Epilogue : Glimpse of the Past 

      
10th August 2020

                
Sanskar Maheshwari was deep asleep when he felt his lovely wife hands on his face . Just a simple touch from her was enough to wake him up  .He knew how lucky he was to have a such an lovely wife who wakes him up with such tenderness.  He was wide awake now at her tender ministrations .

                  
He was about to open his eyes and drag his wife back to their bed when another set of tiny hands made its way to his stomach that when his eyes really opened to witness not his loving wife but his mischievous wife and his cute adorable son .

                      
The moment his eyes opened the tickling started , the innocent efforts of his son was good but leave it to his wife to make him beg and plead for her  to stop.  She only stopped after her son was exhausted playing the game " let wake up daddy " and ran out to do the same to his grandpa .

                            
Swara tried to run after their son but Sanskar held her back now and with an gentle tug pulled her back to his bed to show his mischievous side  .

                  
" Sanskar leave me .I have to stop him , what if he woke up bade papa .what will he think of me,  " swara said in agitation as she tried to break free of his hold. 

                    
" Let him wake up bade papa . I don't care , "  Sanskar replied back,  as he continued to tease his wife . 

                     
" Sanskar please .I don't want arjun to disturb bade papa,  " Swara took to  pleading with him .

    
Sanskar  may tease her but in the end he  would do anything for her , so he released his hand that were comfortably placed around her waist .

                  
" After last night one would have wished to be woken up differently,  " he teased swara and even after  married for so long she still blushed innocently at his train of thoughts . She gave him small peck in his cheeks for comfort after the tickling expedition and raced out after their son .

                            
Sanskar got up smiling and when he looked at the calendar his smile deemed a little because today was the day the past finally catches up with the present . He changed his life on the same day . And he doesn't regret changing their past because looking back this past years have worked out just right for him .Because he got the love of his life by  his side .

                       
When he finally reached the hall for breakfast .His family was already assembled in the dining hall . Bade papa was seated in the head seat beside him in his wife place  was Arjun the Apple of his eyes followed by lucky who was still hungover after last night party with his friends  ,And then he took his place beside his wife .

                    *********************

                   
Swara Sanskar Maheshwari was smiling has she gazed down at her family. Sanskar has given her another family to love and protect . Today was the day he changed their lives for the better . And it did prevent losing kavita or Nikhil .Both of them were still alive and happy that meant a lot to swara .

                            
Each of them choose to change it to the way they wanted . Kavita never made herself known to her father this time around and while he was sent to jail after Annapurna confession kavita still remained as her friend but an long distance one much to swara dismay as Kavita moved to Australia  . No Social media sites could compare to  sharing an cup of coffee or hot chocolate in swara case with  your friends in person .

                
Bade papa took his wife betrayal to heart . The knowledge the wife he loved killed his brother and his brother wife was an tough pill to swallow . But it made him open minded about swara and sanskar . When he found about them he was still not fully recovered from his wife betrayal so he accepted swara because he didn't think he was right judge of character anymore  , all he wanted to know from swara was whether she loved Sanskar ..

                  
Only when Arjun was  born did bade papa change for the better , he become engrossed with his grand child .He began laughing at his antics and spent endless time with him that sanskar began to relax regarding his bade papa health . Sanskar  also took over the company when his bade papa retired stating his need to spend more time with Arjun .

               
Meanwhile Swara worried the most about Laksh . Because they lost the happy go lucky Laksh that day to be replaced by laksh who never smile easily .  Laksh was scared of the word love , he had an string of girl friends and when they even mention the love word.   He breaks of with them .

         
Every one assumes he was arrogant because he was rich no one realized he was too scared to have anyone love him .He blames himself and the love his mom had for him. Sanskar tried his best to break his brother out of the shell but it never worked .

             
Sometimes Sanskar used to say they were more close when they were  cousins. While laksh lost trust in love he still is very loyal towards his family . And the only person he let himself get closed to him was Arjun .He even managed to  smile when Arjun says he loves him .

     
He was an expectional uncle .He baby sat Arjun whenever they went out on a date   .Sanskar was very adamant in celebrating all their special days that includes two of every events like marriage Anniversary,the first date they met and so on . All the dates for their supposed future was celebrated without others knowing the special occasions just like today where Sanskar usually take her out on date as well .

So far today he hadn't mentioned any plans . Maybe he was planning to surprise her.  She didn't know just when an call came from her sister Ragini which Swara answered to find Sanskar already asked Ragini to baby sit Arjun tonight ,so date was an definite it seems .

                      
After Annapurna was admitted in the hospital .Sanskar had took Swara on dates every single day and on one such day while they were relaxing on the beach he asked if swara ever intends to reconnect with ragini or her father .Swara said no , It was an decision she didn't take lightly .So ragini was still not aware of having an sister . But due to an unfortunate situation ragini and swara became friends.

                      
Ragini had built up her courage to propose to laksh  which made him avoid her . He wasn't ready to give her an chance , And she was heart broken .It was during that time Swara offered an olive branch of friendship as she didn't like seeing ragini down ,they become friends .

       
And then she got married to the person her dadi choose . Still they kept in touch but she never revealed about their sister connection because she was worried ragini might try to match make her parents . And because her mom was finally seeing someone back then , her college friend and swara wanted her mom to be happy . Each time she thought ragini needs an sister Swara held back even though she knew ragini genuinely liked her and seemed very happy in her marriage .

                 
Ragini got married an two years ahead of swara . Sanskar was willing to wait till Swara was ready . She  always shared her dreams with Sanskar . She wanted to open an dance school for kids. After some reluctance she allowed Sanskar to invest in her dreams .

            
 Swara was content and happy. .Her mom got married last year .Dida and swara  moved to stay with mom and her new husband .Swara had an cordial relationship with her step father .He never had kids with his first wife. So he loved swara has his own daughter , Things were really looking good until the phone that night when ragini crying voice woke her up .

                   
Another death in her family shook swara up .Ragini lost her husband in such an young age  . Swara opted to stay with ragini and her daughter during those miserable days of her life. And it was one such night Swara finally told her about them being sisters.Swara couldn't hold back from offering ragini the support of sister ,Ragini took the deception well enough as she was happy to have swara as family ..

                      
And  it was three months later .Swara was on an date with Sanskar..And that when Sanskar popped the question .

                      
Swara and Sanskar both went on an hike .It was only when they reached the mountain top just in time to witness the sun sent while they were having an picnic , Sanskar asked Swara to marry him . 

               
  " Will you Marry Me Shona? " he asked, when she was lying on his shoulders  the question surprised her due to his suddenness ..

                
" Yes I will,  " the answer was simple but it was enough ,they didn't have much of an romantic declaration to go with the proposal . Because they both knew each other hearts and the words that left unsaid was visible in the happiness that radiated on their face .  Sanskar quietly slipped the ring on her finger while swara shed few happy tears . They Still go hiking to that mountain often . It was there special place and Sanskar and swara had craved their name in the tree under which he proposed.  Later they added Arjun name on an visit .

               
During the day before her  wedding swara mom finally confessed who her father was  and swara didn't mention she already knew .She just asked her mom to let it be ,if shekhar showed interest in her on his own  she will think about it.  Her mom was happy with her step father that all swara wanted for her mom .

                   
Lots of things have changed because Sanskar changed his past .And on this day it was impossible not to think of them. Life was still filled with mysteries unrevealed just like what Sanskar planned for today.  Today their past was over and from tomorrow it the unknown future .But with Sanskar by her side she was happy to live an another day .

P.S : The first epilogue is done , will update the second one asap ,Let me know your thoughts and feedback. hit the votes if you liked it .

Juanita Reid