Hi people. ...got a bit of free time between exams. ...so I am posting. ..It will answer some of your questions.
CHAPTER 5
The much awaited day had arrived. Ragini Gadodia was getting engaged to Laksh Maheshwari. Gadodia mansion itself was decked up like a bride. People were hustling about engaged in various chores. There was a mood of festivity all around which made the bride to be smile happily. It had been years since Ragini had seen her home like this. Since her parents' sad demise the house had gone into a mourning mode. Save a few pujas celebrations were forgotten. But today everyone was in a festive mood. Her grandmothers were discussing something rather happily and grandfather was on the phone. Swara was running around checking the arrangements one last time. She looked very happy. This made Ragini the happiest. She then remembered what she had come out of her room for. Coming down the stairs she dragged her sister back with her to her room.
"Di, you are my sister and it is my engagement. You have to look the best. So get ready fast. "She said.
Swara smiled and with a dramatic bow went in to get ready. Soon the sisters had a stylist appointed by Swara working on them. They had just been done when Dida came in. Her eyes brimmed with tears and after putting a kaala teeka on the girls she informed them that the Maheshwari family had arrived.
The sisters came down looking like two apsaras who had come down to earth. Swara had suggested that the engagement should have a modern touch to it and the elders had agreed though a bit reluctantly , mostly because DP had agreed with Swara. Ragini wore a emerald green lehenga and heavy jewellery quite different from the usual Marwari type she used. Swara was dressed in a midnight blue and ivory lehenga. She wore simple jewellery. Both the sisters looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Uttara came running to them as they came down.
"Swara Di, I am very sad. Dida told me Rishi ji is not coming .I spent so much time getting ready to take pictures with him
"She said.
"Sorry" Swara said laughing. She herself had been informed only 2 days back. A recording he had thought of postponing couldn't be postponed. "Don't worry. As soon as he is here I will get you to meet him. And you can take lots of pictures. "
Uttara gave her a quick hug as she asked "Where is Laksh? ". Ragini had been looking around trying to see him .
"He isn't here yet .Bhai came back today from London . He just got home and Laksh Bhai is coming with him. They were still getting ready. So we left them behind. They will come with Adarsh Bhaiyya and Pari Bhabhi. Sorry Ragini Bhabhi . You will have to wait. "She said .
"My poor sister. "Swara said joining in.
Ragini blushed staring at them. Swara and Uttara burst out laughing.
The elders blessed Ragini. They were waiting for the groom to arrive when Swara received a call from the event manager. There was some confusion regarding the menu and she had to see to it.
"Di, stay with me. Please. "Ragini said stopping her.
"Ragu, I will come in a minute .I have to meet the caterers. The ceremony is almost an hour away. "Swara reassured her.
Swara had been talking to the caterers and looking into some last minute details when a servant informed her that Laksh had arrived. She went over everything one last time and started to go back to Ragini. On the way she grabbed a glass of juice. She was hurrying down the stairs with the glass in hand when she felt herself slipping. She had stepped on her lehenga.
"Omg. I am gonna fall. Its so embarrassing. So many guests around. "She thought.
But the didn't fall. She had closed her eyes in fear. Now she felt a pair of arms around her. ..holding her. She opened her eyes. She was looking into a pair of familiar eyes as shocked as she was. A shiver ran down her spine as she took in his face. A thousand memories.
:Sunny "she whispered.
"Shona "came the reply.
His voice brought back painful memories. She freed herself and saw him retreat at the same time. Her angry stare was met with equal anger.
"What was he angry for.? Wasn't I the one who suffered? What is he doing here? "She wondered.
Pari came to them.
"Sanskaar your dress. " She said pointing to the drink Swara had dropped on his shervani. Then seeing them look at each other she said "Swara, this Sanskaar. Laksh ' cousin. And Sanskaar this is Swara. Ragini ' elder sister. "
Swara looked at him in shock. Then regaining some of her composure she greeted him with a polite hi. Pari was telling him to clean his dress. So Swara directed him to her room and went towards Ragini.
She looked at her sister standing with the Maheshwaris looking very happy. Sanskaar was a Maheshwari. She hadn't known this. He had told her that he broke all ties with them. Another lie probably. What could she do now? Ragini liked Laksh and she didn't want to break their hearts. And what reason would she give? That she had been in a relationship with the groom's elder brother. That would ruin everything. There was nothing to do. Laksh seemed a good guy and so did the family. All that Sanskaar had told her about them was probably a lie. He seemed to be happy with them.
Putting on a fake smile she was coming near Ragini when something blocked her vision. Someone had covered her eyes with their hands. She knew someone who always did that. But it couldn't be him today.
"Guess who? " the stranger said.
"Rishi " she said shocked. The hands were off from her eyes.
"You need to hear me to recognise me? Why Mishti? " he asked in a dramatic tone with a huge grin on his face.
Swara was worried. Sanskaar and Rishi. Rishi had sworn to kill Sanskaar the next time he saw him. Knowing him he would and though Sanskaar deserved it she didn't want that to happen for Ragini ' s sake. She had to talk to Rishi before he saw Sanskaar.
"Of course. Why would I know its you? " she said teasingly giving him a hug.
Before she could stop him Rishi went to take blessings from her grandparents and congratulate Ragini and Laksh. Seeing an excited Uttara Swara introduced Rishi to her. This led to a selfie session into which Swara too was dragged. She had tried to talk to Rishi but didn't get a chance. Since there was some more time before the ceremony songs were being played and people were dancing. Adarsh and Pari were dancing and Laksh was trying to get a hesitant Ragini to dance with him. Swara asked Rishi for a dance. He gave in happily and a few minutes later they were on the dance floor.
"Mishti you look worried. What happened? "Rishi asked .
She was about to tell him everything when she felt him stiffen. He stopped dancing and she him looking towards the stairs. She turned to see Sanskaar standing a few feet away from them. Rishi glared at him and he looked angry too. Swara held Rishi ' s hand stopping him from doing anything. She quietly dragged him off the dance floor to the kitchen.
"What on earth is happening? What is he doing here? " Rishi asked.
"He is Laksh ' s cousin. I don't want to create a scene. Think about Ragini. Don't do anything now. We will talk about this later. Please. "She requested.
Rishi nodded and they both came out . The ceremony began. The couple exchanged rings and took blessings. Swara stood by Ragini with Rishi near her and Laksh was flanked by his brothers. A photo session commenced. In the midst of all this Uttara dragged Sanskaar towards Swara and Rishi.
"Di this is my Bhai and this is Ragini Bhabhi ' s sister I told you about. "She said introducing them to each other. "And this is Swara Di ' s fiance Rishi. "
While Swara just nodded , Rishi and Sanskaar shook hands . Both of them looked tense.
"I want to hear your love story "Uttara told Swara and Rishi making the situation more awkward. Sanskaar told Laksh he was leaving citing jetlag.
Swara turned to see him leaving and then turned to Rishi looping her hand into his arm for a photo. This was her present and her future. Sanskaar was her past she had moved on from long back. At least thats what she tried to make herself understand.
Just as Swara turned away from Sanskaar he looked back only to see the girl who he loved hold someone else's hand lovingly. Telling himself to move on he left the party a lone tear falling from his eyes.
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Hope you like it. Next part might have the past story .will update after 14th.
Kumkum Bhagya
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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