Swara went stilled at her place with his sudden hug. She could feel he was shaken from the core.

"Sir, are you ok?" Swara mumbled against his chest.

She was able to hear his racing heartbeat.

He tightened his grip over her not letting her go away from him.

His one tear slipped and fell on Swara's shoulder.

'Is he crying?' Swara wrapped her hands and patted his back to provide support.

His tight grip over her petite figure was making causing her suffocation, but her heart did not permit her to break their moment. She understood he needed some assured emotional support.

"It's fine Sir. Everything will be fine." She tried to assure without any context.

Her soothing words, her assured taps on his back broke his trance and he gained his senses back on what happened few moments ago.

He broke their hug ruffling his hand from his jet-black hairs while tightly closing his eyes.

Swara stared at him who was gulping his own unshed tears. He was breathing heavily.

He gave quick glance at her.

"I am sorry." He looked everywhere but not at her.

"Sir? Are you ok?"

He stared in her big doe eyes those were filled with her concern for him. He broke their brief eye lock looking at other side.

He turned and taking long strides started leaving from there.

Swara called him couple times from back, but he was gone.

Remaining day Swara tried to keep herself engrossed in her work. She got to know from Mike that Sanskar did not return to office.

One part of her heart wanted to know what happened with him. One moment she even thought to call him, but knowing his nature, she knew he would not appreciate her concernedly gesture and will take it other way round passing his famous sarcastic comments.

She could not deny but her heart was craving for his wellbeing. 'I hope he would be fine. He looked shattered.'

She came back to her home, helped her roommates, talked with her parents as usual but back of her mind was occupied with Sanskar's thoughts.

'What happened to him suddenly? He was so disturbed. He was angry that he would have killed that old man. I have never seen him this much angry anytime. But why he was angry?'

'I have seen him this angry only on that night when he had received that phone call in middle of the night. He was ready to kill anyone.'

'Siddhant Sengupta the same name he took that day as well.'

'May be family rivalry.' she tried to convince her unsettled mind.

She went to her bed, but sleep was far away from her eyes. Sanskar's tormented face was replaying in front of them taking away her sleep.

It was mid-night when her phone started buzzing flashing 'Granny Calling.'

She came out to balcony to pick up the call.

"Hello Granny"

"Swara, my child please don't worry about Sanskar. He is here with me." Granny's voice added fuel to her already lit confusion.

'He went to meet Granny alone?'

"Ohh! Ok Granny."

"I know you would have been worried about him as he did not come back from office. He came here to meet me."

"Granny, are you fine?" Swara thought about any emergency.

"Yes, my child. I am fine. Don't worry about me." Granny assured. She took brief pause and inquired, "But did something happen? Or did someone meet Sanskar today?"

"I don't know Granny, but someone named Sengupta ..." she was interrupted.

"Hey Kanhaji, why does not he leave my Sanskar all alone?" Swara could first time felt anger, disgust in Granny's voice.

"What happened Granny? Who is he?" question was out even before Swara could realise.

"He is our horrendous past. Swara don't worry about Sanskar. He will be back home in a day or two. If you want, you also come here."

"I will see Granny." Swara knew since it was weekday it was not possible for her to visit. She gave some lame excuses to avoid the topic.

They both talked for some more time before cutting the call.

Granny caressed Sanskar's hairs who was sleeping peacefully beside her like a small child, but his tear marks were still visible to her which gave scar to her soul remembering their horrendous past.

Even today she remembered the day clearly bringing fresh tears in her eyes.

'Almost 16-18 years back, it was one phone call in middle of the night which changed their life. Phone call was from Police informing her and husband about the attack happened inside their son's, Shekhar's home. She along with her husband immediately rushed towards their home.

Shekhar Maheshwari was only child of Lakshmi and Anant Maheshwari, born after 15 years of long wait. It was late realisation for Lakshmi and Anant that their only son had went too far to drown himself in dark life of drugs, alcohol, and lust.

When they reached there, she could see paramedic staff taking their 10-year-old grandson Sanskar, to hospital who was injured badly and was in unconscious state.

"I am sorry Mr. Maheshwari, your son was shot dead with two bullets and his wife was stabbed with dagger multiple times. We found your grandson in unconscious state. Looked like he was hiding from attacker." Police informed taking floor beneath them.

It was tragic day of their life to lose their son as well as daughter – in- law and seeing their only grandson in serious condition.

Couple of days later, Police confirmed Shekhar killed Sharmishtha as they found fingerprints on the dagger, but they were not able to confirm Shekhar's killer. They could not find any revolver. Investigation was going on in full swing for high profile case.

Even though Anant had issues and disagreements with his son, he used, his influence to find his son's culprit unaware of the storm going to hit his family shaking roots of their household.

Two weeks, later doctors declared Sanskar out of danger, but he had slipped in deep depression. He was facing nervous breakdown. That 10-year-old boy had seen lot of blood bath which made him tongue tied about the incident.

They brought him back to their home and her full attention grabbed by Sanskar who became body without soul. He started getting nightmares and used to mumble, "He killed Dad. Dad killed Mom."

After almost one month, she heard some noises from downstairs at middle of night. She made Sanskar sleep covering him with blanket.

"Do you know who killed Shekhar?" she was aware of the person standing in front of her husband in the drawing hall.

He was her husband's nephew Siddhant Sengupta.

One person who was responsible for pushing Shekhar to dark life.

"It was me" Siddhant took a seat passing arrogant smile. His casual approach left Lakshmi and Anant bewildered.

"I will kill you Siddhant" Anant roared in anger when his words registered in his mind.

"No, you will not because of Sanskar"

"Dare you take my grandson's name from your filthy mouth."

"Your grandson?"

"Are you sure he is your grandson?" Siddhant smirky chuckle boomed in the hall.

His one statement was like icy water thrown upon her and her husband.

"Mr. Anant Maheshwari, your son Shekhar Maheshwari the spoil brat, alcoholic, drug addict, womanizer. He wanted to fist your wealth, but you were his impediment. He married Shomi that bitch greedy bar girl just in a contract to show you that he mended his ways. He portrayed perfect family in front of you both for all these years when reality was exact opposite."

"You wanted him to give heir to this family but unfortunately your son was infertile. Shomi being a lusty, unsatisfied woman used to come to me to share her pain."

"Enough Siddhant"

"I have not even started yet. Their plan was perfect to have one piece of shit labelled as Maheshwari to show you as their trophy son to make you transferred your property to Shekhar."

"You are lying" Granny rebuked.

"Once done, Shekhar would have thrown that of bastard and his wife out of his life."

"No this is not true."

"Shomi and I have joined hands to blackmail Shekhar to get our share. Everything was going smoothly but the day you announced this whole legacy on Sanskar's name... it was over for all of us. You, old man tricked us."

"Shekhar hated to see Sanskar in front of him carrying his name, his fortune, his wealth. His presence used to remind him about his weakness. He used to blame him, curse him and avoid him as plague."

His each revelations were bringing fresh tears in old couple's eyes.

"Shomi hated her own flesh of blood. Because of him, her freedom was snatched. She was greedy, cruel, and lusty woman who was selfish. She tortured him, breaking his self-confidence, crushing his self-respect at every day."

"I hated him because he was the one who stood as blocker between me and my dream to own this Karma Group of Business Empire. You cannot even imagine how we wanted to kill him but the clause from your will that if anything happens to Sanskar then all property would go in the name of trust. That's the only thing, we kept him alive till today."

"No this is not true."

"I am afraid, but this is the reality of that illegitimate shit. Now no one is there to carry forward this legacy other than me. I will prove him as my biological son and..." Siddhant was interrupted with Anant's dangerous voice.

"I don't care about the past. Get one thing in your mind that Sanskar is my Grandson. He is the sole heir of Maheshwari's legacy. And no one can take any of his rights. I will make it legally happen." Anant clutched his collars. "And you are going behind bars for your crimes."

"Sure. I am ready Uncle but then I will open my mouth and your so call grandson will become talk of the town within blink of an eye. He is already facing mental issues. This will surely make his mad." Siddhant laughed loudly.

"No... Anant please no. My child has already borne a lot. His innocent heart has been crushed by these cruel peoples. Now don't let this society to point over him. He is already suffering. I don't want to lose my child." She had interrupted for the first time.

She broke down folding her hands before her husband who had lost battle in front of destiny.

"Granny" Sanskar called them from upstairs.

All three turned their heads towards small kid.

Hearing his sobbing's, she ran to him to take him in her motherly embrace.

"Are you going to leave me? Will you throw me out of this house as well?" he asked innocently.

"No, my child. You are my life. I love you more than anything else." Granny kissed all over his face and taking him, she left inside.

"You are my grandson. Don't let these cheap people to ruin yourself Sanskar. I will not let them even touch your shadow" Sanskar looked at his grandfather who was caressing his hairs.

"Hey Kahnaji, please shower your blessings on him. He has suffered a lot. Please don't let any bad eye fell on his and Swara's beautiful married life." Granny caressed his hairs. Sleep was far away from her eyes.

Next day was not usual for Swara she was checking her watch again and again. She was waiting for clock to stuck as 10:30 her regular update meeting with Sanskar.

Her heart was craving to see his one glance. 'Hope he will be fine by now. Did he come back?'

At 10:30 she took her laptop and moved towards his cabin when she was called from back.

"Ms. Mehra, Sir is not there. He would be working from home for any pressing issue. Is it anything which needed his immediate attention?" Mike informed her with professional smile.

"No nothing" she shook her head staring at his name on glass door.

"You can mail him about the updates" his voice broke her trance and she left back to her cubical.

Two more days passed with same routine. Every day she called Granny to know about Sanskar but her reply was the same, "he will be back to you soon Swara. Don't worry he is fine. Why don't you come here."

Swara gave her lame excuses and avoided to go to Granny's home. She was waiting for Friday. She had decided to there alone if he was not going to come to pick her up.

"Sanskar, Swara is worried for you. You should go back." Granny earned his attention.

"I am going today evening. I will be back tomorrow with her." he informed still digging his head in Mac.

"Sanskar you need to open up in front of her. She is your soulmate. She needed to know about ..."

"That I am an illegiti...?"

"Stop. Not a word more. You are my grandson. This the truth. No one can change it." Tears started rolling over her cheeks.

"I am sorry Granny." He came closer to her and sat beside her kissing her forehead.

Next day, Sanskar was hoping to see one glance of Swara. Her serene face always gave him peace.

When clock stuck at 10:30, he heard voice from outside, "May I come in Sir?"

He turned as voice was not of Swara's.

He scrunched as he was expecting Swara instead of Brittany.

"Brittany where is Swara?"

She looked at him in confusion.

"I... I mean she comes to give me update so what happened today?"

"Sir, Swara is flying to India by early morning's flight. There is family emergency at her home. Her father faced cardiac attack last night." Brittany's words left Sanskar in flagger basted mode.

"Shit! She did not inform me." He mumbled to himself.

He rubbed his forehead which was creased with worried lines.

*********************************************

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