http://i.imgur.com/o9CH6a8.jpg PART 1 She unlocked the door and as soon as she stepped outside her home her eyes fell on her dadi maa may be she was performing her morning prayer...she tried to give her a heart warming smile but her dadi maa looked at her with hatered before looking away...she then looked towards the woman who is her maa, she unlike her dadi maa smiled at her but this time she couldn't return it back and then her baba and dada ji came in her view they starred at her helplessly while she just sighed inwardly showing nothing and turned to lock the door before leaving
She made her way outside badi, wearing a green kurti which reached her thighs and tides and a shawl around her shoulder to save her from the chilling morning... she was about to call out for a rikshaw when a car came in her view, stopping just beside her and then came out Sanskar and Swara from the car much to her please, she smiled inwardly as it's been long she last met them 'how are you ragini?' Asked swara approaching her and she realized that this is not going right 'I am good swara...it's good to see you both.. I am sorry I have to go office...bye' she said altogether to not to drag this little unintentional meeting and turned to go but was stopped yet again 'ragini...will you mind if we drop you..actually we were going there only' sanskar said, she turned and gave them a smile ' thank you but no need to lie sanskar and I can go myself, I am habitual so It's not a problem at all and now will you please ex cuse me? ' she answered and they sighed
'Ragini we want to drop you...let's just not argue, you let us drop you and we won't waste your time' 'you are always this stubborn swara... fine, I will come but i am agreeing only because i am getting late and you two aren't making anything better for me... ' she replied receiving a wide smile from her and then they left making their way towards her office...
'How is sunny?' Ragini asked 'he is good... will be start schooling from next month and yeah he miss you a lot' she answered and Ragini chuckled 'like really... he had hardly met me no wait he never met me actually and I don't think that I even exist for him' she said as a matter of fact 'ragini just because you wanted to stay away from us doesn't means we stayed away from our ragini...sunny knows very well about her ragini massi and also wish to meet you soon..' swara replied wiping away the painful smile from ragini's lips forcing her to look out in the window...
'Ragini how about we plan a holiday? It's been so long since you accompanied us anywhere?...actually very long... just you, swara , me and sunny' sanskar asked 'you will also get a chance to be with sunny' he added but met with silence in reply
'Good idea sanskar...I accompany you and then one more life will become miserable because of me...sunny Is a kid...let him stay happy and not come near me..I can only give pain to people in return of their love for me so it's better to stay away from him and everyone sanskar...' she said painfully and they choosed to remain quite in response 'oh we have reached ...stop here thank you' she said a moment later and sanskar stopped the car 'thank you for dropping me and please next time I won't give in...you both know that how much happy everyone are with me not being a part of their lives...let it be this way only please I don't want to hurt anyone anymore' 'you aren't doing anything like that ragini' 'you can't guarantee swara...' 'ragini yo...' 'swara I have choosed this life for me...this is my punishment for hurting him, for hurting everyone...let it be like this...good bye and please stay away from me' she said at the end and walked away and soon disappeared behind the doors
'Sanskar she should know that she don't deserve this...she has suffered more than she should had...' swara said helplessly and sanskar just patted her shoulder trying to console her knowing that he can't help her too
-----
Ragini starred at the ceiling as her mind traveled back to her past when everything got over
She remembered how laksh pretended to forget everything and move on with her, how he took her signatures on the divorce paper and taking away everything from her threw her out of his life... she was broken beyond repair, the only person for whom she turned against the world, for whom she played with her sister's life, for whom she forgot everyone else, for whom she turned a stranger to her innocent soul, the same person broke her
But this time she didn't stood up to fight back in fact she accepted defeat and returned to baadi... for weeks she was like a lifeless person having nothing in life but slowly yet strongly she took a decision, of her punishment, she sat back and counted her infinite mistakes of past and not knowing how to overcome them she came to an overall conclusion... no one deserves a person like her, not as a daughter, sister or wife then what's the need to impose such relations over anyone
She packed her bags to leave baadi but shomi and swara's continuous pleads forced her to stop and thus she just shifted to dida's house but a promise was made that no one from them neither the maheshwiri family will be in contact with her and reluctantly they agreed but sometimes she herself let go of that promise having un urge to see her family, mostly when it's swara who approach her
She was out of her thoughts with the ring of telephone...silently thanking the other person for breaking her revive she picked up the call 'hello Malik Construction' she greeted in her professional way not letting anyone get even a slightest of idea that she was a lost bird a while ago
'Hello...can I speak to Mr.Malik' the other person requested and she gasped...this voice seemed damned familiar, no actually it's him, she can recognize his voice now also even after these five years
'Can I know who is it speaking? ' she asked hoping against hope that it isn't him
'It's Mr.Laksh Maheshwiri... I and Mr.Malik were going to discuss the deal for which I came to Kolkata so I just need to fix the meeting for it' he explained and after getting it confirmed that it's him she just lost herself in his voice, feeling slightly content after what felt like ages... her eyes turning wet as a tear rolled down her cheek
'Uhh you there mam?' She heard him and suddenly realization dawned upon her ... the reality of today hit her and she took a deep breath
'Oh yes I am Mr.Maheshwiri...so it's just that Mr.Malik is a little bit busy and thus I can't connect you to him for now, I will inform him about your call and of course as soon as he will be aware about it, we will give you a call for further discussion...I hope I am sounding clear? ' she said and asked at the end not trusting her voice but still she was surprised that how she handled her emotions in check
'Well I am convinced...I will be waiting for the call by the way can I know who are you?' He asked at the end
'I am Mr.Malik's PA Ragini' she replied not trying to sound unprofessional at any cost
'Just Ragini?' Was his next question
'Yes...Just Ragini Sir...Good Bye, have a good day' was her reply before she disconnected the call
Sighing she closed her eyes and placed her head at the back of her chair so he is back into city, but didn't he told her once that he will never come back here...let it be ragini, it doesn't matter what he is doing here and of course why he didn't followed what he promised, it doesn't just matter at all...what matters is that he is some no one to you now just like others...just be stuck there
'Ragini' she was called.. she opened her eyes and looked up to meet her boss concern gaze upon her... Samar Malik, her boss, in his late twenties was one successful business man of India currently managing everything from Kolkata but his vast business was spread across the world...
'yes samar' she answered still lost 'are you ohkay? You seem quite lost... you need a day off?' He asked and she nodded a no straightaway 'no no samar...I am fine..no need for that' 'but you don't seem like that' he spat back concerned 'nothing...I promise, it's just a severe memory that came out of nowhere...trust me I am ohkay and yeah I just got a call from some Mr.maheshwiri who was asking for us to set up a meeting with him for some business' she said changing the topic and was happy that he let the other discussion go
'Oh yes laksh...we met in a conference meeting last year in delhi...as we had a great time we decided now to come with a good business deal to know other better...and he is quite dedicating too...hard working man you see...so yes call him and set our meeting for tomorrow 2 p.m..' he ordered 'yes boss' she answered seriously 'you again going there?' he commented with a raised eye brow and she chuckled 'not at all samar...it's just comes out of habbit at time of work you see...ignore that please' she said with a genious smile and he smiled back 'ignored then' he said before making his way back to his cabin... her smiled was wiped away as he disappeared behind the doors and she taking her own good time finally decided to do the work she was assigned with... Laksh which was...
http://i.imgur.com/o9CH6a8.jpg PART 2 Shutting off his laptop he turned off the lamp and lied on the bed decided to get some sleep but sleep was far away from him, his thoughts, his mind again and again going back to tomorrow's meeting or rather he can say the woman ragini... her voice, he knew who's voice it was and then that name...he had a feeling that it's her... it's ragini, the same ragini he knew
He had promised to not to step his foot in Kolkata ever again, he never came here to even meet his family once, for him this city was not less then a worst memory, who had just taken away so much from him, his love, his friend although now If he sit back and think he always reach to one conclusion that may be he never loved swara if he had did then like ragini he would had fight for his love, he would had done each and every thing to win back his love but he never tried, may be because those feelings weren't that much deep like he thought they were... may be he was never in love that time
But now do he love someone? He always ask himself just one question...that has he did the right thing by doing what he did to ragini in return of her love and trust... but then again how can he be wrong? After whatever she did to him and his family he should had done that only
His Life had changed a lot in last five years, he now lives alone now, away from his family, years before he was adamant for a revenge but now he feels a certain guilt for his actions and may be something more, something less which he denies to acknowledge...
Before taking a decision of coming back here he had prepared himseld hard that he won't go back to that part of life from where he had ran away...he won't recognize those feelings from which he is running away...life isn't like before
But today when he called samar for the meeting, the only reason because of which he is here, he was met with the thing he was running away...when he heard her greeting he didn't even took a moment to realize that it was her and it got confirmed the moment she told her name...even though she dealed with him in way too much professional manner but he could sense the sadness in her voice, the pain the loneliness and it is the only thing which he hates the most, these unknown yet strong feelings he feel
The rest of the day was filled with his failed attempts to fotget the voice, the pain in it... he called everyone to return back home from where ever they were and spend the rest of the day with them and didn't dared to ask about her just like last five years when even he urged to know about how she is and what she is doing with her life, he didn't... whenever his maa use to begin with her topic he use to stop her politely and just let go of the topic
'Ragini...why don't you just leave me and my thoughts...I have forced you to walk away from my life long before but I myself couldn't let go of the past...which is that string that had still bound me with you' he thought and sighed helplessly before finally drifting into sleep
----
Laksh got ready for the meeting before time and thus to pass his time he went to office and after a bit chit chat they ordered for a coffee
'Bhai...can I ask you something? ' laksh began, sanskar giving him a nod ask him to go on 'umm it's that ... like is ragini...is she..' he wanted to ask about her job at the malik's but he couldn't as he stopped by a strong yet firm voice, swara's
'What do you want to know about ragini laksh... ?' Asked swara from the door, she had the tiffin which she may be brought for sanskar's and others lunch 'umm nothing I just wanted to know where is she..I mean' 'I understood your every meaning Mr.laksh Maheshwiri, no need to elaborate and show how much impatient you are to hear about your victory.. how eagerly you want people to tell you that you did an splendid job, how efficiently you had broken her, how perfectly you had made her leave you and forced her to walk away from all of us... she thought your betrayal wasn't enough for her punishment so she just went to extreme...she just broke all her ties with us because she thinks she can just her hurt others those who love her... five years laksh...it's been five damn years since I lost my sister...I did every thing to get my ragini back even after whatever happened because I knew that it isn't the real ragini, it's a facade but your one move and all got over so now listen...' 'swara please...'
'no let me tell him once and for all sanskar so that he should leave that poor soul for always...no need to break her tit by tit... because he seems to forgot that with that one blow of his he had not only broken her but we all lost our ragini...just because of you laksh so congratulations Laksh, you won, you won it all and please' she clasped her hands hardly 'stop hurting us by taking her name from this mouth of yours...she doesn't deserve you but the worst part is that because of you she thinks that no one deserve her...it's only you and you laksh'
-------
He sat at the sofa outside samar's office, in front of the desk of his PA or he can say in front of ragini's desk, he can clearly see her name shining on the name plate lying on her desk, the staff was in cafeteria to have their lunch as it was 1:45 p.m and he reached a little early then he expected he would because the uninvited outburst of swara just made it difficult for him to stand there anymore, swara was somehow right, she was so right about most of the things, he was very cruel with ragini on most of the accounts, he should have been fair with ragini or may be he shouldn't had done what he did...or may be he should had least ask about her before so that things wouldn't had became so worst by now...she shouldn't have been punishing her till now
Yes she did wrong, but swara was right, she has suffered more than she should and this only thought was making way too much guilty then he already was...
He was brought back to present but a melodious laugh, he looked up towards the door of the conjoined cabin of samar and ragini... there she was entering with samar laughing over something, she was wearing a purple kurti and black tides matching the contrast of her decent kurti but she stopped laughing as soon as their eyes met...time stopped and his heart skipped a beat...may be for the first time in his life he felt this...something which was so pure, something which felt right...just for her..just her
------
Ragini knew that she will see him today but she had taken enough time to prepare herself, to meet him and show him that nothing is the same now, neither she nor her life..she wanted him to know that she had compromised with her life and had moved on alone because now she can't punish anyone who love her...she is not the same now...nothing is same
As she and samar returned from their lunch which they at the last moment decided to have together, samar did mimicry of his friend and she laughed wholeheartedly forgetting everything around her but her voice got caught in her throat as her eyes landed on her and her breath hitched 'laksh' her heart screamed but her mind remained mum, may be because it knew and has accepted that laksh hates her
'Oh boy!! Laksh Maheshwiri...how are you man?' Samar exclaimed bringing them back to present and laksh stood up to meet his friend...they hugged and talked a little just standing there and she stood there quiet and lost until samar held her hand with authority and came to him 'I...I am good...you?' Laksh asked coming out of his revive and eyed ragini, samar followed his action and turned to him 'well this is my best friend ragini...' he Introduced him to her with one wide smile while laksh frowned 'well during office time she love to be called my PA only...' and laughed
'Sir...it's 2' ragini announced and samar face turned serious making ragini realize her blunder 'I am sorry...I mean samar it's 2...you can talk to your friend later but for now let's just start with the meeting' ragini said quickly and samar chuckled, asking laksh to come inside he made his way to office and ragini and laksh followed him together
Laksh felt a pain as ragini didn't even once looked at him while he all the time hooked his eyes at her 'ohkay so let's start' samar said taking his place and ragini and laksh sat opposite him, while laksh tried to concentrate on the meeting ragini involved herself in her note book noting down
As they finished samar turned to ragini 'ragini I think you should leave now, in fact I am going to give half day to all as everyone have to be at the venue before the guest and yes laksh I want to invite you at one of the great celebration party of our company so do come along your family...' he then said turning to laksh 'of course...why not samar' he replied with a tight smile and then eyed ragini who was just looking at him but as he turned to look back at samar
'Samar I will leave in sometime then...see you tonight' 'sure ragini and please ask someone to get an invition card for laksh ' 'sure' with that she left and laksh tried to involve himself in some conversation with samar ignoring his thoughts which just revolved around ragini
Later after half an hour when laksh walked out of office he spotted ragini at the road, may be stopping the rikshaw 'ragini' he called out as he ran towards where she was...she heard him but choosed to ignore but he still came and stood by her 'hie ragini...' he greeted with a slight smile 'hello sir' she greeted back dryly 'it's laksh for now ragini...we aren't inside office 'we may be not inside office sir but inside or outside doesn't change anything...you are a stranger to me and it's my kindness that I am still answering you otherwise I wouldn't even had glanced you a look during the meeting' she replied with a little anger rising inside her
'Ohkay fine...just don't react like this ... call me sir Only...now can I talk...?' He asked giving up 'see sir, you are samar's good friend and soon will be working with our firm so please don't make things complicated for me by this forceful behavior of yours...I can't talk neither I want to talk...we did shared a relation in past but along with that relation everything else was over also...I have my new life now which I don't want your one day trip to destroy so please it's a kind request by me to just don't ever repeat your recent actions because it's not easy to let go of past, it's not easy to live without a family and I have taken a long time learning it which you can't ruin just because you want to talk...!!! ' she requested...her pain, her helplessness visible in her voice...how she desperately wanted to walk away from him.
'Ragini I...' laksh started, her pain was like an open book to him and in that moment he felt like taken away all her pain...he wanted to embrace her and give her all the love she deserved...everything but was cut short by samar 'ragini...you still here? ' he asked approaching them and she just wiped away the lone tear 'yes...i was just leaving but sir wanted yo ask something so was just helping him...i will see you tonight' she replied and smiling turned to go
'Because you are still here let me give you a lift and in return you can give me one strong tea as my head is paining..what say?' He asked with a raised brow and a dashing smile making ragini smile too wholeheartedly 'of course...can I ever say no to my such an amazing friend?' 'No ways...I am not habitual of hearing no...so no is never an option' he replied with a serious face and both laughed 'let's go' 'yeah...buy laksh...see you tonight...' 'bye' he replied lost in his thoughts and saw them walking away and that moment he realized that indeed ragini had walked away from his life, may be this time for always...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
