Hey everybody. This story is not mine but my best friend Shonali’s. You remember Shonali and her story Dark Before Dawn? Well she is extremely busy in her personal life so she couldn’t continue writing this story but because I have started to complete my own she requested me to complete this story of hers. So here I am with Episode 4 of Dark Before Dawn. I case you don’t remember the story, here are the links;
Episode 1 : Here
Episode 2 :Here
Episode 3 : Here
Ragini sighed and leaned against the washroom counter. The muh dikhayi rasam was one kind of hell that not only made her tired but it also affected her resolve. Taking a cotton pad she slowly started removing her make-up. She was tensed because Swara and Sanskar getting married was really a big problem that could cause hindrance in her plan. Those idiots aren’t aware of the problem they created. She had tried to not involve them in this mess but no they had to do it.
Once her face was clean of all the make-up she washed her face and dried it with a soft towel. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Gone was the girl who lived a happy life, lived cheerfully and sheltered from the bad world but the woman that stared back at her was strong, clever one who was fighting for her loved ones, tired and depressed.
“In all this it is me who lost everything. I lost myself somewhere and I don’t know if I will find me back.” She sighed again and tied her hair in a messy bun and walked out of the washroom.
Laksh was looking up at the stars with a lost look on his face. He turned around as he heard the bathroom door click open and saw ragini coming out wearing something he hadn’t thought a girl like her would wear. Dressed in a white full sleeves top and red polka dot shorts that were just above her knees. “Ragini?”
“What?” she snapped but the next instant she closed her eyes and said, “Sorry. I am just tired.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“You wanna ask something?” Ragini asked she placed a mattress on the floor and picked up some pillows from the bed.
Laksh felt embarrassed, “Actually I have never seen you like…this.” he looked at from top to bottom and then back up.
Ragini felt her mood lighten, poor guy! He thought that she will sleep in a saree or something traditional. “Laksh this is a night suit that I wear when I sleep. One cannot sleep in a saree right?”
“Actually…no nothing.” He just looked at ragini one more time and then again turned his attention towards the stars. Ragini shook her head and slept on the mattress that she had laid on the floor.
****
Swara turned on the bed and looked at Sanskar who was trying to sleep on the couch. She laughed silently at his tries to fit into the couch that was a little short for his size. “You come sleep on bed, I’ll take the couch.”
Sanskar nervously chuckled, “No it’s okay. I will sleep on the couch, it’s what a gentleman would do.” Swara laughed at that, her early dark mood lifting up, “It’s okay Sanskar. I can sleep at the couch, it’s perfect for my height while you are a little too big for that sweet thing.”
“You sure?” Sanskar asked sitting on the couch. “Yeah.” Swara smiled.
“Oh thank God!!” Sanskar stood up immediately making Swara laugh more, “You are so cute.”
Sanskar blushed and threw a pillow at Swara who was now at his place on the couch while he sat on the bed.
“Aaawww…you are so cute.” A voice rang in his mind making Sanskar frown.
He laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling contemplating about the said voice. “Who said that? It sounded so familiar.” He tried to remember the person to whom the voice belonged but it only resulted in head ache.
Not being able to remember anything sanskar sighed and closed his eyes. Tomorrow they will start searching for proofs against Ragini. “She must be punished.” Said his mind but his heart begged to differ.
****
Ragini woke up early in the morning, even before the sun rose. She took a relaxing hot bath and then got dressed in a plain red color saree paired with a floral prin elbow sleeves blouse. She wore her mangalsutra, a kundan necklace and matching earrings. After applying vermillion in her hair partition she went downstairs in the kitchen and was greeted by Sujata.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Sujata asked placing a hand on her cheek. Ragini just shook her head in response.
“Beta the path that you have started to walk on is difficult but remember that was your choice. I know this is no bed of rosses, just don’t think about the journey, think about your destination.” Sujata handed Ragini a cup of tea.
“I know Choti Maa but whatever happened yesterday…Sanskar and Swara getting married and..”
“Ssshh..relax everything will be just fine.” Sujata said as she ate a biscuit.
“Choti Maa I suggest we limit our conversations. I do not want anybody to know that you are involved in this plan with me.” Ragini said.
“I understand. You don’t worry.” Ragini just smiled in response.
“Okay Choti Maa I am going out. In case someone asks that where I am..”
“I’ll tell them that you went to temple, that’s okay?” Sujata asked smilingly to which Ragini smiled and nodded in positive.
****
Swara yawned and rubbed her eyes open. Yesterday was so much tiring and then she slept on the couch which wasn’t as comfortable as her bed that’s why she still felt tired, her neck muscles felt sore. She rubbed the back of her neck and sat up on the couch.
The memories of the past events still haunted her dreams. She huffed out a breath and went to take a bath. Later she got dressed in an aqua color long anarkali suit, wore matching jewellery and her mangalsutra. She applied a little bit of vermillion and then styled her hair.
“Sanskar wake up. We have to start working on our plan.” She shook him lightly but he didn’t response.
“Sanskar..”
“Anokhi..”
Swara smirked, “So I was right. Sanskar and Ankhoi, locha-e-ulfat han!” she thought.
“I won’t leave you ever but promise me that you won’t leave me too.” Sanskar murmured in sleep.
Swara giggled as Sanskar kept sleep talking. She went close to him and yelled in his ear, “SANSKAR!!”
“WHAT..!!” Sanskar yelled and sat up straight on the bed clutching the comforter close to his chest. “Uff! Why did you do that!?”
“You said that Anokhi is just a friend..” Swara played with her mangalsutra.
“Yeah so?” Sanskar stepped off the bed and wore his slippers.
“But you were talking about her while sleeping, you even promised her that you won’t leave her while you asked her to promise you that she won’t leave you as well.” Swara said with a teasing smile.
Sanskar frowned, “I said that?”
“Yep you did.” Swara started arranging the bed, “Tell me na who this Anokhi is.”
Sanskar tried to remember all that but he couldn’t. He felt helpless and incomplete that he couldn’t remember who Anokhi is. “Sanskar?” Swara called.
“Nothing.” He replied and hastily went inside the washroom leaving behind a perplexed Swara.
****
“So from where should we start our search?” Swara asked Sanskar as they descended the stairs.
“I think we should contact the doctor first. The one who treated you on the wedding day, at least he will be able to prove that you were in hospital and didn’t ran away with someone.” Sanskar suggested.
Annapurna looked at the couple with disgust in her eyes while Sujata tried to maintain her cool. She had never liked the Bangalan girl and now she was her son’s wife but she won’t be accepting Swara as her daughter in law. Durga Prasad maintained his calm and composed look while Ram Prasad dropped the spoon and left the dining table.
“Papa.” Sanskar tried to start a conversation but stopped as Ram Prasad raised a hand gesturing him to stop, “Bhai sa I am going to office. Today we have to meet the Japanese delegates so I am going early to see if all the preparations are nicely done.”
“Okay.” Said Durga Prasad.
Sanskar and Swara sat on the chairs but no one served them food. It was awkward.
“Sujata where are ragini and Laksh?” Annapurna asked.
“Jiji Laksh went to office early and Ragini went to temple. She informed me before she left.” Sujata replied.
“See this is what an adarsh bahu is like. I am proud mother-in-law of a sanskari daughter in law like Ragini.” Annapurna smiled as she praised Ragini and taunted Swara at the same time.
“Swara let’s leave.” Swara followed Sanskar and together they went out. Sujata felt bad that he had to leave without eating anything.
****
“Excuse me Miss.” Sanskar politely called the receptionist.
“Yes?”
“Can we meet Dr. Kumar please?” Sanskar asked.
“Sorry Sir but there is no Dr. Kumar here in this hospital.” the receptionist informed.
“What?” Swara yelled.
“Sshh! This is hospital!” the receptionist pointed.
“I am sorry but I think you are mistaken. Dr. Sagar Kumar worked here. He was the one who treated me just two days ago!” Swara whisper yelled.
“I am sorry ma’am but believe me there is no Dr. Sagar Kumar here.”
“But how?” Swara felt her heart sinking. Her hope that she will prove that she didn’t reach away from her wedding to Laksh and family vanished. Shekhar supported Swara as she stumbled and was about to fall.
“Careful!” Sanskar said and lead Swara out of the hospital.
Once they were out of sight, Dr. Sagar Kumar came out of his place of hiding and went to the reception area. “You did as I told you to do right?”
“Yes Dr.” replied the receptionist.
“Thank you.” Dr. Kumar smiled and walked back to his cabin.
“Your work is done.” he smiled at the person sitting in front of him.
Ragini smirked and twirled the paper weight, “So predictable.” She stopped twirling that paper weight and turned her attention to Dr. Kumar, “Thank you doctor for what you did.”
“There is no need to thank me Ragini Ji. I did exactly what appeared right to me.” Dr. Kumar said as he gave ragini an envelope.
“Everything is fine right?” Ragini asked as she opened the envelope and took out some papers out of it.
“Everything is fine, but for better and quick recovery please make sure that the patient eats these prescribed medicines.” Dr. Kumar pointed at a medicine list.
“Okay. Thank you doctor.” Ragini stood up, shook hands with Dr. Kumar and then left.
****
“I can’t believe this! Where did that doctor go?” Sanskar yelled as he slammed a hand against his car whereas Swara was crying all the while.
“That doctor was my hope Sanskar, I had thought that I will prove it to Laksh that I hadn’t ran away but…” Swara collapsed on the floor crying.
Sanskar bent on his knees and held Swara gently by her shoulders, “Ssshh Swara everything will be fine. Just because one door got closed for us that doesn’t mean that there is no way out. We will ein this! We will! Trust me.” Sanskar tried to encourage her but Swara just cried more and hugged Sanskar. He wrapped his arms around her soothing her unaware of a pair of eyes watching them.
“Let’s go Dada.” Ragini sat in the car and asked the driver to drive away.
****
“Sujata I am starting to get worried now. It’s almost lunch time and Ragini isn’t back. Did you try calling her?” Annapurna placed a hand on Sujata’s arm. Both the elder maheswari ladies were worried about their daughter-in-law Ragini who hadn’t come back.
Sanskar and Swara heard them, “Where is she now? Must be planning something.” Sanskar clenched his fists tight.
“I may have forgiven you for what you did to me Sanskar but I haven’t forgiven you for what you did to Ragini.” Swara added.
Sanskar sighed, “I know and I am really sorry. It’s just..”
“RAGINI!” they heard Sujata yell at run towards the main door. Ragini was standing there with the support of Bijoy Dada (the driver). She looked dizzy as if she will fall on the floor if Bijoy Dada didn’t hold her.
“What happened beta?” Annapurna asked as she caressed Ragini’s bandaged head. She had multiple scratches all over her arms, bandage was wrapped around her right upper arm too. Even Bijoy Dada was a little bit injured but not as much as Ragini.
“Jiji let’s take her inside first.” Sujata suggested as she tried to support Ragini as it was getting difficult for Bijoy dad to do so as he was injured too. Annapurna went to call Laksh.
Sujata tried to lead Ragini inside but was failing badly as she couldn’t support all of Ragini’s weight. Ragini was about to fall but Sanskar noticed that and ran towards Ragini and held in the nick of time. Swara too ran towards them, though Ragini had done wrong with her but she was still her sister and was worried for Ragini.
Sanskar looked at Ragini who had fallen unconscious. He picked her in his arms bridal style and walked towards Laksh’s room. Al this time he just couldn’t remove his eyes off her face that looked so innocent. He just couldn’t believe that this innocent girl held so much anger and hatred inside her.
Once inside the room he gently laid Ragini on the bed and covered her with comforter. “Bijoy Dada what happened with you two?” Sanskar asked Bijoy Dad who had followed them to Laksh-Ragini’s room.
“It’s all my fault I wasn’t driving properly and then the breaks stopped working, we had to jump out of the car to avoid serious accident. Though I only got small scratches but Ragini bahu rolled down and hit her head on a big stone.” Bijoy Dada told.
“Well that’s what happens to people who do wrong with others.” Said Sanskar as he looked at Swara first and then at Ragini.
Sujata winced at his words and opened the little chit that Ragini had given her while she was a little bit conscious. It said, “This is just the beginning.” Sujata gasped and before anybody could notice she tore off the chit to many pieces and threw it in the dustbin.
Precap : Laksh taking care of Ragini, Swara and Sanskar feeling hurt.