Swara slumped down on floor at her place being life less. She felt her heart stopped beating and her body became soulless with each step he was taking away from her. He was taking her soul with him. She opened her mouth to call him, to stop him but she gaped like fish, words did not find her voice. Her vision became blurred due to fresh tears. She did not dare to blink; thinking he might turn back to her in any moment. She wanted to run to him to make him stop. She wanted to wrap her arms around him. She wanted to cry her heart out hiding herself in his protective embrace.

"Sanskar please stop...don't go...don't leave me alone. Please" She mumbled when he was out of her sight. She started sobbing pulling her knees near her chest and burring her head in them. Pain was unbearable for her; it was becoming difficult for her breath with every passing moment with out him. Today she realised how much incomplete she was without him. He ruled over her soul, her existence, every ounce of her body.

Sanskar stopped near stairs and took deep breath. He took a step forward to descend stairs; tears were rolling on his cheeks. He was undefeatable but today he had accepted his loss. He was angry at himself for ruining her life because of his wrong judgements. He was burning inside seeing his wife with his creep brother. He knew, she was pushing herself in hell for his deeds, he wanted to stop her but at this moment he needed some time for himself to find equilibrium for his mental and emotional state. He was tired and exhausted fighting this battle every day. He wanted to sort out himself before confronting and discussing about their so-called forced marriage. He wiped his tears and moved towards parking for his car.

Next morning, bright sunlight from opened curtains spread in their room. Swara opened her eyes blinking for a moment to adjust her vision with bright sunlight. She realised she was sleeping on the floor and that's when last night's encounter with Sanskar replayed in front of her burning and swollen eyes.

It was first time after her marriage when curtains were opened allowing bright sun rays in their room. 'He did not close it today. He must be in garden.'

She got up immediately and went to garden to check on him. This had become her routine from day one after her marriage with Sanskar. Her lips used to stretch in small smile staring at Sanskar's peaceful face early in the morning when he used to work in garden. Her eyes roamed over all corners of the garden but today, he was not there which stabbed her heard with hundred needles.

'Where is he?' She scrunched her eyebrows and turned to go inside. She quickly got freshen up to go downstairs to look for him. She was trying to make her anxious mind understand that he would have returned back home after calming his mind.

She had decided to clear his misunderstanding, last night she had seen his eyes, they were mirror of his broken heart. Even though, she had forced herself in this marriage and wanted to take her revenge for his actions but in her wildest of her dreams also she never thought to cheat on him. She never believed in love and marriages after experiencing worst marriage of her parents, but she knew values and honor of this pious relation. When she got married with Sanskar, she knew she was committed to him for her life. She wanted to destroy him, his ego, tarnish his reputation, bring him on his knees but at the same time she never wanted to be disloyal to this relation.

After getting ready, she came downstairs for breakfast but her eyes were roaming around each corner of the home in hope to get one glance of Sanskar but he was nowhere to be seen. She was greeted by Ram and Sujata when she entered inside dining hall. They both exchanged look when they did not receive any response from Swara. She was lost in her own world.

"Swara... good morning Beta" Sujata wished her again.

"Hmm... haan Mom Good Morning. When did you come back?" Swara asked looking at duo passing fake smile.

"Swara are you ok Beta? Look at your eyes, they are red. Did you cry?" Sujata questioned looking at her red and swollen eyes. Just half an hour back Sujata and Ram had returned back from Udaipur. Yesterday afternoon they had received phone call intimating Gopi Masi's sickness. They both immediately left to visit her and after arranging all required medical help for her they came back. Sujata knew her adamant and hardheaded sister in law was at home, she did not want Swara to face any unforeseen event in their absence.

"Yes ...I mean No Mom...wo I was working late night so ...may be because of that" Swara tried to be convincing but she could not match her eyes with Sujata's concerned ones.

"Swara come, start your breakfast." Sujata filled her plate with Upma and poured watermelon juice in glass and continued in low whisper, "Beta did anybody hurt you?"

"Mom Sanskar? Where is he? I haven't seen him from morning" finally Swara asked the question which was running on her mind from morning still roaming her eyes everywhere.

"Beta he went to Kolkatta last night directly from Lonavala" Ram responded looking at Swara, who turned at him in jerk when her mind registered his words.

"Kolkatta why?" Swara asked scrunching her eyebrows in disbelief and continued to herself in low whisper, "directly from Lonavala...No he came home"

"Did he? He told me he is going directly...its ok he will come after 2-3 days don't worry" Ram responded casually.

Swara bowed her head as her eyes turned glassy, she started playing with her food gulping heavily.

Sujata observed Swara, she caressed her hairs with motherly love, "Did he fight with you?"

Swara nodded in negative not raising her head but controlling her tears. She tried her best to mask her face with her usual cold and rigid demeanor. She pressed her lips tightly and blinked her eyes to push back unwanted tears taking heavy breath.

"Swara what happened Beta?" Sujata pulled her in embrace and under her motherly love Swara broke down miserably. It was for the first time, she was experiencing such warm and protective motherly touch.

Sujata kept on caressing her hairs without saying a word. She understood her daughter is fighting battle between her mind and heart. She knew her son and daughter in law both are difficult to handle personalities, they always thought with their minds but looked like now a days, their hearts were making it presence obvious to them.

"Swara Beta what happened? Did he say anything to you?" Ram got up moving towards duo and enquired caressing her hairs.

"No" Swara stuttered nodding her head in negative, parting from Sujata and wiping her tears.

Sujata and Ram exchanged look observing disturbed Swara, 'she is missing him desperately' was the message passed by them to each other. Sujata felt relieved seeing progress in their relation.

Swara finally gained her posture and started concentrating on food.

"Just go and visit Anurag for couple of days you will feel good to be with him. It's long time you have spent any time with him." Sujata suggested after some moments.

Swara took deep breath and passed tight smile, "Sure Mom even I think that's better for me."

Swara was getting ready in her room, she opened drawer to take out her earrings when her gaze went on her Mangalsutra. Unknowingly her finger tips brushed over the pendant of the pious thread. She was missing his presence, she turned to go out after getting ready but then moved towards his side of cupboard. She opened it to see all his shirts and suits organised neatly. She touched sleeves of one shirt to feel his warmness.

'Beep' sound of her mobile brought her back to world, "he will come back soon" she assured herself and left for her father's home.

'Where are you Sanskar? Why did you left without confronting me? You should have become mad at me? If anyone was at your place yesterday, he would have blamed his wife but you instead of getting angry on me you apologised to me. Are you really sorry for coming in my life? Are you running away from me? Are you mad at me? Don't you trust me?'

'What am I even thinking? Why will he trust me? When he showed his utmost trust on me, I betrayed him, I broke his trust. But not this way Sanskar I know what commitment means, I can never betray to this relationship, please trust me. I cannot see distrust in your eyes, its piercing my soul' Swara's train of thoughts were stopped when her driver parked their car in front of entrance of Mehra House.

Anurag welcomed wrapping her petit figure in bear hug. Both father and daughter were enjoying quality time but Anurag's analysing gaze could miss gloominess from her face. He even tried to drill her indirectly but every time Swara proficiently diverted their discussions to another topic efficiently. He understood his daughter needed time to open out.

"Shona come here; see we have Gautam over here." Anurag shouted welcoming Gautam Kapoor. They both entered drawing room and Swara joined them coming out from kitchen, she was looking after lunch preparations.

"Hello Uncle, how are you?" Swara greeted him maintaining formality and passing tight fake smile.

"He was visiting Delhi and I insisted him to come to Mumbai to spend some time with us." Anurag informed about his friend's sudden visit. Post lunch, both friends got busy with their business discussions and afternoon coffee. Even Anurag was busy with his talks with his friend but his eyes were drifting towards Swara again and again who was playing with her phone.

Abruptly Gautam metioned to Swara earning her attention, "I heard Sanskar cornered Shekhar. I am telling you Swara, your husband is god damn danger to face as enemy."

"Yes, even I heard it. But I don't understand Shekhar and their enemy. Come on Gautam...Gadodia's always had family relation with them. I don't think Sanskar wanted to corner Shekhar, it's just Shekhar is not in position to maintain his stake so...but you know media they give hype to such things." Anurag replied taking side of his son in law.

"No no no Anurag... it's not that simple as it looks like. Shekhar was double crossing Maheshwari's by handshaking with their rivals from European Telecom market." Gautam confirmed earning loud gasped from Anurag and Swara. They both were surprised with the revealations.

"What are you saying Gautam?" Anurag questioned unbelievably.

"Yes, he had doubts on Shekhar from long for his activities in Europe and he was right. When I got to know I felt at least I owe this to Maheshwari's. It was me who informed him about his doings in Udaipur. He and Neil were super angry that time." Gautam explained draining all colours from Swara's face.

"Wh... When Uncle?" Swara asked in disbelief with thumping heart.

"When means? Just a day before your marriage when I came, I met with him first thing after I landed in Udaipur." Gautam replied casually shrugging his shoulders.

A simple casual reply from Gautam swiped the floor away from Swara's feet. Just one sentence and there was big blow to her mind set, 'was he unaware about Dadu's will before our marriage? Did I misunderstand him? But then why he created such a situation where everybody blamed me as betrayer? These two things are not fitting with each other, he knew about will and because of that he played his game to trap me in this forced marriage. But Gautam Uncle is saying he was there to infrom him about Shekhar Uncle. Am I missing something or...? Ohh god why do I feel in all this he was unaware but then why he kept his mourn when I taunted him every day.'

"Sanskar please please pick up my call...Where are you?" Swara was crying bitterly. She was pacing in her room with unsettled mind. She was trying to reach out to him from the moment she came back in her room. It was from last two hours she was calling him but in return she could just hear ring from other side.

Earlier Sanskar was in meeting with his assisting team from Kolkatta about Hugli Dam Project. For the first time his assisting team members were observing their boss, he was not at all attentive in their discussion's exact opposite to his usual demeanor. His mobile was vibrating continuously flashing 'Swara calling'. Every time his mobile rang, he used to look at it while moving his fingers towards to take it, but his mind was stopping him from talking to her. It was becoming onerous for him to be away from her.

He left meeting in middle without saying a word when it became uncontrollable for him, everyone looked at him in amazement. He demanded his car keys and started driving alone to be precise nowhere leaving his security behind. Each mobile vibration were creating havoc in his mind and heart. After long one hour of drive he stopped car abruptly on deserted road and took her call.

Her lips stretched with he picked her call "Sanskar".

"What do you want Swara?" Sanskar asked pleadingly ignoring her shaky voice. He closed his eye and clenched steering wheel in one hand tightly to control his inner turmoil.

"Sanskar where are you? Please come back home. We need to talk" Swara begged feeling hurt over his ignorance, first time she could feel his restlessness in his voice.

"I am fine. You don't need to worry about me" Sanskar replied trying his best not to bust out on her.

"What do yo mean you are fine and I don't need to worry about you. Why don't you understand I am your wife" Swara was frustrated with his ignorance.

"Swara I am busy right now, please don't disturb me" Sanskar closed his eyes tightly brushing his fingers on his forehead.

"No Mr. Maheshwari this is urgent. You left home last night with out talking to me assuming things own your own and now when I want to clear some very damn important issues you are busy. When you have time for yourself or for ourselves or our relationship? But NO....not now ...WE NEED TO TALK RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE." Swara's annoyance overpowered her concerns for him.

"Yes, you are right we need to talk. It's high time now...You know what it's all my mistake. I should have ... I wanted to talk to you from the day we got married Swara but shit... I screwed up everything. I was stupid to think that if I gave you time your hatred for me will reduce and then I can confess but no. I know, I have done mistake... no no no actually sins to break you to prove you as betrayer infront of everyone but I stepped back at last moment promising myself to shield you from every harm...I know what all is going on behind my back. What you are doing to ruin me? You want to break me being with Sahil. Come on Swara, whom are you fooling me or your own self? Are you serious to think that I will mistrust you if you pull up those stunts? I know you; I can see your innocence in your eyes. I am ready to accept my mistakes; I am ready to bear each and every wrath of yours. I am on my knees in front of you Swara. Do whatever you want I will not say a single word but please I beg you don't kill me being with that creep. It kills me when I see you with him. It kills me to see my wife, in my home, in my room with that creep because I ... I ...Lo... Leave it." Sanskar cut their call, throwing phone out from window he busted out in tears keeping his head on steering wheel.

"I love you Swara...I love you damn so much. I can't live without you. I can't bear your hatred. This pain is killing me. I...I love you" Sanskar confessed tightly closing his eyes. Each moment he was regretting for his deeds, their every meet, their eye locks, their effect on each other, their kiss, their marriage everything was running infront of his eyes. He kept on crying on his fate, he knew his love for her would never be reciprocated as he was aware about her hatred for him.

"Sanskar...Sanskar...Please talk to me" Swara stammered with thudded heart beats when she heard beep sound from other side.  She dialed Sanskar's number again with shivering hands.

Swara kept on dialing his number but nothing was changed. She sat on the floor with thud, his words were ringing in her ear piercing her soul. First time she had heard him breaking down his miseries infront of her. Swara started sobbing bitterly looking at his picture from her mobile screen. She wanted to reach out to Sanskar but he was way too far for her, but she was determined to reach to him anyhow.

"Shirin get me on next flight for Kolkatta or ask travel team to get jet ready." Swara instructed over call wiping her tears. That moment her gaze went to her finger on her ring. His first gift to her after their marriage.

Looking at her wedding ring she remembered the day of her so called engagement. 'Nobody knows Sanskar more than Neil' Samaira's word rang in her ears. 'Neil must be aware about him' She got up taking deep breath to gulp her uncontrollable tears and moved out of her room.

"Shona where are you going at this hour?" Anurag asked being perplexed looking at his daughter going out of their home at late evening.

"Papa, I am going to Maheshwari Office and then I will go to home. Nothing major...just don't worry" Swara replied moving towards main door.

"Shona" Anurag called her, but she was already running out of her home.

Swara's driver parked car in front of Maheshwari Business House head office, she ran towards elevators for SunShine Floor. She took elevators and came to floor.

"Where is Neil Singhania?" Swara asked at reception of Sunshine floor. She was already packing her stuff as it was late evening and was time to go home for her.

"Mam, Neil Sir is in his cabin. I guess he must be leaving soon, but you please come this way" Receptionist directed her towards Neil's cabin. Of course she knew the lady standing in-front of her is her boss's wife.

Receptionist knocked and after getting permission Swara entered in his cabin.

"Swara you here?" Neil asked being confused on her sudden entry he was about to leave for his home.

"Thanks, and you can leave now" Swara asked receptionist.

"Did Sanskar know about my Dadu's will before our marriage?" Swara asked crossing her hands around her chest, once receptionist was out of his cabin.

"Why don't you ask him?" Neil countered scrunching his eyes while getting up from his seat. Her pale face and swollen eyes were not hidden from his analysing gaze.

"I am trying but your bloody hard-headed best friend is not picking up my calls" Swara responded trying her best to maintain her calm but Neil could see her concern her anxiousness for his best friend.

"You please sit down first. Have some water" Neil suggested moving towards her.

"Will you please answer?" Swara was impatient by now.

"Will you believe if I answer?" Neil countered back again.

Swara scrunched her eyebrows not understanding his stance.

"From your perspective, I am Sanskar's extreme loyalist" Neil shrugged his shoulders making his point.

"Neil please I am tired" Swara pleaded, her eyes turned glassy.

"No, Sanskar did not know about the will clause." Neil replied confidently, he paused for a second to stare at her dumbfound face and then continued, "How can you expect Swara him to know about the will? It was something between your family members. I know you don't trust Sanskar but atleast you should trust Gautam Uncle. He was always like a family member to you right?"

"Then what you both were discussing in that room with Gautam Uncle just a day before our marriage?" Swara asked remembering the day which changed everything in her life.

Neil scrunched his eyebrows for recalling events of the day and then replied rubbing his fingers on his forehead for her baseless assumptions, "He was informing us about Shekhar Gadodia's double cross." 

"He didn't knew about the will." Swara mumbled to herself and continued in teary voice she was on the verge of breaking down, "Then why did he wanted to prove me as betrayer? Why did he play his game with me?"

"Swara this is something between you and him. You both need to talk about it" Neil requested.

"Neil please ...please tell me everything else I will go mad with these thoughts. From day one of our marriage I assumed that he forced me in this marriage just for getting hold of Mehra's legacy. I taunted him, blamed him but he... he always kept his mourn. He saved me every time risking either his reputation or life. I know there is something he is hiding and I am not able to connect these dots....He is not telling me, not even talking to me. Please tell me why?" Swara pleaded crying her heart out her every attempt of masking her feeling dissolved and streamed in the form of tears on her cheeks.

"Do you remember Amanera project announcement?" Neil huffed ruffling his hairs, he asked eyeing her to take a seat on the couch.

"Did he know that it was fixed a bet for Mehra's?" Swara was suspicious.

"Yes, he had heard your secretary handshaking with Mr. Jayprakash" Neil confirmed her doubt.

Swara slumped down on couch leaving deep sigh.

"And he thought me being behind this and played his card to prove me as ..." Swara joined two plus two.

"Do you really think of him as this low Swara?" Neil shook his head in disbelief and continued "Sanskar hate liers and betrayers, if any other person would have been at your place betraying him, he would have demolished the person mercilessly. But it was you. I know Sanskar from the day when we both were in diapers. I have never seen him becoming so lenient to someone who betrayed him. He could have easily proved that Amanera was a fixed bet for Mehra's, staking your reputation in not only Indian markets but entire world. Trust me Swara, Mehra's would have face major setback if you had been to facing the real Sanskar Maheshwari. But he preferred professional counterattack."

"Then it should have ended there itself why did he?" Swara could not understand Sanskar's past actions.

"Do you remember news flashed about him being under medical care of one psychiatrist?" Neil made another breakthrough.

"But that was rumor right?" Swara asked, her heart was throbbing inside her ribcage to know more about her husband.

"Nope it was true. Sanskar used to consult Myra, his psychiatrist from last three years. He has kept it hidden from everyone even Sujata Aunty and Ram Uncle were unaware about his treatment. It was only me and Rohan who knew about it. You were the first one to see him with his doctor in orphanage just couple of days before news leakage. Initial proofs were against you pointing at you behind. His CEO position was in danger and Shekhar Gadodia took this as chance and started cornering Sanskar as he rejected alliance with his obsessed daughter. He agreed to marry Ragini just to trick that bloody backstabber. But just a night before your marriage he got to know that it was your PA Payal who was doing everything using your name" Neil provided her overall details.

"What are you saying?" Swara heard him being surprised, but her mind was stucked on only one-word medical care, "But why psychiatrist?"

"For his insomniac tendency" Neil took deep sigh and responded in defeat.

"Sanskar is insomniac?" Swara was horrified with revealations.

"Don't tell me Swara you don't know about his sleeping disorder." Neil looked at her widening his eyes he continued with pain, "He cannot sleep without sleeping pills, and even with those he hardly gets sleep of 3-4 hours."

Swara remembered him taking pills at night calling them as his regular pain killers, she remembered his mumblings, his nightmares. Over last two months she had been witnessing his nightmares. Swara started blaming herself for increasing his pain with her taunts, her anger. She hated herself for being judgemental and assume things on her own. If she had confronted him on day one, then things would not have gone till this extend. Her trance was broken due to Neil's voice.

"He always wanted to protect you Swara...He wanted to safeguard you from Sahil." Neil informed where as Swara scrunched her eyebrows looking at him disbelief.

"He is black spot on society. He uses girls for his own desires and satisfaction. You were one of his targets. Me and Sanskar are well aware about that jerk from long. When Sanskar got to know about your's and his marriage talks, he became hyper but due to all misunderstandings he kept mum else he would have informed you about that creep on day one. He wanted to play his cards in such a way that you would be saved from horrible, disastrous marriage and at the same time he would make you realise not to mess up with him on personal grounds." Neil gave clear picture of those days to Swara.

"I know whatever Sanskar did was not correct, and even being his best friend, I am not supporting his actions but trust me Swara his intentions was always to protect you from asshole like Sahil. The night before your marriage when he got clear picture, he was coming to you to stop you from pushing yourself in hell but would you have trust him?...but then you know what everything happened...I have never seen Sanskar being so possessive and caring for anyone like the way he cares for you. I have never seen him getting effected with anyone but you from day one you had your impact on him." Neil tried to make her understand.

"I misunderstood him, I betrayed him" Swara cried palming her face between her hands.

Neil let her cry, 'may be this breakdown will make them closer to each other'. He got up from couch and moved towards his desk. He poured water in glass and brought it for her.

"He wanted to confess Swara before your marriage or even after marriage but then when you grandfather's will disclosed, things slipped from his hands. He thought you will blame him as he knew your meet with Sahil. Sanskar knows him in and out. He knew how he would have manipulated you against him." Neil added calmly.

"Sanskar knew he met me?" Swara repeated.

"Yes, from the day Sanskar got to know about you being framed by Payal, he asked Roger to increase your personal security. Payal used to work for someone we still don't know who is playing hiding himself behind curtains. But whoever he is, his main aim was to build misunderstandings between you and Sanskar" Neil explained.

"So Payal was behind those photo leakages?" Swara asked trying to connect dots.

"No, it was Sahil" Neil replied giving one more shock to Swara.

"What? But why?" Swara whisper yelled.

"Because he hates Sanskar like anything" Neil gave big blow to her mindset.

"Why they are cousins?" Swara was confused.

"But Sanskar is Maheshwari and Sahil is Sengupta. Sahil treated Sanskar as his arch rival from school days as he used outshine him in everything." Neil informed.

"And now he is not here" Swara murmured to herself .

"Swara, you both need to talk to each other. Communication, this is the missing piece in your relation. You both need to talk your hearts out. Don't think from your business minds but let your hearts flow the way it wants. You both will be able to find your destination to each other. Hundreds of times I told Sanskar that you both share something unusual... why don't you both think this as destiny's verdict." Neil tried to persuade.

Swara nodded her head understanding his point of view.

"He is not picking up my calls" Swara asked innocently.

"Don't worry I had talk with him in afternoon, he is coming back in 3 days" Neil informed with assured smile.

"No, I am going to Kolkatta, we have so many misunderstandings Neil but now I don't want any." Swara was determined.

Looking at her determination Neil relaxed as over the period of last two months he had observed his best friend who was head over heels with his firecracker wife.

"Thanks Neil... you are true definition of best friend... I wish I had someone like you beside me" Swara passed tight smile.

"Come I will drop you" Neil raised his palm to tap on her head and continued to lighten the mood "if he troubles you more, I will break his bones"

Swara lips stretched in small smile, she accepted his offer to drop her at her home Maheshwari House.

Swara came back to Maheshwari House, she went to her dressing room after changing into night clothes and opened her side of drawer there was her mangalsutra and sindoor.

She adorned her neck with mangalsutra and fill her maang with sindoor. "I want to give this marriage a real chance Sanskar. I am coming tomorrow to you. Let's start a fresh." She felt like a complete woman looking at her reflection from mirror. She knew how much every time her heart used to crave to wear her martial symbols.

'He is alone... and we are on track with our plans' Siddhant received message from Jaideep.

'Finish him once and for all' Siddhant typed with gritted teeth and hit the send button.

It was night and Sanskar was driving car, images of Swara and Sahil were replaying on his mind, tears were rolling on his cheeks. He overtook one car and moved ahead rashly. It was deserted road passing through deep forest. He was just driving pressing accelerator on max speed with out any destination.

"Ohh god how these people are driving these days" Man said to his wife from the car which Sanskar overtake.

"Leave it, he must be drunk" his wife mumbled shaking her head.

They heard loud honking from back, man looked in the rear mirror one truck was trying to overtake them.

"Let him go. Looks like everyone is in hurry" wife said to her husband sounding worried.

Truck overtook their car as they moved to sideline.

After 10 minutes of drive they found Sanskar's car crashed in middle of the road.

"Ohh god, such a major accident" Man mumbled looking at Sanskar's car upside down.

He stopped their car and got down.

"Adarsh wait where are you going?" his wife parineeta asked pulling him back.

"Pari I am doctor. Looks like this traveler needs my help" Adarsh replied.

He came towards car, he can see one man injured badly, he tried to take him out from car's driving seat. He was not sure about chances of his survival looking at impact of crash.

Sanskar was unconscious, blood was oozing out of his forehead and other body parts. They made him lie on the ground and then looked at him in horrified widening their eyes and called him in unison.

"Aditya"

**********************************************
Precap:

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