"Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together."

-by Unknown.

••••••••

Samar was merrily wandering around the dinning hall, when he bumped into someone. Making the person stumbled a bit, to which he nervously apologized to him.

Samar : Ugh! Sorry Uncle.

The person saw Samar with teary eyes and sad smile. He bend down on his knees, to match with the height of little chipmunks. He is none another than Ansh. He smiled and spoked to him, being emotional.

Ansh : Hey buddy!

Samar : Hi Uncle! (extends his hand) nice to meet you. (smiles innocently) I am Samar, you can call me Sam, Sammy or whatever you liked. (put his forefinger on his chin, like thinking something) But, I didn't saw you before, when I reached here. Aap yahi rahte ho?! Aap ka Sanskaar papa ke... friend ho?!.....

And, he keeps on his pitter-patter non stop. While, Ansh was just listening to his talks quietly, with heavy heart and glossy eyes.  There was tsunami of emotions were turning inside his heart, seeing his son for the very first time in these years.
All he could was on nine cloud today, his happiness is somewhat out of bound and was crestfallen at the same moment, that he hasn't had any right on him. All this is, just because of him. The guilt is drowning him from inside but he couldn't do anything to lesser this pain. He had to lived with it, as it is his own destiny he chose it.

Grief is not as heavy as guilt, but it takes more away from you.

Before he could muster courage to spoke to his son. Sarah who was passing from there,saw Ansh and Samar together. Which lead to boiled her blood. She came there, being furious and called Samar with a loud spat. Making both Ansh and Samar jolted at there place.

Sarah : SAMAR!

She came forward furiously and held Samar's hand.

Sarah: HOW DARE YOU! Tumhari himmat bhi kaise hui mere bete se baat karne ki.... Haa?! Door raho mujhse aur mere bete se!

Ansh tries to speak to her.

Ansh: You... Are getting it wrong Sarah...

Sarah : SHUT UP! MR. ANSH KAPOOR. Not a word! Not a word out of your mouth. I don't want to hear any sort of rubbish from you. (joined her both hands infront of him) Chain se jeene do hume. Just leave us alone like you did to us before. Just leave us for Godsake!

Saying this, she took Samar with her, very far away from him forever. And there he is, standing down in dumps, and drowning himself in the gloominess of grief and guilt.

Guilt isn't always a rational thing. Guilt is a weight that will crush you whether you deserve it or not.

*

******

Swara and Sanskaar were standing, near window and gazing at glittering stars, merrily. Gazing the  glowing sky for hours, at night was like their daily routine, since five years and they loved to spends time in solace of silence and loved to be in each others arms. Cuddling, exhaling soft breaths and cherishing the moment together.

Breaking, the silence Swara spoke in soft whisper cuddling into him.

Swara : Jaan.

To which Sanskaar hummed.

Swara : Jaan. You were right!

Sanskaar asked being amused.

Sanskaar : Right?! For what?

Swara : Yahi ki... That I am pregnant.

Sanskaar : Huh... I am always right but you never take me seriously..... (then he stop for second, and realised what Swara told him) Wait!! YOU ARE PREGNANT!.

To which Swara nodded her head in agreement and smiled seeing his dumbness and excitement at same time.

Sanskaar covered his mouth, being astounished.

Sanskaar : OH MY GOD! Mai firse se papa banne wala hun.

He stands up and started dancing like maniac in happiness. Seeing him dancing madly, Swara started guffawling, holding her belly. Holding her breath, she spoke.

Swara : Stop it! (laughs)... Stop it(laughs) Jaan.. (laughs) stop.... Clam down.

But Sanskaar, he doesn't stop and continued is monkey dance. Where as, Swara was dieing with laughter and the room is echoed with laughter. Sanskaar's madness and Swara's sincerity makes them best couple.

"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness."
—Friedrich Nietzsche.

******

Sara was tossing in the bed, as sleep is far away from her. Being frustrated and stressed at the same time. She sat on the bed with a huffed, being irked. She was irked with Ansh's presence around the house, as it is butchering her heart, making her vulnerable and weak. Which she never wants. She doesn't want to break the boundaries, which she raised around herself and let him came in again and destroy her forever.

“The worst feeling in the world is when you can’t love anyone else because your heart still belongs to the one who broke it.” — Unknown.

When all these chaos was going in her head, she heard a light knock on her door. By the knock, she came to know who is the person might be, so she called him inside by saying.

Sarah: The door is opened Andrew! You can come in.

Andrew entered his head through the door and said.

Andrew: Sorry to distrub you darling. I just came for a little chat. I hope you would not mind it.

Sarah : Of course not! Come (pats beside her) come sit. I am also not getting sleep.

To which Andrew obliged, sat beside her and spoke.

Andrew : Did Sammy slept?

To which Sarah hummed, and leaned onto his shoulder.

Sarah : Yeah! He is sleeping with Swara's kids. You tell... Why are awake until now?

Andrew: (holds her from shoulder) Nothing.... Just new place and new bed, I am getting sleep. Sarah... Can I asked you a question?

Sarah nodded and asked him to continued. Andrew sucked a deep breath and asked her with all his love.

Andrew : Are you fine, my love?

Sarah : Yeah! I am fine. Why are you asking this?!(being amused)

Andrew: Because... I feel it! Everything is etched on your face. You seems not fine to me. ( sucked a deep breath and cupping her face) If you want to returned back to him, you can my love.

Sarah tries to interrupts but he shushed her and continued.

Andrew: We are very first stage of our relationship or you can say we had just started dating each other. I can back off for you... For me your happiness is most important for me. I know you still love him and you see me as your best of best friend... nothing more.

Sarah : But what about your feelings? Your love for me and Samar. What about you?! Andrew?

Andrew: What about me?! I will be happy until your happy.

Sarah: And if I say my happiness dwells around you or with you only.

Andrew: But, it is not!

Sarah: It is!

Andrew: No!

Sarah : Yes!

Andrew: N......

His words left in his mouth only, as Sarah took his lips in hers and kissing him slowly, making Andrew pooped out of his eyes being shocked. She was kissing him with closing eyes in slow pace, now Andrew also started to respond to her and matching her pace.

Both were so indulged in their kissing, that they didn't came to know that someone was witnessing their lovely moments standing still, lifelessly near the room.

Ansh who was coming to talk Sarah, to clear out all misunderstandings and doubts against Samar and him, that he doesn't want to snatch him for her. But, he didn't know he had to witnessed such a dreadful scene infront of his eyes. His love was kissing, someone else, butchering his heart into millions of pieces.He cannot see more now with those red-teary eyes, so closed them and leave from there with grief and pain.

After a while, they broke the kiss to catch some breath. Both were sitting in silence, didn't know what to say to each other, after sharing such a intensifying kiss. But, someone have to broke the silence. So, Sarah broke the silence.

Sarah : I think now might got my answer. (helds Andrews palms in hers) Andrew you are present and future. Ansh was my past and I don't wanna go back and suffer my life again and repeat the same mistake which I had done in the past. I want to spend my whole life with you and I wanna grow old with you. I want to be happy... Happy with You. So, what I don't love you, you love me. Maybe, me also fall for you one day. You understanding... What I am trying to say ?!

Andrew nodded his head in agreement and engulfed her in a tight hug to which Sarah respond equally.

Sometimes we know who we want to be and what we want to do long… long before we know how to get there.

Patti Callahan Henry

*****

It was around, 2:00 am in midnight. When there was a knock on the door, with a thud. Waking up Sara, from the deep slumber. She sighed and getting up from the bed, lazily she opened the door and found Ansh standing the door with a bottle of whiskey, being boozed with the alcohol. He pushed Sara inside with the force and slammed the door shut, with a thud and looked at Sara, lustfully.

Sarah furiously yelled at him.

Sarah : WHAT THE HELL?! ANSH. Why the fück are you here?!

Ansh shushed her placing finger on her lips.

Ansh : Shhh... Ek dum chup! How a dare you?!

Sarah pushing him infront with a jerk.

Sarah : What the fück are you speaking?! Just get out off my room now, you moron!

Ansh clutched her from shoulder, digging his fingers into her skin making her flinched in pain. Looking furiously into her eyes, he spoke.

Ansh : Nahi jaaunga mai. Sunna tumne... Nahi jaaunga.

He again pinned into her wall, leaving no space in between them. Sarah tried to escaped from his clutch but her every effort goes in vain, infront of tight grip. Being tiered, she turned her face away from, as alcoholic breath is suffocating her.

Ansh seeing her surrendering, he loosen his grip and cupping her face he spoke with tears.

Ansh : How could you?! How could you kiss him. You're mine Sarah. (Now he tightened his grip on her) Tum sirf meri ho. Tumhe pyaar karne ka... Tumhe chune ka... Tumhe kiss karne ka haq sirf mera.

Saying he moves his lips near her lips to kiss. Which lead Sarah to escapes tears which she was holding from time being. Ansh closed his eyes and was about to take his lips into hers, when he heard few words from Sarah which bring him back.

Sarah : Don't make me regret Ansh, for loving you once!

Ansh leaves her and turned his back to her. He covered his mouth, being in guilt.

Ansh : Oh god! Yeh mai kya karne wala tha... Yeh mai kya karne wala tha.... this is not me. How can I become monster Sarah... How can I do this?.....

He sat on the floor with a thud and started mummering same sentence again and again, like a maniac. Sarah saw his mental state, she felt something pinching her heart. So she moved forward, with  baby steps towards him and placed her palm on his right shoulder from back, making him jerked at his place. He looked at her, crying bitterly and while choking with his voice, he spoke.

Ansh : Sarah yeh mai kya krne ja rha tha... Tum jaanti ho na woh mai nhi tha... Mai aisa kaise kr sakta hun tumhare saath... Mujhe ghin aa rhi apne aap se... Maaf krdo mujhe please...Sarah...I...am...sorry.... Sarah... I....am..really...sorry... Sorrryy....

Saying this he brust into tears, falling on the ground with his head. Sarah with hesitation moved his hand to console him. Before her hand could touch his back, he sprung on his feet and left from there, leaving Sarah with lots of thoughts and chaos.

***********

Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Sarah was sitting on her seat on flight and Andrew was beside her, who was passing a million dollar smile to her. To which she obliged and lean onto him and smiled at Samar who was listening music on earphones beside Andrew.

She sighed and closing her eyes, she remembered the morning incident when she met Ansh for the one last time.

He was asleep in deep slumber, due to the effect of alcohol. Sarah suck a deep breath and put a small envelope on the side table with a glass of lemonade, so that when he woke up, he can drink that to lightened the hangover. After keeping the things, she looked at him one last time and left from there biding him bye.

Sarah : Goodbye Ansh! I will pray that we will never cross each other in future. Goodbye!

She sighed, and left from there.

************
At Airport:

After bidding goodbyes to Maheshwaris, and hugging her best friend, she moved forward with Andrew and Samar for security check. When she heard, her name was echoed around. She turned her head, and found Ansh was huffing, to catch his breath and his hands was on his bended legs, as if he had ran a marathon just now. Andrew nodded his head understanding, he took Samar with him to check post and give her 'Go talk to him, I will be waiting for you' look. To which she smiled a little and moved towards Ansh direction to talked to him, maybe one last time.

Seeing her coming towards himself, Ansh passed a pleasing smile to her, which she obliged.

Sarah : Ab aise dekhte hi rahoge ki bologe, nhi kuch?!

Ansh : Mujhse mile bina hi ja rhi thi tum?

Sarah : Ansh...?!

Ansh : Don't to take me wrong yaar! I just came here to say you goodbye and nothing more. Be happy Sarah... I will pray for your best future. Aur haan, the answer of your question from the letter is YES! I will be grateful to be your friend.

To which Sarah smiled and both shook their hands and this is the start of friendship.

By the time, Andrew came there to call Sarah, its time for them to leave.

Ansh smiled seeing him and spoke to him.

Ansh: Do invite me in your wedding. You are luckiest man dude! Take care of her. Give all the love and respect she deserved, which I had never given her.

Andrew smiled and gave him a brotherly hug.

Andrew: Of course dude. You are invited as you will be my best man.

Ansh sees Sarah for the last time and spoke.

Ansh : Goodbye Sarah!

Sarah : Goodbye Ansh.

Saying she turned to leave with Andrew, where as a lone escaped from Ansh eye which he was holding up from the time being. He also turned his back towards her, when he felt a weight on back.

Ansh broking the back hug, spoke to Sarah.

Ansh : GO SARAH, warna mai kamzoor padh jaaunga... Jaao Sarah... Have great life a head.

Saying he sprint on his heels and from left there. Sarah and Andrew along with Samar left for boarding.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Semisonic

This was new beginning of Sarah's bright future and the end of lurking past. With new hopes and enthuasism, Sarah moved a head in her life, leaving scars of past behind.

-----------------------

Ansh reached at his home and sighing he fell on bed, when his eyes fell on the envelope which was kept on the side table.

He get up and took it in hand.

Ansh : Agar yeh letter tum chod ke na jati toh shayad mai aaj tumhare samne khada na ho pata. Thankyou Sarah for forgiving me.

Inside the letter

Hey Ansh! There is lots of things which I want to say to you. I hoped my poem will convey my message to you....

It was not easy to unloved you. But, you make me to do it.
It was not to easy to leave you. But, you make me to do it.
It was not to easy to live without you. But, you make me to do it.

It was not to easy to strach you away from my heart. But, you make me to do it.
It was not to easy to live with your memories. But, you make me do it.
It was not easy to live scars of betrayal. But, you make me do it.

It was not easy to heal. But, I have to.

Ansh, life was very unfaithful to me. When I was a child, it took away my parents. I always complained to God, Why he is unfair with me? Why he left me alone? I lived lonely my whole life. But, when you came I get someone, who is mine. My world moves around you. You used to be my happiness, joy, my lifeline, my everything. I started to dream a happy family with you, which I was deprived.

Then life took another turn. You left me midst of distress, when I was caring your little child inside my womb. How can you Ansh? Tumne ek baar bhi mere baare mein socha? Tumhare siwa kaun hai is duniya mein mera? Yeh sila diya.... Tumne meri bepanah mohabbat ka?

Ansh, todh diya tha tumne mujhe. Agar Samar, na hota toh pata nhi kya hota mera.

Lekin mujhe tumse koi gila nhi hai. Jo beet gaya, so beet gaya. Maine tumhe maaf kiya Ansh. Par mai tumhare pass wapas nhi aa sakti. Mai dubara woh sabse nhi guzrna chahti, jis se guzar chuki hun. Aur haan, Samar tumhara beta tum jav chaho usse mil sakte ho, mai tumhe rokungi nhi. Haq hai tumhara uspe.

Aur kaal jo bhi hua, uska bhol jaao. What happened it was ended and I forgive you that also. Raat gayi baat gayi. I know this was not you. Toh zayada pareshan hone ki zaroorat nhi hai.

One last thing, lets forget our past and moved on in life. It will be best for our future. Akhir kab tak hum yuhi ek dusre bhaagte rahenge. Kisi na kisi ko phal karni hogi, toh mai kyo na karu? So, lets start with befriending. So, Mr. Ansh Kapoor.... Mujhse dosti karoge?!

Sarah~

Ansh closed the letter, with heavy heart and kept it in a drawer and locked it.

--------------------------.

*Three Years Later*:

Time flies so fast, in a blinked three years had passed. These three years were smooth and blissful for everyone around.

Swara and Sanskaar became parents of twins boys, Luv and Khush. The notorious kids, who always creates mischief around. Vedh become responsible, all credits goes to 'BIG BROTHER' title. Jia is still sweet and shy girl opposite of his brothers.

Swara and Sanskaar life, we can say is like Happily Ever After. Both were very content and happy with their children and family. And, today they came to attend the baby shower of their lovely friend Sarah, in New York.

It has been two years, since Sarah and Andrew is married. There wedding was intimate type, just few friends and family. As per promised, Ansh became THE BEST MAN. He still have feelings for Sarah, but her happiness is now his. He had become mature enough to understand others feelings. And, he is still single.

At backyard of the Andrew and Sarah house:

Everyone had gathered around the cake, as the gender reveal ceremony is going to happen.

The ceremony was ended with joy and fun. And, everyone was filling their empty stomach with appetite and freshments.

Swara was seen running round and round around her notorious twins, with a plate of food to feed them. But, they're teasing her and running away from her.

Swara : Luv, Khush stop right there! Beta eat your food. You both must be hungry.

But, they didn't stopped. They're giggling and running away from her. Seeing her mother struggling with his siblings, Vedh, being BIG BRO came to her rescue.

He halted them from running, and tugged their palm into his and take them to his mother.

Vedh : Mom! I am holding them, chalo feed them. (To Luv and Khush) Aur tum dono chup chap khana khao. Ab koi shaiytaani nhi! Understood?!

To which they nodded their heads. Swara smiles seeing Vedh, behaving so mature.

Swara : Haye! Mera Vedhu kinna badha hogaya hai.

She caress Vedh's cheeks and kiss them in love to which he rubbed being irritated.

Vedh : Mom! Maine kitni baar mana kiya hai, yeh kissi wissi na kara karo. Mai ab bada hogaya hun!😤

Swara : (hits on his head playfully) Badmash! Tu mere liye humesha chota hi rahega, chahe tu kitna bhi bada ho jaye. Chal tu bhi khana kha( feeds him morsel) Mujhe pata hai tune bhi khana nhi khaya hai.

Vedh also feeds her and says.

Vedh: You also.

Luv and Khush: Aur hum!

Vedh : Haan haan tum dono bhi khao. (Feeds them too)

They all laughed and enjoyed their food with the company of each other. Sanskar also came there with Jia and smiles heartedly seeing his family joy.

Sanskar : Woah! You guys are having gala time that too without me. Not fair at all!

Swara : Sanskaar stop being over dramatic and joins us.

After having gala time together with family. All are sitting on the grass. Samar came there, took Jia with him to play. Vedh also took Luv and Khush with him to play and moved towards Sanskaar and spoke to him quietly.

Vedh: Enjoy guys alone! I am taking both the kabab mein haddis with me.

Sanskaar: Vedh! Badmash!

Vedh : You should be thankful to me, instead of yelling!

Saying he ran away in a swift with the twins.

Swara and Sanskaar were sitting on the grass and were in glee, seeing their children playing. Vedh was playing ringa ringa roses with Luv and Khush, whereas Samar and Jia were chit chatting with each other and giggling.

Swara leans on Sanskaar's shoulder and spoke.

Swara : Jaan... Thanks for coming in my life and making it so beautiful.

Sanskaar smiles and hold her from shoulder and spoke.

Sanskaar : Jaan... All the credit goes to you. Agar hum aaj yahan hai, toh sirf tumhari wajah se hai aur tumhare pyaar ki wajah se. You are my reason for living.

Swara placed a light kiss on his cheek in response and spoke.

Swara : I love you!

Sanskaar : I love you more!

 "You meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you. And then you meet one person and your life is changed forever." – Love & Other Drugs 

This was the blissful journey of Swara and Sanskaar from Stranger to Soulmates. A journey which is filled with lots of love and happiness. A smooth journey which told us, the togetherness and trustworthiness between SwaSan.

While, many ups and downs came in Sarah and Ansh lives. But, it couldn't reached to its destination. Some love stories is better to be incomplete than complete.

However, Both the love stories depecits different shades of love and we thoroughly enjoyed this journey. We will meet again very soon on another journey, till then I, writer take the leave. Siyonara!

THE END.