The Best of Things
(RagLak, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 30
The next day, alone in her room, Ragini pulled her knees under her chin and thought.
Lakshya had his suspicions about her role in the scenes that took place yesterday... and she had managed to avoid him last night. When she finally came up to bed, he was not in the room. She went out hesitantly to investigate, and found voices coming from Swara and Sanskaar's room, and their door open. She was deeply uneasy... what was he doing there? What was he saying to them? Were they - all three of them - discussing her? And as she had wondered if she should go closer to overhear, there was a burst of laughter from the room, and she heard all three of them. Her eyes widened in shock. What was there to laugh about? They had all been so upset earlier... and she knew Lakshya was angry with her... how did they recover their good spirits so soon? She balled her hand into a fist. How dare Lakshya leave her and go sit laughing with her enemies? How disloyal he was! And then he had gone to the guest room to sleep.
This morning, Lakshya had come in to their room, bathed, dressed, had breakfast and left... without one word to her. She had tried to avoid him because she thought he would confront her... she had her defence ready... but he didn't even seek her out to ask.
Would this just diffuse by itself? After all, nothing had happened... Swara had stayed back and the drama she had created had been of no use...
The evening followed the same pattern. Lakshya didn't even look at her, though she was in the room when he came home. She didn't dare approach him, but watched him warily. He didn't seem to be forgetting this... Ragini bit her lip.
After dinner, Lakshya sought a quiet word with his father and Sanskaar. "Papa, Ragini was responsible for instigating Maa and Choti Maa against Swara yesterday."
Durga Prasad's jaw tightened in reaction. How were they going to deal with this chronic troublemaker in the family! And how many times would Annapurna fall for this nonsense?! Lakshya went on, "I'm going to tackle her about it tonight. You might overhear a fight, some scenes... will you and Sanskaar please keep everyone out of it? I can deal with Ragini best on my own. I don't want her escalating this into a family affair - it's between her and me."
"Theek hai!" assented Durga Prasad heavily. "I can see that you are trying to bring her into some sort of order... and I laud you for that, beta! We will keep out." Sanskaar nodded in agreement.
***
Ragini wound her way up the stairs and went cautiously into the room. Lakshya was on the balcony, leaning against the railing. Oh, he was not going to the guest room tonight! she thought... Good!
She closed the door and went up to him slowly. He turned, looked at her and leaned back again, his stance relaxed. She stood in front of him, restlessly twirling the end of her chunri between her fingers.
"So, Ragini Gadodia Maheshwari... what have you got to say to me?"
"Kya, Lakshya?" she asked, apparently perplexed.
"So much hungama in the house yesterday, Swara almost forced to leave... and you stood so quietly without saying anything at all..."
She swallowed. "Yes, I don't know why..."
"Don't you?" he asked, with a bite to his words.
She rushed into speech. "I had nothing to do with it, Lakshya! I don't know why they were against Swara suddenly!"
"I thought we had decided on truth and nothing but the truth between us, Ragini... I don't believe you. Try again," he advised her.
"Really, Lakshya... hamara yakeen keejiye! Why would I speak against Swara?"
"Hmmm... how about an old hate that won't die down? The truth, Ragini!" he insisted.
"How many times do I have to say it! I didn't do anything, hamari koi galati nahin thi!" she screamed at him.
He deliberately turned his back on her. She rushed to his side, turning him to face her. "Lakshya, aap aisa kyun kar rahen hai hamare saath? How can you do this to me?"
"Ask you to tell me the truth, Ragini?" he raised his brows.
"I'm your wife, Lakshya!" she reminded him, sparks in her eyes, "Did Swara tell you I said plotted against her? Are you taking her word over mine?"
"No, Swara didn't need to tell me anything." He looked at her grimly. She wasn't going to confess her role and she had denied it so many times, she was now going to divert the whole point.
He was right. She brought in Swara - hoping to backfoot Lakshya.
"Swara didn't say anything, but you are so concerned with her well being that you are willing to suspect ME?! She still means so much to you Lakshya... do you owe me nothing? Do you owe me no loyalty?" Her voice became shrill.
Lakshya was still quiet. "It's you who owes me something, my dear wife... you owe me the truth. Why did you plot against Swara?"
She flounced away to the table and swept the vase from it, tumbling it to the floor and spilling the water and the flowers. "Swara, Swara, SWARA...! I'm sick of that name and I'm sick of her!" she screamed. "What do I have to do to hold my husband's interest? How long do I have to put up with your obsession with Swara, Lakshya?!!" she was crying now, in howls and wails.
Her voice rang through the corridors, and everyone hastened out of their rooms, wondering what the matter was!
"I have given my all to this marriage..."
"You can't see beyond Swara..."
"How could you...!!"
The whole family heard snatches of her continuing rant and her sobs as they became rapidly more hysterical. An impartial observer would think she was being beaten...
Swara became pale at hearing her own name taken so many times. She looked at Sanskaar anxiously. He just looked back and nodded calmly. She was strangely reassured.
Annapurna started towards Lakshya's room... but Durga Prasad held her arm. "Nahin, Annapurna! Don't interfere. Let Lakshya handle this."
"Lekin ji... she is crying... I hope Lakshya is not ill-treating her in any way... what will her parents say? we must make sure this doesn't escalate..."
"Exactly! Let this be between them. And you have done enough damage by highhandedly interfering in the children's lives." She looked abashed.
He raised his voice, "Sabhi apne apne kamre mein jaayiye! Koi beech mein nahin bolega!"
Everyone slowly went into their rooms, although Sanskaar and Swara sat with the doors open, on tenterhooks, trying to overhear the storm. Sanskaar was shaken with sorrow for his brother, who had undertaken this... this harridan for life!
In their room, Ragini continued to scream, but no one came rushing in enquiring if she was alright... there was no reaction from anyone else... her strategy at these times was to play the hysterical victim, and have many women surround her, caressing her hair, soothing her down, as the men - and her accuser, whoever that happened to be - stood helplessly by...
Lakshya stood still like a rock that had furious waves washing over it. He didn't speak at all till Ragini finally tapered down, slumping on the floor, sobbing with her head on the bed. When she had finally quietened down, he went over and sat on the bed next to her. She waited for him to speak. He didn't.
She finally couldn't resist looking up.
He was looking wonderfully calm. "Ready to tell me the truth now?"
Edited by soapbubble - 9 years ago
Cricket
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
