A/N:- This is an alternate situation from Episode 58. Raghav gives back ownership of the shop to Pallavi on Vijay's name but he has no ulterior motive behind it. He is still trying to find the culprit behind the MMS scandal. Pallavi has won the challenge and her demand was that Raghav present the papers to Vijay himself in the party she organized in front of everyone. The party was being organized in Janakamma's house with herself and her family plus Keerti and Jaya in attendance. 

Raghav rolled his eyes as Vijay gave him an infuriatingly smug look while he handed the papers over to him. 

"Your daughter wanted me to give the papers to you directly as the winning condition for the challenge. And she has won, fair and square. And Raghav Rao doesn't shake from his word so here... sign them and get it over with. I'm sick and tired of your family and their drama already. So make it quick."

He smirked slightly seeing the vein pop out on Vijay's forehead as he received the dirtiest look possible. If Mr. Deshmukh could shoot lasers from his eyes then our resident Don would have been turned into smoked Swiss cheese. 

"Will your height decrease if you speak in a civilized manner for once in your dratted life?"

Vijay spat while almost snatching the papers from his outstretched hands making the still six foot two man break out into an almost nasty grin, his handsome face lighting up with a strange amusement. It seemed, Raghav Rao got some unhealthy amount of pleasure pricking the older man into annoyance. 

"Oh, now I see where she gets all that snappishness from."

Pallavi glared at him from the side, her pretty eyes enlarging on her beautiful face in an anger so typically characteristic of her that it was almost endearing. Raghav shook his shoulders uncaringly while Vijay went over the papers, nit picking on every single word till he was satisfied. He glanced at Jaya's face twisted in her own characteristic disapproval and disappointment which had almost become her default reaction to his any action. 

At this point Raghav didn't know whether it was a good or a bad thing that his mother's constant loathing for him has almost stop stinging. 

Almost.

Farhad for some goddamned reason looked too cheerful than what the current situation demanded. 

"Oh ho, Sanki ---"

Pallavi raised her hands to rest them on her hips in a threatening manner and Raghav decided to stop poking the sleeping bear too much. His suicidal tendencies have landed him into more grave soups than he would care to count. But then he was Raghav Rao. A leopard can't change it's spots however hard it tries. 

His voice became diabetically saccharine as he continued making Farhad cringe unnoticeably.

"Mr. Rambo Deshmukh, stop scavenging so much, it is all in order and even if there is some loophole there, you won't be able to find it, no offence to that massive bifocal on your Eugene O'Neil like long nose. My legal team has more sharks in them than most people in your family has brain cells so... sign it already. I have places to be."

Pallavi mentally slapped herself for her own stupidity. Why in God's green earth had she decided to bring this clown to her party. She should have just brought the papers herself and get it signed. Vijay on the other hand spat back at a clearly bored looking Raghav acerbically. 

"Are you threatening me? I knew it! You have a different game plan. My poor Pallavi was too straight to see through your deviousness, you sly rogue."

Raghav sighed dramatically and looked heavenwards as if asking God for patience to deal with this mercurial idiot. 

"Listen Sir. Contrary to what your beloved daughter believes, my world doesn't revolve around her or her precious little shop. I am a multibillionaire business tycoon. I have far more important things to do than waste time planning and plotting for obtaining a loss making property whose valuation in the market is lesser an peanuts. My biggest mistake was to get involved in this petty spat with her for and mark this cause I don't usually accept my own failings as you all might  know by now, my uncontrollable ego. And believe me I have already suffered for that sorely, having had losses worth almost a total of 500 million. Your daughter is brilliant but she lacks business acumen. It was fun, this challenge but I am not interested in dragging it anymore. Seriously, put a damper on that self importance now and please for God's sake sign the bloody papers. And I promise you that I will be out of your non existent hair faster than you can blink."

Vijay didn't know why he was almost taken aback by that acute lack of emotions in his surprisingly toneless voice. He had insulted them caustically and also accepted his own fault making them know about his losses, congratulated Pallavi, somewhat praised her, accepted that he was defeated and he enjoyed it, all in one breathe, wrapped neatly in sarcasm, dry wit, arrogance and a negligible dash of resigned sorrow. 

He looked around and saw almost all the audience had a similar confused, bewildered and slightly stung expression. But shockingly enough, Pallavi looked almost... hurt?

Vijay sighed and decided to truly get it over with, he wanted the man out of his very much existent hair. Raghav looked on detached as Vijay Deshmukh signed on the papers swiftly and let out a small breath of relief. He nodded at the latter in acknowledgment and got royally ignored for his trouble making him smirk again. 

The old guy has a lot of hot blood in him. 

Pallavi didn't know why she was feeling so upset about the situation. She should be ecstatic but somewhere at the back of her mind, she was feeling hurt. What was it about his words that pricked her so bad? The way he declared that she meant nothing to him.. nothing at all. But why in God's name does she even want to mean something to him.. more a monster than a man. 

"Amma, I actually wanted to ask you something."

Jaya Rao looked at him stonily and Keerti shifted nervously beside her mother. Raghav knew what the answer will be with almost certainty but he still tried one last time. He knew everyone else was watching on keenly and would enjoy the spectacle which will happen shortly with great aplomb but he truly didn't give a damn anymore. 

"Amma... I am shifting. I will leave Hyderabad. Would you and Keerti come along?"

Pallavi looked shocked at that and even Farhad looked like he was hearing it for the first time, so was that an immediate instinctual decision. But why would he shift after declaring to her every other day that he was the de facto ruler of the city?

Jaya didn't look perturbed at all, she was gazed back at him coolly. 

"Do whatever you wish. It doesn't matter to me or Keerti. But I don't know why you keep haranguing us even after we repeatedly told you that we do not appreciate your interference in our lives. We are not going anywhere with you, hammer it inside that multibillionaire brain of yours."

Raghav winced at the clear jab within the acidic words and closed his eyes momentarily. He looked at Keerti who was looking away, her eyes blank but only a bit moist. He sighed and turned, gesturing at Farhad as usual to follow him and almost toppled over a recently arrived Janakamma who was staring at him from the back, befuddled. 

"Oh.. sorry..."

"Swami? Is that.. you? What are you doing here? When did you come? How do you know the Deshmukhs? Arre, why are you standing, come.. come sit. You should have informed me before coming na, I would have prepared something for you. You never contact priorly, you dumbo?"

The audience gasped completely bewildered at the display as Raghav looked like he was still trying to gauge what was happening with him while Janakamma dragged him by his arm to deposit him unceremoniously on the sofa, moving a gawking Nikhil and Amrutha with her wide hips comically.

"Arre... Janakamma? You.. are here.. how are you here? I mean.. this.."

Raghav began nervously only to get his mouth stuffed with a motichoor laddoo which appeared out of nowhere. 

"Arre, this is my house. Of course I will be here but where in God's name where you all these months? I saw you last two years ago.. that also in Vijaywada. I tried so hard to contact you but the Ashram staff didn't give me your number even after literally threatening them with bodily harm."

The Deshmukhs kept staring at the scene, jaws still loose as Raghav struggled to swallow the laddoo desperately while Janakamma poured him water. 

"Slowly baccha.. now tell me."

Raghav wiped the rapidly appearing sweat on his brow and looked at Janakamma beseechingly. 

"Amma, I will tell you everything but not now, not here.. let us meet in the ashram na."

"No. I will not let you go now that I have finally found you. You bloody magician, always manage to vanish into the air whenever I let you leave."

"Arre, Janakamma, at least listen to me..naa. There is a party going on.. I.."

"I don't care. Sharda is my friend and the Deshmukhs are almost family, they can hear. By the way, how are you here? Do you know them?"

"No.. yes.. I mean.. somewhat. Lets go talk outside?"

Raghav got up quickly, evidently trying to make a run for it only for the formidable Janakamma to pull him back to the couch where he fell unceremoniously.

"Nope. Nothing doing. Nowhere going. Answer all my questions, give me your address and your number and only after that I will leave you."

Raghav looked almost pained at that and Vijay Deshmukh could finally speak. 

"What are you saying Janakamma? How do you know this... man?"

"Arre, Vijay, I don't only know him, I know him very well. As well as anyone can know this enigma. Anyways, you tell me, where were you these two years Swami?"

"Wait, why are you calling him Swami? He is not.. he is.."

Pallavi asked in between, totally clueless now and Raghav crushed his eyes close knowing that he could no longer keep his identity a secret. He mustered the courage to look at his mother and sister who were also looking slightly bewildered. He looked at Farhad then as if his hapless secretary could save him from this situation now. 

Farhad shrugged his shoulders helplessly and Raghav sighed as Janakamma kept babbling still. 

"Janakamma, calm down. I am telling you. I was very busy in my other work so I couldn't visit the Vijaywada Ashram very frequently and you know that I don't give my personal contact to anyone. Maybe that's why, I had no idea you were searching for me."

"Oh, so you have a ashram here too?"

"Arre what ashram, what are saying Janakamma, this is Raghav Rao, a corrupt business man from Hyderabad?"

Vijay said exasparated and Raghav bent his head to slam on the centre table it looked like. Janakamma shut up in shock and then looked at Raghav who was now sheepishly trying to look at her through his lashes like a guilty kid much to everyone's surprised amusement. 

"Aiyoooo! Double role! Swami tu toh chupa rustom nikla re."

Jankamma burst out laughing and much to Pallavi's surprise and slight delight, a very old fashioned yet fetching blush spread like an epidemic on his handsome face, making the bridge of his nose, those delectable cheekbones and the shells of his ears turn maroon. 

"So, what is this good cop bad cop routine? Are you a gangster?"

Jankamma asked blithely much to everyone's increased shock again and Jaya walked up to the older woman curiously. 

"Something like that... a little bit."

Raghav squeaked like an embarrassed mouse and Pallavi stifled a bout of mad giggles with much effort. It was such a dynamic shift from the roaring beastly demeanour he was showing to them just five seconds ago. But why was he being addressed by Swami? As if on cue, Janakamma decided to relieve them from that curiosity as well.

She slapped Raghav on the back of his head making him squeak again making Farhad almost chortle which the latter choked on seeing his boss send him a murderous glare. 

"Oh ho! I am sorry Swami. I am going to ruin that notorious reputation you have built for forever, at least in front of these people. You deserve that much for making me run behind you all around."

She faced her audience fully loving all the pointed attention on her and began her tale with flourish. 

"So, this man who you know as what did call... Raghav.. huh. I know him as Ramaswami. I was working with my daughter in laws in an old age ashram in Vijaywada who was run by him. I had developed quite a rapport with him and would frequently invite him to my home for lunch. But one day, he just vanished into the thin air. So I tried searching for him to contact him, but the clever rogue had kept everyone in a tight leash. No one was willing to give me any information. But this is amazing Swami.. or do you want me to call you Raghav?"

Raghav shook his head now covered in his long hands. 

"It doesn't matter anymore Janakamma. You revealed the secret I have been hiding successfully since the past half a decade. Now it will only be a few minutes till the media catches a whiff of it and it will be a roaring wildfire by tomorrow morning. I had kept my identities separate so that no one in any of my ashrams get harangued by the paps and/or my numerous enemies. But it's all for nought... "

"Hmm, no need to be so negative. Agar sachi mein gangster hi hain toh security laga dein.. aur media toh tere jeb mein hoga na?"

Everyone gaped at Janakamma's nonchalant reply. Including Raghav and Farhad. 

"Aap toh sach mein dangerous nikla Janakamma..."

Raghav whispered and the former laughed loud jovially as was her typical attitude. Pallavi on the other hand kept thinking back to the time when she thought she had mistaken Ramaswami to be Raghav when he had turned to look at her with the red colour smeared all over his face. 

"So that was you? You are Mr. Ramaswami, the owner of Pooswami Old Age Home?"

She asked making a few heads turn her way and Raghav sighed again and then nodded absent minded. Then Jankamma dropped the biggest bomb on their heads. 

"Arre, ye sab toh theek hain par tera wife kidhar gaya? Yaha pe nhi aaya aaj? Bula usko.. mereko milna hain. Kitna din se man kar raha tha Sita se milein par nyii... tum dono toh humshakals khelne mein busy tha naa.."

Amma almost slipped and fell over Keerti who almost knocked the side vase over Nikhil who slammed against Pallavi who had to hug the pillar to avoid toppling over on a dumbstruck Vijay. Milind and Sulochana gawked at each other and then back at Raghav who looked like he could dig the earth and bury himself inside it. 

"Kaun Sita? Kiska wife? Raghav ka wife nhi hain!"

Amma almost shrieked and Janakamma gave her a weird look and Farhad took it as his cue to slip away from there unnoticed. 

"Swam..Raghav, ye aurat aisa kyun bol raha hain? Abh ye mat bolna ki woh bhi drama kar raha tha? Biwi toh asli tha na tera?"

She glared at him suspiciously and Pallavi who had seemingly turned into stone hearing that particular statement broke out of her trance. 

It can't be.

He didn't...

But Raghav Rao is a bachelor.. Hyderabad's supposedly most wanted guy.. 

He is a certified womanizer, always seen on camera with a different girl every week, hanging onto his arm.

Janakamma is mistaken. She has been to his mansion, that did not have a single woman's touch in it. No photos, not even any clue in the décor. It was a quintessential bachelor pad of a filthy rich 'unmarried' guy. 

"Raghav ye kya bol raha hain? Chup rahe ke tamatar kyun ban raha hain? Muh mein dahi jam gaya hain kya? Kaunsa wife, kaisa wife..kab kya.."

Jaya asked her son who was going progressively redder in the face. 

"Shut up everyone!"

Raghav said finally cutting off Janakamma and his mother's incessant argument. He had risen up from his seat looking like he still very much wanted the ground to swallow him up whole. He rang someone on his cell, ignoring everyone's curious and shocked stares. 

"Hello. I'm sending you the address on text. Please come here, the situation is going out of hand. Yes.. no.. I was about to come home when Janakamma.. yes, its her house. No.. I'll tell you later. Please just... come quick. I need you."

The last part was so soft anyone could hardly hear but Pallavi heard it loud and clear, as if someone had screamed it inside her ear with a blowhorn. 

"Ye kisko call kiya? Sita ko?"

Janakamma asked curiously and he nodded making Amma flop on the chair looking a mix between horrified and paralyzed with shock. Even Keerti had gone white in the face, as if someone had poured ice cold water over her. Pallavi leaned against the pillar suddenly feeling weak in the knees. 

It was almost ten minutes which was spent with Vijay and Janakamma having a fiery debate about Raghav who was half lying on the couch, looking exhausted like never before, so far removed from his surroundings that it was scary. 

Then suddenly a woman burst into the room, panting from exertion and everyone whipped around to look at her and their heads remained stuck in that position. For it was unrealistic, surreal, otherworldy. It was difficult to comprehend that someone could look like that. Like a Goddess out of a portrait made with an unparalleled devotion. 

Her saree was slightly askew but seemed too simple to even the Deshmukhs. It was a lime yellow cotton fabric wrapped perfectly around her willowy waist, she had no ornaments on except the traditional Telegu mangalsutra and a few gold bangles on one hand which proudly declared her marital status. There was a little red in the partition of her raven black locks, which was hastily tied in a low bun leaving only a few long strands fluttering around her sharp yet delicate jaw. 

Her complexion, a wheatish gold, her fuller lips painted a cherry red was slightly parted. But those eyes were probably the most arresting feature on her face. Not too large, not too small but perfect, fish shaped sockets and eyelashes to die for, the pupils were a shocking mix of jade green and amber, swirling in an emotion so transparent to everyone that it was painful to even look at. 

But even more magnetic was her aura. She cut a very elegant, slight figure, maybe five feet ten, but the radiance she spread in the room screamed supernatural. There was an unknown power she wielded which was so thick around her that it was shocking. 

She truly looked like the Goddess Sita. 

Sita during her exile. 

As she entered swiftly yet with a grace seldom seen as natural and descended the few steps to reach the couch which had both Raghav and Janakamma seated there everyone could hear the tinkle of her payals. Jankamma stood up immediately and drew the woman in her arms. 

"Sita! After so long... maine tujhe bohot dhunda re beta..."

"Janakamma..."

Her voice finally broke the reverie everyone had involuntarily descended into. Her voice matched her entire persona. Soft, strong, mellifluous with a touch enigmatic. 

"Mereko laga tha tu bhi shayad ye natak ka hissa hain. Tera naam Sita hi hain na.. yaa kuch aur."

The woman smiled for the first time and it shone like a thousand bulbs on her mesmerizing face. Her cheeks dimpled prettily and her eyes became a darker shade of green, embarrassed like Raghav. 

"Sorry Janakamma... you got me there. Though officially I use this name only, but my real name, my actual name which my birth parents had given me is Ragini. Ragini Rawal Ratan Singh Sisodia."

"The Princess!!!"

Nikhil's sudden scream made everyone look at him shocked out their skins. Nikhil came and looked at the woman from toe to forehead innocently delighted.

"You are the lost Princess of Mehrangarh, who apparently got kidnapped five years ago from right under the noses of her security detail. The Rajasthan police have been searching for you even now. My friend, Sheela told us the story one day in college. She had managed to take a selfi with you. I remember you now."

Sita smiled at him and shrugged her delicate shoulders. 

"In flesh. But now that you have identified me, you must have connected the dots as to why I am not in the public eye."

"Yess... no.. I mean.. you got kidnapped so.. wait. Wait.. aap kidnapp nhi hui phir.. aapki toh shaadi hone waali thi.. aap.. holy."

Nikhil looked at Raghav now who was still lounging on the sofa and the latter gave Sita a knowing smirk which she returned with a wink. 

"I can't believe this! You eloped with Raghav Rao? Five years ago.. all that drama what happened.. the media, the police, your family.. we saw the news on TV, I remember it so clearly. Kaka must remember too, you were there that day, seated with me and Dada."

Milind nodded as realization sparked in him too. Sita gave Nikhil a painful smile, her beautiful features lax in some unknown agony. 

"You don't want to know much about Royal politics Mr. Deshmukh trust me. It's a very very dirty game. And the lesser you and your family knows, the safer for all of you. This is too slippery a ground. Pretend you did not see me, you do not know me, you have not recognized me."

Raghav stood up then fluidly like a big jungle cat and was behind Sita the next moment who turned and grasped his arm tightly as if trying to find a centre in disorientation. Raghav enveloped her in his arms next, hiding her from everyone it looked and she buried her face in his chest, unheeding and unabashed. It was only five seconds but enough for everyone to gauge the extent of those unsaid emotions. 

No one could deny the fact that she was his wife now. It would be foolish to see and not see. 

"I am sorry Janakamma. We will come to visit you one day. But for now, we have to leave. Too many people have seen my wife today. We cannot risk anyone's lives. Let us go now."

Raghav said quietly and Sita looked straight ahead uncaring of the stares she was still receiving. Farhad had reappeared from somewhere and he gestured something wordlessly at his boss who nodded back silently. Janakamma smiled and blessed them, taking a promise to meet them soon enough. 

And they were gone almost immediately making the assembled people feel that may be everything was a dream for a moment. Jaya and Keerti took their leave hastily, both looking suddenly haggard and dull. The party's mood was spoiled anyways and the Deshmukhs left for their house next. 

Pallavi locked herself in her room and sat on the floor, leaning against the bed. Her eyes kept seeing the woman constantly. Her beauty was frightening. Like she was a piece of art, untouchable, unattainable. She was not beautiful, she was beyond compare.

She was a princess. 

She could not be competed against. 

That love she felt in their embrace. A thick white suffocating smog of cloying affection which had cut through her heart like a blade through butter. She couldn't unsee those images, Raghav's face so peaceful at a mere touch from her. 

Sita/Ragini looking like she wanted to meld and mix into her husband, like it was her right.

Pallavi didn't know when she had managed to shatter half the belongings on her table. She didn't know when Amrutha and Manasi's screams outside her door had turned hoarse and there was blood spilling down her cut hands. 

She could only see red. 

Red like her blood, red like the colour of her lips, red like the vermillion in her forehead, red which she was deprived of all her maiden life. 

A red which called to her like the rank talons of death waiting with its jaw open. 

Pallavi Deshmukh could only hear her own voice inside her brain, seated amidst the carnage of her room and her heart.

She will have what is hers. 

Who is hers. 

And she will not rest unless she gets it. 

Raghav was hers. Only hers.

 And if she couldn't have him, she will make sure no one can.

A/N:- Okay.. even I was shocked at the ending. Something just randomly popped in my brain and I couldn't focus on anything till I wrote it down. Don't worry guys, I love Raghvi but for this one time I wanted to write something crazy, something completely different.