Swara closed her eyes feeling his fingertips touched her hairline. She gulped heavily when Sanskar's middle finger brushed over her hairline filling it with the sindoor of his name. She could feel tears welled up in her closed eyes threatening to spill out any time.

In a moment she felt the loss of his touch, which made her open her eyes slowly to see his face. She observed Sanskar. He passed a quick glance at her sindoor filled hairline but immediately next moment he lowered his eyes.

Swara felt a stream of tears on her chubby cheeks but her eyes were not moving away from his face. He was looking everywhere but not at her.

This was not the first time Sanskar filled her hairline. This was part of their daily routine before separation. Only Swara knew how much he was obsessed with this small act everyday moment. He used to stare at her face making her blush and then kissing her forehead mumbling. "I love you Swara."

But today it was different. His eyes which used to shine with his love for her were not fixed on her face. His eyes were always a mirror for his heart. His eyes reminded her their journey.

Even today, she remembered the days when they faked their marriage in front of their families to bring Ragini's truth out. On that blustery night, he had filled her hairline for the first time in their house temple. His eyes were glowing with determination. Determination to safeguard her self respect, her honour. At that moment, he cared about her and only her.

Next time when Ragini played her cards and forcefully tied them in holy matrimony. That time his eyes were filled with concern for her. He was ready to fight with the world for her but in front of her helplessness he had to drop his weapons. He had already declared his love for her but at that moment, he was concerned about her and only her.

When they married after confessing and fighting a long battle for their love officially a second time, she could see her blissful future in his eyes. His eyes were glistening with abundant love for her and only her.

After her memory regained when he filled her hairline, his eyes sparkled with peace. It reflected calm, comfort and satisfaction filled his heart with realisation of getting reunited with the love of his life. She was his life, his solace. His heart beat for her and only her.

But today, when Swara stared at him for the first time she could see his void. She could not judge his emotions, his feelings.

Over the last two years Swara has reached to a conclusion that she knew her husband in and out. She was under the impression that she knew his inner thoughts by just looking into his eyes but today she failed miserably.

"Take this Sanskar." Annapurna's voice broke the chain of her thoughts. She saw her Badi Ma with one silver plate which had her new mangalsutra.

He simply took the black beads thread and took a step to tie it around her slender neck. His palms brushed over her neck. How much she had missed his touch, it was a moment of realisation for Swara. His breath fanned over her cheeks giving a tingling sensation to her stomach. It was not for the first time he was touching her, he had touched her where nobody had, amidst expressing his love and passion for her. But today his simple, brief touch caused her cheeks to compete with tomatoes and beetroot.

He took a step back, passing a quick glance and small smile to her. Again standing in front of her for next instructions from his family members.

"Hey Kanhaji, Please keep your blessing on my children. They have been through a lot of pain and struggle. Please bless them with all the happiness and keep them together." Annapurna joined her hands in front of the almighty. Everyone followed her.

'Hey Kanhaji, please keep your blessings on a me and Sanskar and our family.' Swara prayed silently.

Both couples took blessings from their elders. Everyone wished for them.

Maheshwari House was once again beaming with happiness. Each member of Maheshwari and Gadodia family was pleased to witness the reunion of two couples of house.

"Have a blissful married life to both of you. You both have suffered a lot but now forget everything and start a new chapter of your life." Sharmishtha blessed her both daughters.

"I am so happy Ma, finally our family is together." Swara's eyes filled with tears looking at each family member.

"This is all because of you Swara." Durgaprasad caressed her hair with moist eyes. "You once again proved to be the true daughter of this family. I am very much proud of you."

"Your Bade Papa is absolutely right, we are blessed that you are our Sanskar's wife." Annapurna pulled her in a bear hug.

Swara's eyes searched for Sanskar, he was looking at her, but when their eyes met, he started looking elsewhere.

"Sharmishtha Ji, Shekhar ji, your daughter's have suffered a lot in the last 6 months. Today, being the eldest of this family, now I am promising you there won't be any tears in their eyes henceforth." Durgaprasad joined his hands in front of Gadodia family.

"No. No. Durgaprasad ji, as Shomi said, we should forget whatever happened in the past. I am glad that both my daughters are now happy with their husbands." Shekhar cried with happiness.

The entire Gadodia family was present inside Maheshwari House including Dadi, Parvati Gadodia. She was forgiven by Dadaji, Deendayal Gadodia and Shekhar with a condition not to meddle in Swara and Ragini's married life. She was threatened by her husband to stay away from her grand-daughter's life.

Parvati had accepted her sins to trust and joining hands with Adarsh and Parineeta. She confessed her motive, it was to safeguard Ragini's future. But in her blind love for Ragini, she could not anticipate the horrendous consequences that led their family to fall apart.

"Today is a day of celebrations for all of us." Annapurna asked Sujata to get sweets.

Swara's eyes moved to her mother in law, she was standing in one corner without saying a single word, exactly opposite to her chirpy nature.

Swara recalled, when she went to take blessings from Sujata and Ram just after the small ritual, Ram blessed them with a bright smile but Sujata was hesitant.

"Be happy" she just mumbled two words, not to mention reluctantly.

Swara tried to search for her flashful smile which was missing. She felt as if her mother in law had suddenly increased her age by a couple of years.

Uttara also was standing far from her. Earlier she had different levels of bonding with her sister-in-law but this Uttara standing in front of her was someone else.

"Welcome home Bhabhi" there was uncertainty in her voice.

Sujata's and Uttara's distant approach with her plough seed of doubt in Swara's mind.

"Take this" Sujata brought a plate filled with sweets in front of Swara. She gave one piece and moved to Ragini without any further word.

Ragini was sitting beside her husband. Laksh took one piece from the plate and fed Ragini.

"I am sorry." He apologised once again in a low voice. Ragini shook her head in denial taking a bite of sweets.

Swara smiled looking at both of them, she wanted to have the same moment with Sanskar.

Her eyes roamed over the entire hall of Maheshwari House. Sanskar was nowhere to be seen.

She excused herself from everyone to find him. One of the servants informed her about seeing Sanskar going towards his room. She took stairs to go to his room. Their room.

When she reached the top of the stairs, events from past started picturing in front of her eyes. This was the same place where she had lost her soulmate six months back.

She remembered the day which changed everything between her and Sanskar. He broke their relation over a mere phone call and she gave up on her marital symbols putting a condition to find her missing brother-in-law.

She gulped heavily trying to forget those moments.

'Leave the past behind' she convinced herself chanting the same line again and again.

With each step towards their room, her heart started beating inside her ribcage. It was not for the first time she was entering their room. She had been staying with him in that room for almost one and half years before their separation. But her cheeks started gaining colour of red with a simple thought of rejuvenating their married life. She felt the same feelings of the new bride on her wedding day before entering her husband's room.

She came and stopped in front of the door.

'Swara if you step out today, it will cost you our marriage. You will never step inside this house as my wife.' His voice rang in her ears.

The last 6 months of their separation replayed in front of her eyes. She remembered his painful words, his anger. Swara knew her husband had temper issues. She was expecting his outrage post Nikhil's drama. But he was silent. He did not utter a single word about their separation or their misunderstandings.

Even this morning, when Annapurna gave a call to her mother to take her and her sister back to their home, Swara was doubtful about his arrival. But when she saw him along with his parents her happiness reached its peak. When she came out, he was busy on call but when their eyes met, he gave her a small smile but Swara felt his smile did not reach to his eyes. She shrugged her thoughts concentrating on her family's happiness. Her doubts vanished when he filled her hairline with his name of sindoor once again.

'Should I knock or should I just enter as earlier?' for a moment her mind faced the dilemma, but her heart whispered, 'this is your place.'

With a bright smile and thudded heart she opened the door to step inside. Suddenly, the familiar vanilla rose scent hit her nose buds. Her heart was engulfed with warm and cozy feelings. She felt secure after a long time. This was her room, her place, her abode.

Her eyes went to the picture just above their bed, it was taken when they got married with their heart. Sanskar was filling her hairline where Swara had closed her eyes with a vivid smile glistering on her lips.

She remembered, when she and Sanskar decided to put some pictures in their room, this was the one they always had in their mind. The day, which bonded them in pious relation.

That moment Swara realised how much she missed this room in the last 6 months. Her eyes wandered over to see everything in its place the same way she had left. Even the curtains and bed sheets were the same. She saw her bangles stand was still there on his dressing table. Her perfume bottle and other cosmetics were there as is.

He did not change anything in her absence, just a simple realisation filled her soul with delightfulness.

She took a few steps and touched her own things remembering her moments with Sanskar in this room.

"Yes I am coming, I will be there in 40-45 minutes." A serious voice boomed in the room which made her turn to the owner who was none other than her own husband. He came out from their dressing room cum walk-in closet.

Sanskar was talking, he had plugged his airpods in his ears. He was buttoning up his cufflinks. Swara turned fully to get a clear picture of her deadly handsome husband. He was dressed in white shirt and metallic navy blue suit paired with the same pants and matching tie.

'Who made a knot for his tie?' Thoughts lingered around her mind. Her husband and his tie was always a sensitive topic which annoys him the most.

'May be Mom.' She convinced herself.

She could not take her eyes off his face. She observed he had lost some weight, there were dark circles around his eyes. His nose has turned red due to continuous sniffing.

'Is he suffering from cold again?'

With a clean shave and perfectly set hairs he was taking her breaths away. But something was new in him she could not guess or point out. She was lost in his charm. She had missed him terribly during their separation.

"No get all the details, I need them so that we can decide on our policies." He was still on call while spraying perfume unaware of her presence around him. He kept on talking for a few more minutes before cutting the call.

Post call he kept airpods in back in their socket.

"Are you going somewhere?" her soft, stuttering voice momentarily halted his movements.

He turned to face her with wide open eyes. She was there with him in their room after 6 months. He gaped at her without a blink. It took a few moments for him to process and accept the recent change.

'Finally she is here.' She was still dressed in the same lehenga.

'How much I was craving for her mere scent in this room?' he breathed a familiar ambrette smell, it was her favourite perfume.

His eyes started glistening with tears. For a moment his eyes moved to her marital symbols before he turned again to face the mirror. To push back his unshed tears he blinked and looked everywhere but not at her reflection in the mirror.

"Yes there is one important meeting in the office. I must attend." he replied honestly, spraying his favourite Dior Perfume. His voice was not laced with any anger or hatred, it was soothing as usual but Swara could feel his voice crack a bit at the end.

"Is it necessary to go?" She could not stop herself from asking.

She wanted him to be with her. She had a lot of things to talk to him, to share with him, to apologise to him, to confess her love and forget herself in his arms. Damn she had 6 months of piled up remorse and miseries to convey to her soulmate.

"Yes, the meeting was scheduled long back. I cannot move it now." He said hurriedly. He moved swiftly near the couch when she threw another ask.

"Lunch? Badi Ma is cooking today. Aren't you...?" Her eyes were following his movements.

"No Swara, this is a lunch meeting I have with a client." He cut off. He was busy stuffing his Mac and essentials in his office bag.

"Bye." He turned, hanging his bag on his shoulder. He stared at her for a moment, passing a meek smile. Taking a deep sigh he turned to leave.

"When will you return?" Swara took a few steps behind him.

"I don't know. I cannot say anything right now." He did not turn but stopped at the doorstep.

"Will you come home soon?" she stared at his back with expectations.

"I will try." He mumbled, "Bye." He left.

"Bye." She said but he had gone too far. She kept on staring at his retreating figure.

She herself did not realise when one tear streamed over her cheeks.

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