Swara involuntarily got down the car as Aman parked it in front of the Mansion and she walked straight to the door as if some force was pulling her in. Aman was speaking continuously while opening the door and walking in but nothing was registering in her mind.
A real was going on in Swara's mind with so many happy and sad memories coming back in.

She could see herself sitting on the couch with a man and laughing hard.
She could see herself singing standing on the steps which were in the middle of the mansion pretending to be a Rockstar while a man was holding a guitar standing beside her.

As Swara walked in towards the kitchen
She could see herself sitting on the kitchen slab mocking a man who was trying to cook.
She could see herself having dinner with two men sitting in front of her and undoubtedly now she could recognize the two men to be Vansh and Sanskar.

As she walked upstairs lost in the memories coming back to her from her past,

She could see herself with tears in her eyes standing outside a room banging on the door shouting something.
She could see herself running behind a man trying to stop him.

Swara followed her imagination out of the house and there she stood rooted looking at herself holding the car handle and Vansh increasing the speed and she falling down and hitting her head on the stone.

Swara was still lost in the trance when she felt two strong pair of hands pulling her away.

"Swara you are okay?", shouted Aman pulling her off the road where a truck just missed her.

"Vansh", is all Swara could utter before breaking down in tears making Aman worried and confused.

"Swara, what happened? Why are you crying?"

"Vansh just left me like that", cried Swara holding Aman.

"When Swara? Vansh is Sanskar's brother, right? How did you meet him?", asked Aman not understanding anything as he didn't know anything about Sanskar's twin brother except that Sanskar and Vansh didn't share a good bond.

Hearing Sanskar's name, Swara got back to reality. She looked around and at Aman's worried face before wiping out her tears. Taking a deep breath, she gave a half-smile to Aman relieving him to some extent.

"Nothing to worry Aman. I am fine. Shall we leave?", asked Swara.

"Are you sure? You were kind of weird since the time we came here", queried Aman and he too wanted to get back as he didn't like to see Swara like that.

On the way,

"Can we just not discuss my visit to the mansion with Sanskar", said Swara not sure about Sanskar's reaction.

"Of course I don't want to get killed. The moment he finds out that you almost met with an accident, he would sue me"

"What?"

"What...what? You were walking in the middle of the road all lost and a truck was coming that way. If I wouldn't have seen you at that time and pull you back, I can't imagine what would have happened", Aman narrated.

"Oh, this is worse. I shouldn't have come here", whispered Swara under her breath. Even Aman didn't speak much for the remaining journey as he just wanted to drop Swara home safely.

After reaching home, Swara silently went to her room and locked herself in. She felt so suffocated not being able to distinguish between her past and present. Whenever she closes her eyes, memories of her and Vansh came rushing in, and instantly a shooting pain would start in her heart which becomes unbearable that it comes out like tears from her eyes. Till then she thought that she was unlucky to not remember anything about her past but today she understood that it was a boon to forget and move on.

Amidst all the chaos in her brain, her heart showed a small ray of hope in the form of Sanskar. Just the thought of him has calmed her down and this time, her heart felt lite imagining his smile. As if on cue, she heard Sanskar's voice and banging on the door.

"Swara, please open the door...Swara"

Hearing his shout, Swara rushed and opened the door only to find a worried Sanskar and her parents.

"Swara, Are you okay?", asked Sanskar holding her by shoulders and she just nodded in yes not understanding the reason for them to panic so much.

"Why were you not answering my calls?", demanded Sanskar.

"What...I didn't get any...oh my phone is on silent", replied Swara checking her mobile.

"I am sorry", said Swara looking at them apologetically.

Sanskar immediately hugged her.

"Oh I was so worried"

Her parents left the room with a smile giving them privacy.

"Sanskar, you don't have to panic about me anymore"

Hearing which Sanskar broke the hug and looked at her enquiring.

"I...I kind of remembered my past", said Swara deciding to let him know that she remembered everything. Because she didn't want to see him worried like this for their entire life.

"What...how...I mean...", Sanskar was at a loss of words not understanding what to say.

"Relax Sanskar. I am fine. I won't say that it is not at all painful remembering everything but I am sure I will get over it", choked Swara walking away from Sanskar.

Gulping hard, she tried to smile through the tears.

"I mean now I have you with me right. You would help me", she paused and rolled her eyes upward to make prevent the tears from rolling down.

"But Sanskar you were there with me back then too right, why didn't you stop me from falling for him...why didn't you stop me from breaking down...why Sanskar? Why did you let me go mad around him like that?", shouted Swara going towards him and holding his collar while Sanskar couldn't do anything rather than let his tears flow down.

"I am...I am sorry Swara. I know I should have warned you about Vansh before itself but I was a selfish brother back then. I am really very sorry 😞" said Sanskar.

Swara placed her head near his heart and she cried her heart out holding his t-shirt tightly while Sanskar rubbed her back slowly assuring that he is there with her.

Sanskar did blame himself many times looking at Swara's deteriorating mental health but now hearing it from her somehow made him feel more guilty.
Swara on the other hand was unsure why she was feeling so unhappy remembering her past. Till a day back, other than getting married to Sanskar, all she wanted was to get back her memory but now she wants to erase everything and rewrite her life in her way where she would be a strong girl who would stand for herself.

"Swara, if you want I...I can speak with Vansh for you", suggested Sanskar not able to see her like that. This is not how he wanted to write her story but if her happiness lies with Vansh, he will do anything to get him back.

"Really Sanskar, you will speak with Vansh for me", asked Swara with hope.

Looking into her eyes and trying hard not to show any pain in his face, he nodded in yes.

"Great, call him now", said Swara wiping her tears.

"Now...Swara, I will do it later"

"No call him now, I want to talk to him too"

Agreeing reluctantly, Sanskar took his mobile and dialed Vansh's number. In the last two years, this is the first time he is calling his brother.

After few rings, the call was answered.

"Hey Sanskar, is everything alright? Why did you call me so late at night?", came Vansh's worried voice.

Hearing concern in his voice, after a long time a tear rolled down Sanskar's eyes remembering all those sibling moments between them. For once he wanted to hug his brother tightly.

"Sanskar, where are you? Why are you not speaking dammit?" Shouted Vansh getting worked up with all the negative thoughts.

"Vansh"

Hearing his brother's voice, Vansh calmed down.

"Vansh, Swara remembered everything and now...", Sanskar looked at Swara before continuing.

"Now she wants to...", he paused to wipe his tears.

Before he could say anything, Swara took the mobile from him with impatience and switched on the speaker.

"Uff Sanskar is feeling so shy. Vansh, 30th of this month, I and Sanskar are getting married and we would love to have your presence. Please Vansh, don't deny, you are the only family of Sanskar"

"Oh-oh, congratulations Swara. I am so happy for you and mind you, I will be there for sure. In fact, I would have come even if I was uninvited after all it's my only brother's wedding", replied Vansh getting all excited as well as heaving a sigh of relief to hear Swara's chirpy voice.

Sanskar was standing there dumbfounded hearing their conversation. He hadn't expected Swara to become normal so soon.

"Swara, I am really sorry for hurting you. I don't have anything to say to justify my actions but tell me one thing, you really love Sanskar right...this is not anything like revenge or something. I seriously don't want him to suffer because of my mistake", Vansh put in his concerns. Though he and Sanskar had a lot of arguments and differences right from their childhood, they couldn't bear to see the other one sad until Swara's accident but again now Vansh got a hope that his relationship with his brother could become normal and he felt unknown happiness.

"Come on Vansh, I am not at all angry with you. In fact, I am upset with myself for being so naive, innocent, foolish, and weak. I don't know it is very difficult for me to digest the fact that I tried to become the female version of Devdas. Anyways let bygones be bygones. Today with all my heart, I would like to say I love you Sanskar", said Swara holding Sanskar's hand and looking at him with a smile.

"Great, send me the location, I will be there, and also should I come ten days before...you know to take care of arrangements and all", asked Vansh taking it as a chance to tease his brother.

Before Swara could answer, Sanskar took the mobile.

"Thank you so much, brother. I will manage...bye", saying which he disconnected the call not waiting for any reply.

"Sanskar that was so impolite", said Swara disapproving.

"That's not important", saying which Sanskar cupped her face and made her look at him.

"Swara, look I don't want you to rush into anything. Sweetie, please take your time, and only when you are completely ready, we will take our relationship to next level. I will wait"

Swara smiled hearing his words.

"Sanskar, I am fine. I am still upset with myself for being an asshole back then but I really feel that it is you who brought this positive change in me and moreover I can't bear this distance between us any longer", replied Swara bending her head little trying to hide her blush making Sanskar very happy. He took her in a tight embrace.

"Swara, don't blame yourself. You were, and you are the sweetest person I have ever met and to be honest, you are the bravest too. One needs a lot of courage to forgive someone and accept them back with so much love. You are the best, my sweetheart"

"Frankly speaking I love to hear you praise me Sanskar" saying which Swara tightened her grip around him.

Within no time, the D-Day arrived and with all the rituals and blessings, Swara and Sanskar got married.
After their wedding, Sanskar and Swara were standing on the stage as the guests came over and gifted them. Vansh and Kathy were standing on the stage along with the couple and Swara's parents.

"Vansh beta, next is yours only", said one of the guests with a smile before blessing them and going down the stage.

"What does she mean?", Vansh whispered to Sanskar.

"She meant that you are the one to get married next "

"What", shouted Vansh while Sanskar tried not to laugh.

"I think I should get going. Happy married life Swara", Vansh shook hands with Swara and hugged Sanskar before moving out of the hall followed by Kathy.

"Why is he so scared about getting married?", asked Swara looking at the retreating figure of Vansh.

"I have no idea", replied Sanskar.

                                                                                *********

The last page of the book has a smiling picture of Swara and Sanskar with a small note.

Thank you for reading our story.

With love,
Swara & Sanskar

                                                                                       ***

Girl: Joe call chachu now.

Joe: I am on it Monu.

As he dialed the number and put on speaker, both of them were anxiously waiting for the reply from the other side.

From the receiver end, came a man's voice.

"Hey big boy, how is life?"

Joe: Vansh Chachu, I and Monu just read mom and dad's story and we have serious doubt.

Monu: why were you scared to get married?

Hearing the fifteen-year-old girl's question Vansh laughed.

Vansh: oh my baby girl. Why do you want to know?

Monu: please chachu tell us na, it is written that even dad don't know about it.

Vansh: Hmm well, Joe, Monu, I don't want you to take me as an example, okay? You are just gonna listen to me and leave it like that. Is it clear?

Joe & Monu: okay

Vansh: when I and Sanskar lost our parents, we were left alone with none to take care of us. I saw Sanskar taking responsibility for both of us and investing all his time for me and our needs. As we grew up, I understood life and love and the commitment you have to give in marriage. I was and I am not ready for giving someone my total attention little ones. It's just that having a girlfriend is different from having a wife. You have to be answerable and responsible in a committed relationship which is not my cup of tea. I really enjoy my freedom.

Hearing to Vansh, the kids didn't know what to say. They were at an age where they couldn't even distinguish between love and infatuation and here they were hearing about commitment and responsibilities.

Vansh: kids, don't think much about whether I am right or wrong...okay? I am happy the way I am. Did you ever see your Vansh chachu sitting sadly in a corner?

Joe & Monu shouted together: No

Vansh: now be ready, I am coming this weekend and we are going to the water park.

"Yayy" shouted the kids while Vansh was smiling imaging their excited faces.

                                                                                    ***

Here I end the story.

Feel free to let me know your views on it.

Thank you so much everyone for all your time,

Stay safe and take care

Alvida,

Praahi

23/5/2021