12th July 2015   

                    
Sometimes being smart is an curse, Especially when you realize how much of an blunder you made with your life. And Sanskar just realized the magnitude of his decisions. He always knew there would be consequences and he was prepared to deal with them, what he wasn't prepared was for his Shona ?.

Because back then when he decided to travel back in time. He knew there would be no Shona in his life, Well that had been the plan..               

" Promise me Sanskar,  You would stay  away from my life , Promise to never interfere in my life, "  was all she asked him and it almost crushed his heart to accept that condition back then.  But he did,  And he broke his promises.       

 If he could see his Shona, she would be disappointed at him for not keeping the promise but would she be happy when she realized he had to come to love her in this time as well . He could imagine her smile that would probably make him the happiest person in the world. That smile was all he wanted for her , The smile he destroyed ever since Nikhil died.

                    
Their life was like an glass , It broke and no matter how hard they tried to fix it. It remained broken and Swara couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't live broken. So she made up her mind to start over and she believed she would be able to have an happy life without him.                         

 So much has happened in the future that Swara needs to know before she makes up her mind. He want to tell her everything, Well except the fact Shekhar was her dad and Ragini was her sister. That  truth can stay hidden.                 

Sanskar also knew  the Swara his future self met in the future was different from the Swara he knows now. She had years ahead of her life to gain that insight of life. She had been in an steady relationship with Vivek .

A  relationship she believed that would make her happy  but it didn't and then she realized she liked him. A relationship she can't have , In an way she was able to trust him more because she always thought she never had an chance. Her hopes ,  her expectations were just to be with him. And so she was content and happy.                           

  It different now,  He knew that. Swara right now was young, full of  dreams of finding the right guy. And for her Sanskar past might be enough to squash those dreams .                   

 She wanted  someone she could trust. She  wanted to believe him  as the guy she could have her happily ever after with and that where there life's get complicated. Because her hopes and her expectations were never met with.    

For one she couldn't trust him, He doesn't blame her for that. When someone already told you that your future would be doomed from the start there is no point in trying right. He believed that how Swara felt towards him at this point                 

She wanted an guy who was loyal towards her and the fact he moved on from Kavita doesn't scream loyal at all,  She wanted an guy who won't leave her behind and the fact he left her  in the future was the last straw.  And the two things she desired in an relationship was the loyalty and the assurance she wouldn't be left behind like her mother. And Sanskar broke those conditions.                       

And he knew Swara better than anyone,  She will not give him an chance until she heard the whole truth. That  was why he was desperate to make her understand the truth. The fact it was not who he wanted to leave. He begged and pleaded her to change her mind back then , But she was adamant, Maybe if she did now He might have an chance.        

An chance to finally make things right. An chance to mend their life before it too late.  And for that he needs her to listen and he will wait till she decides to listen.  And he knew the wait was not going to be easy.                         

The drive back home was filled with despair at the current state of life, When he entered his home, he had guests. Kavita's dad laugh greeted him and they were few unfamiliar faces as well. The first one to acknowledge his presence was Laksh's mom. The one who he actually believed to be his mother for more than half of his life.    

She took in his appearance and her face exhibited nothing but concern as her hands touched the bruise.  At that moment he can't believe the person before him was an cold blooded murderer.  But if anything Laksh's mom knew how to handle any circumstances. She briefly nodded at him and dismissed him to his room from the prying eyes of the guests.                          

  Sanskar remained confined in his room  till night briefly checking his phone and holding out from calling her on impulse ,  And no one had managed to disturb him till the knock on door later that night.        

" I can't handle maa matchmaking bhai ,we need to leave now,  " Laksh voice greeted him , as he entered the room .  And stopped short at the sight of his bruise thanks to Nikhil .       

" What happened bhai ?" Laksh question was left unanswered ,yet he continued to pester until Sanskar agreed to go out with him .         

Sanskar wasn't surprised when Laksh destination turned to be a nightclub.  After enduring a hour of it and still plagued with Swara teary face ,he all but dragged Laksh out as the reason his cousin took him with him was to drive him home .                

And Laksh had to stumble upon someone as they reached the parking lot and Sanskar was relived to find Amit his college friend starring at him . Sanskar never stayed in touch with him after college and so  he met was glad to see  his friend .        

Though Amit ignored Laksh attempt to flirt with his wife , Sanskar knew he won't hold back with his punches if need arises .       

" Still saving Laksh from his stupidity?  " Amit asked jokingly and Sanskar laughed at the truth behind those words , Sanskar had made it a habit to look after Laksh .Due to Laksh being too drunk , they departed after few minutes after Laksh insisted they took a picture together .               

It was only on the ride back Sanskar mind began to wonder about Amit wife statement where she asked her husband if Laksh and Sanskar were brothers . He had been asked that a lot ,and his friends went on to say that both shared same mannerisms as well . Yet something in his memory held on to those words as he led Laksh to his room.               

As he took in Laksh room , he noticed the family picture that hung in the wall . It was the last picture with his parents and for some reason his eyes wondered to take a closer look at the picture.              

And he saw the sadness reflected in his mother face ,the picture was taken right before Sanskar left with his parents to their home after the short stay with his bade papa and his family.             

Yet he noticed that his mother gaze was locked into Laksh who was standing beside his bade maa , he couldn't decipher the reason of his mother sadness and then he recollected a faint argument between his parents .     

" I am not leaving him ,he is my son as well , " his mother's words echoed in his brain , at that age he had assumed the son mention was him but now looking back he began to wonder .
                                                                                         
And the next day he drove straight to her house,  At least to have  an Glimpse of her. His fear increased when the house was locked. And enquiring the neighbors led him to the hospital.                      

All he wanted was to see her, Nikhil guarded the door refusing to let him inside. He was not going to back down. Nikhil fist connected once again with his face and Sanskar wasn't willing to fight but he would have fought is way im.     

  Because right now he needed to see her. But he ceased trying the moment her mother insisted she doesn't want to see him.  At least she was fine enough to hate him ,That was the only comfort he had when he left the hospital. He knew he would keep trying until she listens. And till then all he can do is wait.                          

He went to work and tried to lose himself in it,  It helped only an little. Every second he stopped her tears stained face haunted him. It was only towards the evening his bade papa entered his room. He was an man of few words and he was always more perspective.             

So when he took in his appearance, He ordered him to take an week off. Sanskar wanted to argue but he wasn't interested in explaining to his bade papa he was fine when he was clearly not.                             

"You are more than an employee in this firm Sanskar,  You are the one who will succeed over me. So don't overwork yourself out. Also you are  my son . I will wait till you are ready to say whatever that bothering you,"   was all he said before leaving him alone in the confines of his room.                   

  Sanskar tired calling Swara again yet  his call was left  unanswered. He was on his way to the hospital when he got the call from his detective friend who he asked to keep an eye on bade ma

                                      
  He said it was important so Sanskar agreed to meet him first, The meet took place in the PI office ,  And the revelations that happened in the room gave him the answer he was searching for. Why is parents were killed, And the reason shocked him more than he could handle.           

Sanskar didn't drive to the hospital instead he drove back to his parents home. He kept calling his Shona but she didn't pick up. He left her an voice-mail to call him when she was ready to listen. And he knew there is nothing he can do to change her mind except wait till she does                         

When his phone vibrated during midnight,  Sanskar heart leapt with joy. He thought finally she called him back.  And the voice of his concerned brother greeted him in the other end. Any other day Sanskar wouldn't have bothered to explain his actions but not today after what he learned                  

"Where are you Bhai,  Everyone is worried. Do you know the time, " Laksh voice enquired.                 

  " I need some time alone Lucky, I am in  our vacation house. Tell everyone not to worry. I think of staying few days here before heading back, "  came his reply.

                         
Sanskar knew Laksh won't ask more questions. The only reason he visit this house was when he misses his parents, Laksh was well aware of that.

                   
" I miss them too Bhai, " that was all he said before ending the call.  And Sanskar knew Laksh missed his parents. He used to love Sanskar's mom and adored his dad.

Sanskar had been jealous of the affection Laksh had from his parents and only today he realize how much of an fool he was to feel jealous about lucky.                            

When he went to meet the detective friend. Never did he imagine such skeletons to be unearthed. Apparently Laksh was indeed his brother not his cousin , And the one truth shattered everything he knew about his family.     

He remembered he was two years old when Laksh was born. So he never really remembered anything about him. He didn't remember his mom was pregnant. He didn't remember his mom giving birth to Laksh either.  But the DNA report his friend showed state Laksh and sanskar are brothers. And in Laksh birth certificate his parents name are scribbled as Ram Prasad Maheshwari and Sujatha Ram Prasad Maheshwari..                             

  And the realization of such an big secret shook him up. Now everything made sense.  Why his bade Maa killed his parents. He finally had his motive , Yet he doesn't know the real reason why his parents gave up their son. And made him live all his life thinking of Laksh as his cousin.                                

  He might not remember his pregnant mom or Laksh birth. But he does have memories of his childhood. And now all little things makes sense. Why his mom cried every time Laksh headed back to his home. She didn't want to part with his kid. Why there was always an unspoken tension between bade Maa and his Maa. Outwards they will be anything but smiling but he knew they don't get along well.                              

  Still he doesn't know the whole story and he knew just the person to ask. But Sanskar needs some time to handle to truth and for that he needs his Shona. Without her the truth might just break him. He desperately needed her in his life .And he had promised to wait ,So he waited                                                                      

He tried calling his Shona again but end up finding his number was blocked. Everything in him wanted to go back and make her listen but he promised that he will wait. So wait he did,  each hours passed by and still there was no Shona.  And soon the hours turned into days. And Sanskar body reacted to his actions of forgoing his basic necessity food.  And after that his mind stopped fighting and it was only when he heard her voice ,  He realized the wait was finally over.

                           
  It took him few minutes to finally realize he was not dreaming her up, And when he heard Nikhil proposal he got scared that he might lose his Shona. The words were spoken in an act of desperation as  he needed her to believe that he would never leave her.  He wanted to say more, He wanted to say everything but his body refused to work with him as the last grip of consciousness left him.                             

When he woke up again. He was face to face with his bade Maa and not his Shona. His Shona was nowhere to be found,  His eyes kept searching for his Shona but she was nowhere to be found. His eyes landed on laksh next who looked upset to see him hurt.  He had to pretend everything was fine till his bade Maa was present and only after she left did he called her.                        

"Shona, "  was all he said and he could hear her cry from the other side. As always he made her cry.                         

" Did Laksh's mom said anything, " He asked wondering the reason for her tears.                          

" No, I left after Laksh told me. His mom was on the way. I didn't meet her. I also asked Laksh to lie about who admitted you in the hospital, " She said between her sobs.                             

" Then, What happened Shona. Why are you crying, "  He asked, trying to find what he did wrong this time.                            

"You almost died, Do you think I would be happy if you did or do you want to punish me, "  She asked, clearly upset about his hospital stay .                               

"I don't regret it After all it made you answer my call, " he spoke up ,  trying to lighten  the mood.  And there was silence in the other end for awhile that Sanskar was worried then he heard her voice                           

  "I will wait now Sanskar. Get well and come meet me. I will wait for you till then. This time I will listen to the truth even if it hurts. Sorry I took so long to come for you, "  Swara spoke up , trying to mend their life's back together.    

The few hour she thoughts she lost him made her aware how fleeting life was and even if it hurts she deserve to give her heart another chance because she knew if she didn't. She will live with lots of regrets.                               

So when the next day he visited her straight from the hospital after getting discharged, She let him inside her  house and gave herself another chance to be happy.

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

Juanita Reid