*** CHAPTER 3 ***

Vidhaan looks at the fragile being in his arms and to his wonder she fits so perfectly in his arms. Though she is pale and her body feels cold against his arms but he couldn’t help but feel her searing warmth seeping into his heart. She is really the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and he couldn’t help but admire her features but a few strands of her hair that have fallen on her face are blocking his view. Unknowingly, his hand lift on its own accord to put away the lose strand of her hair. As his hands slightly brush against her cheek, it’s slapped away. He lifts his head breaking out of the trance and finds Annapurna fuming in anger.

Annapurna: Don’t you dare touch my daughter. I can take care of her.

With that she yanks Swara out of his arms and takes her towards the room.

Annapurna: Call the doctor!

Durga Prasad: Annapurna…

Annapurna: (shouts) I said call the doctor!

Without any further argument Durga Prasad turns around and dials the number of their family doctor. Within half an hour the doctor arrives and goes in the room to check Swara with only Annapurna following him inside. She has strictly restricted Vidhaan and Durga Prasad from entering the room.

Durga Prasad: I knew that it will be hard to convince her.

Vidhaan: She loves Swara a lot! That explains everything.

Durga Prasad: (gives a small smile) Thanks for understanding. If someone else would have been in your place I guess he would walked out of the door by now.

Vidhaan: I’m here to help and she really needs it.

Durga Prasad: So, you will help her?

Vidhaan: I guess I already agreed to that thing. I just hope she’s fine.

They look at the door silently praying that if they don’t hear a good news then it shouldn’t be a bad one either. A few moments later, the doctor emerges out of the room with Annapurna following right after him.

Durga Prasad: Is she okay?.

Doctor: Yes, she’s fine. I dreaded that the next panic attack on her would be fatal but it’s nothing like that. She’s very much stable right now and will probably get up within an hour.

Durga Prasad: Thank you so much doctor! That’s really a relief to hear!

Doctor: (smiles) Take care! I’ll take your leave now.

Durga Prasad looks at the doctor as he turns around, walks down the stairs and finally walks out of the main door.

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As soon as the doctor leaves Durga Prasad takes his chance for convincing his wife again who by now has stepped down the stairs and is sitting in the main hall. Slowly, he goes down, sits next to her and speaks after taking a deep breath.

Durga Prasad: Annapurna, what’s the matter with you?

Annapurna: What’s the matter? Seriously you are asking me, what’s the matter! You just bring anybody to my house saying that he will be living with us like our son and you are asking what’s the matter with me! Are you serious?

Durga Prasad: But I did what was necessary. And he’ll stay here. I don’t want any more argument on this!

Annapurna: You think like this we will be able to save our daughter! I don’t think so.

Durga Prasad: Why are you not trying to understand me?

Annapurna: (loudly) You just can’t do anything and expect me to understand you!

She looks at both of them angrily and stomps her way out of the hall and back to her room. Durga Prasad takes a deep breath before looking at Vidhaan helplessly.

Vidhaan: Can I talk to her?

Durga Prasad: Are you sure? She doesn’t look in a very good mood!

Vidhaan: I just want to give it a try. So may I?

Durga Prasad nods his head and Vidhaan goes to talk to Annapurna. He knocks at the door and she turns her head to give him the deadliest glare.

Annapurna: What are you doing here?

Vidhaan: May I come in please?

Annapurna: (takes a deep breath) See, I have nothing against you! It’s just that…

Vidhaan: Can I talk to you once? I won’t take much time! Please!

Annapurna nods her head sitting on the edge of the bed. ‘At least he deserves a chance to explain himself once’, her heart tells her and she abides by it. Vidhaan goes inside the room with slow yet firm steps and stands in front of her. She looks at him as he sits on his knees in front of her. She definitely hasn’t expected this! She looks at him with an unwavering stern gaze as he begins speaking.

Vidhaan: I understand why you are not approving of me. I know you are concerned about your daughter-in-law and her safety. But all I can say is that you can trust me. I don’t have anything to make you believe what I’m saying but the values and virtues that Father has taught me will never let me do something which I might have to regret later in my life. I just want to help. I don’t know why but I do.

Annapurna: It's not only about Swara!

Vidhaan: You don't have to worry about that as well. I'm not here to take anyone's place nor I want to do so. Neither am I your son nor will I try to become one. I'm here just to help a person who is in the utter need of it. I'm here because I feel that's the right thing to do now! I promise the day she will remember everything, I’ll be gone forever. Till then neither I'll touch her nor I’ll try to come near her. I promise you that.

He finishes as he pours out his heart telling whatever he feels like. With hopeful eyes he looks at Annapurna as she gets up without saying anything and walks outside towards Durga Prasad. His shoulders slumps down in disappointment as he makes a mental note that he must leave this house within few minutes. He doesn’t know why but he don’t want to do so. He wants to stay! He wants to help! He slowly moves making his way outside the room when Annapurna speaks.

Annapurna: He gets to stay here!

Vidhaan’s head shot up in their direction and Durga Prasad looks at his wife happily as he’s still not able to believe what he has heard. He gives a winning smile to Vidhaan and looks back at his wife.

Durga Prasad: What?  Really! I knew it that you will agree. After all it’s about our daughter.

Vidhaan couldn’t contain the happy feeling that he’s feeling deep down in his heart. He smiles looking at them.

Vidhaan: Thank you so much!

Annapurna: I guess I should thank you for agreeing to help us. I’m letting you stay here because you’ve convinced me with your talks. So, you’ll stay here but only on one condition. (looks at her husband) He will leave the day Swara remembers everything. Till then he will maintain his distances with her. Even though he is going to be her husband for the meantime but he must never try to get close to her!  If he agrees he can stay here.

Vidhaan: (nods his head) I agree with all your conditions.

Annapurna nods her head in approval as she leaves the room making her way upstairs to check on Swara once.

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It's dinner time and Swara has just gained back her consciousness. Annapurna comes back after giving her dinner in her room and joins Durga Prasad and Vidhaan for dinner on the dinning table.

Durga Prasad : So Vidhaan, I guess your work starts now. Have you thought of anything about how you are going to start?

Annapurna: I think to start with we should stop calling him Vidhaan. It won’t be good if Swara gets to hear anything. From now on, you’re not Vidhaan. For the time being you’re Shlok or Sanky as we used to call him out of love.

Vidhaan: (nods his head) You can call me whatever you wish for!

Durga Prasad: So, from today onwards we’ll call you Sanky. You’ll be called Shlok when we’ll take you to office.

Vidhaan: Office? You mean business? But I’m a teacher. How am I supposed to go to the office?

Durga Prasad: Of course, you have to go to the office. We can’t hide you from the world for that long. If someone gets to see you by any chance, rumors will start spreading as to why we are hiding our own son. You need to go there and don’t worry about the work, we’ll sort it out.

Vidhaan: And what are we going to tell everyone. Don’t they know that Shlok is no more.

Annapurna: They don’t. Except for a few people not everyone knows. (to her husband) But what are you planning to do about this? We need to make some story about his return.

Durga Prasad: I have that covered. You don’t need to worry about anything. So, Vidhaan… I mean Sanky have you planned anything? Or does anything hit you as you’ve already seen her condition?

Vidhaan: I haven’t thought of anything in particular but I think first of all we should find out a way to bring her out of her panic attacks or at least calm her down before anything else.

Durga Prasad: Okay we will think about it tomorrow. Have your dinner first! You must be tired. Just go and take rest today. (Vidhaan nods his head) If you are not comfortable, you can sleep in the guest room for today.

Vidhaan: I think that will be better!

Annapurna: I’ll get the guest room ready then. We can tell Swara that Sanky was tired and he didn’t want to disturb her so went for a sleep in the guest room only.

But before Durga Prasad or Vidhaan could say anything they hear Swara calling from behind as she walks down the stairs.

Swara: Sanky, what are still doing here? Haven’t you had your dinner yet?

Vidhaan: (fumbles) Haan… wo… nhi… I mean… no… no… I still haven’t eaten.

Swara: Oh! Then come fast. I’m feeling sleepy!

Vidhaan: (gulps) What? I mean… me!

Swara: Of course you! Tsk! Do I have four or five husbands? You are my husband then obviously I’ll be calling you only.

Vidhaan: (nervously) Okay! You go ahead. I’m coming!

Swara: (smiles) Come fast!

Annapurna: Arey haan baba, just go! I’m sending your husband soon. But at least let me spend sometime with my son.

Swara: (grins widely) Okay! I’ll be waiting in the room then. (to Vidhaan) You finish your talks. Take as much time as you want.

Vidhaan nods his head and Swara gives a wide smile before turning around and making her way back to her room.

Annapurna: (smiles) It’s been a while since I saw that smile!

Vidhaan: (to Annapurna) Is it something that you want to say? Or shall I go to the guest room?

Annapurna: I don’t think that’s a good idea! You have to go to Sanky’s room. Guest room won’t do. She won’t sleep unless and until you go back to the room.

Saying this she gets up and goes to her room. Vidhaan looks at Durga Prasad in confusion and he shrugs his shoulders not knowing what his wife is up to. Annapurna returns just after a few moments and stands beside Vidhaan.

Annapurna: Show me your hand!

Vidhaan: (confused) What?

Annapurna glares at him and he hesitantly lifts his left hand towards her.

Annapurna: Right!

Vidhaan: Huh?

Annapurna: Show me your right hand. Not the left one!

Vidhaan pulls back his left hand and lifts his right hand. Annapurna takes out a Band-Aid and wraps it around his index finger.

Vidhaan: What… what are you doing? I’m not hurt, then why are you applying this?

Annapurna: Just don’t remove it! You will need this in morning.

Vidhaan: What?

Annapurna: Stop asking questions! You will get to know about it in the morning. Now go or else she won’t sleep. (Vidhaan nods his head and turns to go when Annapurna calls him from behind) And yes…

Vidhaan: (cuts in between) Don’t worry! I won’t forget my promise! You have my word.

Annapurna gets almost taken a back seeing how he understands what she’s going to say before she even starts. But deciding not to show her surprise she nods her head sternly and Vidhaan leaves for Swara’s room.

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Vidhaan is standing at the doorstep fidgeting and debating with his mind whether to enter the room or not. After rambling for what seems like several minutes he finally decides to go in as he has gotten no other option and for sure he isn’t going to spend the whole night standing at the doorstep. Taking a deep breath knocks at the door and opens it, stepping inside slowly.

Swara: (chuckles) Sanky, are you alright?

Vidhaan: (gets nervous and starts sweating) Yes… No… I mean, yes… I’m perfectly fine. What will happen to me?

Swara: Then why are you knocking the door of your own room?

Vidhaan: Room! Yeah right! My room.

Swara: (goes near him and keeps her hand on his shoulder) Are you fine? Why are you sweating so much?

Vidhaan: It’s… it’s nothing! I think I’m tired because of traveling so much.

Swara: Oh yes! How could I forget! How was your trip?

Vidhaan: Trip? What trip?

Swara: Oh God! Are you suffering from short term memory loss? You went to a trip to USA for a deal. Do you remember or have you forgotten?

Vidhaan: (to himself) Oh shoot! Vidhaan… You are going to make her believe that you are not her husband on your very first day itself! (to Swara) Oh yeah! I remember! I remember it perfectly. The deal went very well.

Swara: Oh good! You get changed. I’m going to freshen up.

Vidhaan nods his head and Swara goes inside the washroom. As soon as she locks the door Vidhaan sits on the bed with a thump holding his head in between his palms. What is he doing? Will he be able to help her or will he ruin everything even more?

Vidhaan: What are you doing Vidhaan? What are you doing? One wrong word and everything will be ruined. I have to be more careful while dealing with her. A single shock could be fatal for her. I must behave normally in front of her. She must not get a single hint that I’m not her husband.

Vidhaan takes a deep breath and looks around the room. He gives a sigh of relief on seeing a couch in the room besides a king size bed. For sure, he won’t be spending the whole night with her on the same bed. He allows his eyes travel around the room appreciating its interiors. It’s nothing like his room back their in Mumbai. This room is perfectly designed themed with a beautiful and mesmerizing combo of blue and white. Different shades of blue to be exact. A huge photograph of Swara and Shlok’s marriage has been hung on the central wall just above the bed post. His eyes land on a door next to the door of the en-suite washroom. Opening the door he finds it to be a closet. That’s the biggest closet he has ever seen. Vidhaan enters inside and finds that anything and everything a person might need is in there. From tuxedos to dresses… from sherwanis to sarees and lehengas… shoes, high heels, flats, ties, bangles, jewelries… not even a single thing a person might need is missing.

Vidhaan gets himself changed in a yellow t-shirt and comfy white trousers. He walks out of the closet and stands near the window thinking how his life has changed so much in such a small duration of two days. Now he is in between the people he has never met before. He is pretending to be a person he never seen. Wait! He has seen him in his dreams. He looks at Shlok’s photograph hanging on the wall.

Vidhaan: I don’t know how I am going to do this but I feel I’ll be able to! I have never met you but seems like I have known you for quite sometimes. From now on Swara is my responsibility. I’ll do the best I can to help her out but don’t worry she’ll always be yours.

He smiles and looks at the moon, his partner in solace. Whenever he is worried he just holds his pendant and talks with the moon. It relaxes him more than anything else. He holds his pendant as he traces his fingers along its edges. Just then Swara comes and he hides the locket inside his t-shirt quickly.

Swara: Sanky!

Vidhaan: (turns and smiles) Hmm!

Swara: Why didn’t you sleep? You must be tired. Don’t tell me you were waiting for me.

Vidhaan looks at her trying to figure out what he must say. Swara smiles but before he could understand anything she walks to him and wraps her arms around his waist. His breath gets stuck as he gets extremely shocked failing to respond back to her. He has never been hugged by any girl except for the little ones back there at the orphanage. His hand falls to both his sides but Swara doesn’t notice that he is not hugging her back.

Swara: (teary eyes) I missed you so much. I missed having my best friend with me! You were gone for six long months. Why did you take so much time? You know how much worried I was. (she breaks the hug) Oh God! Main bhi naa! You are tired and here I started. Come lets sleep.

She holds Vidhaan’s hand and guides him towards the bed. He gets shocked and exchanges glances between Swara and the bed. She gives him a confused look trying to figure out what’s holding him back. She slowly lets go off his hand and sits on the bed.

Swara: Are you not going to sleep?

Vidhaan: No… I mean yes!

Swara: Then come! Why are you standing there? (taps the other side of the bed) Now, don’t tell me that you’ve forgotten this as well while you were gone.

Vidhaan: What?

Swara: That this side of bed is mine and that is yours. Come on! I promise I won’t kick you like I did last time. You know I was a little pissed off that you were not listening to me and had your nose stuck in that stupid file.

Vidhaan sits on the bed hesitantly. Swara smiles seeing him relax a bit. She lies down on the bed and closes her eyes.

Swara: Good night Sanky!

Vidhaan: Good night!

He closes his tightly after turning his face to the other side and pulling the comforter over him. He feels the comforter shuffle a bit as Swara slides inside. His body stiffens with the mere thought of having a girl on the same bed as him. The first girl he wants to be with, no matter if it’s the same bed, is his future wife and the girl he might fall in love with. He closes his eyes tightly not giving the slightest hint of his discomfort to Swara.

After waiting for almost an hour Vidhaan opens his eyes slowly as he hears her slight snores. Tilting his head a little he finds Swara sleeping peacefully. He slips out of the comforter slowly being careful enough not to wake her up and settles himself on the couch. Within a few minutes his eyes droop close and soon sleep takes over.

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A/N

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Now, first of all I’m sorry for being late with the update. We have this huge International Exhibition coming up that our company is holding in Africa, so, I have hell lot of work to do for the same. I promised you all to post by yesterday night but I don’t know myself when I fell asleep while writing the chapter and when I opened my eyes it was already morning!

I’m so sorry to keep you all waiting. I hope you all liked the chapter. No proof reading has been done so kindly ignore the typing mistakes. See you all on Wednesday with the next chapter of TO YOU, MY HEART I SURRENDER. Till then, stay blessed and happy reading!

With love,
Stella ❤️