"Why are you being so difficult," Lakshya complained, "I am really sorry about what I put you through."

"Lakshya, if you really cared, you wouldn't have done it in the first place," Sanskaar bit out.

"I was desperate," Lakshya reasoned, "I was always planning to make up for it once we were through."

"You cannot make up for this!"

"Come on, Bhai," Lakshya pleaded, "You did find your love, Ragini because of this. You are married to her because of my actions."

Sanskaar poked a finger into Lakshya's chest, "I am with Ragini despite of your dare. Not because of it! Did you forget the secret that I had to reveal out there?"

"You lied to them," Lakshya said

"I took the entire blame on my head and that is all they need to know," Sanskaar warned.

"So when everything is resolved now,, why cannot you forgive me?"

Sanskaar eyed Lakshya with a cold stare, "I can never forgive you."

"Why not?" said a voice behind them. 

Raghav.

He walked slowly to them, "If I can forgive the two of you for withholding such a big thing, why can you not forgive Laskshya," Raghav asked fixing his eyes on Sanskaar.

Sanskaar's expression sobered, "Raghav Bhai ..."

"The two of you lied to me because you were scared," Raghav said in a serious voice, "Now he has pressurised you in his own fear. Both of you crossed some lines you should not have. I deserved to know this."

Sanskaar felt guilt course through him anew.

"I ..." Lakshya tried to speak, but stopped when he saw Raghav shake his head.

"I cannot express how much it has hurt me to know that you hide something this big from me," Raghav whispered softly as his voice cracked with emotions.

Sanskaar and Lakshya watched him silently. 

"I don't want this to happen again," Raghav said, his voice firm now, "Never again."

Sanskaar and Lakshya gave a firm nod.

"Lakshya, go. I need to talk to Sanskaar alone," Raghav said.

Lakshya opened his mouth to speak, but shut it as quickly. He glanced at Sanskaar once before turning to Raghav. 

"Go," Raghav said again, "Sanskaar will forgive you," he said watching Sanskaar, "eventually."

Sanskaar met Raghav's eyes. What could he really say? What must Raghav have felt when he heard the lie?

Raghav glanced back to make sure Lakshya was gone before turning to Sanskaar, "Now, I want your truth."

"But you already–"

"I want to hear you speak it."

Sanskaar met Raghav's eyes. There was a cold fury there. He took a shaky breath. "I was hiding in a cupboard. I saw the two of you come in. You were fighting ..."

"Then what?" 

"Then I saw her pick up the wire and throw it at you in a fit of rage," Sanskaar confessed, his voice cracking as he spoke before going silent.

"It was Uttara then," Raghav broke the silence 

Sanskaar's eyes snapped to met Raghav's. His breath caught in his throat, "You ...you didn't remember?"

Raghav shook his head. 

"Then how?" Sanskaar breathed out

"I heard Lakshya threaten you," Raghav admitted, "Also, you speak in your sleep with tense. It was surprising I hadn't heard this before."

Sanskaar gaped at Raghav. Cold sweat breaking on his forehead, as it finally sunk in.

"I suspected it was her," Raghav said catching Sanskaar's eye, "But I wasn't sure. Not until now. She always had an angry streak in her ..."

"It was my fault," Sanskaar whispered.

"What was?" 

"What happened fifteen years back ..." Sanskaar said, "I just stayed there watching everything happen. Frozen."

"Would have been able to stop it?" 

"I could have done something," Sanskaar blurted, "Anything. Stoped your fight sooner. Rushed over when she picked up the wire."

"Could you have stoped her?" 

Sanskaar's eyes glazed as he went back to the moment, "I don't know"

"Don't you?" Raghav asked.

Sanskaar gulped. Sometimes it was a tough choice deciding between helplessness and regret of not having acted. He wished he could have been able to do something. "I should have raised alarm when Hari kaka got hurt at least. Maybe if doctors had gotten to him sooner ..."

"Do you know how papa died?" Raghav asked him quietly.

"Because of the shock ..."

Raghav nodded, "Partly."

Sanskaar stared at Raghav blankly.

"The second that current passed through him, it weakened his heart," Raghav explained, "Doctors revived him at the hospital, but his heart was too weak. He had a massive heart attack shortly afterwards."

Sanskaar waited for Raghav to speak. He felt there was more.

"It wasn't because of the long exposure. The damage was done in the first instance itself."

Sanskaar looked away, letting Raghav's words seep through his conscience.

"For the longest time, I thought I was responsible for Papa's death. He died saving me. Now ..." 

Sanskaar snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Raghav. His words brining up another fear. Uttara. Dread rose in his all over again. "What are you going to do?" Sanskaar asked urgently, "Uttara ...she doesn't remember anything of what happened. I promise you she doesn't. She was too young to understand what could happen  ...barely 7.  I ...I kept an eye on her. She has changed."

Raghav watched Sanskaar quietly, "Is that what you were doing when you asked after her everyday while in Mumbai?"

Sanskaar didn't answer. He couldn't. His head was buzzing with thoughts of what could happen.

"What do you want me to do?" Raghav asked seriously.

Sanskaar looked at him mutely.

"As a brother, I can forgive her for what happened to me. As Hariprasad Maheshwari's son, I know he would want me to forgive her too," Raghav continued, his eyes fixed in Sanskaar, "But I am also Savita Maheshwari's son. I have seen her go through pain and loneliness. I have see her cry herself to sleep."

Sanskaar felt his eyes prick when he remember her breaking down in the past few days.

Raghav sighed. "I wont say anything to anyone."

Sanskaar's jerked up to look at him wide-eyed.

"Maa considers Uttara as good as her own daughter. Knowing that your own daughter is responsible for your husband's death ..." Raghav shook his head, "I cannot do that to her."

"What ...what are you going to do?" Sanskaar asked again.

"You have done your part. Now I am taking over," Raghav said firmly.

Sanskaar furrowed his brows, "My part?"

"I will keep an eye on her from now on," Raghav declared.

"Eye on who?" came a feminine voice from behind them.

Sanskaar swung on his feet, turning around to see Uttara staring at them with a questioning look. Sanskaar could feel his heartbeat spike.

"Who are you planning to watch?" Uttara asked again walking closer.

"You," Raghav said calmly

Sanskaar's snapped to look at him, at them.

"Why?" Uttara asked pouting.

"Well, Adarsh bhaiya is usually busy with Pari Bhabhi. Lakshya is off to Delhi. And you think Sanskaar will have time now, now that Ragini is here."

Uttara smirked, "For that, you have to look after yourself first. I have to keep an eye on you instead."

"Now I watch you back too," Raghav declared.

Uttara humphred, "We will see about that," she said before turning to look at Sanskaar, "And what are you doing here?" 

Sanskaar looked away from Raghav and at her.

"Ragini bhabhi has been waiting for you," she teased, "I was waiting too. I wanted to demand my share of the money to let you in," she complained, "But you just wouldn't turn up. I had to come looking for you."

Sanskaar just gaped at her. After everything, he was in a different world.

"You don't have to gawk at me," Uttara shot, glaring at him, "I don't want your money anymore. Just go."

Sanskaar looked at Raghav. 

Raghav stepped closer and gave him a hug whispering, "Go. I have this now." He pulled back meeting Sanskaar's eyes.

Sanskaar watched him for second before Uttara pulled at his arm and pushed him away. 

***

When Sanskaar walked into the room, he found Ragini by the mirror. She turned around seeing him. She was still dressed in the wedding trousseau. Even without the make-up and all that jewellery, she looked divine. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes landed on the mangalsutra around her neck and the vermillion on her forehead. 

Ragini walked over to him. She smiled brightly wrapping her arm around his back, "I was wondering if you were going to show up. I wasn't sure of the extent of your phobia," she teased as she hugged him closer.

Sanskaar pulled her back gently, looking at her seriously.

Ragini frowned, "I thought I was just saying that to tease you, but now ..."

Sanskaar cleared his throat, "There is something I want to tell you."

***

"Are you mad at me?" Sanskaar asked watching her cautiously as she stood lost in her own world.

"I should be," Ragini said, her lips pressed together in a thin line.

"But you are not?" Sanskaar asked hopefully.

Ragini made a face. "Your dare did help me get rid of Lakshya," she mused.

"Exactly," Sanskaar said brightly, moving closer to her, "We would have never found each other otherwise."

"Hmm ...I am still trying to figure out if that is a good thing," Ragini said wiggling her nose, "Your commitment pho–"

Ragini's eyes widened for a second as Sanskaar surprised her. And then she lost herself in the kiss.

Sanskaar pulled away gently, resting his forehead against hers, "Haven't I proven already that I am not commitment phobic," he said tracing the mangasultra with his finger.

"Except when you went missing just now," Ragini teased.

Sanskaar pulled back, "I am a man. Tonight is our wedding night," he grinned, "Trust me, you don't need to worry about any phobias."

"Oh!" Ragini blurted before her heat rose to her cheeks.

"What? You haven't turned commitment phobic now have you?" Sanskaar teased, "And here I thoug–"

Sanskaar stared at his wife wide-eyed when she pulled back from the kiss.

Ragini leaned closer to him and whispered, "Don't dare me. I wont lose. I play to win."

Sanskaar looked at her in awe before breaking into a teasing smile.

Ragini arched her brow as she saw Sanskaar lean closer to her ear.

"I dare you."

We are finally at the end of the story. Wow! It has been some ride for me. 

i want to thank each one of you for joining me along. Thanks to all those read, all those votes and most importantly, all those who took the time to share their comments.

Hopefully, you will join me along for another ride as I write my other stories. See you around.