PART 14
After the incident at the beach house, Sanskaar and Sonia returned to Pune in a bus. Sonia tried to behave as if she was really shocked and sad at the turn of events, and as a result, Sanskaar let her place her head on his shoulders, during the journey.
As they got down from the bus, they took a taxi and first went off to drop Sonia at her home. Before getting down from the car, Sonia turned towards Sanskaar.
So: Bye, Sanskaar..See you tomorrow in class..
Sa: (nods) Hm..Bye..Apna khayal rakhna..!
So: Main koshish karoongi..But I promise that I wont try to commit suicide again..
Sa: (smiles) Good girl..! And please don't worry..We will try our level best to set things right..
So: (nods with a smile) Thank you , Sanskaar..
************************
When he returned to his college hostel room late in the evening, Lakshya was not there in the room. In fact, Sanskaar should have felt some relief at his absence, but he was amazed when he felt lonely.
Sanskaar lay down on his bed, since he was feeling really tired after the day's incidents. His love, his friendships -- everything just crumbled out of his hold, in just two days. His relationship with Lakshya, whom he had begun to share a more brotherly bond than a best friend, was the first one in the list. And then next followed his relationship with Swara, and friendship with Ragini also. And now he was sure that he had also lost his friendships with Parineeta and Adarsh too. None of them even called him to enquire about the actual truth till now. He wondered why all this happened to him.
It was just then that Lakshya returned to the room. Sanskaar looked up when he entered through the door, Lakshya was about to ask when did he return from the trip, but when he remembered that they were not on talking terms, he wisely kept quiet.
He then proceeded to pack his things into his luggage trolley and travel bags. Sanskaar wondered where he was going at this time, but he didn't bother to ask.
After packing his things, Lakshya took his luggage and was about to go out of the room when he turned to face Sanskaar again.
La: Listen, Sanskaar..I am going off to stay at a private hostel, nearby..Aaj se tumhein mujhe jhelna nahin padega..So, bye...!
Sanskaar frowned at him, but he didn't nod at Lakshya. Lakshya merely shrugged and walked off from the room. Uninvited tears sprang inside Sanskaar's eyes, and he felt as if he had lost everything in his life.
He remembered his own final words to Swara, at that beach house.
Sa-"HAAAN HAAN..JAAAO..! JAB TUM MUJHPE TRUST HI NAHIN KAR SAKTI TOH, KYA FAAYDA ISS RISHTE KA..IT'S MEANINGLESS WITHOUT TRUST..SAMJHI TUM..!!"
And then he remembered Lakshya's final words to him and the others, at the night of Sonia's birthday party.
La-Agar tum mein se kisi ko bhi mujhpe vishwaas nahin ho toh, main kuch nahin kar sakta..Trust ke bina koi bhi rishta meaningless hain..Mujhse zyaada, tum logon ko iss anjaan aadmi pe (indicates the waiter) bharosa hain na..(tears fill his eyes, and wipes away furiously)Fine..!! I don't want to prove anything to you all..
Sanskaar reminded himself that right now, he was in the same situation like Lakshya was in during that party night. None of his friends or Swara cared enough to trust him. But then he thought, " No..why am I even comparing my situation with that of Lakshya..? " "He did wrong..but I didn't.." "I, at least deserved a chance to explain the truth.." "But everyone believed what Swara saw.."
But then another voice inside his head told him, " But you also tried to believe what you saw, in Lakshya's case, without letting him explain his innocence.."
And then Sanskaar thought, " Should I ought to have given Lakshya a chance to explain..? " "May be, yes..!! ", he thought gingerly.
He began to feel a little suffocated, and he wanted to go out of the room. Just then, some of the boys in his football team came into the room.
B1 - Dude..We are going to the Mario's for a night out..Are you coming out with us..?
Mario's was a night club and he had heard that it was damn fun there. He decided to go, he wanted a sudden relief from the loneliness he was feeling now.
Sa: Ya, sure..I am coming..Let me change into some party wear.
B2 - Ok..We will wait for you downstairs..by the way, where is Lakshya..Heard that he had shifted to some other hostel..? Kya hua yaar..?
Sa: (defiantly) Uska decision tha..Woh chala gaya..!
The boys were surprised at the angry tone in his voice, they looked at each other and shrugged.
B3 - Ok..tum jaldi aajaana neeche..
***************************
Meanwhile, at the college ladies hostel, Swara was standing at the window of their room. Ragini approached her with a glass of milk.
Ra: Swara tum please isse peelo..
Sw: Sorry Ragini..Par mujhe nahin chahiye..Please tum mujhe force mat karo..mujhe bhookh nahin hain..
Ra: Arre aise kaise bhook nahin hain..(then scolds her) Chup chaap pee lo Swara..You didn't eat anything till now..!
Sw: Ok baba..
Swara took the glass and started to sip the milk in small amounts.
Ra: Good girl..(smiles)
****************************
Mario's Night club
Sanskaar was sitting at a corner and he was watching his friends, who were enjoying at the dance floor. They had asked him to join them, but he was in no mood to dance. He was just content with the loud music and the crowd in the vast room, which helped him take his mind off his lonely feeling.
It was then that he noticed the door opening, and in came the two most unexpected people -- Sonia and Samar..!!!! Sanskaar wondered what miracle had caused the brother-sister duo to patch up so soon. He wanted to know the reason and so he walked towards the place they were now standing.
Neither of them saw him approach and so they started their conversation.
Sm: So kaisa laga mera surprise..You always wanted to come to this night club na..Humaari jeet ki khushi celebrate karne ke liye isse acha surprise kya ho sakta hain tumhare liye..(places his hand around her shoulders, affectioantely)
So: (hugs him) I just love you bhaiyya..Aapke plan ke wajah se toh yeh sab hua hain..!
Sm: (hugs her back) Now I just can't wait to make Swara mine, completely..That night, at your birhday party, everything got spoilt because of that Lakshya..Agar woh uss time pe nahin aaya hota toh main Swara ke saath bahut kuch kar sakta tha..(scoffs) Bechaara Lakshya..!(laughs wickedly)
Sanskaar's rage knew no bounds when he heard his words, but still he waited for more confessions to come out. Sonia withdrew from the hug and looked at Samar with a dreamy expression.
So: Haan bhaiyya..Aur main ab Sanskaar ko bhi paa sakti hoon..!
Sm: Yes Sonia..this is the right time for you..He will be feeling lonely without his friends and Swara..(laughs slightly) You can take advantage of that..(winks)
So: You know what, bhaiyya..You are the best..(hugs him again)
Sm: Ab mujhe uss din ka intezaar rahega jab Swara mujhse kahegi ke,
But Samar couldn't complete the sentence and he recieved a hard blow on his face. He fell on to the ground and blood gushed out of his mouth. Sonia shrieked in a high pitched voice and she was watching Sanskaar with a frightened face.
Samar looked up from the floor and saw Sanskaar, who was ready to strike again. He tried to get up but Sanskaar had raised his leg to stamp him.
Sa: Agar tune aaj ke baad Swara ki taraf aankh uthaake ke bhi dekha toh...(and stamped hard on Samar's stomach)
Sm:Aaarrgggh..(and painfully held his stomach)
Now, many people were watching the scene, but no one tried to intervene. Sanskaar was again going to stamp him, but Sonia came and stood in between Samar and Sanskaar.
So:(crying)Kya kar rahe ho tum Sanskaar..?Kyun maar rahe ho tum bhaiyya ko..?
Sa: (furiously) Tum mere saamne se hato, Sonia..Warna..
So:(angrily)Warna kya kar loge tum..Haan..?
A hard slap fell across her face and she landed on the ground.
Sa: (smirks) Waise, you deserved it, Sonia..
Then Sanskaar raised his leg and stamped hard on Samar's face and then on his stomach and continued stamping till his anger went away. Samar was not even in a condition to get up and he was bleeding profusely.
Sanskaar's friends entered the scene and they caught hold of Sanskaar to stop him from hitting Samar.
B1- Sanskaar..Chodo na..Tum usse bahut maar chuke ho...
Sa: (angrily)Nahin...Chodoonga nahin main usko...!
B2- Woh mar jaayega, Sanskaar..Stop it please..
Sanskaar struggled in their clutches and he still wanted to go for Samar. Sonia got up and ran to Samar and tried to help him. Samar couldn't even sit up and some of his friends, who were present at the club, carried him away.
Sanskaar was fuming with anger and it took a lot of time for his friends to pacify him. But then, he remembered another thing. He wanted to apologize to Lakshya.
************************
Next morning, at college, Sanskaar was waiting for Lakshya at the main gate. Lakshya noticed Sanskaar, even from a distance, but when he reached closer, he tried to pass the gates without looking in his direction. But Lakshya was surprised when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned towards Sanskaar with a look of surprise.
La: Sanskaar..
Sa: Sorry Lakshya..(hugs him tight) Please maaf karde yaar..!
Lakshya was really shocked now, but still he didn't hug him back.
La: Suddenly kya hogaya tumhein, Sanskaar..? (raises his brows with a smirk)
Sanskaar withdrew himself from the hug and looked straight into his best friend's eyes.
Sa: I have realized my mistake..Yesterday, I realized that I should have given at least a chance for you to explain your inncocence..
La: (narrows his eyes) "Innocence..?" ..Are you sure now, that I am innocent..?!! (frowns)
Sa: (looks into his face intently) Lakshya, agar tum nahin hote toh, Swara ke saath bahut kuch ho sakta tha..Tumne usse uss badtameez Samar se bachaaya aur maine..(chokes with emotion and looks away)..(then composes himself and looks at Laskhya's face again) Lakshya..Kal mere saath bahut kuch hua..I think that god wanted to punish me for everything I did to you...
La: Kal matlab, when you people went with that trip with Samar and Sonia..?
Sa: (nods seriously) Haan Lakshya..Kya tum please mere saath canteen chal sakte ho..? I want to talk..! (pleading look)
Though he didn't want to forgive Sanskaar so easily, after what he had done to him, still Lakshya wanted to listen to what he wanted to say.
*************************
Meanwhile, Swara and Ragini had reached their class. Parineeta was waiting impatiently for them to arrive, and so she hurried towards them.
Pa: Swara, Ragini..Tum logo ne suna..Kal raat Mario's club mein Sanskaar aur Samar ke beech bahut bada jhagda hua tha..
Sw: Kya..
Pa: Haan Swara..Humare class ke kuch ladke bhi the wahan pe..Samar ko bahut peeta Sanskaar ne.. Ab woh hospital mein hain..
Ra: Oh god..!! (clasps her mouth with her hand)
Pa: Par mazey ki baat woh nahin hain..It seems that Sonia was also there at the club with Samar..Sanskaar ne uske mooh pe zor se ek chaanta bhi maara..
Ra: Really..? Par kyun..?
But Swara was frowning hard.
Sw: Wait wait wait..Sonia, aur woh bhi Samar ke saath..!! I can't believe it..! He was so angry with her yesterday that he even broke every relation with her..
Ra: Main bhi yahin soch rahi thi, Swara..! Kuch toh gadbad hain..!
**********************
Meanwhile at the canteen, Sanskaar had just finished telling everything to Lakshya.
Sa: It was all part of Samar's plan, Lakshya..Now I understand, ke maine tumhare saath kitna galat kiya..But you were right, trust ke bina har ek relationship meaningless hain..So I will respect your decision, Lakshya..If you don't want to be friends with me again, I can totally understand..(looks at him with a sad face)
La: (places his hand on his shoulder) Sanskaar..Main humesha se tumhara best friend hi tha..(looks at him with a sincere smile)
Sanskaar just hugged Lakshya, real tight and thumped his back with joy. Lakshya was only happy to hug him back.
Sa: Thank you, Lakshya..(smiles wide)
La: Par Sanskaar..Kuch aur kaam bhi baaki hain, humein karne ke liye..
Lakshya withdrew from the hug and looked at Sanskaar with a serious look.
La: (sighs) Swara aur Ragini..Ab unhein manaana padega..! Its going to be really tough...
Sa: Hmmph..I don't know Lakshya..Swara ko ab manaana, is next to impossible..
Sanskaar's eyes filled with tears, when he said that. Lakshya patted his shoulder and said,
La: Chalo, lets go to class now..Lets see if we can clear things, at least to Adarsh..
Sa: (nods) Ya..right..
***************************
During the lunch break, Parineeta, Swara and Ragini were waiting for Adarsh in the canteen.
Pa: Offo..Yeh Adarsh bhi na..Ab tak kyun nahin aaya.. Maine kaha tha Adarsh se, that we will wait here, for him during lunch hour.
Ra: Tum bhi na Parineeta..Woh aa raha hoga..Just chill ok..
Swara, who was sitting opposite to them, could view the entrance. She saw him enter into the canteen.
Sw: Yeh lo, Adarsh aagaya..
But her smile vanished when she saw Sanskaar and Lakshya entered into the canteen, after Adarsh. Ragini noticed Swara's face and she asked.
Ra: (frowning) Kya hua..?
Sw: (low voice) Ragini..Woh Adarsh, Sanskaar aur Lakshya ko bhi saath leke aa raha hain..
Both Ragini and Parineeta turned towards the door. Sanskaar and Lakshya walked towards the table along with Adarsh. Swara and Ragini exchanged a cautious look and they avoided looking at both Sanskaar and Lakshya.
Sanskaar came and sat down beside Swara and Adarsh sat down next to him. Swara stood up, with a decision to leave, but Adarsh asked her,
Ad: Swara..Please baith jaao..Kuch important baat kehna tha tum sab se..
Sw: (sits down) Ok..(but does not look at Sanskaar)
Lakshya sat down near Parineeta.
Ad: You all have to listen to us carefully now..
Sa: (looks at Ragini) Ragini..First of all, I just want to say a very big sorry to you..
Ra: (surprised) Me..? Par kyun..?
Sa: Uss raat ko maine bina soche samjhe, Lakshya ko maara, usse explain karne ka ek bhi mauka nahin diya..Yeh soch ke, ke woh Swara ko molest karne ki koshish kar raha tha.. I acted out of impulse and spoilt everything for you both...Ragini, I want to apologize for that..for causing so much grief for you both..I have already said sorry to him and thank god, being big-hearted as he is, he simply forgave me..
Ragini looked side ways at Lakshya, (he was looking at her intently), and then at Sanskaar again with confusion.
Ra: What are you trying to say, Sanskaar..Please make it clear, will you..?
Sa: Ragini..Lakshya was innocent..Woh toh Swara ko uss badmash se bachaaya..
Ra: Par kis se..? Kaun tha woh..?
La: (with contempt) Samar..!
Lakshya began to explain and every one was listening to him with bated breath.
La: I saw Samar carrying a half-conscious Swara into a bedroom, and then saw him locking the door from inside. I went and knocked the door, and when Samar opened the door, I asked him where Swara was..He tried to convince me that she was not with him. But I said that I had seen him carrying her inside. And then I pushed Samar aside and got inside the room. When I looked towards the bed I saw that the blanket was covering a body. I took the blanket and flipped it aside. Swara was lying unconscious on the bed. I was really shocked to see her like that. I bent down and patted her cheek and asked her to get up...But I didn't notice that Samar had slipped out from there by locking the door from outside, since I was busy trying to wake Swara..Then I took some water from the bathroom and sprinkled it over Swara's face. Slowly Swara came to her senses, but she was finding it difficult to open her eyes..She was saying things like, "Please don't touch me..Tum kaun ho.."..I felt really bad, seeing her condition..I again bent and lowered my head towards her face to pat her cheeks and I kept on sprinkling some more water on her face. And I said to Swara "Main hoon..Lakshya..Please utho tum.." And then at that time, you all came inside and thought that I was trying to..(he couldn't complete his sentence and looked away with a painful face)
Everyone including Swara was watching him with awestruck eyes. But Swara's eyes were slowly filling with tears, recalling the painful incident, but still her mind was filling with a relief, knowing that after all, Lakshya was not the person who did all this to her.
Ad: Lakshya wahan time pe pahunch gaya, iss liye toh, Swara bach gayi..! Samar ne usske saath kuch bhi nahin kar paya..!
But by that time, Swara got up from her seat and walked around the table, towards Lakshya.
Sw: (looks ar him, with tearful eyes) Lakshya..!
La: (stands up) Swara..I..
Sw: (tearful eyes, week voice) Kuch mat kaho..Please.. (hugs him tightly and begins to cry) Tumhare saath hum logon ne kitna galat kiya..Phir bhi tumne maaf kar diya..
Lakshya too hugged her back, his eyes were filled with tears too, but he couldn't say anything, at that moment, he was too overcome with emotions to react. He couldn't even dare to think what would have happened to Swara, if he had not reached on time.
Ad: (to every one) Yesterday night, Sanskaar heard them talking..
Lakshya and Swara broke from the hug and were listening.
Pa: 'Them' means..Samar and Sonia..? At that club..?
Sa: Haan Parineeta..I was really shocked to see them together..
He recalled their conversation and retold it to them.
{{Sm: So kaisa laga mera surprise..You always wanted to come to this night club na..Humaari jeet ki khushi celebrate karne ke liye isse acha surprise kya ho sakta hain tumhare liye..(places his hand around her shoulders, affectioantely)
So: (hugs him) I just love you bhaiyya..Aapke plan ke wajah se toh yeh sab hua hain..!
Sm: (hugs her back) Now I just can't wait to make Swara mine, completely..That night, at your birhday party, everything got spoilt because of that Lakshya..Agar woh uss time pe nahin aaya hota toh main Swara ke saath bahut kuch kar sakta tha..(scoffs) Bechaara Lakshya..!}}
Sa: (grits his teeth) So basically, it was all their joint plan..!(furious look)
Everyone were listening with shocked faces.
Pa: (angrily) Uss ladki ko main chodoongi nahin..Aane do usse college mein..! Acha hua Sanskaar, that you gave her a nice slap..!!
Ad: Haan Pari...(then happily) Par Sanskaar ne Samar ko kal itna maara ke woh aaj bhi hospital mein hain..(sniggers, but then seriously tells) But let him come back to college.. Mere aur Lakshya ke taraf se bhi kuch taufey dene hain, humein..Hain na Lakshya..?(folds back the end of his shirt sleeves, as if readying himself to fight)
La: (nods with a grim look) Bilkul, Adarsh..!!(clenches his fists, angrily)
Parineeta looked at Ragini's and Swara's faces, she knew why they were extremely silent, now. They wanted to reconcile with their lost lovers, but the gap between them had become so wide that they didn't know what to say or do, in order to bridge that gap.
Swara's face was red with embarassment, asking forgiveness from Lakshya had been easy for her, but she was not sure, how she was going to face Sanskaar now.
Ragini's face was already swollen with weeping silently, all through the conversation. She was in shock, thinking about the dilemma and grief Lakshya must have undergone, just because of their mistrust, and she felt that at least she should have stood up for him, against the others.
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End of PART 14
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Naina😊
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