He still remembered that day .That was first time he had seen her in college. Dressed in simple white & gold salwar, the first word that struck his mind was ANGEL.. She walked in with her friends smiling. And he knew he lost his heart then and there but never dared to say so.

From past 3 months...He would just stand far away and be content looking at her .She was everything he was not, full of life, laughter ,chatter box, popular among her friends and she wouldn't have probably noticed him at all .Why would she? He was not any of happening guys in college, nor popular foot ball team captain. Not hot & handsome, just class topper .Dismissed as 'Geek',he hid himself behind those huge spectacles which would justify his 'geek' tag, Library was his favorite place, and physics was his favorite subject. People found him boring, he never had any friends other than his brother Laksh, but Sanskaar Maheswari never bothered until the day he saw her.

Every time she passed past him in canteen ,library or corridor, His heart fluttered. He would steal glances now and then in the class. When she caught him once or twice he would look away. Her smile would bring smile on his lips, and a single tear from her eyes ...he saw them for the first time when she missed time line of an assignment, and professor shouted at her. Tears were on verge of flow. She looked around and his eyes caught hers for a moment, his heart withered in pain . His hand instinctively moved to back pocket to pristine crisp white hand kerchief he always carried and with next hand he wanted to strangle that professor.

Sanskaar Maheswari lost his parents Sujata and Ram Prasad Maheswari in an accident at age of 4 and was brought up by Annapurna and Durga Prasad, brother and sister in law of Ram Prasad Maheswari whom he lovingly called 'Bade papa' and 'Maa'. Though Durgaprasad was always biased towards their son Laksh ,Annapurna was inclined towards Sanskaar. He was a silent kid, who wouldn't say a word , kept everything to himself . He never demanded anything unlike his cousin Laksh who was complete contrast personality and would get what he wants. Though Laksh loved his cousin, he would never acknowledge him in college, for the fear of being tagged as uncool. Sanskaar missed his parents but he loved his Badi Maa no less. Somewhere underneath him , he craved for attention , love and acceptance , someone he wouldn't taunt him , tag him but like him the way he is , He wished it was her - Swara.

And that day came sooner than he expected.

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He was in library. That's when he heard her .He could recognize her "aahat" from the way his heart would respond around her. She came around looking for a book which would help her complete assignment and he knew which would help her out. Not finding one she went around shelf's.. Deciding to help her out he picked the book he knew precisely , handed over book to librarian and returned back to his study who in turn offered the same to Swara. His heart skipped as he saw librarian pointing towards him and she walked up to him. He picked his books to go away but she was quick to catch hold of him.

Hi ..

He looked up at her his heart skipping several beats, she was standing close to him, with that angelic smile and her huge chocolate brown eyes sparkling with happiness..

"Thank you so much for helping me out with this" .she held up the book. "Btw tum mere class se ho na .. You are class topper right ..Hmm ..Sanskaar?"

She took his name and his name never felt sweeter. He simply nodded. "Hi I am Swara Bose"... He took her extended hand , she shook it for long time thanking him again and chatting in her usual style .When she left , he looked at his hand for long . She held his hand, she talked to him - Swara talked to him and whole day he went around trying to hide all the happiness that bubbled inside him .Now and then he would look at his hand, recall the moment and smile .

Swara would smile at him every day and wish him back in class. One day she was late and only seat vacant was next to Sanskaar which most of them avoided. With no second thoughts she rushed and settled besides him. Sanskaar's heart stopped for a second as her hand accidentally brushed his, she gave him the same beaming smile which lit up his world . Swara fidgeted in the class trying to understand what her physics professor was blabbering, but nothing got into her mind.

"Main tho pakka fail hojavungi"she mumbled within herself and she looked at him as he said "Main kuch madat karu?"

Class topper wants to help her ...Can she ask for more ?

"Sach main! You will help me in understanding this..she made eww expression and he smiled at that , nodding his head . That's how they spent hours together and Swara started liking the subject as well as Sanskaar.

One day ..

"Tum meri dost kyu banna chahte ho ?" He couldn't believe some one wanted to be friends with him that too Swara..What if she didn't like him...what if she found him boring. "Woh Swara main ..Tum bore hojavoge mujhse."

So he felt that.. He would bore people and above all he feared rejection, that's why he hid himself.. Stayed away from people. He feared hurt. She wondered how people are so quick to form impression just by looks not knowing what a person underneath is .Sanskaar was nothing like she heard. Boring? He was not .He was different. He talked less but talked sense, he had a good sense of humor and above all his unconditional friend ship with no expectations just made him special. Who the hell said he was not handsome? Once when he removed his specs trying to rest his eyes for a second, during their tuition sessions, then she knew he has got the most intense eyes she had ever seen...Dimples that flashed when he smiled...

"Acha! Tum boring ho ? Ye tum mujhe decide karne do na." Sanskaar still tried to protest "Main Jyada baat nahi karta..aur " Swara was quick to cut him " Lekin sun tho sakthe ho ..ab main itna baat karti hoon ki .. hum dono ka quota main hi khatam kardungi .. bolo ? banaoge mera dost."

And they become friends. Swara found herself growing fond of him, getting drawn to him and she knew he admired her too .She would feel his intense gaze, her cheeks would instantly flush..a mere brush of his hand would affect her ,but what moved her most was the pure devotion she had seen in his eyes for her . He made her feel special just by the way he looked at her like she's most beautiful girl on earth. Sanskaar soon found himself breaking out the shell which he created for himself around Swara. They would go together for coffee, lunch , spent most of time together in college and talked hours and hours over phone .She never complained though he was very well aware how her friends would tease her for being with him , especially now since they are together . He still remembered that day when she declared that she was his girlfriend in answer to some of teasing and they are together. Sanskaar wondered if she meant it or it was just for sake of making people shut. He couldn't hold back and questioned her when they were alone though he feared what her answer would be?

Swara stood silent for few minutes and said "woh maine gusse main kaha tha." Little hope which flared in his heart.. He found it dying. But he was surprised when she said ... "But I want to be your girl friend not because someone teased, because...".His heart thudded as he waited for her to say next words "Because I really really like you and want to be with you."

Sanskaar stood frozen for second not knowing how to react. He knew he was not dreaming as she held his hand and asked "Only...if you like me? Can we be together?"

She would have never asked such question, if she knew what she was for him. Like? He loved her and loved her like he loved none. He gathered back himself and all he could say was yes with a smile. Next min he breathe got struck for second as she broke into smile and hugged him. He slowly raised his hands hugging her back, trying to remind himself again and again this was for real.

And next few days were bliss for Sanskaar .As days passed they grew closer. Sanskaar loved his every moment with Swara. A simple gesture like holding hands, as she would lean on to his shoulder while they would sit together on stone bench after college, just lost in their own world meant a lot to him. His love for her grew leaps and bounds with each passing day .Swara accepted him like the way he was ,but he wanted to change, for her. Though she never complained he didn't like a bit when someone teased her, because of him .

That's how Geek Sanskaar Maheswari for the first time got himself a makeover with help of his badi maa. And the day when he stepped into college, he made sure every eye turned to him in awe. His specs were gone, his biceps which he hid beneath loose t shirts were now rippling out, his hair was not styled much but it just added to his alluring charm .He ignored every glance of admiration, confusion, envy. His eyes looked out only for her. Though he carried himself confidently he was nervous, he waited and she walked in .Her eyes looked out for him like every day and her eyes went wide open as she found him, she stood shell shocked for a second looking at him and then sat next to him not saying a word. She didn't even glance at him.

Sanskaar waited with bated breath for her to say something. This was for her ,his heart sank down thinking she didn't like his new look .He kept looking at her with a little hope but she chose to ignore him.

Once they were out of class, he went behind her..Swara..kya hua ? baat karona Mujhse Please Swara" .. he held her hand .

She turned back and all she said was " Kaun ho tum , Mera Sanskaar kaha hain ?"

Sanskaar was taken back for a second... "Matlab Tumhe acha nahi laga .. ye mera ?

She was furious how girls were looking at her Sanskaar like they would eat him up and she hated it. Why he had to look so dashing..Now every other girl in college would try to gain his attention. Swara was jolted with realization that she was jealous. "Jin ke liye kiya hain unne acha lagana." She broke her hand free and started leaving.

"Swara ... tumhare liye kiya maine,. He crossed her path stopping her ... "Sirf tumhare liye... Kyunki main jaantha hoon ki kaise tumhare friends tumhe chidaate hain ki tum mujh jaise boring aur looser ke saath ho."

"Just shut up Sanskaar ...How dare you?" She grabbed his collar shocking him "Agli baar meri Sanskaar ke bare main aise kab mat kehna ...You are not a loser..ok! Mera Sanskaar sabse acha hain .He is smart intelligent, Studious, handsome and a total sweet heart I don't care damn about what people say and about how you look. I like the way just you are..You don't have to change.. Samjhe.!

The minute he thought he could never love her more, she proves him wrong .

"Ab aise kya dekh rahe ho ..Specs kaha hain tumhare?" she demanded .He silently gave her specs which he hid in his bag and they were back, she smiled. "Ab lag rahe ho na mere Sanskaar." He smiled wider as she tugged his hand whispering "Waise you were looking hot in your new avatar" and they were out for next class...

With Swara around him , Sanskaar started pursing his hidden passions sports ,theater .. He excelled in everything he chose, it was all for Swara . He wanted to make her proud, for every insult and tease that was thrown at her for choosing to be with him, he wanted to give them an answer.

And he did give .Soon he was Mr Popular in college drawing envy from most of them ... and that included Laksh.

Laksh burned with envy watching his once upon unpopular brother hogging all lime light. He never gave damn to him ,though he acted as friend knowing he would pose no threat to him and almost taking pity as he had no friends , but now things have changed . He never on first hand liked Swara choosing Sanskaar over him. She bluntly refused his advances in initial days of college. He was the one of them to tease as she chose Sanskaar.. over him ..But now he was left with nothing to say .All he could think was how to break him and he knew where to hit .

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Swara couldn't understand why Sanskaar started acting weird with her from past few days he avoided her, made excuses. It was hurting her .She tried talking to him but he wouldn't. Finally one day she confronted him. It was after college. She dragged him down to a secluded place near college.

They stood before each other not saying a word.

"What's wrong Sanskaar? Did I hurt you in some way? Or you don't want to be with me anymore . If not just say it and make it easy for both of us " Her voice cracked with pain . What did she do to offend him? He is not even looking at her.Furious she walked up to him

"Sanskaar..meri taraf dekho ..Look at me " and he looked at her . Her heart sank down .. His eyes were red and tears.. "Sanskaar..

"Dur raho mujhse " He moved away from her " mat aavo mere kareeb."

Swara stood stunned ... " Kyu?"

"Kyunki Darr lagta hain mujhe "...

It was living hell without her all these days, but he chose that..Because it scared him, the closer Swara was to him; his fear of losing her ,that dread took new proportions. For Sanskaar ,Swara is his world and everything came down to her .only her .He didn't dare to imagine his life without her ,unknowingly he harbored so many dreams of leading a happy life with her. With the near fear Laksh instilled in him ,about how they are just together for time being ,nothing was committed and after college they would part their ways .Sanskaar almost went mad at the thought Swara wouldn't be with him, he wouldn't be able to survive without her.

"Darr lagata hain mujhe swara .. .. iss waqt tumse door jaana mujhe manjoor hain lekin aur kareeb aakar dur jaana .. I won't be able to take it Swara...main jee nahi paavunga ..paagal hojavunga , toot javunga .. aur main tootna nahi chahtha because I love u Swara .. aur tumhare bina apni zindagi jeena ke baare main soch bhi nahi saktha ."

Rain started pouring in as he bared his heart to her, washing away his tears .Swara stood still listening to him and it struck her ..she loves him too ..She didn't even realize when but she can never love anyone else. She knew it by heart.

"I love u too Sanskaar "

He looked at her totally stunned those words rang in his ears ,syncing into his every fiber. She had tears in her eyes too. What did she do to deserve this undying pure love from him? No one can ever love her the way he does.

"Sach!".. That was all he could ask .He wanted to believe, trust that his fate is strong enough to let Swara be with him forever . She ran into arms answering his every doubt and he embraced her wanting to never let her go. "Tum hamesha mere Saath Rahoge?"

"Hamesha" she whispered into his ear ...It's a promise." As they broke apart she sealed her promise with a kiss. She felt his body stiffen at first touch of her lips on his, and in next blink they melted against each other. That was the day when they just didn't bare their hearts to each other, body and soul too. They ended up making love in an abandoned hut nearby. It was not in any heat of moment, but in full knowledge of their acceptance, love and commitment, they belong to each other. He traced her every curve, every inch with such tenderness, his fingers followed by lips, she almost cried in pleasure and she did the same, imprinting herself on him completely. They lay for long cuddled in each other arms, her nude delicate frame pressed onto his strong one marveling the feeling of their love for each other and they talked.About her dream of pursing music as career and opening a music school his dream of being scientist and they laughed together when he shared his dreams for them ..Their shaadi once settled in career, honeymoon, she added few in between about their "ghar" and when he talked about kids, She blushed and cuddled closer. Pulling her more closer, He dropped a kiss on her forehead.. embracing his whole world in his arms..His Swara.. Not knowing what storm awaited them. 

contd..............