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Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes." - Talking

'Words in single quotes.' - Thoughts

Chapter 20 - You and I

Words failed them as they kept staring at each other in the eyes. It was as if the whole world around them melted into a single canvas and they were the only humans present. Looking at each others'eyes eyes, a hundred of emotions ran through them, overwhelming them.

Only thing that they heard was the thump of their hearts in their ears, while their mind froze on the image of the other standing before.

"Sir!"

The waitress' voice broke Sanskar from his thoughts. "Y-Yes?"

"Sir, are you alright? I've been calling your name over and over." she replied. "I'm sorry for ruining your coat.

"It's okay. No problem. I got up too soon."

"You're to kind sir." the waitress smiled. "I'll go get you another cup of coffee. Please sit."

Sanskar nodded and watched her leave.

Feeling a pat on his shoulder, he turned around, only to find his cheeks pinched.

Ragini's mouth gaped open in wonder. "Wah...it's really you."

Sanskar was glad she had his cheeks pinched since it was helping him hide his blush at her touch. No matter how much time passed, she never failed to have that effect on him. "Yeah." Sanskar responded with a smile, bringing a shaky hand to place on her head. "And it's really you...Ra...Ragini."

Ragini breathed in a shaky breath. Her name on his lips were like music to her. Oh how many nights she had dreamt of him calling out to her, asking her to be in his arms, asking her to kiss him goodnight. But he always disappeared. It was only a figment of her imagination after all.

'But he's really here right now. He's here...alive and real...' Ragini could feel her knees shaking from the tirade of emotions. Backing up a little, she pretended she was taking the seat on the booth.

Sanskar did the same and sat opposite to her.

There was an awkward silence as none seemed to know how to start the conversation.

"So..." they began at the same time, pausing to look at each other with wide eyes.

"Um...you first."

"No. You speak first Sanskar."

"Ladies first." Sanskar joked with a smile.

Ragini chuckled, but nodded.

Sanskar was somewhat surprised by this. If he was right, Ragini was someone who would usually call such a comment sexist. She was after all for women empowerment and all. But...she seemed almost calm and not irritated.

'She changed in these years it seems.' Sanskar gave his attention to her when she looked at him with a smile.

"How have you been Sanskar?"

"I've been good. Ohio is a beautiful place and the people are amicable. What about you?"

"I've been good as well. I...I've joined Laksh's company actually."

"Ah! Nice. I hope he hasn't been troubling you much. But I guess Swara would keep him in line."

Ragini chuckled. "Yeah. She would. You know them well." she commented. 'But it's only us who don't know anything about you. How could we when you won't let us?'

The thoughts in Ragini's mind went unsaid, but Sanskar knew the underlying meaning of her comment. Nevertheless, he smiled. "Yeah, I've been keeping tabs. After all, I am the big brother. I have to keep watch over him. How's everything back home?"

"It's good. Maa is really happy I got this job opportunity here abroad."

"Hmm...nice."

"Yes. Ohio is an amazing place. The Maheshwari business is prospering well here. If only we had some tip about the business being this profitable here, we would have come over here sooner."

Sanskar flinched. Oh, he knew what she was doing. She was hinting at why he had kept his identity hidden for so long. However, Sanskar didn't want to breach that topic. "Would you like some coffee? I'll go order a cup for you."

'Oh no you're not escaping this time!' Ragini grabbed his wrist as he got up. "Sit. Please."

Sanskar swallowed hard, but did as told. "Ra-"

"I want some answers Sanskar. We all do!"

Sanskar sighed. "I just did what was necessary to protect the ones close to me. I needed to disappear."

"Did you ever stop to think what would happen if you disappeared like the way you did? It was as if your existence was wiped out of the world. And with the threat hanging overhead, everyone almost though you died! Sujata Maa...I can't even describe how lifeless she was thinking that."

"But later I sent an anonymous letter to sa-"

"We were under a threat Sanskar. Yes, it consoled us, but there was always the doubt if it was from you or someone else and..." Ragini stopped and balled her hands into fists. All the times they spent thinking Sanskar was in danger came back to her, bringing her voice close to breaking.

Sanskar's eyes softened looking at her. "I'm...I'm sorry. But I was too scared for you all." Sanskar confessed. "After I got here, the reporter's words kept replaying over and over in my mind. What if someone had got Laksh? What if they've hurt Maa or Baba? Or your family?"

"It's okay you left because of that. But why did you cut off all connections?!" Ragini stressed. 'Why did you leave me behind like that?! Why?! Do you know how broken I was? Do you know how you left a void in my heart that has never filled?!'

"It was necessary, okay? I needed to disappear altogether." Sanskar replied However, he refused to meet her eyes, fearing she might see the truth in them. 'I could have kept contact if I wanted to. But you said you valued your freedom more than love. That's why, I decided to disappear so you won't be forced to marry me. I let you be free.'

"But didn't you think once how the people back home would feel? If only...if only you just let us know that you were okay by yourself somehow. That you were fine after you arrived here. Would it have killed you!?"

"Not me, but if somoene knew I was here, they might be after my loved ones. It was better they thought I was dead. My family wouldn't get hu-"

"Forget about them hurting your family, damn it! You were the one who hurt them the most!" Ragini shouted, standing up in anger, making Sanskar look at her wide eyed.

"You...you're so cruel! You left and it was painful for you. But it was worse for the ones you left behind. It was you who's actions hurt them the most!"

Sanskar looked away. In the midst of heartbreak and the fear for his close ones, he never thought about the emotional burden he was leaving on everyone. "I...I'm sorry."

Ragini kept glaring with ggritted teeth. She really wanted to smack some sense into him. Eventually, she decided to flop back down on her seat with a tired sigh. "You idiot!" from the corner of her eyes, she saw people staring. "What are you looking at!?"

At once, everyone resumed their own business.

'Still ever so fiesty, no Ragini?' Sanskar smiled to himself. "I agree. I was an idiot. And still am. But with the threat looming ov-"

"There isn't any longer."

"Eh?!"

"Right after you left, a few months later, Parineeta, the woman who tried to shoot you, surrendered."

"Just like that?" Sanskar asked in surprise.

"Yes. It seemed a bit suspicious to us as well. But...but turns out, she was Adarsh, my doctor's wife. She decided to change for the better for her daughter and him. She's now serving her jail time. But she's changed."

"I see. And the Singhanias?"

"She revealed everything in the court. She was the prime witness who testified against the Singhanias. Although they managed to get out the law case, their company has been banned from business. Now to mention no foreign company wants to make deals with them."

"Ah! So that's what happened. I wondered why such an ambitious person didn't spread their links to America." Sanskar smirked. "Guess they got their punishment. Serves them right!"

Ragini nodded with a smile. "And that's why...you can return back now. Return back to your family." Ragini suggested. 'Return back to me...' Ragini blushed at the thought. "You can stop your alias as Mr. Ato."

"Haha...yeah. I was getting bored of this tacky name. Tomm Ato."

"Tomm...Tomm Ato?" Ragini spoke in a voice that barely held back laughter.

Sanskar flushed. "Hey, don't criticize. I took the first name that came to my mind! I was a mess that time!"

"And so you used....Tomm Ato? As similar to Tomato?" Ragini snickered.

Sanskar rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, glaring at Ragini. "Stop laughing. It was the first thing I saw on the table when I met up with my landlady."

"Ahahahaha...I...I can't even...ahahahaha...!"

"Raginiiiii....!" Sanskar whined. However, he couldn't help but be drawn to her laughter. It was like music to his ears.

It had been a long time since he heard it. Having her so close, the dormant feelings in him were resurfacing. He could feel himself falling for her...again.

"Ragini!" a shout got their attention.

Ragini looked over in surprise. "Oh. It's Ray."

"Ray?" Sanskar asked with a suspicious feeling. He was kind of dreading who he was.

Ray came near and hugged Ragini. "Thank goodness you're okay! I was kind of worried where you might have left. Laksh Boss doesn't really know how to spe-" Ray looked over at Sanskar with wide eyes. "Oh! It's you, Mr. Ato!"

Ragini broke free of the hug. 'He needn't hug me like this. Guess this is a thing in America to hug a friend casually. But if it was back home, Dadi would through a fit!' shaking herself of those thoughts. "Tell Laksh I found Sanskar please. My phone's battery is almost dead."

Sanskar watched them converse with a sad look. He seemed close to Ragini. He even hugged her out of worry. 'Is he...is he her boyfriend. Wait a minute...if I remember correctly...didnt she speak to someone who was calling her 'Mammy'?!' rememberinf that, and seeing Ray so close to Ragini, all Sanskar could conclude was that Ragini had married. She had finally got the love of her life.

Sanskar swallowed hard and looked away. 'I shouldn't be surprised after all. It has been six years since me and she dated. What did you expect Sanskar? For her to wait for you? She already rejected you, remember?!'

Ray's sudden exclamation broke him out of his thoughts. "Oh shit! I forgot my phone back at the room."

"Oho you idiot!" Ragini chided playfully with a chuckle, making Sanskar's heart bleed further.

"Say, why don't we all just go there and bring Sanskar to Laksh?"

"Good idea. He must really want to see his brother after so long." Ragini smiled at Sanskar. "Let's go, shall we?"

"Sure. Let's."

Ragini grinned. "Great! Then we will finish our job in Ohio. Once we're done, we can go back without any problems. This time...all of us."

Sanskar nodded with a hesitant smile. However, it disappeared the moment Ragini looked away and walked ahead with Ray.

As he followed them behind, watching them chat, he knew what his decision would be.

He wasn't leaving Ohio.

Ever.

Yes, now he would maintain contact with his family. But he won't ever go back to where Ragini was living happily with her husband Ray. It would be slow torture for him.

He followed them with slow steps. 'I wanted to meet you again. But...but I just wish I never did. I knew that maybe...perhaps, you have chosen another. But seeing and speculating are different things. And....and this pain in my heart is unbearable!' Sanskar sucked in a deep breath to stop his sobs from breaking out.

Ragini stopped in her tracks suddenly, making Ray pause his rant.

She felt a sudden numbing sadness in her heart. It was only for a second, but she had no doubt felt it. As if on instinct, she turned to look back at Sanskar. 'What could be wrong?'

At the same moment, Sanskar got a call from his friend. "Yeah, hello?"

(Dude, don't scold but...but I ended up telling Rachael that you escaped the kidnappers and were living with me.)

"What?! How could you?! I told you not to tell anyone until I find tho-"

(Have you seen Rachael's state? She's crying herself to fits! It's no secret that she likes you man!)

"She's just got friend to me."

(I know, I know. But please...just for now, don't be hard on her. Here, I'm putting her on the phone.)

Before Sanskar could argue, he heard a female voice over the phone.

(Sir? Sir, are you okay?! I'm so glad you aren't in their hands! They haven't hurt you, have they?!)

Sanskar sighed. She felt bad for the girl. Rachael was an amazing person and he would have no doubt loved her, if he already didn't have Ragini in his heart. "I'm fine Raech. Don't worry, okay?"

"Sanskar, at this pace, you'll reach there tomorrow!" Ragini commented with a chuckle. However, it lacked her earlier enthusiasm. Not to mention she just heard Sanskar call someone Raech, no doubt a female.

(Are you with a lady? Um...it's not like it's my business but I just...I just want to make sure you're okay.)

'No. You're hurting thinking I'm with some other girl I like.' Sanskar thought with a sigh. "I'm not on a date Raech. I'm just meeting up with an old friend, okay? Don't worry." Sanskar knew he needn't explain it to her since it wasn't her business even if he did date. However, with how much she cared for him, he felt touched and didn't want to hurt her further. "Have you eaten?"

(Yeah. I had some fruits before I came to the office.)

"Go have lunch. You shouldn't starve yourself worrying over me. I'm fine. You know now."

(Yes sir! I'll go eat right away.)

Sanskar cut the call with a sigh. 'I won't string her along with false hopes. Next time I see her at the office, I'll make things clear to her.'

As he looked up, he found a bored Ray waiting in front of him.

"Where's Ragini?"

"Over there. She's walking ahead since you're waking at the pace of an old man."

"But...didn't she back track to get me?"

"She did, but she pushed past me in anger. Don't know why though."

"I wonder the same..."

"Oi! Oi! Ponder over it later. Let's go meet Laksh and Caleb."

Hearing that name, Sanskar's face lit up. "It's been a long time since I met up with that Cabbage. Let's go!"

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~ 🌹Mona🌹