*** CHAPTER 37 ***

Sujata: Don’t they look so adorable together?

Annapurna: (smiles) Looks like my son is finally going to get his happiness.

Ragini: Shall I go and tell her the truth then?

Sujata: What truth?

Ragini: That he is not Shlok but Sanskaar. Maybe they will have a better chance then.

Swara hears the hushed whispers of Maheshwari ladies the moment she enters the kitchen next morning. As all three of them go completely awe, Swara turns around following their line of sight only to find Sanskaar and Anshika already seated in the dining area.

Sitting on the two chairs kept too close to each other both of them are seeing something on the mobile phone and the very next moment they start laughing out loud as they read something, most possibly a joke. And adding fuel to raging fire within Swara, Sanskaar whispers something in Anshika’s ears and they laugh out all over again making Swara tighten the fists to her sides.

Swara: I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ragini.

Ragini: Why, Swara? Don’t you think our friend deserves to be happy?

Friend!

Friend?

FRIEND?!!

Seriously! Is Sanskaar just her friend?

Well… Umm… the question seems a bit complicated!

Swara: I want him to be happy, Ragini. Trust me, I do. It’s just that I feel it is still not the right time to reveal his identity. We never know from where a word can go out and we still have so many unanswered questions.

Annapurna: All of us want the answers, Swara. But I feel we can trust Anshika and her father and we don’t think it would be wise of us to let such a good alliance slip out of our hands.

Sujata: You are right, Jiji. Even I think that we should tell them the truth. And indeed, their couple looks so adorable.

And instantly, a questions knocks on the door of Swara’s brain… Doesn’t Sanskaar’s and her couple look adorable too?

Ragini: (excitedly) Great! Then, I will ask Papa and Bade Papa about this and then we can talk to Sanskaar and Anshika. I just cant wait to see them getting married.

With that being said, Ragini dashes out of the kitchen even before Swara can think of an excuse to stop this. The moment Ragini enters the study room, Swara’s heart skips a beat. Her eyes, on their own accord, find their way towards Sanskaar and an unknown fear tugs at her heart noticing the way Anshika has his full attention.

Why is it bothering her so much when she is not the one he is looking at?

It shouldn't, right? Isn't this what she wished for?

------------------  

Swara’s heart has been pounding like crazy as all the elders have taken Anshika inside the room, whereas she along with Sanskaar, Laksh, Ragini and Chaitanya have been asked to stand out for the time being. Now that, all of them have decided to reveal everything to Anshika, she does not know how she is supposed to feel.

If she is allowed to be honest… she is scared. Very scared!

And the moment the door opens her heart sinks dreading the unknown. Anshika scuttles towards Sanskaar without paying heed to anyone else and engulfs him in a hug leaving everyone shell shocked.

Anshika: (whispers in his ear) Sanskaar! I can’t even imagine how hard it would have been for you. I knew that I am here for a reason but I didn’t know that all of this has happened. Don’t worry, please take me as your friend and let me assure you that unless and until she becomes yours, I am not leaving.

Sanskaar: (whispers) Thank you so much, Anshika. You don’t even realize what this means to me.

Anshika: So, let the game begin!

Sanskaar chuckles and Anshika breaks the hug but not before giving a light kiss on his cheek. Swara almost loses her calm as Sanskaar, instead of pushing her away, smiles feeling the kiss. Dashing towards them, she places her hand on Anshika’s shoulder making her pull away.

Swara: Anshika, I guess you are here for getting married.

Anshika: (smiles) Of course, I am, and it looks like I am about to have someone special in my life.

Turning away from Swara, she places her hand on Sanskaar’s upper arm and smiles.

Anshika: Sanskaar, if in any case you wish for someone to be by your side, please do remember, I am always there to hear whatever you have to say.

Sanskaar: (smiles) Thank you, Anshika. I will make sure to remember this.

By this time, even all the elders of the Maheshwari family enter the main hall of the house and Durga Prasad clears his throat to have everyone's attention.

Durga Prasad: Sanskaar.

Sanskaar: Ji, Papa?

Durga Prasad: Anshika wishes to visit a few places in Kolkata. I want you to take her there, and you don’t have to worry about the office. We will take care of it.

Sanskaar: Okay, Papa. When do we need to leave?

Durga Prasad: You can leave after having the breakfast.

Sanskaar nods his head and everything gets finalized but for Swara, everything seems like slipping out of her hands. As everyone leaves for having the breakfast, she holds the sleeves of Sanskaar’s blazer, stopping him in his tracks.

Sanskaar: (turning around) What happened, Swara? Do you need something?

Swara: Why are you ignoring me?

Sanskaar: I am not ignoring you? What in the world gave you the idea?

Swara: Don’t pretend, Sanskaar. I can see that.

Taking a deep breath, Sanskaar looks around and on finding everyone already in the dining area, he holds Swara’s hand and pulls her to the guest room.

Closing the door, he pushes her gently towards the wall and traps her in there with both his hands on the either side of her head.

Sanskaar: Now, what were you saying?

Swara: You… You are ignoring me!

Sanskaar: Really? I am?

Swara: Y-Yes!

Sanskaar: And who was the one who ran away last night saying that she was going to get the hot water bag and never returned? Then, in the morning I get to know that you stayed in this guest room for the whole night. Do you even realize how hurt I am? Who is ignoring whom, Swara?

Swara: I… I…

Sanskaar: What happened? Lost your voice or what? Do you really find me so repulsive?

What? No!!

She can never find him repulsive. Instead, she is scared of the way she gets attracted towards him, the way she longs for his touches. Her plight is like that of a moth who is getting lured towards the flame without even realizing that it will burn it down to ashes. But still it can't help but get entranced by its beauteousness.

Swara: No! What are you even saying?

Sanskaar: So, in that case you enjoy keeping me hanging like this knowing what I feel about you. Right?

Swara: You are taking it the wrong way, Sanskaar.

Sanskaar: Then what is the right way, Swara? Tell me.

One single question… and that is all it takes to have Swara tongue-tied. For a moment, no speaks anything and all that one can hear in the entire room is their rugged, deep breathing. Though their eyes keep debating with each other, doing all the talking, but still their lips refuse to let any sound through. On getting no response from her, Sanskaar sighs and rests his head on her shoulder. Swara’s breath hitches and her entire body goes stiff as she feels his breath on the bare skin of her lower neck.

Sanskaar: I said I will wait for you, Swara and I will. But please, don’t make me wait for so long that it breaks me from inside. If that happens, I don’t know whether I will be stop it or not when someone else comes to gather those broken pieces.

With that being said, he pulls away from her, turns around on his heels, and makes his way towards the door. He opens the door, turns around for a brief moment only to find Swara almost slumped against the wall. His eyes soften and he apologizes to her soundlessly, making sure she doesn’t notice. Only he knows how much his heart hurts on talking to her like that but he has no idea what else he should do! Maybe… maybe, this feigned harshness will work out and his Swara will finally come to him!

Sanskaar: (calls out) Swara!

Swara just looks up wordlessly not trusting her voice.

Sanskaar: I am not ignoring you. I never can!

With that he leaves and Swara finally slumps down to the ground as her first tear breaks free. She is well aware of what she feels for him but will everyone be able to accept their feelings once his identity gets revealed! Will their relationship never be questioned?

She is not concerned about herself. But she is terrified for what the future holds in store for him!

Because no matter what, no one can deny the fact that she is a widow!

-----------------  

After scribbling furiously for what seems like hours, Sanskaar bangs his head on the table, sitting in the study room. Still after so many tries, he has not been able to find a single clue from the vision about what has actually happened with Shlok. It is like everything has been messed up and he is just unable to find a way out of the deadlock.

Sanskaar: (whispers closing his eyes) Bhai, please help me!

With his eyes still closed, he tries to recall the vision again, just in case if he has missed any of the vital information. But still being unable to get hold of anything, frustrated, he opens his eyes, crumbles and rolls the paper in a ball and tosses it towards a corner of the room.

Confined in the room, he feels those walls caving up on him. He has never felt so helpless. He knows that his brother was killed but he just can’t do anything to find those bloody murders. Alas! He can’t even mention that to anybody. People will take him as someone crazy, believing him will be absolutely out of question.

Having this sudden need for fresh air, he keeps his pen to the side and decides to go up to the terrace.

Taking a deep breath, Sanskaar looks up at the stars just wishing if they could answer him someway. What is he supposed to do? He has nothing. He has tried all he can think of but still nothing seems like working.

Hardly a few moments have passed when Sanskaar realizes that someone is on the way to the terrace. He turns around and finds Durga Prasad staring keenly at him.

Sanskaar: Papa, what happened? Is everything alright?

Durga Prasad: Yes, everything is good. Just felt like coming up here. Now, the question is, why are you here?

Sanskaar: (smiles) The same reason as yours. Just felt like coming here for some fresh air.

Durga Prasad walks up to him and standing next to him, looks towards the sky.

Durga Prasad: I am your father, son! Though I haven’t seen you growing up, I can still understand what is going on inside your head and heart. I can see that something is bothering you.

Sanskaar: (shakes his head) Nothing, Papa. Nothing is wrong.

Durga Prasad: Is it about Swara? Don’t worry, she will…

Sanskaar: I know she will come to me, Papa. I believe in the love I have for her!

Durga Prasad: Then what is it?

Sanskaar: (sighs) It is just that… What an unlucky brother I am! I haven’t even seen my brother, let alone talking to him. It feels like I have lost him even before having him by my side.

Durga Prasad places his hand on Sanskaar’s shoulder and turns his face towards himself. Bringing his hand towards Sanskaar’s face, he wipes off a lone tear from the corner of his eyes and Sanskaar gulps in a feeble attempt to ease his constricting throat.

Durga Prasad: (caressing his hair) Trust me when I say this that you are just like a reflection of your brother. Hadn’t it been you, I don’t know what Annapurna and I would have done.

Sanskaar: I will always be there for you all, Papa. Always.

Durga Prasad: We all miss Shlok and we always will. He will always be there in our hearts. Both of you are the best sons we could have asked for.

Sanskaar: Whenever I listen something about him, I just feel like moving the heaven and the earth, if that is what it takes for me to see my brother once.

Durga Prasad: I don’t even know, son, what I must do to ease this pain everyone feels. But I think I have something for you.

Sanskaar: What?

Durga Prasad: (smiles) Come with me!

Without a single word, Sanskaar nods his head following Durga Prasad to his room. As he waits outside, Durga Prasad fetches something from the inside and places it on Sanskaar’s hand.

Durga Prasad: Take this, Sanskaar. I hope this helps you out in some way. These are some of the memories we have of him.

Saying that Durga Prasad heads back to his room and Sanskaar keeps on looking at what his father has kept on his hands…

A photo album!

--------------------   

A/N

Hello everyone!

I’m so sorry for this delay but I had some guests at my in-laws because of some urgent situation. And I got stuck in the household work. That is why, this update got delayed by a day. I’m so sorry for making you all wait.

This chapter is still an unedited one. I will do the proof reading and editing first thing tomorrow. So, please ignore the grammatical and typing errors.

I hope you all would have liked the chapter. Do let me know if you wish me to include any particular scene in the story. Yes, if you want you can make a request and then I can include that scene in the story line I have thought of.

So, see you all soon. Till then, stay blessed, stay safe and happy reading!

With love,
Stella ❤️