15th January 2020

       
Swara glanced at the door for the hundredth time waiting for him to come back home,  She missed him. It has been hardly 48 hours since she last saw him. Still, she missed him. It was a business trip he couldn't avoid. On a business trip, she insisted he go despite his reluctance to leave her alone.

        
Technically not alone she has Sarika. She was the hired help with a cheerful personality that usually outshined Swara's gloomier mind.  More than taking care of her, she was quite a good friend and Swara liked her. While her usual work hours end by the time Sanskar arrives home. She insisted she will stay the night when he goes on a business trip.

    
Swara felt she would be a burden to him when she lost the function of her legs. But not even once she thought how much he had cared for her. When she first stepped into their room,  She noticed the little changes in the room. He just said he always hoped she would return hence made the changes even when she was staying in a Dida house.

The first thing she noticed was the glass door adjoining his office with their bedroom. First, she didn't know the reason behind the connecting door but later she realized it was a way for him to keep an eye on her,  in case she needed him in the middle of the night as he spends most of the night working in his office. And they were a lot of such subtle changes in the room. Each one trying to make her life a bit easier.         

And she was touched by his concern and felt really bad for pushing away and hurting him. Though He overworked himself to the point of exhaustion he still found plenty of time to be with her.

He had managed to take her out every weekend, He had tried or sometimes over tried to make her happy. And of course, while Swara had given up hope on walking. He definitely didn't. The visits to the doctors have been going on for so long. All he was hoping for was some sort of miracle that would help her.

Even last night, She got a call that he was canceling the trip short and heading back home soon. It was a huge deal but he wasn't listening because apparently he got an appointment with a specialist in Australia and that took the preference over any business deal. She tried talking him out of it but it was useless,  She will remain the first priority when it comes to him. 

Her eyes brightened up when she saw him entering their room,  He looked happy to see her too. They both had delayed brunch in the garden area and he had given Sarika the day off as soon as he stepped inside the house.     

She knew talking with him about what bothering her would be a losing battle yet she had to try, But she needed him to eat first so kept silent during the brunch.

"What is it, You look like you got something to say, Shona?" He asked,  clearly noticing her distress.

"Can we not go to Australia,  I don't want you to waste a week on Australia, " She spoke up, While Swara had less hope, Sanskar heart gets crushed each time his attempts result in failure and Swara wanted to spare him from going through it all over again.

"It is not a waste Shona, We need to try and moreover think of it as a long-delayed trip to meet my family," He answered back, trying to interest her with the visit and take her mind of the doctors and their intrusive examinations.

"Your family? " She asked, her curiosity was piqued just like he wished.

"You forgot, Tara is from Australia. And while you met her. You haven't met my aunt or uncle. They both have been asking me to visit for a long time. We will be staying with them. They both want to meet you in person, " He said,  and Swara knew she lost the chance to convince him treatment offer she can cancel but a visit to meet Sanskar family that something she can't cancel.

And so three days later,  Swara landed in Australia. It was always her dream to travel to places.  But what wasn't part of that dream was the wheelchair. They both arrived at Tara's house and were warmly welcomed by his family.  Swara remembered her first visit to the Maheshwari. They really didn't show warmth and affection considering they allowed the marriage only because of the scandal.      

Even when Swara stayed with them,  They treated her as an unwanted guest. But now it was different. She felt like she was part of their family.

Especially Tara,  It was a great comfort to be treated in the same way after the accident. And the first day in Australia has spent sightseeing with the Mehra family. Swara found herself loving them as her own. A part of her wished they brought Sanskar up then the Maheshwari.               

It was a question that shouldn't have been voiced out. The family was seated for dinner and the topic of how much they missed Sanskar and how Uttara desperately wished for a sibling.  

" Why you didn't let Sanskar move in with you after the accident ?" Swara spoke up and immediately regretted the question as she saw the shocked faces. 

"We wanted to, We really did. But my sister would have wanted him to grow up with the Maheshwari's, " Tara's mom answered back,  And from her voice, Swara knew she really wished for it too.

" Mom would have wanted it,  Not dad? I don't think mom likes them that much aunty. I can accept it as dad choice. But I can't think mom would have preferred them over you, " Sanskar replied back,  taken back by his aunt's statement.

"I meant you and Laksh, Sanskar,  Not the Maheshwari's.   I know my sister doesn't like them that much and she has her reasons. But she thinks of  Laksh as her own. And she would have wanted both of you to grow together, "  in his aunt's voice,  held the conviction like she knew what her sister would have wanted. 

"Mom always liked Laksh indeed,  It was not hard to like him. Except at times, he ends up stabbing you literally, " Sanskar replied back,  making the Mehra sad about the broken relationships. Even when Sanskar said it with a smile.

While it was meant to portray Laksh impulsive nature, Sanskar still thought of him as his brother. They have been through so much yet Sanskar couldn't completely hate him. Maybe it was because they grow up together as brothers, just like his mom wanted according to his aunt.

The first week in Australia was filled with trips and memories,  Plus the hospital appointments. Swara all but packed her bag as Sanskar went to get the result knowing it will be yet another rejection.        

She knew the results even before the doctors,  She was just worried that he would be disappointed. But what she didn't expect was the smile that greeted her. And the hope that was crushed in her heart began to spring back at his smile.

"They say it is possible, You might need to undergo a small surgery on your legs. And the chances are high Shona. It might work, " Sanskar kept smiling at the news, Surgery might make her more of a burden to him. Yet if there was a chance. She would try for his sake and a part of her wanted to do it for herself as well.

Her whole family was present with her while she was wheeled into the operating room. Dida and her mom insisted they come to Australia to be with her and her dad was absent as always. And that how she wanted it.  Her mom said he wanted to come but Swara said no. He still hasn't been forgiven by her. And the face she saw last before wheeled in was him and his grim face. He can't help but worry.

A month later. She was still in Australia, The surgery was successful. The doctors were hopeful that she can walk. They kept up with their appointment waiting to see an improvement. But Swara couldn't walk  They said it was some sort of mental block. As she is fine enough to try,  But Swara really couldn't.  Sanskar kept trying though and for the first time, it caused a fight between them.

She lashed out at him. She blamed him all over again for everything.  She demanded he takes her back home. And he didn't say a word. The next day she woke up to find him not beside her.  Her words came rushing back and she hated herself for hurting him. He stayed with her for over a month at the bleakest chance she could walk and she hurt him, It sure made her feel horrible.

She wanted to call him as she desperately needs to see him.   She reached for her phone and was annoyed to find the battery ran out. She felt utterly helpless. A few minutes later Tara entered the room, She looked sad for some reason. Where is Sanskar was her first question? Tara said he went to the hospital to settle the bills. That was when the reality stuck. He listened to her and gave up, Just like her.

Tara had helped her freshen up and settled her back in the bed. When Swara asked for a charger,  She took her mobile and placed it in the plug point near the door. So Swara couldn't even call him when he didn't return for more than an hour.        

She was alone in the room as tara went to bring her breakfast while Swara's mind replayed the cruel words she used on him last night. Her heart was filled with pain to realize she hurt him with her words and so when her phone rang. She knew it was him. She was so desperate to answer his call.

That she momentarily forgot her disability to walk, Her leg was sore and it hurt as she made an attempt to cover the gap between the bed and phone. But her mind was solely focused on him. She didn't notice she was walking.  Only when she grabbed the phone to answer. Her mind recognized it. She answered the call with a smile wanting to share it with him. When the voice on the other end made her shed tears instead.

  Only after the call ended did  Swara let the tears fall freely.  Soon her legs had started to hurt much worse as she had been standing over five minutes without support,  She was about to fall when his hands encircled her waist holding her still.

"What wrong Shona,  Why are you crying? " His Voice came out first with concern. He lifted her up gently and placed her back on the bed. And only then did he realized that she was standing by the door when he entered. His smile shook her up,  He was so happy for her.

"You Walked Shona, " His voice held such happiness. A part of him was still not believing it happened.

"It hurts Sanskar, It hurts so much." That was all she said as she broke down, As she felt his embrace trying to hold on to her. She broke down in his arms.       

He thought her legs hurt not realizing it was her heart that stood broken. Still, she leaned into him and cried her heart out.

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

Juanita Reid