Epilogue :

Two years later

  
Sanskar Maheshwari was driving back home, Today he was going to take his wife on an date. Because while they both moved on and we're happy. This day always makes her sad. It was the day she walked away. And even after three years later. The pain lingers albeit very less by each passing day.

Sanskar knew how hard the break was for both of them. And how hard it was for both of them to work on their issues. Looking back Sanskaar knew they were lot of hurdles in their life. For Sanskaar it was trust. It broke that day.

Trust in their relationship. He had seen so many hurdles for them back then. Each time he think he lost her. She would come marching right back in even if  it was to accuse him as an murderer. But that day when she walked away. It broke him. And he remained broken for over an year till she marched right back into his life. It wasn't easy this time to fix it.

But she did, It wasn't Easy. But she remained patient with him. She showed him time and time again she was right beside him and won't leave him till Sanskaar finally began to believe it as well . And sanskar always knew only she can do it.  Right now Sanskar was happy. More happier than he ever have been.

And he also knew for  Sanskaar to gain his trust. Swara had lost her voice. They both have different personalities. And to fix him up. She broke herself up. She changed for him. She stopped telling him what she really wants to do. She closed herself in to an shell. And sanskar consciousness killed him to know about it.Because while Sanskar lost trust in them.

He knew Swara developed fear,  her insecurities grew each passing day he left her. A stupid stupid mistake of his, he never should have left her. And her biggest fear was one mistake and he would walk away. And so she was always hesitant towards him. And it always made him feel like he need to do what she wants because she will never ask for it.

And sometime he was way off mark. Like the time he thought she wanted to live in Maheshwari house. So he said yes to move. Only to later find out about the fact she didn't want to move. But that day it was an  partly an win because she told him she didn't want to move. Few months ago she would have just walked into the Maheshwari house for him. And wouldn't have told him about it either.

And sanskar realized the extent of her fear  only few weeks after that incident.  It was Swara who suggested they spend the weekend in the Maheshwari house for his dad. And the weekend was nothing but torture for both of them. Yet it made his father happy. Small sacrifice she said and he agreed.

Two weeks after their visit. Sanskaar felt Swara has been distant from him. She didn't show him but it was how he felt. She was always lost in her thoughts. It was like she wants to tell him something but can't. He  needed to know. So one night he decided to confront her about it. He still remember the conversation as if it happened yesterday.

" We need to talk. "he spoke up

"  About what Sanskar "she asked him instead .

" About what bothering you for a week, Swara please talk to me. You know I am an good listener right. "he asked his wife .

"  Nothing,  I am really fine. Sanskar. Why would you think like that. "She was quick to decline that he knew she wasn't telling him the truth

"  Please Swara. It killing me not to know what bothering you. "he pleaded with her which was the only reason she opened up that night

"  It ragini. "Two words from her and he had his answer even if not fully as he pestered her with more questions.

"  Did she say something to you while we stayed in that house. Is that why you are upset. "he asked his wife .

"  No ,Do you remember the puja that happened in Maheshwari house for bade papa. And dadi purposely boasted about the jewellery she gave to ragini. The one she wore to the party. "his wife spoke up leaving him with more questions

"  Yeah the one she gave to her for her birthday. While she didn't even give you as much as an call for yours. Is that what bothering you. The fact your dadi still keeps her distance from you "he asked her now. 

"  No , That not it. When she was boasting about the necklace and mentioned it was custom made. I have noticed it. And after we came back home. I saw the same necklace in someone else neck and that what bothering me. "She told him. 

"   Who" he asked her next already somehow aware of the answer. 

"  Nikhil wife,  I was out shopping with uttara for Asha. When I saw her with Nikhil. I don't want to see him after the way he played me. But I saw the same necklace of ragini in his wife neck.It can't be an coincidence sanskar. " his wife spoke up confirming his earlier guess.

"  My stupid cousin is still getting blackmailed, Why. Everyone in our family already knows now. Why then. "Sanskar spoke up wondering the same .

"  I don't know,  And I wish I didn't care. But I do. And I know you wouldn't want to interfere in their life after everything but I can't sit her and do nothing about it Sanskaar. "his wife replied back .

"  I understand you are worried. But they got themselves into the mess and they can fix it.You relax Swara. Don't worry. "sanskar spoke up .

And he waited and waited for her. To talk back,  Say why she feels they should help them but it never came and sanskar knew Swara won't speak up about it. He knew how much injustice bothers her. He knew how much she would have wanted to help them. Yet not one word and that when he realized he need to do something about it.

Another week passed by,And Swara had lost her smile. It was hard for him to look like he is not bothered./He still needs little time to collect the necessary information. And when he ad it./He finally told her that night.

" Swara, Can we talk" Sanskar spoke up.

"  Yeah,  What Sanskaar" his wife answered back .

"  Can you come and sit next to me please. "he asked her. 

"  Yeah "she replied back

"  You know it has been one week. Since you smiled. "he told his wife

"  What" she asked him shocked .

"  Swara,  I love you and I have supported you in all your crazy schemes. I pretended to fake marry you. I stood by your side for all your missions. Wanna know why. Because I know all your missions are because my wife has an big heart and she cares. She can't stand and do nothing when someone suffers. Let me finish.

Your plans sometime were weird. Your actions sometimes put you in danger and I hate that. Sometime you go to extreme to reunite our family not caring about the insults you suffer and I don't like that. But Swara I will always support you. You should know that. And I understand why you are scared. But to realize I made you feel like that makes me angry.

Swara, I know we both have changed./But I am still the same guy who fell hopelessly in love with you. You can talk to me about it without feeling I would walk away from you. I am not saying I will support everything you decide especially if it puts you in danger . But I am just saying you can talk to me about it. Try to convince me about it.

And yes I know I asked you not to reunite our families back then and yes I know I was beyond hurt to realize you went behind my back.  But I am hurt now as well to realize I made you lose your smile.So now tell me what do you want to do. "Sanskar finised speaking up

"   I Want to help laksh and Ragini. Not because they are family or ragini is my sister. But because it bothers me to stay still. "his wife replied back him.

"  Already worked out the plan. I know planning is your department. But let me do it this one time. The next time I let you do it. But promise me you will be honest with me about what you feel. And will never hold back because you are scared about my reaction. " sanskar asked his wife .

"   I promise " she answered back with a smile  making making Sanskaar happy

And that was the day sanskar had managed to crack her self imposed to shell. Their plan worked and ragini and laksh were no longer blackmailed.

Eventually they found out about it and was all apologies for the way they behaved with them. Followed by her dadi and her father who was so welcoming once ragini no longer hated them .

Swara didnt try to fix her family after that. She helped them time and time again. Each time it took her longer to convince him. But eventually he did get convinced.  And sometime she gave up for him. And normalcy eventually returned back. There were no longer trust issues or fear and insecurities between them.

  It was all normal in their life. Except on this day. Swara hate this day. He knew that. And today he would make new memories with her that manages to erase the pain that was caused back then.

  He already had tickets to her favorite classical music concert. And followed by dinner. Plus a long ride. He planned it all. He told her to be ready by the time he reaches home and was disappointed to find her totally forgotten about it.

She didn't want to go out. But he managed to convince her. He thought it would cheer her up. Still it didn't work out the way he wanted.  She still looked sad till they reached home.  And by the time they reached home. Asha was already asleep in her room.  Sanskar checked up on his daughter and headed back to their room. Only to find his wife already asleep.

 Swara was only half asleep,that her husband words have managed to wake her right up, "Are you happy with me."  He thought she was sleeping. It was more of a question to himself and he never expected she would hear the answer .

"  What. "She asked him surprised .

"  You heard me. Not asleep yet? "he answered instead.

"  Why do you even think you need to ask me that question. I am happy Sanskaar.. I told you before right only you can keep me happy "his wife replied back upset with him .

"  Then you need to move on Swara. Move on from this day. "his answer wasn't what she expected .

"  I can't. I need this to serve as an remainder so I don't make the same mistake ever again. "She answered him back .

"  Don't you trust in us, I thought I was the one who lost trust back then. I always assumed you had it. "sanskar asked his wife .

"  I trust in us sanskar. It not about that. I don't want to hurt you again. "his wife answer warmed his heart because of her love for him .

"  Then move on, The day was one of the darkest aspect of our lives. I agree. But it time you move on Swara.. That day doesn't define us. It never did. Swara as long as you hold on to the day. You can never be fully happy. And I want you to be happy.

And you made me trust in us,  and I think you need to believe in it yourself too. That you will never hurt me like that again Swara. I believe in you. It time you believe that as well "he answered back making a flicker of smile reflect in her face.

"  Do you really believe in me. Do you really believe that I will never hurt you like that again  "his wife asked him once again.

S"  Yeah with all my heart . I can't promise you life without hurt Swara but I promise you we can work it out whatever happens we will work it out .  I can promise you that whatever happens in the unknown future we will stay together.Wanna know why.. Because You know I love you more than you can imagine" He spoke up

*  I Love you too Sanskar more than you can imagine . And you are right we can work it out. We always do work it out.And I am happy sanskar.. And you are happy with me right  "she asked him this time as she leaned on to his shoulder .

"   Yes,  I am happy Swara. As long as I have you by my side I will be happy" he replied back .

" Me too"she replied back .

 And the rest of her words were gone silent. Because her husband was kissing her.It was his effective trick to stop her talking. She knew it but she didn't care as she kissed him back with equal passion. Because she always melt the moment he kisses her.All rational thoughts go out the window when the love of your life kisses you.

And she was no exception. He was her safe place. She almost lost him once. And she was so glad that life gave her an another chance at Happiness.
                                 

P. S :" The End. Let me know you thoughts. Hit the votes if you liked it."

Juanita Reid