"Ignorance is bliss." once upon a time said some wise person. So right he was... unawareness of the impending turbulence, let someone to build own abode ...one can smile... one can dream... one can stay in own happy bubble, no fear of bursting... Swara was blissfully unaware of attaining Laksh's catastrophic attention with an added bonus of aversion from Ragini... Swara's wired sixth sense didn't let her relish the state of oblivion though. She felt uncomfortable under Laksh's stare... alarming bells ringed her subconscious... She needed to see Sanskar... badly...

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Ragini's universe was upside down... The sun around whom her entire existence revolved, his rays were never meant for her... He was never her reality, but at least was in her beautiful dreams, her hopes, her innermost desires... Now everything was crushed by that girl...

Her heart bled like shattered glass shards had pierced it, when Laksh's passionate confession for Swara vibrated in her ears... How Laksh's once stoic nonchalant persona proclaimed his adoration in malignant fervour... How Swara breached his walls by staying beside his dad's bedside, in spite of being strangled by him few minutes back... how her angelic smiles, childlike innocent eyes, graceful poise pulled him like a magnet... How his heart ached when the wolves discussed about her impending death sentence....

" Why Laksh, why?"Her wails echoed in the walls of her bleeding heart, " What lackings did I have? He says Swara stayed and tended his dad? I did the same, didn't I? And not out of fear like her... because I couldn't stand his pain, I love him too much for my own good! Then why couldn't you see my care, Laksh ? Why couldn't you love me?"

A sneaking creature surfaced from deep grave pit of her mind, mocked her heart , "Don't you know what you are? You are an Evil Queen, a dweller of the night for eternity... And she... Snow White with a Prince Charming... Huntsman fancied Snow white, not the Evil Queen! Right?"

Heart cried in protest, " But Huntsman too had been lived in the darkness for so long ! Just like me, stayed by my side!"

"Aah! Don't you know?Born blind man always craves to see? Moths living in darkness always rushes to light?" Thus the new risen creature in Ragini stabbed her heart, in a cruel desire to push her in a black hole... from where there's no return...

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Laksh felt a burden had been lift from his heart... He was fed up , not being able to open about his feelings to anyone... Feelings! The black wolf in his mind laughed... 'Feelings' is too mushy word for Laksh, the assassin. Rather one should say, his bottled up attraction for Swara was frantically searching for an outlet...

Swara! The angel with clipped wings! Her midnight song was the first arrow she had shot towards him. Having his armour been damaged beforehand he didn't have much to defend... Rather surrendered himself in a platter near her feet. He had been basking in bliss, till his momentary mirage of heaven vanished, recalling Ragini's reaction after shocked silence.

" You are insane, Laksh! She is madly in love with Sanskar! They're going to tie the knots!" She looked shaken with this sudden declaration of Laksh. Well to be fair to her, he himself was confused before jumping amidst the animals...

"They WERE going to!!! There's no chance they'd get freedom and marry each other!!!" He shouted.

" Didn't you see how they look at each other's eyes? Do you think Swara would ever look at you with even one per cent of that much compassion? No... Never! You can never take Sanskar's place in her heart!" She tried to reason.

He knew... And that burned... To see them together... One or two times he saw them cuddling together, whispering sweet things to each other... He couldn't stand there even for a moment... The thought of them staying in a tent pierced him so much that he wanted to destroy everything...

But enough of bearing this silent agony. Laksh will now act true to his Black wolf self. He has one 'laksh' now, Swara Bose... What chance that Sanskar Oberoi has against him, being a mere weakling he was? That White Pegasus had to fly away, and Black wolf would take his place... Swara wished it or not...

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Sanskar should have been happy today... Firstly, Yudh stopped voicing his doubts , though Chief and Agni scolded them for their impulsive and careless behaviour. Secondly, Laksh unknowingly got tracker inserted in him after the attack, that meant one more target was down. Finally, Laksh got his long due for attempting to kill Swara once upon a time...

But the way Laksh got injured, made Sanskar feel restless. That was so not a Black Wolf like action... Shielding her from a supposed deadly danger with his own life in line... And the kind of looks he gave at her... Sanskar's gut knotted with a foreboding feeling... His male instincts let him know, this charming trouble had drawn unwarranted attention of a vicious folk... This unwarranted attention was going to change the equation...

" Swara, no darkness can taint your luminosity till I'm here...Sanskar Singh Rathore will have an extra mission now...." He vowed in his mind...

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Laksh was eagerly waiting for his checkup... His face broke into a smile seeing Swara, but that smile faltered in a moment . Sanskar had followed her, with his arm wrapped around her shoulder...

"Dr Oberoi, I think you showed enough concern for Swara yesterday. She could have died!" He said bitterly, eyes filled in jealousy..

Swara quickly cut him, "It's not his fault really... I hadn't been really easy to deal with. We both missed our family terribly , and vented our frustration at each other. And..." She hesitated a bit, "Thanks for yesterday."

Laksh was elated as she expressed gratitude . His voice turned soft. "Swara! You miss your family? Oh you should've told me before!" Swara looked puzzled at this point. "I'll convince dad to bring your family here. Happy now?" He sounded enthusiastic.

Swara's expressions became murderous, " DON'T!!!" she hissed, "DON'T. TRY. TO. TOUCH. MY. FAMILY!!! I won't treat any of your damn people, if you DARE to kidnap them! I don't care what happens to me!"

"Swara let's go from here. Your job is done right?"Saying Sanskar dragged Swara from there, leaving a scalded, baffled Laksh behind.

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Next day Sanskar's eyes opened with the first blush of the golden rays hitting the earth... He was startled to find himself alone in the tent. "Where could Swara go?" He wondered.. He quickly got up to find her. Since he sensed that Wolf had eyes on her, his peace had taken a vacation... He didn't let stay her alone for a second , leaving her perplexed by his sudden weird behaviour....She wasn't around the camp. "What the hell! Where is she? " Mentally cursing his stars, he went out to find the girl with strong magnetic field... attracting every unwanted creatures towards her..

Here she was! "Nymph!" a sudden whisper slipped from his lips unknowingly, seeing the exquisite vision in front of his mesmerised eyes...

Her hourglass figure poised gracefully in the aqua marine streams below the spring... her slender arms stroked backwards in almost poetic motion, to flaunt herself from the veils of the depth of the run... steadily... Her waist length brunette locks were wet, few tendrils were hugging her fresh face... Her creamy smooth skin had taken rose gold hue from rising sun , droplet of water shone like studded pearls... Like a possessed man, his strides inched towards her... His caramel orbs darkened in shades of molted chocolates... noticing the fabrics of sleeveless white top and cerulean skirt had hugged her curves like a second skin...

Swara's hazel eyes met his darkened chocolate ones, she couldn't hold his gaze that was so intense, lowered her wet lashes, bloods rushed to her cheeks... her arms hugged herself in attempt to guard from the scorching heat brewing between .... feeling a sudden urge to hide...

"All she needs to do is to sing in that serene , celestial voice of hers"...He thought, "Then she can be officially tagged as Swara the Nymph"... As if to the cue, birds started chirping in choir, which brought out Sanskar from his reverie... He was flustered due to his long shameless gawking session and the sinful thoughts that began to make themselves at home in his mind. Then he remembered something and screamed at her,

"You stupid girl! Were you planning to return to the tent like...THIS?? In front of that bunch of wolves? What if some of them saw you in this state?"

"Relax Sanskar!Don't overreact! "She tried to calm him down..

" Relax? Do you realize in what state you are in? The place is empty, and you look like.... (Swara blushed)... Thank God it's only me, not the Black wolves!"He was clearly vexed and left a long breathe...

" Well I need to take bathe! To be fair it's only sunrise, never noticed anyone around this time.. You are the first... exception... and Don't worry... "Saying she grabbed a huge navy blue towel laid on rock and wrapped it around her."Let's go."

They were almost near their tent when they noticed Laksh and Ragini, strolling leisurely. Sanskar immediately hid Swara behind his tall strong frame... Laksh's eyes flashed at this...
He came in front of Sanskar and gritted,
" Good morning Dr Oberoi!" Then changed his tone to sickly sweet state, " Good Morning Swara! Mr Oberoi, can you step aside a bit so I can say sorry to Swara for yesterday?"

"It's okay Laksh! Swara doesn't expect any apologies from you. So, don't bother. It's me and her dear ones from whom she expects the sincerest apologies and undivided attention. Now if you please excuse us."

Saying this, Sanskar almost dragged Swara into the tent, completely shielding from Laksh's prying eyes... Laksh punched his fist hard into a trunk in anger... And Ragini? Though a silent spectator, she had myriad of emotions playing in her heart... Elated to see Laksh's failure, sad for his heartache, angry to see Swara snatching Laksh's attention from her... All emotions of Ragini ,from highest to lowest pitch, thus revolved around Laksh, forming a complex, disarrayed orchestra...

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P.S.
I'm so pleased today? Guess why?
Because I noticed my story managed to get #341 ranking in mystery/ thriller catagory. I know this is not something to flaunt. But hey! It's the first ranking I got. Thanks to kojagorimalik, aminasalman,Surniaparas khan_Fatima crazyvk for voting me regularly. And guys. Please vote,share link and comment if you like this story.
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