Lakshya grinned, "Right Sanskaar Bhai?"

"Right," Sanskaar said through gritted teeth.

"Are you up to some new prank or bet?" Raghav asked narrowing his eyes, but smiling at them.

"May be," Lakshya drawled, "but you are not getting anything else out."

Raghav shook his head, smiled and raised his hand in surrender,"Fine. I don't think I can handle your craziness this early in the morning." He hobbled out of the room with the help of his leg support.

Sanskaar watched him leave the room.

"I won't make an excuse the next time around," Lakshya warned.

Sanskaar clenched his jaw and turned to look at Lakshya, "How could you..."

"I haven't done anything yet, but I hope this convinces you that I am not kidding around," Lakshya said looking at him intently.

Sanskaar looked at Lakshya silently. He had never felt so angry before. So angry that he felt numb to everything around him.

"If Ragini could see this side of you, I don't think I would need to do anything to break the wedding," Sanskaar said in a cold quiet voice.

"We can do that if you are open to discussing this in public," Lakshya shrugged his shoulder, "For now, I might have an idea that you prefer better."

***

Sanskaar entered the club, Raven. Things were in full swing already. Loud music was thumping through the speakers. Smoke permeated through the entire club. Dance floor was filled with people jumping to the beats of the music. The bar was overflowing with drinks.

He looked around until his eyes caught sight of Lakshya dancing in the midst of some woman. Dancing was probably not been the right word it. Dirty dancing suited it better. Sanskaar looked away, irritated by the blatant display that was put up.

He searched again–this time to look for the poor girl who was being subject to this. He found her sitting alone on a sofa at one corner of the club floor. She stood out, dressed in Indian clothes: a kurti and a salwar. He made his way towards her. She was intently looking at her hands.

He snapped his fingers in front of her to get her attention. She jerked away, her eyes wide as they stared at him. Sanskaar waved his hand gently in a 'hello'. She slouched in her seat and gave him a small smile.

He sat next to her and signalled that he wanted to talk. She gave him a small nod. He leaned forward, screaming into her ear to be heard over the deafening music, "I know you have beautiful hands, but you don't need to be obsessed about them."

He leaned back a bit to see her smile and blush. She shook her head at him. "Do you want anything to drink?" he screamed.

Her eyes' widened as she shook her head vigourously.

"Just soft drink," Sanskaar assured her before signalling that he was going to get one for her.

She tried to stop him, but he was gone before she could.

When Sanskaar was returning back with the drinks, he saw that she was no longer alone. A man had been leaning towards her. Ragini looked scared as she leaned away from his.

Sanskaar strode towards them. He plopped the drinks on the table and held the man's shoulder firmly, pulling him away from Ragini. The man tried to push his hand away, but Sanskaar jerked him back with a sharp tug on his arm, moving in to stand between Ragini and him. Sanskaar crossed his arms and threw a warning look at the man. The man raised his hand in surrender and rushed away.

Sanskaar sat next to Ragini, looking at the direction the man had gone–ensuring that the man wasn't trying to pull any trick. He felt a touch on his hand. He looked at it, realising it was Ragini, he looked at her questioningly.

She moved her lips trying to say something, but Sanskaar for the love of him, could not make it out. She leaned forward screaming, "I am okay. Thanks"

He nodded handing the drink to her. They sat there sipping their drinks. It was too loud to have a sensible conversation.

Sanskaar looked towards Lakshya. He was too lost dancing and moving with the woman he was with. Sanskaar glanced towards Ragini. She was studiously focusing on her drink now. He shook his head. He wasn't sure who he really wanted to straighten out in this mess.

The only thing he was sure of was that the music was staring to give him a terrible headache.

He touched Ragini's hand and tilted his head towards the direction of the exit. She looked at him like a lost puppy for a moment–unsure what to do. He extended his hand towards her, signalling her to get up. She looked at it and then at him.

He was serious about getting out of there.

She must have realised it because she glanced once at Lakshya's direction. She looked away as quickly. After deliberating for another minute, she finally held on to Sanskaar's hand and got up.

Sanskaar manoeuvred her out of the crowded club and into the fresh air outside. He saw her take a deep cleansing breath. He led her towards the steps by the club. Letting her sit down, he rushed back to one of the bouncer's in the club. The man went inside the club and returned a couple of minutes later with a small plastic cup in his hand.

"Here, this will help," Sanskaar handed the cup filled with ice to her. "It will take away some of that heady feeling."

Ragini nodded and accepted it, rubbing it along her temple.

It was quieter here. They stayed there in silence for a while before Sanskaar spoke, "Have you been to a club before?"

Ragini looked at him shyly, "Once"

"Really," Sanskaar's eyes widened, "When was this?"

"We had our final year send-off at a club," she looked down. Sanskaar could see she was feeling embarrassed, "We didn't do much," she quickly added looking at him, "They just played some Hindi songs for a while. We left in half an hour."

"It is okay," Sanskaar smiled mildly, "You haven't done any crime. You don't need to explain so much. I was just curious."

Ragini looked at him and smiled gently.

They sat together before Sanskaar broached the subject that he really wanted to talk about, "What do you think of Lakshya?"

Ragini looked at him confused, "Lakshyaji?"

Sanskaar nodded.

"He is wonderful person. Annapurna Maa–,"

"I didn't ask about what Badi Maa thinks of him," Sanskaar cut it, "I asked what you think of him. Do you think he is wonderful after...," Sanskaar tilted his head to point at the club.

"Sanskaarji, show me one person–,"

"Who doesn't have flaws. I remember, Raginiji," Sanskaar raised his eyebrows at her.

She blushed at hearing him call with Raginiji.

"Don't look at me that way. You started it. If you call me Sanskaarji, be prepared for me to call you Raginiji," he warned.

"Then what do I call you?" Ragini asked

"What do you want me to call you?" Sanskaar questioned.

"Ragini," she said tentatively

"Then you know what to call me," Sanskaar smirked as he shook his head.

"Okay," came her soft reply.

"So tell me," Sanskaar looked at her.

She raised her eyebrow in question.

"Each girl has some dreams about the person she is going to marry and what she wants him to be like. I am sure you have some dreams too," Sanskaar sat next to her on the steps, "What did you want?"

Ragini struggled, "The same thing as all girls," she said casually.

"Which is what?"

Ragini smiled mischievously ticking this off on her fingers, "Handsome, intelligent, caring, showers me with love, listens to me, is romantic, thinks along about me. You know the usual things."

Sanskaar nodded, "And does Lakshya fulfill those criteria?"

Ragini laughed, "Those aren't real criteria. All girls know that no man can measure up to the list that they have."

"So what do they care about then?" Sanskaar asked.

"Why are you asking?" Ragini wagged her eyebrows.

"I am a man of marriageable age. I should know these things," he shrugged.

Ragini giggled.

"What?" Sanskaar raised his eyebrow

"You had a heart attack this morning just listening to the pandit's comment," Ragini smirked.

"He took me by surprise!" Sanskaar defended.

"So if he had given you warning, then you would have been okay?" Ragini pressed her lips together trying to prevent laughter from erupting.

"Of course! That man had no sense of timing," Sanskaar shook his head.

"Right!"

Sanskaar rolled his eyes, "You haven't answered my question."

Ragini scrunched her eyebrows.

"What do you girls really care about?...In a man."

"I cannot say about all the girls. It is different for each one," Ragini said after pondering for a while.

"What is it that you want?" Sanskaar pushed her answer.

"Someone who respects me and gives me a place in his heart," Ragini said softly.

"And does Lakshya do that?" Sanskaar asked quietly. He knew the answer to it already. He just hoped Ragini would realise it too.

"Respect has to be earned and a place in the heart has to be made," Ragini said softly before looking at him, "And I know that with time, I will get those both with Lakshyaji."

Sanskaar looked at Ragini. She seemed confident, but he couldn't be sure if that was because she truly believed it or because she was hoping for it so ardently.

***

Sanskaar carried a drunk Lakshya on his shoulders as he walked up the stairs. He had dropped Ragini at her home on their way back. If given a choice, he would have left Lakshya in the car or in the living room and let him suffer the result of his actions, but the thought of Badi Maa made him carry lug the weight all the way to Lakshya's room.

He threw Lakshya on his bed the moment they reached Lakshya's room and rubbed his shoulder. It had already began to ache because of the weight. Sanskaar looked at Lakshya and shook his head.

"Idiot!" Sanskaar muttered annoyed.

Lakshya mumbled something but Sanskaar couldn't make it out. Sanskaar made to leave the room when he heard Lakshya mumble again. This time his words were a lot clearer.

"I will sort everything...baby..."

Sanskaar raised his eyebrow and walked back. Lakshya was at his flirting again. He wanted to whack him in the head. Lakshya would probably not even realise it with the hangover he was going to suffer.

"Will sort...everything...before," Lakshya continued to mutter, "...before the...baby...comes."

Sanskaar stopped mid-step. He walked back to Lakshya and shook him hard.

"Wake up!," he muttered angrily as he shook him again.

But Lakshya was out cold. There was no waking him up now. And even it he tried, he wouldn't get anything sensible from Lakshya.

"Bloody hell! What was that?" Sanskaar muttered looking at Lakshya.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you are still finding this story enjoyable. If you did like the story, please do vote. I would love to hear what you think of this Sanskaar, Lakshya and Ragini.