Sanskaar stood alone in Gadodia terrace. 

Wedding rituals had started in full force. He had silently sat through Lakshya's haldi function in the morning. Lakshya had glared at him. He for his part, could care less.

When he was dragged in to drive the women in his family for Ragini's haldi, it had been a bit too much. He didn't want to sit through that ritual. 

He didn't want to see Ragini take one more step closer to marrying Lakshya. 

And yet, there was little in his control. 

It was like a whirlpool had been let loose and he was trapped in the middle. It mattered less how much he fought it, it would always lead to the same place: down a one way spiral that had no return.

He had always heard that when troubles come in, they come all together. Now, he was experiencing it.

Everything in him wanted the marriage stopped.

He could not care less about Lakshya and his notions of freedom. Really. He just didn't give a damn any more.

But the secret that he held buried inside him wasn't as easy to ignore. Neither were the feelings for her that tore at his heart.

Against it stood the source of those feelings. Wiling to sacrifice herself for her mother's last wish.  Sanskaar had no doubt she would do everything to fulfil it. And if she couldn't... He shuddered to think that. 

Guilt is tough to live with. He knew. 

It nibbles at you slowly but steadily until it is too late and you are gone–in the only way that matters. Taking away your will to truly live. To allow yourself to be happy. To thrive.

That meshing together of the past and her was no coincidence. That was exactly what was on line. 

Whatever happened in two days was going to decide who would be under that white sheet when it all ended. 

***

"You hide everything," she said from behind him.

He turned to his side to see her. She was covered in turmeric, hiding her face. But nothing could hide that twinkle in her eye or her teasing smile. He watched it closely, tracing every sparkle, every glint in his mind.

"You hide everything," she said again.

"What?" he asked shaking out of his thoughts.

"Your flaw," she said, "Remember you had challenged me to find it."

"What do I hide?" he asked quietly.

"I dont know," she said looking into his eyes deeply, "But I will find out one day."

He blinked and looked away, "You look like a banana," he said, "Monkeys are going to come after you."

"Are you calling yourself a monkey?" 

He shook his head grinning, "No. I am calling you a banana," he said before running his finger along her cheek to gather some turmeric paste and smearing it on her nose.

Her jaw dropped for a second before her eyes narrowed. She lifted some of the turmeric paste on her fingers and tried to smear him. Sanskaar held her wrist to stop her. She tried it with her other hand, but he held it away from them again. He raised his eyebrow in challenge.  She huffed and then looked away. He loosened his grip on her wrist. 

She stood on her toes in the next instance and rubbed her cheek against his.

Sanskaar's eyes widened. He let go of her wrist and touched his cheek.

Ragini laughed and ran away after yelling, "Now you are a banana too!" 

***

Sanskaar watched Lakshya walk away under the pretence of another call. He saw Ragini watching him as he left. Her face had gone dull.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and walk towards her.

She smiled seeing him and titled her head to her side, asking him to sit. Two mehendi artists were applying bridal mehendi designs on her hands and feet.

"What is wrong?" he whispered leaning closer.

She shook her head.

He titled his head closer to hers, looking at her intently.

She bit her lip.

"Dont move your fingers," the mehendi artist warned quickly as Ragini tried to clasp her fingers.

"What is it?" Sanskaar asked seriously.

She looked at him for a long minute before speaking in a tentative voice, "Does Lakshyaji want to marry me?"

Sanskaar moved back a bit. 

"I mean, I dont expect him to love me or anything. I have to work on that and I am," she quickly added, "But..."

"But what?"

"As the wedding is approaching, he seems more and more annoyed," she said softly.

Sanskaar watched her silently for a long time.

"Am I wrong?" she asked, "Please tell me. Is there something about me he doesn't like? I can change–"

"Ragini..."

"What is it?" she asked quietly, "Maa..."

"Chose him for you. It was her last wish. I know," Sanskaar said watching her closely.

"Maybe I should talk to him. Ask what is wrong?" she continued to blabber.

"Ragini."

"I...I–"

"Ragini," Sanskaar held her shoulder, "You are too worried over this."

"Am I really?" she asked quietly, looking into his eyes.

He looked into her bright eyes. Soulful eyes. Eyes that he couldn't see becoming dull again,"It is just pre-wedding nervousness," he said quietly.

She watched him silently.

"Hang on," he said before calling over Annapurna. 

Ragini tried to pull at his hand to stop him, but the mehendi designer gave her another warning for trying to ruin the design.

"Badi Maa, your would-be daughter-in-law is worried that Lakshya doesnt want to marry her."

"What?" Annapurna asked looking at Ragini.

"Why don't you get Lakshya here and ask him in front of her?" Sanskaar suggested.

Lakshya grumbled as he walked over, "What happened? I have a important call at work."

"You are getting married soon. Keep the work aside for a couple of days," Annapurna warned, "Tell Ragini you are happy with the wedding."

Lakshya looked at her, Ragini and then at Sanskaar. He clenched his jaw. "What is this about?"

"I asked you something. Just answer it," Annapurna said firmly.

Sanskaar could see Ragini fiddling in her seat even as he watched his brother closely.

Lakshya looked at Sanskaar intently, "Of course. What do you think, Sanskaar Bhai?"

"How would I know?" 

"Well then let me assure you," Lakshya said turning to his mother, "I will be very happy on the wedding day." He turned to look at Sanskaar, "Sanskaar Bhai is going to ensure that I am happy. Isn't that right?" he said titling his head and smirking at Sanskaar away from his mother's and Ragini's eye.

"See. He is happy," Annapurna assured Ragini. 

Ragini nodded quietly.

Lakshya nodded at Sanskaar, "If everyone is happy, I need to make that call now."

***

"Do you think this will color deep?" Ragini asked him after the mehendi artist was done with her.

"Forget Lakshya, the entire family loves you. It might turn black."

"Black is not good in weddings, right?" Ragini asked wide-eyed.

"I mean-"

"Sanskaar!" Sujata strode over to them. She had a rigid look on her face. "Come with me."

Sanskaar looked at Ragini for a second.

"Now," Sujata bit out loudly.

Sanskaar nodded and made to follow her when she grabbed her arm and dragged him away. "I can walk by myself, Mom."

"You are all grown up now, aren't you?" Sujata grumbled.

"What?" Sanskaar shook his head, "Can you tell me what is going on at least?"

Sujata didnt answer and dragged him outside the Gadodia house.

"Mom!"

"What is going on between Ragini and you?" Sujata asked crossing her arm.

Sanskaar frozen. His heart beat raced. He could feel something almost punch him in the stomach knocking the air out. "What?" he fumbled.

"Dont what me. I asked you something. Is there something going on between Ragini and you?"

"Why would you ask that?" Sanskaar asked trying to steady his heart beats. Did she know? Could she see through him? 

"That... That Kavita called," Sujata blurted angry, "She said you were getting married to Ragini."

"Kavita?" Sanskaar asked. What? 

"She called me!" Sujata muttered, "What is going on? You know–"

"We lied." Sanskaar let out.

"What?" 

"Ragini and I, we lied to her. She met us at the sitar concert and tried to imply that you had chosen her."

"What!" Sujata yelled wide-eyed, "The nerve of that girl. I would never chose her. I don't want to destroy your life. Or mine."

Sanskaar nodded.

"So there is nothing between Ragini and you?" Sujata asked again.

"Ragini is marrying Lakshya," he said quietly not adding anything else.

Sujata nodded, "As long as it was just for that Kavita..." Sujata muttered walking away.

***

Sanskaar watched the family fuss around Ragini trying to feed her in the evening.

"They look really happy, don't they?" Lakshya asked from behind him.

Sanskaar felt his jaw tighten. He didnt turn around to look as Lakshya came to stand next to him.

"Do you really think you have achieved something great making me say those things in front of Maa?" Lakshya asked.

Sanskaar stayed silent.

"Did you see Savita kaki on the sangeet night. She was crying so much."

Sanskaar turned to look at Lakshya who was watching him intently.

"Think about what will happen in two days when she comes to know the truth. The complete truth," Lakshya said, "That is, of course, only if you don't stop the wedding."

Thanks for reading. It was so great to read all your comments and thoughts about the story. I cannot thank you enough for it. Hope the story is picking up the pace for you now. 

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