It was late night, when Swara came out of Mumbai Airport Arrival gate after completing immigration procedure. She looked for her brother who was waiting for her outside.

She ran to him.

"How is Papa Rohan?" She crossed her fingers. The question which haunted her from last 15 hours of journey.

"Di, thank god you came" Rohan hugged his sister. "Papa is not fine. He is still in ICCU."

"He will be fine. Don't worry. Now I am here right. I will make everything right." She consoled but her heart had already grappled with fear.

"How is Ma?"

"She is lost, shattered. Right now, she is in hospital."

Both brother and sister took their time to console each other.

"Let's go home Di." Rohan started dragging her pull over.

"No, first let's go to hospital. I want to see Papa."

"Di, it's been long journey for you. You must be tired."

"No no Rohan, let's go to hospital first."

Rohan and Swara came to hospital. She ran towards her mother who was sitting on bench outside of ICCU.

"Ma" she encircled her arms around her.

Both mother and daughter cried their hearts out.

Later she took her brother aside giving excuses to her mother.

"Rohan, what happened to Papa suddenly? His reports were all normal then how can? You did not speak anything on the call as well."

"Di, let Papa get fit and fine then I will let you know."

"Rohan, I need to know NOW."

"That day we were invited to Jiju's home for dinner to discuss about marriage preparations. As you wanted to wait for marriage date, Papa and Ma tried to convince them. It created some scene over there. They were pressurising Ma and Papa to force you for marriage date... and their leader was Nikhil Jiju. Even his aunt who lives in Canada added fuel."

"Radhika Aunty?"

"Yes, they are on their visit to India."

"When we were returning, we heard some gossips about you. He could not take that pressure. And at night this thing happened." Rohan started crying remembering incidence.

"I tried to call Nikhil Jiju but he did not pick it up. So, I somehow brought Papa to hospital by calling ambulance at our home."

"You have become so responsible and big. I am proud of you Rohan."

'You are my life's biggest mistake Nikhil.' She embraced her brother.

It was early morning, when Reva started forcing Swara to go to their home to take some rest.

"Shona, last night you directly came here. You need rest. Go home for some time."

"No Ma. I am fine. Let me talk to doctor first."

"Rohan did you inform Nikhil about Anurag?" Reva asked, it has been more than 24 hours her husband was admitted in hospital but her future son-in-law was nowhere to be seen.

"He is coming Ma. Yesterday, night I talked to Jiju." Rohan gave quick glance at Swara. Her sister was agitated over her fiancée.

Soon nurse informed them about doctor's arrival and they three went to meet him.

"We need to do open heart surgery. We need to revamp the heart volve...." Doctors explained them current condition of Anurag.

"But Papa will be fine?" Swara asked.

"We will try our best Ms. Mehra. This is complicated surgery, and we would need to consult with the Dr. Agrawal. He is the best heart surgeon of the country right now."

"Thank you doctor" after furthermore discussions, three started leaving from doctor's cabin.

"Rohan, you and Ma sit outside, I will just come."

Swara turned once her brother and mother left.

"Sorry doctor to take your more time but do you know how much it will cost for surgery. Papa has Mediclaim Insurance, but I think it won't be sufficient." Being middle class, she needed to be ready on all fronts.

"I understand. You need to check with admin for the cost."

"Sure. Thank you."

Swara went to meet admin staff. They responded with rough estimate that it would be around 15- 20 lacs but exact amount they would be able to confirm on the cost by afternoon.

'Hey Kanhaji from where I am going to get this much money? I don't have much in my savings account also not in Papa's account.'

'Should I ask Nikhil?'

'No. He did not show up till now. That shows how much he cares for my family. He will be the last person for me to go.'

She wiped her tears feeling helpless in front of destiny.

'Should I check for any personal loan?'

'Yes, this sounds like an option. But I already have home loan.'

'Let's take a chance if they can approve or not.'

With these thoughts she came to her home for freshen up.

"Rohan you go to hospital. Ma is alone there. I will go to bank. I need to transfer some money here." they both were on their way back to hospital.

"Ok. Di" Rohan got down from Rikshaw.

Swara came to bank and asked to meet loan manager.

After some half an hour of wait she entered inside cabin.

"Hello Sir" she was confused to see different person.

"Hello please have a seat."

"Mr. Patil? He used to be earlier loan manager."

"Yes, he got transferred to other branch." New manager replied.

"Sir, I want to check if I am eligible for any personal loan and if yes then how much I can get." Swara asked politely post explaining all details to the manager.

"You said you have active home loan."

"Yes Sir, and I am paying EMIs on time as well."

"Do you have you that loan file with you?"

"Yes, I have loan file number." Swara passed on the loan agreement paper.

Manager hit his keypad and scrunched his eyebrows.

"But... Ms. Mehra, I see your home loan is paid off." Manager declared still narrowing his eyes at computer screen.

"Wh... what?" Swara could not believe on the words hit her eardrums.

"Yes. I can see the loan file is closed with remarks of proceedings complete. Loan has been repaid some 7 months back."

"No Sir, this is not possible. I am paying EMIs regularly. Bank is deducting my EMI amount to loan. You can check my savings account statement."

"Yes, I see the debit transaction but it's deposited for your monthly fixed deposit scheme." Manager's statement gave one more shock to Swara.

"How is this possible Sir? There must be some system glitch. Can you please check again?"

"Ms. Mehra, right now I can just say you don't have any home loan on your head. And if you want to take any personal loan to support your father's surgery, bank will give it to you. But since this is personal loan, interest rate would be slightly higher."

"Ohh ok. Can you please let me know about the proceedings?"

As manager directed, she completed all formalities for personal loan request.

'How is this possible? How come loan is in paid status?' with these thoughts she came back to hospital.

Nikhil and his family were present.

"Swara what a surprise? You came and did not even inform me?" Nikhil took steps towards her when he saw her in corridor.

"Surprise?" she passed ridiculed chuckle, "My Papa is in critical condition. And you are thinking about surprise."

"Why are you being so sarcastic?"

"The effect of accompaniment" she shook her head. In a brief moment she remembered Sanskar and his rude remarks.

She folded her hands to greet his parents.

"Swara, we are meeting after long time." her so called mother-in-law came forward.

"Hmm Aunty" she just nodded her head.

"Ma, I am going to admin department. They had called me in afternoon." She moved towards her mother.

Nikhil's mother twitched her nose as for the first time Swara did not take her blessings.

"Take Nikhil with you."

"No that's ok Ma. Now I am used to handle everything alone. I will just come back."

Nikhil felt insulted with Swara's reply.

He passed death glare to her retiring figure with clutched fist.

"Can you please let me know how much it will cost for full treatment." Swara asked to admin person.

"Let me check. Patient name is Anurag Mehra, right?"

"Yes."

"Ms. Mehra, I can see there are no dues. All bills are paid off. In fact, you have already paid for surgery and post operation treatment."

"I guess you are mistaken. My father's name is Anurag Mehra, he is admitted in cardiac ward." Swara was baffled.

"No Ms. I see all bills are paid off. You don't owe anything to hospital. In fact, there is note for trustee's recommendations."

'Who paid the bills?

'Even bank loan. What is happening?' she was lost and was walking in the corridor. Her gaze went towards one familiar face.

'What is he doing here?' she started taking fast steps towards a person who was leaving in hurry.

"Roger" She called from back.

Roger halted in his track and turned in nervousness.

"What are you doing here?" She asked crossing her arms with narrowed eyes.

"I... I came to ... My cousin is admitted in same hospital" he fumbled with his answer.

"The most loyal employee of Sir."  She smiled looking at him. She shook her head when her mind connected missing dots.

'Sanskar Maheshwari was the answer for all my unanswered questions.' She looked other side to gulp her unshed tears.

"Don't worry Mam, your father will be fine. Sir has already personally talked to the trustees of this hospital. Dr. Agrawal will be here tomorrow for surgery. Everything will be taken care of. I am staying here incase you need anything, I am just a call away." He responded with professionalism yet assurance.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Her eyes filled with tears.

Next day, it was Anurag's operation. It took almost 6-7 hours. Doctors came out with good news of successful surgery. They confirmed it would be still long way to get back Anurag full fit and fine, but the major milestone has already been successfully crossed.

After emotional breakdown with her mother and brother, Swara came in an isolated corner of the corridor. She dialed Sanskar's number. She knew it was mid night in Toronto but still this time she just wanted to hear his voice.

Sanskar was at his Penthouse, he was working on his Mac when his phone buzzed with phone call flashing 'Swara Calling'

He stared at his phone with unknown feelings. It's been more than a week, he had seen her, heard her voice.

His eyes were dying to get her one glance. His ears were ringing with her melodious voice. His heart was racing with jet speed with her thoughts. She had occupied his senses even though he tried his best to avoid her like plague.

His phone kept on ringing and at the end it got disconnected.

'No, not this time.' Swara dialed number again.

She was sure, he would be awake and to avoid her questioning he is masking his true kind nature with arrogance.

After 4-5 attempts Sanskar finally picked up call. He was ready to lash out on her when he heard her sobbing's from other side.

"Papa's surgery was successful."

He became tongue tied for a moment.

'Is she crying? Why the hell she cries every time?'

Her continuous sobs increased his frustrations.

"Why are you telling me this at this hour? Don't I have any other work?" He was back with his sarcastic comments.

'Kind, composed, humble, responsible and innocent soul; behind rude, arrogant, stone hearted cold and sarcastic persona.'

"Because you should know about it."

"Because you are important to know about it." She wept from other side. She had started understanding him more these days.

Her words spread unknown peace inside his heart.

No one spoke any word from their sides, and Sanskar did not cut the call.

Swara kept on weeping out over the call, pouring out her pain, anxiety, restlessness she went through in last 48 hours.

"He will fine. Don't worry." His words acted as strength to her. Finally, he broke their silence over call after 20 minutes.

"I am sleepy now. I don't have whole night for your crying session." He was back with his rigidity.

Swara smiled hearing his grumpy voice, "Good Night."

Sanskar rolled his eyes at her chuckle.

"Take care" words were out even before he realized.

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

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