"Swara please say something. My knees are hurting"

Sahil's request broke Swara's reverie, she closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead to calm herself from not bursting on him.

"Sahil, please get on your feet"

'I hope it is yes from her' he crossed his fingers in anticipation.

"Swara what happened?"

"Sahil, I thought we are friends, but you take it to another level. I was not expecting this from you" Swara replied with firm yet soft tone.

"I understand we are friends, but I fell for you. What is my mistake in it that you are so beautiful? I can't control my heart which was smitten with your one look."

"Sahil, I don't believe in love and marriages."

"But I believe. Trust me Swara, we will have successful marriage. You and I know each other enough to spend entire life together. This is not a mere attraction, my heart truly longed for you, from day one I insisted on our meetings so that we both can know each other."

"I don't think so Sahil, there is lot more in my life which is hidden from all" She turned to leave from there, but she felt pull on her wrist.

"I know why you don't believe in love and marriage, but it is your past, and you can trust me. I will not let your past distance you away from me. Please, I am ready to give you whatever time you will need. We will remain friends. I will give you time to fall for me." He hissed with pounding heart; his red eyes were showing his sufferings, his heartbreak and frustration.

"I am sorry Sahil but you need to accept this" she released his hold and left from there wiping her tears.

Infuriated Sahil kicked the table forcefully, which tumble down all the flower decorations and candles.

'No Swara, this is not an end. I will make you mine by hook or by crook' he clenched his fist to control his anger.

Breaking sound of table could not stop Swara, as she was already engrossed in her thoughts.

'Love is the most painful emotion of this world; it is the first step of self-destruction. I had seen the worst marriage, heart break of my father. I have seen his downfall, breaking him in pieces, dying him every moment for his love. I cannot allow anyone to do the same with me. I will not let anyone come close to my heart. I will not let anybody to take advantage of my weakness. Nobody can become my weakness'

Next day early morning Ragini typed message on her phone 'I am ready for this marriage'.

Sanskar was in lawn, he looked for Ragini's reply and devil smirk appeared on his face for moment.

Ragini was waiting for his reply from the moment she sent him message, it was afternoon and still he did not reply back. 'Did he change his mind? No No No... please no Sanskar.'

She opened his number from contact list, but she did not gather courage to hit the call button 'What if he gets annoyed? I should wait for his response. I cannot afford to make him angry.'

Ragini released her breath at evening when her mobile beeped with notification from Sanskar. With shivering hands, she opened the notification and gasped heavily.

'Ok, I will talk to Mom' text from him fluttered her heart with jet speed.

"Mrs. Sanskar Maheshwari" Ragini called herself looking at her reflection from the mirror.

"Ohh god Sanskar do you know how much I have waited for this day?" Ragini said with teary eyes looking and caressing Sanskar's pic from her mobile picture gallery.

She wiped her fake crocodile tears and smirked devilishly with the thought 'To become a queen, you must marry a king.'

'I always wanted to become crowned queen of Maheshwari's, that's the only dream I have seen when I realised the power and status I will own when your name will attach with mine.'

'But that does not mean I don't love you. I love you. I love you so much but not more than the Maheshwari crown.'

Ragini closed her eyes feeling triumph.

Over the year she had closely observed Uttara, she was younger to her but still she was treated as princess from her family members.

Even though Shekhar and Sharmishtha provided luxurious life to Ragini there was no match with Maheshwari's affluence. They were not only royal, rich, reputed, but they were super influential family of India.

Ragini cherished the feeling of making everyone bow their heads in front of her, she loved be in authoritative position having all power secured in her fist.

Finally, the day was here which would fulfill all her dreams to hold the title of Mrs. Sanskar Maheshwari and rule over the Maheshwari clan.

Ragini was manipulative and calculative girl, at early age she had realised the benefits of holding Maheshwari tag. She was successful to mask her devious, shrewd plans behind her innocent and frail face.

Even Gadodia family was unaware about her cunning nature. She used her tears to influence everyone's emotions and gain their sympathy.

Divya Sengupta was on of them. She had tried her emotional cards on Sujata as well, but till today she was not successful to conquer her heart. But now she was least bother about her when she have earned the Ace of cards.

It was night, Anurag looked down from his room's terrace and sight in front of him left a scar on his already broken heart.

Swara was sitting on the swing gazing at the stars with blank face, tears were rolling down from her eyes. He had observed her, over last two days, she looked lost and occupied in her own thoughts over couple of days.

Anurag took deep sigh with thought 'she shows that she hates her mother but I know she is still craving for her. Am I responsible for all this mess? Because of me, my daughter does not have any faith in love and marriage.'

'I am sorry Reva; I wish you were here with me to take care of our Shona. It's been 18 years, 7 months and 22 days you left me'. His heart never believed that his Reva could betray him for someone else.

'Where are you Reva?' Anurag looked upwards to question the almighty.

At the same moment, Swara's gaze went towards her father's room terrace. She was the only living witness of Anurag's crave for Reva over the years.

Anurag tried his best to maintain archetypal demeanour in front of everyone, but Swara's eyes did not miss the emptiness,longingness in her father's eyes for his unrequited love.

Lot of times she used to visit her father's room in middle of night, just to witness him breaking down in front of her mother's pic which he kept in his wallet.

Swara abhorred her mother for her father's pain and because of her hatred, there was not a single memory of Reva at their home except her one pic in Anurag's wallet.

'When are you going to forget her Papa?'

Next day, both father and daughter wished good morning to each other hiding their pain behind their artificial smile.

"Shona what is bothering you, beta?"

" Nothing. It's just regular. Amanera is taking a lot of time. I am planning to..."

"Shona, I asked what is bothering you?"

"Wh...What?"

'Sahil Calling' her mobile displayed the caller name earning irritated gasped which did not go unnoticed from Anurag's eyes.

She cut the call taking deep sigh.

Swara's reaction was unusual to Anurag, over couple of months he had perceived his daughter's friendship with Sahil.

Sahil has visited their home couple of times as her friend. Anurag also liked his jolly and friendly nature wheneven they met. He even observed his daughter's smile when her newly found friend cracked silly jokes but still her smile did not reach to her eyes. He wished one day he would see her smiling wholeheartedly.

He never asked Swara about Sahil but accepted their friendship cordially. He wanted to give time to Swara to understand her own feelings about Sahil, before his confrontation, 'are you serious about him?'.

He knew that he needed to maintain patience with her, his daughter was imbecile especially when it comes to love and marriage.

'But what if they both want to move ahead in their relation?' this thought used to make him worry.

Sahil was son of Divya and Siddhant.

Deep down in his heart, he was sure Divya would never accept Swara. She despised Reva from day one, so how can she love her daughter?

'Divya would never give motherly love to Swara, the love Sujata would shower on his daughter'.

He wished instead of Sahil, Swara would have formed a friendly bond with Sanskar, but his daughter treated him as opponent much to his distaste.

"Is there something happened between you and Sahil?"

"Nothing Papa"

"Shona, you cannot lie to me"

"He proposed me for marriage"

"Ok, and then?"

"You know my answer Papa. I am not ready for it"

"Shona, one relation failed that does not mean all relations will fail. I know, you had seen your parent's terrible marriage but that does not mean all marriages are a big failure. No Beta remember your Dadu and Dadi. They had a very successful marriage for more than 50 years, they were together, holding each other, being each other's support system, they loved each other till your Dadu's death made them apart. It is in your hands to make your marriage beautiful or let it get break with the passage of time." Anurag tried to knock some senses to her fallacious thoughts by giving best example of his parents' marriage.

"But Papa?"

"Shona, I want you to get married. I am not forcing you for Sahil, anyone who will make his place in your heart, who will give you the feeling that you born in this world for him, your existence is meant for him. I want to see that someone loving and caring for my daughter more than me. I want that someone to bring smile on your face, someone to hold you during difficult times. I wish, I can see my Shona smiling with her heart in her soulmate's embrace. I want you to lead happy married life beta. This is my first and only wish."

They both shared painful eye lock, which was broken by Anurag, he stood up and left from dining hall.

Swara looked at her father's retreating figure from back but she did not miss to notice him wiping his tears.

Swara covered her teary face with palms, her heart was crying at her father's plea. 

'I will do whatever you want Papa. You are the only one I have in my life; I cannot see you getting hurt because of me. But I will not be able to love someone. Love hurts the most.'

It was night when Sanskar entered his room typing something on his message box followed by his mother.

"What was that Sanskar?"

Earlier he visited his parents' room for announcement of his decision to marry Ragini after dinner.

His declaration drained all colours from Sujata's face, whereas Ram looked perplexed to ask anything to his son.

"Mom, you wanted me to get married. You and Divya Aunty proposed this alliance some time back, I know, that time I had rejected it but now I think, I should give it a chance"

"Marriage is not a chance Sanskar it is a lifetime commitment"

She was taken a back with his sudden marriage decision and that too with Ragini, a girl he never looked at, any time in his life.

"I accept Mom, you only thought Ragini will be a good match for me" Sanskar cross questioned with narrowed eyes, not understanding his mother's hesitance.

"Yes, she is good no doubt but here it's not about me or anybody else. This is about you Sanskar. You need to spend your life with her, you should feel that she is the one for you."

"I agree Mom but it's fine if you and Divya Aunty thinks that we could be compatible then I have no issues. I trust you both with my life"

"Are you sure Sanskar? If you want take your time"

"Yes, I agree I will need to time accept this change, but I will go with the flow. And that's what I conveyed to Ragini as well and she agreed for it."

Sujata keenly stared at her son for some moments to comprehend his feelings, his heart in this marriage.

"Ok, you are mature enough for deciding for yourself. I just want my son to be happy in his life. I am with you whatever decision you will take"

Next day at breakfast table Sujata announced Sanskar's decision to everyone earning gasping expressions from Divya and Uttara whereas Siddhant was on cloud nine.

Sahil was absent from last two days, he had already slipped away with some lame excuse.

Maheshwari house dining hall started booming with all talks around the upcoming marriage of their son. But Sanskar was trying his best to finish his breakfast as soon as possible to escape from this unwanted situation.

"Mom I am leaving"

"Sanskar now stop being work maniac, you will need to give us more time. It is going to be the first wedding of this generation; we will do it in our Udaipur Royal Palace. Right Bhai?" Divya had her own plans for her nephew's wedding.

"Of course, Divya, it will be a big and lavish event which will capture each and every person's eye" Ram seconded his sister.

Sanskar nodded his head reluctantly and left from there taking long strides.

Sanskar had just finished his meeting with legal team along with Neil. Rest members of the team left conference hall leaving behind only Sanskar and Neil.

"Have you lost your brain somewhere?" Neil voiced out his frustration.

In morning when they met, Sanskar conveyed his decision to his best friend when they both were walking towards conference hall which was already filled with required attendees.

There was not a single word from Neil during the entire meeting of three hours, but he was passing murderous gaze to Sanskar, which he ignored proficiently.

"I know we need big news, but this is a bullshit. Don't you feel you should have simple courtesy to consult this with your best friend before finalizing everything"

He had always hoped best for him, and Ragini was not the one for him.

"Why are you making it a scene? You are settling down with Sammy so why not I?"

"I am settling down with Samaira because I love her. And Ragini and you are miles apart." Neil fathomed with smirk depicting 'I know you better than yourself'

"How can you be so sure about it?"

"I will kill you Sanskar." Neil threatened in low voice and continued while trying his best to control his fury

"Ragini is not the one for you. Now spill the bins over the actual reason for this so call alliance proposal"

Sanskar stared at his best friend's seethed face for some moments, he could never hide anything from him.

They both were eachother's shadow.

"Few reasons, first Mom. She wanted me to settle down. After news leakage she is taking too much pressure for my sleeping disorder. I don't want to increase her stress. Secondly, Maheshwari Business House. I cannot let anyone rule over Maheshwari's legacy. Shekhar Gadodia knows our family from long, if he agrees for this alliance all allegations against me would be thrown in the dustbin as so called rumours. Nobody will believe. It's simple calculation, no father will give his lovely daughter to a person who is under medical care. Ragini is obsessed with me so there was never a chance for her denial. Third, marriage news in Maheshwari family will automatically captured all media attention shutting off all gossips" Sanskar sneered passing his signature smirk at his best friend.

Neil was bowled over his theory, his mouth remained open, but no word came out.

He rubbed his forehead to calm his infuriated mind, he clenched his fist which was ready to smack his best friend's to handsome his face so hard making sure to break couple of bones of his chiseled jaw.

"What are you doing Sanskar? You are pushing yourself in loveless marriage. Do you think Sujata aunty will be happy if she gets to know your magnificent thoughts about your so called compromised marriage? Do you think Ram Uncle will lead this legacy with pride which had crushed his son's life? Stop here Sanskar." Neil cajoled shaking his head.

"I have decided Neil to go for it, if destiny wants me to lead loveless life then I am ready for it" Sanskar proclaimed with anguish.

Destiny grieved over looking at lost Sanskar, 'your life is filled with unconditional pure love, you just need to look for it.'

***********************************************
Precap –

Will Sahil agree for Swara's conditional acceptance for their marriage?

What would be Sanskar's reaction for Swara's acceptance for Sahil's proposal?

Why Divya hate Reva?

Thanks for loving this story. Let me know how you found this chapter in the form of your votes and comments.

Love
AngelTweet