Jeene Ki Tammanah Hai

EP - 31 - Ragini's Past

“Arrey Karthik Ji…. Please come” Viren shouted
It was after a long time Ragini heard that cursed name …. Karthik….. She shuddered…She prayed to God that It was not HIM….. But Alas…..It was him…Karthik… the dark phase of her life…. The mistake of her life…He stood in front of them and flashed a crooked smile at her. Ragini shivered in anger and leaned near to Laksh and held his hand tightly…..Laksh and Sanskaar moved to a protective position around her

“ Karthik Ji….. Meet Laksh and Sanskaar My brothers”.  Viren introduced Lucky and Sanky to Karthik… and then pointed Ragini “ You must be knowing her very well na.” Ragini could feel a danger in Viren’s words

“ Who is this   Viren Bhaiyya??” Laksh asked with irritation

“ Ahh……. Karthik Ji…. Why don’t you introduce yourself “ Viren prompted Karthik

“ Hi Mr. Laksh Maheshwari…” He held out his hand….. “ I am Karthik Banerjee…..Ragini’s Husband”…..

"Excuse Me" Laksh left out a chuckle …. “ You are talking about this Ragini??” Laksh pointed at Ragini….” If Yes… then you are gravely mistaken….I am her Husband” Laksh put  his hand around Ragini’s shoulder.

"Ohhh…Yes… You are her husband…….Then let me rephrase….I am Ragini’s ex-Husband…..”

Laksh, Sanky, Dadaji and Dadi Maa stood stunned ….Where in Viren, Omkara , Bua and others had fun…. “So....Ragini.....How do you feel playing the Bahu of a big Family and a wife of a much richer man" Karthik asked with a smirk.
Ragini's face turned red with anger , rage and pain.....The wretched days, moments, seconds as HIS WIFE flashed through her mind ......tears boiled in her eyes

"Mind Your Words Mister" Laksh covered Ragini...."I am tolerating you only because you are Viren's guest....The next word you speak on my Wife will cost you your life" Laksh pointed his forefinger on Karthik. Karthik smirked at Laksh's reaction.

"Wow Ragini" Karthik clapped. "Tumne Isse bhi apna Deewana bana diya....Bilkul mere jaise" Ragini flared up....Laksh Lunged at Karthik and got hold of his collars.

"Bloody B******d.....What the hell do you think you are spitting " Karthik kept his smirk tight. Viren , Omkara and Sanskaar detached Karthik from Laksh.

"Laksh ....."Dadaji roared... "Behave Yourself"

"I can Understand your feeling Mr Laksh...."Karthik stiffened his shirt. "This girl have made you her Deewana......But sorry to say.....She made a great fool out of You...."

Laksh aimed at Karthik once again but Sanskaar stood in defence and pulled Laksh and Ragini into his protective cover.

“Ragoo....Do you Know this Guy??"Sanky asked in a stern tone to Ragini

"Arrey Yeh Kya Batayegi" Karthik spoke before Ragini could answer.... "I know that she is going to trap you all in her innocent looks as always.... So I will show the truth of this girl." Karthik Held out a bunch of newspapers and Photographs and held it out. Laksh snatched it from Him and went through them.

Laksh's face turned into a horror after seeing the contents of those papers. It was the photographs of Ragini and Karthik in Bridal Attire , smiling widely at each other along with other pictures of them in loving positions. Another shock hit him when he read out the newspaper clippings.
"Main players of Infamous Prostitution Racket Arrested" The title of the Newspaper heading read with the photo of  Ragini...some other women with handcuffs along with police officers....Laksh gave a confused and shocked look at Ragini....Which really confused Ragini...."He was supposed to know about this.....then why is he looking confused" She thought.

“ I loved This girl from my college days” Karthik narrated his story…” And she also reciprocated…. So as soon as we completed our studies, we decided to get married…….. I thought that she loved me too…As she went against her Teacher Maa to marry me…. But it was just her game… She was just a gold digger…She was after my money…..When she found out that I don’t have much reserve…she just left me……I was sad about this” Karthik sniffed….Ragini’s blood boiled hearing the allegations against her…Karthik continued his narrative “ but little did I know that she would indulge in prostitution for her economic needs…So I gave her a divorce….As I was ashamed of a girl like her to be called as my wife”

Sanskaar snatched the papers from Laksh's hand and went through the contents.

"These kind of photographs and newspapers can be edited" Sanskaar threw them on Karthik's face . " I won't believe in any of these bullshit and your story…..nor Lucky will….We won’t anyone other than Ragoo"

He turned to Ragini..." Just tell them Ragoo....That you don't know this guy....Just tell everyone that all these photographs are a setup and he was never your husband" Sanskaar held Ragini's shoulder confidently.

Ragini was shocked to realise that Laksh and Sanskaar dint know her past....She felt that Laksh married her after knowing her Past… But He dint know about it……nor did Sanky…She felt really helpless. A teardrop fell from her eye. She stared at Sanskaar and Laksh in silence

"Bolo na Ragoo...." Sanskaar shook her ……he was a bit tensed......looking at her expression. ...But Ragini's lost words....She couldn't just speak. Sanskaar looked at Laksh's face , who was slowly losing his strength. ...with fear and confusion
"Ragini....."Sanskaar screamed at Ragini. ..." Tell me that this is was not  your husband..."

"He was...." Ragini let out a whisper. Laksh closed his eyes in pain.....he felt cheated. ....Again....
Sanskaar took his hand from Ragini's shoulder and looked at her .....Shocked

"He was my Husband" Ragini cried....

"WHAT???"Dadaji almost left out a scream. "You were married before???"

"Haan....I married Karthik......But these news are fake" She moved towards Laksh.....But before she could reach to him , Sanskaar pulled her by elbow and flashed a slap across her face...Ragini kept her palm on her face and stared at Sanky in horror. Laksh went numb.

“Itni Badi Baat……You hid from US???” Sanky snarled at her……Ragini was trying to overcome the disbelief which she felt after seeing disgust for her on Sanky’s Face…. “Dint you feel that Laksh had the right to know about this……..???.....I told you everything about his Past….So that you won’t feel cheated and feel bad when you hear this from others ….. But You??.... You hid such an important information from Us….??? “ Sanky was screaming on Ragini…. Ragini stood there …crying miserably….unable to give him an answer…..

“ You dint even think once…. Ki what would happen to him once he gets know this truth???” Sanky continued .
“ I always considered you as a sister….at least you could have informed me about this….Or Maa…..”

Tears rolled from Sanky’s eyes…. “ I thought you would keep My Lucky happy…after what all he had to go through….Your love would heal him…” He said looking at a numb Laksh…. “ But I was WRONG …….you Pained him more than anyone…….” Sanskaar screamed…Ragini was crying and nodded her head in negative….Sanky turned and left the house …. With tears in his eyes.

Laksh turned and started walking aimlessly ….He stated climbing the steps……He was dazed….couldn’t understand what was going on……He dint even realise that he dropped his mobile….Ragini started to run behind him …..to tell him her truth but  Bua caught her

“ Where do you think you are going girl???” Bua said in a victorious tone. She pulled ragini….to the middle of the hall…..

“ I never liked you as my Laksh’s wife…. But bore with you as I felt that you love and care for him…. But you turned out to be a witch…..who came to destroy his life” Bua Maa accused Ragini

“I never thought that you would be such a girl, Ragini” Dadi maa said with disappointment glowing in her voice.

“ What did you think an orphan girl like her would be like….. She was trying to coax us with her Sanskaari Bahu image” Bhavna Badi maa mocked

“ Sach mein Maa….. I always doubted her…….but I never know that she was a Prostitute girl…..Chi” Devika Badi maa added fuel to fire……” We should just oust her from our House….” Devika Badi Maa started to pull Ragini out ….

“Devika….” Dada Ji called out…. “Ragini will stay here as of now…..She is Laksh’s wife and he will decide what to do with her…” Dada Ji said without looking her …..and left the hall….Dadi Maa followed him…One by One , Everyone left the hall…. Karthik followed Viren and Omkara….
Everyone taunted her….mocked her and accused her…. but she was not affected by it…..Ragini was just bothered about Laksh and Sanskaar…. One was her Life and One was her strength….and Both them were Far from her now….. Very Far…… She felt miserable….She fell on her knees and cried her out…………..