Future series part 7                                                        
20th June 2018

                      
Swara stared at her sleeping husband as she contemplated on  how to wake him up today. It was fun waking up an sleepy Sanskaar. And Swara loved annoying her husband ,she corrected it as friend in her mind  it is not good for her to forget he was just her friend even when they were married .    

Married to him for over seven months had its perks.  She knew just what will annoy him the most.  She almost felt bad for him but then she knew the tea was not that hot because she has been busy staring at him for the last ten minutes thinking of an evil plan. And she decided on one of her famous tricks. She took his hand  and gently placed his fingers inside the tea  cup and the tea must have been hot because his eyes flew open the next second.   

Mission annoying Sanskar was successful as she was rewarded with his famous glare. There was no heat behind it. Because she knew he can never be angry with her.                

"Okay, Now that you are up. Get ready. It is  Saturday and we are going shopping, " Swara replied cheerfully,  as she starred at her waking husband.           

"Do you really have to buy dress for all the kids in the dancing school. Can't we buy it on Amazon or any of the online sites. I don't want to stare at kids dress all day ,"  A sleepy Sanskaar grumbled , he knew his wife was committed to the kids in her dancing school and yet he wish she wasn't that involved .       

"Come on Sanskar , You promised, "  She persisted, finally he gave up just like always. The door bell rang that moment and  Swara answered it to find their was an flower delivery of 100 roses.  

  She collected the flower  and was slightly disappointing it was not white rose . They had moved out of the Maheshwari house after Laksh stabbed Sanskar . And at first she thought it must be sent to the wrong address .   

Then the delivery guy mentioned he first went to the Maheshwari house and was directed to this address . Sanskar knew her favorite were white rose and she also knew he wouldn't have still given the old address. And wondered behind the mystery of the bouquet . She took the bouquet towards their room. And he was already ready and  waiting for her. But one look at the flowers he froze.            

"Why the sudden shower of Roses Sanskar, " She asked innocently, not noticing her husband pale look. Until he spoke up looking at her with a look she failed to understand        

"Let go some other time. I totally forgot an important event, " He replied back , to her making her wonder  what the flowers resembled .           

"The dance competition is next week. Tomorrow we are going to dida house for lunch. And you are always busy on weekdays. Come on Sanskar you promised, " She insisted, but he was already shaking his head in answer           

  "I Am sorry Shona. I can't, "  he replied, and was walking away from their room               

She never got into an fight with him  and she never wanted too ,  So she simply nodded. And he left just like that. She didn't even get an explanation on where he was going. She went shopping alone. But even the ever brightest kids dress couldn't brighten her mood. So she decided to stop by to see her dida first. 

                 
Her already gloomy mood took a turn for worse to find her sister in her house.  Ragini Gadodia was persistent in one thing making her life horrible,  Her dida had warned her about it often  but Swara was careless.

She didn't think her mom would be that innocent. Ragini sweet words had melted her mother heart. And her mission of reuniting her father and Swara mother was progressing very well , much to Swara dismay.                       

"What are you doing here Ragini? " She inquired her sister.

"Maa wanted to go shopping together. So I am waiting for her, " came her answer and Swara didn't miss the hint of sarcasm.     

"What is your plan Ragini. I just want to move on from your betrayal and it is you who is still holding a grudge, " Swara spoke again and waited for her to speak up .

"Nothing Swara, Why haven't you accepted my apology yet. When you forgave Sanskar who started it . All I wanted  now was to reunite your Maa and my dad. Because they deserve their happy ending. And I would know it because I was deprived of mine ,"   She answered back .

Her innocent face sure worked in her favor. It was what made her Maa melt but Swara was not going to buy her excuse or reasoning.     

"Don't talk about Sanskaar. You are not the same,  And why does my Maa need your father when he hasn't been around for so long,  " She replied back.                     

"I am Not sure what Sanskar told you. I know he portrayed me as the bigger bad person and you are too blind in love to see it. Love does make us blind.  My love is in jail because he loved you.  Just because you are  happy . How can you ignore your mom loneliness or my dad genuine love, "  Ragini  asked so innocently that when  Swara realized her sister was much bigger threat then she anticipated.

She didn't want to drag the confrontation and so stopped focusing on her. She greeted her cheerful dida, her mom and when they insisted she stay for dinner she texted Sanskar that he should come to dida home for dinner. And waited for him.                   

Sanskar was no show. She thought whatever his business wouldn't take thus long,   His calls left unanswered. Swara was angry at him for not even sending one text back because she was worried about him. And when she couldn't wait any longer. She decided to go home.     

And when her mom asked to talk to her for five minute. Swara agreed to it. But she wish she didn't when her mom talked about things she wanted to avoid hearing tonight .            

First Swara was shocked by her mom intention to get back with her father. At Swara slightest hesitance her mom was upset that Swara doesn't want her to be happy. Swara couldn't convince her mom why her father doesn't deserve second chance. So she accepted her mom decision but promised her mom that she will not accept him back as well.           

Then came the next shock , Swara knew her mom was getting close to Ragini but she didn't know how much that played a part in her opinion of Sanskar.  Her mom concern about her married life threw an wrench in Swara happiness.

Swara was content with his Friendship. Content with just being with him and then her mom has to ask the one question that destroy her happiness. Does he love you. She asked and Swara knew the answer to the question was an big No

Marriage needs love Swara, Her mom insisted. Swara kept stating she was happy but it didn't make much difference to her mom. And the final shock of the day was when her mom announced that she should leave him if he can't give his heart for her. Leaving Sanskar was the most absurd thing she ever heard.  She couldn't fathom living without him.    

  She loved him and it was enough for both of them she consoled herself. She tried calling him twice on the way back but still his mobile was switched off much to her disappointment. She reached home and found the door already unlocked. Swara should have been worried but she thought Sanskar must have reached home though his car was no where in sight.                        

  Dark room was what greeted her and when she switched on the lights  her eyes landed on the hundred white roses in the living room. Her eyes lit up. Maybe it was his surprise she hoped. But when he saw the silhouette of an man that wasn't her husband. She screamed. And the person turned around.             

It didn't take her long to decipher Laksh was drunk. He couldn't barely take one step without stumbling. His words were bit of an blur. But she wasn't even listening to him. Fear was evident in her eyes. The last time she saw him was when he stabbed her husband and now she was alone in their house with him.  She tried to run but her feet stayed frozen on spot. 

And as if he could read her mind he quickened his steps and then she ran and almost collided into the wall or so she thought but was relieved to find the wall was her husband.         

His eyes lit up in worry and she saw his eyes checking if she was alright.  The moment of concern stayed for more than few minutes and by the time Laksh reached them, the concern in his eyes turned intense as his eyes spotted Laksh getting close to them. He gently but firmly pushed Swara little back from him and Swara expected Laksh would face Sanskar wrath. Yet he stayed their standing calmly.        

"What bring you here my brother, Straight from jail is it?  " Sanskar voice rang in the hall. 

"Stay away from my Swara, " Laksh drunken voice spoke up.

"She is my wife, " Sanskaar answered back ,  which earned him an punch from Laksh.  Still he remained unmoving from his stance.   

"She would have come to love me and be my wife if you didn't snatch her away, " Laksh words made Swara freeze ,it felt like a declaration of an obsessed man all because she went few dates with him .    

"She never will as She loves me, " Sanskar said and that was enough to push Laksh to the extreme. Blows after blows were connected to Sanskar face Yet neither did he strike him back Nor did he avoid it and she wondered why Sanskar was provoking him .              

Swara took one step towards him. When his voice asked her to stay away. And she stayed till the sirens of police were heard and Laksh was arrested once again.  Swara was numb from the events. Her concern for her husband was clouded with her suspicions on his weird behavior.          

It was only when Swara heard Sanskar answer to the police. She realized his intentions. And Swara couldn't believe Sanskar would be so cold towards his cousin.. He was still in the middle of talking when Swara called him out.            

He immediately walked towards her with worry etched over his face. She dragged him inside their room to clear her suspicions.                        

"You planned it all out, " She lashed out accusing him for planning out everything .                    

"Yes." He replied and she slapped him hard at that ,  He looked surprised by her action but still didn't say anything more.        

"You used me again to hurt lucky,  After the last time. You still used me." She was beyond angry now. But his eyes clearly was surprised at her accusation.                      

"I thought you were at dida's. I saw your message, it was just supposed to be him and me ." came his reply.

"I would never risk you, Come on Swara, You should know that, "  He continued talking but swara couldn't believe him when all he was focussed on his revenge.           

"You provoked him today intentionally" She said those words and he nodded his answer and then confirmed her suspicion .    

"Yes.  If he hit me again. His bail would be revoked and he will go back to jail."  He calmly replied back.                    

" It all back to revenge. Isn't it. You are clouded in your revenge , Don't do anything that you might regret later. "  She tried to reason with him ,  Laksh did stab Sanskar . Swara was far from forgiving him but Sanskar revenge was destroying him .

                
But he didnt listen to her , He went and acted his plan till the end. And Laksh screams when he was taken away kept ringing in her ears. She could see Laksh fate now either spend his life in jail or be declared insane. For the first time Swara was scared of her husband.             

And what angered her more was his intention of going to extremes to get what he wants. She still kept standing in their room Numb from all the events. When  then he walked in looking completely calm as if he didn't decide his cousin fate .               

"Does it feel good? " She asked him once they were both alone          

"No,  But he deserved it. She died because of his betrayal , " came his reply. It was all about Kavita and Swara heart was deflated a bit to know it will always be her who owns his heart              

"What would you have done , If you came ten minutes late. And Laksh harmed  me, because you lured him into our house for revenge " She asked  not taking her eyes of him.

"I would have killed him, "  Came his reply as if he was capable of murder .      

"And what if you died trying to save me ," She asked then fearing his answer would break her heart and it did when he spoke up again 

"That would have been great, " came his reply as if living with her was an ordeal he wished to end .                     

Swara had listened enough.  She had spent half of their friendship listening to his revenge plan. But seeing it unfold right in front of her eyes scares her and the realization how he never once thought about her hurts. She couldn't do it anymore.                    

"I am leaving, " She said trying and wishing for him to stop her ,she was okay with any excuse to stay beside him .     

"Okay" was all she got  as an answer and so she left. Never intended to return to an man who neither loves her,  nor cares about what will happen to her if he dies. To know she never Mattered to him even after seven months hurt like hell. And Swara realized her mom was right without love her marriage was doomed from the start.

P. S:" That it for now,  Let me know your feedback. Hit the votes if you liked it.. "

Juanita Reid