Two weeks later :

       
 8th July 2015

                     
Ever since her mom died, Kavita had learnt to live on her own. In the orphanage, in the hostel and recently in Swara house. She was good at it and she never felt she will ever have a family on her own until she met Sanskar. And when they broke up she thought she lost her  family again,  But she was glad to be mistaken . Because seeing how Sanskar  come to help her  shift to Delhi.  She was glad to have an friend like him.                 

When Kavita broke the news about her job in Delhi,  He first said No. He was kind of being  overprotective about sending her away. But he  came around a day later and agreed to her decision.               

Currently they both were seated in her apartment rented out with the help of Sanskar. She could never find such an safe neighborhood under her finances, But Sanskar would never let her settle for anything less. And when she found  him installing all sorts of security on the door. She knew just how much he cares. It was just a single BHK apartment. So he was sleeping in the living room couch the whole week .

But he never complained. Just one more day then he will have to return back to his home and though the promise of visiting often lingers, Kavita was bit sad to realize she will be all alone after he left . And hoped to make friends in the new workplace.                   

Kavita was lost in her thoughts that the door bell sound made was quite unexpected as she had no idea who would visit her when she barely knew anyone , So was pleasantly surprised when she found her two friends staring at her with an hand full of gifts.  She didn't expect it but she knew Sanskar was well aware of it. They were all here for her, She had an family after all.               

 Mean awhile Sanskar stood in shock as he took in his cousin and Swara , he had heard from Laksh but still seeing her was a pleasant surprise. After Kavita birthday  he had never seen her, so her acceptance to come had been a surprise indeed , he knew Swara decision stemmed from the fact she was loyal to her friends and when it comes between her hate for him and love for her friend.  It seemed like Friendship won.                    

The next 6 Hours they barely looked at each other, Suddenly all Sanskar wished was renting an specious apartment for Kavita. Because in the confines of such an small apartment avoiding Swara was much more harder than anyone anticipated.   

Her words stay away still rang in his ears. Though she mended the statement with another one asking him to stay away for an year. She thought his love was mere attraction which would fade away with time and distance, Hence her condition. She promised to take him seriously if he stayed away for an year and still loved her.  She can be stubborn at times. But she didn't know waiting was his specialty.  Yet he just missed her already and to find her having fun with his cousin and Kavi while totally being ignored hurt a little.                       

Swara regretted coming to Delhi the moment her eyes landed on Sanskar, Why did she say  yes to the torture then. One reason Laksh. The way he went on and on about what Sanskar was and Kavita in Delhi.  Laksh was completely brainless at times. The fact was evident when he clearly failed to notice her discomfort whenever he hoped that Sanskar will reunite with Kavita. She needed to see with her own eyes no such things had happened.

But finding him completely at ease with Kavita didn't help. They were friends she thought and consoled herself. But yet she can't understand why would he want to give up such comfortable friend and decide to go after her who has been nothing but hostile towards him from the very first time.                    

It has been just two weeks,  and she still got almost 11 and half month to go. Will Sanskar love stand that long she wondered ,she knew her condition was stupid. No one can wait that long when all Swara admitted was she would take his confession seriously, she didn't even promise to love him back.  At first that what she hoped, that he would find someone else. And she would realize she was right in not trusting him ,But seeing him had shaken her resolve and she didn't want to lose him at all.                           

So she tried to stay out of his way and decided cooking would keep her occupied . Swara was a good cook as  she learned from the best her Dida. So when Laksh wanted to order pizza,  She insisted she will cook instead. She did concede and let Laksh choose the menu but Laksh said nothing could beat the taste of Pizza when he spoke up .            

"Wait till you taste her cooking and pizza will be long forgotten, Especially her, " he launched , into an animated explanation of how awesome her cooking skills were resulting in an shocked Laksh.            

" How do you know that bhai,"  the question from Laksh , halted Sanskar  from speaking further. He was speechless with the mistake and was glad when Kavita replied back for him stating she had told him Swara was a good cook.  That answered satisfied Laksh but not swara                 

 Swara  knew she rarely cooks in her house . But even if she does the food items Sanskar mentioned was something she was sure Kavita never tasted. Yet how did be know she can cook them. She didn't think much of it as she went to prepare dinner, She wanted to ask where certain ingredient where so decided to look for Kavita. And  she found her  in the balcony talking with Sanskar.

She didn't mean to overhear but she clearly heard Kavita scolding Sanskar for being careless. Then there talked moved on  about his parent, she never saw the vulnerability in his eyes before.  And somehow at that moment all she wanted was to comfort him.                       

She didn't want to disturb the moment, so she walked away to find the ingredients on her own. Yet she can't help but keep thinking about him. She didn't even know he had lost his parents. For someone who was quick to judge him, She really didn't know anything about him.                   

Dinner was an success and when Laksh decided to go to clubbing. He had three stubborn people to convince,  But Laksh can be very persuasive. And Swara had to admit  they ended up   having fun. And Swara noticed  Sanskar was not dancing as her eyes located him  seated on one of the couch. 

She was dancing with Kavita and found he was looking at her, she knew it was wrong to try to make him jealous but she accepted to dance with a stranger when he asked few minutes later and noticed Kavita shake of head but ignored her friend.                        

 Nor did she refuse the drink he offered her. Yet her eyes was still focused on the person who claimed to love her. Why was he Okay with her dancing with an stranger. Isn't he supposed to be possessive. Why isn't he doing anything. When she get all kind of jealous to see him even with her best friend. She was already regretting trying to make him jealous when he showed no sign of it                                

  It was until few minutes later. Swara felt dizzy. She realized to her horror the hand that was so gentle on her so far turned rough in matter of seconds and when she was dragged away from the dance floor she can't help but feel like an fool for trusting him.  And the night turned into an blur after that.                                        

When she finally opened her eyes.  All memories of last night flashed before her eyes and her heart almost dropped in shock.  She looked around her surrounding and it was not her room,  And the fear increased further. Her dress was changed as well. She would have broke down hadn't it been Kavi who walked inside the door the next minute. Then she remembered she was in Delhi and this was her room .                                  

" What happened? "She voiced out,  very scared of knowing the truth.                                       

" Nothing Swara, Relax. We got you before anything happened. Actually Sanskar did, "she replied back ,which calmed her down. And then she explained about how Sanskar noticed her dizzy state and came to her rescue after all.                                   

"  You need to rest , will talk later, "with that she walked out. Swara didn't realize she drifted off to sleep until she woke up again when she heard several voices fighting with each other.                  

" You stay out of this lucky. It none of your business , "She knew the voice belonged to Sanskar, a very angry one at that.                      

" Okay, Tell me,  How long are you going to give me the silent treatment. That too when you will be leaving few hours later , "came Kavitha voice, that sounded  like she was pleading with him          

" Actually I am leaving now Laksh, Tell that to your friend,  " came Sanskar voice again.                   

" You asked me to stay out of it. I am going to do just that, " with that Laksh walked out of the house as Swara heard the door getting closed.                          

" How many more times should I say sorry, " Kavita voice pleaded again,  that Swara wondered what could her innocent friend do to earn his wrath.                       

"You should have thought about before you decided to come in front of an knife, After all you knew. Please Kavi. Don't ever do it again. You knew I rather die than living with that guilt, "  He broke down,  and Swara heard the pain in his voice and wondered what caused it.                             

Swara heard Kavitha's  voice whispering apologies. But for the first time Swara saw a different version of sanskar then the one she imagined up so far. To her it was always the guy who fell for his girlfriend's friend, to her he was always the guy who broke Kavita heart.

But seeing him break down she realized she always failed to see the good in him.  He cared maybe way too much for Kavita, Yet he broke up with her because he loved her. Why what did she do to deserve such love from him. Then the brief memories of the night flashed back.                

Sanskar beating the guy while she was almost unconscious. Sanskar catching her from falling when she lost conscious, her mind remembered her shouting his name when she spotted the knife. She also remembered Kavita getting in between but instead of her the knife did strike Sanskar hand and all she saw was his bleeding hands that where the memory stops.                       

By the time,  She heard Kavitha and Sanskar talking back with each other. It seemed like the fight was over for now.  And then she heard the door open and lucky joking about reunion again. Sometime Laksh faith in them scares her. They do have  too much past. Isn't that why Kavita choose to move away. Yet why her heart feels restless she didn't know.                      

She slowly got up and opened the bedroom, immediately all three pair of eyes turned towards her. Each of them held so much concern she momentarily forgot how thankful she was to have them.                      

 Swara knew she got to thank him, Yet she couldn't find the courage to do so.  Soon she decided.  Lunch was an quiet affair. They will be going back little later and no one was happy with that news. Laksh decided to break the self imposed silence .               

"Mom, Is looking for my Bhabhi you know. Be prepared Sanskar, " Laksh  joked not realizing the effect it had on Swara.             

"No thanks,  I can find my wife on my own, " He said looking straight at her.                   

"But Agarwal uncle  found the perfect match for you,  Last night he told mom all about my future bhabhi, " now it was Kavita who  got hurt by the news at the mention of her father name                   

Sanskar momentarily froze at the remainder of his name,  The name Agarwal made him realize the fact this was the day he died in the future and wanted to know if the news had already reached his family . He went toward the balcony not wanting to upset Kavita before confirming the news  and he was surprised when he received the call from the said man himself who should have been dead by now.                    

Back then Agarwal was found dead when his wife decided to wake him up, Now the said man was talking in the phone alive.  His mind went to an  halt to know he was still alive. Preventing Kavita death had inadvertently changed his death too. Yet he didn't realize the two death were connected until that moment                                              

If the one who killed Kavita was involved. Then it must be his uncle,  He did remember Agarwal having dinner with them the night before his death . It did come up in the investigation of his murder.  He kept thinking on what he missed until he had his answer. He was looking at the wrong person all along.           

The faded memory was getting clearer every second, He just lost Kavita and by then he didn't even know she was murdered , he thought it was a terrible accident , and  eating was an mundane activity he did too make his family happy.

Yet he remembers Agarwal's annoying questions about Kavita that day, Each question brought more pain. It was his uncle who stopped his friend when he kept asking about her. Now he realize all his questions were related to Kavita but not about Kavita it was more about her family. 

Maybe he found out the person he killed was his daughter, Maybe that why he was killed. Sanskar mind answered. And yet he remembers the fact he was poisoned and the only person who could have did it that night was not his uncle. But his uncle's wife.                

His life collapsed the moment he realized. The person she considers as mother killed his parents,  And he wanted to deny it. He wanted to refuse to believe it, Yet. The fact his bade Maa prepared dessert only for Mr Agarwal stood out.

No one was in the house was in the mood to eat sweet back then. Neither Sanskar nor Laksh due to the loss of their friend. His uncle had sugar and yet his bade Maa went to the extra effect of making sweet just for their guest.  And Sanskar now remembers how that fact never came out. They were ruled out of suspects since all of them ate the same food and was still alive. But now with the faint memory. Sanskar finally had his answer,  It crushed him. He slumped against the railing as his leg fell weak to hold him any longer. He didn't know how long he was in that position                 

Until  he heard faint sound of an anklets approaching him, He assumed it to be belonging to Kavita. As Swara avoid the mere sight of him,Till he  heard her voice..                      

"Are you fine? " She asked, He must have looked like an mess if Swara who hated him had that much concern in her voice. Suddenly he wanted to be selfish. He knew at that moment he needed her more than anything..              

"No I am not fine Shona,  I don't think I will ever be fine, " he replied back not realizing that she asked him to stay away from her               

"Should I bring Laksh or Kavita," She asked, still assuming he needed them more. But the concern in her voice was comforting.           

"No,   I just need you to be here for an moment. Just an moment. I stay away from you after that but can you please stay here for an moment, " He spoke up , not caring the fact he was pleading her for a moment of time.                     

He didn't expect her to listen but when she walked towards him and stood beside him. He finally let the tears he held back fall down. 

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

Juanita Reid