*** CHAPTER 44 ***

Something bad has happened!

And something even worse is in its wake!

He can feel it already. The past half-an-hour has been torturous. Seeing the way his brother keeps on fidgeting, a dread shrouds Laksh's heart. He has been sitting beside Sanskaar all this while, but not even for once has his brother met his eyes. He has been awfully silent about the whole ordeal. It is as if he is avoiding him on purpose, trying his best to avert his questioning eyes.

He has been acting weird ever since he has come out of Dadi Ji's room. He has been his brother's confidant ever since they have known each other but today he feels as if he is sitting beside a stranger. Laksh can swear that the brief talk he had with Dadi Ji has been something unexpected, something serious that has made Sanskaar act this way. He sighs as he can feel his head reeling thinking of a plausible reason. The suffocating silence urges him to knock some sense into his brother, to ask him what is wrong.

"This is a good match. The couple will lead a happy and peaceful life."

Laksh is pulled out of his thoughts on hearing Purohit Ji's voice and he can almost hear Sanskaar suck in a deep breath. All he wants to do right now is to punch his brother for acting this irrationally. Why is he marrying Anshika when he loves Swara more than anything else in this world? That, too, in a week? What has made him take such a decision in the first place? Is there something no one else knows about? So many what and why... so many questions but he has answer to none.

Narmada: So, when do we have an auspicious occasion for the marriage and other rituals, Purohit Ji?

Nodding his head, Purohit Ji goes silence for a while as he reads both the patrikas again. Clearing his throat, he looks up and smiles as everyone looks at him with anticipating eyes.

Purohit Ji: The day after tomorrow is really auspicious for engagement and for beginning of the other rituals.

Narmada: And marriage?

Purohit Ji: For marriage, the fifth day from today is an auspicious one. We have quite a number of marriages that day in this village and the adjoining ones. Narmada Devi, it is a really good day for your grandson to get married.

Narmada smiles nodding her head and Laksh can almost feel himself fainting with the new piece of information. Glancing around, he tries to find the familiar face of his wife and on finding her nowhere around, he can already make a wild guess where she might be. She must have gone to Swara. He gulps imagining the situation when he breaks the news to both of them. His wife can be really scary at times, and when it comes to her best friends, the people she loves... Laksh shudders even thinking about it.

His wild thoughts have been running in all possible directions when his mobile dings with a notification and Laksh almost jumps at his place. Fetching his mobile phone out of his pocket, he clicks on the screen to reveal a message he has just received.

'I want your lazy, stupid self and your pea-sized brain brother right now in Swara's room. Like... RIGHT NOW! He kissed her and now he has the audacity to marry someone else!'

He did what!!??

Panic-stricken, Laksh can almost imagine the livid face of his wife glaring right at him. With his eyes as wide as saucers, he stares at his brother who is now being engulfed in numerous hugs and is getting congratulated for the upcoming marriage. The first ones to congratulate him are Mr. and Mrs. Dutta, Anshika's parents, followed by Ishika, her sister, and finally by Tarun, Anshika's best friend. Sweat droplets shine on Laksh's forehead and he gulps rather loudly thinking how to avoid the catastrophe in its wake. He must get his brother out of here before his wife comes rushing back to get a hold of them.

✨

Seeing how frantic Ragini has been becoming, Swara knows that whatever is going on that mind of hers cannot be as simple as it seems. Ever since she has typed something on her phone hysterically, she has been trying to stay as far away as possible from Swara.

Swara: What are you doing, Ragini?

Averting her eyes, Ragini fumbles with her mobile phone as Swara approaches her. Trying to push her phone as far away as possible from Swara, she hides it behind her back, clutching it in her hand rather tightly as if her life depended on it.

Swara: Did you send someone a message?

Ragini immediately shakes her head in denial.

Swara: (sighs) Please do not tell me that you are doing something stupid!

Ragini: Actually, Swara... I already did!

With that being said, Ragini dashes out of the room before Swara could get a hold of her mobile phone. And when she runs after her, she realizes that Ragini has already locked her inside the room.

✨

Swara has been pacing up and down her room for almost fifteen minutes now. Time and again, she tries opening the door trying to make sure that her mind is not playing games with her and that Ragini has actually locked her inside. It is not that she is going to chase her, no matter how much she has wanted to. She cannot... It is more like she is not allowed to step outside the room unless and until she is asked to.

Huffing, Swara tries opening the door one more time when she hears the latch of the door being opened. And even before she realizes an absolutely haphazard Sanskaar is shoved inside the room by her two best friends. He almost loses his footing in the whole hustle-bustle but Swara catches him before he falls and steadies him back on his feet.

Swara: What are you guys doing?

Ragini: Ask that to this stupid lover of yours. What the hell does he think he is doing?

Swara: W-What happened?

Dreading the unavoidable, Swara's heart sinks wishing for her fear not to come true. She waits for their response with a baited breath as her eyes switch from person-to-person standing in the room, who at the same time seem like struggling to find the right set of words. She has suffered a lot in her life already and this very news they have can break her beyond repairs.

Swara: Why are you guys not saying anything?

Ragini: (takes a deep breath) The marriage has been fixed, Swara.

Laksh: Ragini, you do not have to be so outright.

Ragini: Then what are we supposed to do, Laksh? Sanskaar is to get engaged in hardly two days. Day after tomorrow to be exact.

A pang of pain so unbearable hits Swara's heart that for a moment, she forgets how to breathe. Her erratically berating heart thuds against her chest threatening to burst open anytime now. No one dares to say anything as she struggles to find her voice. She stumbles back and falls against the table nearby. Swara cannot believe that she is about to lose him, even before she can call him as her own. Gripping the sides of the table, her eyes immediately drift towards Sanskaar who closes his eyes taking a deep breath, pain etched all across his features. The agony quite evident even though he has his eyes closed. Fists tightened right next to his sides; he grits his teeth as if something has been burning his entire being.

Not being able to hold those tears anymore, Swara finally lets it all out. She has lost him. She has always heard that you realize someone's importance when you lose them, but she has never imagined even in her wildest dreams that the realization will hurt this much. She finds herself incapable of fighting the pain... a peril so grave that she feels she might lose herself into that abyss, never to be found again. In a moment, Ragini is by her side, holding her by her shoulders as Swara tries fighting her tears back.

Laksh: Why are you doing this, bhai?

Ragini: Why did he do that is not important anymore, Laksh! At this moment, it is important to think what are we supposed to do?

Laksh: What can we do at this point?

Ragini: (takes a deep breath) I thought we had time and we could somehow convince Anshika that Sanskaar is not the ideal man she wishes for. But with the engagement in picture, I do not know what to do anymore.

Laksh: Can we not do it now?

Ragini: We hardly have a day, Laksh! You cannot change someone's perspective in a day. Gosh! Why is this girl not in love with someone else already? She knows that Sanskaar does not love her, then why the hell is she marrying him!?

Laksh: Maybe her feelings have changed. Bhai, do you think you can convince Anshika that you are not the best choice for her?

Every pair of eyes get trained on Sanskaar as he finally makes an eye contact with Swara. Something unreadable, something unbearable flickers in his eyes and he makes an incoherent reply. Gulping the huge knot forming at the back of his throat, he tries finding his voice again.

Sanskaar: I... I do not think I can help you guys.

Thunder-struck, everyone goes silent for a moment, trying to ensure that they have heard it right. And when Sanskaar's eyes find enough courage to meet Swara's eyes again, there is no accusation or sense of betrayal in those orbs of her. Instead, they have been swirling with endless questions. It is as if she knows it already that he can never betray her. It is as if she knows that the love, she feels he has for her, is not a lie, and is not so brittle that can be broken with the slightest of the push. She just wants to know why is he doing it.

Swara: W-What is wrong, Sanskaar?

Swara finally manages to find her voice.

Sanskaar: I never thought all of it will turn out to be like this.

Laksh: What do you mean?

Sanskaar: (closes his eyes and gulps) I never intended to go through it, Lucky. I was not going to get married. Even Anshika knew that. Her parents intended to visit just for a small vacation trip. The marriage has never been on our mind. But with Dadi...

"WHAT!!??" Both Laksh and Ragini scream at the same time and Swara finds herself at loss of words.

Sanskaar: Swara... She has been so adamant believing that she is not the one for me. She refused to talk to me and I needed her to listen to me.

Swara: W-Why? What was so important that you had to fake the entire thing?

Sanskaar lets out a dry laugh shaking his head.

Sanskaar: I do not think this is the right time to tell you that. You guys will probably think that I am crazy.

Ragini: (glares at him) That still does not explain anything, Sanskaar. You did not even tell us.

Sanskaar: I know. I know that what I did is utterly stupid. I have heard it already.

Laksh: Wait! You have heard it already? Did you tell someone else about your plan even before you told us? Seriously, bhai?!

Sanskaar: I have not told anyone anything, Laksh. But that is not important right now.

Ragini: (folds her arms across her chest) Yeah, right! Then pray tell what is it you think is important right now?

Sanskaar tries looking at Swara but by this time Ragini has already shielded her away from his view. Taking a deep breath, he finally looks at two of the most important people in his life.

Sanskaar: At this point it is important for you to know that... I am going through with this marriage.

Ragini: Are you serious?

Laksh: Why, bhai? Did Dadi say something? You can tell us. We can figure something out. You...

However, the very next moment everyone is brought to an abrupt pause as Swara opens the door and dashes out of the room without looking back even for once. Intending to chase after her, Sanskaar moves forward but is immediately stopped by Laksh and Ragini.

Laksh: I think it is better if you stay back, bhai.

With that being said, both Laksh and Ragini rush in the direction they have seen Swara run off to a moment ago.

Knowing how grave of a mistake he has committed, Sanskaar slumps down on the floor as his tears finally roll down his cheeks. He could not let them see how much hurting he has been all this while. He could not reveal his vulnerable self. He has to be strong for everyone else. Forlorn, he looks out of the door without even the slightest bit of hope of seeing Swara. She is long gone and the only thing he manages to utter in his hoarse voice is,

"I am sorry, Swara!"

✨