Chapter 15:-
Ragini and Lakshya reach Singhania Bhawan for the meeting with Mr. Arjun Singhania. The servant takes them inside.
Servant- Please sit. I'll just call Arjun sir. Would you guys like to have something?
Ragini- No thanks, we're fine. Just call him.
Servant- Sure, ma'am.
The servant then goes upstairs to call Arjun. After a while, Arjun comes to the hall. He gets mesmerised to see Ragini.
Arjun- Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Maheshwari!
Lakshya gets irritated to hear this.
Lakshya- Mr. Singhania, she is my wife at home. For now, she's just my secretary. I would request you to go professional and not personal.
Arjun- Well, I'm really sorry Mr. Maheshwari. I didn't know you would mind it so much.
Lakshya- Not much of a problem. But I would really appreciate if we remain strictly professional.
Arjun- Of course, but I must say, you got a hot secretary!
Lakshya feels strange to hear that. Anger starts to build up inside him.
Arjun (To Ragini)- Mrs. Maheshwari, oh I'm so sorry. I shouldn't go personal. I should call you...ummm sorry what was your name?
Ragini- Ummm Ra...Ragini.
Arjun- Ragini? Such a nice name! Your name is as beautiful as your face, miss Ragini.
Ragini (uncomfortably)- Ummm tha...Thank you.
Arjun- And I must say, I love your saree. You look divine! Like a fairy who has just stepped down from heaven.
Lakshya knows Arjun is flirting with Ragini. He gets angry but tries to control as far as possible so that Arjun doesn't cancel the business deal.
Ragini- Thank you, sir.
Arjun- Keep coming here sometimes. Feel like home!
This time Lakshya couldn't control anymore.
Lakshya- Mr. Arjun, if you're done with your compliment section, shall we proceed with the meeting? I gotta go back home soon!
Arjun- Oh yes, I'm so sorry. Please start.
Lakshya starts the project presentation and in middle when he forgets the points, he looks at Ragini who reminds him the points by just merely signalling with her eyes. Arjun is impressed with Lakshya but he has some other plans.
Arjun- Mr. Maheshwari, can you please come to the corner with me for a second?
Lakshya- Umm, yeah sure!
Arjun takes Lakshya to the corner of the room.
Arjun- You were indeed good with the project. In fact, you were amazing. But I can't just agree to the deal for nothing in return!
Lakshya- What do you want? How much?
Arjun- Come on! Do I look so poor to you? I don't want your money.
Lakshya- What else do you want? Just tell me. I want this deal at any cost.
Arjun- I want your wife!
Lakshya- What?
Arjun- I just want her for a night, just one night. She looks breathtakingly beautiful. Let her spend one night with me and this deal is yours!
Before Arjun could say anything more, Lakshya pressed his neck, strangling him hard. Ragini sees this and comes running.
Ragini- Lakshya, what are you doing? Leave him!
Lakshya- Ragini, you stay out of this!
Lakshya is so angry that nothing can stop him now.
Ragini- Lakshya, he'll die. Leave him.
Lakshya- I'll kill him! How dare he? How dare he say such things about...I'll kill him today!
Ragini- Leave him, Lakshya! Please leave him.
Lakshya doesn't respond. Having no other option left, Ragini picks up a glass, breaks it and places the broken piece near her wrist.
Ragini- If you don't leave him in the next 5 seconds, I'll slit my wrist.
Lakshya immediately leaves Arjun's neck. Arjun starts coughing loudly.
Arjun- I'm...I'm cancelling this...
Lakshya- I am cancelling this deal! I reject your sponsorship. I don't want this deal. Do hell with your company and your so called deal!
Lakshya throws the glass away from Ragini's hand. He holds her wrist and drags her outside. Ragini is speechless. She isn't understanding anything.
Lakshya (To Ragini)- Ragini, let's go.
Ragini- Lakshya, why did you do that? You know how important this deal was for...
Lakshya- Shut up and keep walking!
Lakshya makes Ragini sit inside the car and drives home. The whole time, Lakshya is thinking only about Arjun's words. "I want your wife for a night", these words echo in his mind. He starts driving his car roughly. Ragini gets worried.
Ragini- Lakshya, what's wrong with you? Drive slow!
Lakshya- Shut up Ragini, just shut up! If you got a problem with my driving skills, you can just walk back home.
Ragini (in mind)- It'll be better if I keep quiet now. He looks very angry. I'll ask him about it once we reach home.
After a while, they reach Maheshwari Mansion. Lakshya walks to his room and Ragini follows him.
Ragini- Lakshya, what was that? Do you know for how long our company has been working on this project? You took us to a loss of 75 crores, you get it? 75 damn crores!
Lakshya- Ragini, just shut the f**k up, okay? I'm not in a mood to talk with you now.
Ragini- No, you have to tell me. What made you do this? Why did you strangle him? Why did you cancel this deal? The deal that we've been craving for since months!
Lakshya- I don't find it necessary to tell you. Just go and get me a glass of coffee. I'm losing my temper!
Ragini- Well, I'm losing mine too. Just tell me why the hell did you cancel this deal?
Lakshya- Because he wanted me to give him something in return! Happy? Now just get me my coffee.
Ragini- What did he ask for? Money? Car? Jewellery? How much? You should've just given him! After all, this project was much more important and profitable than the amount he had probably asked for. What did he want from you?
Lakshya- Fine! I'm not getting my coffee then. Alright, I don't wanna drink coffee.
Ragini (shouts)- Don't change the damn topic Mr. Maheshwari and tell me what the f**k did he ask for?
Lakshya (shouts)- YOU! He asked for you, damn it. He wanted to sleep with you. He wanted to spend a night with you. He wanted to sleep with my wife for a night in return for the deal. Happy? That is what you wanted to hear, right? Does that give you enough happiness now?
Ragini- Wha...what? M...me?
Lakshya- Yes! And that is why I cancelled the deal. Do you still think what I did was wrong? Protecting my wife from the filthy eyes of that jerk was wrong?
Ragini's eyes start to water.
Ragini- He had such dirty plans for me? He wanted to...
Ragini hugs Lakshya and starts sobbing into his chest. Having no other option left, Lakshya hesitantly hugs her back.
Lakshya- Ragini, don't...don't cry. It's okay. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. I won't let any bad source even come close to you.
Ragini feels safe in Lakshya's arms. She feels like nobody can even touch her. Lakshya gently caresses her hair. After a while, they come back to senses and recompose themselves.
Ragini- Ummm I'll...I'll just get your coffee.
Lakshya- Hmmm.
Ragini goes downstairs. Suddenly, Lakshya's phone rings. The call is from an unknown number.
Lakshya- Hello?
The woman (over phone)- Lucky, do you recognise me?
Lakshya- Ummm I'm sorry. I...I'm not being able to...
The woman (over phone)- Lucky beta, I'm your Nano!
Lakshya (excited)- Nano? OMG! Where have you been? I missed you so much.
Granny (over phone)- I missed you too, my little naughty Lucky. Where's Sanky?
Lakshya- Nano, he lives in Mumbai.
Granny (over phone)- Oh, no problem I'll visit him soon then. But now come to the airport.
Lakshya- Airport? Why?
Granny (over phone)- I heard about your marriage. You didn't even inform me before getting married. I came here to see my grand daughter in law. Come fast and pick me up from the airport.
Lakshya- On my way, nano! Just gimme 5 minutes.
Lakshya cuts the call, gets ready and runs downstairs. She shouts Ragini's name.
Lakshya (shouts)- Ragini, Ragini! Where are you?
Ragini comes running.
Ragini- Yes Lakshya, do you need something?
Lakshya- No, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to the airport.
Ragini- Airport? Has papa returned from his tour?
Lakshya- No, my Nano is coming. She just called me up and asked me to come. She has come here specially to meet you so behave properly, okay? Behave like a typical Marwadi daughter in law, that you are!
Ragini- Nano?
Lakshya- Yes, my granny! Just Try to keep her happy as far as possible.
Ragini- Okay, I'll try my level best.
Lakshya- Good. And cook paneer dishes for her. She loves paneer.
Ragini- Okay, as you say.
Lakshya goes to the airport and Ragini starts cooking paneer dishes. After a while, Lakshya comes back home with his Nano.
Lakshya (shouts)- Ragini? Ragini, where are you?
Ragini (shouts back)- Coming!
Ragini comes with the aarti thaal. She covers her head with a veil and touches Nano's feet. She then welcomes Nano with the aarti thaal.
Granny- May God bless you, beta!
Granny (To Lakshya)- Lucky, who's she?
Lakshya- She's...She's the one you've come for. She's my wife!
Granny (in mind)- She is so beautiful and traditional.
Ragini- Please enter, Naani maa.
Granny (To Lakshya)- Lucky, bring my luggage to my room.
Lakshya- Yes, Nano!
Ragini and Nano walk inside. Ragini sees Lakshya struggling with the luggage. She knows he has no habit of carrying such heavy stuff.
Ragini (To Nano)- Excuse me Naani maa, you please proceed. I'll just be back.
Granny- Where are you going?
Ragini points towards Lakshya.
Ragini- He might need me. He can't carry that alone.
Granny (in mind)- Such a sweet girl! She cares about Lucky so much.
Granny- Accha okay beta, I'll wait here then. We'll walk to my room together.
Ragini- Okay, Naani maa!
Ragini walks to Lakshya.
Ragini- Shall I help you?
Lakshya- No thanks, I'll do it alone.
Ragini (whisper)- Lakshya, at least listen to me when naani maa is around.
Lakshya looks at Granny who was looking at him.
Lakshya (whispers back)- Accha okay!
Ragini carries one suitcase while Lakshya carries the other two. They head towards Naani maa's room. On the mid way, Lakshya's foot slips and he falls down. The suitcase falls from Ragini's hand and she runs to Lakshya, crying.
Ragini (crying)- Lakshya! Lakshya, are you okay? Is...is your leg hurting? Your pain hurts me more. I'll die if anything happens to you. Is it still hurting?
Lakshya keeps looking at her, shocked.
Lakshya (in mind)- Why does she love me so much? She never got nothing in return for this unconditional love yet she loves me so much. Why Ragini, why? Why am I so special to you?
Lakshya- Don't worry, Ragini. I'm fine. It's just a minor foot injury. I'm not a cancer patient.
Hearing this, Ragini places her hand on Lakshya's mouth to stop him from speaking. She starts crying even more. Lakshya feels strangely touched by this act of hers. Their eyes meet and there is an intense eye lock.
"Kaash woh pal paida hi na ho
Jis pal mein nazar tu na aaye
Kaash woh pal paida hi na ho
Jis pal mein nazar tu na aaye
Gar kahi aisa pal ho
To iss pal mein mar jaayen
Mar jaayen
Mar jaayen
Mar jaayen
Ooo
Mar jaayen"
Ragini (crying)- For God's sake, don't say that ever again. May god kill me before he kills you. I don't wanna live in this world without you even for a second.
Lakshya is very touched. He looks at her eyes and feels different.
Granny- Ahem ahem!
RagLak come back to senses.
Lakshya (uncomfortably)- Ummm Ra...Ragini, you prepare the lunch. I'll keep this luggage in Nano's room with Chotu.
Lakshya calls Chotu and both of them together carry the luggage. Ragini walks to the kitchen after wiping her tears.
Granny (in mind)- I see! Lakshya needs to realise his love. Don't worry, I'm here. I'll make him fall for her.
With this, Granny walks to her room.
Kumkum Bhagya
