A/N

Dedicated to @satya099. Many many happy returns of the day sweetie. May God bless you and may you achieve everything you wish for. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉🎉🎂🍬🍫🍰💖💖

And let me tell you all well in advance this chapter is going to be boring but it’s kind of important. So, here you all go…

*** CHAPTER 15 ***

“So, finally you have found the answer to my first question”, the voice from his dream rings in Vidhaan’s ears again and he sucks in a deep breath. Everything is his fault! If these dreams wouldn’t have been there he would have never come here. But now, he’s neither sad nor he’s enraged. He just feels something hollow inside of him and he doesn’t even know what he’s supposed to feel. He has finally found his parent. He should be happy, right?

Vidhaan: So, this is what you always wanted? My agony and pain? I don’t know why did I ever agree to come here.

Voice: How can you think that I’ll wish for agony and pain for my ‘own brother’?!

The voice states in an unusually calm tone but the words seem so foreign to Vidhaan’s ears that he finds himself stupefied. Brother?! How many more shocks is he supposed to get?

Vidhaan: B-Brother?! Shlok?

“Finally”, Shlok exclaims in relief stepping closer to Vidhaan and at last after seven months of having dreams about the same person, Vidhaan gets to see the face close enough that he could finally make out how much they actually look like each other. If not for their eyes, they look exactly like each other!

Vidhaan: Why didn’t you tell me before?

Shlok: What?

Vidhaan: That you’re my brother! Why didn’t you tell me?

Shlok: (smiles) And you would have believed?

Vidhaan: What?

Shlok: Would you have believed that I’m your brother? It was more important for you to find out who you are. Sanskaar…

Vidhaan: Don’t. Call. Me. That. I’m Vidhaan! And I don’t want to be anyone else.

Shlok: That’s not anyone else. That’s who you are. I know this is way too much for you but I know one day you will accept it. Just give everything some time and I won’t call you Sanskaar unless and until you ask me to.

Vidhaan: Why will I ask you to? These are just dreams!

Shlok: Do you really think these are just dreams?

Vidhaan: Huh?!!

Shlok: Your dreams keep changing Vidhaan!

He states the obvious and Vidhaan narrows his eyes at him trying to comprehend what he is trying to imply.

Vidhaan: So, what’s new in that? We don’t keep seeing the same dream all our lives.

Shlok: But your dreams change only when something changes in your life. You actually talk to me.

Vidhaan: W-What do you mean by I actually talk to you? Are… Are you alive? Where are you? What happened? Why are you not coming back?

Shlok: (takes a deep breath) I’m… I’m not coming back, Vidhaan. Never. But I need your help.

Vidhaan could feel his limbs freezing and his body strength starts giving up. Why is everything so confusing? His dreams are not just dreams! Aren’t dreams supposed to be the images and stories that our subconscious brain creates while we are asleep? First of all, all of a sudden this man starts appearing in his dreams saying some bizarre things and now he’s claiming that his dreams are not dreams and he needs his help!

Is his mind making up stories? Does he need a psychiatrist? He’s definitely going crazy!

Shlok: (chuckles) Don’t worry you’re not going crazy!

Vidhaan: (shocked) You… You can read my mind?

Shlok: No! But you’re like an open book Vidhaan. Just by the look on your face one can tell what you are thinking.

That is all too much for Vidhaan to take in. He takes several deep breaths trying to calm himself down but nothing seems to be soothe his erratically beating heart. What the hell is happening?

Vidhaan: S-So you mean to say that these are not dreams?

Shlok: (shrugs) Partially yes! Partially no!

Vidhaan: Argh! Yes or no?

Shlok: Vidhaan, sometimes a few things don’t really have a logical explanation but they do happen! These dreams of yours are just like that!

Vidhaan: Why does this sound like some creepy horror movie?

Shlok: (chuckles) Maybe it is!

Vidhaan: But why am I getting such dreams?

Shlok: We are connected Vidhaan. Not only our bodies but even our souls came into existence together. So, mine is just trying to contact with yours…

Vidhaan: (cuts in between) Wait! Wait! No. No. No. This is just not happening. I’m going crazy. This is insane. I need a psychiatrist. My mind is creating some nonsensical stories.

Shlok: (loudly) Vidhaan, stop! I need your help. This is serious!

Vidhaan: And how am I suppose to be serious? These things don’t happen!

Shlok: But it is happening now! And you have to believe this.

Vidhaan: No! I won’t! Believing this whole thing would mean you’re never coming back but everyone here needs you.

Shlok: Don’t they have you? Maa, Papa and Swara. All of them have you!

Vidhaan: Not Swara! She loves you!

Shlok: Oh, how I wish it to be true! But she doesn’t love me. She confessed her love to you.

Vidhaan: No, she loves her husband!

Shlok: That’s where you’re wrong. She doesn’t love her husband. She doesn’t love any Shlok or Vidhaan. She loves this heart.

Saying this he gently places his palm on Vidhaan’s chest and Vidhaan shudders on the unexpected contact of his eerily cold palms. But the warmth of Shlok’s smile stirs something unknown inside of him and he instantly feels the connection.

Shlok: She loves this heart that beats inside of you for her. You love her. Don’t you?

Vidhaan: I… I…

Shlok: (smiles) I know you do. Don’t deny!

Vidhaan: Does that make me a bad person? I love my brother’s wife.

Shlok: No, it doesn’t. She ‘was’ my wife but now she’s the girl who loves my brother and trust me I couldn’t have left her in more capable hands. You need to take care of everyone. All of them need you.

Vidhaan: But I need you. I want my brother back. I never got to see you even for once.

Shlok: Though we have never met but know that I love you and I’m glad that Maa and Papa have you in their lives. I know it will take sometime but everything will be fine. Okay?

Vidhaan: (nods his head and whispers) Okay!

Shlok: (smiles) Now, it’s time for me to leave.

Vidhaan: No! Wait! You said you need my help.

Shlok: I can’t tell you now. It’s going to be morning soon. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

Vidhaan: But…

Shlok: Just remember… stay strong because three lives depend on you.

And before Vidhaan could say anything else, Shlok disappears once again, leaving his flabbergasted brother behind.

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Vidhaan blinks his eyes several times as a searing pain throbs his head. Wincing, he finally opens his eyes and gets stunned on finding himself on the bed instead of the couch. Glancing all around he realizes he’s in his room. When did he get in here?

And then all of a sudden all the incidents from previous night start flashing in front of his eyes. Swara. Their kiss. Annapurna. Him finally finding the truth about his parents and the last thing he remembers is falling asleep as his brother consoled him. Of course, Laksh and Ragini have brought him in here and seeing his disturbed condition they have let him sleep on the bed instead of the couch. After such a ruckus, at least he deserves a good relaxing sleep. Rubbing his palm lightly on his face seeking some warmth, Vidhaan takes a deep breath. How come his life has always taken such drastic turns within such short duration?! So many things changed just within a night.

A light brush of skin against his arm pull him out of his thoughts and he couldn’t be even more grateful. Getting reminded of all the incidents all over again has already intensified his headache. This girl always makes him forget everything. Tilting his head a little he smiles as Swara snuggles closer to him just like a baby seeking comfort and he’s glad that he’s her comfort.

‘She loves this heart that beats inside of you for her’, Shlok’s voice chimes in his ears again and he sighs. Where is his life taking him? Should he even believe whatever is happening with him? But it’s not like he has any other option. He has to.

Sighing with contentment, Swara wraps her arm around him resting her head on his chest and that’s when he decides to let everything go with the flow and not to try and make things so hard for him. All this while he has been fighting for himself and now, though it’s hard to believe but he has people who have come to care for him. The way Laksh and Ragini handled his outburst last night has finally made him feel that he is not alone and this girl right there in his arms has made him feel that he’s not unwanted. That he, too, deserves to be loved.

A small smile slowly creeps up to his lips as he places his arm on Swara’s shoulder shifting her back to her position on the bed. She wiggles a little because of the movement but soon relaxes as Vidhaan caresses her hair. And even without him realizing his lips, on their own accord, find their way to her forehead and he places a feathery soft kiss on her forehead. Feeling tee touch, Swara’s lips twitch up in a smile.

Covering her back with the comforter, Vidhaan finally decides to get up to begin his day as for sure the headache is not going to let him sleep anymore. Morning light slowly starts making its way into the room through the slightly open curtains. Though it’s not sunrise yet, but Vidhaan can easily make out that it’s around 5:30 in the morning. Well, good enough to start the day! The moment he turns around, he feels a little tug at his arms and the next instant his eyes meet with Swara’s half sleepy eyes.

Swara: Good morning!

Vidhaan: (smiles) Good morning! But I guess you can still rest a little more. It’s just 5:30.

Swara: Then why are you up so early? You don’t even have any meeting today!

Vidhaan: Um… just a little headache I guess. I’m not able to sleep anymore.

Swara: Then let’s do one thing.

Vidhaan: What?

And with a swift moment Swara jolts up from her sleeping position and sits on the bed folding her legs in Indian style. Vidhaan raises an eyebrow seeing the sudden change of her behavior. What is she up to now?

Vidhaan: What are you doing?

Swara: Just a little magic Maa taught me when I was little.

Vidhaan gives an amused chuckle. This girl is surely something else!

Vidhaan: Seriously, Swara?! Magic?

Swara: You don’t believe me, right?

Vidhaan: It’s a little hard to. How come you come up with such amusing things so early in the morning?

Swara: That’s not a good thing, Sanky! Wait, let me show you! Lie down.

She orders him pointing at her lap and he narrows his eyes at her. Is she saying the same thing he is understanding? She can’t be possibly asking him to…

Swara: Lie down on my lap, Mr. Maheshwari. I promise I won’t bite.

Oh yes! She’s asking him exactly the same thing he has understood.

Vidhaan: But…

Swara: No ifs and buts. Lie down!

She orders him sternly and realizing there’s no winning, Vidhaan decides to give up and comply. Slowly, he lies down back on the bed with his head resting on her lap.

Swara: (smiles) Good boy!

Vidhaan: Now what? Ms. Magician?!

Swara: Tsk! Mrs. Magician! Now, you’ll close your eyes.

She places her palm on his eyes and Vidhaan instantly closes his eyes, all the memories of their first kiss rush back to him and just to add to those memories unintentionally, Swara places another kiss on his temple.

Swara: (whispers) Now, try to remember the most beautiful memories of your life!

Little does she know he already is!

Vidhaan simply nods his head and Swara starts massaging his head slowly with light fingers. But just after a few strokes of her finger, he hears her gasp and his eyes open instantly.

Vidhaan: What’s wrong?

Swara: What happened to your neck? Why is there a bandage? And also on your cheekbones… I couldn’t see them earlier because of the little dark but…

Vidhaan: It’s okay Swara! They are just little scratches.

Swara: But how…

Vidhaan: Um… I don’t know… They were already there after we returned from the party.

Swara: What? How is this possible? I was with you almost all the time…

Vidhaan: Oh God, Swara! Relax. I’m fine. Laksh has already bandaged them. Don’t worry.

Swara: Are you sure?

Why is it so difficult to convince a girl?!

Vidhaan: I’m pretty sure. Now, can you please continue what you were doing? Seems like your magic is working!

Swara: (smiling widely) Really! See, I told you.

With that she starts her soft massaging again and Vidhaan closes his eyes trying not to ponder too much over the recent past incidents. As the headache lessens, he finds himself drifting back to sleep and the last thing he feels is a pair of lips pressed lightly against the skin of his neck right above the bandage. And with that sleep completely overtakes him and he finally finds himself sleeping peacefully.

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Vidhaan rushes down the stairs as he gets late for the office. Looks like Swara’s magic overdid its work and he keeps sleeping much longer than intended. Reaching the dining table he finds out that Durga Prasad and Ram have already left for the office. Swara and Ragini are doing their usual chores in the kitchen. As he steps in the dining area, Annapurna immediately reaches to his side with an already prepared breakfast plate. Vidhaan looks at the plate, then at her and then at the other two pairs of eyes looking intently at them. Laksh and Sujata wait with a bated breath, silently praying that nothing goes wrong.

Vidhaan takes a deep breath and picks up an apple from the fruit basket kept on the dining table before turning to Laksh.

Vidhaan: Are you done? We need to hurry or we’ll be late.

Laksh simply nods his head seeing the grave expression on Vidhaan’s face and Annapurna’s face falls. She needs to try harder to repair the damage.

Annapurna: But Sanskaar, breakfast?

“Vidhaan! It’s Vidhaan for you, Mrs. Maheshwari”, saying this he turns his back to her and without any single word walk out of the main door as his grip on the apple keeps on increasing with each passing moment.

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A/N

IMPORTANT PLEASE DON’T SKIP!

Hi everyone! First of all, I’m so glad to find out that most of you agree to my viewpoint that we must continue calling him Vidhaan unless and until he accepts his true self. I thought the same as well because if all of a sudden we’ll start calling him Sanskaar then I guess the flow of story would break and I want to carry it smoothly. So, we’ll be calling him Vidhaan for sometimes now.

Second, three of my stories have won five awards on wattpad in just two days… all thanks to all my lovely readers. So, many of them have been asking for a treat. This is what I have planned. First option is fixed and for the second one I’m letting you all choose the one you want. These are my plans for the future stories which I’ll start after completing both my ongoing stories :

~ First one is : LET ME LOVE YOU which is a general fiction. Most probably it will be a teen fiction. My first non swasan story on wattpad and may be on my fb page if my readers on fb want to read.

~ Now this is for you to choose. What do you want: TUJHH MEIN RAB DIKHTA HAI – Season 2 (But please keep in mind that this will be on another social issue and completely different from season 1) OR a reincarnation story (I haven’t decided the name yet but I have had this plot in my mind for a while now). I’ll say both are interesting in their own way. Now decide which one do you want and I’ll start working on the stories accordingly.

That’s all I have for now. I hope that the part was not that boring. See you all soon. Till then, stay blessed and happy reading.

With love,
Stella ❤️