Days passed quickly, mostly attending regular classes which they had bunked few in the name of council meetings. Exams have already started tiring every student. Toppers had their nights spent with books under the night lamps and hot beverages to keep them awake, Average students managed to study few chapters to pass amidst the laziness they felt because they didn't want to hear lectures from their teachers and parents while the under scorers didn't bother to study and definitely was not going to sacrifice their precious sleep for the sake of exams.

Jay hardly had sleep due to his practice for his upcoming state football matches and his studies. Aditi managed to cover almost every chapters with few still left in due. Arya spent some time with his photography and studied important question with others on glance. Laksh too had started studying to give his very best for the exam. Sanskaar who had already covered all the chapters before handed and so had ample amount of time to sleep after revising them and Swara did everything as usual except for getting up very early or to say just past midnight to start studying and covered almost everything.

Swara sat on her usual spot in the cafè to have her favourite beverage and relax herself from the exams stress. Surprisingly she didn't see Sanskaar on the cash counter when she entered. Wondering where he would be she sighed and put on her head phones with a random melody music that played from her playlist while she watched the flickering streetlights, people, vehicles and the night sky which shone brightly with stars.

"Hot chocolate for you." Swara averted her eyes from the view and turned to see Sanskaar standing. She removed her headphones.

"Hey, Mr. Flirty Romeo!" Swara greeted him as Sanskaar sat opposite to her stretching his arms a bit to relax his muscles.

"Hello, Miss. Juliet!" He greeted her back with a smile, "Finally we got just one more exam to hunt down after that we are going to have a good break and we've got a day's time for accountancy, Thankfully!" Sanskaar had been physically and mentally exhausted due to his part time as well as exams and his body was badly craving for the day when their last exam ends so that he could crash his body on the bed and have a peaceful sleep.

"That's a very needed break. Atleast today I can relax myself without books." Swara agreed to his points. All she wanted was to get her exams end soon so that they can enjoy their ten days holidays given by the school due to the end of the term.

"How are you doing your exams?" He asked casually since they hardly got time to speak other than subject related topics.

"Not bad I guess." She sipped her beverage after answering him.

"You don't get to say that Swara, You always say the same thing but end up topping all of us." Sanskaar narrowed his eyes at her while Swara laughed.

"Because I state true facts Sanskaar. I seriously don't spend much time with books and you know it better than all." She pointed out.

"And that's where you amuse me. I don't know how you manage to cope up in last minutes." He truly was.

"Magic!" Swara winked enjoying her drink as well as Sanskaar who had a frown on his face, she laughed again.

"Okay so my shift is done for the day. I'm leaving, so meet you out in ten?" Sanskaar asked as he got up from the chair.

"Yes, out in ten." Swara agreed with a smile and watched him disappearing through the back doors, fading away from her sight.

Swara collected her things and after stuffing them in her sling bag she walked out of the cafè.

Sanskaar came out of the cafè and watched Swara sitting on the bench with one of her mesmerizing smile playing on her lips while her eyes twinkled the same way as the stars which she was watching.

Feeling his gaze Swara looked at him.

"Urgh.. Sanskaar, the night is still young so I don't want to go to my house at the moment to stay in my room. I'd rather be here so if you want you can go." Swara said because she didn't have the feel to go back to her house but rather stay back and watch the stars.

"If so then I'll accompany you." Sanskaar replied and sat beside her with a smile while Swara smiled back and was back to see her favourite- Stars!

Sanskaar on the other hand leaned back on the bench like her with his eyes closed for a minute embracing the mild breeze that hit both of them.

He didn't know why but he felt Swara was more than what she showed. There was more to her story, the way she couldn't sleep at night, the way she couldn't stay even a second in darkness or the way her eyes speaks than more she does. The confessions Swara made had raised so many questions in his mind. Sanskaar wasn't sure if he was right or wrong but then it makes her more mysterious and dark than what she was.

Swara leaned back staring at the stars without a blink as if they were going to be stolen from her if she moves her eyes even for a second. Sanskaar broke his trance and noticed the way she stared at the stars and wondered why she stared at them that way. He had zero interest in staring at them or to say he didn't have time. He occasionally watches them but don't look or fancy them they way Swara was looking at it. 

"You like stars?" 

"Correction, I love them." She beamed. 

"What's so big about them? I mean like yeah they look pretty but staring at them as if your life depends on it seems so absurd." Sanskaar said. 

"You definitely need to watch and learn looking at them." Swara stared at him and then back to the stars. Sanskaar waited for her further explanation. 

"Every time you look at stars you can't help but dream more. They constantly remembers you of how your dreams can be fulfilled inspite of the dark life you live in and how brightly you can sparkle. They are the constant reminders that tells you that you'll be okay even if you had bad dreams and someday you could shine like them, brightly." She smiled dreamily. "Stars brings hope to your future better and keeps reminding you that there will be a day where people will look at you in wonder and stare at you the way they stare at Stars."

For that minute he saw a another shade of Swara that he has never seen. Besides the night city lights and the sparkling stars he still chose to look at her. He stared at how her eyes shone with every word she spoke and the smile in her lips. He didn't know if Swara was a writer but her words weaved magic in his heart. 

"After your words I don't think I could look at stars the same way, ever again from now on." He broke the stare and looked up at the stars with a smile and Swara broke into a slight chuckle. 

"Now what did you think of Stars before, Sanskaar?" Swara asked. She was curious to know his answer since she loved to hear  different point of views from different people on something. It gives more view of one's soul and the world they hide from others.

"They..." Sanskaar looked up at the stars, "They're a beautiful chaos." He completed his words looking at how they both were sitting under the blanket of stars above their heads that were twinkling on the dark sky.

"We are the chaos and the beauty by person, we are the lighting and rainbow by life and we are the thorns and roses by heart but that's not I'm asking you, Sanskaar." She breathed, "I asked you why you don't fancy them?" Swara asked since she know he didn't answer, she felt it.

Sanskaar who had his head tilted upward to watch the sky, watched her staring at him waiting for the answer. He can't hide anything from her, can he?

"I did fancy them but not after my grandfather passed away Swara. It didn't make me see positivity and gave the peace as it did before rather it only made me remember of longing. Stars made me miss my grandfather because he loved stars too." Swara was definitely able to understand how he felt. Longing aches your heart and burns your soul.

"But I think I can more no more see them that way but instead see how they brighten someone's life and reminds them to hang on. Thank you!" Swara's words had made a change in his heart. Maybe he was too stubborn not to leave those hearty yet painful memories that he chose not to look at them.

"Everyone has different point of view Sanskaar, What you hate the most that they might love the most because they consider that as important while you don't, Ironically! Few accepts them while few stands still with theirs and that's how life goes on." Swara whispered locking her eyes with his eyes.

"I wonder how you manage to speak like that." He said, astonished. Sometimes she managed to steal all his vocal powers with her words and make him speeches.

"When books becomes your bestest bestest bestest friend you will be able to speak more like this. Wanna a try?" Swara asked in a playful tone. She knew Sanskaar would rather choose to read his studying books because in one of their conversations he mentioned how he had no patience in reading books and had not completed not even a single one he had started.

"Why do I need books when I have my best friend to teach me those?" This time it was Sanskaar who winked at her and Swara gave a I-am-impressed expression.

"Best friend and all, huh? Not bad." She nudged him with a smile while he laughed.

"That you are." Sanskaar admitted. He could still remember how they both fought like crazy people for silly things but he had never thought at that time they both would be friends, forget about best friends.

"Ah! I got another best friend then." Swara beamed dramatically like a kid who got her favourite candy making Sanskaar chuckle and they fell into silence, a comfortable one. Both of them were glad of how they could speak their hearts with each other without any fear of being judged but rather being heard with patience and how they both spent time in minutes of silence without any words exchanged.

"Sometimes I get too tired of being under the light all the time, Sanskaar." Swara left out a sigh and watched the night sky. She felt so ironic of how she was leading a dark life even when she was afraid of darkness.

"It should have been." Sanskaar agreed. Not  every time a person would like to stay under the light. He felt light and dark, both were essential for the life we live in, "It takes darkness to know how valuable light is and you know it well because you have been living under only light for years, Swara. I don't know about others but I am so proud of you. I'm so proud that you never gave up with life but chose to fight. I respect you more."  Sanskaar stared at her with his eyes locked in hers trying to read her soul.

Swara looked at him shocked? Surprised? Amused?  She herself didn't know but she froze by the last sentences he had spoke. Her heart swelled in happiness and another unknown emotions embracing her to another world happy world that she had always dreamt about.

"I just don't know-- but thank you, Sanskaar." Swara thanked him genuinely because none had told her that. She had got so many compliments of how beautiful, talented and hard working she was but this one was so different from others and she wasn't sure if she even deserved it but then she's going to cherish it for her entire lifetime, she knew that very well.

"I didn't lie, you really deserve it." He said as if he had just read what was going on her mind. Swara couldn't help herself but left her lips curve up.

Even sitting with her, doing nothing at all made so much difference. It was a kind of peace and calmness which he usually crave for her and he got that with her. She felt no less than magic and he couldn't give it another thought because he already knew he wouldn't get an answer for his own question.

Just sitting next to him was like taking an sip of eternity under the stars that never tasted so good.

☆ They saw in her a bright star burning, and basked in the heat of her flame, but behind the bright she was smoldering for breath in the black of a life she never asked for. ☆

                                                       ~Atticus

I couldn't think better after seeing this quote. This was not the original chapter I should have posted but then I posted this for my peace of mind and I hope you find yours too.

jasmine_r22, cutiecindrella if weren't you both then I wouldn't have a able to write. So this chapter is dedicated for you two, especially ❤️

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Love,
Diya❤️