Thank u so much dears for all your support and love..

Here comes the next chapter..

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Sh: Well..That was a compromise..Our marriage was not real...She was my best friend in the college.

#########FLASHBACK########

Shekhar Nair never loved his own motherland -- Kerala. He had always dreamed of living a luxurious life in a big city like Mumbai.

The first chance he got to be outside Kerala was when he got his admission in a college in Bangalore. He soon became engrossed in the busy city life.

His best friends were Akshay Kirloskar and Janki Lokhande. They were from Mumbai and so he loved hanging out with them. Slowly Akshay and Janki fell in love.

After college, Akshay and Shekhar wanted to set up a business in Mumbai. But the plan was cancelled and Shekhar had to return to his native place in Kerala according to his father's wish that he ought to run his family business.

After one year, Shekhar had to marry Sharmishta, who was a typical Keralite village girl according to his father's decision and Swara was born after one year. He always had a half mind to leave everything and pursue his Mumbai dreams.

He inwardly blamed his father and Sharmishta for his inability to realize his dreams. He felt as a prisoner in his own motherland.

After four years, he finally handed over the business into the hands of his younger brother, Sivaraman and left off to Mumbai with Sharmishta and Swara.

He had lost his contacts with Janki and Akshay, so he started a new business and soon it prospered.

However he could never love his own wife with all his heart. She was a village girl and he hated that fact. But he tried his best to fulfil the duties as a husband.

But Swara was the apple of his eyes. He showered her with all his love and Sharmishta was content with that fact.

After three years,(i.e., in 2001) when Swara was eight years old, Sharmishta received a letter from her village in Kerala stating that her mother was severely ill. Since she was her only daughter, there was no one to take care of her mother.

She pleaded to Shekhar to take her to Kerala for some time and he reluctantly agreed to it. He hated that place.

It was then that Swara fell into the pond and was rescued Sanskaar, who was 11 years old at that time. Shekhar put all the blame on Sharmishta that she was not even careful enough to look after Swara.

He took her back to Mumbai, leaving Sharmishta all alone with her sick mother who had to be taken care of.

After coming back to Mumbai, one day he met Janki again. He was shocked to learn that Akshay was in jail.

She told him her story. Her father Mr. Vinayak Lokhande was against their marriage. So they decided to opt for a secret court marriage. When they were about to sign the papers, some goons appointed by Vinayak tried to kill Akshay and he had to kill three of them after a deadly combat. Akshay was sentenced to life time imprisonment for fifteen years.

Her father also died after a year and she was all alone. It was then that she met Shekhar. He decided to take care of her and invited her to live with him and his daughter, Swara.

They decided to act as if they are married. They decided to stay with each other till Akshay got his release from the prison. They used to go and visit Akshay time and again. No one knew about this -- not even Swara.

Janki took good care of Swara, but Swara never saw a mother in her. She grew up missing her Amma and she looked forward to the day when she will grow up enough to set out in search of her mother.

Janki always used to tell Shekhar that little Swara needed her Amma. But Shekhar was so adamant that he believed he alone was enough for her. He never missed his wife and he loved to spend his free time with his friend, Janki and his daughter, Swara.

Two weeks before, he got the shock of his life when Swara left his home and set off alone to her mother's village in Kerala.

He thought that if he wouldn't give Sharmishta's address to her, she would fail in her pursuit and come back to Mumbai. But he was wrong, she found her mother.

The previous phone conversation between Swara made him realize the depth of a huge mistake he had committed by distancing a mother and daughter.

Sw: Hello Papa..How come you remembered me..?

Sh: Chinnu..Why didn't you come back..? Do you know how much worried I have been..?

Sw: Don't worry Papa..I am fine here at Amma's home..

Sh: What..?! How did you reach her home..?

Sw: I told you na I am not going to come back without meeting my Amma..God is with me..I found her home easily..

Sh: (helplessly) Come back Chinnuu..I am missing you terribly..

Sw: (scoffs)Papa..It has been only two days since you haven't seen me, and you are in this helpless condition..Just think about Amma, it has been years since she met me..

Sh: But she has learnt to be without you. But I haven't..

Sw: (laughs softly) Then you also will learn to be without me soon..Bye Papa..You take care..

For the first time in his life, Shekhar broke down completely. Janki approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Ja: Shekhar, What did she say..?

Sh: (tearful eyes) Janki, she refused. She told me to learn to live without her..

His voice cracked and he couldn't contain his grief any longer. He wept bitterly.

Ja: Shekhar, it still not late..You can go and bring her back..

Sh: She won't come..I know..She is just as adamant as me..

Ja: It is time for you to bring Sharmishta back into your life. All these years you have tortured that poor woman keeping her away from her daughter. You had left her there saying that she needed to take care of her mother. Even after her mother died, you never tried to bring her back. Don't be so mean Shekhar. See, even Chinnu left you alone now.

Sh: I know..I have to rectify the mistakes I have committed in my life..I am going to bring back Sharmishta and Chinnu. I hope they forgive me..

Ja: I can't be sure of it..I will never forgive you if I were in Sharmishta's place..

###### FLASHBACK ENDS######

Shekhar caught hold of Sharmishta's shoulders and looked at her intently.

Sh: Will you come with me Sharmishta..? I promise you that I will give all the love and respect which you deserve. Let us start afresh.

Sharmishta's joy knew no bounds. She smiled widely at her husband and nodded happily. She turned towards Swara and hugged her.

Sha: All this happened because of you, Chinnu..Thank you for coming back to me..

Shekhar also came and hugged Swara.

Sh: Thank you for making me realize my mistake..I have booked the air tickets for the three of us. We are leaving to Mumbai today afternoon itself.

Swara was shocked. "Mumbai..! ..Afternoon..?!"... "Sanskaar..??!"

Sharmishta helped her husband take his luggage inside to their bedroom. She saw her Papa closing the door after they went inside. She smiled and thought "They also need some private time to bring back their lost love."

Sw: But what about Sanskaar..! I think that I must talk to him.

She decided to walk towards Sanskaar's house, when she heard Sharmishta's voice from behind.

Sha: Chinnu..Where are you going..?

Sw: To Annapurna Aunty's house, to inform that Papa has come to take us to Mumbai..

Sha: We will also come..

The three of them walked towards Sanskaar's tharavaadu. Annapurna was more than happy when she saw Sharmishta's happiness. They hugged each other in joy.

Sanskaar came downstairs hearing all the noise. He was ready to go to his super market. He was surprised to see a new person among the group.

He looked at Swara and raised his brows inquisitively. When she saw Sanskaar, tears formed in her eyes. Sharmishta saw him and smiled widely.

Sha:(excited tone) Sanskaar..This is Chinnu's Papa..You know what, he has come to take both of us to Mumbai..We are leaving today afternoon itself..Everything is happening pretty fast..Oh I am so happy..!!

Sa: (shocked) Mumbai..!! Today afternoon!! (looks at Swara)

Swara looked at Sanskaar and made a helpless face. He was staring at her blankly.

Sharmishta turned to Shekhar and introduced Sanskaar to him.

Sha: This is Sanskaar.. Annapurna's son.. In fact, he is like my son too.. He was always there for taking care of me and helping me when I was alone here.

Shekhar walked towards him and hugged Sanskaar. Sanskaar also put his arms around him..

Sh: Thank you, Sanskaar..I don't know how to thank all of you..I promise that I will take good care of her from now on..

Sanskaar smiled feebly and nodded. Shekhar left from the hug and Annapurna brought tea for all of them. They all sat down. Swara seized the chance.

Sw: Sanskaar, I need to talk to you..Come with me..

Sa: Ok..!!

Sanskaar followed her towards the front courtyard. Once they were away from the others, Swara hugged Sanskaar tightly. Sanskaar too hugged her tightly as if he never wanted to let her go.

Sa:(whispers softly) So... You are going back, huh..? Leaving me alone..!

Sw: (pressing her face to his chest)Shhh..Don't say like that Sanskaar..But don't stop me now, please..

Sanskaar felt a bit angry and he slightly pushed her away from his body. He held her shoulders and looked into her face unbelievably.

Sa: (angrily)Then what do you want me to do, Swara..?

He stared into her eyes with lots of pain in his eyes. Swara couldn't meet his eyes and she looked down.

Sw: I want to be with my Papa and Amma..I want to go back with them..I have always yearned for this combined love and affection of my both parents.. And it's not easy to tell about our relationship to our parents at this time, when we are about to leave to Mumbai..We can't explain everything in such a short span of time..And it may even create more problems between my parents..I don't want that to happen..

She looked into his eyes again waiting for his answer. But he was gazing at her painfully, too slumped to speak. Swara held his shoulders and shook him hard. She began to sob.

Sw: (sobbing) Sanskaar...Oh God..!! Say something..!!

Without breaking their eye contact he took his hands from her shoulders and pushed off her hands from his shoulders too. He then smiled painfully.

Sa: You are free to go now, Swara..My love for you is not so selfish to stop you from embracing your happiness..

Saying so, he turned his back to her and began to walk off from there. She called out to him, feeling helpless.

Sw: Sanskaar..Try to understand my situation..We will talk about our relationship to our parents, but not now..This is not the right time..Please let me complete myself, Sanskaar..Don't leave me like this Sanskaar..Don't make me feel so guilty..

Swara fell down on her knees and wept bitterly.

But Sanskaar mounted his motor bike and sped off from there without a backward glance.

Sw: (to herself) I will come back, Sanskaar..Do wait for me..(cries helplessly)

****** End Of Part 11******

I know it was a sad chapter..

But everything will be fine soon..

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Love,
Naina