Chapter 4 :" I Missed You "

An week later..

Swara was walking back home after another long day. It has been almost an week since she last saw laksh. It has also been one week since she saw Sanskaar. Back that day the moment she told him. She saw laksh.

    He raced off in search of him and when ragini and nikhil stumbled upon the information they joined the search party.  Even Sanskaar friend helped us. But it proved futile. There was no sign of him. Nikhil thought she must have seen it wrong. But she knows she was right. She wasn't about to let it go.

     But sanskar said he will look into it and left without as much as one more word. She wanted to talk about them . She wanted to fix them up but she was tad bit late once again. And that was an week ago.

Even today she went to his office and waited an whole day to see him because he never answered her call. But he was always busy. It hurt to know he wouldn't even spare her an minute of his time.

He would just send an messageg saying he is looking into laksh and that she can go back home. He always assumed she was there because of laksh . He never once came out to meet me. She very well can't go back to his house after uttara marriage debacle.  And she was running out of options.

   With no choice left she went back home. She can try again tomorrow. And she vowed to keep trying every single day.

The next day Swara had an meeting with her clients.  She was in the coffee shop when she found Sanskaar seated with an young woman. She should have been hurt, jealous or even angry.

But she was happy after last week.  She knew his heart belongs only to her . And she was not going to give up just like that,  She finally got an chance to meet him and she didn't care if she have to break up his meeting.

So Swara walked up to him. She was hoping to see anger or irritation when he saw her but instead he was shocked. He really didn't want her to be in the shop. He got up from his seat and almost dragged Swara away from the shop.

      When he literally stopped because right before them stood her sister and his brother arm in arm with four cup of coffee on an tray. She stared at them in shock because that was all she can do.

    And as if that was not enough Nikhil came up behind laksh with an ice cream and little girl walking along with him.  And swara was about to confront her sister when she felt sanskar hand holding her in her place.

    He simply held her hand and walked out of the cafe. swara had million questions and she didn't even get one answer from her sister.  so she decided to ask him. Obviously he knew all the answers as well.

  " Care to explain.. "Swara asked him

   " Your sister will explain. Once she gets back home."he answered back instead.

   " I am asking you Sanskar. Not my sister. "She lashed at him

" What do you want me to say Swara. As you can see I found laksh. And he is not willing to return home as of yet. He has his reasons and I think we should respect that. "he replied back surprising her .

  " Don't you both care about your parents. Don't you know how much bade papa and bade Maa are upset. How can you keep this away from them "she answered back and regretted her choice words at the flash of anger in his face .

  " I know how much they are upset Swara. While I get you get my family better than me. I live with them. So obviously I know how much they are hurt by laksh missing. So don't try to make it look like I don't care about them. "he answered back furiously

" Then we should fix it. Why laksh doesn't want to go home. We should ask him and make it right "She replied back trying to help his family but it was the wrong  thing to say as well

Sometime speaking her mind was not the best option. Swara knew the moment she uttered the line. She royally messed up. She was willing to fix laksh back with his family. And she knew how much Sanskaar hated that aspect of her. Yet she wanted his parents to be happy.

Was it so wrong of her. But even she knew that was not the right thing to say,  He simply looked at her with disbelief for a long time. Before he could Swara spoke up trying to change his opinion about her declaration.

  " I am Not trying to play super detective Sanskaar. I know you might think like that. I just wanted to make it right and help in any way possible.. But I know you must be angry. I didn't mean it like that "She was quick to take back her words .

  " You don't want to fix us up. But you want to fix my family. Swara just don't say anything. I don't think I can handle it right now. And laksh was right. He has specifically made your sister promise not to tell you. Because he knew you would try to fix everything. "Sanskar answered back leaving her surprised by his words

  " I do want us to work it out. I have been coming daily to your office. So we can talk it out. But you were the one who refused to speak up to me.. you don't even answer my calls " she replied back in anger as well

And Swara was gutted when sanskar looked shocked at her declaration. It was like he never expected her to fight for them. And it was like he really believed all her phone calls and visit were because of laksh. She was about to speak up more when ragini and nikhil joined them.

   They looked like they have been running. Her sister first words were if Swara spilled anything to their parents yet.  Sanskaar simply shook his head which calmed them down. Next it was nikhil turn who blamed Sanskaar for purposely making Swara meet them at the cafe.

" We told you to wait for an month. Just one month before you tell Swara. But you have to do it anyway. Nothing would change in your life for one month but My daughter life is in line. How can you be selfish Sanskaar. Can't you wait just one month before you prove to Swara. Laksh is well and alive. " Nikhil spoke up accusing Sanskar

" I didn't do it. Look I don't have to ask you to trust me. Because I don't care if you trust me or not. But I never went back on my promise. you can ask Swara the truth" her husband replied back

" So that she can lie for you "her sister answered back this time

  " Enough,  He is lying for me. What about you. Aren't you doing the same.. Not only lying to me but lying to his entire family. And laksh being alive is something they should all know "Swara asked her sister instead

" Laksh was right. You don't even know why he did what he did. Yet you are already set on the assumption. "Ragini replied back

"  I am sure you can work it out. It your sister you convince her to keep your secrets. As I told you already she will do anything for you. I have an business meeting to get too.. "her husband answered back and left them alone .

Swara didnt miss his sarcasm.  He was indirectly reminding her about the fact she left him because of her. She didn't care and right now clearing it up with him was more important than whatever ragini had to say. She was about to go after him when ragini held her hand and pleaded to have an chance to explain.

                 **************

Sanskaar was exhausted after the back to back meeting. But he didnt want to go home and again lie to his family. Ever since he found laksh.. He is avoiding everyone because he can't lie to them. Bade papa hopeful looks always manage to crumble him. Maa not talking to him make life a lot harder.

   Yet he can't say to them there son is very much alive. But eventually he had to return back home. Since he is the son of the house. Though they all hate him. He needs to be there for them.  He can't run like he did for those five years.

He parked the car and got down from the car. He wanted to head straight to his room without meeting anyone.. But he was shocked when he found swara standing outside the door with an bag on her hand. He mentally resigned himself to hear the word." I am on an mission to make it right between laksh and his family. "Well that could explain her presence.

   But he also hoped she was here for him. After all she left because of laksh. Now laksh is found he hoped she was back for him as well.  But that hurt more. Knowing she was only back after laksh is found.

      Her eyes lit up when she saw him. And somehow it calmed his heart. She does love him though she tends to break him more than he can count. He was tired of fighting with her and her ways. He didn't have it in him to fight again..

  "  So I guess you sister told you everything, explains your presence here. Why are you outside."he asked her first

  " I am Not here to fix anything Sanskaar. I am here for you. Just you." she answered back only if he could believe her .

  " I wish I could believe that "he answered back as he walked inside the house

  Only to face his entire family seated on the hall. He didn't understand the confusion in the house until he saw Swara was still standing outside the house. And there was screaming conversation inside the house between his mom and his Maa.

    And when his mom spotted him she raced upto him. She was the one who stopped talking to him after uttara engagement fiasco. But when it comes to his mom desperate time calls for desperate measures.

  "  You ask her to not step into this house. She won't come inside if you told her not too. I don't want her to come back. She ruined both of my child's life. " his mother spoke up clutching his hand in a firm grip

" She Is the bahu of the house and she has every right to stay here. Even if Sanskaar say no she can stay here because she is my beti as well " this came from his bade papa who expected his words to cease his mother protest .

   "  He Is right Sujatha, Swara come inside. How long will you stand outside. He won't say anything. This is your house as well beta." his bade maa spoke up next leaving him confused until she answered back

   "  Not until he says it okay bade Maa. "She spoke up .

Sanskar was mildly confused by the conversation. Then he remembered his words back on that day. When he told her she can't step into this house if she walked out. She was standing outside for God knows how long. But he had to give it to her she was stubborn with her ways.

  " How long are you standing here. "he asked her as he marched back to her and it was his bade papa who answered that she had been standing outside from afternoon and refused to listen to anyone else

  " Are you stupid, What if I said no. Are you going to stand there for the entire night. It already 1 am. "he shouted at her taken back by the extent of her stubbornness.

  "I will stay here till you say it okay to get inside. Not just an night but an whole six months if I have too "She answered back with the same calmness she used to deploy when she had made up her mind .

   " Swara when will you realize not everything can be solved by you being stubborn. Whatever happened between won't be solved just because you stood there for a whole freaking day. It just doesn't work like that. "he asked her frustrated by her stubbornness that risk her safety .

  "  I know that obviously. All I am asking you is to allow me to get inside the house. I know I have a long way before you trust me with your heart Sanskaar. Just please let me come inside. I want to try, Please ."she answered back it was the please that got him

What can one say to that. He wanted to say no but at the same time he can't let her stand outside his house for one more minute. It was just his house he argued with himself. He is not trusting her with his heart.

With that he simply  held her hand and took her inside. It was only because he can't speak up and say yes. Because he felt like he would start hoping once he spoke up. When he felt her hands were so cold. He can't help but feel bad for her. Why couldn't he just come home soon he berated himself. But seeing her face light up like that made him hope again.

He dragged her into his house and left to his room without as much an word. But that all she was hoping to achieve today. She knew there is a long way to go for her. After talking with bade Maa for awhile and assuring her everything will be fine she walked upto their room. She didn't know what to do now.

  She didn't know whether she should knock or just simply walk inside, After a moment of hesitation. She knocked he opened the door with a glass in his hands. He smiled seeing her shock. He didn't want to admit he drank because he was too scared to face her as well. He hoped drinking would give him courage

  " Just my house Swara, Not my room. You can take the guest room. And work out your missions to reunite my family from guest room I suppose "he answered back with words that were supposed to wound her

  " If you want me to stay in the guest room I will. But I don't think that what you want. You are simply trying to push me away. And you think the glass in your hand will do the trick. But I don't think that how it works. "She answered back suddenly confident in him and still hoping he was the same sanskar she left six months ago

  " You don't know what I want Swara. I want you to stay far away from me"he answered and closed the door on her face .

Swara knew she can't push her luck anymore. She walked upto the guest room. Hoping soon she will be back in her own bed with his arms engulfed around her.

That the place she want to be not the guest room. She was too tired from standing outside the house all day. That within minutes she was asleep. She was mildly disturbed by footsteps a few hours later.

She should have panicked but she knew it belongs to him. She was hoping he would say something. She kept her eyes closed because she didn't want him to walk away.After a long time he simply said those three words and walked away. "I Missed You" . And Swara lips turned into an smile and she knew she can win him back. Because she missed him too more than he can imagine.

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

Juanita Reid