Yo! Back with another chapter!
Moving on… ???
“Words in double quotes” – Talking
‘Words in single quotes’ – Thoughts
(Words in braces) – Telephone conversations
Chapter 8
Ragini’s eyes widened at the scene in front of her. She let out a gasp and clenched her hands into fists. She breathed in hard and swallowed the lump in her throat. She could feel the hair in her arms stand up and her whole body shaking like a leaf. She lowered her head and held her breath, folding into herself like an animal protecting herself from being hit. She squeezed her eyes as hard as she could.
Sanskar parked the car and turned to Ragini with a smirk. He was about to speak when he saw her state. ‘What…what is wrong with her?’ he extended his hand to poke her on the arm. “Ragi-”
“Eeeeeeeeee!” Ragini squealed, making Sanskar jerk back in shock. “We’re here we’re here we’re freaking here!” at once, she opened the car door and leapt out of the car.
“What. Just. Happened.” Sanskar spoke in a daze.
Swara chuckled. “Ragini always acts like this when she’s excited.” she came out and looked around the place. “Wow! The carnival wasn’t this big last time.”
“Yea, like it?” Laksh asked with a smile.
Swara didn’t bother even glancing at him, still pissed off about earlier.
‘Aww man! What should I do to make her smile?’ suddenly, an idea struck him. “I heard they made the fun-house extra special this year.” he informed, knowing she would love it.
Swara abruptly turned to him. “Fun-house? Extra special?! Take me there! Please!”
Laksh chuckled at her childlike excitement. He checked his watch. “Bhai, it’s around 4pm right now. Why don’t we meet back here at 7 and leave for home?”
“7? So soon? Make it 8. I want to enjoy every ride here!” Ragini exclaimed.
“I agree. 8 would be better.” Swara uttered. “Laksh and I will be going to the fun house now, so th-”
“Aren’t you two being too friendly all of a sudden? I mean, you’re both acting like you’ve known each other for long.” Caleb pointed out. ‘They’re hiding something.’
At his words, Ragini and Sanskar paused to think about it as well.
“You know Cabbage, this is probably the first intelligent thing you ever said.” Sanskar praised.
“The name’s Caleb.” Caleb saw Ragini giggle and looked at her in irrtiation. “You too Ragini? He’s making fun of me and you’re laughing?”
“Hehe…sorry sorry. What to do? He’s funny.”
Sanskar perked up at he words. ‘She called me funny! Note to self – make more jokes.’
Ragini cleared her throat. “Okay, back to the matter. Swara, Laksh…how come you two have bonded so well?” she asked in suspicion.
“Well…um you see…err it’s…it’s that…” Laksh stuttered in his words, making Ragini and Sanskar narrow their eyes at him. ‘I’m dead today for sure!’
“Well, we have to bond. After all, we will be the ones who will manage all the marriage arrangements of you two.” Swara said with a smirk. “Laksh and I plan to make the marriage of our siblings the best one in town! Right Laksh?!”
Laksh nodded vigorously. “Yea! Exactly w-what she said!”
“See? Now, please excuse us. You know how much I love the fun-house Ragini. Bye!” saying so, she pulled Laksh away along with her inside the carnival.
“You saved us. Thanks Swara.” Laksh whispered once they were far from the rest.
“I’ve not forgotten your deeds. I’m still pissed at you. I just don’t want to wait anymore to visit the fun-house.”
Elsewhere, Ragini, Caleb and Sanskar stood beside the car.
“Caleb, where shall we go first?” Ragini questioned.
“I think we sho-”
“The bumper cars.” Sanskar said out loud, interrupting Caleb’s statement.
Ragini glared at him. “No one asked you.”
“But you should, since you’ll be coming with me.”
“No, I’m not! You go alone. I’m going inside with Caleb.”
“Nope! You’re going in with me.” Sanskar said with a smirk. “He can tag along with us if he wants though, since I don’t want anyone to be left behind lonely.”
“I am not spending my time anywhere near you Maheshwari. Dream on!”
“We’ll see.” Sanskar took out his phone and put it near his ear. “Hello Shramishtha Aunty.”
(Hello Sanskar beta.)
“Actually Aunty, I had to tell you something.”
(Yes beta, go ahead.)
Ragini’s eyes widened at his words. ‘Shit! He’ll tell Maa I’m refusing to go with him. Shit shit shit!’ she at once went and grabbed his arm. “I’ll go, I’ll go!” she whispered in desperation.
Sanskar chuckled at her words.
(Beta? What is it?) Shramishtha asked from the other side of the line.
“Nothing much Aunty. I actually wanted to ask you if it would be okay if we drop the girls home at 8?”
(Oh. Okay beta.)
“Bye Aunty.” Sanskar cut the call and looked at Ragini with a victorious smile. “Never mess with me, understood?”
Caleb glared at him. “That was blackmail.”
“Yep.”
“You’re so fr-”
“Whatever! Let’s just go inside.” Ragini interrupted them. “Let’s not delay.”
“Okay Miss.” Sanskar held her hand and walked forward. “Come on, Cabbage. Don’t delay us.”
“It’s CALEB!”
#30 minutes later#
“That was fun!” Ragini exclaimed as three of them walked ahead. “Bumper cars, done. Ferris wheel, done! Then…”
“Crossbow shoot, done! Balloons and darts, done!” Sanskar counted along with her as they walked.
Caleb on the other hand was in a total sullen mood after their adventures, not to mention down right insecure.
Ragini and Sanskar may fight a lot, but he could see a peculiar bond between the two.
Like how Ragini would spend more time arguing with Sanskar, rather than talk with him. Arguing with Sanskar had become something of a game to her. She may claim that Sanskar irritated her. But Caleb saw the bored look she gave whenever she wasn’t fighting with Sanskar. In fact, she looked for isues to argue with with him.
And at times, when they were both enjoying the rides, Caleb had seen them talk like they were long time friends. Their interests matched, their attitudes too matched to an extent. Bold, prideful, confident ‘And most of all…they love to do what irritates others.’ Caleb thought while glaring at Sanskar’s back, remembering how he didn’t stop calling him a vegetable.
Suddenly, he saw Ragini laugh out loud and pat Sanskar on the back. “Yea! I can’t forget the look on that girl’s face at the bumper cars when you bumped her. She looked ready to kill you!” Ragini said in good humor.
“I agree. I surely thought she would leap out and grab my neck.” Sanskar replied with a shudder.
Ragini laughed harder and linked her arm with him. “Dude, I thought you’re a stuck up. But you’re actually quite fun to hang out with.”
“Yaar, here I am telling you that she was ready to kill me, and you’re laughing? What if that actually happened, huh?”
“Relax! I would have saved you. I would have been your wonder-woman.”
Sanskar snorted. “Yea, right. You would instead be standing by the side cheering her on and laughing at my fate.”
Caleb felt jealous seeing them be so free with each other. In fact, he was sure that if the issue of their marriage wasn’t there, Ragini and Sanskar would have been best of friends. ‘He’s not only taking the place I deserve of being her lover, but also replacing me as her best friend! Most of all, I can’t believe Ragini is letting him be so close! Didn’t she say she hates him? Why is she even being friends with him!?’
Ragini giggled at Sanskar’s words. “Aww…no Sanskar. I would have helped. Well, after I finished laughing, that is.”
“You know, I had my hands ready to pull her hair just in case that girl attacked me.”
Ragini guffawed at his words. “Oh my! You’re too damn funny Sanskar. Marry me, buddy marry me!” she said as a joke. However, once she realized what she said, her laughter disappeared.
Sanskar too paused to look at her in shock. “Eh?”
Ragini flushed in embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant! It just came out! I say that to my friends just for fun when they entertain a lot. That’s it! I didn’t mean I’ll marry you. Well, I mean to say that I meant that statement in another sense…that well…ugh! You understand what I’m saying right? I didn’t actually mean I want to marry you. I mean I won’t marry you! Never!”
Sanskar smiled at her as she rambled on in, her face turning red in embarrassment. ‘Cute.’ He cleared his throat and bowed before her. “I would love to marry you.”
Ragini hit him on the arm and glared. “Shut it moron! Just because we had some fun at the carnival doesn’t mean my opinion about you changed. I still consider you the same arrogant, ignorant, pompous, good-for-nothing jerk.”
“So many titles? Should I feel complimented upon?”
“As if!”
“Ouch. I think you just broke my heart.”
“Let it break. Let it shatter to bits and disappear into nothingness. Go, begone!”
Sanskar straightened up and rolled his eyes. “You know, you may think you’re being funny. But you really are not.”
“Shut up! I’m hilarious!” Ragini countered back. “Now let’s go to the next ride. Onward! Caleb, come on!” saying so, she dragged Sanskar along with her, thinking Caleb would follow.
However, Caleb stood there, deep in thought. While being with them, he felt like the third-wheel. He had thought Sanskar would get side lined by Ragini. But it was him who was in that position.
Caleb clenched his hands into fists in anger. ‘Ragini may not realize it, but she’s losing herself to his charm every minute! With every passing second, she is moving away from me.’ Caleb thought in anxiety. ‘But not anymore. I’m going to confess to her today. I’ll tell her how I feel and make her realize that she should love me back. We’re perfect for each other!’
Making up his mind, he looked around for the other two. However, they were no where to be seen. He looked from right to left. ‘Which way did they go?’
#With Ragini and Sanskar#
“There! Let’s go!” Ragini exclaimed, pointing at the roller-coaster ride.
“Nuh-uh. Let’s go to the haunted house.”
“What!? No damn way!”
“Why? Scared?” Sanskar asked with a smirk.
“Yea, so!? Don’t act like you’re not scared of anything. Everyone has their weakness.”
Sanskar chuckled. “Chill. No need to get so defensive. I won’t make fun of you.”
Ragini found it a bit odd that he didn’t tease him for her fear. ‘But I guess its good he’s not making a joke out of it.’ she poked him on the arm. “Now can we go to the roller-coaster?”
“You go. I hate such childish things.”
“What the…it’s not childish! Let’s go! Don’t be a sourpuss.”
“I said I’m not going. You go on.”
Ragini was about to object, when a thought struck her. Now that she looked closer at his eyes, she could see them darting from one thing to another in uncertainty. He looked like he was seeking a way to escape from something. Not to mention his odd behavior of not teasing her on her fear of the haunted house.
“Aha! Now I get it!” Ragini exclaimed. “You’re afraid of the roller-coaster ride, aren’t you!? Aha! That’s why you didn’t make fun of me. Because you yourself are afraid of something like this silly ride!”
“I am not!” Sanskar defended. “It’s just that I don’t like it. That’s all. You’re drawing wrong conclusions!”
However, the way he refused to look into her eyes proved that Ragini was indeed right. She smiled to herself. ‘The ever composed Sanskar Maheshwari is showing a weakness, but refusing to admit it. Hehe…he can be so childish sometimes!’
Ragini may not realize it, but anyone could see the growing affection in her eyes for Sanskar.
“Okay okay. Stay here if you’re afraid to ride. Or you can go visit the haunted house while I go on the roller-coaster. Bye!” saying so, she left without waiting for a second to hear his reply.
Sanskar sighed to himself in misery as his fear was caught. ‘Great! I’m sure she will tease me to no end from now on.’ he contemplated what to do. On one hand, he wanted to visit the haunted house. But on the other hand, he didn’t want to leave Ragini alone. He could have sworn he saw some thugs there. He wouldn’t be surprised if he was right as such thugs, eve-teasers, street dons were common in that area. Although there were many people there, no one may come to help Ragini if they gang up on her in fear. It may be only 5pm then, but Sanskar didn’t want to risk her safety.
At last, Sanskar decided to just go inside and wait near the counter for Ragini to finish her ride.
However, before he could move, a voice interrupted him.
“Where’s Ragini?”
Sanskar turned around to look at Caleb. “She’s in-” he paused and rethought his decision. “She went to meet Swara near the Ferris wheel.” he lied.
“Don’t lie! I highly doubt you would leave her side that easy. You’re too possessive. You’re even worse than glue!” Caleb shouted, venting out his anger and frustration on him.
Sanskar’s eye twitched at his tone. “Don’t talk to me like that. Only reason I tolerate you is because of Ragu.”
“Ragu?”
“Yep! That’s my nickname for her. Nice, right?” Sanskar said with a dreamy smile, thinking of Ragini.
“Whatever! Why am I even wasting my time talking to you?” Caleb turned around and walked away.
“Oi! One more thing!” Sanskar shouted from behind.
“What is it?!”
“Bye Cabbage!”
#With Ragini#
Ragini steped inside the rollercoaster and took her seat. She smiled to herself in anticipation. ‘Now the fun begins! Woo-hoo! Start this thing! Damn it start!’ however, she knew it won’t be started until it was entirely full.
From the corner of her eyes she saw Sanskar come and stand near the counter. ‘Eh? What’s he doing here?’
Sanskar waved at her from afar. She waved back. He then looked down and went back to clicking on his phone.
Ragini adjusted herself in the seat for the ride. However, another thought was eating her brain. She bit her lip deep in thought.
“Excuse me miss. May I sit here?”
Ragini nodded absentmindedly. However, the very next moment, she leapt out of her seat and pushed him out. “No! My friend is with me in this seat. Move out!”
The man looked at her wide-eyed, with a hand over his heart.
Ragini looked at him apologetically. “Sorry sorry.” she turned to look at the worker there. “Please keep these two seats. I’ll go get my friend. Be back in a minute!”
The worked and the man looked at her rush off.
“Geesh! She could have just said it normally! I don’t think this ride would have scared me as much as she did right!” said the man shaking his head.
The worker chuckled. “Young blood Sir. You can sit in the next set of seats if you like.”
“Right!”
Elsewhere, Sanskar was clicking away on his phone when a hand blocked his view. “Eh?”
“You’re coming with me.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. Nice joke. But I’m in no mood for jokes. I won’t go Ragini.”
“I’m not joking.”
Sanskar’s face turned serious. “Neither am I.”
Ragini put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Yes. You. Are!”
“No. I’m. Not. You want to hear it in other languages? Nahi, nada, nakki, nyet, nandi!”
“You’re coming with me. Or else…”
Sanskar simply gave her a bored look and back to typing in his phone.
Ragini looked at him indignation. ‘He’s ignoring me and my threat? Me?! No one ignores me like this!’ she blew away the strand of hair falling in front of her face and grabbed his hand. “I said you’re coming. Didn’t you hear me?!”
“And I said I’m not.” Sanskar countered back, grabbing her wrist with his other hand painfully. He pulled her to his eye-level. “Why are you being so persistent? Is it because you want to make fun of me later when I freak out in the ride? Or is it because you want to enjoy my suffering? Why huh?!” he shouted in anger.
Ragini glared back at him. “Maybe you would do that to someone. I wouldn’t!” she shouted. “I just want to help you overcome your fear.”
“Oh really now? And why is that? You hate me, remember?” Sanskar pointed out. “Or is it that you like me but are playing hard to get? Enjoying the attention I’m giving you?” he asked with a smirk.
“Never you moron! I wanted to help you because…because after all the fun we had, I thought we were at least friends! But I guess I shouldn’t have even tried to help such a emotionless ice cube like you!”
Sanskar blinked at her words. He never thought of it that way. Now that he looked at her closely, he could indeed see the honesty in her eyes. ‘Shit! She was trying to at least be friends with you. And you? You ruined it Sanky! Idiot idiot idiot!’ he let go of her hand and rubbed the back of his head in guilt. “Oh.”
Ragini glared at him, but nevertheless nodded. “Never say such things to me ever again! I’m not some selfish, two-faced hypocrite who loves to take pleasure in other’s pain.”
“I…I really didn’t mean to imply you are. It’s just that some people tend to pick on the weakness of others. On top of that, you do hate me to some extent. You have every reason to do so.”
“People who pick on others weakness are nothing but lowlifes and cowards.” Ragini said with a roll of her eyes. “I would have slapped myself if I was so.”
Sanskar smiled at her. “Um…I’m so…I’m sorry.” he said with much hesitation.
Ragini narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re acting as if you just ate a lemon. Is saying ‘sorry’ so difficult? Or is it just because of me?”
Sanskar tried to change the topic. “I thought you wanted to go on the ride?”
“Right! Let’s go!” Ragini noticed his nervousness and smiled at him. “Chill Sanskar. I’ll be with you. It’s gonna be fun! Trust me, will you?”
Sanskar took in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. But if I get sick and vomit on you, don’t blame me.” he said with a glare towards Ragini, cussing her in his mind for making him take the ride. He gulped as he took slow steps ahead.
Ragini stifled her laugh seeing his baby steps. Her eyes fell on her wrist which he had held. He held it so hard, it was leaving a mark. ‘He must be really afraid of the rollercoaster I guess. Well, time to remove his fear!’
**************************************
To be continued…
Next chapter – Ragini and Sanskar have a heart to heart as they help each other overcome their fears.
~ ? Mona ?