"Finally exams over!!!" Aditi squealed in happiness and so did Swara. Jay and Sanskaar watched the girls planning over to go for a shopping trip in the upcoming holidays.

"So what's your plan?" Sanskaar asked Jay.

"State finals is coming in three days so I'll be busy with the practice then of course all my days will be spent with my friends." Jay said casually.

"Is it only friends or girlfriend?" Sanskaar winked and teased him.

"Her too." He managed to utter inspite of the warmness that spread on his face on the mention of her.

"Okay I've got practice see you." With that Jay fled away and Sanskaar laughed seeing him run while the girls looked at him confused.

"What is it Sanskaar?" Aditi asked.

"Just-- boys things." He replied with a chuckle with the thought of how Jay flushed.

"Aditi, you told me that you have to go for the cross word competition after exam." Swara reminded her since Aditi asked her to remind.

"Oh shoot! Thanks Swara." Aditi thanked her with a bear hug and even before Swara could reciprocate, Aditi had already sprinted her ways because the competition was about to start in few minutes.

"Sanskaar could you help me? Actually I was about to ask Jay but that idiot already went." Swara asked him rubbing her nape.

"Don't be so formal. I'm always at your service, your highness!" Sanskaar replied dramatically and Swara giggled.

"Then let's get it started!"

~

Laksh winded up the notes he was writing. He closed the book and looked behind to see Swara's seat empty. Wondering where she would be he walked towards the old biology lab which was out of use. He had no idea why Sanskaar out of no where asked him to come to the unused lab.

When he entered the lab it looked as if no one was there. Laksh walked further with his own footsteps echoing which made his heart beat raise with an unknown fear and confusion but he still chose to walk in but  all he saw was the skeleton model beside the dusty window and the white screen moving due to the wind. When he sensed someone behind, his eyes widened.

"Happy Birthday!!!"

A startled Laksh jerked from his place and looked behind trying to catch up his fasting breathe and pacing heartbeat.

"Aish! Both of you really--" Laksh's words trailed in air when he saw both, Swara and Sanskaar standing with a big smile on their faces. Swara had a very small favourite chocolate cake of his with a candle lit on her hand while Sanskaar had colour papers stuffed in his pockets and a popper in his hand. Laksh was surprised.

"Happy Birthday Laksh!" Swara again wished him to bring him back to sense. It felt no less than a dream.

"Blow the candle." Sanskaar pointed at the cake to which Laksh nodded and blew the candle. Sanskaar threw the stripped colour papers on him and burst the popper that made all the colourful papers fall on them.

"Happy Birthday bro." He quickly engulfed Laksh in a hug and wished him.

"Thank you." Laksh thanked him. Ofcourse, his morning started with his family wishing him but he never expected someone to wish him but Swara and Sanskaar did and he was truly very happy.

Swara forwarded a plastic knife to him as Laksh sliced the small cake into three slices and feed both of them as Sanskaar and Swara too feed him.

"We would have got you something bigger but then all we could do in the school is only this much." Sanskaar reasoned. If he had known it before then he would have got something for him. They didn't share the best friendship but then they both were good teammates.

"That's not needed Sanskaar. You have no idea how much this means so much to me." Laksh said with a genuine smile.

"Oh--" Swara's voice trailed as soon as heard footsteps.

"Who's in there?" When a sudden harsh voice boomed in all three of them flinched at their places.

"That's Mr. Matthews. Laksh and Swara hide." Sanskaar ordered and walked towards the entrance to manage the situation only after shrugging of the colourful strips that was on him.

Swara quickly dragged Laksh to one corner to hide. If Mr. Matthews finds them they he would sure make it a big fuss about it and not to forget they were the member of the student council.

"Sanskaar? What are you doing here?" Mr. Matthews asked adjusting his spectacles in doubt.

"Sir someone had misused the lab." Sanskaar pointed the crap papers that was lying on the floor, "So I had to check if they have left any other clue." He quickly managed to lie without stuttering even though his heart was pounding fastly.

"Hmm.. find it soon." With that Mr. Matthews left the room while Sanskaar left a heavy sigh and so did the both of us. Making sure that no teacher was coming on the way he asked Swara and Laksh to come out.

"He's giving the responsibility to find the person who was behind the scene." Laksh commented with a grin and Sanskaar nodded with a chuckle.

"Hmm.. find them soon." Swara intimated Mr. Matthews and all three bursted out laughing.

~

The entire Gagodia's were present in the Maheshwari's house since it was Laksh's birthday. Laksh had immediately got everyone's blessings from the elders even though his heart craved and his eyes waited to watch the person come.

"Swara didn't come?" Annapurna asked as she didn't find Swara with them.

"She's coming with my daughter." Shafali replied with a smile as the women continued to gossip while men were busy indulged talking about business.

Swara entered the garden with Mia in her arms as she was informed that the party was on the garden by the watchman. When Laksh saw her enter, he smiled and so did she. Mia quickly nudged Swara to get her down and when she did, the little girl ran towards Laksh with a goofy smile. Laksh held her as soon as Mia reached and pulled her up twirling.

Mia's laughter caught everyone's attention and made everyone smile.

"Luckyyyy.. Happy Birthday." Mia hugged him as she wrapped her small hands around his neck.

"Thank you cutiepie." Laksh kissed her hair softly with a bright smile making Mia giggle. By then Swara had already walked towards him with a warm smile, wearing a dark blue evening gown, her hair tied in loose ponytail letting few locks fall free. Just with her sight, his heart fluttered numerous times.

"Happy Birthday Laksh." Swara wished him and gave a side hug since Mia was already in his arms. Laksh had his eyes closed to savour the moment.

"You already wished me." Laksh said as they broke the hug.

"I have the chance to wish for the whole day. I'll be back." Swara excused herself to greet the elders.

The party was consisted of only close relatives and very close friends from their work circle since Laksh didn't want to have much grand celebrations but his parents convinced him to have a small one. He watched everyone around him was happy, her family, her and even him.

Swara felt a strong gaze throughout and she knew it already that it was him and chose to be silent. She turned a little and watched Laksh and Mia giggling, maybe he had cracked some jokes to her.

She was about to walk to them when she saw her father coughing that alerted her. He wasn't much immune to cold and the night was quite cold which made her worry. Swara quickly got a glass a warm water and gave it to him.

Shekhar grabbed the glass and drank the warm water and only then he felt better. He quickly mumbled a thank you and handed the empty glass to Swara. Swara placed the glass on the nearby table and was about to leave but then was stopped by her father.

"What is it dad?" Swara asked with her ever chirpy voice that broke something inside him.

"How did you do your exams?" Shekhar tried to make a normal conversation and that made Swara's eyes widened in surprise.

Her father talking to her? Voluntarily? And softly ditching his hard tone?

Yes, she was definitely dreaming.

"Swara?"

Swara saw her father staring at her and it only made her realise that she wasn't dreaming and even if she was, she didn't want it to end.

"I did well." Her voice choked a bit as she gulped in the tears that was forming in her eyes.

"How's school?" He enquired. Shekhar understood the turmoil she was facing. His daughter couldn't believe that her father was talking to her, normally.

"Ah.. it is good. I love going there." Swara answered with a happy grin. She felt as if her dream was coming true but somewhere her mind told it was nothing but a delusion. 

"Dad is it really true? Am I really speaking to you?" Before Shekhar could even answer Swara shook her head in no, "No, how and why would you talk to me?" Swara slapped her own head and walked away unaware of the chaos she had created in someone's heart.

Shekhar's eyes turned more softer watching his daughter disappearing amidst the crowd and unknowingly his hand was in air trying to call her and tell it wasn't a dream.

"Dad---" Aditya's voice trailed as he watched his father looking at Swara who had walked away with a longing eyes. Hearing Aditya's voice, Shekhar turned to watch his son standing still with his eyes flashing nothing but hurt.

"Aditya--" Shekhar was about to talk but Aditya stopped him by showing his hand, "Let's chat later." With that Aditya walked away.

Shekhar stood struck as he watched both the directions where his children had descended leaving him behind, alone. Aditya talked nothing except for discussing about business and nothing else while Swara did anything and everything without saying no to his words. His heart constrained with immense pain by the thought of how he couldn't be a good father to his children when the duo siblings left no stones but made him a proud father.

"Bhai." Shafali placed her hand gently on his shoulder as she watched her brother in pain.

"I failed my children, Shafali." He left a heavy sigh and walked away to find some peace leaving behind his sister who prayed for the family's happiness and reunion soon.

She sneaked out from the elders group and went to Laksh and Mia. Swara forwarded the gift box she had brought for him.

Laksh saw the gift wrapped box and then at Swara. Before he could protest she had already placed the box on his hands.

"Open it." She said.

Laksh sighed and removed the gift wrapper and then opened the box to find a  new watch from his favourite brand.

"Because you have to be punctual when it comes to time keeping and you lack in it." Swara remembered how Laksh missed to reach the class before time and end up getting scolded. When she thought of buying a gift she couldn't think of anything else but a watch.

Laksh was in daze. The piece of information made him surprised. He thought she never noticed him but she had. She even remembered his birthday and took a step forward to wish him by taking Sanskaar's help, it made him happy. Her doings for him was a great deal for Laksh that he couldn't help but smile fondly at the watch she presented for him. He knew she did everything only as a friend but then lover side of him only found it as another hope even though he knew it before hand where it would end.

"I too have a gift." Mia shouted in excitement breaking Laksh's trance. He saw Mia who was forwarding both her hands up asking him to lift her and he did.

"My cutiepie has a gift for me?" Laksh asked softly and Mia nodded her head in yes, "Where is it?"

Mia wrapped her hands around his neck and gave a cheek kiss with a grin.

"My gift is the best na lucky?" Mia asked with hopeful eyes while Laksh chuckled.

"Of course the best of all." He answered making the little one squeal and hug him tightly and so did Laksh.

Swara admired the bond they shared with a smile. Mia could easily jel with people with whomever she liked, just like her. She could easily judge them in minutes being in their arms and when she was with Laksh, she easily communicated with him and loved him like she did her. 

"Shona see I won." Mia stuck her tongue out to tease Swara while she held Mia's ear and twisted a little one making her whin.

"You little brat!" She commented and left her ear seeing her whin too much.

"I still won! Shona monaaa." Mia again sang playfully and Swara made a fake angry face and raised her hand, acting to hit her while Mia quickly nudged her face in Laksh's face hiding herself from her sister's wrath.

"Shona mona... good name actually." When Laksh teased along and gave a hifi to Mia, Swara made a poker face to both of them while the other two had a good time teasing her. In the end Swara too laughed along with them.

The elders exchanged glances with a bright smile seeing how happy they both looked with each other and thought it was a right decision but then, they failed to realise that they had made a grave mistake which had the power to snatch the happiness and destroy the future of their children's life.

☆ A lost time can never be found again, A lost memory can never come again and some broken heart can never mend perfectly, again! ☆

A beautiful cover by SamairaRajput
Thank you for this cover cutie❤️

I'm tired of saying this but then I couldn't keep quite too. Votes have decreased but silent readers have increased too. I feel so blessed, trust me.

I have no words!

Love,
Diya❤️