A/N

Hello everyone!!

First of all, thank you so much for 8k+ votes on The Hidden Half. That really means a lot to me. Loads of love to all of you ❤️😘

Now before we start, I just want to let you know about my second wattpad account Ink_Lover, which I have started for writing general fictions. Sometimes, I feel like writing something different, so, if you like general fictions (and that includes the genres like romance, teen fiction, chiklit, humor, historical fiction, mystery and fantasy), then please follow me on this account as well and shower me with the love and support you all always have shown towards me and my stories. That would really mean a lot to me. I have started a new story in there ‘CANDY HEARTS’ and I hope you all will like it as well. ❤️❤️

Here you go with the next chapter. I hope you will like it. Happy Reading!!!

*** CHAPTER 30 ***

Durga Prasad takes in a deep breath as he sees his wife walking up and down the hall impatiently for the umpteenth time. Ever since she has received the news of Swara’s return, Annapurna has been freaking the hell out as Swara has refused to give her any update regarding the happenings back there at Mumbai, not even letting her know if Sanskaar has agreed to come back with her or not. All she has said is… “Maa, main wapas aa kar aapko sab kuch batati hoon.” And that’s all but her weighed down tone has been dreading Annapurna ever since then.

Is she going to lose her son again?! She shakes her head vigorously just at the thought of it. But all she can do now is… wait… for whatever that is on its way!

And just as the doorbell rings, Annapurna storms towards the door, getting instantly greeted by a jumpy Laksh with the little Chaitanya holding onto his father’s leg. Her face falls instantly.

Laksh: Badi Maa, are they back?!

Annapurna: (sighs) Not yet…

Chits: Who is coming, Pops?

Laksh: Your Swara Mumma…

Chits: And Sanky Papa!!

Chaitanya adds up the name himself and starts hopping and clapping his hands excitedly, for he knows it very well that wherever his Swala Mumma is there, his Sanky Papa will automatically follow. Moreover, his Mumma has promised him to bring his beloved Papa back. So, he’s definitely going to come.

The little ones determined belief makes everyone chuckle and that’s when Laksh’s eyes land on Swara walking through the gate… but alone.

Laksh: Swara!

One name and Annapurna is instantly on her heels, sprinting towards her daughter-in-law, looking beside and behind her with hopeful eyes. But to her dismay, she finds no one.

Annapurna: Swara, what happened?!

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Annapurna: Swara, please say something!

Swara: Maa, actually he was very angry when I reached there and…

Annapurna: …And he has refused to come back, hasn’t he? I… I think I should go to get my son back. I know he’ll refuse to come but at least I can try. I’ll…

“Sanky Papa!!!”

And with a loud squeak Annapurna’s talk is instantly brought to an abrupt pause as Chaitanya scampers towards the main gate of the house without giving it a single thought and within a moment he spreads his arms in front of Sanskaar for picking him up, who by now has entered the gate with two bags in his hand, one his and other… Swara’s, obviously!

Sanskaar, left in complete awe by the adorable little guy, drops the bags on either side and picks him up instantly in his arms, twirling him around. Chaitanya giggles, being elated with the affection of his Sanky Papa and hugs him with both his hands wrapped around his neck.

Chits: I missed you, Sanky Papa!

Sanskaar: I missed you too, Champ!

And with that Chaitanya is awarded with two kisses on either of his cheeks, which he returns with a huge sloppy kiss on Sanskaar’s cheek.

Chits: Pwease (Please), don’t leave me again.

Sanskaar: Never!

“Never?!”

And a question in an all too familiar voice makes Sanskaar look behind and there she stands… the woman he loves the most… his mother! As for Annapurna, she’s still unable to decide whether she’s hallucinating or is her son really in front of her! She reaches out her hand to touch his cheek and the moment his skin comes in contact with her finger tips, a feeling of exhilaration renders her body numb. And even before she realizes her heart unleashes her bottled up emotions, letting the tears that she has controlled for so long fall freely down her cheeks.

Seeing his mother in such a condition makes Sanskaar’s heart constrict with pain. Just the mere thought of how hurt his parents would have been, yearning for their only son, renders Sanskaar in an inexplicable anguish. Extending his hands towards his mother, he wipes off her tears tenderly as his mother closes her eyes sobbing hysterically.

Sanskaar: Maa!!

Just the word that she has been longing to hear and Annapurna holds Sanskaar cheeks in both her palms, showering his face with innumerous kisses, in a futile attempt to render all the love contained in her heart for him for last twenty seven years… but even she knows that a mother’s love is hard to contain. No matter how much love she gives him now, it will always feel less. But all she knows is that she can move heaven and hell if that’s for her child’s well-being.

Annapurna: Please… Please… Please don’t leave again. I won’t be able to bear that. I love you, beta. I love you so much!!

Sanskaar: I love you too, Maa! And I promise I’ll never leave you all again. I promise…

“Don’t give all your love to your mother only. Save a bit for your father also.” And Durga Prasad’s voice makes Sanskaar break the hug and he smiles back at him.

Sanskaar: Papa!!

Durga Prasad: I missed you, Son!

Sanskaar: I missed you too, Papa!

Durga Prasad: (smiles) Let’s get back inside and have some breakfast. You guys must have been tired after the journey.

Annapurna: Haan… Haan, chalo. Kitna dubla ho gaya hai. Mumbai mein khana nahi khaya naa theek se?! Main khilati hoon aaj! (Yes… Yes, let’s go. Look how skinny you’ve become. I know you haven’t been eating well in Mumbai. Let me feed you today!)

And with that Annapurna holds Sanskaar’s hand and pulls him inside, with everyone following right after them.

Laksh: (whispers to Swara) And here comes the most favorite dialogue of all the mothers!

Swara wipes off the tears lingering at the corner of her eyes before giving Laksh her questioning look.

Swara: What?!

Laksh: (chuckles) ‘Kitna dubla ho gya hai’ and all that! I really pity Bhai now.

Swara: Uh… Why?!

Laksh: Because now he’ll get to know that ‘Badi Maa pyaar mein kitna khilati hain’! (how much Badi Maa feeds out of love!)

Swara chuckles as the memory of Annapurna feeding Laksh when he came back from a foreign tour flashes right in front of her eyes, and the same memory makes Laksh rub his stomach out of pity.

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The moment he enters the farm house, he gets struck on finding it empty and a window opened nearby. Not knowing what to do, he takes out his mobile phone and without giving it a single thought, he dials his sister’s number. And the very next second, a frustrated voice rings from the other side.

“What did you do now?”

Sahil shivers at the coldness of the voice, realizing instantly that something seems to have pissed off his sister.

Sahil: What happened, Kavita?

Kavita: Nothing much. Just a foolish guy fooling around!

Sahil: What?!! What guy?! Who dares to misbehave with my sister?

Kavita: Oye, Mr. Superman! I can take care of myself. Now tell me what have you done this time!

Sahil: Oh, yeah! Actually… Um…

Kavita: Um… Actually… What, bro?!

Sahil: Uh… that… Hem-Hemant seems to have run away from the farm house!

Kavita: What the hell?!! Your men are just as useless as you are. You know what… good for you, good for you! You deserve this!

Sahil: Now that’s not my fault. What should I do?!

Kavita: What do you mean by what should I do?! Just go and find him before he finds anyone from the Maheshwari family… or… or we are dead! We all are!

Sahil: Yeah! Yeah, right! I’ll go to find him immediately.

Kavita: Yes, go! I’ll also be there in fifteen minutes. I’m on my way to the farm house.

Sahil: Okay. Bye! I’m hanging up!

Disconnecting the call, Sahil rushes out of the farm house with all his men and at the same time Kavita walks out of a café hurriedly, without even realizing that the Hemant, who has been hiding in the farm house itself, runs out in the opposite direction.

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Getting back to the guest room, Swara stands near the window pondering over the unexpected turns that her life has taken. She’s so confused herself as to what she should feel. When she felt that she has lost almost everything, so much comes and lands right in her arms. Yet she finds it difficult to move on with her past, not knowing what she should do.

Yet a lingering voice deep down in her heart still urges her to just… let go of everything!

A light knock at the door pulls her out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she opens the door and is immediately taken aback by noticing Sanskaar standing at the doorstep with all his belongings in the bag near his feet.

Swara: What happened Sanskaar?! Please come in.

Sanskaar: (smiles sheepishly) Actually, Swara… Umm… I…

Swara: Do you need anything?

Sanskaar: Yeah!! Um… actually I know it wouldn’t make any sense to share a room now. Yeah! So, I was just wondering if you can shift back to your room and I…

Swara: …And you want to be in the guest room. Right?!

Sanskaar: Uh… Yeah!!

Swara: (smiles) Sanskaar, ever since you’ve come in the house, you’ve stayed in that room. So, you can always stay in that room.

Sanskaar: B-But Swara, it’s yours and Shlok Bhai’s room. It’s rightfully yours. So, please…

Swara: But Sanskaar…

Sanskaar: Please… For me! I-I mean…

And both of them keep on arguing not ready to accept the fact that their hearts have been screaming out loud… that being in the room reminds them of the moments they’ve shared together… and for now, none of them can bear to remember them. But finally, Swara gives up!

Swara: Okay… Okay! Fine!

The moment Swara agrees, she is greeted with Sanskaar’s smile, the same heartfelt smile that has her heart racing like crazy every moment she witnesses it gracing those lips. Tearing her gaze away from him and turning her head around, Swara places her palm over her thudding heart wondering whether she still has those feelings lingering inside of her! Does she love him?! Still?!

Sanskaar: Really?! That would be great. Uh… you can pack up your things then. Do you need any help?!

Swara: Oh… No… I can manage.

Sanskaar: Um… fine then. I… I’ll go and talk to Laksh then. I’ve something to discuss with him.

Swara: Yeah! Sure!

With that being said Sanskaar turns around immediately making way out of the room, when Swara’s voice brings his steps to an abrupt pause.

Swara: Sanskaar!

Sanskaar: Yes?!

Swara: (smiles) Thank you so much for coming back, Sanskaar. It’s really good to have you back.

Sanskaar: (smiles back) Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you for forgiving me?! Thank you so much, Swara!

Swara: I…

“Bhai… Swara…”, and Laksh’s familiar snicker makes their head turn towards the door where Laksh is standing leaning against the doorframe with both his hands folded across his chest.

Sanskaar: Y-Yes, Laksh?!

Laksh: (smirks) Thank you, thank you ho gaya ho toh… You both are always welcome!

Embarrassed, Sanskaar rushes towards the door, pushing Laksh out of the room along with himself.

Sanskaar: Haan, ho gaya. Let’s go. I need to talk to you about something.

Laksh: What is it? We can talk here also.

Sanskaar: No, we can’t. Let’s go to your room.

And with that Sanskaar pushes Laksh all the way up to his room, making Swara chuckle and adore the bond they share at the same time.

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Ragini: Is anyone going to tell me what’s wrong?!

Ragini folds her arms across her chest, glaring at her husband and her friend, who have been just sitting and staring at each other for a good couple of minutes without saying anything. The only difference being, one of them is sitting rather awkwardly and others seems to have an accusing sort of look.

Laksh: It’s all his fault!

Sanskaar: What have I done now?!

Laksh: When will you guys stop being awkward around each other?!

Ragini: Who?

Laksh: Who else could it be? Bhai and Swara! They are like… ‘Thank you, Sanskaar’… ‘Thank you, Swara’. I mean what the hell?! You guys are behaving as if you are meeting for the first time.

Sanskaar: (clears his throat) Actually, I…

Ragini: (sits holding Sanskaar’s hands) I know it’s difficult for you, Vidhaan… I mean, Sanskaar… I… Ugh! What should I call you?!

Sanskaar: (smiles) You can call me whatever you like. I love both my names equally, as they together make me who I am!

Ragini: Very well then! See, I know it’s difficult for all of us to accept that Shlok Bhai is gone. But we have to accept the truth and move forward with it, right?!

Sanskaar: Yes, I know… but…

"…But before anything else I need to find who that killer is”, Sanskaar, so desperately, wants to add this but… Can he?! No! Absolutely no, not unless he recalls his dream again to find out any evidence regarding the same. So, he decides to shut his mouth for now!

Laksh: No if’s and but’s, Bhai. Don’t you love, Swara?!

Sanskaar: I… I don’t know.

Laksh: Tsk! You don’t know anything. I know you do!

Sanskaar: (raises an eyebrow at him) Yeah, right! I love someone… and you know it better.

Laksh: Not just someone. It’s Swara and you know it better than anyone else.

Ragini: Sanskaar, look… even Shlok Bhai, in the heavens above, must have been wishing for everyone’s happiness, including you and Swara. And accept it or not, your happiness lies in being together. Do you want someone like… Sahil… to get married to Swara?! Because trust me, he really wants to!

Sanskaar: W-What?! No… Absolutely not! But what about Swara? She must be in so much dilemma right now.

Laksh: We know. We all do but only you can pull her out of this dilemma. Trust me, if there is anything that can make Shlok Bhai happy then it’s you two being together!

Sanskaar: Then… what should I do?!

Ragini: Ab yeh bhi hum hi bataye?! Unbelievable, Sanskaar! Just go and get your girl!

Sanskaar: But what if she doesn’t want to?!

Laksh: (rolls his eyes) For heaven’s sake… she does! All you need to do is take an initiative before anyone else does!

Sanskaar: No!! No… I… I promise, if I get a single thing, a simple hint that makes me feel that she wants to be with me, then there’s nothing in this world that can take her away from me, again!

And with that Sanskaar is determined to get his first love back again, no matter what it takes, for she belongs with him… forever!

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