Tears rolled from her cheeks, as she looked at her hands , deep red in colour ,with mehendi

"Kehte hain ki mehendi ka rang jitna gehra chadta hain ..uska pati usse utna pyaar karta hain and you know how much I love you" His voice and memory flashed before her eyes . She was smiling then ,as he held her hand , trailed his fingers over her mehendi design ,trying to trace his name . "Ahh here it is..S," He lifted her hands to his lips "I can't wait to make you mine." and he kissed them .

She thought it was true.

She still remembered that day..when his alliance came up for her . It had been 4 years she had seen him , after they parted ways .She was shocked first , then pleasantly surprised at alliance. As she walked from kitchen holding tray of tea cups, she saw him. He was no way closer to her simple, sweet Sanskaar, What she saw was a suave ,sophisticated business man .He was engaged in conversation with her parents and just like he sensed her, he turned to face her ,setting her heart on race and ...he smiled .The same smile of her Sanskaar and those dimples flashed again.. They sat in silence as elders left them alone to have a word with each other.

Swara fiddled with her pallu , an obvious sign of trying to hide her nervousness of facing him after all this years and his intense stare was not making things any better . Her cheeks were already warm.Finally gathering up herself she said "Kaise ho?" Probably best way to strike a conversation, the safer one Not saying a word he considered her for a minute then walked up to her. As he took her hand into his, she lifted her lashes to meet his eyes ."Kya ab mujhe meri Swara se formally milna padaega?' His voice flooded her with their memories "Meri swara"? After what she had done still ...Tears filled her eyes and he stopped them before they could cross her cheek ... "Paani ki iss ek boond ke liye main apna saara khoon baha sakta hoon Swara." She stared at him speechlessly, her cheeks felt warm as he cupped them. "Swara, I want us to have another chance, a new start aur main chahta hoon, tum mera saath do and say yes to this proposal...and she said Yes . And that's how their marriage was fixed.

Sanskaar insisted on getting married as early as possible saying he can't wait any longer for them to be bound in sacred relation of marriage, hence the hurry. With only two weeks left for marriage Swara couldn't be happier .Life and love has given her a second chance to amend things...To live those dreams with him and this time she wouldn't let him down. As the day of wedding came closer, her hopes soared high. Sanskaar gave her best of surprises - gifts, romantic dates, long drives and showered her with so much love , but her instinct sensed something wrong . He was with her, but always seemed distant as if something is holding him back. On day of sangeet he sneaked her out from party .Backed by wall, locked in his arms, she lowered her lashes as he gently tugged loose strands of hair and softly whispered "You were looking gorgeous today. I couldn't hold back any longer," making her blush instantly. She quivered with pleasure as his lips grazed her neck line, captured her lips for a soft tender kiss. As he gently probed she let him in willingly, parting them for him. Her hands instinctively curled into his thick mane drawing him closer, and he pulled back leaving her partly dazed, partly confused. There was naught smirk as he said "I better stop right here and save all of it for our first night. " Though she smiled back something bothered her , Before she could speak all her doubts were shut, as he brushed her lips softly and whispered "Let's go inside ...they would be missing us." Swara dismissed every doubt of hers, totally ignored her instinct, basking in love of Sanskaar .People change over time but his love was same she told herself...Only if she knew she was wrong.

They were married with great pomp. ." I can't wait to show you the surprise I planned for you jaan ." He said kissing their joined hands as he drove them to his farm house . It was tastefully decorated . He asked her freshen up and left .She waited for him for hours , when he didn't turn up ,she went out looking for him to find him in study ...and now here she is, on their first night, trying to process all that transpired in last one hour. ...

His voice rang in her ears "Of course maaf kiya sweetheart, iss liye tumhe dhoondata aaya .. Apna banane." It was a lie... He never forgave her and he never forget...not a single thing .One of occasions when she asked what was he doing all this years all he said was "Tumhare layak ban ne ki koshish". There was a flash of pain in his eyes .But didn't he notice the pain in her eyes then ...

May be this was her punishment for her mistake and if it makes him feel any better, her suffering ,she would willingly oblige his every punishment . She gathered her feet back and stepped out of room.

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Mistake...No it was not a mistake .It was a sin. Falling in love. One has to pay for sins.

His hands gripped steering wheel tight as he drove aimlessly on road. How could he forget that fateful day when his world came crashing down and shattered every single dream of his.

It was Feb 14th ...Their first valentine's day after that heartfelt confession. He got a cute greeting card and a ring too, a simple silver band with their names engraved on it .Though they are bound in every way,time to make it official .He just can't wait to see his Swara's reaction. He was about to leave, his phone beeped .Must be Swara .Smiling he picked it up. A message from an unknown number with an video .As he hit the play, he froze.

Swara came to college bubbling up with excitement .Their first valentine's day .She had a surprise planned for him, A romantic dinner date, just both of them.

Not finding him she went around college only to find him sitting on their stone bench . Hmm so here he is .."Sanskaar tum yaha ho kab se dhoond rahi hoon tumhe ... she hurried up to him . He stared at her ..his eyes totally blank .."Sanskaar kya hua?" She asked immediately concerned. Not saying a word he played the video.

It was video of hers with her friends .. Kavita and others.

"Finally Swara you managed to win the bet . Uss Sanskaar Maheswari ko tumne paagal bana hi diya ..Maan na padega ..Kya plan tha yaar .Slow and steady wins the race ,And you know what . when you declared ,you are his girlfriend ..hame lage tum paagal hoagayi ho .. but baad main pata chala ye sab uski trust jeetene ke liye hain ...kya strategy hain!.. Actually...if you ask me .. woh tumhare layak hi nahi tha infact kisi ka layak nahi ..uski shakal aur woh...haina?" It was Kavita's Voice.

There was a long silence .

"Haan teek kaha tumne ... Woh mera layak bikul nahi hain." That was Swara.

And the video ended. Swara stood frozen in her place, her mind totally numb. She waited for him to question her, but stood shell shocked when all he said was "Bolo ki ye jhoot hai Swara" She looked at him; there was this sharp pain in his eye ,his voice shaking..."Tumne koi bet nahi lagayana ..ye sab jhoot haina,".

She stood still not saying a word.

"Swara mujhe inn sabse koi farak nahi padta ..tum ek baar kehdo ki ye jhoot hain, bas. Tumne mujhe kaha na that you really like me, iss liye tum meri Girlfriend ban na chahti thi ..not for the sake of some stupid bet right?

There was hope in his voice which shook her ."Chup kyu ho? bolona ki ye jhoot hain .Main jaanta hoon meri Swara aisa nahi kar sakti.haina ?Please bolo ki ye jhoot hai," He almost pleaded. He wanted to hear her say , it was lie, this video was lie ..all they shared was real .

Why is she silent? "Bolo Swara"...he shook her hard as stood silent, with tears in her eyes "Jo kuch bhi tumne dekha sab sach hain Sanskaar. Bet lagaya tha Maine ." Her voice echoed.

He stopped the car with sudden halt and rushed out for need of air. That was minute, his heart broke into million pieces .

" Lekin Sanskaar.. woh...she tried to explain but paused in midway as he mumbled tears rolling out of his eyes ."Sab jhoot tha ...jhoot". Every moment of theirs was a lie . He had been living a lie all these days. Not saying a word and listening to her, he walked off .Swara stood there for long as their world crumbled down.

Sanskaar wandered off roads like a lost soul for hours and then he locked himself up. That was night he cried out loud after losing his Parents. He cried out for every moment he spent with her, for every dream he wanted to live with her.. How stupid was he...in believing someone like Swara would like him and love him. His deep rooted worst fear ;of not being good enough...it was confirmed...and by the one whom he loved the most . He cried for days and nights holding her photograph. He waited..waited .. she would call him ...His Swara would come for him ,tell him all this was nightmare, he told himself .But nothing came in , Neither Swara , nor a message or call and he went mad with rage .He hardly came out of room .It was nothing unusual for people who know Sanskar, he preferred staying alone .One day he didn't come out for long, scared Annapurna rushed inside and was shocked to find him in dishelved state. He was curled up in middle of bed with blank stare, clutching some photograph hard, like it was his life... His eyes puffed with dark circles. Every single thing around him was broken into pieces...lying on floor.

When Annapurna rushed to him, staring at her all he said was .."Swara". Annapurna could take it no longer. She drew him close and consoled him as he broke into tears and they were never ending .Finally when he fell asleep ,she gently lowered him onto bed and left . Annapurna knew Sanskaar liked someone... so swara must be the one . She had no clue what might have actually happened but that girl had hurt Sanskaar badly .

She tried talking to Sanskaar but he hardly stayed at home .He wandered on roads succumbing to every way that could help him to relieve this pain - smoke, drink, and drugs. All he wanted was to runway from all those memories that haunted him every second ,those images of her ,them , as they laughed together , as she held his hands ,as she kissed him, as they made love , as she ran into his arms, as she said I love u..He struggled with sleep terrors as images of dead bodies of his mom dad.. Swaras betrayal flashed through him .One night MM woke up to the screams of Sanskaar, he was panic stricken .Doctor walked in and Sanskaar calmed down only post sedation. Annapurna told him how Sanskaar had this nightmares in initial days when he lost his parents .Doctor concluded Sanskaar is suffering from parasomnia and is on verge of slipping into depression. As suggested by doctor Sanskaar was taken away from the city .

Though Dp wanted him to left under care of doctors, Annapurna chose to stay with him..All she said was " Mere Bete ko Meri Jyada Jaroorat hain ."

With help of his Maa, It took an year for Sanskaar to battle out depression.He gave up his dream of scientist for he didn't want to live any dream which he shared with her. It hurt .He took up business administration, left for abroad, and when he returned he was no longer the same Sanskaar .He joined his bade papa's business and very soon he was chosen to handover reigns of Maheswari empire as he proved himself to be more worthy than his cousin Laksh .DurgaPrasad was not left with an option as for him Maheswari empire came first..and for good of it he had to chose Sanskaar.

All this year's what kept him going was the hate and pain that still brewed inside him .Those words never left him. Her words. "Woh mere layak bikul nahi hain" They kept playing in loop. That's what turned him into what he was today .Successful ,Bitter & Ruthless.

He never failed to keep track of Swara Bose..And when it was time to strike, he did. Sending out alliance,setting out talks . It was tough for him to keep up the act of being all loving and caring, when he burned with fury within , but he had to , to make her Mrs. Sanskaar Maheswari .He almost melted looking into those eyes on day of Sangeet and the kiss ..He shouldn't have..He almost gave in for a second for not any more... If he had paid for sin of loving her..he would make sure ,she would too.

He drove back...Mrs.Maheswari would be waiting for him.

Contd......................