A/N

Before we begin with the chapter, a huge huge huge thank you to all of you those who have read my new one shot ‘The Last Letter’ and showered it with so much love. I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to reply to all of you but trust me I have read each one of the comments and the response has rendered me speechless. When I started the OS I never expected such a beautiful response. It’s the best any of my one shots have. Thank you so much once again 💖💖

*** CHAPTER 11 ***

Something is missing!

Something that’s really important… but is missing! And this feeling alone leaves Swara heartsick.

The pain that has been inflicted upon her heart for a while now, becomes overbearing lately. She feels like she’s losing herself bit by bit every moment. Fragments of some memory keep flashing right in front of her eyes again and again and she couldn’t even understand… Why? What is it that her heart wants to remember but her mind betrays her every time?

Vulnerable! That’s what she has been feeling like. Her heart breaks every moment she tries to join the scattered traces of her lost memories. But all that keeps her enact during all this turmoil is none other than the man she has started developing feelings for.

Swara has always admired Shlok ever since her college times. She has always respected him a lot and undoubtedly he is her best friend. He has always been with her whenever she needed him. Things have been a little awkward when they tied a knot together. One moment you admire the person considering him as an idol and the next moment you find out that he is your to-be husband. Things haven’t been so easy for Swara but Shlok always understood her and gave her all the time she wanted to get herself together for their relationship.

She really likes him but ever since he has come back from America things have been pretty different. At first Swara believed the difference is because she really missed Shlok during those six months but slowly she has come to realize that it’s the feel that has changed. The soothing touch before has become warm and comforting now. His one single touch leaves her yearning for more. Though his movements have become more hesitant and cautious around her but his warmth is becoming more and more enticing and alluring, and Swara couldn’t help but feel attracted to him. He is her solace.

Her inner torment seems to be subsiding as she feels the warmth of his palm on her forehead and with that follows his faint soft whisper right next to her ear…

“What are you doing to me, Swara?”

Her heart aches to be in his embrace. She wants to lean on to him and rather ask… What is he doing to her? How has he changed so much? It feels as if he has altogether become a different person. But she fails to do so. Apparently, the medicines are affecting her to a greater extent making her body numb and forcing her to keep her eyes closed. She could feel but couldn’t react.

She somehow grabs his palm and entwines their fingers together. His warmth is all she seeks for comfort. She sighs as she feels his breath fanning her face and then he quietly shifts next to her, not making any further attempts to pull his hand away. Slowly she snuggles closer to him and she feels his calm breathing and rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as he dozes off.

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

Swara smiles as the cool breeze tickles her skin. Snuggling closer to him she rests her head on his chest as both of them gaze at the beautiful stars lying in the open field.

Swara has never felt so contented before. Lying next to him with his arms around her in a warm embrace makes her feel like the luckiest girl ever alive. She raises her head a little and his breathtaking smile takes her heart away. It’s then she realizes that she’s falling him.

Swara: Sanky!

“Hmm?”, she feels his chest move as he replies.

Swara: I think I’m falling for you!

His smile widens and he tilts their bodies a little making Swara rest her back against the soft grass of the field and pulls himself above her with his weight resting on his elbows resting on either side of her. He gazes into her eyes intently as Swara waits for his reply with a bated breath.

“I think me too”, he replies as he leans closer to her, reducing all the distances not only between their bodies but also between their souls. Swara closes her eyes as she feels his lips cherishing hers, caressing them oh so softly.

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

Swara opens her eyes slowly trying to pull herself together. She finds her head resting on Vidhaan’s chest. How peaceful he looks while sleeping!

She tries to open her eyes but the drowsiness because of the medicines has been restraining and fighting her continuously. Next moment, she feels him stir as he flutters opens his eyes. As soon as his eyes fall on her his eyes widen and Swara tries to give him a smile.

Swara: S-So it wasn’t a dream?

Vidhaan: What dream? Was it a nightmare?

Swara: It was a good dream. In fact, the best I have had in a while.

Seeing the confusion etched across his features she gives him another weak yet beautiful smile.

“You’re my new dream.”

The sudden urge to feel her dream again Swara leans towards Vidhaan. His breath hitches as he notices her gaze lingering on his lips.

This shouldn’t happen! She’ll regret it the moment she will find out that he is not the one who she thinks he is!

When their lips get merely an inch away, Vidhaan tilts his head and Swara’s lips lands on his cheek. He slowly pulls her away from him and makes her lie down on the bed. Getting up from the bed he covers her with the comforter.

Vidhaan: You should sleep a bit more. I’ve to go. I need to discuss a few things with Laksh.

Swara nods her head and Vidhaan storms out of the room. As soon as he closes the door he learns against it and takes a deep breath.

‘What are you doing Vidhaan? Get a hold of your feelings’, his mind scolds him and he makes a mental note to stay away from Swara.

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

~ SEN GUPTA MANSION ~

Kavita: How did it go, Bhai?

Sahil: I’m not sure Kavita.

Kavita: What the hell do you mean you’re not sure? You mean to say I edited that pic, sent it to Swara and nothing happened!

The anger in her voice makes Sahil flinch back and he gulps nervously. He is well aware that his sister herself doesn’t know what she could do when she’s enraged.

Sahil: No, I didn’t mean it like that. I mean I couldn’t see anything.

Kavita: Now, you’re really pissing me off, Bhai. You’ve been keeping an eye all the time they were shopping and you didn’t see anything. And here I’m trying to help you out, my brother!

Sahil: It wasn’t my fault, okay! Swara was in trial room when she received the pic. All I could hear was her shriek and then…

Kavita: Then what?

Sahil: And then that imposter came and took Swara away with him. But there was one thing that I found pretty weird.

Kavita: What is it?

Sahil: Before leaving, he called Swara ‘my wife’…

Kavita: That’s because for everyone else he is Shlok and he needs to keep up with that. I think before Swara we need to do something for our dear imposter.

Sahil nods his head in agreement and both of them start planning their next move.

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

A week later…

Ragini comes storming to Swara’s room and glares at her as Swara stands in front of the saree section of the wardrobe.

Ragini: What the hell do you think you are doing? Don’t tell me you’re wearing a saree today at the party!

Swara turns around and smiles. Ragini keeps a bag and her makeup kit on the bed before placing both her hands on her waist.

Swara: Ah! You’re here. So, Sanky is in your room?

Ragini: Yes! He and Laksh are getting ready there, which means we are getting ready here. Now, don’t change the topic. Don’t you dare wear a saree!

Swara: Sorry to disappoint you, love, but I am wearing a saree.

Ragini: No way. You have plenty of dresses. Wear one of them.

Swara: Nope! I really want to look beautiful today.

Ragini: But you can look beautiful in a dress as well. Probably, everyone will be wearing dresses at the party.

Swara: It’s a good thing then. If I’ll look different then Sanky won’t look anywhere else other than me.

Ragini: Wait! What do you mean by that?

Swara: (takes a deep breath) Can I ask you something?

Ragini: Anything!

Swara: When did you and Laksh kissed for the first time?

Ragini chokes on her own breath the moment she hears this. Alright, she shouldn’t have said ‘anything’. Swara is the last person she expects to ask this question.

Ragini: Why are you asking me this?

Swara: Please. Please. Please. Tell me. Please.

Ragini: Okay. Okay. Stop saying ‘please’. It was on our first date.

Swara: Which means a month after you both confessed, right?

Ragini: Yes. But why are you asking this all of a sudden?

Swara: Ragini, I think Sanky doesn’t like me!

Ragini: What? Where did that come from?

Swara: You know, I tried kissing him a week ago but he ran away.

Ragini: (shocked) Again?

Poor Vidhaan!

Swara: (nods her head slowly) And now he is trying to stay as far as possible from me.

Ragini: It’s nothing like that Swara. You’re reading a lot between the lines.

Swara: No! I know Ragini. Am I not good enough for him? Or… Or… Maybe… Wait! Is he having an extramarital affair?

Ragini almost controls the urge to bang her head against the wall. She can’t tell her the truth nor she could lie. She just doesn’t know how to calm down the little ticking bomb.

Ragini: (sighs) Swara, you can trust him. He is not like that.

Swara: Then, why doesn’t he come near me? Or allows me to? Am I not beautiful?

Ragini: (smiles) You’re really beautiful, Swara. Just have trust. Everything will be alright.

She just hopes so!

Swara: You mean, he’ll come to me.

Ragini just nods her head with a sad smile not getting any words. How could she tell her friend that her husband is never going to come to her!

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

It’s almost time to leave for the party. Everyone is in the hall except for Swara and Ragini. Of course, they are stuck in getting Swara’s saree at the right place. No matter what Swara isn’t satisfied with her look today. Every next moment she grimaces looking herself in the mirror and shakes her head in denial.

Swara: I’m not looking good, Ragini.

Ragini: Trust me Swara, you’re looking gorgeous. Can we leave, please? Everyone is waiting.

Swara: But…

She’s interrupted by a soft knock on the door. “Swala mumma! Mumma”, Chaitanya calls out to them. Swara smiles and opens the door but comes face to face with an absolutely dumbstruck Vidhaan. Heat rushes up to her cheeks as their gazes meet.

Vidhaan feels something stir inside his heart as he looks at the angel in white right in front of his eyes. The off-white net saree makes her look even more gorgeous, accentuating her curves yet maintaining the innocence of her face. The sophisticated metallic border goes perfectly well with her metallic bangles, chinking with her every moment, and her smoky eyes.

Oh! Her eyes! The ones that have a language of their own.

Vidhaan couldn’t tear his gaze away from her and Swara notices how they both compliment each other. His crisp button up shirt with black tuxedo and hair falling on his forehead freely are just adding to his manliness.

Their special moment gets broken as Chits tugs at their dresses. They look down at him as he glares at both of them.

Chits: Why ale (are) you both looking at each othel (other)? Sanky Papa, we came hele (here) to call mumma!

Vidhaan: Um… yeah, right! Papa is calling you both. We came here to call you. Now, we are going. Come on, Champ.

Saying this he holds Chits hand and storms downstairs.

Stupid idiotic feelings!

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