SS: Fitoor- Junoon Ishq Ka

The story goes as in the serial where Ragini betrays Lakshya and the latter marries the former when Ragini pushes Swara in the river. Swara comes to MM as Sanskaar’s wife though they are faking it. Here, despite Swara’s attempts, Ragini’s devotion to Lakshya is never hampered. Ragini battles Swara and Sanskaar alongside supporting Lakshya and caring for him. This story starts from when Ragini’s truth is revealed. Lakshya, on seeing her confession, leaves from the farmhouse to go somewhere quiet to calm down while Swasan take Ragini back to MM where she is exposed in front of the Maheshwari and Gadodia families. She is thrown out of MM and told not to enter the Baadi as well. She is hated by everyone. Lakshya moves away from Kolkata to start afresh while Ragini goes missing. What happens next is what this story is about.

This is an attempt at something new. Please support me and read and review.

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It has been almost a year since Ragini’s truth was exposed. So much has changed since then. We managed to make Swara stay here, in the hopes that she would remain Sanskaar’s wife, who is madly in love with her. Maybe by doing this, our guilt over our previous treatment of her would lessen. The rest have gone back to normal but we have recently been informed that Parineeta can never become a mother. This has shattered us and our hopes are now on Swara, who is unprepared still to take her relationship with Sanskaar to the next level. But what worries me is the condition of my son Lakshya. Lakshya has become so cold hearted. He started a new business of his own a few weeks after Ragini left and since then, he hardly comes home. He stays somewhere else, preferring to live away from here, where he has nothing but painful memories of being betrayed. He comes home once in a while, but doesn’t stay for too long. I tried to make him stay a number of times, coerced him into marrying again, but nothing works. He has sworn off marriage for now and it worries me how lonely he is becoming.

Pandit Ji was talking about the Vyas family and their youngest daughter Pooja, for whom they are looking for a groom. I will talk to Lakshya when he comes this week and convince him to get married again. He cannot waste his life just because a selfish girl betrayed him over her obsession. My son will live happily again.

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I took deep breaths to calm myself down as I listened to the mindless chatter around me. The Vyas family was here, along with their ‘lovely’ daughter Pooja who was playing the part of the ‘modern but traditional at heart’ girl perfectly. She offered to serve the tea, asked specifically just for one biscuit, smiled at all appropriate times and said all things sanskaari. She was too…..Ragini-ish. Too perfect to be true, just like how Ragini was. How can Lakshya live with her?

Lakshya. Why did he have to move out? Why couldn’t he have stayed and fought for me? I was never into him as much as he was into me; in fact, I didn’t want him back after he married Ragini. But once she was exposed……I expected him to fight for me. I expected him to declare his love for me and ask me to leave Sanskaar and come to him. I would have refused, of course…………

But he just left. He came to MM, asked for Ragini and on being told that she had been thrown out, he left, saying that he wanted to spend some time with Omi. He came back a few weeks later, and something was different. He told us that he had set up a new business with a friend and his friend cum business partner wanted him to shift close to his office in Newtown. After a fight with Bade Papa and explaining to Badi Maa the need to start afresh, he left. And since then, everything has changed.

He hardly comes home and when he does, he doesn’t stay for more than two days. Most of his time here is taken up by work and talking to his business partner. He has worked hard; he is rising fast in the business circles, has received many awards and is basically a workaholic. And with his newfound economic independence has come a change in personality- he is no more the confused soul. He is now focused and driven with energy. He is still rebellious; he doesn’t hesitate to voice his opinions but now he is confident. It makes him more attractive that he already is and resisting him now is slowly becoming impossible for me. I accepted my relationship with Sanskaar initially because he is a good man with a steady business who also loves me and could provide for all my needs, but compared to the Lakshya of today, he stands nowhere. I am slowly falling for Lakshya again and I am delaying my inevitable fate of consummating my marriage with Sanskaar in the hope that Lakshya would fall for me too. Except that he refuses to look at me the way I want him too. He barely cares anymore. And now, with Badi Maa’s plans of emotionally blackmailing him into quickly marrying Pooja when he comes, I know that I can do nothing. He will come, only to find an ill Badi Maa who will blackmail him into marrying this airheaded bimbo. But I won’t let this happen…………………

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I sighed heavily as I sat on the couch of my house. Having a house in Newtown has its merits but my quaint little summer house in Darjeeling is heavenly. It is surrounded by lush green and the fresh air there does wonders for my headaches that are induced whenever I make a trip to Kolkata to meet my family.

I love them, but I cannot disagree with the fact that they are irritating. After being in London alone for my masters, I could not have been expected to adhere to Papa’s strict devout rules and regulations where I would eat only when the mahurat was ‘shubh’. It further irritates me to see the women of the house suppressed and restricted to such a level where they have no voice of their own and have to wait for their husbands to finish their meals before they commence themselves. This was the reason why I wanted a modern wife; I wanted a partner, not a slave. I wanted someone who looked at me with love, not with unflinching devotion. I wanted an equal, not a subordinate. I guess I fancy my ideals too much, for I was brought back to reality by a marriage with Ragini who was the polar opposite of what I wanted in a wife. She had a few qualities I genuinely admired but all in all, she was too dependent on me for her own happiness. Her life revolved around me and that is not how a woman should live. Every woman should have a goal, an ambition and her self interest in mind too, for if she doesn’t, how can the state of women improve in our society?

I have become further disheartened after watching Swara become what Ragini was once. She is now the perfect, docile daughter in-law who keeps her gaze down and doesn’t question much. And thinking about her brings me to another problem- her relationship with Sanskaar. It is plainly obvious for all to see that they haven’t consummated their relationship yet and it has to do with Swara’s reluctance. Why is she with him if she doesn’t want to progress their relationship? It is majorly unfair for my brother, who still hopes that she would return his feelings one day and to the other family members who have pinned their hopes for an heir on her.

Speaking of heirs brings me to the moot point- Maa’s persistent efforts to get me married again. This has become a topic for deliberation every time I visit and even the fact that I am a divorcee isn’t acting as a dampener for girls, probably due to my family name and the fact that I run my own business of gym essentials and men’s perfumes.  It is maddening to watch my mother parade girls between the ages of 21-27 before me, all the while extolling their obviously fabricated and highly unimpressive virtues. I mean, how is glass painting that big of an achievement to induce me to marry a woman? Man!

I could feel my veins pulsating. I have almost stopped my visits to Kolkata now. They bring me nothing but pain and frustration. I like it here in my house in Newtown, the busy metropolitan city developing fast, just like me. My house has all the facilities and my business is rapidly growing, having recently been declared the best growing business of the country. My popularity due to my name and connections may have been the reason initially, but after the first three months, it was just favorable word of mouth publicity which took my business to great heights. And I am proud of the way I have stood up on my own feet, showing the world and my father my capability. I don’t need to speak, my work and the user reviews speak for themselves. So does my growing bank balance, I thought with a smirk.

I walked up to my room where on the wall was a huge photo. I gently touched the picture, all traces of a headache vanishing as I watched with a smile. My hard work was mine, but supporting me in handling the business was a very special person. It could never have succeeded without her constant support. She is a magician with numbers and is the Chief Financial Officer of my companies, ‘Myra Enterprises’, named after her and also my business partner. Without her, I am nothing. She is the reason I don’t want to go back and settle in Kolkata. My beautiful partner, best friend, companion, the one who I bared my heart, body and soul to, the one who understood me best, the one I was madly in love with. My Myra……………..

“Lakshya? Oh God, when did you come? Why didn’t you inform me? I would have arrived earlier from work……

”It is okay darling. I was having a headache and I knew you would worry.”

“And I am not worrying now, eh?”

“But now you are free from work. I wouldn’t feel guilty for doing it to you.”

“What?”

I walked up to her as I slipped my hand inside her shirt and stroked her milky back lightly. She moaned a little and grabbing my chance, I pulled her into a deep kiss.

“This.” I said throatily. She opened her eyes and smirked. “Forgive me for doing it to you too, then.” She said.

“What?”

Before I could figure out her intentions, she pushed me on the bed and pulled down her skirt. She sat on my lap as she leaned forward to whisper in my ear seductively, “This!”

And the headache seemed to have gone miles away.

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All is set. As soon as Lakshya comes next month, I will pretend to be ill and force him to marry Pooja. I know he would be angry and this is wrong but I am getting desperate now. Pooja is a very nice girl, she will suit Lakshya. She is traditional but with modern views. She is beautiful and is sanskaari. She will bring my Lakshya back to me. She will suit him just fine and I have the support of the entire family for this.

My phone rang. Lakshya was calling. I picked up the call in excitement, trying to keep my voice neutral and pleasant, as it generally is.

“Hello beta Lakshya. How are you?”

“Hi Maa. I just called to inform you that there are no changes in the plan. I will come on the 4^th, as decided. How are you?”

“Counting the days to your arrival. What else is a mother supposed to do?”

“I am getting late for a meeting. I will talk to you later. Bye Maa, love you.”

“Love you too beta. Take care.”

I kept the phone down. Lakshya calls me almost every day but hardly talks himself. Any questions I ask are responded to with a simple “Yes” or “No.” Pooja would change everything.

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I watched with a smile as Lakshya pouted in his sleep. He is such a handsome man, no doubt women throw themselves at him. But he loves me. Only me.

“Aise naa mujhe tum dekho, seene se laga lunga……….” Lakshya sang as I looked up to see him watching me with a smirk. I blushed at being caught staring yet again and quickly scrambled away from the bed, only to have a strong arm surround my waist and pull me back. I landed on Lakshya’s hard bare chest and smiled as his manly musk filled my nostrils.

“And where are you off to madam, so early in the morning?”

“We have to continue my self defense classes and then do yoga.”

“Not today. Let us just bask in the glory of waking up in each other’s arms.”

“We wake up in each other’s arms every day.”

“But the feeling remains fresh and beautiful….”

“Early morning romance, haan? Leave me.” I shrugged him off and swept my hair up in a bun.

“Abhi na jao chhod kar, ye dil abhi bhara nahi…” Lakshya sang as I wore my slippers. I stuck my tongue at him and turned to leave.

“Myra!”

I turned towards him. He smiled beatifically. “Yes?” I asked with one eyebrow up.

“I love you.”

I smiled back at him. He looked so happy and it made me pleased that I was the reason.

“I love you too. Now get up and brush your teeth!”

I walked out as I heard his booming laughter which made a smile creep on my face as well.

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I took slow steps inside the mansion as trepidation filled me. I have never been one for intuition but today, something seemed wrong. There was something in the air, something compelling me to take a U-turn and never return again.

As I entered the hall, I found it empty. On asking a servant about the family members, I was led to my parents’ room. The anxiety in me grew. I reached the room and found everyone surrounding Maa, who was lying down on the bed, looking pale. Horror filled me as I rushed towards her, pushing aside Adarsh Bhai and engulfing her in my embrace.

“What happened?” I asked Adarsh Bhai, as I watched Maa’s eyes fluttering open.

“She is very ill Lakshya. She passed out last night and we took her to the hospital.  Doctors are unable to diagnose a particular illness. She has been murmuring your name since then. We were about to call you but you were already coming, so…………………..

“Maa?  You were calling me?” I asked her with tears in my eyes.

“Llll…Lakshya? Are you here?”

“Yes Maa. I am here.”

“Don’t go away leaving me alone again beta. I need you. Stay with me, for I know that I won’t live for too long now……………..”

“NO! Nothing of that sort is going to happen. We will take you to the best hospital in the country. My bag is already packed, we will pack yours and take you to Delhi today itself……”

“No! Lakshya beta, I want to spend my last days here, watching you and my family. How I wish I had grandchildren! How I wished you were happily married again………………..”

As she said this, I saw her eyes glint uncharacteristically and her gaze shifted to the family behind me. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Chachi giving her thumbs up. And the entire situation became crystal clear. I stood up immediately, as rage flashed through me.

“You are lying Maa! YOU ALL ARE FREAKING LYING. You are all acting, so that I can fall into Maa’s words and agree for a marriage. Knowing you all, you must have selected a girl already, so that I have no time to reconsider after saying yes. You liars…………………”

“L-lll-lllakshya…..what are you saying beta?”

“Stop it Maa. I saw Chachi showing you a thumbs up. I am not a FOOL. I am leaving this instant, and don’t even try to contact me again till the absurd idea of my remarriage leaves your head……….”

“WHAT IS ABSURD IN WANTING YOU TO GET MARRIED AGAIN?” Maa shouted at me, for the first time in my life. I watched as she threw away the covers and stood up. She walked up to me and shook me by my arms. “What is wrong if I want to see you happily settled again? Why don’t you understand, we are worried for you. You are lonely……………..”

“Who told you I was lonely? Did I? NO! I never said anything. I am happy Maa. My past wasn’t happy but I have come to terms with it and I now want to make the best of all the opportunities I have. Stop thinking that I need a wife for my happiness.”

“Meet Pooja once. Once you see her, you will realize what you are missing. She is meant for you.”

“And that is exactly what you said about Ragini too, Maa. Tell me, is Pooja Marwari?”

“Yes.”

“So you have found another Marwari girl to act as a substitute for Ragini……………..”

“She is modern beta.”

“What is modern about her? Does she work? Does she have dreams? Does she question the injustice she meets with as a woman daily? Does she desire for some dominance in her marriage? Don’t tell me anything, the expressions on each of your faces give me my answers. She is just another daughter of a typical traditional Marwari family who has been raised to become a wife and a mother and follow her husband like blind sheep. And I am not going to marry her.”

“I have given them a promise……….”

“I don’t care. I am not marrying this Pooja……..”

“WHY?”

“BECAUSE I AM ALREADY MARRIED!”

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“Myra, baby, I miss you.”

“Are you alright Lakshya? I don’t know, since you left for your parents’ house, I have been having a bad feeling. Why don’t you allow me to meet them?”

“I told you, they won’t approve of you. Not yet.”

“But Lakshya, it has been almost a year. Am I so bad?”

“You are perfect. They just want a disguised maid in the name of a daughter in-law, who would do all the housework and produce heirs. And you aren’t meant to do that, my love.”

“You tell me first. Are you alright?”

“I am fine.”

“Stop lying. I can feel the stress in your voice. We are one Lakshya. Why are you hiding your problems? Whatever happens, I will always love you and I will fight for our marriage.”

“Myra they……they have sort of trapped me here. I am being forced to abandon you and marry a girl of their choice.”

“WHAT?”

“I know, my love. I am equally horrified. But baby, don’t worry. I will get out of here soon. No one can come between us. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.”

“Come back home Lakshya. Please.”

“I am coming Jaan. I am coming. Do not take stress and wait for me. I love you. Bye.”

“I love you too. Stay safe. Bye.”

I kept the phone down as tears rolled down my cheeks. Lakshya is in trouble. How can his own family be so cruel? They are forcing him to marry someone despite knowing that he is already married and happy. How can they do this?

I walked up to the picture of us on the wall and looked at Lakshya’s face tearfully. I will not let anything wrong happen with him. He loves me and I love him. No power can separate us. I will not lose this battle.

“Sharmila Kaki! Pack my bags. I am going to Kolkata to meet my in-laws!”

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I yelped in pain as I saw the blood oozing out of my finger. This was the third time in an hour that I had pricked myself with the needle I was using for sewing. Lakshya is married! He is married to his business partner for about a year now. He is refusing to tell more about her, just saying that he needed his wife and he must go. Obviously, Bade Papa is enraged and has locked him in his room. But he is married! All my dreams are shattered. I could see love in his eyes when he talked about his wife. The love he never had for me. Pure true love. And there was madness in his eyes. He is planning to escape somehow and leave. I know it.

Needless to say, Bade Papa has ordered for him to get married to Pooja today. He doesn’t know that it has all been arranged. He would just be released and brought straight to the mandap where that harridan would be waiting, dressed as a bride. Lakshya will revolt, but there is security. He will have to comply. But he is already married……………………..

“Swara bhabhi, see this jhumka. Does it go with my sari?” Pooja asked. I rolled my eyes and nodded a yes. She stood up in excitement to show it to her mother, that gold digger who was okay with the idea of her daughter becoming the second wife.

I heard a huff and a humph but paid no mind, wondering what to do about my feelings for Lakshya. I heard Pooja rudely ask, “Can’t you see where you are walking? Who are you?”

“I am sorry. I am looking for Lakshya. Is he here?”

“Of course, it is his home. Who are you though? Why are you looking for my fiancé?”

My heart sank as I realized that I knew who the other voice belonged to. I waited with bated breath to confirm. The cold voice that responded brought my heartbeats to a stop.

“I am his wife. And I have come to take him back with me!”

I whipped around just in time to watch Pooja raise her hand and being pushed back by Lakshya, who had managed to escape from his room. He pulled his wife into a hug and her face was hidden but it was no suspense as to who she was. I saw the entire family’s faces as shocked as mine probably was. A strangulated cry from Badi Maa’s side made me whisper, half in shock and half in confusion.

“Ragini?”

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There there. Myra seems to be Ragini. Or is she?

Wait to unravel the mystery around Lakshya’s wife only in Fitoor- Junoon Ishq Ka.