He didn't want this end .This magical moment, the spell cast around them. Sanskaar looked at her,his eyes giving it all, her eyes reciprocated the same. One more moment of magic.

A shy smile crossed her lips, her already flushed cheeks turning a shade red under his smoldering gaze. He slowly guided her from the dance floor oblivious of everything around him. They were still holding hands. Neither of them willing to let go.

It was not just dance floor which was set on fire but the flames seemed to ignite - a destructive streak of jealousy in few and few curious glances. Vikram Malhotra was one of them. A year junior to Sanskaar, recent returns from abroad. His dad Malhotra's position in Maheswari group would get him a good start; he didn't have to try at all - not for a career nor for the girls. He loved flirting, charming women to his bed for a night. And who would say no to him.

And today his eyes were set on the girl with Sanskaar. If one would ask Vikram if he envied or admired Sanksaar, he would choose former which took its course from latter.

When you come across someone better than you .Either you look up to them, they inspire you to become better or you give into ugliness of envy or resentment. Sadly Vikram chose the latter

Sanskaar Maheswari was an enigma to him .Right from college days his charm,was contagious and the worst part of it - he didn't even have to try. He was the ideal student ,class topper, excelled in sports, the number of trophies he had to his credit ,yet he never made a show of it .Vikram looked up to Sanskaar in his initial days but very soon he felt intimidated. Being with Sanskaar made him aware of his shortcomings. The constant praises, comparisons drawn by few of their common friends, just gave more heed to the green eyed monster.

His happiest moment - when Sanskaar left university after completion of term. With Sanskaar out of picture he grew more confident .His term went smooth though the constant reminders of Sanskaar Maheswari as professors took his name as example, irked him the most . And now here he is joining Maheswari group ,he would prove he is no lesser to Maheswari Scion .

But for now some else needed his attention and he knew whom to catch hold to get some lead.

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"Hey Ronnie..."

Vicky!... Long time..." she gave him quick hug and casual peck on cheek and got herself few quick ones

Done with casual stuff Vikram got into the business " Ronnie , Who's the one with Sanskaar? That gorgeous lady."

"Gorgeous my foot ..He must be blind." Ronnie scowled in silence

She looked at Vikram; his eyes filled with lust checking out swara .She cringed for a second but Wait! This might just be another opportunity she has been looking out for. It's easier to play around with Vicky and she knew how.

"Gorgeous?. ..Well looks like someone caught your interest Vicky . Not yet done with your flirty ways, Are you ?"

Vikram shook his head with a crooked grin. "You know me too well Ronnie. "

Of course She does and how well she's gonna put that to use Vicky doesn't have a clue. " So the lucky one seems to be Swara tonight." Vikarm's brow's queued up in interest as veronica continued "She' s a volunteer in some NGO ..part of Sanskaars pet project ."

"I hope nothing serious is brewing between you know, the duo." Vicky sounded little doubtful as he cast a glance over Swara and Sanskaar .

No Ronnie ..You can't let him have cue

"No way Vicky...Sanskaar ,you know is too good ,just few seem to take advantage of the same ." When she noticed Vicky is still hesitant she knew what to say next "Btw Darling ,are u telling me you are doubtful of your charming skills. I hope they aren't rusted."

Vikram was furious next second. "You dare say that Ronnie."

Gotcha! ..good job Ronnie .. Just the right spot ..

"Oh really! Fine ..Why don't we check on that ,All you got to do is ..A dance ..Just a dance with her. Then we will talk ..bolo manjoor hain ?"

Vicky shot a glare at Ronnie then at Swara

Now for final straw ..Go for it ronnie ."And just imagine getting her right under nose of sanskaar .. Isn't it exciting?"

Heck it is.. Vikram licked his lips in anticipation looking at Swara .Sure she has got good curves and moves ? He had seen it all on dance floor ,a pretty face for sure .She should be great in bed ..Let the dance alone .He can't wait to see how gobsmacked Sanskaar Maheswari is gonna look when he gets his hands on his girl.

"Well then Ronnie you know which part to play." He smirked at Veronica

They exchanged a glance.

"Don't worry about that."Veronica sounded mildly annoyed . Nobody tells her what to do ."I will get Sanskaar out of picture ,but mind ..not for long ."

Vikram nodded . Veronica gave out an evil smirk as he moved towards Swara and Sanskaar. These Men ..a simple bruise on ego sets all guns blazing.

If Vikram succeeds that would be an eye opener for Sanskaar - how this middle class gold diggers threw themselves on rich guys . The happy bubble will burst breaking him and she would be right there.. for him lending a shoulder, making him realize how perfect they are for each other . Very soon he will be wrapped around her finger. Veronica smiled at that prospect .Her eyes narrowed at the thought if this goes other way around. Never mind ...She tapped her perfectly manicured finger tips on her glass.. a wounded soul in form of Vikram could always be a pawn .. All she need to do add in little more fuel and boom ..she gave out wicked laugh .

Ronnie darling...you are genius. She gave herself mental pat.

Either way it's a win - win for her but she no way anticipated the upcoming events

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Lost in daze Sanskaar's eyes didn't leave her a second neither his hold on her hand. Swara felt warm, totally aware of tingling sensations that shot through her as his fingers accidentally brushed hers. .. They hadn't said a word to each other since dance.

"I didn't know I could dance well...I mean..." Swara tried to strike a convo.

"This was the best dance of my life." Sanskaar leaned in closer slowly pushing one of her loose tendrils behind her ear, he smiled a genuine smile. She looked up at him in awe, her eyes glittering with an emotion; she couldn't even work out what it was.

And the spell was broken.

"Sanskaar..."Vicky butted in between

"Vicky ... Hey ...They shook hands for a while . "Good to see you "

"Good to see you too" His eyes moved onto swara ,"Apne dost nahi milaoge?"

"Oh .. she's swara ...Swara ye vikram hain, mere junior aur bahut jaldi maheswri group join karne waala hain ."

"Hi Swara" Vikram extended his hand. "Nice to meet you".Swara shot a look at him ,a sharp one as he nudged her extended hand . She was quick to pull it back even before Sanskaar noticed. Vikram and Sanskaar got into a casual chat though Vikram's eyes scanned Swara from tip to toe in between. Swara felt disgust creeping over her .

"Hey Guys! Sorry to interrupt." Veronica stepped in as per plan. "Sanskaar ,I need you to meet someone ..it's important .It wouldn't take more than few minutes."

Sanskaar looked at Swara .He didn't want to go, she didn't want him to as well ,but duty calls .She smiled, her eyes giving him the approval. Intended to back in few minutes he left with Ronnie not having an idea of vile intentions of Vikram.

Veronica turned back giving Vikram a thumps up.

"Hey swara .. Can I have a dance with you?" .Its good to take slow..First dance ..then .. Vikram's thoughts took ugly turns.

"Sorry.. but.."Swara tried to sound polite .Her eyes looked out for Sanskaar.

"Hey come on..it' s just a dance." Vicky took her hand.

Shocked at his advance, Swara pulled it back .."Dekhiye ,Kehdiyaana I don't want to dance with you ..Now please excuse me " she tried waking away but Vikram was quick to grab her hand.

"Itna bhaav kyu khaa rahi ho,sirf dance ke liye poocha." His hold on her wrist was too strong .Swara felt sharp pang of pain as she felt a pierce through her skin ,Must be her bracelet.

" Oh! Ek min kahi tumhara Sanskaar ke saath...Vikram paused giving sly look, "Waise mere paas bhi bahut paise hain."

Swara's eyes narrowed with disgust ..a stinging slap on his face would be perfect, but scenes are not good ..atleast not here .It would call for unnecessary attention.

"Haath chodo mera" Swara struggled to wriggle her hand free.

Vikram was taking too much fun he absolutely didn't see the sharp punch landing on his jaw. He stumbled back few steps trying to register what happened .He looked up

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"I would burn down the world for you." *-----------------------------------------------------

It was Sanskaar ,his eyes burning with fury.

"How dare you?" Sanskaar grabbed the collar of Vikram. "Tere himmat kaise huyi meri swara ko haath lagane ki."

Stunned silence ruled the venue with every eye directed towards scene of crime.

Vikram freed himself from hands of Sanskaar "Haa tho!" Maine tho sirf dance ke liye poocha tha ..aur ye itn attitude dikha rahi thi ki.."

"Bas Vicky !Ek aur shabd nahi" Sanskaar inched a bit closer his eyes deadly furious. His tone had a final warning. "Stay away from her!"

Not giving a chance to react Sanskaar turned to swara , "Tum Teek ho!"Swara nodded yes .She would have had no clue this was same Sanskaar who eyes held care for her ,few minutes back they were all set to burn Vikram into ashes .

"Chalo Yaha se" He took Swara's hand and started walking out .

Vicky fumed with anger. How dare he walk out on him , making him look like a looser . Not this time Sanskaar .. .If this is about this girl ..fine! time to end this.

"Waise ladki achi hain ...Would you mind sharing her with me?Ofcourse tera deal khatam hone ke baad ." Vikram shouted from behind.

Sanskaar stopped in tracks, his fingers curled into fists. He shouldn't have left this bas***d with just a punch . In next minute he charged at Vikram .Veronica and Swara stood stunned at each end ... trying to register the scene unfolding before them.

This was not what she expected .Veronica didn't knew who this Sanskaar was. Where was the one who gave her deadly warning in her cabin .All he needed was icy tone and a sharp glare. He hated scenes but this one ..who is he? The raw rage oozing out of him as took on Vicky like he would burn heaven and hell . Veronica gasped in shock .All this - just for a nasty comment on this Girl- Her eyes shot at Swara and then back to the scene. A deadly chill passed through her as she thought about her not so noble intentions for Swara . She snapped out quickly at her thoughts . God !Vicky is gonna be dead if Sanksaar doesn't stop ..

Swara looked aghast. Sanskaar didn't seem to stop. He was hitting Vicky out and out not giving a damn where .She looked around .Though the crowd thinned down all the eyes were stuck on fight.. Media! Swara gasped. God! . She needs to stop this ..for Sanskaar. She can't let him ruin his image for her .This has to stop.

Both rushed to Sanskaar.

"Sanskaar"

Swara's voice came in from behind .Sanskaar eyes snapped at her with burning intensity and in next second they softened . "Sanskaar chodo usse .. Sanskaar...Swara managed to pull him back .Veronica rushed towards Vikram who was rolling on floor in pain, with bleeding nose and few broken ribs. Shocked at condition of Vikram , Swara looked at Sanskaar .. he had few bruises too and a cut on his lip .

"Chalo Yaha se ...Sanskaar main tumse keh rahi hoon ..Chalo." She held his hand and dragged him out of party, confused at the intensity of his emotions and angry at his violent outburst.

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"Cause all of me Loves all of you. You're my end and my beginning."**

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He stood there in the middle of the room, arms folded across his chest, face set. She was not going to make him apologize. His Hair was wet, blazer lying on couch .It was drizzling outside when they stepped out of party .Not a word said in Car.

She turned back to see him standing there, noted the stance. With an angry huff, she yanked his hand out of the hold, tugged him into the bedroom and deposited him at the foot of the bed. Then whirled around without a word and went to the cupboard. Took out two towels. ..Then she got the first aid box out too, went back to him.

He took the towel she held out and sat there, fuming. So she wouldn't speak, but her eyes...Damn if her eyes would make him feel guilty.

A little impatient with him now, she set the box down and proceeded to dry his hair off with the towel she got for herself .She stopped when he caught her hand, and gave all her attention to the medicine box.

"Kab tak naraz rahogi mujse?" he grumbled as he set the towel down. She shot him a look as she dabbed antiseptic onto a cotton swab.

"Swara tumse Puch raha hu baat bhi nahi karogi - Ow!" he yelped as she touched the swab to his split lip. She blew on it gently, even as her eyes challenged him. He stared back, mutinous as a little child. He wouldn't want to dwell on the feel of her warm breath on his; she was mad at him, he would stay mad at her. Liar, his mind shouted. He slapped it down and concentrated on the mad.

"Kya zarurat thi wo sab karne ki?" she asked quitely, the mild censure in her voice matching that in her eyes.

"Tho phir?" furious, he flicked her hand away. She brought it back; he flicked it away again. "Wo tumhare sath battamizi kare aur me dekhte rahu?" She shot him a quelling look, daring him to swipe at her again as she dabbed carefully at the cut to clean it. A lot of grit, but the cut was small, she thought with relief. Serves him right, she told herself when he winced. But then she blew on it again, wanting only to soothe.

Angry with himself for letting her touch affect him - he so wanted to stay mad at her and win the contest - he caught her hand again, muttering, "bas karo Swara utni bhi chot - tumhe lagi hai!!" he brought her hand down, shocked. There was blood on her wrist, around the clasp of her pearl bracelet.

He made her sit next to him, the better to examine the cut. It must have cut into her wrist when that blackguard Vikram had grabbed her hand, he thought, murder on his mind. He looked up at her, as if the cut was answer enough. How could she let someone do this to her? Put marks on her? And then scold him for beating that scoundrel black and blue? Should have let me kill him, he thought.

"Kuch nahi hai Sanskaar," she downplayed it. It did hurt when the metal clasp rubbed against the raw skin, but then it would hurt him more if she let on.

"Kuch nahi hai Sanskaar," he mocked, gently opening the clasp. "Dikh raha hai muje," he set the bracelet away from her. It no longer looked pretty on her wrist; it had hurt her, too.

She sat in silence as he doctored her cut, the gentleness of his hands belying the anger in his eyes. "Humesha kehti ho khud ko handle kar logi. Aise handle karte hai?" he accused even as he applied the antiseptic. His touch was feather light, for he had seen her bite back the wince when he was cleaning it. "Kar Sakti thi. Par me apne bare me nahi soch Rahi thi," she admitted, staring at the gauze he was wrapping around her wrist, as if it was strangely fascinating. "kya?! Pagal ho Kya Swara tum"""

"Tumhare bare me soch Rahi thi," she cut him off. "tum wo function host kar rahe the wo bhi for charity, aur phir waha itne sare log aur media, sabki nazar tum pe thi, muje waha ki tamasha khada nahai karna tha, aur tumhe involve nahi karana tha...aur phir tumne wahi kiya," she finished in a rush, her eyes imploring him to understand. Why couldn't he?

"Swara," he said in exasperation. "Tumhe kyu laga ki wo sab mere liye tumse zyada important hoga?" She held very still, absorbing the words. Yes she knew, she always did, but to hear him say those words...

He went on, not noticing her expression, intent on his task. "Ab tak tum nahi samaj pai ho ki tum mere liye kitni important ho." he tied the ends of the gauze bandage, snipped the ends and pushed the box and things away, then he looked up at her and smiled. "Ho gaya. Dekho tumhe pata bhi nahi chala."

She smiled back, melting in the boyish charm.

"par mere pas chocolate nahi hai jaise tum bacho ko deti ho bandage karne ke bad," he said in mock apology.

Her smile softened. "Its okay," she said softly as he examined his handiwork. It was very neat, competent. "Next time Manu kahi girega tho duty tumhari," she said laughingly. He nodded, eyes full of laughter and mischief himself. "Duty tho hum bahot seriously lete hai madam."

She habitually gave the children chocolates when they behaved well, especially when they sat through bandage sessions without complaints. And then she kissed the hurt away. Her eyes widened a little as he raised her arm...did he remember that part of her ritual too...? Was he going to... her heart began to thrum a faster rhythm as he lifted it further up, pressed a little kiss to her bandaged wrist. His lips brushed the bare skin near the gauze; her pulse jumped, her eyes closed. The feeling was exquisite...his lips cool against her heated skin.

"Feel better...?" he asked in an odd voice that caused her to open her eyes again. He was affected too, she realized with a jolt. Just as she was. What she saw in his eyes... She nodded, knowing she couldn't voice that confirmation. The throbbing in her veins had nothing to do with a little cut and bruise on her wrist.

"Swara." He said on a sigh as he leaned in, cupped her face in his hands, gently, with the lightest of touches...blood rushed to her cheeks, warming his hands. "Do you know what you mean to me..."

"Sanskaar," she raised a hand to his, held it pressed to her cheek. She couldn't, she shouldn't... she had no right to. But oh, God, for one moment...just for one moment couldn't she...couldn't he... unconsciously she leaned in, closing the distance a little more, so close her breath mingled with his.

He couldn't tell her, but perhaps he could show her... he brushed his lips against hers, softly, almost as if in reverence... hers parted, fluttered open even as her eyelids fluttered closed. Her hands cradled his head gently, soothing, offering.

Floating on the sigh - his or hers, he was no longer sure - he pressed them against hers again, accepting the invitation. His hands dove into her hair as he brought her closer, trying to show her, tell her...she was everything. She was the world. He didn't even need the next breath, just her...only her...

For a time neither needed words...a touch, a caress, a hundred little kisses...the whisper of breaths, the brush of lips...they spoke through them. He told her everything, poured everything he was into them, needs, longings...desire. One hand up her back, pressing her closer, even as she strained against him. Breathe hitched, sighs melted into sighs...He loved. Marveling at the feeling, that stunning blast of knowledge, he dusted little kisses up her nose, on her petal-soft cheeks, pinned her eyelids shut with them. He loved. He loved.

She answered. Every touch and caress and kiss, she answered... her fingers feathered over his cheeks, his brows, threaded through his hair, their imprints on her mind. He belonged to her. She knew. Just as she belonged to him. And when he pinned her eyes closed with those gossamer kisses...everything went gold behind her closed eyelids. She opened them, wanting to see his, tell him, that she...the breathe left her. He had his heart in his eyes...nothing more needed to be said. She loved.

He knew. For one protracted beat, his heart skipped it's rhythm, then began to beat faster. He knew. And in her eyes, he saw his own reflection. He saw his soul bared in the moisture that pooled in her eyes. There was nothing he could hide from her, nothing he would want to. Even when he felt as though she had stripped away everything and saw through him, saw into him, he somehow felt invincible. He loved, and his love was returned. She held him so, he felt cherished... it was an oddly sweet feeling. "Swara..." he whispered, resting his brow against hers. The knowledge was dizzying, that he was loved and valued and cherished. Here was the answer to every question and doubt he had, here in her arms...

Floating down on that whisper, she held him closer for a minute, resting her head on his shoulder. She could feel his heart pounding against hers, slowing down by the second. She loved him. She could no longer deny it, or hide from it. And because she loved him, she had to let him go. Love was a gift she could not bestow on him. Her life was not in her hands. Knowing this, she couldn't allow this blossom. It would be cruel to him, to let this flower bloom... even though it would cut her heart out, she had to let him go... she shut her eyes tight against the agony. His lips brushed against her hair, his hand stroked down soothingly. Unbeknownst to her the tears ran down, fell over his still pounding heart.

This would be the last time she held him, the last time she was allowed to love him. For herself, she held him closer still, battling the guilt and the sense of loss. Surely it was not a selfish act to hold him for another minute...she swallowed the sob, concentrated on feeling. One last time she would hold him in her arms...she would take this one moment for herself, so dear and precious it was.

Her arms tightened about him convulsively. He responded, his blood still running on the thrill of loving and being loved. He did not recognize the gesture for what it was: a farewell.