⭐️Apologies in advance. Chapter is grossly unedited.⭐️

Kaleidoscope of memoirs: Hold me, secret agent
"Mind if I sit here?" Sanskar slumped in the front stairs of almost deserted library premise Swara had been waiting for her ride.

"As if you won't if I say so." She rolled her eyes. "Some people never change."

"Correct. I choose to be deaf, partner." He dragged himself closer, sat right beside her. "Speaking of partnership, you're getting us a new trophy, right?"

Sanskar, the college rockstar had won quite a number of trophies since his freshman year with duet being the exception. That event left him sorely defeated in previous inter college contests, thanks but no thanks to his co-singers who were not even close match to him. This year he got lucky, for Swara was no less than Goddess of chords, be they vocal chords of humming or guitar on strumming.

"Sure." She that was beaming, lingering a heavenly halo. "Take it as a compensation for the losing best performer trophy. That will be mine. Chocolate?"

"You underestimate my hidden talents, sweetie." Sanskar lowered his head and grabbed the chocolate, fingers kissing fingers. Eyes bored into eyes. "No way I'll go easy on you, I love that trophy almost as I love yo... I mean your voice."

Swara got up at once, cheeks in flames. Argh! This flirt! What would she do with him?

Damn his loose tongue! His sane, intelligent part berated. That petulant heart should know better than rolling out of his tongue. Hadn't she just started to open up? Nah, it was way too early for that glorious L word. Neither he could bear her making fun of him, nor he could get rejection and lose their friendship even before blooming into something more.

Do some damage control, Sunny boy.

He summoned his secret warriors to defense. Agent Cocky Maheshwari. Agent Flirty Maheshwari."No way you can beat me. You get that, right?"

Ah! A challenge! Eyes sparked in thrill, Swara leaned over and patted his cheek. "Don't worry, I'd let you hold my trophy for awhile, Senior. Now if you let me."

But Agent Flirty had different plan. A sudden tug on her wrist, she twirled and landed straight on his spread legs. With her came down, in pitter patter, the first drizzles of the monsoon.

Her palms grabbed his shoulder in search for support, her face smashed against his chest. He moved afar a little, back rested against a pillar, smiled inwardly as his gaze fell on her, eyes of honey casted downwards, all flustered and jumpy.

"Don't get any wrong ideas, Shona. I'll be damned if I let my partner to catch cold." He cocked his head and shrugged.

Someone cleared his throat from behind. "Ahem. I can see you've taken your responsibility rather seriously, right Sunny beta?"

Mar gaye! There stood Rishabh Singhania, arms crossed against his chest, his dubious gaze fixed upon two thieves caught in act. Sanskar let her go as if he were electrocuted. His face fell though, that chit of a heartless girl ditched him for daddy dearest rather happily, not before pitching a no hitter.

"Goodbye, Sanskar... Oops, Sorry.What I meant to say... Bye, Sunny."

There, the thief was caught red handed.

**************************************
"I think I mentioned something about shooting that day. Right Sunny?"

Genetics was a cruel bitch. Both daddy and daughter could kill just by their cryptic, wicked smile. Rishabh Singhania as a father was one of a kind. Sanskar could not but thought an apt nickname for him, SCS, aka Sasur cum Saala as he recalled papa Singhania's incredulous wink and naughty streak.

"This Sunday night we'll have a game of laser tag. Dare to join?"

Sanskar couldn't believe his ears. Could it be assumed that Rishabh was happily helping with his romantic conquest? And he thought Maheshwari Senior was one and only Wingdad in the block.

Not that he was complaining. Sanskar could thank his stars that he was breathing on earth in one piece after touching or looking at a father's precious princess. Few months back Rohan got caught while hitting on a girl in front her father and ended up with a broken limb and earful of 'gaaliya'. Moreover, he was grounded for a month by his own dad, mortified by his "nalayek" son's deeds.

In that sense, Sanskar was one lucky guy.

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Treading on love lane was a dangerous game. A game where one had to be hopelessly pathetic. Who was to be blamed, a wicked pixie named Swara who had been hiding inside a body of angel? Or was it Sanskar, wrapped under her little yet graceful fingers, bound to be whipped for lifetime?

Let's say... both of them.

End result, he was gawking at the two storied structure in Dadar, constructed in a blend of Gothic and contemporary flavor i.e. a relic of traditional Bombay Architecture. An illustration of Nataraj with a flute was engraved above a lancet shaped doorway. The hoarding announced its name-"Sur n Tandav Academy", one of the most stellar yet underrated cultural institutes in Mumbai.

He couldn't remember when he had seen an artist as flawless, as refined as her. Be it hitting classical alankaras or jamming on guitar strings she was phenomenal. Academy must be so proud of her. He smiled fondly. He followed behind her vanishing form in that maze of narrow shadowy hallways.

He needed to irritate her, a sweet pay back for yesterday. More than that, he wanted to say goodnight.

Quite a few twist and turns after, few awkward glances from the guys and giggles from female populations, Sanskar forgot his lame, stupid motives. His tracks came to a halt before the dancing grace of Swara, his beloved mortal apsara.

Quite a vision she made beneath an age old chandelier. Pale pink churidar, dupatta tied to one side Swara was epitome of first blossom of spring. Jhumkas on her ears giggled, her long braid whipped the breeze as she twirled. Anklets around her naked yet pure feet chimed.

Saying goodbye suddenly was a painful option.

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After so long Swara felt liberated. Music might have dwelled in her heart, but dancing was her soul. Giddy with glee, her lips formed deep upward curve, soft chuckles left her throat as she choreographed the steps for annual spring dance skit. She looked at the kids around her as the music ended. Silence of few moments followed by and bursting voices and round of applause by tiny hands.

Time flew as she lined up her junior dancing troop, pranced around, counted steps. She was a butterfly over bunch of flowers. She mocked frowns when someone did mistakes, clapped and grinned if someone did really well.

After an hour she called it a night. There was this little chap, probably 6 or 7 years old, who was getting most of her attention. The boy was a menace, despite having shortage of one tooth he was every bit of lady killer in making.

She called the boy and handed him a large bar of chocolate as a token of encouragement from her side. Her pearly white teeth shone she flashed a proud smile. "You did amazing today. What's your name, champ?"

"Rahul, naam to suna hi hoga." Swara couldn't help but smile at the antics of little boy.

"In DDLJ his name was Raj. You know, right?" She bent to his level and kissed on his cheek. "Bye champ. See you tomorrow."

"Kabhi alvida na kehna, Shona."

Was it really him? For a moment Swara thought she was imagining him like she did quite often lately. There was Sanskar behind a pillar, gawking at her unabashedly. She expected him to vanish, blinked several times. Being certain of his presence she composed herself. Her mom had said once, too many chilis in a dish kill all other flavours. A little heat would hide her fluster, right?

"What are doing here, Mister?" She blasted a heated look with an intent to kill.

Sanskar wondered how sweet yet scary that death could be. Would he burn under her glare? Or would she take his breath away, simply by being herself, showing new shades every now and then?

His spirited Shona, fiery, challenge gleaming in her eyes, she stunned him in his place, her army of little angels stayed in the background.

And man, his heart galloped in millions. He loved this and he wanted to live. So he spluttered the shittiest excuse only a lost case like him could give.

"I came to pick up that little punk, I mean, Rahul." He forced a sweet smile at the kid, jealous for the fact the brat got a kiss, not him. "The boy you like so much is my nephew."

**************************

"Are you sure?" Swara blurted out and wanted to kick herself immediately. God, could she sound more idiot? Embarrassed, she bit her tongue. "Sorry, Pari bhabi doesn't look like a mother, let alone of a 6 year old."

"She is. It was an early wedding." He sighed. There! Lies just got married and started having babies.

"Board exams ke baad bhag gaye the kya?" She lowered her voice for the juicy bits of the story. She didn't want Rahul to hear about his parents, but curiosity got the best of her. "Desperate in love and all, huh? Can't blame your bro though. Pari Bhabi is too good to be real. Not a wise step, but probably that's why he feared the distance."

Of course, there was deep love between two families and desperation to save Adarsh from turning into a workaholic hermit. Sanskar couldn't help but feel little proud for his creativity. "You shouldn't blame me then."

"What do you mean?"

There! Again that suspicious frown. Sherlock's female version, huh! Never misses a slip."Hey, do you think I am a criminal in remand? As a senior I should feel offended. Juniors these days have no sense of respect."

"Respect? What are you? My nana ji ?" Swara teased but looked embarrassed nonetheless. Truth was, this guy had a power to mess up with her head, and she enjoyed these sparring sessions with him more than she should.

For Sanskar, urge of telling the truth was too tempting though. Because the inevitability of it was so overwhelming at times and played inside his head incessantly, like a broken record.

Because you're so gorgeous for the eyes and my heart that it hurts to be away from you. Or not to say that I love you.

***********************

Sanskar's first law of bluffing stated "Do it with style." Second law: "Know your audience."

"You lied. My mom told me lying is bad."Standing tall with his three and half feet glory stood with Rahul glared with all mean intention to bury the big guy under remorse. "Di should know you are a bad man."

That's when Sanskar decided, for this filmy kid, spy story it would be.

"Like all agents I've secrets. Some mad guy wants to take your Swara di away from you all. That's why I'm here." Yeah that crazy guy was himself!

"Like beauty and the beast?"

What the heck! Had he, the mighty ladykiller Maheshwari just been called a beast? Is there a new saying these days, like "Love is mutant"?

"Mmm.." he nodded, rather unsure. "I just don't want to scare her."

"Right. Girls get scared easily. Fine, make me partner and I'll keep secret." Rahul agreed, like he knew everything. He waved his hand but not before flashing his twenty minus one and half teeth. "Bye, Chachu."

And that was how Adarsh and Parineeta ended up with a 6 year old son within 6 months of their marriage.

************************************

Present: Eyes can't hold secrets

For the umpteenth time Pranav Desai flashed his long practiced courteous smile as some of his intended business contacts admired the new extension of hotel Excelsior Grand. By the awed look of the beguiled spectators,he decided the inaugural party was a raving success for "Built-In", an architectural firm that worked both on structures and interiors.

His course of thoughts stopped at the young mysterious lady behind the scene, who had found her recluse in the shadowy corner. And how he had found her.

Five months back, his sister Ruchira had called him for a favor, to arrange accommodation for her son's ex dance teacher. She also gave the idea that Swara Singhania being a fifth year student of B.Arch in interior architecture could help him in his projects, like many other part timers of his office. And that was the start.

When 'Built-in' had been contending for this hotel project, one fine morning she came up with the idea. Twelve exclusive suites, decorated by imitated works of twelve world famous painters including Indian legends. Easel en suites. As a sample 'Fida's Easel' was enough to be approved. Her decor and Head architect Akshay's neoclassical model together had sealed the deal for them.

But following day, she handed the charge to Jiya Agarwal, another experienced colleague and forfeited her deserved limelight. On Jiya's insistence she worked on few layouts and arranged artists who would be painting the counterfeits.

All these she did through mails and calls, without having any actual face to face contact. This office party was compulsory, otherwise he doubted she would have come.

All the evening Swara dodged human attention as much as possible. But it appeared avoidance could be a major crowd puller sometimes. Inquisitiveness seeks unraveling of the veiled. Thus she found Dheeraj Sehgal, a Delhi based renowned artist clearing his throat behind her.

"Heard that the original idea was yours, Miss Singhania." Dheeraj appraised the petite frame clad in a black kimono sleeved jumpsuit. A similar shaded beaded scarf covered most of her face, leaving a pair of beautiful eyes. Sad, detached and full of mystery.

"Jiya Ma'am gave life to that idea. I don't yet have that kind of abilities."

"Perhaps. But for eleven struggling artists you have been the guiding star."

Most of the businessmen might have been impressed with Fida, Dali or Van Gogh's replica works, but gallery owners didn't miss the stunning original works of those new painters' placed in the hallways and restaurant. If everything went well, their other works would have a chance to be showcased in an upcoming art festival.

Swara had never denied well deserved appreciation. She did go all the way to use her good contacts with arts institute students. But these days meetings people made her uncomfortable, even if they were words of compliments. So she mumbled thanks and turned to leave.

"Perhaps you've your own reasons. I noticed you tend to hide yourself, Miss Swara. But men are not blind. Where heart is pure, eyes can't hold the secrets. I can't see your face yet guess how beautiful you must be..."

Swara didn't stay to hear more. More than contempt off late she had grown aversion to any trace of attraction from opposite sex. One Sahil Sengupta had snatched her hopes and dreams. All she had was aspiration to live for. She couldn't afford another blow.

Burning child dreads the fire.

If only the world had been blind. Each and everyone of them. She hoped. She prayed.

Except herself. God knew how she had been yearning for a glimpse of him. If she had to be granted, she wanted him before her eyes without anyone knowing.

Dheeraj stood dumbfounded. He never thought his mere words would make someone recoil this way. What kind of mishappening had forced to build such strong fortress around her?

*************************************

Anuradha Maheshwari was morbidly worried about her younger son.

It was way past midnight, yet Sanskar had not been home. This late return wouldn't have concerned her had it occurred sporadically. But since Swara's departure such was his daily schedule and he had turned into a ruthless machine. There was madness in his dark circles laden eyes. At home in the dead of the night his guitar went wild, fingers bled as they ran through the strings leaving the picks aside. His gaze stayed fixed on the bedside table, where happy time was fixed in a frame. The shot was a candid one, Swara was laughing, her head tilted back as it rested on his shoulder. Wrapped in his arms, her back touched his chest whilst he was lost in her.

He looked peaceful, immensely happy.

The man who was crossing the doorstep at the moment on the other hand looked haggard, bitter and burning in the fire of revenge. The flame of which hadn't spared him, left in a state of anguish and grief.

"Didn't I tell you, Mom? No need to wait for me." Sanskar pointed at the dining table. "You know I don't have dinner at home these days."

"I know what a poor excuse of food you swallow these days. Sandwich and coffee, that too when you can't ignore Rohan's nagging anymore. Often you skip breakfast, work inhumanly long hours, barely sleep at night. Beta, are you trying to kill yourself?"

Sanskar spared a long look at his mother. Last few months hadn't been kind to her. His dad used to say the goodness in her had stopped her aging process. Was his theory right after all?

Otherwise why did it look like she gained a couple of years in such a short span of time? Was it because she had succumbed to pettiness of the world?

How was he supposed to forget those cruel biting words?

"Damned was the day you met her. I should've known. Thorns of the rose were bound to prick someday. I wish I had plucked her out of your life on the very first day. I wish she had never existed at all."

No. He was not supposed to forgive or forget. She should sow what she had reaped. She should suffer the same pain Swara's parents were going through.

So he chose to ignore her and headed towards his room.

"Great. You'll keep hurting your family and friends who have stayed by you forever. For whom?" Deep disdain in her heart made her look even less humane. "The girl who had bought only pain, scandal and harassment. I can overlook the harm she had done to family name. But you were almost going to be arrested because of her. You gave your everything to fight her battle and she wasn't even there to testify when they tried to frame you."

"Wow, Mom." Sanskar clapped his hands. Inside his wounds were ripped anew. He was reminded again of his failed promises. "You really are a piece of work. How convenient for you to forget everything. What she did for your precious family..."

"Yes, I forgot. You can hate me, but I'm just a selfish mother. After all these, I just want you to forget her." She was almost begging at this point. "And get married to any girl. I won't mind someone ordinary. Just move on."

"I have considered her my better half since the day she said yes. I can't forget myself, can I? I'm just a selfish husband, or in society's eye- selfish fiancé." His cold voice sounded like a vicious sneer. "Guess I'm truly a mama's boy."

************************************************

"Don't leave, baby. Don't end us. Please, I beg of you." She cupped the face he was forcefully keeping away from her. Her voice broke in despair. "You said you loved me."

"Love you? Huh, what a joke!" He jerked her and spat out. "Miss Ritika Sengupta, you and your lowlife brother, totally disgust me!"

He was shaking in rage. He couldn't imagine behind the charade of innocence, the girl who had been his girlfriend for last one year was a two faced snake.

"Miss Sengupta can you tell me where had been your brother that day?"

"Sahil bhai went to Nagpur for my birthday. I was staying there for a friend's wedding. I was happy to him, but not surprised really. He had never missed a single birthday. We even took photos. See."

Then thug of a lawyer from Sengupta's side accused Sanskar, of him being the jealous perpetrator. They portrayed Swara as a female version of Casanova and Sahil as an innocent who fell under her fatal charms. Mr Luthra saved the day for Sanskar  but court granted bail for Sahil until next hearing.

Ritika had lied for her blood. For that animal who had destroyed his friend's life. Breakup was not enough, she deserved ugliest hatred.

"Why don't you understand? He really was there. He wished me at midnight. Perhaps... Swara was confused." She seemed frantic. "Lucky, say something. You told she had been drugged."

"Confused?" Laksh hardly stopped himself from causing some physical violence. He went inside and came back with a box. "Look at these. Your loving brother's proud announcement of innocence. Look what Shona went through. Or should I tell you how he almost molested once her had I not reached in time?"

He splayed the half cracked frame and the letter Sahil had sent before her eyes. Not enough "substantial evidence" for the court. What actually that bloody term meant?

"Arey Lucky, why are you wasting your time. Leave her na. She'll defend her bhai even if she knows he was the culprit indeed." Ritika felt smaller as she heard Advik taunted from the side of window. "Like father, like daughter."

"I'll prove all of you wrong, Vicky." She pledged oath, looking all determined . "Once Swara turns up, I'll do anything to stand by her, help you to punish the sinner, even if it's my brother."

"Anything?"

Sanskar was standing by the door, a strange smile was there on the corner of his heavily stubbled face. He walked up to the sister of his mortal foe, stood face to face and appraised as if she were some sacrificial lamb. Ritika should have fled if she had sanity, but she held the ground and nodded.

"Are you sure? Even if you have to bear the brunt of revenge? You won't be allowed to hide the pain your boyfriend and the rest of us will cause from your family. And it will be so intense that after watching your animal brother will crumble in regret." His eyes glittered as if he were already savoring the taste of vengeance. "Tell me Ritika, will you do it?"

"Yes, I will."

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****Title song:
Do you want to know a secret by The Beatles
The band were very close to a record deal, and John Lennon wanted to marry. Their manager was very upset as he had been marketing them as 4 good-looking single British guys. John could not be talked out of the wedding so a deal was made. As the 2 could not afford a honeymoon, and did not have a place of their own, the manager Brian would let them use his flat for 2 weeks, with the promise to keep the wedding a secret. In the flat on their honeymoon, for obvious reasons, John wrote "Listen, do you want to know a secret?" John has said that the secret in question wasn't necessarily that he was married, but that he finally realized he was actually in love.