10th July 2015
                          
Sanskar eyes refused to look anywhere but towards his Shona ,  She was seated with his cousin in the plane while he had the misfortune of having allocated to an seat with two strangers. 
            
They were returning back home,  And while they did decided to go back together. Swara continued to avoid him like always except that night.  When she stood by his side, She didn't ask any questions because he probably wouldn't have been able to answer them.
    
At times like this he wish he could tell her the entire truth, But he can't,  Not when it cause her more pain
                 
And the next day he had shared what he learned with Kavita, Who advised him to proceed with caution. Of course he would but still going back home meant facing his bade Maa and Sanskar was not prepared for it yet.  A laughter brought him back out of  his thoughts.
   
And to find the source of her laughter was his cousin ,made Sanskar annoyed as he didn't like it one bit
                     
This feeling was new to him,  He was not used to this feeling.  Seeing his Shona with anyone else is hard on him.  Especially after he realized how much he was in love with her.
                
                  
When he first woke up with the memory of loving someone else , he realized it was too absurd to believe hence he thought of it as a dream, until he met her .

                        
Even his future self  refused to think along the lines back then for so long . Even when his thoughts revolved around his wife 24/7. He called it Friendship not realizing how the lines were crossed long time ago. They were moments when her close proximity startled him but he thoughts it was natural.

                          
Looking back now. He still can't decide when his future self  fell for her. His mind had always been concentrating on two aspect revenge for Kavita and making Swara happy.

                
Slowly Swara happiness mattered more,  her smile mattered more,  she just mattered more to him . He thought it was because she was alive while Kavita was dead and he didn't want to hurt Swara.

     
But now he understood it was because unknowingly his future self was in love with her . What would have happened if he realized it bit sooner , would he  have still taken the decision to travel back in time. He had no answer to it now.                         
            
And now Sanskar  doesn't regret saving Kavita,  But he regrets losing Swara. His friend, the love of his life doesn't even like him anymore and he knows he pushed her towards it.  He can wait for an year. There can be no one in his heart in place of her. Not even Kavita who was his first love could manage to topple his love for Swara.  Waiting was not his problem,  But this Jealousy,  yes he admit he is jealous was an huge problem.
                 
As his mind travelled back to the recent event of the night in the club , he realized how jealous he got when Swara choose to dance with the stranger ,because the murderous intent he had towards an guy just because he was dancing with   his wife made him realize he was jealous .
   
It took him immense strength to hold of punching him when he danced with his Shona, It simply  was so hard to remain seated yet his eyes longed to suffer apparently as his eyes was glued in on her. And he was thankful for that if not he might have missed her dizziness and wouldn't have been able to reach her on time.
                
Then when his fists connected with his face. He knew he wouldn't stop, No one can hurt his Shona. And if they did they will release the monster in him. The day did end in bloodshed, His hands still was held tightly by an bandage. The cut wasn't deep. But the pain of it was much better than what he felt when his Shona was dancing with him.
       
Again her laughter brought this surge of Jealousy. His cousin lucky probably doesn't realize his murderous intent. Kavita did share a good relationship with lucky and it hadn't bothered him because he knew where her heart lies. And similarly he wouldn't be this jealous if he knew Swara like him , But she hates him and he can't lose her to anyone. Any guy who possibly as much as talks to his Shona remains an threat for him.

                
He does realize how lucky he was to have her fall in love with him back then  and how foolish he was to never understand it soon .

              
When the plane landed,  He got into his car and dashed home. As Swara wanted  to avoid him, Lucky would probably arrive after dropping Swara home and he need to be able to face his bade Maa without slipping up. He quickly reached home and stood shocked to hear the same laughter in his house.
      
He remained frozen for more than an minute as his brain tried to register what exactly has happened, Swara was in his house with lucky.
     
                 
He entered the house trying to remain calm. Yet his mask slipped the moment he saw his bade Maa sitting next to his Shona. And somehow when he looked at his bade Maa. For the first time he realized there was more to her than the smile she had when she greeted him..
                   
"Why didn't you come together, I heard you took the same flight. You must be tired Sanskar beta. Why don't you freshen up and we will have lunch together, "  his bade maa spoke up ,  all in one sequence of sweet sentences.
        
He always thought his uncle wife was fit to hold the reign to the house because of the time and details she given to every event. Today that was exactly what bothered him.
                        
Now was not the time for pleasantries, He simply nodded and headed to his room. Placed his luggage inside his room. Got freshened up and walked outside. Swara can avoid him all she wants outside this house. But in here, he was not leaving her out of his sight for more than one minute .
                            
               
Meanwhile  Swara  hated the wall between her and sanskar. She hated the fact he wouldn't share anything with her. She knew something was bothering him, Yet he went and talked with Kavita about it instead of her. That made her angry. Yes she was the one who asked him to stay away, She was the one who asked him to prove his love. But didn't he say that night he needed her to stay with him. And then why won't he say anything to her. 
                          
 And things fell into place on the plane when her seats was next to Laksh. She might have laughed unnecessarily over Laksh stupid jokes. But we'll she liked seeing the way he fumes over it. Little bit of tit for tat she thought.  Swara  have gradually learned to accept the fact he likes her and she feels the same way too.  And that was why she wants to know him better.
       
Knowing  how much he means to her ,Sometimes little jealousy proved to be useful. He left them alone in the airport probably to cool down on his own. But the moment he left. She regretted it, her mind needlessly worried about the fact she might not see him again for a long time if he kept his promise.

                           
 So when Laksh invited her too lunch,  She didn't think twice before saying yes. Where else can she knew him better than his own. And she wasn't going to say no to an chance of seeing him again. And they reached first due to Laksh reckless driving.

           
Laksh father was at work, They only got to meet Laksh mother ,  Swara immediately liked her, she was sweet,  kind and lovely.
         
Swara eyes looked towards Sanskar  the moment he entered. He was surprised to see her in the house,  But underneath the eyes they were fear too. Was he worried she might have introduced herself as his girlfriend. Didn't he want his family to know this thoughts continued to plague her.

                 
All her thoughts were forgotten for awhile  during lunch. Though she was aware of how his eyes never left her. Yet he didn't try to talk to her. Probably because of her condition she thought and let the matter drop.

                     
After lunch, Laksh's mother decided to give an tour of the house to Swara. She liked spending time with her. But as time passed her questions became more personal. Swara had nothing to hide. But her personality changed the moment Swara told her about her family. She became downright hostile.

          
As if that was not enough. When Swara spend more than few minutes staring at the pics of little Sanskar in his parents room. She heard the first set of questions that will change her view about Laksh's mother forever

              
"Are you playing with my son's heart , First it was Sanskaar now laksh, " she spoke up , and the question abruptly stopped Swara in her tracks. She didn't expect such question from the woman who she met few minutes ago.
        
"No Aunty, Laksh and I are just friends, " She clarified,  She couldn't say anything about Sanskar can she,  and that when her eyes spotted Sanskar standing outside the door through the mirror in the room. she expected him to barge in to defend her , Yet he remained just standing outside the door and listening in.

       
"Sanskar, Apparently had asked for you in the hospital right I heard it from the doctor , Why when he barely talk to you now. Did you decide to switch to Laksh because he is the son of Durgaprasad Maheshwari and the sole heir to the Maheshwari industries, " She asked, Swara couldn't even blink at the accusation. How can she even respond to something like that.

            
She wouldn't cry or show weakness in front of her,  She wouldn't fall before this harsh words. She didn't need him to defend her yet her heart seems to want that instead of his silence.
               
"As I said Aunty, Laksh and I are just friends,  Why Sanskar asked for me in the hospital. You should ask him that and frankly we didn't talk with each other because truthfully I don't know him well. It up to you to believe or not. But I think I should go home now, "with that she marched out of the room.

He was not anywhere in sight. Had she imagined him. She contemplated for a moment  but no she knew he was there and yet was an coward to defend her. Just like her dad. The person who never stood up for her mother .

                    
Her mom used to say who you like cant be dictated by mind. But she would always say listen to your mind when the guy you liked couldn't stand up for you over his family . And Swara thought Sanskar was different. She was wrong,  Her heart picked the wrong person . Just like her mother.

     
But she will not continue to love him irrespective of his actions, She can't. She was thankful she found about it sooner yet why did it still continued to hurt she couldn't understand.
               
When she reached the gate ,  She saw him waiting for outside. Their house was located far from the main roads. And Swara knew she wasn't cherishing the walk to the road.
    
Yet accepting an ride from him bothered her too much ,so she decided to walk.  He walked by her side not saying an word. And it irked her more. Shouldn't he just apologize for not talking back to Laksh mom. She heard from Laksh, Sanskar lost his parents when he was ten. So Laksh mom was like an mom to him. She would have understood. Yet he was not saying an word now and that made her furious.
                        
Only when she reached the main road, And was about to aboard an auto. Did he talk. The one word "Sorry, " and it was not enough to cool her down. So she did what she wanted to do for long. Hit him, punched him and kept hitting him anything that could release her pent up anger at his behavior.
 
It was only when she calmed did she finally start to  cry, She felt safe in his arms has he hugged her. Her mind was screaming no but her heart had mind of its own. She didn't know how long she listened to her heart but her mind finally decided to face the truth.
               
" Do you even love me, If you did how can you let me hear such words. I asked you to stay away fair point. But what did I do to see the guy who claims to love me being an mute spectator while his family all but insults me for being after their money, " She lashed out,  as she glared at him    
           
  "Shona, " He started but that one word made her realize how much hurt,  she was to see him doing absolutely nothing. So she went on to hurt him again.
               
"I liked you too, I was going to say to Laksh mom. That I liked you not your cousin. And I was an fool to like you. Now I take back what I said. Even if you come back to me after an year. I would not take you back, " She spoke up,  She wanted him to know he won't be accepted .
                
She could see her words getting registered on his mind. He looked like he was battling out on what to say and when he remained silent for more than few seconds. She decided she had enough.
     
She walked away from him and in an flash she found herself back in his arms. She tried to push him away. But she stopped still when she heard him say.
           
"I won't lose you again, " he spoke up , she didn't  understand what  he meant by that. But she did understand his next sentence much more clearly.
      
" The reason I didn't interfere was only because I want to protect you from her. I won't lose you,  I can't lose you. If she knew I cared for you then she will hurt you. That why I stayed away, " He explained
                  
Swara still remained clueless on what he wanted to say. Yet somewhere she knew he was finally sharing something with her. So she remained silent letting herself to trust him one more.

                  
"Why will she hurt me? " The question slipped out at his silence and his answer shook her up.
                    
"That I don't know. But what I do know is she killed my parents. And I won't lose you too , " He said leaving her shocked by his reason . 

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

Juanita Reid