"So what's it?" Sanskaar looked at Jay who was sitting beside him on the coaching ground. He received Jay's call after dropping Swara to her house and said nothing except 'Let's meet!' and that confused him so much. Usually Jay doesn't ask him to meet him at a particular place, he would rather break the news in the call or let him know in school.

"I didn't know you and Swara were close." Jay chose not to answer his question first but rather ask him about this which eventually connects the answer to his question. Sanskaar was caught off guard as he didn't expect him to ask so bluntly.

"Credits to your often soccer matches and our exams, Captain." And Jay couldn't agree more. It was true, he was missing so many things that was happening around him. He didn't have time for he himself and his entire concentration was about his passion and the dream he always wanted to fulfill, To play soccer for the Indian team. Jay sighed.

"Nothing can be done about that but I'm glad Swara at least had someone near her when I'm not able to." Jay had a ghost of smile as he sipped in his cool drinks tin. Sanskaar too smiled at his words. The way Jay loved his best friend Swara was something very adorable and admirable. If only he had a best friend like--- Oops! Doesn't he have Swara by his side already?

"Have you seen her cry?" Sanskaar turned his head to see Jay. He wasn't getting the fact of why he asked such random questions but that eventually let him remember those two fateful days he watched her cry so badly. Even now thinking about it, he didn't like it even a bit.

"I did, twice!" He confessed and that's where still Jay was amused. She doesn't anyone see her cry because she felt insecure about crying in front of anyone and thus she locks herself in her room or either go out somewhere to vent out and return back with a smile, even if that hurts.

"Sanskaar you see that girl, she-- she doesn't let anyone near her. Yes, she talks with everyone but she doesn't let anyone inside her world. Till now Aditi and Arya couldn't get into her world because she doesn't let them in. She loves them yet she had never let them face the raw side of her but you are different!" Jay placed the tin aside and leaned on the bench that was behind them. No doubt his best friend is strong but he had his own reasons to stay protective and possessive over her. He can never forget those days and nights that made her have deep internal scars which she still hides, he always knew but he chose not voice them until she does but today, it was a different story.

Sanskaar didn't exactly know what he meant about the last sentence Jay said but he did understand the other things. Swara was a tuff nut to crack and he knew how secretive she was when it comes to herself.

"It took me years to understand her Sanskaar and sometimes she's no less than a mystery. Her world had tainted her so much, she still fights like a warrior but at times she runs away too. She had changed so much." Sanskaar was able to find the void in his voice he had never heard before. He had not seen Jay that way because he always had this fun loving, super cool face.

"And now only you can help me to revive her back Sanskaar, will you help me?" Jay looked at Sanskaar with hopeful eyes and it only surprised Sanskaar. He was not sure if he could help much but he could do anything for the sake of his best friend.

"I will! What should I do?" And only then Jay was able to smile. He decided only after spending much time and discussing with his best buddy, his father.

"I can't fill in details about the past since only Swara has the right to let you know about. It's not mine to share so you asked what you should do right?" Sanskaar nodded in yes.

"Make her play the piano!"

~

Being bored of sitting in the class, Swara started listening to the class and tried her best to be attentive but Sanskaar had zero concentration on the class and he was still  thinking about the conversation he had with Jay last night. He turned his gaze towards Swara who was taking down notes. He couldn't help him but remember how she played the piano, stopped abruptly and ended up crying. Sanskaar didn't like her cry but whatever he was about to do had the potential to do the same very thing he didn't like.

It would hurt her too much. His mind popped up with questions to which he had no answers. The thought of hurting her made a pit in his guts but the process cannot be done unless she goes through the pain too. It felt as if he was asked to choose only one between the air and water to save the earth which are both important essential for living.

The bell rang indicating that the school was over. The entire class stood up to wish the teacher as she walked out of the class. Aditi and Swara looked at each other and they saw Sanskaar who was still sitting lost in thoughts with his book upside down.

"I thought Sanskaar and daydreaming don't coincident at all but I know think it's wrong." Aditi said teasingly. She had never seen Sanskaar out of focus and seeing it for the first time was quite amusing.

"Sanskaar?" Swara softly placed her hand on his shoulder and only then Sanskaar jerked feeling a touch but then relaxed when he saw both Swara and Aditi near him. He hadn't realised when they both came near him and it even seemed like the class was over too, "Is something wrong?" The concerned filled voice of Swara only made him feel more hollow.

"No, no!" Sanskaar shook his head as if it was nothing and closed his book.

"You are behaving so weird today Sanskaar." Aditi shrugged while Swara still had her eyes fixed on Sanskaar trying to find if it was really nothing. His words didn't satisfy her.

"Let's go then." Swara said as she picked her bag from her place and so did Aditi. Sanskaar too started packing up his bag and the three of them walked out of the almost empty class. They started walking in the corridors which lead the way out.

"Swara!" Sanskaar held her wrist that stopped Swara to walk further. She turned to look at Sanskaar and raised her eyebrows asking what it was. Sanskaar internally took a deep breathe in trying to pacify his pounding heart and clear his blurred mind but effortlessly failed.

"Swara, Sanskaar you guys aren't coming?" Arya only noticed after walking few steps forward with Aditi that the other two wasn't following and when he turned around he saw both of them looking at each other.

"Ah-- you guys move ahead, I forgot to submit an report in the office and will need Swara's help." Swara's gaze immediately shifted from her friends to Sanskaar with widened eyes. There was no such report and she wondered which report they were going to submit when it doesn't exist at all.

"Okay, then you see both tomorrow. Bye!" Aditi chirped and bid bye to both of them and walked out with Arya.

"Sanskaar you lied to our friends, why?" Swara immediately asked him without any delay. She knew he doesn't lie without a reason.

"I've got something to ask." Sanskaar retorted back without looking at her.

"Okay, what is it?" Swara questioned him and waited for him to tell.

"Mm-- Actually another recitals of mine is coming in this week and my accompanist will not be able to come so---" Sanskaar gave a small pause. Instantly Swara's face were draining out of colours, he won't ask what she had been running away all the while and put her in a tight spot right?

"Be my accompanist!"

Much to her dismay, the one she doesn't wished to hear from him came out. Swara shut her eyes painfully as a myriad of emotions hit hard instantly when he uttered those words. Swara knew she won't be able to do what he asks for, not now.. maybe not forever too!

"Don't-- do this!" Her chocked voice only made Sanskaar's heart heavier but he has promised Jay that he would help because he knew after all the pain she was about to face it was going to be worthy, every little tear she was about to spend was going to get the dream that faded with bitter memories. 

Swara wanted to yell at him, beat him to pulp because he was using her words against her but nothing came out from her. She screamed but in her own silence which no can hear. Her body refused to react too.

"Be my accompanist, Swara." Again he uttered those words, this time with a tender voice as he studied her painful reactions. Swara said nothing and slowly took few steps backward and later on ran away.

Sanskaar did want to follow her but he still didn't because he knew he had no right. He hurted in the first place and convincing her will not retrieve the agony she had been going through. He sighed heavily.

Laksh stretched his hands as he entered the block. Teachers had asked him to help them out and completely exhausted him. That's when he saw Swara running towards the opposite direction of him, getting out of the block. When he was about to call her since he forgot to tell her something before, she only bumped into him but still said nothing and ran away confusing Laksh.

Laksh had no idea what happened to her that she didn't even manage to look at his face and mumble a sorry like she does. He wanted to inform her that his family and himself was about to visit her house tonight but the way she ran told a different story and Laksh instantly knew something was wrong.

☆ Everyone wants happiness, No one wants pain. But you can't have a Rainbow without a little rain ☆

A short update by bunking my online classes every last 5 minutes today. I know that sounds ridiculous but still that's how I managed to write this up.

Special thanks to Mystical_Reviews for making me dance like crazy when I saw the review with 5.5/5 rating. I'm still doing somersaults whenever I remember it.

To all my super supportive readers, I'll start picking up sooner as possible!

Love,
Diya❤️