25. Ragini the villain

Ragini Sahani is a woman who carries a burden of pain that has shaped her very existence. Her life, once full of hope and dreams, was torn apart by betrayal, deceit, and heartbreak. The wounds of the past are not visible to the world, but they run deep, leaving an indelible mark on her soul. For years, she has silently endured the torment, watching as the very people she trusted shattered everything she held dear. The pain she experienced, however, has not broken her spirit; it has only made her stronger and more determined.

Her desire for revenge has consumed her. Every day, she wakes up with the sole purpose of exacting retribution on those who wronged her. Ragini's world now revolves around the need to settle the scores, to make those responsible feel the same anguish and helplessness she once did. She is no longer the woman she once was; she has transformed into a force of nature, cold and unyielding.

Her heart, once full of love, has turned to stone. The word "Swaha" has become her mantra, an invocation she mutters under her breath before she sets her plans into motion. For Ragini, Swaha is not just a word—it is a ritual, a release. It signifies the destruction of what she once held precious and the purification of her soul through the ashes of her enemies' downfall. To her, it is a reminder that everything she does is justified because it is part of the reckoning she believes is necessary.

Ragini is a master of control, her emotions tightly locked away behind a wall of calm and calculated precision. She has learned to conceal her pain, to wear a mask of composure while she carefully plans her every move. But beneath that mask, she is a woman driven by rage and vengeance. She sees every encounter as a chess match, and she is always three steps ahead, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The people she targets are unaware of the storm that is quietly brewing around them. They see her as just another face in the crowd, unaware that she has been watching, waiting for her time to come.

Her daughter, Natasha, stands by her side. Natasha, like her mother, has known the depths of pain and loss. Together, they make a formidable team, united by a shared desire to see the world burn for what it has done to them. Natasha's presence in her life has become one of the few things that keeps Ragini grounded, a reminder of why she fights. But it is clear that Ragini’s mission is far bigger than anything else in her life.

Ragini is not afraid of getting her hands dirty. She will go to any lengths to ensure her revenge is served, and she does not care who gets caught in the crossfire. She is methodical in her actions, patient as she watches her enemies spiral into the consequences of their own making. As she moves through life, she remains a shadow, unseen and unnoticed by most, until the moment arrives when she strikes with unrelenting force.

Every step she takes is a calculated move, every word she speaks is a thread woven into her intricate web of revenge. She will not stop until those who wronged her are reduced to nothing, until she has claimed her victory and restored the balance that was taken from her. And when it is all over, when the ashes settle, Ragini Sahani will finally be at peace.

Shivaay took a deep breath as he entered the mansion, or rather, the palace, his heart filled with a storm of emotions. Anger, frustration, and confusion raged within him. He had ignored his mother’s pleas and warnings earlier, but now he was determined to confront Niharika. His mind was clouded by thoughts of what he had seen on her phone—this "Love" who seemed to mean so much to her. The accusations he was about to make seemed to stir a deeper part of him, but the rage, the pride, the need to control—it all overtook him.

He stormed down the corridor with one goal in mind: to confront Niharika. He had to get answers. His anger was barely contained, and when he saw her, he didn't hesitate. He marched straight up to her, grabbed her wrist in a tight hold, and with a scornful voice, he spat, "I never knew you could be this characterless."

Niharika, stunned for a second, quickly regained her composure and pulled her wrist away from his grasp. "Hold your tongue, Mr. Shivaay," she said, her voice steady and filled with quiet defiance. "Who are you to judge my character? What happened yesterday wasn't enough for you?"

Her voice was calm, but the pain and hurt in her eyes were evident. Shivaay's words had cut deep, and he could see the pain in her eyes. But the anger inside him clouded any empathy he might have felt.

"Stop with your melodrama," he retorted, his tone dripping with disdain. "I know girls like you. You just marry rich men for money and status. And that’s exactly what you’ve done, right?"

The words stung, but Niharika refused to let him see the full extent of how hurt she was. "You don't know anything about me," she said, the words coming out in a low but firm tone. "You don't know anything at all."

As the argument escalated, the voices carried through the mansion, catching the attention of the family members who were nearby. Anand, hearing the commotion, stepped into the corridor, his expression confused. "What is this?" he asked, his eyes darting between Shivaay and Niharika.

But Shivaay, consumed by his rage, didn't pause. He turned to his father and, without missing a beat, said, "What have you seen in her, Dad? She has a boyfriend. That’s all the proof I need to know she’s a disgrace. Just like her mother."

The cruel words sliced through the air, and Niharika's eyes instantly filled with tears. She fought to hold them back, but the dam finally broke. Her hand instinctively rose, and before she could even think, she slapped him hard across the face. The sound of the slap rang out, loud and unforgiving.

Shivaay stood there, stunned for a moment, his face flushed with shock and fury. His mouth opened as he prepared to lash out. "How dare you?" he began, his voice full of anger, but Niharika interrupted him before he could continue.

"What do you know about me, huh? What do you know? Where did you get this clarity that I’m in a relationship with anyone?" she shouted, her voice trembling with raw emotion. She was trembling, but her anger fueled her. She couldn’t stand the unjust assumptions anymore.

Shivaay sneered, his pride bruised, and barked, "Oh, then who was that ‘Love’ on your phone?"

The words hit her like a thunderclap. She froze for a moment, realizing what he meant. Her phone. The one he had taken earlier. Her heart sank as the shame flooded over her, but she refused to let him see how much it hurt. She closed her eyes and let out a frustrated sigh, but before she could speak, Shivaay went on, his tone mocking.

"Who is this Kanishk Verma?" he asked, his eyes hard as stone.

Niharika's breath caught in her throat. She looked at him, her face paling. The picture. The one he had shown her earlier—of her and Kanishk. It all felt like a nightmare coming to life. She wanted to run, to hide, but she couldn’t. She didn’t have the strength to deal with this anymore. Her hands shook as she reached out, snatched the photo from his hand, and tore it into pieces, her chest heaving with emotion.

"What happened?" Shivaay said coldly, watching her tear apart the photo. "Truth is always bitter, right?"

Her rage finally exploded. "Shut up! That’s enough!" she screamed, her voice echoing in the corridor. "Will you just let me speak?!"

Her voice cracked as she shouted, "First of all, that ‘Love’ on my phone is no one but my best friend, Kanika. She’s the one who asked me to save her name that way.  You should know that! And as for Kanishk Verma, he’s my nightmare! That photo you saw is not the truth. Kanishk tried to force himself on me when I was in school!" she cried out, her face contorting with pain. "I pushed him away and ran. No one was there to help me—not my parents, not my teachers. Only one person stood by me—Kanika. She got him arrested, but he was out in just 36 hours. He walked free and I had to leave my school, my life."

The room fell silent as her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of truth. Shivaay stood frozen, a deep sense of guilt gnawing at him. He had misjudged her. His anger had clouded his judgment, and now he was paying the price for it. Niharika, on the other hand, had no more tears left to shed. She was too tired, too broken by the world that had treated her like an object to be judged.

She wiped her face with the back of her hand and, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "You know what? If you think I’m a disgrace, then fine. I hate you. I hate you more than I hate my parents. You are no better than them. I thought I could manage with you, but I don’t think I can anymore. Sorry, Maa, sorry, Babuji, but I’m done."

With that, she turned away from him and walked toward the room. Before Shivaay could say anything else, she locked the door behind her, leaving him standing in the corridor, frozen in shock and regret. The family members who had witnessed the argument stood in stunned silence, unsure of what to do. But for Shivaay, the reality of his actions had finally started to sink in.

He had broken something inside her, something he might never be able to fix.

Indra’s voice rang out in the silence that followed, sharp and filled with disappointment. "Shivaay, you have disappointed me deeply. My son could never behave this way, but I was wrong to think you were different." His words stung, a harsh reality that cut through Shivaay’s pride like a dagger.

Shivaay stood frozen, his body rigid with a mix of guilt and shock. He had never seen his father so angry and disappointed. Indra’s words burned him more than any slap or insult could. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, his mind racing, but before he could gather his thoughts, the door to Niharika’s room creaked open.

She appeared in the doorway, standing tall, but there was an unmistakable sadness in her eyes. In her hands, she held a suitcase. The sight of it made Shivaay's heart lurch in his chest. Niharika walked past him, her steps firm, though her face was still tear-streaked. The room fell silent as she approached him.

She held out the mangalsutra in her hand. "Don't worry," she said, her voice steady but full of resolve. "I haven’t taken anything of yours." She placed the sacred necklace in his palm, her fingers brushing against his. The brief touch sent an unfamiliar shock through his body, but he couldn’t bring himself to say a word.

Niharika turned to leave, her suitcase in hand, but as she reached the door, the family members stepped forward, trying to stop her. They called her name, each one pleading for her to stay, but she didn’t look back. Her resolve was unshakable.

Shivaay remained rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on her retreating figure. Something inside him stirred—a mixture of regret, helplessness, and guilt. His mind was clouded, unable to comprehend the full extent of what had just transpired.

His heart clenched as she reached for the door, and a part of him screamed to stop her. But no words came. He stood there, motionless, as the door clicked shut behind her, leaving him in a thick silence that felt heavier than any weight he had ever carried.

His father’s words echoed in his mind, and for the first time, Shivaay felt the weight of his actions, the distance between what he had become and what he had hoped to be. His pride, his anger, his obsession—it had all led to this moment. And now, it was too late to take it back.

Niharika was gone.

And he was left standing there with only the mangalsutra in his hand, a symbol of a bond he had shattered with his own hands.

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