Durgaprasad looked at Sanskaar for a second before turning towards Lakshya and the mandap. "We will talk after the wedding."

"We need to talk now," Sanskaar said firmly.

Lakshya stared at Sanskaar wide-eyed, "What?" he whispered.

"What is it that cannot wait?" Durgaprasad all but yelled at Sanskaar.

Lakshya tried to catch Sanskaar's eye, but Sanskaar was focused only on his father. No!

"I killed Hari Kaka and crippled Raghav Bhai for life."

Lakshya squeezed his eyes shut with a small shake of his head.

Durgaprasad jerked around to look at Sanskaar. He wasnt the only one. Everyone in his family stared at him. Eyes wide, jaw hanging.

Silence enveloped the entire tent. There were no sounds except for the soft flutter of the holy fire in the mandap.

"Sanskaar, what are you saying?" Sujata screamed when she found her voice.

"What did you say?" Durgaprasad asked in a low chilling voice.

"I ...," Sanskaar croaked, his eyes misting seeing the cold look in Durgaprasad's eyes, "I killed ..."

"Are you in your senses?" Ram asked rushing to his son and shaking him.

Sanskaar looked at his father silently. His eyes unable to meet his father's for long as he looked away.

"I am asking you something?" Ram yelled pulling at Sanskaar's arm forcefully.

"Ram," Durgaprasad warned in his steely voice as he focused on his nephew.

Sanskaar looked at Durgaprasad for a second before looking down.

"Finish what you were saying, Sanskaar," Durgaprasad ordered.

"Bade–" Sanskaar stopped seeing Durgaprasad's raised hand.

"Don't. Don't address me by that," Durgaprasad said in a grave tone, "I want to know what you did. Nothing else."

Sanskaar stared at his Bade Papa for a minute. His eyes tearing up at the words that he had heard. He had expected it. But it still hurt.

"I ...we were playing in the factory premises," Sanskaar continued after taking a deep breath, "I followed Raghav bhai in the under construction area. We ..." Sanskaar clenched his fist looking down, "We got into a fight. It was silly, I know. But I was angry. Beyond angry."

"Sanskaar ..." he heard his mother whisper. Her voice full of emotions.

Sanskaar closed his eyes, "I ...," he took a shaky breath, "I pushed at him. Raghav Bhai moved back a few steps. I ...I kicked hard at my foot hurling a small stone at him."

Sanskaar heard a gasp somewhere. He did dare to look up.

"He moved out of the way," Sanskaar ploughed on quietly, "I hit again. I ...I didn't realise that there was a live wire by my feet."

A choked sob reached his ears. He felt tears slip down his ears as he motors on. He was closing every door back into the family. Can I live without them? A part of him asked. But it was too late to stop now.

"The wire ...it flung in the air landing by Raghav Bhai's feet. I didnt realise he was standing in water. He ..." He took another shaking breath, "Hari Kaka ..."

"Don't stop," Durgaprasad's voice had turned colder if it was possible, "I want to hear everything."

Sanskaar nodded gently not daring to look up. His voice cracked as he spoke, "Hari Kaka rushed in, hearing the screams. He picked up the wire and ..." Sanskaar looked up at Durgaprasad, "Hari Kaka is gone because of ...me."

Her heard his mother let out a sob. He looked at her to see her almost collapse. His father grabbed her quickly, supporting her as he glanced at Sanskaar with look that flitted a myriad of emotions–anger, hurt, disappointment ...pain.

A loud voice rang through the air. Sanskaar stumbled a bit. His cheek stung with a fire he had never experienced before. He looked up to see Durgaprasad stare at him. His eyes flowing with anger and hate.

Before anyone else had a chance to react, Sanskaar felt his cheek sting again. And then again. Another loud slap and he could feel his ears ringing.

Durgaprasad was pouring out anger and every bit of the hate he felt just then through his slaps. But they were enough. Nothing would be enough for the loss he experienced. His family experienced.

All because of Sanskaar.

Durgaprasad's hands grabbed on to the first thing that came within its grips.

Sanskaar's eyes caught the wooden walking stick in his Bade Papa's hands. But he did nothing to stop the onslaught coming his way. He deserved it. Deserved it for a long time. And he would take it happily if it meant protective those close to him.

Pain shot through Sanskaar's arms as the stick made contact. He staggered a bit. The stick continued to rain until he fell.

"No!" a voice screamed somewhere at a distance.

Sanskaar wasnt sure where. But through his blurry vision he saw a red blur rush towards him.

"Dont hurt him," the voice pleaded.

Ragini.

Ragini tried to cover Sanskaar, as she turned to look at Durgaprasad and plead to spare Sanskaar.

Duragaprasad's hand was already in motion. The stick making its way down towards her as she got in the way. She turned around squeezing her eyes shut.

But the stick never hurt her.

She looked up, as did Sanskaar.

Sanskaar saw Raghav hold on to the stick midway.

Durgaprasad looked at Raghav, eyes wide open. He tried to say something but only a croak emerged before he tried again, "Raghav?"

Raghav looked at Durgaprasad and shook his head, "Sanskaar has made a mistake."

"Mistake! Mistake! Your father's death. My brother's death was because of a mistake?" Durgaprasad bellowed.

Raghav shook his head again, "Bade Papa, Sanskaar has not told you the whole truth."

Sanskaar's eyes snapped to look at Raghav. His heart thundered in his chest.

"What do you mean?" Durgaprasad bellowed.

"Bade Papa, Sanskaar was right when he said that we had that fight ..."

Sanskaar watched Raghav, frozen in the spot where he lay on the ground.

"But he was wrong about the rest of it," Raghav said glancing at Sanskaar.

Sanskaar shook his head slightly. He had to stop Raghav.

Raghav looked away and back at Durgaprasad, "Sanskaar didnt fling the wire at me."

"No," Sanskaar pleaded

"He was trying to walk away from the fight in a huff. He stumbled, almost tripping on the wire," Raghav said, "I rushed ahead to help him, but I never got there. A live wire had moved out falling into water. In my rush to help, I didn't realise it and stepped into the puddle."

Sanskaar gasped staring at Raghav.

Raghav looked back at him. He bent down gently with the help of his support, kneeling in front of Sanskaar.

Sanskaar watched him. He tried to speak but words had left him.

Raghav looked at him pointedly and gave a discreet shake of the head, "I didnt realise you spent all this time believing that you had flung the wire at me," he said in firm voice.

"Raghav," Durgaprasad said tentatively

Raghav straightened and looked back at Durgaprasad, glancing once at his mother who was sobbing hard. Her pain brought back afresh.

"I don't understand," Duragaprasad said quietly

"I remembered what happened," Raghav said, "But it was too painful for me to bring it up again," he said blinking away his tears, "You didnt bring it up with me for the same reason too, isn't?" he asked.

Durgaprasad nodded.

"Sanskaar didnt hurt me. He didnt kill Papa," Raghav said firmly, "He had been living under false quilt all this time. We–"

Durgaprasad squeezed Raghav's shoulder and nodded.

Sujata and Ram rushed to their son helping him up. Sujata peppered his face with kisses even as she sobbed.

"I am okay, Mom," he whispered looking away. He still couldn't meet their eyes. His glance drifted towards Raghav, who gave him a small nod.

Silence enveloped the tent once again. This was much more calming for most of them. Sanskaar was still in turmoil. Why had Raghav covered the truth? Did he know who had really flung the wire?

Sanskaar felt a delicate hand on his arm, he looked to see Ragini watching him. Teary eyes. "Ragini," he whispered tentatively.

Someone cleared their throat. All eyes trained towards the source. Panditji. "Is the wedding still on?" he asked tentatively.

Annapurna wiped her tears, "Yes," she said looking at Lakshya who was standing in the mandap still. Her eyes looked around for the bride before they found her near Sanskaar.

With all the chaos, all focus had only been on Sanskaar, Raghav and Durgaprasad.

"Ragini," Annapurna called out, walking towards her.

Ragini took a deep breath looking at Annapurna, Durgaprasad, her grandparents before finally resting on her father.

"Sanskaar has said his truth," she said after clearing her throat, "Now it is my turn."

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