Hi ya’ll!
Back with another chapter!
Moving on…???
“Words in double quotes” – Talking
‘Words in single quotes’ – Thoughts
(Words in braces) – Telephone conversations
Chapter 6
“I won’t try to impose my views on you once you marry me. But until then, I’ll do everything possible to make you mine. Even if that means going against you. After all…” Sanskar smirked. “You are my person. Mine and mine only.”
All Ragini could do was gasp as he let her go. She touched her cheek where he kissed her and watched him walk off, motioning her to follow him.
After sometime…
Ragini fumed in anger as she sat beside Sanskar in the front seat as he drove the car towards their home. All she wanted to do was push him out of the car. ‘Argh! I want to punch him so bad!’
Sanskar hummed to himself in glee as he drove on. His eyes fell on the front mirror in the car, reflecting Caleb’s image as he sat in the back seat. Sanskar didn’t want to bring him with them. But Sanskar was in such a good mood that he would even give his worst enemy a lift. ‘That doesn’t mean I want to watch his ugly face.’ Sanskar thought in irritation, turning the mirror to the other side.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw Ragini huff in anger. “You know, if you get a little bit more angry, th-”
“Then what, huh?!” Ragini shouted. She had been waited for an opportunity to scream at him. “You’ll chide me for that too? Now, can’t I even get angry without asking you? Will I need to ask your permission for everything, huh!?”
Sanskar simply raised an eyebrow. “I was just about to say that then I could maybe boil an egg on you.”
Ragini looked ready to burst in anger. She let out a frustrated shout and looked to the other side.
Sanskar smiled at her antics and continued driving. ‘Aww…she looks more cute when she’s angry.’ he turned to her with a smirk. “What? Given up so easily? You’re falling into the shoes of a dutiful wife already I see.”
“What. Did. You. Just. Say!?” Ragini gritted out, turning to face him slowly in rage.
Unknown to them, Caleb reached silently towards the center console. He sweated as he proceeded to do what he was thinking of. ‘If I pull this over, he’ll lose control and crash into that tree ahead.’ his hand was almost near the central console. ‘I’m sorry, but I won’t let you get Ragini.’ however, Ragini choose the very moment to raise her hand forward in anger. Caleb gritted his teeth in pain as she accidentally pressed her hand on his wrist.
“Listen here Mr. Maheshwari! I am not someone to be messed with. With each word, she gripped the edge of the seat harder. Well…that’s what she thought at least, not knowing that it was Caleb’s hand that she was accidentally murdering.
“Yes future Mrs. Maheshwari. I’m ready to listen to anything you say if you become mine.” Sanskar joked.
“Why you…you…ugh! Whatever! Why am I even talking to you!?” she huffed out in anger and turned to the other side, crossing her arms over her chest.
Caleb retreated his hand in pain.’Ow! My hand. My innocent hand!’
Sanskar chuckled at her words and turned to look ahead. “Stop making a poo-face. Or else, it might get stuck like that.”
“Shut up!” Ragini shouted back.
“Make me.”
Caleb tried to reach for the central console again. However, Sanskar put his hand to change directions, ruining his plan. Caleb crossed his arms in front of him in defeat.’Ugh! Damn!’
After sometime…
Sanskar parked the car in front of the Gadodia house. Ragini at once got out and shut the door behind her with force.
Sanskar got out and glared at her. “Oi! Watch it! Don’t harm my baby. It never did anything to hurt you.” Sanskar chided, rubbing the car roof lovingly. “I may love you, but that doesn’t mean you get to hurt my other love.”
Ragini blinked. ‘Does this make this car my sautan?’ Ragini shook her head in disbelief. ‘The heck am I even thinking?! I don’t love him and neither is that car a living being!?’ she glared at Sanskar. “This is all your fault! You’re making my mind go bonkers!”
Sanskar watched as she stormed off inside. “What did I do now?” from the corner of his eyes, he saw Caleb get out and about to go after Ragini. “One minute Cabbage.”
“It’s Caleb.” Caleb said with a glare towards him.
Sanskar ignored him and moved to stand before him. Before Caleb could do anything, Sanskar held his collar and pushed him against the car. “Trying to kill me, eh?”
Caleb’s eyes widened at his words. “Wh-What? N-No! I wouldn’t. I wa-”
“Shut it. I know what you tried to do back at the car.”
“N-no Sanskar, you’re mistaken. I di-”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice.” Sanskar bit out. “It is one thing trying to harm me. But if she is your girlfriend, why didn’t you think about her? She was in the front seat as well. This proves she isn’t your girlfriend.”
Caleb gave up defending himself. He knew his crime was caught. “Firstly, she is my girlfriend.” he lied. “Secondly, she wouldn’t have been hurt.”
“Oh? What idiotic logic is that? Are you really that stupid!? She was in the front as well.”
“Even if she was hurt, she would have healed. But you would have been out of our way.”
Sanskar let out a humorless laugh. “Can you even hear what you are saying? You say you love her and yet…yet, you’re ready to see her hurt? Disgusting! Is she just a possession to you?”
“Funny you say that. Isn’t that what you’re trying to do to her as well? Trying to possess her?”
Sanskar gripped his collar harder. “It’s not the same!”
Caleb gave a dry chuckle. “How is it not the same? You demand that she marry you even when she clearly refuses to. She said she loves me, but you’re trying to steal her away!”
“That’s because it’s a lie! Besides, with what you said, I don’t think you deserve her.”
“It’s not a lie. But you wouldn’t listen! Because you want her as much as I do.” Caleb broke free of his grip and straightened up. “I don’t deserve her, you say? Then you don’t deserve her as well. Because your feelings for her is same as mine. Possessive, obsessive, lustful! Only difference is that she likes me back, but doesn’t like you.” Caleb taunted with a smirk and left for the house.
Sanskar glared at his retreating back. However, he felt an ache in his heart on hearing his words. After all, Sanskar knew Caleb wasn’t wrong. ‘Whatever! I don’t give a damn! She is the one I like and she will be mine. Even if it’s not love, I don’t give a damn. I get what I want!’ Sanskar smirked to himself in confidence. ‘You’ve given me an open challenge. And Sanskar Maheshwari doesn’t like losing challenges.’
#Inside#
Sujata, Ram, Laksh and the Gadodias looked up as Ragini entered the house. “You’re back so soon?” Shramishtha questioned.
“Yes Maa.” Ragini answered in a monotone tone.
“Beta, enjoyed your time with Sanskar?” Sujata questioned.
Laksh looked at her pointedly. Swara had told him about Ragini’s true nature. Howver, he found it quite hard to believe. ‘She looks calm enough. Maybe she liked Sanky? Time to test the waters.’ Laksh smiled at her. “Isn’t he a dear?” he asked, bringing the cup to his lips to take a sip.
Ragini turned to him with a glare. “A dear? A DEAR?! He is a despicabl-”
“Ahem! *cough* Excuse me. My throat!” Shramishtha exclaimed, interrupting Ragini. However, Sujata and Ram were too busy looking at Ragini with different levels of shock to notice it. Laksh, who had been happily sipping his tea, ended up spitting it out and coughing hard on Ragini’s behaviour.
As Ragini’s eyes fell on her mother, she saw her glare and gulped. An image of her mother ripping apart her posters with her teeth came to her mouth.’Posters posters posters! Fake it for the posters!’
Ragini smiled politely at the Maheshwaris. “He’s a desirable man. A true gentleman any girl would be lucky to have in her life.”
Sujata and Ram looked satisfied by her reply. Laksh however, realized her slip and knew what she actually meant. ‘Well shit! I hope Swara doesn’t tell her sister I’m behind this marriage deal. Ragini will definitely beat me to a blo*dy pulp!’
“Ragini beta, why don’t you go help Swara set up the table inside for lunch.”
“Okay Maa.” Ragini replied with a tight smile.
Caleb reached the house just in that moment. ‘Where is she going? I have to tell her that I like her.’ he tried to go after her. However, Shekhar’s voice stopped him.
“Caleb, come here. Let me introduce you properly to the Maheshwaris. We had been talking about the Maheshwari family. Who knows maybe you might be a good match for Sanskar’s cousin Uttara?” Shekhar joked, making everyone laugh out loud.
Caleb didn’t want to seem rude and came near to sit beside him.
“No way! Uttara deserves a person of much better class than him. He doesn’t deserve Uttara or any other good girl.” Sanskar gritted out as he walked into the room. Everyone looked shocked at his sudden animosity towards Caleb. However, Caleb understood his intentions and glared at him.
“Sanskar beta, what are you saying?” Ram questioned.
Sanskar smiled. “Arre relax everyone. I’m joking, chill.” he lied.
“You and your jokes! By the way, how did you like Ragini?”
“I didn’t like her Maa.” Sujata was about to protest, when he spoke again. “But I loved her.”
Sujata came and hit him over the head. “Can’t you ever say anything straight? You always love troubling others, don’t you?”
Sanskar chuckled. “I got this habit from you. Do you ever stop troubling Baba with your endless talks?”
“Oi! Watch it.” Sujata warned. “Anyway, me and Shramishtha were thinking that if you two ended up liking each other, we’ll let you spend sometime together so that you get to know each other better.”
“Why do we need to do those things? I already said I love her. Just fix the marriage date!”
“Sanskar, marriage isn’t a joke. You will spend a life time with Ragini. At least you two should know more of each other well first.”
“That is a fantastic idea Maa!” Laksh exclaimed, jumping in between their conversations. “There’s a carnival tomorrow in the market place. We can meet the girls there.”
“Girls?” Sanskar asked with a raised eyebrow.
Laksh blushed, but coughed to cover his embarrassment. “Well, Swara said she likes carnivals. I thought it would be a good way of making up to her after the incident at the coffee house.” he lied, not revealing his and Swara being lovers for over two years.
“I still am yet to meet someone who goes to this extent to apologize to someone they don’t even know properly.” Sujata said with a suspicious look towards Laksh. He may try to hide it, but she already knew Laksh liked Swara. Swara did look like a suitable match for him. Hence, she let it go. “Alright, whatever! It’s a good idea though. Sanskar, you’re taking Ragini to the carnival tomorrow.”
“Okay. I don’t mind spending time with her.” Sanskar replied with a careless shrug.
“I would like to come too!” Caleb exclaimed. “Uncle, you know I and Ragini always go to the carnivals together since childhood. I don’t want to break our ritual.” he pleaded, trying to make Shekhar agree.
“No, you’re not coming. It’s a date for me and Ragini.” Sanskar said with a fake smile, trying not to show his anger.
“It’s okay. I’ll just be around and enjoy the carnival myself. But I don’t want to visit separately.” Caleb replied with a smile, although all he wanted to do was break Sanskar’s face.
Shramishtha tried to give her own views. “But Caleb, it woul-” Sharamistha was interrupted by Shekhar.
“Oh Shramishtha! Let him go. He’s her best friend. It wouldn’t be nice if we discard him like this. Let him go. Sanskar and Ragini could spend time together while he’s around as well.”
Shramishtha didn’t like the idea, but nodded.
“Thank you Uncle.” saying so, Caleb turned to Sanskar. “Thank you Sanskar for letting me come. You’re too kind.” he said in a polite voice, knowing it would piss off Sanskar more.
“You’re welcome.” Sanskar gritted out.
Laksh paused what he was doing to look at Sanskar’s face at his tone. He could recognize the venom in his brother’s voice.
Caleb put forward his hand. “Well, I guess we’re gonna be good friends.” he lied. He actually was getting ready to compete with Sanskar for Ragini.
Sanskar smiled back. “Yes, we will. We will be best of friends.” although both Caleb and he knew he meant the exact opposite.
“You have a hard grip Sanskar.”
“Yes. You have one as well.”
Caleb chuckled. “Yea. I’m often told I can be fierce like a lion sometimes.” he replied, indicating that Sanskar was taking a big danger by challenging him.
“What a coincidence! I’m told that too. But we both know that only one lion can rule one jungle. Only. One. Lion.” Sanskar countered back, indirectly pointing out to him that he will win.
Caleb smirked. “We’ll see Sanskar, we’ll see.”
As Laksh looked on at them, he could feel the tension between them. He felt like he was standing between two beasts about to tear each other apart.
Laksh gulped. ‘Why do I feel like I just gave the worst idea ever by suggesting the carnival? Well…I just hope Swara doesn’t murder me for being the one who caused all this mess. Oh my!’
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To be continued…
~ ? Mona ?