"Wait, what are you doing?" Swara screamed standing at the doorstep of the walk-in closet.

Sanskar was getting ready to go to his office, his tie was hanging around his neck and he was about to touch it to make a knot.

"How dare you snatch my right?" She fumed stepping inside being a drama queen.

"Swara, it's ok. I know, now Ragini has been asked for maximum rest. You would be overburdened with more work so... it's ok I can manage." He was informed during dinner the previous night, Ragini was asked to take bed rest. He assumed his wife would be busy in the kitchen and other household responsibilities in her sister's absence to help his mothers.

"Did you forget you have a very intelligent wife?" She shot a glare at him while making knot for his tie. "We have hired a couple of more househelps. So... you don't have any escape from me." She tightened the knot around his neck.

He choked for a moment as she purposefully squeezed his neckline with a tie knot.

"I have no plans to escape from my jhansi ki raani." He teased earning a bright smile on her face.

"When will you come?" She asked, taking his suit and helping him to wear it.

"I will be late. Few important meetings are lined up." He scrunched his nose.

"Ok. Just keep in mind I will be waiting for you for dinner." She said authoritatively.

"No Swara you should eat on time...." He tried to recommend but failed as she interrupted instantly.

"No... no means no." She nodded her head vigorously.

He suppressed his chuckle looking at his drama queen wife.

'Sanskar please make sure Swara is fine.' His mother's words rang in his ears.

"Swara, are you ok?" He asked tenderly, pulling her on his body wrapping his arms around her waist.

Over last two days, he had observed his aunt and her grandmother's biassed treatment towards his wife. Just not to involve himself in trivial household matters he maintained his silence. But his wife's well being preceded all the time.

"Why are you asking this?" His wife was clueless with his sudden ask.

"Just like that."

"When I have you by my side... Why will I not be ok, Sanskar?" She asked, encircling her arms around his neck.

Later Sanskar left for his office but he took a mental note to discuss the topic once he was back. And he got the opportunity exactly after two days. It was night, Sanskar came out of the washroom when his eyes landed on his wife, she was taking out one tablet from the packet. He was very well aware about those birth control pills. She has started taking them recently.

"Swara" He called, halting her movements.

"Ha?"

"Let's talk about this." He took the pill from her hand, settling beside her on bed.

Swara raised her eyebrows in perplexity.

"I will directly come to the point... Do you want us to think about the baby?" He asked casually.

Swara stared at him for a moment, she knew this was coming up on her way. His annoyed eyes, irritated expressions during their family times when his aunt and her grand-mother used to indirectly criticise her for choosing delayed parenthood. She had always retaliated in the best possible way either verbally or calmly ignoring their rantings.

"Why are you asking me this now?" She cross questioned.

"That's not the answer for my question." He shook his head. He had decided to have a long session to understand his wife's opinion on this major step of their life.

'Again her wish was his command.'

"Because, I know why are you asking THIS particular question to me now?" She stared in his eyes continuously. Just one look in his eyes and she knew the turmoil going through in his mind.

"I know you have been observant enough to see partial behaviour with addition of some pessimistic comments towards me from a few of our family members. But, Sanskar, I give them a shit. Haven't you seen that?" Swara purposefully did not accuse anyone in particular.

Sanskar widened his eyes at his fierce comment.

"I don't care. I am least bothered about them. They can think, talk and behave the way they want, I cannot control them. But, I can limit their impact on myself by ignoring them. You know, nowadays, their behaviour, their comments mean nothing to me... " Sanskar could see truth in her big doe eyes. Her casual demeanour validated her own words.

"But..." He tried to interrupt.

"Sanskar, I don't want to have a baby for shushing their mouths or changing their behaviour towards me. I don't need our baby's name as protection... But I need to be our baby's protector." She spoke genuinely.

Swara continued holding his palm in hers, "And second thing is after a long wait, struggle and pain... just a few months back we have found each other once again. I don't want to share you with anyone yet. Right now, I am enjoying being your centre of attention."

Sanskar raised their intertwined hands to kiss her knuckles. "You were, are and will always be my centre of attention. Even though we may have a full cricket team in future."

Swara smiled but a moment later her brain processed his words. She immediately took her hand back from his hold. Standing up on her feet she exclaimed horrifyingly "Excuse me? What cricket team? Stay miles away from me."

Swara started shaking her head taking steps backwards increasing distance between them.

"Oh really?" He stood up taking slow steps towards her with a mischievous look.

"Don't you play tennis? Tennis is a good game. It has singles or doubles as well. Think about it." She started running inside their room whereas Sanskar started chasing her, raising his hand to catch her.

And their room echoed with their laughter.

One more month passed within the blink of an eye. A lot has happened in this month. Swara had completed recording of her first song which was scheduled to release after a month. This recording ignited the lost spark in Swara's soul. She started visiting a nearby government school every afternoon for music teaching class. Just 4 hours in the afternoon gave new meaning to Swara's life. Her heart was elated finding her lost passion, and the same reflected in her eyes which Sanskar admired during their 'Me Time' or 'Friday Dinner outs' when she used to narrate about it.

On one of early evening, Swara was mumbling songs while watering plants after returning from school. This had become her routine from last month.

"Mishka wait. You forgot this." Swara's trance was broken listening to Parineeta's shout. She turned to see Parineeta coming out running behind Adarsh and Mishka.

"Ohh sorry Aunty." Mishka apologised, taking a water bottle from Pari's hands.

Swara saw Adarsh leaving with Mishka talking something with her after waving bye to Parineeta. One more bonding was brewing up between Adarsh, Parineeta, Mishka. Being a childless couple for almost 6-7 years both had piled up compassion to shower over someone, they started showering their love on the one young soul who was craving for the same.

Laksh and Ragini's negligence towards Mishka was compensated by Adarsh and Parineeta's love and care towards her. Laksh was occupied with his whimsical Badi Reconstruction Project whereas Ragini was busy following a rigorous routine suggested by elder ladies of the house for her pregnancy. Mishka had found guardians in the form of Adarsh and Parineeta.

Over the last few months, Adarsh and Parineeta had been staying inside home but they never meddled in any of the household matters. Even Adarsh did not complain of the job he was given in Maheshwari's office.

Swara and Sanskar had not forgiven them, also their interaction with each other was still limited to the essential and formal but Adarsh and Parineeta both were aware about their misdeeds and today, every moment they were repenting over their own mistakes.

Apart from the guilt, Adarsh life was content around Parineeta and Mishka, both were dutiful as well as lovable around her. Adarsh took the responsibility of dropping and picking Mishka from her school as well as various extra curricular activities such as swimming, chess, and Kathak classes whereas Mishka got a helping hand from Parineeta in her studies. She looked after her necessities and desires of being loved.

Truly, the trio had created their own world inside their home away from everyone.

Swara smiled to herself praying for the little innocent soul's bright future and blessed life concentrating on her work. She did not realise how much time passed.

Sudden screeching sound captured her attention, and she turned to see her husband coming out from the driver seat. Even though she was far, she could not miss his horrific face. His unexpected arrival very early in the evening confused her. Instantly, she asked the gardener to pass on the water pipe and ran behind her husband. Sanskar was entering inside their home without noticing her presence.

"Sanskar" She called out loudly from behind when he was climbing stairs to go upstairs.

He halted in his steps hearing her voice.

"You came so early?" She asked bewilderedly, "You said you had dinner with clie...?"

"Is Dad in his room?" He asked not realising her earlier questions.

Swara simply nodded her head staring in his shivering eyes.

Sanskar turned swiftly and taking long steps he moved towards his father's room followed by Swara.

When he entered his father was reading a book whereas his mother was speaking with someone over the phone. Both turned alert looking at the abrupt entry of their son. Just one look at their son's face and they knew some storm was going to hit their household once again.

Sujata immediately cut the call and focussed her concentration on her son who was mentally figuring out the best possible way to declare the dreadful news.

"Sanskar, you here? What happened?" Question was out of Sujata's vocal cords even before she had realised her own words.

"Dad, do you know who funded Laksh's project?" Sanskar spoke calculatively. His mother's words fell on deaf ears.

Ram gave a quick glance at his wife and daughter-in-law before matching it with his son again. He shook his head in a negative way. He was totally clueless about the sudden ask from his son.

"It's Bade Papa."

Finally, Sanskar broke the news with a thudded heart. "He sold his land near Jamnagar and... and... and he... he sold... he sold 8% of his Maheshwari Inc shares in the market."

Sanskar's words threw icy water on the rest of the three. Ram stumbled at his place. If Sanskar was not attentive he would have collapsed. Swara and Sujata's state was no different. Both were just looking at Sanskar with wide open eyes.

"Sold his shares?" Sujata was the first one to break the deadly silence of the room.

"Yes, Mom." He replied while making his father settle down in the nearby arm chair.

"Will there be any problem?" Sujata asked with a thumping heart.

"Mom, 8% of shares are in the market that too by the chairman of the company..... Of course it will give the impression of the instability of our company in the market. It will be a major setback." Sanskar explained, he continued, "I am trying to get those shares back, Dad. But right now, Karma's funds are also blocked because of a merger. We... We may not be able to get all those shares back....But don't worry Dad... I will do some..." He tried to assure his father.

Swara was standing behind her husband in numbness.

"You are not going to do anything." Ram spoke lightly, if Sanskar was not attentive he would have missed.

"Dad?" Sanskar was clueless about the abrupt ask from his father.

"Yes... Sanskar you heard it right. You are not going to do anything. Anything means anything." Ram's determined voice boomed in their room.

Swara and Sujata shared a quick eyelock in amusement.

"Dad, it will impact Maheshwari's standing in the market adversely. Ownership stake will get diluted and it will weaken the management board. Also, Bade Papa will lose his chairman position. Chairman needs to have a minimum of 20% of company shares." Sanskar spoke out the worst possibility.

"What do you think? Bhaisa wouldn't know about this?" Ram held his son's hand and made him sit in front of him. "Sanskar, do you think Bhaisa would have taken this decision overnight? This thing must have been on his mind for a long time. He did not feel it necessary to discuss this major decision with either of us. This means that he does not want our interference in this matter. So, let's not make our hands dirty."

"I don't understand, how come Bade Papa is falling for this trap. Didn't you had a word with him about my suggestions." Sanskar asked inquisitively.

"I had Sanskar. I tried my best to convince him. Even Bhaisa had assured me that he would talk to Laksh about selling off the Badi Reconstruction project. But then I don't know what happened. One day, I overheard Laksh found an investor but I did not dig in to find more. I just took it on face value. To be blunt... I did not take him seriously." Ram summarised.

"I don't know why Bade Papa is supporting him in this fiasco. It's like financing for garbage." Sanskar shook his head disappointingly.

"Bhaisa has turned blind in his son's love." Ram concluded leaving a deep breath.

"But Dad, next board meeting we will have to take a call for chairman postio..." Sanskar tried to cross questioned but was intervened by his father.

"Don't worry. We will see it at that time.." Ram promised. "I will stand by with you. Go get freshen up. Looks like you just came back."

"Don't worry." Ram once again assured when his son did not bulge from his stand.

After a few more talks between son and father, Sanskar left for his room followed by Swara.

"I cannot understand how Bhaisa is getting so carried away with emotions. Why is he unable to see what is right and what is wrong?" Sujata started her rantings.

"Ram, what are you thinking?" Sujata asked when she saw her husband submerged in his thoughts oblivious for her presence, even after Swara and Sanskar's departure.

"Sanskar"

"What will happen to him?" Sujata asked with a thudded heart.

"Sujata, we had groomed Sanskar to be the heir of Bhaisa's legacy over these years. It was always an unsaid verdict that he will carry forward this business... but now..." Ram's defensive words added more to Sujata's worry.

"But now???" she asked instantly.

"Now since Bhaisa will be stepping down, the board will expect Sanskar to take over. He is a perfect solution for this problem but... the distance between Laksh and Sanskar will automatically reflect on board. Laksh may not take it in a positive way... And top of everything, Karma will face an adverse impact of it... It's his baby. He built Karma from ground zero. I don't want my son to sacrifice his hard work for someone else foolishness."

"Then?"

"I have to do something." Ram again submerged in his thought process whereas Sujata prayed silently for her son's well being.

"Sanskar, what will happen next?" Swara asked the moment they were back in their room after dinner. She had seen her husband occupied with back to back calls after his return.

Dinner was a routine affair at Maheshwari house, but Swara did notice one pair of an eager eye were fixed over Sanskar, it was none other than her Bade Papa. As Ram had advised, none of them had broached any topic around Laksh's new investor but kept conversation around routine household things.

"I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders, still immersed in his thoughts.

"And what happened with those permissions?" She asked again.

"I don't know but it looks like he got it, as Badi's work has already started... but not sure about the way he got it...." Sanskar had a detailed call with his security chief. He needed to get himself informed about the current standing of Badi's reconstruction project. " Maybe his friend's father was MLA so he would have used his political influence" Sanskar speculated tentatively.

"Or else he would have paid a bribe?" Swara asked, widening her eyes.

"Knowing my cousin, I cannot rule out that possibility." Sanskar rolled his eyes.

"I just hope everything gets sorted out soon without any controversies." Swara hoped to be optimistic.

Two days later, Durga Prasad Maheshwari found a perfect opportunity to interrogate Swara. In the last two days, he was expecting some sort of outcry from his brother's family, but to his surprise his brother's family maintained silence over developments. None of them had raised any questions which had given a major blow to Durga Prasad's mindset.

Swara was leaving for her school, Durga Prasad offered her drive till her school building, this time Swara could not deny to his pleading eyes.

"Swara, Adarsh and Sanskar both were very studious, responsible, matured and obedient sons of the family. Sanskar was always an extra mile. He was the pride of the family. But Laksh was always impulsive from his childhood. He was a spoiled brat, because of his reckless behaviour he used to get scoldings. He was never thoughtful about his actions. His conduct always led himself or the family to crisis. I had perfect son growing up in front of my eyes in the form of Sanskar. I too wanted Adarsh and Laksh to be like Sanskar. To be frank... often I used to get jealous with my own younger brother's fate. He was bestowed with best of the best."

"Laksh being our youngest child, Anu always protected him, her excess pamperings, unnecessary support added extra to the fuel. And in all this, I had to play the role of a bad cop to bring my son on the right path... while trying to bring him on the right path I myself forgot that afterall he is my blood. My thrust to get the best out of my own blood resulted in me comparing two brothers over their qualities. I never understood when my thrust created huge glass wall between three of them."

Swara was silently listening to her Bade Papa.

"I know, my actions to support him this time had created a lot of questions in all of your mind... But I took that decision for the little innocent soul who has not even seen the sunlight. I did not want that innocent life to get curses from the people who would be losing their life... their home."

Swara could understand Durga Prasad was referring to Laksh and Ragini's unborn child.

"What is that little life's fault in all this? It's his father's fault... and maybe to some extent mine too."

Durga Prasad stared at Swara who was gawking at him without a blink.

"And I know, it's my time to step down... and Sanskar to take over." He smiled leaving a deep sigh.

"Maybe your thinking was right, Bade Papa, but if the approach had been different then the strong wall of so many questions would not have been built up between us." Swara spoke, nodding her head.

'You should have taken Dad and Sanskar into confidence before making a decision.' A message was exchanged between them before Swara stepped out of the car leaving Durga Prasad Maheshwari drowned in his guilt.

Swara returned back from her school. She was stepping inside home when she came face to face with Sharmishtha and Ayush.

"Shona, you came? You must be tired na?" Sharmishtha asked enthusiastically. She was trying for the last few months to be lit the previous bonding with her daughter. Swara did not oppose or offend her mother but she maintained her own confines while dealing with her mother. Her father was on no talking terms whereas grand-mother was on spree of her provocative comments.

"No Ma. It's good to spend time with these kids. I really love them." They were walking inside the house.

"Ma, we need to think about Ayush's school. He will be two soon. Nowadays, one has to take admission almost a year ahead if we want to opt for any best school. If you want I can get admission forms for him." Swara suggested keeping it formal as usual with her mother.

"Haa sure. Whatever you think is fine." Sharmishtha knew her husband won't consider the future for their own blood.

Both were walking inside when words fell on their ears, "Annapurna ji, I know this necklace. I myself had made it for your mother." One old man in his late eighties was sitting in front of the house lady and Sujata. Ragini was also there, she had come downstairs for her afternoon tea. Looking at her terrified face one can say she was on the verge of crying.

"Two days back two women came to my store to sell this. When I saw it I immediately recognised it." Swara saw the old man taking out the necklace from his bag.

Annapurna was baffled looking at the necklace. It was the same necklace which she had gifted Ragini on her marriage day. She turned to look at her daughter in law with question filled eyes. Being, house lady, Annapurna covered the situation in front of an outsider.

"Ragini, you had said that you had kept this necklace in a bank locker." Annapurna asked the moment the old man left from their home. She remembered the conversation happened on Gangaur puja day.

"Ma, actually... me... no... I..." Swara saw her sister fumbling with her words. Sweat droplets had formed on her forehead. Ragini was caught red handed. She started shivering as fear started building in her heart.

"Ragini, beta, come here. Sit first." Parvati intervened, seeing the flummoxed state of her grand-daughter.

"Ma... I am sorry I had lied to you on Gangaur Puja day that I had kept the necklace in a bank locker... Sorry Ma, it was lost on Last Diwali. I had searched a lot but I could not find it. I was scared on that day about your reaction. So I lied to Ma. I am so sorry." Tears started streaming over Ragini's cheeks continuously followed by her hiccups.

"It's ok Ragini. Calm down first. Don't cry. Stop now." Annapurna wiped her tears. "It's ok. Leave it. We got the necklace, then that's fine."

"Haa Laddoo you should not take so much stress in this situation." Parvati joined Annpurna to console Ragini.

But the scene in front of Swara ignited her investigative instincts.

'If she had lost it on Diwali how come the same necklace was on her bed just two days before Gangaur Puja.'

'Is she helping Laksh with his Badi project?'

'But Bade Papa is financing it. Laksh's project is huge, the price of this necklace in front of his needs is just peanuts.'

''Is she lying?'

'Is she in need of any money?'

'But for what?'

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