Shoulder To Lean Upon

24. Past

"Ragini, why are you so panicked? Tell me the past and I will definitely help you get over it." he said when she hugged him tight.

They were sitting in Laksh's balcony and talking but Ragini seems to be nervous and Laksh is restless about it.

"I was studying for my 2nd pu exams when it all started. Almost 4 years back. My mother died when I was young and it was my father who brought me up. My dad, my brother, Shona and Shona's mother were my only family. Shona's mom was my mom as well. She was there for me since my childhood so I never questioned her about my relationship with my dad or my family so I always treated her as my own mom. I was very happy till then but one day dad and mom, I mean Sumi maa were arguing about something. I sneaked into the room without their notice to know what's happening as they don't fight like this."

Ragini pov (I will tell the past through her pov)

"What are you talking Shekar? Do you even know what you are talking?" Sumi maa asked.

"I very well know what I am doing. She is 18 years now and this is the right time to get her married. Moreover I have signed the deal with Virani's for 25 Crores. AND THIS MONEY IS IMPORTANT FOR ME." dad said

I was shocked and moreover hurt beyond repair. I could see Laksh's face scrunching up in anger. Of course he will be angry because he is a true man who values a woman unlike the men I met.

"Don't do this Shekar. She is a kid. Years back you destroyed my life and now you are trying to destroy Ragu's life too." Sumi maa said crying.

What? What does that mean? Papa destroyed Sumi maa's life? How and why? I was confused, angry, restless and what not?

"Shut up! It was not me but you yourself who destroyed it. And about Ragini, she is my daughter and I have all the rights to decide her life. Now get out!" Papa shouted angrily and I left the place seeing Sumi maa coming out.

I did not understand anything. Papa was never like this before. He was loving and understanding but I understood it is all an action. I sat in the room crying.

"Ragu beta, why are you crying?" Sumi maa asked entering the room.

I ran and hugged her. "Sumi maa, why did papa do like this? Why did he wanted to get me married?" I asked her crying.

Sumi maa understood that I heard their conversation. She caressed my hairs while I hugged her tight.

"Sumi maa, what did papa do? You told that he destroyed your life, what does it mean?" I asked her.

"It is okay beta. It is all over now and there is nothing we can do about it." Sumi maa said hiding her tears.

"No. I want to know. Please tell me if you love me truly." I asked her sternly.

"Ok listen. I feel you must know this to know how cruel this world is. I am not someone unrelated to you as you think infact I am your... Massi." She said.

"Massi?" I gasped.

"Yeah. I am your mom's sister born to a different mother. I lived all my life lonely in an orphanage because I had no one but when I was 18 years the orphanage head gave me my mom's diary in which she told that she was the second wife of my father and your mother was born to my father's first wife. She came away from my father to protect his reputation. The orphanage head told me that my mom died while giving birth to me. I went away from there in search of my sister i.e., your mother and finally found her. But she was reluctant to accept me at first but your dad convinced her and slowly she started loving me. Both of them treated me lovingly and I could feel my loneliness fade away. One day didi was away from home and I was studying for my exams. Shekar came home heavily drunk and he.... he raped me." Sumi maa started crying hard.