Long time no see, eh? Hehe...

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone

Chapter 16 - It's Still You

"Sixty-six, sixty-seven, sixty-eight, sixty-nine, seven- ugh!" he gave up doing push ups and punched the floor in anger. "Why?! Why, why, why, why, why?! After all this time...after all this time why now? Why today!?"

He sat down on the floor with heavy breaths looking at his shaking hands. 'Why is this happening now after all these years? It's been six years. Six. Freaking. Years! After everything I went through to strengthen myself up emotionally, trying not to think about her...why am I not being able to let to of her thoughts today?!'

Yes.

It's been six years.

Six years since he left India.

Six years since he left his hometown.

Six years since he left that hospital.

Six years since...since he left his Ragini. 'And yet, I can't get over your smiling face. Pathetic, aren't I? I bet you've moved on long ago.'

Sanskar shook his head and smacked his face. "Don't think about her! Don't! Don't!"

"I don't give a damn if you think about some pesky girlfriend of yours! Shut it! I'm trying to watch something here!" came the voice of his landlady from the ground floor below.

"Uh...sorry Miss Max."

"To heck with your sorry! Shut up or I'll bomb the room!"

Sanskar sweatdropped. "You do realize it's your house that you're renting me, no?"

"SHUT UP!"

'Jeez! She sure can shout a lot!' A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Coming! Just give me a minute." saying this, he got up and put on a shirt and a baggy trouser over his shorts. He opened the door with a smile. "Yes, wh-ow!"

Sanskar held his head in pain as someone struck him on the head. Before he could do anything, he felt hands grab his wrists and pull them back. He tried to shout but failed to as someone muffled his mouth with a cloth. His eyes widened in fear as he could smell the chemical on the cloth.

With all the force he could muster, he pushed back, making the one who was holding him stumble back as well until he hit the wall with force. "Who are you!?" he shouted.

"KEEP IT DOWN! DIDNT YA HEAR!?" shouted Miss Max from far.

"Miss Max help! I'm being attacked!"

"One minute. Hold on your own for five minutes. The show's almost finished."

"Mis-ugh!" Sanskar failed to finish the sentence as the man tried to grab him by the collar. 'Ugh! Didn't she hear the commotion up here! I'm freaking being kidnapped and all she cares about is her TV show!?'

"Keep him still damn it! How am I supposed to make him unconscious otherwise?!" came a shout from the person holding the cloth.

Meanwhile, Sanskar still hadn't recovered from the hit and his vision was blurry. However, he could make out that there were two men with him. One trying to hold him down. Other trying to drug him. 'Think Sanky think! You have to get out of this one somehow or the other! Thi-shit!' Sanskar tried to move away as he saw the person try to catch his wrists again. He managed to doughe and punch him in the nose. However, the other came behind him and covered his nose with the cloth again.

Sanskar blamed the head smack for making him weak. Whatever it may be, he knew he was in a tight spot now.

With that last thought in mind, he felt his world grow dark as he succumbed to unconsciousness.

"Good night Sanky." it was the last thing he heard before falling asleep.

Later...

Sanskar came into consciousness with a groan. There was a dull throbbing in his head. He slowly opened his eyes to adjust to the lighting in the room.

"Damn!" hearing his own voice, he blinked as he realized they hadn't muffled his mouth. "Either they are too stupid or too overconfident. They surely don't think I won't shout for help." however, he soon realized how fruitless that was gonna be as he felt the entire floor moving and rumbling.

Infact, the entire room was moving. Looking closer, he realized he was actually tied to a chair and inside some truck. "No wonder no one would hear me over the traffic. Ugh! This couldn't get any worse I be-woah!" suddenly the truck took a turn, making his chair lose balance. As a result, he fell to the side with a "oomph!"

Sanskar groaned as he felt stars dancing before him in daylight. "Yep. This definitely could get worse."

Suddenly, a thought stuck him. ''Good night Sanky'? He called me Sanky!' It made him wonder. 'Ever since I shifted to U.S six years ago, I told everyone I'm Tomm Ato. Then...then how come they know my name? My nickname to be specific?!' His eyes widened in horror. 'Could it be that...that they're the ones who tried to kill me six years ago in India?!'

The thought made him feel fearful. But more than fear, he felt angry and disappointed.

Disappointed because he let his guard down and let them capture him like it was a piece of cake. Angry because he failed to mislead his pursuers. Even after leaving India and living in Ohio without telling anyone about his location back home, he failed to cheat his enemies.

Yes, he didn't tell them where he would be living. His brother booked his tickets for Mexico. But he didnt go there.

Even his family didn't know where he was. Only thing they got from him were letters without his original address so that they couldn't find him.

It was because he thought it would be the best way to keep them safe. If they didn't know where he was, the enemies won't try to blackmail or force them to tell them about him.

And the other reason was so that they can't find him and make him return. He knew they wanted him to go back to Ragini. They wanted to see them get married.

However, her words at the hospital we're still fresh in his mind. He didn't want to face her again. The one person whom he loved truly, but who didn't love him like he did.

Sanskar shook his head in frustration. 'Quit your self-pity party! Think rationally and get out of here! You've got the rest of your life to mull about it!' he thought to himself. 'My enemies wanted me out of the way because I was dominating the share markets. But I left the Maheshwari enterprise six years ago! I have my own company now. Then why? If it's anyone they would target now, it should ha-' Sanskar's eyes widened as a thought struck him. He could feel his heart beat at his ears as he realized they would have targeted Lucky unless...'Unless they...they already got him. No! No, no, no!'

Sanskar balled his hands into fists and tried to calm his rapid breaths. "No, this can't be. Calm down Sanky, calm down. Nothing has happened to Lucky. It's all in your mind. Don't think such things! Don't! Don't!"

"Lost your mind from fear Sanky?" came a voice from somewhere near.

As Sanskar looked up, he realized they had stopped. The back door had been opened from where one of the men was speaking. If only he could see their faces clearly, which was impossible as long as they had the black masks on them. "What do you want!?"

"That's for us to know, and you to find out."

"Quit speaking in riddles and tell me! Tell me where I am! Tell me what do you want from me! Tell me what do you want from my brother!"

For a moment, the man looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Wow there! You question more than that history teacher I had in class V. She was always out to eat my head with all the years, dates and th-"

"Shut it bone head." came another voice. It was the other man. "Let's get him out of here and into the warehouse."

"Right!"

#India#

Sounds of silent sobs could be heard from the kitchen.

"Awww...there you are."

"Leave me alone! I d-don't want to talk to anyone! You all are the same!"

The older girl chuckled to herself at the child's words. "But I thought we could talk and I would cheer you up."

"You can't! You're pretty too...like them. But...but I'm ugly, aren't I?!"

"Hey! No you're not. And the people who say so are fools."

"But all of the people in my class laugh at me when Sima insults me! They obviously think the same."

"No, that's not it."

"It. Is!"

"No, it's n-"

"Just leave me Ragini!"

Ragini sighed in irritation. "How many times have I told you Riya. You're supposed to call me Mammy."

"You're not my mother!" Riya shouted, coming out of her hiding spot underneath the table.

"Yes, I may not be your biological mother. But I have signed the official documents which declare me as your guardian."

Riya gritted her teeth in anger and stomped her feet in anger. "You're all the same! Always trying to put me down, aren't you?! No fair!" she pouted and plopped down on the floor like the typical five year old she was.

Ragini smiled and went near the child, sitting beside her. "Why do you think I'm the same? I don't think you're ugly. You're pretty."

"But my skin is dark."

"And so?"

"What 'so'? Isn't that enough of a reason to be termed ugly?!" the child spoke with a pout, tears threatening to spill out.

Ragini chuckled and brought out her phone. "Here look at this. Do you know who she is?"

Riya peeked into the phone. At once her face of curiosity changed into one of anger and sadness. "All I can see is a black little girl! Are you insulting me further?!"

"No. What I'm showing you is Jare. This five year old is one of the most beautiful child in the world. And it's not me saying it. It's the world media saying this."

"What? You're trying to fool me."

Ragini shook her head. "No Riya. I'm telling you the truth. Read the lines below her picture. See? Google won't lie."

Riya looked carefully and realized Ragini wasn't lying. "But...but how? Compared to her, I'm more white. And yet she's called beautiful with such black skin?"

"Mm-hmm. This is because beauty isn't about what colour your skin is. It's about poise, it's about richness, vitality. The more healthy, fit and kind you are, you'll be able to be beautiful. And mostly, there's a different air about people who are confident in their own skin and who are good from heart. That is a beauty that shines from inside."

Riya listened to her carefully. "But...but then why do the other students agree with Sima when she calls me ugly?"

"Simply laughing along doesn't mean they agree. It's simply that they find it entertaining. And mostly, it's because you let her do it. You accept it when Sima calls you ugly. You don't fight back! That's why the others get the chance. But if you be confident and help others, everyone will like to be like you!"

"Really?" Riya asked with hope. However, her smile dimmed as a thought struck her. "But...but if it's also about confidence, Sima has it a lot!"

"That's not confidence. That's arrogance. If you have to put others to feel confident, then it's just her insecure feelings showing." Ragini made Riya stand up and looked her in the eye. "Next time you face her, show her what true confidence feels like!"

"But I....I don't know if I can do it."

"Yes you can!"

"It's easy for you to say. You're pretty so you can be confident." Riya countered back.

"But even if I was the prettiest on the earth, and with a nasty attitude, no one would like me. I am liked because I like to help others and show confidence on my decisions. I stand up for the right thing!"

Riya looked at her for some time and then nodded. "You're right! I must be confident. Because if I don't...if I don't, then she might do it to another girl, and then to more people!"

"Exactly! Get it now?" Ragini questioned with a proud look at Riya's logic.

Riya smiled and hugged her. "Thanks Ragini...I mean Mammy." saying so, she rushed out.

"Bye! Play safely!" Ragini shouted behind her.

"Ah. Never thought I would see the day you would become mature." came a voice from behind Ragini. "Aish! Tears of happiness are coming out."

She turned to find her mother standing there. "Just following your footsteps Maa."

"I see. I see." Shramishtha came near and handed her a ticket. "This is where you'll be going for your next business deal."

Ragini nodded and checked the address. "Ohio? I'm going to Ohio?"

"Yes. Laksh said this was one deal the Maheshwari enterprise couldn't miss. So you better give it your best."

"And!" came Swara's voice from the kitchen. "And also make sure that your Jiju eats at the right time, sleeps at the right time an-"

"And doesn't flirt with the other girls and doesn't drink while there and takes care to call every night. Right?" asked Ragini with a chuckle. Swara had come to visit them from her in-laws house the day before and stayed over. Swastika, Swara and Laksh's two year old, stayed back. The girl was too attached to grandmother Sujata. Laksh, on the other hand, had left on business two days earlier to settle some work.

"Exactly!" Swara came towards them. "Maa, can you please check the front door. Swastika was to come with Sujata Maa and Ram Baba."

"Sure dear."

Once Shramishtha left, Swara turned to Ragini with a serious face. "Ragu, I...I'm seriously worried. Laksh hasn't called ever since he went."

"Don't worry Swara. Maybe he's just busy."

"That maybe. But still...I'm having bad thoughts."

Ragini placed her hand on her sister's with a smile. "I'll be leaving today. And the moment I get to Ohio, first thing I'll do is smack Lucky on the head for making my cute sister worry and have grey hairs."

Swara calmed down at her words. However, she frowned as the words sunk in. "Grey hair? What do you mean grey hair. I'm still young!"

"Really? But I can see grey and white hairs all over your head."

"What!?" Swara at once left to check the mirror, leaving Ragini to laugh out loud. "Always so gullible. Hehe..." she picked up the ticket and went towards her room to pack.

She picked up the file kept at there table. 'One of the biggest companies in Ohio, eh? Well, I must crack the deal with...Ato Industries? Funny name.' Ragini shrugged to herself and got ready to begin her packing.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Hope you like the update!

Over and out!

~ 🌹 Mona 🌹