*** CHAPTER 41 ***

The Sun has already begun to set by the time they reach the threshold of the village. Lying in the plains of Hooghly district, their village is a small one with hug of houses sprawled across the green fields. As the last ray of Sun bid adieu, Sanskaar's lips stretch into a smile as his eyes feast upon the serenity and peacefulness of the place. He has been to quite a number of places but as he steps out of the car, he realizes that the tranquility of this place is nonpareil. His heart chimes, 'What this place has to offer, is something that he has not even imagined,' and his heart thumps crazily with all the exhilaration.

"Sanskaar. Son, come here," his father's call breaks his train of thoughts. With a nod, he walks up to him and stands beside him. Durga Prasad places a firm hand on his back and smiles at his son.

Durga Prasad: So, how do you feel about this place?

Sanskaar: (smiles) This is so beautiful. It is all so peaceful as if whatever that you are searching for, you will find it in here. All of this so strange because I have not felt like this in a while.

Durga Prasad: (nods his head thoughtfully) Sanskaar, this place is not just some randomly strewn houses and fields. This is where our root lies, the place that made us capable of achieving all that we have today. And the one who is holding our roots firmly at this place is your grandmother, Narmada Devi. After Baba passed away, Maa did all within her might to tend to all our needs. We owe all of this to her and to her only.

Sanskaar: Yes, Papa. I understand.

Durga Prasad: (smiles) Let us go then. We will have to walk from here on. It is just a couple of houses away.

A walk for a minute or two, and Sanskaar finds himself standing in front of one of the most beautiful houses he has ever seen. Painted all in white, the house is nothing out of the ordinary, but it still stood out in its own way. Cradled in the embrace of trees so high that almost hid it from outside view, the house promised a sense of belongingness.

"Badi Maalkin, they are here," a voice from inside has all their attention and hardly a few moments later comes a woman, who despite of her age demands attention. The wrinkles on her skin fail to mar the authority she holds. Following her, comes a young woman who apparently takes care of her.

The elderly woman smiles affectionately as Durga Prasad and Ram Prasad bend down to touch her feet, followed by Annapurna and Sujata. And when Sanskaar comes forward to seek her blessings, a lone tear escapes Narmada's eyes, flabbergasted at the striking resemblance he has with Shlok. Pulling him in her embrace, she caresses his head lovingly.

Narmada: My poor child! We are so sorry for all that you had to suffer all these years.

Sanskaar: You have nothing to apologize for, Dadi. All that matters is that I am here and I will always be.

Narmada: (kisses his forehead) Thank you so much for coming back to us. Now, where is my to-be granddaughter-in-law?

Sanskaar pulls out from her embrace and turns around. His eyes, unknowingly, meet Swara's and he sucks in a deep breath. How he wishes to extend his hand towards her and pull her by his side! Why are these feelings so complicated?

Swara is the first one to break the eye-contact and Sanskaar reluctantly looks towards Anshika. With a small smile, he extends his hand towards her which she takes with another smile of hers.

Sanskaar: Dadi, this is Anshika. The one I... I am going to marry.

"Pranam, Dadi ji," Anshika bends down to touch her feet and Narmada Devi caresses her head lovingly.

Narmada: May God bless you, my child! Isn't she just lovely, Annapurna?

Annapurna: (smiles and nods) Yes, Maa. Indeed, she is!

"Badi Dadi!" hollers Chaitanya as he jumps in Narmada's arms giving a big sloppy kiss on her cheeks.

Narmada: Oh God! Look how tall my dearest great-grandson has become?

Chaitanya giggles nodding his head in agreement and wrapping his arms around her neck.

Chaitanya: I want to glow (grow) tall like Sanky Papa, Badi Dadi. Then I can also get a wife like Swala (Swara) Mumma!

Narmada: What are you talking about, my dear? Your Swara Mumma is not...

Annapurna: (interrupts immediately) Sorry, Maa! He is just a child. He does not understand what he is saying.

Chaitanya: (squints his eyebrows) I am not a child. I am so tall.

Narmada: (chuckles) Yes. Absolutely! My great-grandson is the smartest. Let's get inside now. We have a lot to talk about the marriage preparations.

✨

Sitting in the veranda next to the open courtyard of their house, Narmada holds Anshika's hands and smiles.

Narmada: So, when can we expect your parents to arrive, Anshika?

Anshika: Dadi ji, my parents along with my cousins will arrive tomorrow. I guess, we can expect them by the afternoon.

Narmada: That's great then! I think we shall inform Purohit ji to arrive tomorrow so that we can set up an auspicious date for your marriage. After all...

"Dadi, is it possible to set a date within this week?" Sanskaar interrupts immediately leaving everyone speechless. Durga Prasad sighs and Annapurna sucks in a deep breath as they stare at their son. What is going on in that head of his? Is he really serious about the whole ordeal?

Swara's heart leaps inside her chest as she fists the fabric of her saree. She feels something breaking inside of her and she very well knows that she has brought this upon herself. She wants to hold him back but her body and voice seem to fail her. Her pleading eyes look up at him once again and the very next moment Sanskaar's eyes find their way to hers. The urge in his eyes has her entire being stiffened. The pain he is trying to hide pierces her heart and soul. The crazy thumping of her heart becomes so unbearable that she finds herself short of breath.

Breaking the eye contact first, she tries reaching for the glass of water which Ragini hastily forwards towards her. Her heart goes out to both her best friends because for sure they do not deserve the pain they are being forced to bear. With her shaking hands, Swara picks up the glass of water and chugs it down her throat. She hears Sanskaar sigh deeply as he turns to face his grandmother once again.

Narmada: (chuckles) Looks like someone is quite eager to get married!

Sanskaar: No, Dadi. It's just that we have a lot of work at the office. The sooner the things get wrapped up here, the better it will be.

Narmada: (shakes her head in disagreement) Tsk! Do not worry about work when you are here. And as far as the date is concerned, I will request Purohit ji for the nearest date possible as soon as he reads both of your kundali. Will that be okay?

Sanskaar: (nods) Yes, Dadi.

Narmada: (smiles) I think you all should rest now. Sanjay will bring your belongings to your rooms upstairs.

Durga Prasad: Okay, Maa. We will meet you for dinner then. Annapurna?

Annapurna: Ji?

Durga Prasad: Why don't you take the children to their rooms? Except for Laksh and Ragini, all of them are visiting for the first time.

Annapurna: Sanskaar, Anshika, and Swara... Let me take you all to your rooms.

Anshika: Swara? How come you have not visited the village yet?

Swara: I...

Annapurna: Actually, Anshika, they were supposed to... visit once... once Shlok returned from USA. But...

Anshika: I understand, Aunty. Please, do not explain any further. I feel regretful even for asking.

Annapurna: (sniffles) It is okay, beta. Anyone at your place would have had the same question. I think all of us should go and rest for a while.

Anshika nods her head. As three of them get up from their chairs, they hear Narmada's voice.

Narmada: Except for Swara, everyone can go upstairs.

A sense of fear tugged at Swara's heart. She looked up and already found Sanskaar staring at her with uncertainty filled in his eyes.

Annapurna: Do you need Swara for something, Maa? She is not familiar with this place, so I am afraid, she will not be able to help you out much even if she is willing to.

And for the first time that day, the stern look of Narmada's eyes had everyone rooted at their places.

Narmada: Annapurna Bahu, I do not need Swara Bahu to help me out.

Annapurna gulps. At the mention of her name along with the word 'Bahu', she is reminded of one of the various reasons why her mother-in-law is respected yet feared at the same time. She was the most headstrong lady she has ever seen and she has had plenty of experiences in the early days of her marriage to prove the same.

Narmada: Swara is to stay along with me on the ground floor. With everything that has happened with Shlok, we cannot let any sort of bad omen to befall on Sanskaar and Anshika. So, Swara cannot take part in any of the rituals and she must stay away from both the to-be bride and groom until they are married.

With that being said, everyone comes to an abrupt pause and for Swara... it is as if everything she has come to believe has been shattered with a violent blow.

"Dadi!!??" Sanskaar's disbelief filled voice booms across the veranda and everyone is left stunned. Swara stumbles and is about to fall when she finds herself wrapped in a familiar embrace. Sanskaar without a thought has rushed towards her. Steadying her back to her feet, he feels her shudder. He has never seen her so vulnerable before and his heart breaks a bit more with every passing moment. Swara tries to pull away from him, but Sanskaar holds her hand firmly.

Sanskaar: Dadi, Swara is my... my friend. We cannot treat her that way!

Narmada: I know that this might hurt everyone's feelings, Sanskaar, but what is to be done, must be done.

Annapurna: But Maa...

Narmada: Enough, Annapurna Bahu.

"It...," Swara's feeble voice garners everyone's attention. "It is okay, Maa. It is for everyone's good."

Sanskaar: But...

Swara: (looks up at him) Sanskaar... I am fine. Really!

Sanskaar's hold on Swara's wrist tightens as he makes a feeble attempt to ease the lump forming in his throat. This is not what he wanted! Yes, he wants her to be his but not at the cost of her respect. Swara gasps as she tries to wiggle her wrist free of his hold but Sanskaar seems unfazed. Unwilling to let go, he gulps when he hears his father's voice.

Durga Prasad: Sanskaar, go to your room.

Sanskaar: But...

Durga Prasad: Now!

Sanskaar's grip loosens and as soon as Swara frees her wrist, Annapurna tugs her away from Sanskaar.

✨

With everything flashing right in front of his eyes again and again, sleep seems to be the last thing Sanskaar has on his mind that night. Opening the photo album his father had given him, he looks at the photograph which is the sole reason why all of this started. The evil-eye bracelet seems like tugging at his heart. Only if he has had any idea who this bracelet belongs to, nothing that is happening now should have happened.

Sighing helplessly, he rests his head against the headboard of his bed. All that he is doing... is he doing the right thing?! Pushing Swara like this... What is she breaks before she could come to him?!

Even the thought of the same has a spine-chilling shudder pass down his entire body. It is then when he hears a soft knock at his door. With a deep breath, he rubs his palms against his face and gets up from his bed. Unlocking the door, he finds his mother standing in front of him with a glass of milk in her hand.

Sanskaar: Maa, do you need anything? It is quite late.

Annapurna: Yes, it is quite late and I know that you will not be able sleep with everything going around. So, here is a glass of almond milk. It might be of some help.

Sanskaar: (smiles) Thank you, Maa! I did not even realize that I needed it.

Annapurna: (caresses his head) That is why you have your mother here. I know what my beloved child wants and I know very well that all you are doing, there is a very strong reason behind it. You love her too much to hurt her that way. My son can never be that cruel.

With a swipe of her thumb, she wipes off the tears that have unknowingly began rolling down Sanskaar's cheeks. He sniffles and a tear escapes Annapurna's eyes as well. Caressing his cheek, she gives a weak smile.

Annapurna: Just have some rest, son. You have a big fight ahead of you. And... Do not worry about Swara. I have made sure to put her to sleep before coming here.

Sanskaar nods his head in acknowledgement and Annapurna turns around to take her leave when he stops her.

Sanskaar: Maa?

Annapurna: (turns around) Yes? Do you need anything else?

Sanskaar: I... umm...

Annapurna: (smiles encouragingly) What is it, Sanskaar? You know you can ask your mother for anything, right?

Sanskaar: (takes a deep breath) Can... Can you please put me to... sleep?

An explicable feeling soars up Annapurna's heart as she finds herself at loss of words. He has never asked for something like that. Not being able to trust words, she nods her head as she steps inside his room. Sanskaar makes his way towards his bed and sits down looking up at his mother with anticipation. Annapurna sits on the bed folding her legs as he leans to rest his head on his mother's lap. Wiping off the traces of tears from his cheeks, she kisses his temple and pats his head lovingly. No one says anything for no one feels the need for words. It is this moment, this silence where their hearts, their pain did all the talking.

Sanskaar closes his eyes slowly and Annapurna does not even realize how many minutes have passed by. Or has it been hours? She does not know. It is Sanskaar's deep, heavy breaths that pull her back to reality. Caressing his head, she finds him sound asleep. Getting up slowly, she tucks him carefully in his bed and covers him with a comforter. With one last kiss on her son's forehead, Annapurna makes her way out of his room.

✨