Hello everyone!

I know you all must be wondering, why I end up putting this story on hold every damn time. Yeah, I deserve your curses! 🙈

But, now on huge demand from all of you, I'm resuming this story and will be updating it on a regular basis. This story will get updated on 6th, 16th and 26th of every month. And TU HI YAAR MERA will get updated on 1st, 11th and 21st of every month. I hope this works fine with all of you!

For a brief recap, Sanskaar has accepted his feelings for Swara and since Swara seems a bit skeptical, he has challenged her for a game. A game, a month and Swara is not quite sure know how long she will be able to survive!

Also, thank you so much for 10k+ votes. That really means a lot to me!

Here's the next chapter of the story. I hope you will like it. Happy Reading! ❤️❤️

*** CHAPTER 35 ***

Isn't it amazing when someone barges into your life suddenly, makes you forget about yesterday and somewhere you start longing for a beautiful tomorrow?!

The love, that both Swara and Sanskaar have always longed for, has come to them with lots of surprises and all they need to do now is hold it tight and never let go!

Sanskaar has had never imagined even in his wildest dreams that Swara will, one day, love him exactly for what he is... That she will love him as Sanskaar, as Vidhaan. Glancing at his reflection in the mirror, he wonders 'what is it about her that he loves her so much'!

And the answer always makes him smile... Every damn thing! Her being Swara is the most special thing about her.

She makes him smile like never before. The love and admiration that her eyes hold for him makes him feel like the most blessed man in the world. Her love is like a warm home for him where his soul will always return to. After meeting her, he realized what he had been missing all his life. And now, he is brave enough to admit that he is deeply in love with her... unconditionally and irrevocably!

It has been a week since they have started this game and Swara has been trying her level best to avoid him but only he can feel how flustered she gets every time he approaches her. He can feel her melting in his embraces, and her erratic breathing with each of his caress sends a shudder down his own spine. If this is becoming pretty hard for her, then it is not in any way easy for him either. But just a couple of weeks more and she will be his forever! He knows that for sure!

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Just the same way Swara has been trying to stay clear of Sanskaar for last one week, she is, today as well, trying her best to avoid him as their day begins at the breakfast table. And Sanskaar seems like enjoying it way too much!

Sanskaar: Swara, can you pass me the bowl of curd? Please!

The sweet smile Sanskaar gives her shines like the dangerous red sign right above his head, as if daring her to ignore him now in front of the whole family.

And what is it that Swara does? She passes the bowl to Ragini, who is comparatively nearer to her and Ragini forwards the bowl to Sanskaar, making Swara give him the same smile that he has been giving her all this while.

But what both of them fail to notice is a pair of curiosity filled eyes that happens to notice their exchange and also that something is going on between them for quite some days. Laksh squints his eyes noticing their peculiar behavior and decides to enquire Sanskaar about it later on.

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Sanskaar eyes move to and fro like a pendulum as he tries to keep up with his brother's hasty pacing. Even since Laksh has entered his cabin ten minutes ago, he has been pacing in there restlessly, glancing in Sanskaar's direction once in a while and narrowing his eyes at him before he resumes his pacing all over again.

And when it becomes a little overbearing for Sanskaar, he closes his file with a thump and glares in Laksh's direction. What's wrong with him?

Sanskaar: Lucky, is everything alright?

But all he gets in response is a little shake of his head as Laksh mumbles something to himself, that Sanskaar fails to hear, and starts pacing yet again. It's as if he hasn't heard Sanskaar at all.

Sanskaar: Lucky? Laksh? Mr. LAKSH RAMPRASAD MAHESHWARI!

Sanskaar shouts and successfully manages to have Laksh's attention. Laksh glares at him, mumbles something incoherent and sits down on one of the chairs without even looking back at Sanskaar.

Sanskaar: Will you stop sulking and tell me what's wrong with you?

Laksh: What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me? The question over here is... what's wrong with you guys?

Sanskaar: What's wrong with me? Everything is just fine.

Laksh: Really? Then why have you both been acting crazy for last couple of days?

Sanskaar: What? Who?

Laksh: Don't even try to deny, Bhai? I have noticed that both, you and Swara, are not talking to each other. Even more, you guys are avoiding each other. Have you guys fought again?

Sanskaar: What? Why will we fight?

Laksh: How am I supposed to know that?

Sanskaar: (rolls his eyes) We haven't fought, Laksh!

Laksh: Then what happened? I'm pretty sure something is going on in between you two.

Sanskaar: No. I mean... yes! Umm... Actually, not exactly.

Laksh: Yes or no, Bhai? It's either this or that! I guess, at least I have the right to know if my best friend and my brother are in some sort of problem.

Sanskaar looks at Laksh and then at his entwined fingers on the table, and takes a deep breath. Noticing the serious expression etched on Laksh's facial features, he knows denying won't do any good. Taking a deep breath, he looks at Laksh who has already been staring at him.

Sanskaar: Actually, it's not something serious! I... I mean, we... Swara and I, we have challenged each other for a game.

Laksh: (raises his eyebrow) What game?

Sanskaar: That, for a month, we won't talk to each other. Well, it doesn't seem like working out much, but other than that we have challenged each other not to do anything for the other.

Laksh: And what good will that do?

Sanskaar: It's, actually, to make Swara realize what she feels for me.

Laksh almost gasps dramatically and has to curb this sudden urge to bang his head against the wall.

Laksh: How is that going to help, Bhai? The month will pass by just like that and you won't be able to win this thing if you aren't taking some strong steps.

Sanskaar: Really? I thought...

Laksh: Forget it! Leave the work of thinking for the expert Love Guru. He will get everything sorted out.

Sanskaar: (chuckles) Thank you so much for your concern, Mr. Love Guru. But I guess I can do this on my own.

Laksh: No, Bhai. Ek se bhale do. I know my best friend. It isn't that easy to break her. She will do everything within her might to win this game. On a second thought...

Sanskaar: W-What?

Sanskaar's heart starts thumping crazily noticing the change of expressions on Laksh's face, and at the same it made him wonder how quick his feelings fluctuate. Within a moment, Laksh's expression changes from being confused... to thoughtful... to relieved... and finally settling on something that looks like more than happy... maybe ecstatic! And the very next moment Laksh shouts...

"IDEA!!!"

But even before Sanskaar manages to open his mouth to ask what exactly this idea is, Laksh takes out his mobile phone and starts typing something on it furiously. Hardly a few seconds later, Sanskaar's mobile phone dings with a notification. Narrowing his eyes, he reaches out for his mobile phone whilst looking at Laksh and the moment his eyes lands on the screen, he bangs his head on the table. Quite literally!

'Lucky added you to the group,' the WhatsApp notification reads. But what makes him bang his head is the name of the group.

'THE SECRET MISSION'

Scrolling down the list of participants he finds the name of each and every family member in there, of course, except for Swara. How is this mission supposed to be a 'secret' when the entire family knows about it?!

Sanskaar: What are you doing, Lucky?

Laksh: I...

And their mobile phone dings, yet again, with another notification.

Ragini:
Patidev, what is this?

Laksh chokes at his own breath as he reads the message again and again. Respect? From Ragini? That seems pretty hard to digest but it doesn't take much for him to realize that it's all because of the presence of all the family members over there. Otherwise, he won't be able to even imagine what all colorful words she would have thrown at him.

Sanskaar:
Nothing, Ragini. Just some weird idea that has stuck your husband.

Laksh:
It's not a weird idea. You really need some help, Bhai!

Annapurna:
Why? What happened? Sanskaar, are you alright? Do we need to go to the hospital? Laksh, why are you creating a WhatsApp group, instead of taking him to the hospital? Do we need to take him to the hospital together?

Sanskaar:
Maa... Maa... Maa. I'm completely alright!

Annapurna:
Then why have you created this group?

Sujata:
Yeh group banate kaise hain, chhore? (How do we make a group, son?) 👻👻

Sujata asks abruptly and Laksh slaps his forehead.

Laksh:
Mom, I taught you that hardly three days ago. And at least use the correct emoji. It's a ghost and you, definitely, don't have to become a ghost to create a WhatsApp group.

Ragini:
I guess that's not the main concern over here. We need to help Sanskaar now.

Ram Prasad:
Why? What happened?

Sanskaar glares at Laksh asking him silently not to let the family know but... is his brother going to listen?! Of course, not! After all, his Love Guru mode is on now!

Laksh:
Well, the thing is Bhai and Swara have challenged to not to do anything for each other for one whole month. It is basically for Swara to realize whether she actually likes him or not. But I'm pretty much skeptical about the whole ordeal. How will she realize her feelings if we don't do anything at all?

Sanskaar slumps on his chair as he reads the message. He's practically doomed! Now, he is pretty sure everyone will come with his or her own theory, and knowing how colorful his family is, he doesn't even want to imagine what all those ideas are going to be!

Annapurna:
So, what do you suggest, Laksh?

Sujata:
What should we do now? 🤒🤒

Ragini:
Both these best friends are one and the same. Even Laksh wasn't ready to accept the feeling he had for me. He came to me only when he realized that Pratham liked me too and was planning to propose to me.

Laksh:
It was nothing like that, Ragini. I was coming to you anyway. And Mom, that's a wrong emoji again! Stop using them!

Ragini:
Accept it, Patidev. You were jealous. Otherwise who knows, may be I would have been Mrs. Ragini Pratham Mathur instead of Mrs. Ragini Laksh Maheshwari.

Laksh:
But you are Mrs. RAGINI LAKSH MAHESHWARI. So, stop talking about him.

Ragini:
See. See, you're still jealous.

Sanskaar:
Laksh! Ragini! I guess this group is to discuss about the future of my love life, and not the past of yours.

Annapurna:
So, let's come up with an idea then.

Durga Prasad:
I have an idea.

Durga Prasad, who has been silent until now, replies and almost everyone gets a shock of their lives because he hardly replies to anyone's personal message on WhatsApp. He doesn't seem very much fond of all these social media platforms. So, everyone gets quite surprised, except for Annapurna, who seems pretty amused.

Annapurna:
That was pretty soon!

Durga Prasad:
Give me two days.

And that's all. With the last message from the head of the family the group goes silent, at least for two days now. Sanskaar takes a deep breath rubbing his face with both his hands. All thanks to his dear brother. Only God knows, what sort of bomb his father will be dropping after these two days!

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As Durga Prasad stuffs the aloo paratha in his mouth, Annapurna glares at him. It has been two days already. Her son's life is at stake, and here, this man is busy relishing his breakfast. She has been asking all this while what is it that he has planned, but Durga Prasad has refused to say anything at all, saying that she will know when the right time comes. And when is this so called right time coming? Only he knows!

Annapurna: (clears her throat) Actually, I...

But her sentence gets cut off even before she starts as Durga Prasad's mobile phone rings garnering everyone's attention at the dining table. Damn, this mobile phone!

Durga Prasad: Hello! Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. That's right. You're here. That's great. Oh, no. No. Not at all. We are more than pleased to have you here. Most welcome. Most welcome. Yes!

As he disconnects the call, Durga Prasad notices each and every pair of eyes glued in his direction.

Laksh: Bade Papa, is someone coming?

Durga Prasad: (smiles) The person is already here. (calls out the house help) Joe, please go and get our guest with utmost respect.

Ragini: Bade Papa, it seems like we are going to have an important guest over here.

Durga Prasad: Yes, of course. A very important person!

Annapurna: (furrows her eyebrows) And how come I don't know anything about this special guest of yours. I hope it is not that Sen Gupta or that worthless son of his.

Durga Prasad: (rolls his eyes) You know what I feel about them. So, calling them important is out of the question.

Annapurna: Then, who is it?

Sanskaar: Maa, we have an important meeting today and Laksh and I need to get a few things done. We'll take your leave now! Lucky, come let's go!

Laksh: Yes, bhai!

Durga Prasad: (shouts abruptly) NO!!

Sanskaar: What happened, Papa? Is everything alright?

Durga Prasad: Ah! Oh, yes! Every... Everything is just alright. I was just wondering, won't it be nice if you could meet our guest before leaving.

Sanskaar: But we need to prepare for the meeting, Papa. We can meet the guest in the evening as well. I hope that would be alright!

Sanskaar and Laksh pick up their bags and leave hurriedly as Sanskaar goes through a file on his way out. Only half way through, they hear a voice, as they reach the bottom of the staircase, calling out to, most possibly, Durga Prasad.

"Uncle!"

And even before anyone understands what has happened, their guest slips down the stairs, right into Sanskaar's arms and both of them land on the floor, with Sanskaar's back hitting the floor rather painfully.

Ouch!

"Perfect!" Durga Prasad whisper exclaims and Annapurna glowers at her husband's nonsensical behavior.

Annapurna: (whispers back) How is that perfect? My son got hurt over there? Sans...

Annapurna calls out Sanskaar's name but Durga Prasad holds her hand back and gives her a winning smile.

Durga Prasad: Didn't Ragini say that jealousy works the best when it comes to love? Well, this is my plan.

He nods his head signaling towards their guest, smiling and looking at Sanskaar.

Trying to overcome the shooting pain in his back, Sanskaar opens his eyes slowly only to find a beautiful pair of guilt filled eyes already staring down at him.

Everyone gasps and fails to express what they are supposed to feel and for Swara...

It's altogether a different story!

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