*** CHAPTER 18 ***

SWARA!! SWARA!! SWARA!!!

Her name keeps ringing in Vidhaan's ears as he runs out of the room. 'She's missing, Bhai', these have been the only words he hears from Laksh before storming out of the mansion. The message he has received a while ago has gotten on his nerves and he feels himself hyperventilating as a pang of hurt shoots up his heart. He is here to protect her and he won't be able to forgive himself if something happens to her. He cares for her... a lot and not because he is obliged to do so but because he wants to care for her... to protect her. He doesn't know himself when his feelings grew this strong but their intensity has now started hurting no one but him only.

Things have never been planned to go that way but they are going and he finds himself too helpless in front of his own feelings. The urge to hold her and have her in his arms has never been this strong that he sees nothing else but his way out to her... to protect her from whatever danger has been extending its claws out to afflict her. Just the image of her in any sort of pain stabs his heart mercilessly again and again, that he finds it hard to breath and he realizes there's no point in denying it now... He was deeply and terribly in love with Swara, the one he is supposed to protect!

And how far these budding feelings inside his heart are going to take him... Well, it's something no one knows! Not even Vidhaan himself.

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"Did you find her?", Vidhaan asks Ragini breathing hysterically as he enters the mall with Laksh right after him. Ragini who is all flustered and scared, bursts into muffled sobs the moment her eyes land on her husband and Laksh immediately pulls her into an assuring embrace.

Laksh: Shh! Stop Ragini. We'll find her. Don't worry!

Ragini: I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left her. I tried finding her everywhere in the mall but couldn't find her. I didn't know what to do!

Laksh: It's okay. It's okay. We are here. We'll find her together.

Vidhaan who has been listening to entire conversations up till now while scanning the whole mall finally turns towards Ragini. No matter what he has to be strong. He's the eldest of them all and he knows that Ragini thinks it's all her fault.

Vidhaan: Where did you see her for the last time, Ragini?

Ragini: I... I... We were in the bookstore, then I remembered that I needed a few things for Chaitanya, so, I asked her not to go anywhere until I come back but when I came she wasn't there. I'm so sorry.

Vidhaan: Stop saying sorry, Ragini. It isn't your fault.

Ragini: It is my fault, Vidhaan. I shouldn't have left her.

Vidhaan: It's okay... Relax... We'll find her. I say we should split up to find her.

Laksh: Yes, that would be better! Ragini, will you be able to do this?

Ragini: (wipes off her tears and nods her head) Yes, I can.

Vidhaan: Good! Then, Ragini... you can check on the first floor and second floor. Laksh... on third and the top floor, and I'll look on the ground floor and outside the mall. Okay?

Laksh: Very well. And whoever finds her first will call others.

Ragini: Okay!

Vidhaan: Let's go then!

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Vidhaan has been losing it with every passing moment. He searches for Swara in each and every corner of the ground floor but his heart sinks deeper and deeper on finding no sign of her. Every moment without her has been rampaging his heart and soul callously. He runs out of the mall looking everywhere for her calling her name out loud occasionally not getting bothered even the least bit of the weird glances everyone has been giving him for all he knows is... He has to find her!

After several minutes of running aimlessly, asking people in and around the mall showing them her photograph, Vidhaan falls down on his knees the moment he reaches the back entrance of the mall and tear drops roll down his cheeks. Clutching his mobile phone painfully in his palms he whispers...

"Please come back to me, Swara! I promise, I won't let you go again."

Maybe... Maybe she would listen to the withering whispers of his heart. And the next moment he feels a palm on his shoulder.

Swara!!! It has to be her!

Exhilarated, he turns around with a smile of relief on his face but the smile immediately falters the moment he sees the person standing behind him.

"Beta, what happened? Are you okay?", the elderly watchman of the mall's parking lot asks him with worry and sympathy stretched all across his features.

Vidhaan: I... I...

Watchman: Why are you so worried? You can let me know. I'm like your father.

Vidhaan: My...

Wife?!! Is she?

Vidhaan: (clears his throat) Someone... very special to me... is missing and I'm not able to find her. I don't know what to do.

Watchman: How did she look like, beta? Maybe I could help. If she would have passed from here, I would have seen her.

A little bubble of hope rises in Vidhaan's heart as soon as he hears the watchman say this. Sniffing on his trailing tears, he stands up to his feet immediately and clicks open Swara's picture forwarding his mobile phone towards the watchman who scans the pic with his middle aged eyes furrowing his eyebrows trying to concentrate and knock at the doors of his brain. Hardly a minute later the watchman's eyes go wide with realization.

Watchman: Haan beta... Dekha hai maine inhe! (Yes son, I have seen her) Hardly, half an hour ago I saw her going in the parking area with a man!

Parking area! Yes! How can they miss the underground parking area?

But... Wait!! A Man?

Vidhaan: A man? Did you see who was he?

Watchman: How would I know, beta? I couldn't see his face. He had a black handkerchief tied around his mouth. I thought maybe it was because of some dust problem. I have seen many people around here who have their faces covered, so, I never suspected anything.

Vidhaan: So, where did they go?

Watchman: I just saw them going to the parking area. They seemed in a bit hurry. After that I don't know anything.

Vidhaan: Okay. Okay. Thank you so much, Uncle. You don't even realize what have you done for me!

Watchman: (smiles) Koi baat nahi beta! (No worries, Son!)

Nodding at him, Vidhaan runs down to the underground parking area. With the sunlight coming in from the entrance being the only source of light in there, he keeps searching for her everywhere. Under the cars, behind them, even inside them. And finally it pays off when he notices something shining in the darkest corner of the parking lot.

Sprinting off in the direction he finds a pair of anklets shining and at once he knows whose it is.

Swara!!

Switching on the torch of his mobile phone he looks in the direction but what comes next in front of his eyes shattered his already wrenching heart. Swara... lying there unconscious, her face scrunched up, with fear and pain quite evident across her features. What did she see?

In a swift movement, Vidhaan gathers Swara in his arms wiping the sweat droplets off her face, calling her out continuously. Patting her cheeks he kisses her forehead and a tear drop from his eyes falls on her cheek rolling all the way down. Seeing her not responding in any way, Vidhaan finally calls Laksh.

Laksh: Did you find her?

Vidhaan: Yes! Yes, I did. But I don't know what happened to her. She's not opening her eyes, Laksh.

Laksh: Where are you now?

Vidhaan: The underground parking area!

Laksh: What?! What was she doing there? Their car was parked outside the mall.

Vidhaan: I... I don't know.

Laksh: Okay. Don't worry, bhai. Stay there. We are coming.

Nodding his head, Vidhaan disconnects the call and brushes off the lose strands of hair away from Swara's face as he awaits Laksh and Ragini.

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"But how did this happen all of a sudden, Doctor?", Durga Prasad asks impatiently as everyone gets startled on receiving the latest piece of information from the doctor.

Doctor: I don't know, Mr. Maheshwari. Only she can tell you once she regains her conscious.

Annapurna: But another panic attack? She hasn't had one for more than one month.

Doctor: All I can say Mrs. Maheshwari is that something might have happened there. Something that triggered the memories of her forgotten past.

Durga Prasad: How is she now?

Doctor: For now she's stable. But please I'll suggest you again to get her admitted in the hospital.

Vidhaan: That won't be necessary, Doctor. We'll take care of her. We assure you of that.

Doctor: Very well. It's totally your decision. I'll take your leave now.

Vidhaan: I'll see you off then.

Saying this Vidhaan picks up doctor's bag and both of them walk down the stairs and finally out of the mansion.

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Annapurna, Sujata and Ragini cater to Swara's necessities... changing her clothes and making her drink the medicine as she lies there unconscious. It's been an hour and she's still under the effect of the sedatives. Durga Prasad and Ram accompany Laksh back to the mall in the hope of finding any information about the mysterious man, whereas Vidhaan is asked to stay back for they all know he's the one who could handle her in the best way possible.

Sujata and Annapurna sit by the headboard of Swara's bed and Ragini goes to discard off her clothes without a single word. The guilt has been eating her continuously. If she would have been a little more careful, this wouldn't have happened!

Sujata: Why is all this happening to our child, Jiji?

Annapurna: (takes a deep breath and caresses Swara's head) I just don't know what has happened to my family, Sujata. I hope Swara remembers what happened to her or else we won't know what to do.

Sujata: Do you think that the man is the same person who caused that accident?

Annapurna: Shh! Please don't talk about it in front of her.

Sujata: (whispers) Sorry, Jiji. But I still think there is some connection in all this.

Annapurna: I feel that too, Sujata. I feel that too. I just want my daughter back exactly the way she was.

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Annapurna and Sujata's small nap gets broken when they hear some incoherent murmurings. Opening their eyes they find themselves still on Swara's bed and within moments her murmurings grow louder. Shouting, Swara jerks up from the bed and scrambles to get herself out of the comforter with her trembling fingers. Annapurna holds her shoulders in an attempt to steady her and get her back to the bed but Swara is already half down the bed.

Annapurna: Swara... Swara what happened?

Sujata: Please lie down, beta!

Swara: (shouts) No!!

And that's the first clear word she has managed to say. Her entire being quivers and she stumbles on her very first step. Annapurna immediately steadies her up but she's adamant on getting out as if something very important to her is slipping right away from in between her fingers.

Swara: Maa... Please... let me go! Sanky... he... he...

Sujata: He's fine, Swara!

Swara: No! He's not! He needs... me! I...

"What happened?", Vidhaan shouts bursting into the room yanking the door open with Ragini following right after him and Swara quiets down for a moment trying to figure it out if she has been dreaming.

"Swara!", he says taking a careful step towards her and his voice does the magic and imparts a renewed energy within her. She isn't dreaming! He's here. He's really here. Dashing clumsily towards him, Swara immediately tackles him into a sudden embrace standing on her tiptoes and throwing her hands around his neck. Vidhaan's hands on their own accord travel down to her waist as he looks at Annapurna and Sujata who just shake their heads letting him know that they don't know what's wrong with her.

Swara: Thank God... Thank God you're fine... I... I was so scared.

Vidhaan: (caressing her the back of her head) I'm fine, Swara. I'm fine. See... I'm here.

Swara: But 'he' said... that you...

Vidhaan: Who was he, Swara?

Swara: (crying) I don't know... I... He just said you met... with an accident... and he was taking me to the hospital... and then he received a call... and he said... I was... I was so scared.

Vidhaan: Shh! It's okay. Just sit down. Yeah?

He whispers to her but with his words she tightens her embrace even more. Vidhaan looks at Annapurna trying to figure out what he should do next. He tries pulling Swara away from him so that he could get her back to the bed but she won't even budge.

Vidhaan: Swara!

But on getting no reply he makes way to the bed with her still in his arms. Annapurna realizes that Swara won't talk like this but she also knows that he can make her talk. Walking up to them, she caresses Vidhaan's hair before giving him a small encouraging smile.

Annapurna: Just talk to her, Son!

Vidhaan nods his head without a word and Annapurna leaves the room along with Sujata and Ragini.

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Finally, after a few more attempts Vidhaan finally makes Swara sit on the bed and he sits right next to her just to assure that he's there for her. Right now, she looks like a tender porcelain doll that he knows might break even with a small force. Taking her hand in his he rubs soothing circles at the back of her palm and that seems to be relaxing her and at last her breathing starts turning to normal.

Vidhaan: (whispers) What happened, Swara? Who was he?

Swara: I... I don't know. He was taking me to the hospital... Then he received a call in the parking lot and he... said that... that...

Vidhaan: What did he say, Swara?

Swara: That they... weren't able to... save you. I...

Vidhaan: (caressing her cheek) It's okay... See, nothing happened to me. It might be some sort of a prank.

Swara: I... I don't know. I felt like the same thing had happened before too but... then everything turned black. I just felt him... touch me and...

Vidhaan: He touched you!!

Even before he could realize the words roll down Vidhaan's lips and Swara's hand slip away from his and she tugs at her hair rather painfully.

Swara: Yes... No... I... I don't remember, Sanky. I don't remember!

Vidhaan immediately holds both her hands making them loose their grip on her hair. Swara immediately holds his face in her palms caressing his cheeks.

Swara: I'm so glad you're okay!

She leans in to place a small kiss on his forehead and that has him stiffen immediately. Even a small gesture of hers has his heart thumping crazily inside his chest. All he wants is just to lean in and engulf her in his embrace and never let go.

Vidhaan: Swara! I... I think you should take rest now.

He gets up from the bed instantly to get a hold of his crazy haywire feelings but Swara immediately grabs his wrist making him falter on his first step away from her and he lands back on the bed right where he has been moments ago.

Swara: Where are you going?

Vidhaan: I'll be downstairs, Swara.

Swara: Why do you keep running away from me? Is it because I kissed you? Or is it because someone else touched me? I swear, Sanky, I didn't do anything. I can feel it. Nothing happened.

"Swara!", Vidhaan says in a voice louder than intended which makes Swara immediately flinch back. How could she even think that? He'll never let go of her because of such a narrow mentality of others.

Swara: I'm so sorry! I know you don't feel for anything for me.

Only if you knew, Swara! Only if you knew!

Vidhaan: It's not like that, Swara.

Swara: No, I understand. I promise I won't force my love on you. But don't leave me. I love you so much. I won't be able to live without you... I...

She fumbles and Vidhaan immediately holds her face tenderly in his palms as she burst into cries.

Swara: (whispers) I won't be an 'unwanted' burden on you! Please!

And that one whisper breaks all his resolves. Her feeling that she's unwanted is not even the last thing he wishes for. He loves her too much for that. He knows what this feeling of being unwanted is. He knows how afflicting it is and it's something not anyone would come to love. With each drop of tears falling down her eyes, his inner conflict rises more and more, so much that he couldn't help but let a tear escape his eye too. It's too much hold in. He's not that strong. He's also a human... a human with feelings. Feelings that keep soaring high and high with each moment he has her in his arms. He fails to hold it any longer. He doesn't want to hold it any longer. He wants to tell her that she's not unwanted. He wants her to know that he feels for her much more than she expects. For once, he wants to let go off this feeling that he's forbidden to love her... that how wrong it is for him... that how betrayed she would feel once she remembers everything. She might hate him. She might hate this moment. But for once he wants to let her know that he loves her too... deeply... unconditionally... irrevocably.

Wiping the tear drops off her cheeks he once again lets himself drown in those endless deep orbs as Swara keeps looking at him trying to comprehend his feelings. But Vidhaan has never been so sure of anything in his life as he is now.

Caressing her cheeks, he whispers to himself...

"Sorry, Shlok Bhai"

And with that he finally places his lips on hers, kissing the love of his life for the first time!

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A/N

Hello everyone!

Finally an update after such a long time. I hope you all liked it. ❤️❤️

Now, a bear hug to all of you who read my one shot LAMHA : OUR ARDUOUS MOMENT in the MUSICALLY COMPETITION and marked the story. It's all because of you people that I have won the FIRST PRIZE in the contest. So, thank you so much 😘😘 I'll be posting the story in my book 'Fireflies' in a day or two.

Now last but not the least... DECIDE! DECIDE! DECIDE!

Which story update do you want on Sunday? To You, My Heart I Surrender or The Hidden Half? Just let me know and I'll update that story on Sunday. After that from the coming week, I'll follow my usual schedule of posting TYMHIS on Wednesday and THH on Sunday. So, let me know quickly which story do you want on Sunday! And for my readers on Facebook, you can find all my stories on Wattpad on my ID : @GS_Stella

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

With love,
Stella ❤️