WHEN RAGINI MET MAHESHWARI BROTHERS

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The sun shined in the sky upon the metropolis of Mumbai.
In a flat of one of the buildings of the city, a girl, whose only back’s shown, was doing aarti (a form of Hindu worship) of Lord Vishnu’s idol: she was wearing an orange anarkali, her long hair was left open, her eyes were closed and she was deeply concentrated while singing:
"Om Jaye Jagdish Hare, Swami Jaye Jagdish Hare..”
Her rosy lips were pronouncing the religious song with a melodious voice:
“Bhagt Jano Ke Sankat, Khshan Mein Dur Kare..”
A lady and a man (respectively played by Parineeta Borthakur and Sachin Tyagi) came there and stood besides her joining their hands and closing their eyes after looking at her with a smile.
“Maat-Pita Tum Mere, Sharan Gahun Kiskee..
Tum Bin Aur Na Duja, Aas Karun Jiskee ..."
As she finished the aarti, she bowed her head in front of God’s idol and then looked at it opening her big eyes; her face is revealed: she is Ragini Gadodia (played by Tejasswi Prakash).
She turned to the lady and the man standing beside her and smiled lipping: “Maa, Papa..” – They were Ragini’s parents, Shekhar Gadodia and Sharmishta Shekhar Gadodia.
Ragini gave them prasad (holy sweet) and took their blessings touching their feet.
Sharmishta cupped her face and kissed her forehead: “God has blessed you with a very special gift Ragini: you have such a beautiful voice!” – She complimented with her daughter who smiled.
Shekhar: “Where is Swara? Didn’t she get up yet?” – He asked Ragini.
Ragini: “Papa she must be still in the room, I’ll go to call her.”
Sharmishta: “This Shona! She’ll be sleeping for sure!”
Ragini giggled and left to go to her and Swara’s room.
She opened the door and saw someone sleeping on bed fully covered with blanket. Ragini sighed shaking her head and started to talk loudly: “Maa you were right, Swara is still sleeping! I guess she doesn’t want breakfast today and will directly come for lunch! Don’t make anything for her!”
She looked at the bed but there was no movement from Swara’s side.
Ragini: “How bad, she won’t have her favorite allu parantha!”
A girl immediately came out of the blanket shouting: “No! No! Just one second, I’m coming!!” – She said fast and loudly.
The girl is Swara (played by Helly Shah): Ragini’s sister.
Swara was about to rush out of the bed when she heard Ragini’s laughter: “Don’t tell me, this was another one of your tricks to wake me up early?”
Ragini nodded stifling her laughter: “Early? It’s 8.00 am already!”
Swara: “Only 8.00 am! I could sleep more and end my beautiful dream!” – She complained hugging a pillow.
Ragini sat near her: “What were you dreaming about?” – She asked.
Swara: “Of course my Shahid Kapoor! I was hugging him tightly..” – She said tightening the hug over the pillow with dreamy eyes – “But then you came and ruined it all!” – Swara made a face.
Ragini took the pillow from her and put it on side: “I’m sorry dear but it’s time to get out of your dreamland and get ready! Breakfast is ready!”
Swara stood up and opened the window: “Good morningggg Mumbaiiii!!” – She shouted.
Ragini smiled looking at Swara and went to the window too. They admired the view of Mumbai from their flat which was on 6th floor.
Swara: “This is so beautiful, right?”
Ragini: “Nothing like our Kanpur!”
Swara looked at her with a grimace: “You are so boring Ragini! You can’t compare Kanpur with Mumbai!”
Ragini: “You already forgot our birthplace? Our Kanpur is the best!”
Swara: “No way! Mumbai has everything that Kanpur won’t have even after one hundred years! There wasn’t a single handsome guy in Kanpur! But here in Mumbai, I’ll find my Shahid!”
Ragini slapped her shoulder: “Does “everything” means handsome guys for you?”
Swara: “Of course, why are you getting angry? Also you have more chances to find your Raj here. And don’t say you could find one in Kanpur too because you won’t even get a shoe like those that Shah Rukh Khan wears, forget about a guy like the characters that he plays!”
Ragini: “Shut up!”
Swara: “Why? Don’t tell me you had someone special in Kanpur? That’s why you miss Kanpur so much!”
Ragini: “Swaraaaa!!” - She took a pillow from the bed and hit Swara who did the same. They started a pillow fight.
After a while they lied down on the bed laughing loudly and looked at the ceiling.
Swara: “I feel like everything is gonna change!”
Just then they heard Sharmishta calling them: “Ragini! Swara! Come on, breakfast is ready!”
Ragini shouted: “We are coming Maa!” – She got up and recomposed herself – “Swara get ready fast!”
Swara nodded still lying on bed and looking up while Ragini went out of the room.
After a while Shekhar and Ragini were sitting on dining table while Sharmishta was serving them the breakfast.
Shekhar: “Why isn’t Swara coming out of the room?”
Sharmishta was about to say something when Swara comes towards them running and shouting: “Moommm!!Papaaaa!!!”
She went towards Sharmishta and hugged her with a smile that reached her ears.
Sharmishta: “what happened Swara? Why are you looking so happy?”
Swara showed her the phone: “Mom me and Ragini passed the test and got the scholarship in Mumbai’s Art&Music academy!! I just checked the list of the students who got selected on the website of the Academy!”
Ragini took the phone from Swara’s hands and a smile appeared on her face seeing her and Swara’s name on the list.
Shekhar: “Wow! This is an amazing news! I am proud of you both! We have to go and get some sweets and celebrate this moment!!”
Ragini: “I will come with you Papa!” – She said getting up from the dining table.
Sharmishta: “Finish your breakfast first!”
But the father-daughter duo was already gone.
Swara: “Don’t worry Mom! I’m very hungry so I’ll eat from their side too! Tomorrow is our first day at the Academy! I need energy!”
Sharmishta laughed and gave her the breakfast.
On the other side:
Two cars were lined up on the road next to each-other: a white Mercedes and a black BMW.
Someone at the steering of the black BMW lowered the window: it was a guy whose eyes were hidden behind a pair of goggles. He looked at the guy in the white car who looked back saying: “Are you ready Lucky?”
The one in the BMW removed his glasses revealing his face: it was Laksh (played by Namish Taneja).
Laksh: “Lucky is always ready, what about you Omi?!”
Omi: “I’m ready too, then let’s start the race!”
Laksh nodded.
They closed the windows of the car and started driving their car in full speed! Laksh was ahed and Omi was trying to reach him.
Laksh was driving enjoying the fact that he was leading and didn’t care of the very high speed when suddenly he saw someone crossing the road. He tried to apply sudden brakes but he couldn’t do it on time and hit the man. Laksh immediately came out of the car sighing with relief seeing that there was no blood.
Laksh was about to step towards the man: “Uncle are you fi…” – But before he could end his sentence he heard a scream: “PAPAAAA!!!!!”
He looked towards the direction from which the voice came and saw a girl rushing towards him crying: it was Ragini! The man that Laksh hit with the car was Shekhar.
She knelt on the ground near Shekhar and put a hand on his cheek crying: “Papa! Are you fine?!”
Shekhar slowly opened his eyes. Ragini was looking at him sobbing. She angrily glared at Laksh who was standing like a statue. She stood up and went in front of him looking straight in his eyes. Suddenly she slapped him so hard that the sound of the slap echoed in the road. Laksh put an hand on his cheek looking at her shocked.
Ragini held his collard and shouted: “Are you blind? If you don’t know driving so why do you even try? I can’t understand how people like you get driving license! Actually I can, money is everything for a spoilt kid of rich father like you, right? You must have paid to get the license and that’s why you don’t know that you could hurt someone if you drive with such speed!”
She left Laksh who isn't able to say a word and went towards Shekhar and helped him to get up. Laksh saw Omi's car passing ahed: “Oh shit!”
He was about to get back in his car when..
Ragini: “Where are you thinking to go??! If you don't want me to call police, you have to take my dad in hospital right now!”
Laksh: “But.. he is fine!!”
Ragini, who was holding Shekhar by his right shoulder since he was finding difficult to stay on his feet, was about to say something but before Shekhar stopped her: “Yes Ragini, I am fine. Don’t worry, let him go.”
Ragini: “No ways Papa! And what are you doing there? Help me to make Papa sit in the car and don’t even try to escape, I swear I’ll file a complaint in police station!”
Laksh sighed in exasperation and went towards Shekhar. He holded him by his left shoulder and Ragini and Laksh together helped him sitting in the car.
Laksh sat on the driver seat and Ragini sat next to him. He was about to start driving when he noticed that Ragini wasn’t able to fasten her seat belt. He went near her and helped her. He looked at her, they were close. Ragini gave him an angry glare and Laksh recomposed starting the car towards the hospital.
After a while in the hospital:
The doctor told Ragini that Shekhar's leg is fractured and he has to stay on wheelchair for some weeks.
In the ward, while Shekhar was being treated, Ragini was fuming with anger and was shouting on Laksh.
Ragini: ''He is fine!” – She acted like Laksh – “Fine? Due to your stupidity my father has to stay on wheelchair!”
Laksh had had enough: “Oh miss, can you please switch off your radio for a second? I think you are a zombie coz you’ve been eating my brain since we met!”
Ragini looked at him angrily: “No, my radio is on 24x7, any problem Mr. Stupid?”
Laksh: “I can see that, boring radio of boring Miss. Zombie!”
Ragini: “Look at you first! Stupid radio of stupid Mr. Stupid!
Laksh raised a finger against her: “See..”
But before he could say anything more, the door of the ward got opened and Swara and Sharmishta came inside.
Swara: “Papa!”
They were shocked to see Shekhar on wheelchair.
Sharmishta to Ragini: “How did this happen?”
Ragini: “Why don’t you ask this question to this mr. Stupid near me?”
Laksh joined his hands: “I apologize aunty for my mistake, it was all an accident, I am really guilty.”
Ragini was about to say something but Sharmishta glared at her and signed her to stop. Ragini crossed her arms on her chest and looked away.
Laksh smiled: “I think I found the button to switch off miss. Zombie’s radio.” – He whispered in Ragini’s ear and before she could reply he immediately looked at Sharmishta saying: “I must go now.. I’m sorry once again.”
Ragini couldn’t stop herself: “Excuse me Mr.!! You have to pay hospital’s bill!”
Laksh: “What”
Swara: “Yes.. My sister is right!”
Laksh opened his mouth to say something but her phone rang. He is about to pick up the call but Ragini snatched the phone from his hands: “You go to pay the bill, I will tell to this.. whoever he is, to call later!”
With this she picked up the call: “Excuse me, Mr. Stupid is currently busy, please call later.”
Laksh looked at her angrily and was about to leave when..
Ragini: “I will go with you! I don't trust you, you may run away!”
Laksh gritted his teeth but controlled his anger. He opened the door and with a fake smile invited Ragini to go out: “Ladies first!”
Ragini was about to go out but Laksh went first and said: “Ops, but you are a zombie, not a lady!”
He chuckled and left while Ragini followed him.
After paying and after some more discussion with Ragini, Laksh left the hospital and finally the nurse told Gadodia’s that Shekhar can go home.
Later, at Gadodia’s place:
Shekhar was sitting on the bed looking down tensed.
Sharmishta came there and asked: “What are you thinking about?”
Shekhar: “I can’t go to the work in this condition for some weeks, it’s a new job and I’m afraid, I may lose it. I called them and they said it’s fine, they’ll give me some works that I can do at home on my laptop but this means that this month salary won’t be much. And there are so many expenses in Mumbai.. how will we get by?”
“I’ll find a part time job and help you Papa.”
Shekhar and Sharmishta looked on and saw Ragini standing at the door.
She came inside and sat near Shekhar: “Please don’t worry Papa, I can’t see tension in your eyes. Your daughter is here and I am sure I’ll get something in such a big city. You need to take rest not tension! Understood?”
Shekhar: “Am I your father or you are mine?”
Ragini chuckled.
Shekhar put a hand on her cheek: “You don’t need to stress yourself, it’s all right.”
Ragini held his hand and planted a kiss there: “I know it’s all right. That’s why I’m saying to not worry. I am leaving right now and I am sure that I’ll find something! Maa take care of Papa!”
Before Shekhar could stop her she had already left.
Many hours passed and it’s evening now. Ragini didn’t find any job and she decided to return home and took a shortcut getting in a dark street that leads directly at their building. She was very worried about the situation at home and was feeling helpless.
It was dark and she was walking looking down when suddenly she felt like someone held her dupatta from behind. Ragini winced and turned around seeing a man in front of her.
Ragini tried to free her dupatta from his grip: “Leave my dupatta!”
The man smirked and pulled the dupatta towards him, Ragini tried to hold it but he snatched it from her hands and threw it on the ground. Ragini stepped back scared covering herself with her hands: “Please stay away from me.” – She pleaded shivering.
The man stepped towards her smirking: “How can I stay away from such a beautiful girl!”
Ragini gulped down her fear, she was sweating. The man raised an hand towards her. She shut her eyes tightly but just then someone came and held the man’s hand punching him on his face. Ragini opened her eyes hearing the noise and saw a guy beating the man. Ragini could only see the guy’s back.
The man ran away. Ragini, who till then was trying to see the guy’s face, looked down as soon as he turned around. She was still standing covering herself with her hands. The guy picked her dupatta from the ground and forwarded it to Ragini. She looked at it with an eye but stayed still looking down again, hesitating before trusting him. He smiled and moved towards her and covered her shoulders with the dupatta. Ragini finally looked at him with teary eyes and their eyes met. He was Sanskar (played by Varun Kapoor). Sanskar gave her a smile to reassure her.
Ragini: “Th.. th.. Thank you, if you didn’t come on time, I don’t know what would it happen! I will be forever grateful to you.”
Sanskar: “It’s ok; I can’t accept a thanks for fulfilling my duty, so you don’t need to feel grateful, indebted or anything like that. Sorry but, what are you doing here in the evening? You must know how dangerous the streets of Mumbai are at this time!”
Ragini was diffident.
Sanskar: “You can trust me.”
Ragini looked at him: “It’s a long story.” – He had won her trust.
Sanskar: “Do you live near this place?”
Ragini: “My place is 15 minutes far.. why?”
Sanskar: “I can’t leave you alone now so allow me to drop you home. My car is just here. So, unless your story is very long and 15 minutes will fall short, you have time to tell me your long story.”
Ragini smiled: he was such a nice guy. She followed him to his car and sat next to him.
Sanskar: “Where do you live?”
Ragini: “Do you know about the diamond tours travel agency on Gandhi road? I live in front of that travel agency.”
Sanskar: “What a coincidence! I live in the same building, 5th floor, and flat number 21!”
Ragini: “Don’t tell me! We are neighbors then! I live in the flat number 22nd!”
Sanskar: “Then I guess you recently came here, because as far as I know that flat was empty!”
Ragini told him that they just shifted there and explained him the whole matter, telling him about her father’s accident and that she was looking for a part-time job to help her family with money.
Sanskar was amused by her love for her family: “You really love your family, don’t you?”
Ragini nodded: “More than myself!”
Sanskar: “And you really hate that guy, right?”- He asked chuckling.
Ragini: “I seriously do! We all were so happy before he entered in our life!”
Sanskar: “You took such a big responsibility on yourself; don’t you have any elder brother or sister?”
Ragini: “I have a sister who is few minutes younger than me! We are twins basically but we don’t look similar at all!”
Sanskar: “That’s interesting!”
Ragini: “What about you? Do you have any brother or sister?” – She asked him.
Sanskar: “I have a cousin-brother, we are both 21 and we have always stayed together. We love each other a lot, so yes, I have a brother! You won’t believe me, last year we both failed! On the exams day, his gang challenged him to not give exams and he really didn’t come to the examination hall! I went to him to make him realize his fault but, in the time I was trying to make him understand this, it was too late to give the exam and we both failed!”
Ragini laughed. Sanskar looked at her with an eye hearing her laughter.
Ragini: “And your parents? What did they say?”
Sanskar: “Nothing.”
Ragini: “are you serious?!” – She explained surprised.
Sanskar: “Yes I am. They simply kicked us out of the house and they said that we will have to stay away from till we won’t pass the exams this year! That’s why I and my brother are staying in that flat. ”
Ragini: “oh my god!”
Sanskar: “Which college are you going to attend?”
Ragini: “I and my sister got the scholarship for the Art&Music Academy of Mumbai.”
Sanskar: “This can’t be true! So many coincidences! I and my brother study there too!”
Ragini: “That’s great!! Now I am happy that tomorrow I’ll recognize at least one face, and we might even be in the same class, who knows!”
Sanskar: “Hope so..”
Ragini: “Did you say anything?”
Sanskar: “No no!”
Sanskar stopped the car as they reached their building. Ragini was about to leave but Sanskar stopped her saying: “I was thinking.. You are looking for a part-time job right?”
Ragini: “right!”
Sanskar: “And I am looking for someone who can make my brother understand what the importance of study is. So why don’t you give him tuition? If you got scholarship you must be a brilliant student! And we live next to each other so you won’t have to face any kind of difficulties to stay out late too!”
Ragini smiled: “It would be great!”
Sanskar: “Yes it would!”
Ragini: “You are my savior literally! Did God send you to save me from any trouble? Thank you so much...ehm... what is your name?”
Sanskar: “My name is Sanskar.. And yours?”
Ragini: “I am Ragini!”
They shook their hands smiling.
Sanskar: “What do you think about meeting my brother today itself? He is a bit naughty so after meeting him you could decide better whether you really want this job or not.”
Ragini: “I really need this job so I already decided to accept this job, but I want to meet your brother. He seems an interesting person, so why not!”
Sanskar: “Then come one minute in our flat!”
Ragini nodded and followed him in the flat. They went in Sanskar’s brother’s room and got inside.
A guy was standing in front of the mirror and was fixing his hair. He saw Sanskar throughout the mirror and turned around : “So finally you are back Bhai!”
Ragini’s eyes turned bigger seeing him: it was Laksh!
Both Ragini and Laksh raised a finger towards each other shouting: “You?!”
Sanskar: “So, it looks like you know each other?”
Ragini: “He is the guy who I told you about, the one of the accident!”
Sanskar hit the palm of his hand on his forehead: “What? Laksh, you didn’t tell me about any accident?!”
Laksh looked away gritting his teeth.
Sanskar looked at Ragini: “So you aren’t going to give him tuitions after college?”
Laksh: “Tuitions? Bhai are you crazy? Tuitions and that too with her? No way!”
Ragini: “Ha ha ha!” – She sarcastically laughed and then looked at Sanskar – “NEVER!”
Sanskar: “But Ragini are you sure? You need this job. I don’t care about his opinion, he needs that and I can force him to accept, but you should decide.”
Ragini: “Yes I am sure, I will never..” – She realized that she needs this job so she kept quiet.
Sanskar: “I think you need to talk alone maybe.”
He went out the room.
Ragini and Laksh looked at each other angrily.
After some minutes of silence Ragini spoke: “I accept.”
Laksh: “What the fish! And I don’t have any other option if you accept, Sanskar won’t let me choose! By the way.. “ – He came closer to Ragini – “Was it love at first sight for you? It must be coz you are following me everywhere!”
Ragini looked at him angrily while he looked at her with a smirk.
Precap: Swara and Ragini’s first day at the Academy.

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