Redemption: A Swara/Sanskaar & Ragini Story [Pt10-Pg33] - Page 9

Originally posted by: neelzzz

yes me too me too...i would luv too if lakshya fall for ragini and ragini playing hard to get...or our innocent ragini dadi ki bato me aake kisi riste ke liye ha kr de nd den laksh uske piche piche

nd thnks 4 d pm

Originally posted by: Porkalai2892

feel bad for ragini nd thank u so much for pm

Originally posted by: -Prithi-

nice update
thanks for the pm

Originally posted by: CogitoErgoSum

Hi Allyson

I just came across this SS today. Lovely concept. I was also kinda bugged at the whole "Ragini faking memory loss, trying all the same old tricks again and everyone falling for it again" drama. There seemed to be no character growth for Ragini in the serial's current storyline, and worse, everyone seemed to be so dumb enough to fall for her twisted machinations (in many cases, these were the same tactics she had tried earlier, too!).

So this fic was really intriguing. Kudos on showing Ragini as what she was--an innocent, suppressed girl, who has done tremendously wrong things, while her mind and conscience were clouded with an awful obsession. Would be great to see how she redeems herself.

You have also dealt with the Sanskaar---Swara equation with lovely delicacy, the last update especially had them exploring the future of their relationship in a very touching yet mature manner.

Looking forward to the next updates. Do PM me.

Cheers

Viji

Originally posted by: sarathy321

Hai ally..
I have read this ff only today ..
It's is really interesting and well written
RaginI, swasan emotions are well displayed...I can visualise them so smoothly...
Thanks for this ff and if possible , pls give a pm on next parts

Part 5

Ragini sat down at her Sitar after what felt like ages. And apparently it had been ages, judging by the stinging in her fingers. Her callouses had all but peeled off, leaving fresh and soft finger tips to be stung by the strings of the instrument.

It was also obvious that her beloved Sitar hadn't received much love recently, just by the state it was in and how out of tune it sounded.

She set about cleaning the instrument thoroughly and tuning it to her liking, taking in the peace and solace this task brought her.

It had been a few days since the Man in Blue had stormed in dropped the divorce bomb on her.

Her family was fairly aloof with her and she didn't know why. Were they disappointed with her over the divorce? She had tried asking each of her family members but she was always refused answers. They chose not to speak with her and often ignored her completely, despite being in the same room.

A tear trailed down Ragini's cheek as she determinedly continued her task. How was she to know what she had done wrong if everyone refused to tell her and no one spoke to her?

The only people in the house that would actually talk to her were Maa and Swara. They too would evade her when she asked questions about her marriage, but otherwise they treated her normally. They spoke and laughed with her and didn't avoid her like the plague.

Swara strode into the room looking like a woman on a mission. "Ragini, let's go and have some chaat."

"Right now?" She checked her watch in confusion. It was just past noon, not the time for chaat at all.

"Yes." Swara implored her with her big, innocent-looking eyes. "I really want chaat. Please come with me."

Ragini shrugged. Anything for her sister. "Okay, let me ask Dadi Maa." She never went anywhere or did anything without permission.

"There's no need for that. She won't mind." Swara assured.

"Are you sure?" Ragini was hesitant, not wanting them to get into trouble. If she ever went anywhere without asking first, Dadi would yell until her throat was raw.

"Yes, now come on."

Swara seemed horribly impatient, Ragini noticed as the rickshaw they were sharing sped towards their destination. She kept muttering to herself, checking her phone, and checking the time on her watch.

"You look very tense Swara, is something the matter?"

"No, no. Not at all." She muttered distractedly.

That definitely confirmed that something was up. "Why are we taking a rickshaw? Where are we going?"

"To eat chaat."

Ragini persisted. "But where? Why not the chaat-wala around the corner from the Baadi?"

Interestingly, Swara flushed at this observation. She started to play with her mangalsutra. "I like the chaat better there."

Ragini let the issue drop. Obviously there was going to be no explanation from her sister.

They got down at a small store in the business district and Swara became even more skittish. It had started to worry Ragini now. She kept checking her surroundings and kept her eye on a high-rise building across the street. She wondered if they were being followed or if Swara was expecting some trouble.

"Let me go see if they have any tables available." Swara stated and strode into the busy snack shop.

Ragini looked around her in discomfort. She didn't recall ever coming to this place, and if she had ever seen it, it had been in idle passing surrounded by her family. She had never been allowed to explore her city by herself or with friends. Anywhere she went, she had a family member as chaperone. It was strange to be out without one of them present.

"Ragini?"

Ragini jumped as she heard a male voice call out to her. She turned to find her brother-in-law, Sanskaar standing behind her, looking puzzled to see her.

"Hi, Ragini." He greeted with a smile. "Tum yahan?"

Something clicked in Ragini's mind. So this is why Swara dragged her all the way here and seemed so anxious along the way. She wondered whether Swara and Sanskaar had previous plans or whether Swara was just trying to surprise her husband.

Ragini felt a smile tugging at her lips after a few days at the cute antics of her sister. "Namaste Sanskaar. Hum yahan Swara ke saath chaat kaane aaye hai. She is inside"

Sanskaar's expression turned curiously blank as he took in that information. It made Ragini's hackles rise. She had seen the day of her accident that Sanskaar looked upset with Swara. Was that still the case? Was there some problem between then still? She hoped it wasn't because of the problems between her and the Man in Blue. Whatever those were.

"Ragini, they have a table ready for us." Swara called from the door of the shop. She noticed the person accompanying Ragini and rushed forward, their table apparently forgotten. "Snaskaar." She greeted in a breathless whisper.

"Swara." Was all he stated in greeted, watching her contemplatively.

Ragini felt like this was probably a good time to leave them alone. "I'll order something for us Swara. I hope you'll join us Sanskaar."

"Will you join Ragini and I?" Swara asked hopefully, but immediately scolded herself for her schoolgirl behaviour. You're mad at him!

Sanskaar crossed one ankle over the other and slipped a hand into the pocket of his trousers. Swara idly wondered why she was noticing his actions so carefully. "What are you doing here Swara?"

"Ragini must have told you. We came for chaat."

Sanskaar tilted his head inquisitively at this statement. "Here? So far away from home? Just outside of my office building?"

"Yes." She defended. "I like the food here."

She could tell he wasn't buying it. "What's really going on Swara?"

"You tell me Sankaar. You're the one that's been avoiding me!" She finally stated what had been gnawing at her for the last few days.

Sanskaar sighed resigned, as though expecting this conversation, making her even angrier. "I haven't been avoiding you."

"Yes, you have. You promised to call, and you didn't. You didn't reply to any of my text messages and even ignored my call last night. If that isn't avoidance Sanskaar, then I don't know what is."

"I've been really busy." He said evasively. Swara took that as a personal insult to her intelligence.

"You're lying." Swara felt tears pool her eyes and her throat choke up. "If you don't want to give this relationship another chance Sanskaar then don't. You have the right to say no. But please don't shut me out of your life like this. You're my best friend and I need you." He looked visibly pained by her words and Swara knew she had hit the nail on the head. "I'll sign our divorce papers, I'll do anything you want, but please don't ever avoid me."

"Swara, no." he cupped her cheeks with the gentlest of touches and wiped the trailing tears with the pads of his thumbs. "That's not true. I do want to give us a chance." He assured her, his eyes sparking with honesty.

"Then why were you avoiding me Sanskaar?"

He sighed once more, releasing her face from his warm hold and turning away. "It's hard to explain."

Something made sense to her all of a sudden. Sanskaar always thought of her first, always put her feelings and desires first. If he was dodging any communication between them, it wasn't for him, it was for her. "You were waiting for me to change my mind, weren't you?" She asked her husband accusingly.

Sanskaar rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "You took that decision in such a hurry Swara."

"So you were giving me an out? Is that how fickle you think I am?" Swara felt her anger mounting once more, but this time at herself and past behaviour rather than her selfless husband.

"That's was such an emotional day. I just wanted you to have way out of this situation in case you changed your mind Swara, or in case you regretted your decision."

Swara took a step towards him so they stood flush against each other, visibly startling her husband. "Never, Sanskaar." She cradled one of his hands in both of hers and brought the back of his hand to lay rest at her cheek. "I don't regret my decision and I never will. I haven't changed my mind."

His shoulders visibly sagged in relief. He gently caressed her skin with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry for avoiding you." He murmured.

Swara finally felt the tension leave her body. She sagged against him and laid her head on his shoulder. "It's okay this time Sanskaar, but we can't let this happen again." She pulled back and looked up at him pleadingly. "Rule number one of this new relationship has to be that no matter what, we won't ever ignore each other. It doesn't matter if we are upset with each other, or we are busy, or anything. We will never shut each other out." She held out her hand for him to shake. "Agreed?"

Sanskaar smiled and pulled her hand up to his lips. "Agreed." He purred and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

His wicked smile and tone of voice made her stomach somersault violently. She felt her cheeks warming as she realized how public their interaction had been.

She led him inside for lunch with Ragini, finally feeling light and carefree.

Sanskaar was such a wonderful man.

Ragini watched Swara and Sanskaar interacting from the back seat as he weaved through traffic.

She had been incredibly worried about Swara and waited at the edge of her seat. But Swara and Sanskaar's smiling faces that finally greeted her put her worries to rest.

Conversation had been awkward between her and her brother-in-law at first, but he quickly put her at ease and had her laughing at his sarcasm and deadpan humor.

One could clearly see the adoration they held for each other and the chemistry that crackled between them.

Sanskaar had offered to drop the sisters home after lunch. Ragini felt the twinge of guilt for keeping the couple apart. Swara stayed at the Baadi because of her accident and subsequent illness, but she obviously missed her husband. She would speak with her tonight about returning to Sanskaar's home with him.

It saddened Ragini to be losing one of the only people in the house that actually spoke with her but she couldn't be selfish and keep Swara and Sanskaar apart. She cemented this determination as Sanskaar pulled up to the Baadi.

Swara invited him in for a cup of tea and Sanskaar readily agreed, following the sisters into their maternal home.

Seeing the crowded living room, the trio stopped in surprise.

Ragini's stomach dropped when she saw that the Man in Blue was one of the people currently occupying the room. Along with him were a man she didn't recognize, and the harsh-looking man and the kind lady from the other day.

Swara smiled happily when she spotted the couple. "Bade Papa. Badi Maa." She greeted both with a smile and took their blessings. Both elders seemed happy to see her sister as well.

Ragini just felt glued to one spot as the Man in Blue glared at her hatefully. She had signed those damn papers. Now what did he want with her?

"Ragini, don't just stand there. Go greet your mother-in-law and father-in-law properly." Dadi instructed, gesturing with her eyes at their feet.

So these were the Man in Blue's parents. They looked fairly irritated by her as well. They both blessed her stiffly and turned quickly to Swara to enquire about her wellbeing.

Ragini stared down at her hands fiddling with her dupatta. Did they also hate her because of her failed relationship with their son? Was she not a good enough Marwari bahu for them?

The man beside her Husband called the room to attention. He revealed himself to be the family lawyer.

"Mr. Maheshwari filed for a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, but because it has only been 40 days since their marriage the court has ordered for them to live together for 6 months and try and sort out their differences. If they are still unable to resolve differences, then the marriage may be dissolved. Mrs. Maheshwari cannot stay here, she must move back in with Mr. Maheshwari."

It took Ragini a moment to realize that when the lawyer said Mrs. Maheshwari, he meant to refer to her.

She would have to live with the Man in Blue.

The sudden realization of what those words meant made dread seep through her system.

***