Hello everyone I'm here again with another update of this story.. Hope you people like this one.. Not much to say before this one except one thing, well I've been thinking about this since quite sometime that I wanted to make this one a SS as I have some more ideas in my mind so let me know if you want to read more of this one. I shall continue it or I'll wrap it up in one last chapter making it a five shot, cutting things short.. Whatever is your decision please let me know so I'd know how to plan my story ahead..
Next a big thank you and a warm hug to all the people who have liked and commented on my updates again a special mention to Sakura, Ros, Jess, Asha and Ashi guys you'll seriously made my day I was smiling bright all day long.. Lots of love to all of you'll.. So without further ado I present this chapter.
Chapter 4 - Break of Dawn
The whole family had been called down by Durga Prasad for his customary assembly. He had to set out his decision regarding Laksh today. He had thought about this and reached over an unwavering decision. One after one the family members filed in and assembled in the gigantic hall of the mansion waiting for the Patriarch of the family to speak. Sanskaar and Swara were the last one's to file in, Sanskaar walked in holding Swara's hand tightly in his hand and she limp walked besides him holding his shoulder for support as she had hurt her leg; the broken shards of glass piercing through her right foot. Coming to a standstill Sanskaar asked, "Shona sit down on the chair your leg must be bothering you."
After seemed like ages to Sanskaar his Swara smiled; very lightly though and it wasn't her full blown wide smile but that would suffice for now, and Laksh looked at them with envy and muted anger. "I'll be fine standing Sanskaar it doesn't hurt so much now. " she looked at Laksh then her face giving away nothing. Breaking everyone out of their reveries Durga Prasad's autocratic voice rang out in the hall and pin drop silence settled over everyone, " I feel horrible for what happened to Swara yesterday, she has been more like a daughter to me and whatever happened ought not to happen; it ashames me even more that it was done by my own son. I'd never thought that he would stoop so low in his pursuit to get Swara back in his life that he would give a blow to her integrity and sanctity. Sharm se sar jhuka diya humaara aur Annapurna ka usne. We're ashamed that this criminal is our flesh and blood."
Pausing for a minute he gained control over himself and continued, "Swara beta forgive me I'm extremely sorry for the pain you had to bear at the hands of my son I'm extremely sorry. And Laksh will be sorry too; I will personally make sure that you get justice. Laksh shall go to jail for this crime; nothing more nothing less. No one but the law of the land shall decide what is to be done with him." The whole of the Maheshwari family looked shocked barring a few which included Sanskaar, Swara and RAGINI who looked satisfied and pleased. Ragini was extremely happy with the decision her father in law had taken.
Giving one last cold look to his son Durga Prasad turned away leaving Laksh look dejected and forlorn but not someone who would give up easily he approached Swara, "Swara papa ko roko na unse kaho ke woh aisa na kare, please mujhe ek mauka do sudharne ka, one chance just one chance to make it up to you, you know how much I love you right? ". All the time he spoke Swara looked away nonchalantly not paying heed to what he said. Not getting his desired reaction he made way towards her again but she shrunk away and stepped behind Sanskaar, away from his gaze and it angered Laksh even more.
Laksh's brain calculated fast he couldn't let his anger get the better of him now; he knew that one lapse on his part and he would miss his last chance to freedom so he tried his last card, the joker and he was sure he would win this game with this, he turned to Annapurna with tears in his eyes, "Maa please get me out of this. I don't want to go behind the bars maa. You know I didn't do it intentionally." Durga Prasad's booming voice broke in between, "You should have thought of the repercussions of your actions before doing that heinous crime, there is no way you're getting away with this one, you will pay for this and that is my final word. There is no question of a Moot point here."
"Suniye ji" Annapurna called out in a soft pleading tone "Ek aakhri mauka de dijiye mere Laksh ko sudharne ka iss baar koi galti nahi karega mera beta waada karti hoon main sabse." Laksh looked visibly pleased as his mother begged for another chance for him while the entire family looked on at Annapurna in shock, they couldn't believe she was yet willing to lend support to Laksh and get him a chance to escape from the crime he had committed.
Folding her hands in front of Swara who looked at her wide eyed, "Swara i beg of you, forgive him please he did this in a state of inebriation he didn't mean to hurt you tumhe iss tarah chot pahuchane ka irada nahi tha uska tum bhi jaanti ho kitna pyaar karta hai woh tumse. Please maaf kar do mat bhejo usse jail. " and she cried silently, she knew she was asking something which was very impossible for Swara to do, to let go off her molester and get on with her life. But her motherly instincts wouldn't let her think straight she wanted nothing but the safety of her son.
"Kyun maaf kare Swara Laksh ko? Ek kaaran do mhaare ko ke jiji ke je ladki iss darinde ko kyun maaf kare. Janwaro se bhi badtar vyavhaar se pesh aaya aapka Laksh Swara se, aapka dil abhi bhi na pigla? " Sujata spoke in an angry tone.
Sanskaar continued his tone cutting, "Badi ma? I can't believe you yet lend your support to your sorry excuse of a son even after everything he did to my wife. Do you know what he has done? Attempt to rape, he has molested my wife like a savage wild animal and you tell her to forget everything that happened with her just like that? You ask her to forgive him for molesting her. You know I come to think now; what crime will Laksh commit which will make you feel that he is ought to be punished, isse bada koi gunaah nahi ke aap kisi aurat ki izzat ki dhajjiya uda do, you don't even have a faint idea of what Swara is going through. She is going through humongous physical and emotional pain and you being a woman you ask her to do this? I'm ashamed Badi maa, I'd expected some compassion from you but somethings or rather some people don't change. " he finished his voice dripping with disgust.
"You've lost respect in my eyes after today Annapurna after what you've done and said; I never expected you to do this for this ungrateful and unrepentant son of your's. I always thought you were unbiased and always on the side of what's right but sadly you're blinded by your motherly love." Durga prasad concluded in a painful voice.
"I'm only trying to defend my son, that's what every mother would do. " Annapurna said firmly.
A soft cold voice then spoke, "Inko koi maafi nahi milegi, ye iske layak hi nahi hai, maa ye jail jaayenge. " everybody turned their heads in the direction of the voice and were astonished to see Ragini support Swara, smiling slightly at Swara and Sanskaar she blinked her eyes in support and continued," Papaji here are the keys of the Almirah, the ownership transfer papers shall be ready very soon my lawyers are working on that part. I turn back on my words; I don't want this money and property, I want to acquit Laksh with my kidnapping charges too. He deserves longer exile. He ought to be taught a lesson for everything he has done. "
Walking into the scene she continued,"You know I had always worshipped Laksh like a god, loved him with every fibre of my being and when he didn't respond back to me I took on the wrong way to achieve his love. Andhe ho gaye the humaare pyaar, main dikh hi nahi raha tha ke hum kitna gir gaye the Laksh ko paane ke liye. I couldn't see how much destruction I was bringing about, how much was I losing myself in that. Pyaar main har koi ek behtar insaan banta hai, Sanskaar is a classic example of it, Swara's love changed him for the best par Laksh ke pyaar ne hume girne par majboor kar diya. I slayed and slashed every person who came between me and Laksh. The person worst hit was my sister Swara."
"Bahut bura Kiya humne iske saath, bura karne ki har had paar kar di aur ye humesha hume piche khichti rahi, hume sachhai dikhaane ki koshish karti rahi ke hum galat kar rahe the.I broke her trust everytime she placed her unwavering belief in me; I was doing it all wrong. I've loved such a man all my life who doesn't even know what love means. He thinks love and lust are the same. I've loved someone jiski soch itni gandi hai ke kisi ke saath itna bura karne ke baad bhi unko apni bhool nahi dikhai deti. Yahi kaha tha na aapne hume Laksh kal kamre main ke ye Swara ki galati ki wajah se hua hai, ke usne aapko uksaya ye gunaah karne ke liye? A collective gasp reverbated across the hall as Ragini revealed what Laksh had said to her last night; "I feel sick of you Laksh; I feel suffocated of my feelings for you. I hate myself for loving you. I'm no saint I know this because I have committed many crimes and crossed many lines myself but yet I deserve better than a rapist for a husband. " she concluded with venom dripping from her words.
"Galat aap hai Laksh ke aapko Swara aur Sanskaar ka sachha pyaar nahi dikha, galat aap hai iss tarah Swara pe zor zabardasti karne ke liye, galat aap hai iss tarah uski Izzat ko chot pahuchane ke liye. Galat hai aap Laksh galat. I remember having accused Sanskaar of a similar crime when he had done absolutely nothing and now I feel ashamed of even doing it. Swara and Sanskaar are the two persons who had constantly tried to stop me in my crazy pursuit for Laksh but I never paid heed to them. And now that I've realised my mistakes I regret not paying heed to what they said." Ragini was openly crying now, tears of regret streaming down her cheeks she continued in a timid voice, "Maaf kar do hume Swara, I regret for every single mistake I commited, for every time I manipulated you, for every occasion I hurt you beyond repair and broke you down and I feel sorry for breaking your never ending trust on me time and again. Maaf kar do har ek zakhm ke liye jo humne tumhe diye Swara, agar maaf kar sako toh, ek aakhri mauka de do apni behen ko. I promise Swara to never let your trust break into smithereens I promise. One chance Swara just one. " and she broke down.
Walking forward Swara engulfed her sister in a light warm hug, "It's ohkk Ragini, I'm glad you've realized your mistake that is more important and I'm happy about it, I want my old Ragini back too. No matter how much time it takes. " Ragini tightened her arms around her sister's frame and happily chimed, "You will Swara you will I will never let you down henceforth, never will I break your trust. " They broke their teary hug and smiled at each other. Steeling herself Swara turned towards Laksh and spoke for the first time after last night, "I provoked you into this Laksh did you say this? You didn't need any provocation Laksh because clearly you don't know or understand or rather want to understand that there exists a line between love and lust and you lusted after me, you were obsessed with me. Had you loved me you wouldn't have done this to me. You wouldn't stoop so low. Your conscious would have stopped you and warn you a thousand times but it didn't.The thought of touching me without my consent would never have come to your mind in the first place, that was not the case but you went on and on with your man slaughter on me while I struggled, begging for you to leave me time and again, pleading you to leave me and stop hurting me with every wound you created on me. My screams of pain went unheard as I struggled to maintain whatever you had left of my virtue."
Tears again pouring out she continued, "Love? You call this love, these marks? " and she shifted her dupatta baring the marks on her shoulders and neck, or this is love; pulling up the sleeve of her kurta she showed his nail marks which were yet etched over her skin reminding her of last night as everyone flinched looking at her wounds again. This isnt love laksh, you never hurt the person you love, you don't break them down to their basics, you don't physically abuse them, you definitely don't take control over their body by force. A lover protects his lady's self respect and dignity from the world, he doesn't snatch it away so brutally from her like you did since you claim to love me.
Inspite of repeatedly telling you to leave me alone you wouldn't understand, you kept pursuing me time and again. Tumne mere na ko kabhi na samjha hi nahi? Jeena mushkil kar diya tha tumne mera Laksh. You made me feel suffocated with your obsession it used to bear me down with its weight. If you feel after doing whatever you did to me last night I will feel something for you then you are highly mistaken; I don't feel anything at all for you not love not hatred but only pure disgust. You make me feel disgusted Laksh. I don't ever want to see you again; never in my life and never will I ever forgive you till i breathe my last breath."
Suddenly moving with agility Laksh went and grabbed hold of Swara,shaking her wildly he screamt, "You love me that's it that's all I know, you cannot love anyone but me; you cannot feel disgust for me you're not allowed to feel anything but love. "
Shaking with fear Swara was prying his hands off her telling him to leave her, but she didn't have to struggle anymore Sanskaar was besides her almost immediately and pushed Laksh away from her. Controlling his rage Sanskaar spoke, "DON'T-TOUCH-HER; stay the hell away from her Laksh I don't want my hands dirty with your blood on them just stay the hell away from my wife it would be in your best interest. Don't test my patience anymore than you already have. "
Furious at his behavior Swara said, "This is the last time you lay your hands on me Laksh the next time you lay as much as a finger on me I will break it into parts and hand it back to you. Don't you dare touch me again. And for what you said about me loving you, let me make it very clear I DON'T LOVE YOU. Repeating what I said last night I loved Sanskaar, always have and always will; I have no place for you or anyone else in my life. Sanskaar has, does and always will rule over my heart. "
Sanskaar's heartbeats soared high at her confession of love and a slight sheen formed in front of his eyes. He shut his orbs relishing the sound of those three words from her mouth; he had dreamt her saying this to him numerous times but it came nowhere close to how surreal he felt now hearing it from her in reality when he stood there in front of her, he felt complete in that moment.
"Bade Papa you don't have to apologize to me for what this man has done, he betrayed not only me but you and Badi maa as well. He has let you and your upbringing down; I understand what pain you must be going through; I feel sorry you had to see this day in your life because of Laksh. And Badi Maa I understand your concern for Laksh but this time I don't have it in me to forgive him. Nahi hoon main itni mahaan ke main usse maaf kar doon. Jo usne mere saath Kiya hai uske liye main usse kabhi maaf nahi karungi. I want he repents for the horrendous deed he has done. And he doesn't love me because clearly he used physical force on me, If not for his disorientation at the right time I would have. " and words died in her mouth as she couldn't continue further due to the lump in her throat.
Sanskaar came to stand besides Swara and placed his hand on either of shoulder; lending silent support to her while Laksh looked at them in mutinous rage, "Mat choo usse Sanskaar meri hai woh, mera haq hai usse choone ka. "
"Snap out of your delusion Laksh, stop objectifying her; she is a human for God's sake not some object which you can exert your rights over, consider her like a human. Hey, but Sorry that is too much to ask from someone who was so much like an animal with her, my bad I asked you for it. " Sanskaar spoke venomously.
At that precise moment the cops made an entry in the scene, "Who amongst you all is Mr. Sanskaar Maheshwari? "
"Yes I was the one to call you, Sir this man here Laksh Maheshwari has committed twin crimes of Kidnapping Mrs Ragini Laksh Maheshwari,his wife and attempt to rape on my wife, Mrs Swara Sanskaar Maheshwari. Take him under arrest; I shall provide all the evidence for the kidnapping and as for the attempt to rape my room up there on the right shall give you enough proof. "
Nodding the cops made their way towards Sanskaar's room and after their investigation, they found a bottle of alcohol which Laksh had brought in with him and his jacket which he flung over the sofa. While Sanskaar provided them with the evidences of the kidnap.
Turning towards Sanskaar the cop said, "Mr Sanskaar i shall need the oral narrative of the incident that occurred with Mrs Ragini and Mrs Swara for filing it with the FIR it is mandatory. "
Ragini nodded her head in agreement but they looked at Swara in worry who looked very apprehensive, "Shona, will you be able to do this? We need to give a narrative for the lodgement of the FIR. " Nodding her head slightly she gave her assent, pulling her close he pecked her on the forehead softly, "It's gonna be fine. Don't worry I'm there for you. " Hugging him she said softly "I know you will Sanskaar "
Sitting down on the couch Ragini hurriedly gave the first hand account of her kidnapping, setting out all the details, the cop then turned towards Swara asking for her detailing; sitting down Swara started speaking but in broken incoherent words. Sanskaar held her hand throughout her detailing, both feeling the pain rise in their chest as Swara was forced to remember last night and Sanskaar again felt pained at the brutality she had suffered last night, Sanskaar realized that though she had attained the strength to speak up for herself, she had not gotten over the incident completely she needed some time to heal completely. Finally done with their job the cops left the mansion after handcuffing Laksh, "We shall call you for the further proceedings once the FIR is lodged Mr. Sanskaar." Nodding they both shaked hands and with one last cold glared look at Laksh Sanskaar departed from the scene.
By the time Sanskaar came back to the hall everyone had gone back to their rooms clearly recuperating from today's incident. But he couldn't spot Swara. Worry again gripped him as he entered the kitchen but didn't see her there. Taking the stairs two at a time he reached the guest bedroom where they were staying and his breath was restored to him, there stood the love of his life leaning against the window looking outside it into nothingness. Taking a deep breath Sanskaar walked towards her and calmly placed his hands on her shoulder..
To be continued...
Here is the fourth installment of this story; yet again I shall love reading your feedback and comments so drop in your views and yes also don't forget to tell me if you people want me to make this and SS or wrap it up in the next chapter..
Thank you once again.
Love,
Kashmi
