The truth

**Chapter Nine: boyfriend?**

Dadi beckoned Swara with a sly grin, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Swara, my dear, come here. We have a little scheme to discuss," she whispered, gesturing for Swara to sit beside her.

Swara, feigning innocence, took a seat, her curiosity piqued. "What's the plan, Dadi Ji?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Dadi leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "We need to lure Ragini back to Baadi. Once she's here, we can use her to destroy the Maheswari family once and for all," she explained, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

Swara's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. "And how do you suggest we do that, Dadi Ji?" she inquired, trying to sound intrigued.

Dadi chuckled softly. "We'll appeal to her sense of family duty. Tell her we need her back home, that it's for the greater good of our family," she replied, a cunning smile playing on her lips.

Swara nodded, pretending to consider Dadi's words. "I see. It's a clever plan," she remarked, her mind already racing with counter-strategies.

As Dadi outlined her elaborate scheme, Swara listened intently, her mind whirring with thoughts of how to outsmart the cunning matriarch. She knew she had to play along for now, but she was determined to protect her sister and the Maheswari family from Dadi's machinations.

With a nod of agreement, Swara rose to leave, her resolve stronger than ever. She had a plan of her own, and she was determined to see it through to the end.

With a subtle smirk, Swara bid Dadi farewell, her mind already racing with ideas on how to thwart her devious plans and ensure Ragini's safety.

As she walked away, Swara couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. She may have pretended to go along with Dadi's scheme, but deep down, she knew she was one step ahead, ready to protect her family at any cost.

---------------

Sanskar leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "We need to figure out what Uttara's up to, but we have to be smart about it," he said, glancing around at his siblings.

Swara nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Maybe we could split up and tail her discreetly, see if she's meeting with anyone suspicious," she suggested, her voice tinged with determination.

Ragini chimed in, her eyes bright with determination. "That could work. We just have to be careful not to raise any red flags," she added, her mind already racing with ideas.

With a plan in place, they set out to gather the evidence they needed. They discreetly followed Uttara, keeping a safe distance to avoid detection as they observed her every move.

-------------

As Ragini and Laksh stealthily trailed Uttara through the bustling corridors of the college, Ragini couldn't help but indulge in her favorite treat – a creamy scoop of ice cream. Laksh rolled his eyes playfully at her, teasing, "Seriously, Ragini? Ice cream at a time like this?"

Ragini grinned mischievously, shrugging her shoulders. "Hey, a girl's gotta enjoy the little things, right?" she replied, taking another blissful lick of her cone.

Their banter continued as they discreetly followed Uttara, their eyes peeled for any suspicious behavior. Suddenly, Ragini's playful demeanor shifted as she noticed Uttara embracing a guy in a secluded corner.

Her eyes widened in realization, and she nudged Laksh, pointing discreetly at the scene unfolding before them. "Laksh, look! That's not a file she's hiding – it's a boyfriend!" she whispered urgently, her voice tinged with surprise.

Laksh's protective instincts kicked in immediately, his expression darkening as he watched Uttara with narrowed eyes. "I'll go give that guy a piece of my mind," he growled, stepping forward.

But Ragini grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "No, Laksh. Let's not jump to conclusions," she urged, her voice calm yet firm. "We don't know the whole story. Maybe there's a reason she's keeping this relationship hidden."

Laksh hesitated, torn between his desire to protect his sister and Ragini's wise words. After a moment's pause, he relented, nodding in agreement. "You're right, Ragini. Let's wait and see how this plays out," he conceded.