I dedicate this chapter to my oldest best friend Abinaya because it’s her birthday today. Yayyy!! Happy birthday Bestie 😘😘 Salute to her valor for tolerating a crack piece like me for last eighteen years 😂😂 Love you loads ❤️❤️

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Lovely_Rhythm  Suku… le kar diya post. Nikal toffee ab 🍬🍬

*** CHAPTER 13 ***

The incessant nagging guilt tugging at her heart has been tormenting Annapurna for a while now. After her little talk with Vidhaan, she has come back straight to the party hall but she couldn’t help but glance at the door every few moments. Vidhaan hasn’t come yet.

Has she been too rude to him?

She has been just protecting her daughter. She just wants her happiness. Is that too much to ask for? Vidhaan is an orphan. How is he supposed to support Swara if they get together? He is a good person but being good is not sufficient enough to survive in this harsh and hostile world. So, she has done the right thing. She isn’t wrong.

She keeps telling herself that but the moment Vidhaan enters the hall with a grim expression etched all across his features, she has been assured that she has been quite rough back there. Taking a deep breath, she starts moving towards him but stops abruptly on seeing Ragini scuffling in the direction of the couch he’s been sitting right now. Well, this is not the right time to talk to him!

The ladies she has been talking to have mentioned something about the mother of Mr. Khanna not feeling well because of which she couldn’t attend the party. All the middle age and elderly women decide to pay her a short visit so that she doesn’t feel left out. Giving a last glance at Vidhaan and Ragini talking, Annapurna leaves with everyone else.

Returning after almost half an hour, Annapurna instantly looks towards the couch expecting Vidhaan to be seated there but frown a little on not seeing him there and as a matter-of-fact nowhere in the hall. Her eyes immediately scan the whole hall for Swara and her frown deepens on not finding her there either. Scurrying towards Laksh and Ragini, she enquires about Swara and Vidhaan and is told that they have left for the garden a little while ago.

Without thinking once, she sprints out of the hall and into the garden but the next scene right in front of her eyes just blows her away. Clenching her fist in order to restrain herself from doing anything rash right now, she gives her coldest and hardest glare their direction as they seem pretty much absorbed in each other. They are close. Too close to her liking and that gives rises to an unknown fear in her heart.

Suddenly, Vidhaan’s eyes lock with her in the dim lit surrounding and she notices him flinch. Balling her fist tightly, she turns around and storms back to the hall.

Screw the almost apology thing! She’s not going to let anyone hurt her precious daughter and there is no way she’s letting this go so easily. She has already lost Shlok and now she is adamant on protecting Swara.

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Vidhaan gulps, his eyes fixated at the livid retreating figure. This is bad news. He couldn’t help but wonder what’s going to happen now but the sudden warmth on his right cheek brings him back to the moment as Swara’s gleaming eyes met with his fazed ones. Her palm rubbing soothing circles at his cheekbones makes him sigh closing his eyes.

He’s not feeling anything!

He’s not feeling anything!

He’s definitely not feeling anything!

He keeps chanting in his head. But one look at those mesmerizing orbs of hers and he already knows he is in trouble… deep trouble. These doe-like innocent eyes are his solace, his stable force amidst all this chaos his life is in. He feels as if he could run forever, search forever but at the end each and every path of his would lead up to her. Just a little kiss has knocked every ounce of breath out of his body and without him realizing this girl, right in front of him, has become so much more to him. Feeling sparks, going breathless, shivers running down body have been a few of those things he thought only existed in novels and those fictional stories but she makes him feel everything… every damn feeling in just one moment.

“What happened?”, she whispers leaning closer still rubbing those endless soothing circles. Slowly, her other hand travels down his arm entwining their fingers together and Vidhaan’s heart escalates seeing how perfectly they fit each other.

He definitely feels something!

For one moment… Just for one… Is he allowed to forget who she is and who he is? Can he just for once show her that he, too, feels something for her without getting bothered about anything?

Her hold on his palm tightens and his eyes immediately shot up from their interlaced fingers to her questioning eyes.

Swara: Is everything alright? What happened?

Vidhaan: Huh? Um… N-Nothing!

Swara smiles, sighing contently as she intakes the serene surroundings. It’s just perfect. Just him and her. She couldn’t have asked for more.

Vidhaan: Swara!

Swara: Hmm?

Vidhaan: Let’s get back inside. It’s getting cold.

Swara: (smiles shaking her head in denial) I like it in here. It’s almost like my dream.

Vidhaan: Dream?

Swara: (nods her head) Hmm! I saw a dream. With you and me in it.

Vidhaan: You dreamt about me?

The shock is quite evident in his voice but he fails to hide that ecstasy that rolls out of his tongue along with the surprise. Swara smiles nodding her head.

Vidhaan: And why almost?

Swara: (whispers) Because in my dream it wasn’t just me who said ‘I love you’.

Vidhaan intakes a deep breath as he looks at her accusing and a little hurt eyes. Her eyes… they sure do talk a lot. He opens his mouth several times but fails to come up with a reply. It’s not that she has asked him any question but he is supposed to say something. Isn’t he?

Swara: It’s okay! You shouldn’t push yourself so hard. You are not obligated to love me back. I’ll wait for the day you’ll come yourself and say that you love me as well. Because…

In a moment her hands are back on his cheeks. Only this time, it’s both her palms and Vidhaan goes back into the trance she unknowingly creates every time she’s around him.

Vidhaan: (whispers) Because…

Swara: (smiles) Because… Mr. Maheshwari, I know one day you will fall in love with me. You can’t run away from me. I won’t let you.

With that she lifts herself up on her tip-toes and places her lips back on his. Vidhaan’s hands immediately find their way to the side of her waist. He still couldn’t bring himself to kiss her back but he couldn’t resist the feel of her body against his, warming up his heart like no has ever done before. Swara nibbles at his lower lip lightly earning a gasp from him before pulling away. She lifts her hand to push away a loose bang of his black jets falling freely and teasing his forehead.

Swara: (smiles) Let’s get back inside.

Vidhaan nods and Swara holds his hand before pulling him back inside with a content smile on her face. Annapurna’s cold gaze has already made it clear that whatever that’s coming is something no one would be expecting. But the smile playing on her lips makes him realize that it’s all worth it. He would do anything for that smile.

Does he regret it?

No, he doesn’t!

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By the time everyone returns to Maheshwari Mansion, Annapurna loses her calm totally and almost everyone could see her fuming. Something really big is coming their way!

All the cars pull up in the driveway and everyone makes their way towards the hall. Annapurna immediately looks at Ragini.

Annapurna: Ragini.

Ragini: Ji, Badi Maa?

Annapurna: Could you just put Chaitanya to sleep and give Swara her medicines? I’ll have a little talk with everyone by that time.

Durga Prasad: Can’t your talk wait until morning? I guess everyone is tired.

Annapurna: NO!

And the intensity of her voice makes everyone flinch back and dread shoots inside Vidhaan. He gulps down, brushing his sweaty palms unconsciously against his trouser pants.

Swara: Maa, is everything alright?

Annapurna: (smiles) Yes, beta. Everything is fine. Just go and sleep. You must be tired.

Swara: (nods her head) Okay! But Sanky will come with me.

Instantly, she wraps her arms around his upper arm pulling him upstairs along with her.

Annapurna: Sanky! After Swara sleeps, I want you downstairs. WE. NEED. TO. TALK.

Her threat flows down with each word and Vidhaan instantly knows… Talk is the last thing she wants right now. Thankfully, Swara’s sleeping pills won’t let her hear anything that’s going to follow. Nodding his head silently, he makes way to their room with Swara but he could still feel Annapurna’s heated glare at the back of his head.

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Fifteen minutes later Ragini descends down the stairs after tucking her son to sleep and furrows her eyebrows seeing everyone seated quietly in the main hall except for Annapurna who is pacing around like an hungry predator all set to lunge on its prey. Her eyes immediately find their way to her husband and they silently converse. Laksh shrugs his shoulders letting her know that he doesn’t know anything. Ragini takes a deep breath before settling herself down on the sofa next to her husband waiting like everyone else.

Annapurna glares towards the stairs as Vidhaan walks down a few minutes later. The enraged look on her face makes Vidhaan debate for a moment.

Should he even go down there?

He feels his palm sweating again. Good thing that he has taken off his coat back there in the room itself. But that doesn’t seem to make any significant difference. He has never felt this nervous before… or should he say scared!!

Before anyone could realize, Annapurna scuffles towards Vidhaan and as soon as he steps on the last stair, she throws her hand forward as hard as she can, whipping it across his face. The vibrations of the slap echo off the walls of the mansion and Vidhaan stumbles back, trying to hold the first thing he finds to protect himself from the fall which happens to be the small side table at the end of the staircase.

Everyone goes numb and shoots up from their places. Immediately all of them are on their feet, running towards Annapurna and Vidhaan.

“Annapurna!”, Durga Prasad’s voice booms across the hall but she lifts a hand to stop him in his tracks.

Annapurna: No one. I said no one will interrupt. It’s between him and me.

Vidhaan regains his composure as tears sting his eyes. The open handed smack has left a welt behind and he could almost feel his cheeks on fire. He takes some deep breaths trying to calm himself down. He even fears to put his own palm across his cheek, dreading how much damage a single slap would have made.

Annapurna: How dare you?

Vidhaan: I… I didn’t do it.

Annapurna: And you expect me to believe you? How dare you touch her?!

Another slap stings his cheek and he staggers backwards, clutching his face as a tear drop rolls down his cheek. Everything one could hear in the hall is Vidhaan’s heavy breathing as everyone else is too shocked to react.

Durga Prasad makes another attempt to knock some sense into his wife. Holding her upper arm he pulls her back.

Durga Prasad: What the hell do you think you are doing?

Annapurna: What the hell am I doing? What the hell was ‘he’ doing? We asked for his help but that doesn’t give him any right on ‘my’ daughter. How dare he touch her like that?

She launches herself again at Vidhaan but her husband being quick enough saves Vidhaan from another slap pulling her back again.

Durga Prasad: Stop it!

Vidhaan: I… I… Trust me I didn’t do anything.

“Then who the hell kissed Swara?”

Annapurna’s outburst stuns everyone and Laksh’s head immediately shots in Vidhaan’s direction. Vidhaan squirms knowing it’s been all his fault. He could have stopped her but he couldn’t. He’s tired. Tired of his heart playing games with his mind… Winning every damn time. Once again guilt takes over his senses and he closes his eyes reaching a conclusion that he deserves all of this.

Vidhaan could feel Laksh coming his direction and he opens his eyes just to find Laksh’s face giving out no emotion and his hand slightly raising in his direction. Vidhaan immediately closes his eyes again embracing himself for another smack but feels a firm grip on his shoulder.

Laksh: What exactly happened?

Vidhaan opens his eyes again and finds Laksh’s face still emotionless but eyes full of question.

Vidhaan: W-What?

Laksh: I want to know… What. Exactly. Happened. There?

He speaks each and every word carefully as if explaining to some child. A vulnerable child.

Laksh: (shakes his shoulder) Say something Vidhaan.

Vidhaan: It… It doesn’t matter. No one would believe me.

Laksh: It does matter Vidhaan. I want to believe you.

Vidhaan looks at him with hopeful eyes. Finally, there is someone who is at least trying to believe him.

Annapurna: (shouts) Laksh!

Laksh: Please Badi Maa! Please listen to him first.

Annapurna: Why do you want to listen to him?

Laksh: Because we all know that Vidhaan is someone we can rely upon! We have seen it Badi Maa. We all have. In last one month, he has never tried to make a wrong move at Swara. He’s not like that. I admit I didn’t like him at first but that doesn’t change the fact that he is helping us without asking for anything in return. The least we can do is listen to him. Swara is my best friend and trust me if anyone does her wrong, I’ll be the first person to kill that scumbag. But Vidhaan is not one of those people.

Annapurna huff in anger but Durga Prasad holds her back. On the cue, Laksh turns to Vidhaan.

Laksh: So, what happened?

Vidhaan: I… I don’t know how that happened. After the dance, Swara said she was feeling suffocated over there. So, I took her out in the fresh air… And then we were talking. She asked…

He stops fighting back the tears. He won’t cry. Not in front of everyone at least. He takes a deep breath and Laksh grip on his shoulder tightens.

Laksh: What did she ask?

Vidhaan: She asked whether I hated her but I didn’t, so, I told her honestly. And then she asked whether I loved her.

Annapurna rolls her fist in anger and unknowingly Durga Prasad’s hold loosens on her arm.

Vidhaan: I couldn’t reply her and then she asked me to close my eyes. I did. She was talking… asking some questions and the next moment she… she kissed me. But it’s all my fault… I couldn’t stop her or do anything…

“Exactly! Why didn’t you do anything”, growling Annapurna pulls him away from Laksh and smacks him all over again, as hard as she could. Unfortunately, her ring comes in contact with his skin and Vidhaan feels the skin near his eyes slit open. Just like any other human would have, Vidhaan too closes his eyes and he falls down onto the stairs. His palms come in contact with the cold tiles as he stumbles down.

Annapurna enraged eyes follows his every moment but something that catches her eyes drives her insane, making her lose the last ounce of calm she has.

“How dare you?”, she hollers crouching in front of him on her knees. Her hand rises up to his neck and holds something in its tight grip.

Annapurna: How dare you touch ‘this’?

Vidhaan’s eyes immediately dart towards her fist holding ‘his pendant’ firmly. He realizes that upon stumbling his ‘S’ shaped pendant that he’s been trying so hard to hide for last one month has too stumbled out of the protective covering of his shirt. He could have removed it before coming here but he couldn’t. That’s the only thing that has been there for him… always.

Annapurna: You have started stealing too?!

Vidhaan: What? No! You can’t question my morals and virtues like that.

Annapurna: Shut up! Just shut up! First you’re wrong and now you have the audacity to shout back.

Her grip around the pendant tightens and she tries to pull it away. Instantly, Vidhaan’s hand, too, holds his chain. He has had enough! There is no way he’s losing his most precious possession.

Annapurna: Remove your hand!

Vidhaan: No! It’s mine.

“IT’S MY SON’S!”, Annapurna shouts pulling the pendant with as much force she could muster and the next moment the chain and the pendant are in her hand, the clamp mercilessly tearing the skin near Vidhaan’s neck. He visibly winces and Laksh and Ragini immediately stand in between them. Meanwhile, Durga Prasad gets a hold of his wife.

Durga Prasad: Enough Annapurna! You’re hurting him. This is not who you are.

Annapurna opens her mouth to protest but Ragini speaks in Vidhaan’s defense and Laksh helps Vidhaan up.

Ragini: Badi Maa! You’re getting it all wrong. Vidhaan is not like that. It’s high time, you accept it too. We know you are worried about Swara. We all are but behaving irrationally like this is not going to help.

Durga Prasad: Annapurna, I want you to leave. Go to the room.

Annapurna: But…

Durga Prasad: (shouts) Leave! Now!

And for the first time Annapurna Maheshwari feels intimidated by her husband. Scowling at Vidhaan, she leaves for her room but all Vidhaan can see is his pendant still in her fist.

“That’s mine”, he whispers to himself holding the side of his neck. Laksh’s eyes immediately widen on seeing blood seeping into his white shirt leaving red patches here and there… everywhere.

Laksh: Ragini, get the first aid box. Quick.

Ragini nods her head and sprints away to get the first aid box.

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Annapurna storms into the room trying to get a hold of her anger. But fails miserably. Shlok’s smiling face flashes in front of her and all his memories right from the moment he was born seem like dancing in front of her eyes. She closes them tightly to get everything out of her head clutching the pendant dearly against her chest and she wails her heart out.

He’s not Shlok. He’s Vidhaan. They are two different people.

She reminds herself again and wipes off the tears rolling down her cheeks. Taking few deep breaths, she opens her cupboard, fetching a small velvet box kept securely in between the stack of clothes. No sooner she opens the box, she stumbles backwards, her eyes filled with swirling emotions even she fails to decipher. Suddenly, she feels weak…. To weak! All the energy drains out of her body and the little box all of a sudden becomes too heavy for her.

Her shivering hands give up and everything in her hands lands in front of her feet.

The box and Two Identical ‘S’ shaped Pendants!! And the only thing she could whisper is…

“SANSKAAR!”

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A/N

Aah! I know you all must be planning ways to kill me for doing this to him but this was kind of important 🙈🙈🙈 Finally, the one you all have been asking for. I hope you all enjoyed reading the chapter. Do leave your views and feedbacks down below. That really means a lot to me.

After doing that lit dare yesterday I realized that it's actually been a very long time since I made or sketched something. So, I tried making one after almost two three years.

Before you all ask me... I have made it using just one black gel pen and nothing else. Since morning people are asking which pencil I have used. So, I haven't used any pencil 😂😂

See you all on Wednesday! Till then, stay blessed and happy reading!

With love,
Stella ❤️