“Picnic? Really Chachu?” asked Piyu happy. He lifted her and walked to the hall. “Yes we are going on weekend to farm house for picnic” said Sanskar and kissed her cheek. “You are the best chachu in the world” said she and kissed his cheek and encircled her hand around his neck. “You are the best princess in the world” said he smiling. “Waa. Today sun has risen from west oh what?” asked Sujata who was putting the jam to the toast. “Why mom?” asked Sanskar sitting on his chair. Piyu ran to sit in her place. “You are talking about Picnic really?” asked she. He gave her a fake smile and said “Why can’t I talk? I have my tongue see” said he putting his tongue out and showing her. “Oh I thought it’s called tooth and is used for chewing” said Sujata widening her eyes. Sanskar put his tongue back in his mouth and huffed. Piyu chuckled looking at him. “Your mom was always the winner of Debate competition in school every single year. You cannot win with her in Sarcasm” said Ram and chuckled. “And how do you know?” asked Sanskar. “I was her senior in School” said he. “OMG mom you never told me yours is a love marriage” said Sanskar widening his eyes. “Oye Ghadhe ours was arranged marriage only. I did not knew him but he knew about me” said Sujata hitting his head playfully. Sanskar pouted looking at her. “Drama tho you do like your dad only” said Sujata nodding her head.
“Where is Ragini?” asked Sujata for which Sanskar choked. She patted his head and made him drink water. “Mom wo” said he. “Will you tell me today only or should I take an appointment?” asked she. “I was tired maa. Yesterday we came very late na so was sleeping” said Ragini descending from the stairs. “So why is he taking so much time to say that” asked she. “I told him not to tell but I will speak to you about this. My mistake na maa. I woke up late and you have to prepare breakfast sorry maa” said Ragini and Sujata caressed her cheek and said “It’s okay beta. Some days you also need rest na. I don’t mind doing all this” “Now you sit I will serve” said Ragini and made Sujatha sit and served everyone. “What is wrong with her. She is behaving like nothing happened. Gosh this girl will kill me with confusion someday” Sanskar thought within himself. “AJ?” asked Ragini. “He was feeling hungry. I fed him already. He must be playing” said Sujata. “I will give him medicines and come” said she and walked to Adarsh’s room.
“AJ what are you searching?” asked Ragini entering his messed up room. “Pari’s book” said he and she looked at him confused. “Arrey there was pink shining book of Pari. I had kept it in her box. It is missing” said he and looked around worried. Ragini was not understanding anything. “AJ… AJ… relax” said she and held him from his shoulder. “Ragu Pari’s book” said he in a choking voice. “Your Ragu is there na I will search it” said she. “But why do you want it?” asked she as she made him sit on the bed. “It had Pari’s photos. Lot’s of Photos which I did not have” said he pouting. “Okay I will search you relax” said she and caressed his cheek and he nodded his head pouting.
“No AJ. I searched all the room it isn’t there” said Ragini after arranging the room. “It was here only Ragu. I want it” said he waving his hands in air. “Okay I will search other places also okay relax now” said Ragini. “Adi bhai we are going for Picnic to farmhouse on weekend” said Sanskar entering Adarsh’s room holding Piyu. “Really?” asked Adarsh with wide open eyes. “Weekend. I can’t be away from here for so long” thought Ragini and her face turned pale as worry covered her mind. Sanskar observed her. “What is bothering you Ragini?” he told in his mind.
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“What is this?” said Rohan removing a paper from his Jacket’s pocket. “Initiate Phase two. Romeo” he read and smirked. He remembered Ragini hugging him. He understood she placed it in his pocket. “Wicked” said he smiling.
“Are you sure about this?” asked Swara when he showed her the paper. “She has told us to initiate second phase and we have to do this” said Rohan and looked at Sharmishta who was looking worried. “Maa” said Swara placing her hand on Sharmishta’s shoulder. “You remember what she told?” asked Sharmishta.
“Maa this is very dangerous and I cannot take risk in case of Shona dee’s life” said Ragini when she was getting ready for marriage. “Ragu bacha it is dangerous for you also na?” asked she cupping her face. “I will tolerate anything for me maa. But Shona dee’s life is most important for me now. If we could save Piyu canceling this marriage I would have told Shona dee to refuse the proposal initially only. But if any one of us won’t be there; protecting Piyu will be next to impossible job” said Ragini and wore the Mang teeka. “If Rohan was not kidnapped yesterday I wouldn’t have doubted on Maheshwari’s but now after getting a threatening call I’m sure someone is involved from their side in this. Now I have to sit instead of Shona dee in the Mandap. I cannot let her sacrifice her love and moreover her life for this mission” said Ragini and pulled the Ghungat to cover her face.
Sharmishta came to present. “She took a promise maa. Unless she herself wants this truth should not come out” said Swara painfully looking at her. She nodded her head and wiped her tears. “Are you sure it is her letter?” asked Sharmishta still not willing to move forward. “Other than my Juliet who calls me Romeo?” said he smiling. Swara smiled and hit his shoulder playfully. He dragged and hugged her. “Oh hello Jamai Raja you cannot romance my daughter in front of me only ok” said Sumi. “Okay Mom in law you can close your eyes” said he and kissed Swara’s cheek and ran from there. Sumi and Swara opened their mouths shocked. Swara blushed and Sumi nodded her head smiling.
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“Why haven’t you packed your stuff yet?” asked Sanskar looking at Ragini who was sitting on the bed and was staring ground. She did not respond. “Ragini” he said a bit loud and she jerked and looked at him. “Gosh this girl. Why haven’t you packed your stuff ha?” asked he standing in front of her. “For what?” asked she confused. “Ghonchu didn’t I tell you we are going for a picnic on weekend” said he hitting his forehead with his palm. “But I don’t want to come” said she and looked down nervous. “Why?” asked he confused. “I don’t like traveling” said she pouting still looking at the ground. Sanskar burst out laughing. She looked at him confused. “We are not going to US ghonchu we are going to Farmhouse which is in Panvel just 1 hour journey that too in car” said he and knelt in front of her. She looked up at him annoyed. “What?” asked he. “Don’t call me that” said she complaining. “Ghonchu ko Ghonchu hi bolenge na?” asked he with pity face. “Khajur” said she and jerked his hand with which he was holding her chin. “Oye dare you call me that Ghonchu” said he warning her as he stood up. “I will call. Khajur, Khajur and Khajur” said she standing in front of him. He touched his forehead with hers and said “Gonchu stop calling me that”. She smirked. “Have I listened to you ever Khajur” said she and pushed him with her forehead. “Haaw” Sanskar opened his mouth and pushed her with his forehead and as the bed touched her leg she stumbled and fell and held Sanskar’s shirt who also fell with her on the bed.
Ragini closed her eyes and was breathing heavily. Sanskar looked at her. His one hand was near her waist and the other behind her back. His face very near to her face. He felt goosebumps all over the body. He looked at her breathing heavily. Why she attracts him. Though these feelings never he felt in his life he wasn’t sure it was love. Her thumping heart against his chest was provoking his desires. His hand was slowly moving close to her waist. “Sanky” he heard Adarsh’s voice and both jerked and sat up straight. “Pack your stuff and come down” said he and walked out of the room nervous. Ragini placed her hand on her fast beating heart and relaxed. “Control Ragini you cannot let him get attached to you. For that matter anyone” she thought
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“What happened?” asked Sanskar to Ragini who sighed after looking at him. “Nothing I was just analyzing the surrounding” said she without realizing. “What?” he asked confused. “I was admiring the surrounding” said she and looked away. “I’m sure she said analyzing not admiring” thought Sanskar. “She is confusing me more now” said he and looked at her. “Maasi come na we will play” said Piyu rushing to her and disturbing them. Ragini smiled and walked with her.
Sanskar watched her playing the discus throw. She could bend her hand backward.
“She cannot bend her hand backward” he remembered Adarsh’s voice. “I have a bone problem” he remembered her saying it. He stopped and looked at her shocked. “Why did she lie to me?” he thought. “No If I ask her rashly she will again faint” he thought. “But I have to find out” he thought to himself. “Haa Pari bhabhi’s dairy that can give me answers to this mystery” he thought relaxing. Ragini felt his gaze on her and covered her stomach which was visible. Sanskar’s eyes which were watching her moved to her stomach which she was trying to cover. “Gosh these girls bhi na. Always misunderstand” he muttered and walked from there to Ram, Sujata who were sitting and watching Ragini, Piyu and Adarsh playing. As he sat and observed them his eyes automatically moved to her stomach. “Gosh are we guys any less jerks” he thought and brushed his hair. Ram and Sujatha looked at him confused. “I think we have to consult a psychiatrist for our son” she whispered in Ram’s ear who glared her and she chuckled. He nodded his head smiling.
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“OMG” said Sanskar entering the room. “What happened?” asked Ragini who entered behind him. “No couch here” said he worried sitting on the bed. “It’s okay. I will sleep on the floor” said she and took the bed sheet. While she was taking the pillow he held her wrist and she looked at him confused. “It’s very cold floor” said he worried. “That’s ok I’m used to it” said she smiling. “Can’t we share the bed?” asked he when she turned. She stood numb not able to answer him. “It’s okay Sanskar I’m fine” said she nervous. “Don’t you trust me?” asked he shrinking his eyes. “What is wrong with him? Why is he behaving so strange today. I told a lie that I love him. What if he is expecting anything?” her thoughts were running like there is no end. She smiled at him weakly and lied on the other side of the bed at the edge. Her heart beat went wild when he smiled after lying down on the bed.
“Sanskar what are you doing?” she asked when he was sleeping near her and cupping her face. He moved his face more close to her. “Jaan we are married na what’s wrong in it” said he and neared her lips. Ragini’s heart beat had reached it’s limit. And she felt it will pump out. “Stop Sanskar don’t move….” he captured her lips and she widened her eyes and tried pushing him when he tried dragging her close to him. In next moment she fell on the ground with a thud. She opened her eyes and found herself on the ground. She looked in Sanskar’s direction. He was sleeping facing his back. She sighed as she realized it was dream. She slept like that only placing her head on the bed.
Sun rays touched Sanslkar’s face who opened his eyes and slowly turned rubbing his eyes. He found Ragini sleeping placing her head on the bed. He opened his eyes shocked. “This girl is seriously mad” said he and rolled on the bed and neared her and shook her to wake her. She opened her eyes slowly and found him so near and jerked and sat a bit far resting her palm on the ground backward and looked at him horrified. “Ahhh” she screamed. “What happened? Did my son really turned out to be dracula oh what?” asked Sujata entering their room. She found Ragini sitting on the ground and Sanskar lying on the bed. “Hey Bhagvan. Sanky why did you show her your morning face ha? See she got scared” said she making Ragini stand. “Morning face?” asked he confused looking at her and sat on the bed. She moved away a bit and showed him the mirror. “Ahhh” he screamed looking at his face. It had colorful lines like a clown. He fumed. “Who did this?” asked he angry. He looked at Sujata. “Sorry my drawing is worst than this. I would have made you a monkey instead of clown” said she. “I did it” said Piyu who peeped out of the curtain with colorful hands. He chased her out of the room and collided with Ram who was walking reading news paper. “Ahhh” he screamed looking at Sanskar. “Dad” said he glaring him. “Suji. Really I feel our son got exchanged with an alien” said he and burst out laughing. Sanskar gave him a glare and continued running behind Piyu.
She hid behind Adarsh who clapped his hands biting his lower lip and jumping. “Papa our plan worked” said she and Adarsh knelt and gave her high five. “Adi bhai it was your plan?” asked Sanskar holding his waist with his hands. He chuckled and clapped his hands. “Yeh prank” thought Sanskar
“Pari bhabi…. run” said Sanskar. “Wait both of you” said Adarsh who was running behind them with a clown face. “Adi bura na maano holi hai” screamed Pari. Adarsh atlast held her and lifted her and walked to the pool and threw her in it. “Bura na Maano holi hai” said he and teased her. Sanskar came from behind and pushed Adarsh who fell in the pool. Pari and Sanskar burst out laughing. “Bura na maano holi hai” said Sanskar to Adarsh who was fuming looking at him. Pari signed Sanskar to give high five and when he neared her she pulled him also and he fell in the pool. “Bhabi cheating” said he pouting. “Bura na maano holi hai” said Adarsh and Parinita in chorus and they splashed water on each other laughing.
“Today is Holi” said Sanskar looking at Adarsh with tears in his eyes. Adarsh nodded his head and bit his lower lip. They hadn’t celebrated Holi from past two years after Parinita left the world. Adarsh’s condition used to get worse when he used to see the colors. And they had no interest in celebrating Holi also after Pari left. She was the soul of their home sweet home. “Bura na mano holi hai” said Sujata who splashed the color water from pichkari behind Sanskar. He jerked and looked back. He found Ragini’s face full of colour and Sujatha holding the pichkari. “Maa you made her real ghonchu now” said he and burst out laughing. Ragini pouted lika a small kid. “At least she is not looking like a clown the way you are looking” said Ram and applied the color to Sanskar and ran from there. He chased him and they played holi.
“No bhang?” asked Sujatha to Ram. “Will I forget it?” asked he showing her a packet full of green small balls of bhang. Sujata smirked and took it and neared the Thandai. She mixed it in two glasses and signed Ram to take it. He took it and he was about to drink. Ragini who came there took the other glass and gulped it in a go. Ram kept staring her and she walked from there wiping her lips. “Thanks Papa” she screamed back. When he was busy staring in her direction. Sanskar took the glass in his other hand and gulped it and wiped his lips and said “Thank you dad” and walked from there. Ram kept looking at him and then he looked at the two empty glasses in his hands. He looked at Sujatha who was enjoying the bhang and smiling like a mad. And the cover empty. “Gosh she just consumed everything” he gulped in scared.
Ithna maza kyu aaraha hai tune hawa bhang milaya
Dugna nasha kyu ho raha aankho se meetha tune khilaya
Teri mal mal ki kurti gulabi hogayi
manchali chaal kaise nawabi hogayi
Balam Pichkari jo tune mujhe maari to seedhi saadhi chori sharabi hogayi
Jean pehen ke jo tune maara tumhka tho lattu padosan ki bhabhi ho gayi
“Khajur” said Ragini pulling Sanskar’s cheek. She was sitting on his lap and he was holding her sitting on the bed. He dragged her more close to him. “Hmmm Ghonchu” said he and smiled. “You know you are very cute” said she and kissed his cheek. He widened his eyes shocked. “Ragu bad manners. Without my permission how can you kiss me?” he asked pouting. “Haaw you did not like it?” she asked drooling placing her hands around his neck. “I liked it? I loved it Ghonchu” said he and kissed her cheek. She widened her eyes shocked. “You did not like it?” asked he. “I loved it Khajur” said she smiling sheepishly and rubbed his nose with her nose. “I’m sleepy” said Sanskar yawning. “Me too” said Ragini pouting. “Ok let’s sleep” said he and both of them lied on the bed hugging each other.
“Ahhh” Ragini screamed when she found Sanskar sleeping hugging her. She jerked and tried pushing him. “What the hell Ragini why are you screaming” said he rubbing his ears. He opened his eyes and found her so near to him. He screamed jerking an slid away from her. “What the hell” he said as he sat up and Ragini sitting on the other edge of the bed and controlling her heart beat. “Do you remember what happened?” asked she nervous. Sanskar smirked and bit his cheek inside. “Gosh Ragini don’t you remember what happened?” he asked. She looked at him confused. “You were behaving crazy yesterday night. You pulled my shirt and ripped it off and…” “Stop it stop it…” screamed Ragini closing her ears. He sat beside her. “I was just joking Ghonchu” said he wiping her tears cupping her face. “Promise?” she asked. “Pakka Promise” said he pinching his neck. She immediately hugged him and he caressed her hair. “Don’t you trust me?” asked he. She nodded her head in his embrace. “I will never let anything like that happen” said he and she nodded her head smiling through her tears.
“Now I’m sure you don’t love me Ragini. You did this for something else” said he to himself.
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“What are you searching?” asked Ragini entering the room after they returned home from Farmhouse to Sanskar who was searching the Dairy. He jerked and sat on the couch. “Nothing just an ointment” said he. Ragini sat beside him worried. “What happened? Where did you get hurt?” asked she analyzing him. “Oh nothing just a bit body pain” said he trying to escape. “Ointment for body pain?” asked she. “Haa” said he casually. “Stupid who uses ointment for body pain? Can you apply the ointment to your whole body?” asked Ragini hitting her head with her palm. She took the tablet from first aid box and took a tablet. She forwarded it in front of him and gave him the water glass. He smiled at her and took the tablet and gulped it and drank the water. “Sleep on the bed na you are having body pain” said she. “But” said he. “I trust you” said she smiling at him and went and lied on the bed. Sanskar kept staring her. He walked to the bed and lied beside her. Ragini smiled when she felt his presence. She looked at the drawer. “I can’t let you discover the things more than what I want you to discover Sanskar. Not now” she thought and smiled. More precisely smirked and dozed off.