"Sir, we cannot go there"

Sanskar stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her in confusion.

"Everybody is there. We cannot go like this" she pointed at his hold over her wrist.

Her words acted as reality check for him about their hidden marriage.

For a moment she felt he would leave her hand.

He looked at their intertwined hands.

But without realising his hold, he changed his path taking turn. He took out phone from his jacket with free hand.

"David car at the back entrance NOW."

It was hard for Swara to match with his speed but more than his speed it was her brain which was running with jet speed.

When they came out, Sanskar's car was standing outside with David. He looked at his boss dragging one girl along with him was total surprise for him.

Sanskar raised hand without a word or look.

David kept car keys in his hands not raising his eyes.

Sanskar opened passenger door.

"Sit"

Swara sat inside not saying any word knowing his nature.

Sanskar drove car to nowhere.

'Who was she?' Swara's thoughts kept on revolving around Serena.

"You did not see anything." It was an order in deep voice which broke dead silence of the car.

Swara looked at his cold face. She could barely nod her head turning her eyes to look outside.

Her phone started ringing flashing "Brittany Calling"

It's Brittany" Swara looked at Sanskar for answer.

"Earlier, she was supposed to drop me at home."

"Shit! Pick up the call and make some excuse."

"Hi Brittany" Swara picked up call and made some excuse for leaving early.

'Was he in love with that girl?'

'She said, they were about to get married. But how can she cheat on him.' Swara felt disgusted but she could not understand why her heart was crying over the thought of he was emotionally involved in another girl.

Rest drive was in silent. He stopped car under her apartment.

Swara thought to go out. She opened the door but then turned.

"If you want to share anything, anytime you will have my ears."

"I hate when people judge and assume things own their own." His cold voice gave shivers to her spine.

"But I think, sharing will lessen your burden."

"Good night Swara" he indicated end of their discussion.

"Good night"

Sanskar turned to look at her retiring figure.

'Why it happens with me always?' he kept his head on steering wheel.

'Swara you want me to share with you. but what?'

'What should I tell you? That I had trusted the façade Serena created around me.'

He drove back to his penthouse. His mind was not at peace after his encounter with Serena.

'I cannot let her enter in my life. She is greedy, cunning and selfish woman.'

He remembered her betrayal unsettling his mind more.

'Shit... and I dragged Swara with me in front of her. Serena is devious woman; she would not miss it. Swara will become her target. Shit how could I miss it.'

"Roger increase Swara's security. Just be with her as her shadow but make sure she should not know about it".

Weekend came with new hopes and bright shine. Swara and Sanskar came to meet Granny.

They were spending their maximum time with Granny when Sanskar's phone buzzed and after attending call he went downstairs.

From that moment, he was nowhere to be seen. He did not even join them for dinner by giving excuse of official meetings. Post dinner Swara came back to their room.

Today, she had found one nice mystery book. While reading that book she did not even realise when it turned mid night.

At around 2 in night, Sanskar entered in their room turning knob carefully thinking Swara would be in deep slumber.

His presence earned attention from Swara.

Lights from the room turned his gaze towards her.

'What happened to him? Why his eyes are red? Was he crying?' She became baffled looking at his swollen eyes.

Sanskar was not expecting Swara to be awake. He had made sure to return late than his usual timings.

"Are you ok Sir?"

"Hmm" he hummed and went for freshen up.

Meanwhile Swara also got ready to sleep but her thoughts were revolving around Sanskar.

He came back and lied down on his bed.

Swara lied down on couch covering herself with quilt.

They both were observing each other's moment from corner eyes even their backs were facing eachother. Their hearts wanted to break this silence, but mind was restricting them.

Swara glanced at his back one last time before closing her eyes when she heard his moist voice.

"Swara"

"Hmm"

"That day, you said if I want to share something you will be there for me."

"Yes."

It was long pause after that.

'Is he thinking about something?'

"I am sorry. I am sorry for everything." He whispered audible to her only.

Swara's eyes left wide open when she heard 'Sorry' like alien word from him.

"I am sorry for hiding everything from you."

"I am sorry for dragging you mercilessly in this mess."

"I am sorry for taking you granted all the time."

"I am sorry for that day when I lied to Granny about you growing up in an orphanage."

"I am sorry for being so rude and arrogant towards you." her heavy sobbing broke his reverie.

Swara pressed her lips to supress her sobs for his sudden unexpected confession.

He was still facing his back to her, but she could feel he was crying.

"It's ok" she hardly mumbled in middle of her sobs.

Then again there was mild sobbing and sniffling's when two hearts were crying out their pain.

"Over the days you would have got to know Granny is suffering from ... from Brain Tumor." He composed himself still not turning to her side.

His words filled her eyes with fresh tears.

Over the months, Swara was aware about Granny's medical treatment but she was not sure about the exact.

"But she will be fine soon, right?" it was more of a question to him.

"Doctors are saying Granny has max 2 months. Tumor size is increasing rapidly."

"No... Don't say this." she started sobbing "Can't you do anything? Bring some specialist? Get best treatment for Granny. There will be some cure."

"Do you think I would have left any option?"

After that no one talked but they both could hear each other's weeping's.

None of them could sleep for long time but finally at early morning sleep took over her charge drifting both in deep slumber.

Sanskar opened his eyes, his head was throbbing with pain because of last night. He turned to look at Swara's side. Couch was empty. He raised his hand to check timing on his phone. It was 9:30 am.

He lazily stretched himself and his gaze went on the curtains which were closed.

His wife had closed them not to disturb his sleep. He got freshen up and then left for Granny's room for breakfast.

He was shocked to see no one in Granny's room. He started searching for two.

"Sanskar breakfast is set in patio" Julia informed, gulping audibly.

"Where is Granny?"

"Mrs. Maheshwari is also at patio." She could not match with his heated gaze.

'Swara, this is not done. You know about Granny. Still' he turned and left for patio taking long steps.

He was standing at the patio door and his gaze went to Swara and his Granny.

"Granny, aren't they beautiful?" she had plucked roses from their garden. She was putting them on big vase.

His eyes went towards his Granny, she was smiling brightly.

"They are beautiful just like you."

He took steps towards them, they both were talking, laughing, giggling. His Granny was taking deep breaths of fresh air. He could see ultimate pleasure, peace on her face. It was after long time her face was beaming with happiness.

He did not say a word but took his seat.

Swara looked at him gulping audibly. 'Peace before volcano eruption.'

She turned Granny's wheelchair and served her breakfast.

"Pancakes" Granny's eyes widened with surprise.

Sanskar gave hard glare to Swara which she successfully dodged, "Yes Granny, Julia Aunty told me you love it. Don't worry, there is no sugar, but I added overly ripped banana to make it sweet. It is allowed for you." her explanations were more for the devil sitting beside her.

"Yummm" Sanskar looked at his Granny, she was satisfied with just one bite of pancake.

"You know Swara, your Grandpa used to make the best pancakes. Every thanksgiving long weekend we used to go to Tobermory, it's small village, where he used to make it for me and Sanskar." And there, Granny goes on talking about her memories with her husband.

Swara could not even realise when their breakfast finished in talks with Granny.

But today for the first time Sanskar observed his Granny did not make any fuss over breakfast. 'It's because pancakes are her favourite.'

He was silent but Swara's eyes were moving towards his stone face frequently whereas Granny ignored him conveniently.

'In study NOW' Swara saw a message on her phone and immediately she lifted her eyes to see his retiring figure.

'Time for volcano to erupt. Hey Kanhaji please save me' she prayed looking at open sky.

After settling down Granny in her room Swara started moving towards study room.

She knocked and after receiving permission she entered. Sanskar was standing in front of window.

'Please no. Not Volcano please. You are better as Olaf.'

"What was that? I told you yesterday and you..." he was interrupted.

"I did not want to offend you, Sir. But I did it for Granny."

"Because of your this adventure, Granny's health could deteriorate. Don't you have that simple sense?"

"One simple question, why did you bring me here as your on paper, show off wife?" she crossed her arms passing challenging stare. Her heart was grappled with fear but over the months she became used to with his nature.

He looked puzzled.

"For Granny's happiness. Am I correct?"

He shook his head.

"If I am not wrong, you were knowing about her disease. She would have nag you to get married and for her happiness, for her WISH you brought me here?"

"How is this connected with the adventure you played for today?"

"I also did it for her happiness, her wish."

"Care to explain?"

"I know, Granny has less time with us." her voice chocked.

"But in this time, we should make her happy. We should fulfill all her wishes. We need to be with her in all sense. It's hard but that will give her peaceful, satisfactory, and happy departure. I know it's difficult but we have to accept the harsh reality of life."

She took a step towards Sanskar and held his palm in hers.

"We should not run away. We should not close ourselves, but we need to face it with smile, that's what the Granny want." Her soothing words shook his core.

His hold on her hand became tight with thought of losing Granny.

"I know it's hard for you. It's hard of both of us. But we should make this time memorable for her as well as for us. She needs to live her life all together in these months this should be our gratitude to her for loving us." Swara put her another hand on theirs, she could feel he was shivering.

'I don't want to be alone again' one tears trailed over his cheeks.

"You will see me beside you" Swara replied abruptly.

'Always' she bit her lower lip restraining herself from blurting out.

He turned to look at her in astonishment.

"Promise?" innocent kid inside him popped out from nowhere.

"Promise" She nodded with soft smile.

"Thanks, Swara" he released their joined hands. 'For being there for me'

She nodded her head in agreement understanding his unspoken words.

"So, what should we do now?" it was question from him.

"Next weekend is Thanksgiving long weekend. You can take Granny to that village she was mentioning about it over breakfast." She suggested after quick thought.

"First thing, I asked what should WE do now? So, it will be always US here onwards ... not you or me alone" he stared in her eyes determinedly.

Her eyes could not match with his intense one's. 

Unknowingly he joined their faiths for life time.

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

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