Starting Of An Ending

Shattered

The last time Ragini felt her blood turn to ice was when the truth about her came to light so many years ago. The feeling of dread that takes over the body but there is nothing that can be done. She wants to speak  something but her voice doesn't come out. She can see everyone present there were overwhelmed with emotions. It is written in all of their faces. She can see her sister trying to speak to the girls.

Only her Parineetha bhabi's high pitched shrill brought her back to reality.

"You are some girl Laksh and Ragini found at some place unknown. You are an orphan." she said pointing her finger towards a shell shocked girl with unspilled tears.

"And you, Laksh and Ragini are not your parents, Swara and Sanskar are. These are your real parents. Your name should not be Radika Laksh Maheswari but instead Radhika Sanskar Maheswari." Parineetha pointed to her.

"Parineetha, stop this nonsense right now." only when Durgaprasad raised his voice her voice came down.

"Maha, please listen to me.." Swara said while attempting to put a hand on her shoulder but she moved away.

"Is this true?" Radhika asked her voice almost inaudible to Laksh and Ragini.

"I am not your daughter. Is this true? " she then finally screamed.

"Radhika, please listen." Laksh started his eyes red rimmed.

"Is it true or not? " she asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes." and that was it, Radhika lost it. The controlled emotions came out as heavy tears from her eyes.

As for Maha, she stood with a blank stare plastered on her face as if her world just crumpled. She looked shattered.

Maha who was seeing everything infront of her started to realize some things. It finally hit her hard and her heart started to make so many assumptions.

She isn't related to anyone in this house. Orphan: that is what she is.

With tears clouding her vision Maha started running, she could hear Ragini calling out her name and tailing her but Maha paid no heed. She needed air and she needed time.

She made her way out of the house and got in one of the parked cars outside the Maheswari household.

"Ramu kaka, please go to Baadi."

Whereas in the house, Radhika shut herself in the room. Laksh and Sanskar tried their best to make her speak to them. But Radhika seemed really adamant about her decision.

"Kyu bhabi, what was the need to even utter about this over some bakwas argument they had?"Swara fumed with anger.

"Parineetha, won't you ever think of them as your children and consider their feelings?" Sujatha started arguing.

"Who says I don't, I care deeply about Radhika, but not that... "

"Don't even complete that sentence bhabi." Laksh came down the stairs.

"I don't know why you did for what you did. But do not utter any more words about my daughters. You have no rights. "Laksh said as he took his place beside his mother.

"I am only keeping quiet because I still respect you for our age difference, or not I would have done something which would have made you feel regret for the rest of your life." Sanskar said as he lead Swaraand Laksh some place else.

Ragini joined with tears.

"Ragini, where is Maha?" Sanskarasked her.

"I don't know Sanskar. She got in one the car and just left."

"How did we let this happen Laksh? How did this come out of our control." Ragini asked clinging to Laksh.

Laksh wanted to say something. But no right words came to his mind. All he could say was.

"I don't know."

************************************
Shramishta Gadodia didn't know what to think when she saw her granddaughter Maha clearly looking upset when she found her at the doorstep.

The poor girl was ready to break down at any moment but she couldn't identify what happened.

"Maha, Kya hua? Did you come here alone?" the moment she asked the question and she hugged her crying hard. She was crying her soul out.

"Mishti, what happened?" Shekar came from behind with a worried look plastered on his face.

The couple very carefully let the girl inside their home and situated her on the couch attempting to make her speak.

"Maha, tell us what's wrong. If you don't tell how would we know beta?" Shekhar put in gently.

"Calm down and take your time to tell us." her grandmother spoke as her thoughts began to swirl.
What could have happened?
Why us Maha here alone?
Why was she crying so bad?
Both the grandparents has never seen the girl before them cry this bad before. Something terrible must have happened.

"OK. Let me call your maa and tell her you at here." Shekhar said.

"She's not my maa. They are not my parents. I am no one there." and finally the pieces fit. The elderly couple understood and shock overcome them.

Maha continued to tell them what happened and she cried and cried until she had no energy. She was tucked into bed by her grandfather and came outside to call one of his daughters to figure out what happened.

"Swara, Maha is here with us." Shekhar told his anxiety filled daughter.

"Thank god. We were looking for her and her phone was switched off. Baba, I don't know what to do? Radhika just licked herself. She's not talking to anyone." Swara voiced came out muffled and he immediately knew that his daughter was crying.

"Swara, what happened has happened. Now I want you, Ragini, Laksh and Sanskar to figure out how to solve this. Let Maha be here. The girls need time. In the mean time try to find solutions." Shekhar told comfortingly to his daughter.

"Ji baba. Please take care of her. Try to make her talk. I don't want her to shut out from everyone."

"Swara, don't worry about Maha. You take of Radhika and beta take of yourself also." He replied after putting down his phone.

Just 2 days ago the whole family was happy and now everything is gone. Shekar looked at the sleeping form of his granddaughter and sighed deeply silently praying for everything to be okay.

***********************************

Back at Maheswari household Annapoorna Maheswari was trying her best to make her granddaughter to come out of her room.

About five minutes, Swara told the news about Maha being over at the baadi. That made the family members to feel a little relieved. The last thing this family needs is a missing teenage girl.

"Radhika, just open the door so that I can see that you are okay. Don't make your grandmother worry please. Come on please." she tried again.

After a longtime waiting came a muffled voice came from the back door.

"Is anyone there?"

She replied quickly. "No beta. No one." She motioned Sujatha to go as she did not want to risk of loosing this chance.

Then she opened the door. One thing she noticed was how awful her face looked of crying.

"Dadima."

And the elderly woman shut the door and made her granddaughter sit and hugged her letting her cry it out.

"Let it out Radhika. Everything will be fine soon."

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Hey guys. I've never written something sad before and I'm not sure if I have done a good job. I tried my best. Let me know what you guys think. 😀