Laksh Maheswari paced restless in his room .This can't be happening. Sanskaar and Swara back again together ..and now they are married. He couldn't do anything other than watching it .All his attempts to break them apart went in vain .He thought he hit him hard, by striking on his insecurity and it worked too . But God knows what happened they were back together, even more closer. When he tried talking to Sanskaar, saying how worried he was for him , Sanskaar assured him , his fears were uncalled for as He & Swara would get married once settled ,much to Laksh's shock .

He almost gave up hope, that's when he found his trump card in form of Kavita -Swara's best Friend.

Kavita Roy ..Her story was not so different from Laksh. Until Swara entered college, she was in limelight , but Swara's charm was hard to resist. Soon she envied her as she became more popular , but had put up act of best friend. She wanted to show her down , that's when came up with bet of making Sanskaar Maheswari fall in love, thinking it was next to impossible task .Sanskaar and love ?.. Kavita dismissed off ..Never ever ,Swara is bound to fail that would crumble her ego of being Miss popular when Mr Geek would turn her down .

Game for anything, not knowing the vile intentions of Kavita ,Swara took it up , but she ended losing herself to Sanskaar , falling for him hard. Kavita thought "Chalo achi baat hain," That Swara would be tied up with that Geek and she would be back to being in limelight , gaining attention of all hot guys , but much to her dismay Sanskaar turned out to be Most popular of all .

She recalled the day when she couldn't take her eyes of him as he walked into class after getting a makeover, but he was least bothered about anyone and everyone .Kavitha burned in jealousy knowing how Swara and Sanskaar had serious plans for their future .What irked further was Swara would soon be bahu of Maheshwari Empire and all this swara owed to her - it was because of Her Bet .Now Swara has everything, the hottest and most intelligent guy who is head over heels for her, ms popular and college beauty tag, and the fairy tale love story of frog turned prince which was already popular in college and wouldbe Bahu of one of largest business empires - here she was left with nothing .

That's when He & Kavita ,got together to put an end to Swara Sanskaar's love story.As per Laksh's plan Kavita recorded the video of their conversation bringing out bet issue . It was Kavita who send out that video to Sanskaar from a private number. It was just the part they wanedt him to see , rest edited out and it worked .Sanskaar was heartbroken so Swara was.

Laksh played his part well of keeping Swara away from sanskaar when she tried to get in touch with him . All he would say was "Bhai needs more time" ".it's good if you keep your distance and give him time" and Swara easily fell into trap with the guilt eating her up and distraught by turn of events . She chose to stay away for few days though she tried reaching him over calls ,dropped hundreds of messages and they all reached Laksh. It was fun reading them .all those love words, apologies and disconnecting her calls was even more fun . It gave him peace . Smart move Laksh he appreciated himself for his plan of changing Sanskaar's sim. Given Sanskaar's mental state ..he never noticed

Laksh even dropped few messages of hate and how he is breaking up with her and would never want to see her face again,.Swara was broken . When she paid a visit to MM it was too late as Sanskaar left the place and she got no details of where and when .Swara too left college to pursue her career in Music and joined sargam foundation as music teacher .

But Laksh's happiness was short-lived as Sanskaar battled out his demons and came back much stronger and with an attitude that scared him . He was no longer the same one and all he did was watching him as he took over his place , reigns of Empire ..He could never forget his Dad's words when he protested on this decision.

"Agar tum Sanskaar jitna kabil hota , tho hum kuch sochte . Hum ne wahi kiya jo business ke liye acha hain. You better learn something from him and earn your place than taking things for granted like you have been doing all this days ."

And if this was not enough .. Swara is back into Sanskaar life..Frustrated with failure of all his plans ,Laksh almost emptied drink bottle recalling events, that's when Ragini walked in .

The Catalyst

Ragini ..Wife of Laksh Maheswari .It was an arranged alliance and she loved her husband .

She is very much aware ,her husband didn't take much liking to her brother in law Sanskaar but he seemed more irritated these days, right from time Sanskaar alliance was fixed with Swara . and today ..she found him drinking so much

"Laksh ji ".. she approached him hastily .."Kya hua? aap itna pee kyu rahe hain aaj..plese bandh kijiye ."

Laksh looked at his wife. She's pretty, and she loved him but she was no Swara, whom his bhai snatched away from him . He smiled "Chill Ragini ..aaj bhai ki suhaag raat hain ..celebrate kar raha hoon..You know na ki main apni bhai se kitna pyaar karta hoon ." He stretched out his hands .."itna ... he laughed out sarcastically..."Aur maa bhi usse kitna pyaar karti hain ..mujhe se bhi jayda ..bechara uska maa baap nahi haina." Ragini sensed more of hatred than concern in Laksh's voice " Btw tum jaanti ho ..bhai pehle kiasa tha.. Ek min ..he rushed in pulled out some old photographs .. aise ..kitna funny lag rahe hain.. shakal tho dekho.. he he ...haina." He laughed like mad person . Ragini nodded not knowing what to say as he continued "aur ab successful business man CEO of Maheswari group. It was all because of that Swara." Ragini noticed that flash of naked hatred in eyes of laksh for first time.He hated them both Swara and sanskaar ,but what jolted her was his next lines, "Itna sab kuch karne ke baad bhi .. phir se dono saath hain"

What is he talking about ? what does he mean by itna kuch karne ke baad Laksh slipped onto bed mumbling . "Cheers for love birds ragini...Cheers"

Ragini stood watching Laksh for long.

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It was past midnight when Sanskaar returned to farm house .After looking in study room he found her in bed room...lying on edge of bed . From far she looked gorgeous in that red coloured lehenga - his bride ...How much he would have dreamt of this moment.

As he took a closer look,  her face was tired , her cheeks tear stained , still some tears playing around her eyes lids which were ready to slip any moment . He almost resisted the urge to reach out and wipe them ,pulled back his hand .. Not again ..

Swara woke up as sun rays caressed her face .Last Night's events came rushing back to her .What if it was nightmare ? Just a bad dream .. She wished it was . She looked around ..Where was he ? Did he even come back? Her thoughts were interrupted as he walked out of washroom fresh out of shower,Just in a towel. He caught her staring at him and smirked. "Morning Mrs Maheswari " She looked away .He still had that effect on her .. "Morning".. she mumbled. As she picked her dress and made her way towards wash room ,he crossed her path .Their eyes met for a moment ,before her eyes closed involuntarily as he traced her cheek leaning closer, his masculine scent , made her feel giddy. " Tho kaisa raha kal ka din?" he whispered in low tone,"hamara suhag raat.. mere bina" His voice mocked. Her eyes flew open,Not saying a word she started moving away, he held her back ."I asked you a question sweetheart ..And I expect an answer." His tone was back to being curt as his hold tightened around her wrist.

" Kya sun na chahte tho tum Sanskaar? Her voice was lifeless just like her eyes were .."Yahi na ki mujhe kitna dard hua..tho suno .. kal raat tumhare jaane ke baad bahut royi main..mujhe bahut dard hua ..aur ab bhi ho raha hain" Her eyes moved to his hold on her hand .He released it in next instant and she rushed into washroom.

Sanskaar reached out to his clothes in frustration. What's wrong with him?That's what he wanted to see her pain, to make her life living hell, but ... Why her pain is troubling him . Not a question from her..He expected her to put up a fight ,shout at him about ruining her life , but this is something unexpected ,What's running in her mind . Dressed he reached out to his phone ,to check his schedule, that's when she walked out to wash room.

Dressed in a simple peach color saree, her wet hair ,tangled, she looked .. his breath caught in his throat .. 'Gorgeous' was only word he could think . He quickly looked away ..trying to gather back his thoughts .

"Woh Maa ka phone aaya tha.. hame nikalna hoga .. aur suno.. Maa ko bilkul pata nahi chalna chahiye ki hamare beech .. he paused .. She nodded head in understanding . "I don't want anyone to know about us .. so we will put up act of being happily married couple.. Samjhi."It sounded like an order .She nodded again .

He didn't like it .

Why doesn't she say a word ?Why is she so silent?Where is that fiery swara who never took an insult ,talked endlessly. Irked by her.."Of course ..I don't need to tell you ..natak tho bahut ache kar lete ho tum .. jaise mere saath kiya hai ..pyaar ka natak"Her eyes shot at him " Natak hi tha woh sab" It still hurts he thought .."woh saara pyaar " . She looked away wiping out a tear but still didn't say a word .

They drove in silence to MM.

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Their 'GrihaPravesh' was a simple affair. Annapurna welcomed her choti bahu with Ragini. Swara noticed Annapurna barely smiled at her ,but was very loving caring towards Sanskaar. Swara recalled Sanskaar mentioning how much he loved his badi maa ...they even had plans to meet her but ...

After taking blessings from DP ,they were taken to mandir .She passed Laksh who gave her a cold stare and forced smile Swara didn't pay much attention but Ragini did notice .Ragini took her to Sanskaar room "Tho ye hain aapki pati dev ka karma ..ab se aap ka bhi .." Swara smiled in response . She liked Ragini. "Aap unpack karlo, kuch zaroorat ho tho bhula dena."As Ragini left Sanskaar walked in."I want my room to stay as it is ..I will not tolerate any changes..ek cheez bhi idhar udhar nahi hona chahiye ..you get that ? "

Hmm ..was all she said .Her silence is getting on his nerves now . He wanted his fierce and firebrand swara back. He grabbed her hand pulling her against him .."Problem kya hai tumhari haan .. what do you think of yourself ? Kuch bolti kyu nahi ?"

"Kya bolu ..?"

"For God sake swara..I wronged you..kuchh tho kaho ..chiko ,chillavo ..kuch sawal karo... tumhare saath itna galat kiya aur" ..he paused all of sudden as she said "Aur jo maine tumhare saath kiya .. uske saamne tho ye kuch bhi nahi hai Sanskaar . Mujhe apni galati ka ehsaas hain." He sensed pain in her voice, " aur tum tension mat lo..Main tumhare kisi cheez ko haath nahi lagavungi." She released herself from his hold.

Sanskaar stood for a second watching her unpack.

"Woh mere kuch meetings hain ..shyam ko late aaunga." And he left the room

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As Days passed Sanskaar and Swara fell into easy rhythm .They settled down on pact of Swara sleeping on bed , Sanskaar on couch. He made place for her stuff. Sanskaar and Swara were successful in putting up act of happily married couple,so much in love .For Swara it was like juggling between Hell and Heaven. Sanskaar never shied away from PDA,unlike his college days .He never left her a second, always held her close, claimed her with his gestures, words , but Once back in room, he would turn cold distant ,she never complained and was content with those little moments of pretense .On other hand Sanskaar struggled between his conflicting emotions for Swara . Swara never said a word nor would protest, take every insult thrown her way by him.. That hurt him more.

Every time he held her , hugged her, kissed her on pretext of act , he felt same pull towards her .a strong one . The feeling that Swara is with him now and nothing could snatch her away started taking roots in heart. He found himself softening towards her, though it scared him . One of his favorite sights  was watching Swara get ready early morning. He loved watching her from his couch ,as she wiped her hair, wore his naam ka mangalsutra and Sindoor.

Once he walked out of washroom, he found his clothes on bed all set and ready .He looked around for Swara..but she was no where found. He frowned for second..but next minute he smiled. As he came down for breakfast, his eyes met hers .Her eyes sparkled with happiness .She didn't expect him to and was sure he would chose not to but .. and his eyes sparkled too, but he was quick to cover it up with stern look . But he never protested when she picked his clothes everyday .When she asked him if he would mind ,her making some changes to room , all he said was "Tumhara bhi tho room hain." much to her surprise.

One night Swara woke up to screams of Sanskar , rushed to his side.. He was sweating profusely was panicked. Swara got him onto bed gave him water ,sat next to him, holding him close. He clutched her hard struggling for words "Mat jao mujhe chodkar Swara .Darr lag raha hain mujhe..She pulled him more closer trying to calm him down .. "Sshh ..Sanskaar main yahi hoon.. dekho .. tumhare paas hi hoon Main kahi nahi jaavungi tumhe chodkar..kabhi nahi ab shaant ho jao." Sanskaar calmed down slowly .. and that was first time he slept peacefully after years in arms of Swara.

As he woke up in morning he found himself tangled with Swara on the bed ,he recalled last night's events .He glanced at her for long ,as he remembered her words.."Tumhare paas hi hoon Main kahin nahi jaaungi tumhe chodkar..kabhi nahi."Last time he held her this close was ,when they made love ..Those moments came rushing back to him .He gently brushed her cheeks dropped a soft gentle kiss on her forehead. He drew back as she stirred in sleep, got up carefully taking care not to wake her up .He got ready and left for work , not before stealing few more glances of his peacefully sleeping wife .

Swara got up ..she held her cheeks .. was it her imagination ?As she got ready ,her thoughts wandered around last night . She walked up to Annapurna. All these days though they shared a cordial relation , she couldn't get past through that. Somehow Swara felt Annapurna hated her too.But this was important for her .When Annapurna heard of this , though initially shocked she finally opened up and shared the past of Sanskaar , the trauma he had been through when she betrayed him .

"Dekho Swara ..humko laga humne Sanskaar ko kho diya aur ye sab tumhare wajah se .Tumse shaadi karne ka faisla hum nahi jaante sanskaar ne kyu liya ..aur hame hamare bete ki khushi sab se jyada important hain . Ummeed karte hain ki kamse kam iss baar tum uska dhyan rakho ge ...aur agar iss baar kuch hua .. hum tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karenge ."

There was strict warning in her tone but Swara was too disturbed to notice it .She never felt this disgusted about herself ..all the pain he had gone through just because of her. Now she knew why he turned into what he was..and she would get him back .

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That night when Sanskaar came back , he didn't find the couch ."Ye couch kaha hai ..Swara ?"

Swara walked in holding pillows and blankets "Couch nahi hain kyunki aaj se hum dono bed pe so rahe hain ."

Sanskaar looked horrified at idea "Have u gone mad ?No way ..Main guest room main jaa raha hoon." Sanskaar started leaving, Swara pulled him onto bed.Before he could protest she stopped him with finger on his lips . "Bahut ho gaya Mr.Maheshwari .. ab ek dum chup." Sanskaar went completely still. When was last time his heart raced this fast .As she leaned closer, their faces just a breath away ,he could feel her fragrance clouding his senses ."Tum Mere Upar ho Swara" was all he could mumble .His heart skipped few beats as he felt her lips near his ear ."Don't worry, Mr.Maheshwari, Your virtue will be safe in my hands." She whispered softly ,laid back on his chest ,waited with bated breath for him to push her away ,give back rude curt reply or run away from her ,like he always did.

It was bold step from her but it was needed for him, them to move ahead ,leaving bitterness behind. After hearing to Annapurna watching his vulnerable side that night ,she knew Sanskaar needed her, though he would never admit the same .She had wronged him , now she will set things right for them .

She smiled as she felt his strong arms around her waist holding her more close, She slipped into peaceful sleep as his lips brushed her hair softly. Sanskaar stayed awake for long, holding Swara in his arms, his heart now calm. Is life giving him a second chance and love too..to forget bitter past and move ahead in life ..a new start ?.but ...

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