A/N

Before we start I just want to tell you guys that unlike my other ffs this story won't be a very long one. I'm still not very sure as to how many chapters I'll be writing but most probably it will be something around 20-30 chapters. But that still has a long way to go, right!

So, here we go with the next chapter. I hope you will like it...

*** CHAPTER 5 ***

No. No. No. This is not happening! This is impossible! How come is he standing in front of him? Is he Shlok? No, it can't be! But he looks exactly like him!

All sort of questions cloud his mind and Sahil almost loses his balance. He grips the nearest kitchen counter for support but his panic stricken face has easily given away his disbelief.

Sahil: (stutters) Who are you?

Vidhaan smiles as he saunters towards them and wraps his arms around Swara's shoulder. While doing so he makes sure to touch her in the least way possible but his hesitation goes unnoticed by Swara and for Sahil... he fumes in jealousy and rage. He follows all his movements incredulously and glares at his palm resting on Swara's shoulder. Straightening himself up he looks at Vidhaan as if challenging him.

Sahil: I asked... Who. Are. You?

Vidhaan: Oh! Don't you remember? Our companies are business partners.

Sahil: You're kidding me, right? You're not Shlok and we all know that.

Vidhaan: My parents know that I'm Shlok. Swara knows that I'm Shlok, so, I don't think I need to prove anything to you.

Sahil: (moving closer to him) How dare you lie to Swara?

Vidhaan: (looks at Swara and smiles) Swara, how about you go back to your room and take some rest. Meanwhile, Sahil and I can have some talk.

Swara: Sure!

Vidhaan: I'll see you in a few minutes.

Swara smiles and leans towards him. Vidhaan's heart skips a beat as she brings her lips closer to his ear, their cheeks slightly brushing against each other.

Swara: (whispers) If he irritates you, just call me back. I have always wanted to beat him to pulp but I never got a chance.

Vidhaan chuckles and nods his head slightly. Swara smiles playfully and leaves the kitchen but not before glaring at Sahil who by now is so infuriated that if one kill would have been spared, he would have already buried Vidhaan six feet under the ground.

Sahil: Do you really expect me to believe that you're Shlok?

Vidhaan: No, I don't. Honestly, I don't expect anything from you, not after seeing the way you behaved with my... wife a while ago. Now, if you could excuse me I need to go and check on her.

Sahil: I know you are not Shlok!

Vidhaan: Good for you. Whatever makes you sleep at night!

Sahil: I'm going to prove that you're lying.

Vidhaan: Oh! By all means, please go ahead.

Sahil: Look, I don't know who you are! But why are you even here? (holds Vidhaan's collar) You are not even her husband then why do you even bother about her.

Vidhaan: (holds Sahil's hand and jerks it away) I don't care what you think. She's my first priority and my responsibility, and I'm definitely not going back on that.

Sahil: Don't you dare mess with me.

Vidhaan: I would say the same thing to you. Now I think you should leave. Your father must be waiting.

Sahil: This is not over!

Vidhaan: I usually say 'it was nice meeting you' while departing but I don't feel like saying that now. Maybe next time.

Sahil storms out of the room fuming after the recent conversation.

This guy sure isn't Shlok. Shlok's comebacks are never so calm and sarcastic. He is more like anger driven. He bursts out if anyone irks him. He can't let any random guy ruin his chances with Swara.

The best thing to do right now... Find out who he is!

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Vidhaan climbs up the stairs heading towards his room, for the time being at least, when Annapurna calls him from behind. The woman sure seems very pleased right now. With a small smile playing on her lips she asks Vidhaan to head towards her room as Mr. Sen Gupta and Sahil are still in the house and she doesn't want them to hear their talk.

Vidhaan: Is there anything you need?

Annapurna: Sahil was threatening you!

It seems more like a statement rather than a question. Vidhaan nods his head smiling slightly as he takes a seat on the nearby chair and Annapurna sits on the bed collecting the files kept on the side table.

Vidhaan: Yes! He was trying to misbehave with Swara and apparently I interrupted some important talk.

Annapurna: (chuckles) He actually looked very pissed while stomping his feet like a teenager towards the study room. What did you say? You both had quite some talk.

Vidhaan: Nothing much. I'm a teacher, so, I definitely know how to deal the errant conduct of the students. It's just that the student here is quite a pain.

Annapurna: You judged him right in the first meeting only. If it had been Shlok, he might have probably slapped Sahil by now.

Vidhaan: I don't believe in violence unless and until actually needed.

Annapurna: You can always ask for some help if you find him difficult to handle.

Vidhaan: (smiles) Sure! I will.

Annapurna: You can leave for now, we'll call you once Sahil and his father leave, then we can discuss about the whole thing we have to do for getting you in the company. We have to make something to cover up Shlok's absence for last six months. By that time you can read these files, so that you can get an idea of what is happening in the company right now.

Vidhaan nods his head taking the files and starts giving them a quick glance turning the pages.

Vidhaan: This might take some time as I don't have any practical knowledge about business and deals but I think I can do it. I'll take your leave then. See you later.

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Vidhaan enters the room and finds Swara sleeping peacefully. He smiles seeing her and silently makes his way towards the couch. Getting seated he starts checking the files taking a deep breath.

This sure will take hell lot of time!

One of the several benefits of being a teacher... he can surely read all these giant looking documents for hours that too with full concentration!

Hardly an hour later his concentration gets broken as he hears some uncomfortable rustling. Lifting his head up from the file, the first thing his eyes travel towards is Swara. He sprints out of the couch almost racing towards her as he notices her breathing getting heavier. She rolls the bedsheet in her fist and sweat droplets start trickling down her forehead.

He hasn't been expecting her to get a panic attack in her sleep as well! Should he call someone? But he can't leave her alone in the room in such a condition.

Throwing away all the thoughts aside he leaps towards her side of the bed. He leans in to wipe the sweat off of her forehead when she frantically grabs his palm mumbling some incoherent words.

Swara: Don't... Don't worry Sanky... I... I... won't leave you! I'm there... nothing will happen. I won't let go of you.

No sooner her words become clear they become inaudible again as she finds it harder to breath with every passing moment. Vidhaan tries to get her medicines from the drawer with his free hand. Grabbing the only medicine in the topmost drawer of the side table he holds both her shoulders trying to wake her up.

Vidhaan: Swara! Swara, get up!

The moment his voice hits her ears she wakes up with a jerk holding the fabric of her saree tightly and trying to calm down herself. But all in vain as tears keep spilling out of her eyes making her vision blur and her mind not able judge her surroundings. She could feel this piercing pain tearing her heart into pieces. She tries to say something but her voice comes out nothing more than a hoarse whisper.

She failed him!
She failed him!

Vidhaan looks at her with worry and confusion lines all over his forehead. Even though she has opened her eyes but she hasn't noticed him yet. Or let's say her mind is not able to accept whatever is around her now. He tightens his hold on her shoulders jerking her and calling her name out loud.

Slowly, she turns her face towards him and as her vision gets clear her breathing start falling back to its normal pace.

She could see him! He is here!

In one swift moment she lunges towards him wrapping her arms around his neck. Fresh tears start rolling down her cheeks all over again, only difference being this time they are not out of the fear of losing him instead this time they are out of relief that he is in front of her. Holding him in her arms brings her heart to peace, something she has never felt before.

Vidhaan's hands fall to his side as she hugs him for the second time. But unlike their first hug, which was more like a friendly hug, this one holds more passion. He could feel the warmth of her heart seeping inside his skin. On their own accord, his hand move towards her returning her embrace. One of his hand slowly caresses the back of her head and the other one discreetly rests on her back as he keeps chanting soothing words in her ears.

Swara: (murmurs) Thank you... Thank you... for being... safe. I tried... but... you slipped... I'm... sorry...

Vidhaan: Shh! It's okay Swara. Don't think about it. I'm here. I'm fine.

He tightens his hold on her back and her comparatively soothing breath becomes quite evident. Vidhaan decides to give her the medicines now as she seems a little fine. He removes his hand from her back and calls her name slowly but on getting no reply he pulls her away from him and finds her fast asleep already.

Tucking her back into the bed under the comforter he keeps the medicine back in the drawer. He gets up taking a deep breath. It's time to finish those files now!

He turns towards the couch but she grabs his palm pulling him back to her as if her life depends on it. A small smile appears on her lips gracing her sleeping features. He tries to free his hand from her hold but with each effort to pull away her grip only gets tightened. Seeing that he has no option right now, Vidhaan sits on the side of the bed resting his back against the bedpost, their fingers still entwined.

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An hour and half later, Swara groggily opens her eyes. How long has she been sleeping? A yawn escapes her lips and she lifts her right hand towards her mouth when she feels a tight hold on her palm. Tilting her head a little, she finds him sleeping in the most uncomfortable posture ever possible. His head tilted a little towards his left yet resting against the bedpost, his lips slightly apart and their finger interlaced.

She puts her finger under his chin pushing his mouth close. A brush against his skin breaks his nap as he touches his slightly sore neck. Swara chuckles seeing him and that's when he notices her wide awake, sitting on the bed and smiling at him.

Vidhaan: Swara! How are you feeling now?

Swara: I'm fine but what are you doing here?

Vidhaan: What do you mean?

She lifts their hands still holding onto each other. Vidhaan's eyes widen seeing this and he retreats his hand quickly.

Swara: (smiles) What are you doing?

Vidhaan: You don't remember?

Swara: What? Did anything happen? I remember that after seeing you and Sahil back there at kitchen, I came here but soon enough I fell asleep. And now you're sitting in front of me.

She doesn't remember anything!

Vidhaan: (smiles awkwardly) Yeah! Actually, I came to check up on you and you grabbed my palm in sleep. Nothing else happened.

Swara: Really! I did? These medicines are seriously doing something wrong to me. I sleep anywhere and everywhere! I don't even know why they are giving me these medicines. Sanky...

Vidhaan: Hmm?

Swara: Is something wrong with me? Am I not well? Why are they giving me these medicines and not even telling me?

Vidhaan: (smiles and places his palm on her cheeks) You're completely fine. These are not medicines. They are like... um... health supplements. Nothing else!

Swara: Sure?

Vidhaan: Hundred percent! Now go and get freshen up then we can go down for lunch.

Swara: Is that Sahil gone?

Vidhaan: Most probably! I have been up here all the while. Why?

Swara: Nothing. He always irritates me saying that he likes me. Why can't he get this simple thing that I'm married already. You're my husband, right?

Vidhaan: What? Yeah... um... right!

Swara: You're my best friend, right?

Vidhaan: Right!

Swara: One day you'll even fall in love with me, right?

Vidhaan: What?!

Swara: Don't give me those expressions Sanky! We are married, so falling in love is an obvious thing, right?

Vidhaan, knowing that there's no escape, nods his head slightly mumbling a small 'right'. What has he just agreed to? This girl will surely drive him insane!

Swara: See that's why I'm saying. Now, I'm going to freshen up. But don't go downstairs without me.

Vidhaan: Okay, I won't.

She gets down from the bed but stops right in front of the washroom door and turns around.

Swara: (smiles) Sanky!

Vidhaan: Yes?

Swara: Why do I feel that you have changed? You are not the Sanky I have always known.

Dammit! Did he do something wrong?

Vidhaan: (shocked) What? It's... It's nothing like that. I'm same as ever.

Swara: No! Something has definitely changed when you were in US. But one thing is for sure... I like this Sanky even more.

She smiles at him and turns the know of the washroom but not before winking at him. Vidhaan couldn't help but smile that eventually follows.

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It's evening and all the four family members are sitting in the central hall trying to have some family time together. Vidhaan is still reading those files, discussing it with Durga Prasad once in a while in case of any confusion. Swara and Annapurna are having a discussion regarding the dinner which they have to get ready after a while. But their discussion comes to an abrupt end as the landline starts ringing.

Annapurna: Hello!

"Badi Maa!"

Annapurna: (smiling widely) Laksh! How are you son?

A smile breaks on Durga Prasad's and Swara's lips on hearing the name whereas Vidhaan looks at everyone with a confused yet pleasant smile.

Laksh: I'm absolutely fantastic!

Annapurna: It's been a while that we have seen you all. When are you planning to give a visit to your Badi Maa?

Laksh: Um... How about tomorrow?

Annapurna: Stop joking Laksh! I'm serious.

Laksh: So, am I!

Annapurna: (smiles widely) Really!

Laksh: (laughs) Yes! We all are coming tomorrow.

Annapurna: All of you?

Laksh: Yes! All of us. We all planned a surprise visit but mom actually pushed me to call and inform you. So, yes! We all are coming.

Annapurna: Come soon beta! We'll be waiting.

Laksh: See you tomorrow then!

Annapurna: Sure! I'll get everything ready.

She disconnects the call and turns towards everyone who are looking at her with anticipation...

"All of them are coming tomorrow!"

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