Tiny specks of dust seemed to dance in the shaft of the noon sunlight that slanted through the glassy window. Drying her damp hair in the towel absent mindedly, Swara stood by the window with whirlwind of thoughts storming her mind. Though most of her features were in the shadows of dark, the little warmth that glowed a side of her face reminded her of someone - like soothing warmth in the barren winters and gentle breeze after the winds of stormy nights.

Instantly Swara slapped her forehead. She had promised herself to not think about him and here she was making metaphors on him. These unfading feelings and never understanding emotions that evoked in his presence had left her sleepless and thoughtless for the past few days.

Things had went haywire in her mind that for now she wants some peace. So she planned to not meet Sanskaar for the day and distract herself with something. Maybe she should switch off her mobile to keep her decision stand unfazed and that would only happen only without his mention. No one can stop her Mission: No Sanskaar Day!

And that's when her mobile buzzed, A message from Sanskaar. Swara hissed as she looked away from her mobile. No you aren't going to look into it - her mind warned her, Let's see what he wants - her heart barged and hit her walls of curiosity. Stuck between the inner battle, Swara sighed heavily.

Now her mobile flashed his name as he called her and Swara couldn't help herself from keeping away, Just his voice - that's how she convinced her mind and picked up the call. While her heart did somersaults for winning, her mind cursed for not listening.

"Shall we meet?"

That was all Sanskaar spoke but Swara instantly knew something was not right. His voice were shaky and disturbed. It didn't take a minute for Swara to say yes before disconnecting the call, all set to meet him. Letting her hand run through her damp locks that cascaded on her back and caressing the crease roughly from her simple emerald coloured summer gown, Swara took long strides to reach the entrance.

As the bell rang, Swara rushed to the open the door only to see Sanskaar standing a step away from the threshold with his hands tucked into his jeans. For a second, Swara thought she had started to day dream if not Sanskaar snapped his fingers to bring her back to the reality, "Sanskaar?"

To be honest, Sanskaar expected Swara to be surprised but not taken aback nor look at him with a question of whether she was dreaming. But sure he did enjoy the view, her beautiful big hazel's grown more wider, damp strands beautifully sticking over her nape and the emerald colour did highlight her milky skin. Suddenly, Sanskaar shrugged away his thoughts when he realised what he was doing.

"I'll take that as a compliment." His voice broke her trance. He must be real- she mused before she shot him with a questioning gaze, "Huh?"

"Either I should look like a palest ghost nor I should be looking charmingly handsome. And I prefer the second, thank you." Sanskaar gave a cheeky grin and Swara shook her head in disbelief. Okay, but then she had to agree about how good he actually looked on that casual open black red combinationated open shirt along with black tee undershirt, matched up with black jeans. His hair played on his forehead in the mild abundance of midday breeze while his eyes glintened with a tinge of tease.

"You called me to meet and you're already here." She pointed and Sanskaar lazily rubbed his nape, "I was too eager to meet you." Though it was never in the plan to meet her in house, Sanskaar couldn't wait for her to come that he himself made his way to her house and rang the bell with hesitation.

"Who was it Shona?" With Reema's call from the kitchen Swara came back to her sense. Now she had even forgotten her manners and it was all because of this boy who stood with that handsome cheeky grin and charming face.

"Come in?" Swara bit her lip as she cursed her fluttering heart and butterflies sensations. She wasn't supposed to make it sound like a question. Sanskaar though accepted the offer, was left confused at Swara's odd behaviour.

Sanskaar was basically awestruck by the grandeur the mansion had. The theme of gold and while the interiors screamed every inch of royalty and modernity blended in perfect proposition. He did picturised Swara's house to be impressive but never knew it would have such a magnificent sight to look at.

As Swara strolled towards the kitchen, her heart taunted her and laughed at the madness that was happening to her. Mission: No Sanskaar Day, huh? - it taunted and Swara surrendered in defeat. Seems like fate wants to revolt against her today, she sighed.

"Maasi, Sanskaar's here!" She introduced to the lady who stood confused at the sight of a young boy in the house. Reema gleamed with a smile when Sanskaar warmly greeted her.

"I've heard so much about you Sanskaar. Jay do have a tuff competitor when it comes to being best friends for Swara." Sanskaar chuckled. Swara sighed dramatically, managing two besties was sure a hefty job. If not for Sanskaar have been understanding, she wouldn't be sane because Mr. Captain was hell of a protective one.

"I guess, Swara is too lucky to have both of us." He teased and Reema let out a soft giggle at that. Swara had her jaws almost touching the floor at the commentary, "Ya! It's you both who are lucky to have me." She pointed.

And with the banters stretching on longer and longer, Reema sure had a good time laughing seeing the two bickering with tints of playfulness and teases. The house that usually contains the eerie silence except with the chirpy sounds of Mia, was now filled with bubble of happiness and laughter filling up the space. Reema and Sanskaar managed to bond in the nick of time and he took every opportunity to show off he had her maasi in his hands, just like she had his grandmother.

"Maasi I'm taking him to my room." Swara announced and Reema too agreed with that fact. She promised to make her favourite milkshakes for them and with that Sanskaar followed Swara once again to reach her room.

When she did, Swara left him alone since she was called downstairs while Sanskaar took a stroll in her room, examining the details. Her room sure told what sort of a person she was- artistic drawings over the walls with portraits hung, fairy lights adorned every corner of her room, an entire shelf was filled with books of all sizes and a big window still was present to perfectly have a seating and stare at the space.

The portraits were mostly a grouped picture and there were hardly just one or two for the girl herself. Wearing colourful attires and her hair neatly styled in some, the little Swara looked like every bit of joy and a bundle of sunshine. Her hazel eyes still looked big but pretty with chubby rosy cheeks. For sure, there was much resemblance with the little Swara and Mia.

"I'm back!" Swara said as she came with a tray of cookies and milkshake. Sanskaar though acknowledged her presence, his gaze shifted back to those frames. There were certain times Sanskaar had wondered about how her family members always seemed to be cold and distant but these pictures seemed to picturize the unsang heartwarming smiles they actually contained.

"You were right- Your room looks too spacious." She remembered herself telling how they would freak out in her room since it was vast and a little scary when they all planned for a sleepover. Swara smiled, "It is." She agreed and handed over the milkshake.

Sanskaar was able to connect the dots of why Swara never mentioned her house as home. Her room didn't give the cozy feeling of how he used to feel in his home though the rooms were small. Just like how the room had a perfect view, still there was an unvoiced void in it - just like how her life was.

For some reason, Swara felt his smile or that silly banters he'd been putting around was just a facade he had been putting on. It didn't reach his eyes and she was left in daze of whether she was actually over thinking or it was actually true. Leaving soft sigh, Swara sipped her own drink watching him explore her room.

Their trance were brought to a halt when her mobile rang and excusing herself she picked up the call which was from her aunt. By the time she completed Swara gave an apologetic glance to Sanskaar who already was looking at her.

"Well, Mia was promised to take her to the park for the evening and aunt suddenly got some unavoidable reasons to attend the clients. So aunt wants me to go instead for Mia." She spoke rather softly not knowing if Sanskaar would accompany her or not.

"Let's go then." With his gentle hold against her wrist, he answered positively.

~

The hues of colours the sun usually leaves behind making the sky aesthetic- worthy and a treat to the viewers who wants to muse over themselves after a exhausting day as they watch these beauty rays blend and disappear among the darkening sky. But with the sudden turn of events, there was neither the bright sun showing it's beauty nor it left behind molten drain of colours of the sun. The grey, gloomy clouds immersed in a blanket of grey stillness creating a gloomy surrounding.

After a long play of making Mia swing faster to make her happy, Sanskaar finally walked back to the bench were Swara had been seated and watching them. He slouched back on the bench comfortably and gazed up at the gloomy sky aimlessly, not a bit of sunshine peered through those thick ashen clouds. It was surprising how the sky matched his mood for the day- dull, depressing and dark. Sanskaar sighed heavily.

Swara let him have his own space for a time being but didn't fail to notice how he looked low despite goofing around with Mia. While unaware of all the chaos, Mia was playing to the fullest and managed to make friends too.

"Sanskaar, are you okay?" Her soft voice pulled Sanskaar back to reality. He shifted his gaze to his side to see her hazel's piercing into his, trying to know the real answer under his masked face. Sanskaar knew he wasn't alright like he should be. The sense of responsibility he's been shouldering around had started to burn his skin.

"Just-- tired." Sanskaar answered back. He was, Swara could say, the exhausting voice devoid of any brightness and the lost glow did tell her. But the way he looked disconnected made her worried, she was sure there was an unvoiced snippet of the tale.

"Have you spent some time watching yourself in the mirror? You eat like a sparrow or sometimes even skip the break by burying your head in the books. I wonder if you are even getting good sleep owing to those circles under your eyes. You look overworked and weary most of the time, what's bothering you so much Sanskaar?" Swara had been waiting to ask him about it but there wasn't a single chance he left behind to catch up for her. And what irritated the most was Sanskaar smiling instead of answering her.

"Will you believe me if I tell you dadi asked me all these questions before coming here?" He chuckled at the remembrance. Sanskaar was rather happy seeing both the ladies worrying about him, he had a hard time dodging all the questions before coming out. They fell back to comfortable silence with the little kids laughters echoing around and the rustling sounds of the trees filled the silence.

"Dadi's okay. You should stop fretting around and troubling yourself." Sanskaar was startled by her words. That very expression of his confirmed her suspicion about the matter, Sanskaar had been blaming and punishing himself for his dadi's last time's hospitalization.

"I wish I could." He left out a heavy sigh before he straightened and placed his head on her shoulder blade with his eyes closed. The day was still fresh and a raw bruise in his heart, the ache intensifies even at it's mere reminder. That incident pushed him further to do the extra part time jobs he had been doing in the dark without anyone's knowledge. The long run had completely drained away the will power and strength to run further, Sanskaar knew he was out of breathe and he had catch up to run further.

Swara stilled at his sudden action but eventually relaxed except for that racing heart of hers which she prayed to not let him hear. Without his own knowledge he was putting her in a baffling situation. While Swara was afraid of getting exposed and wanted to keep some distance, he wanted her to stay by his side, "Sanskaar--"

"Let me stay for a while." He closed his eyes. Somehow he could never get to do it with his grandmother since it would make her more worried. The hard feelings managed to take toll of him in such a way Sanskaar couldn't do anything but let it take the lead.

The pain of was still real and haunting, thinking of how painful was the first breath his lungs forced him to take, after knowing the one who held his fingers in his strong hold would no more hold him. How lonely his heart was when he stood in the middle of the crowded bus he took to work despite his bones cracking from within in agony and fear.

These merciless episodes of his life never fails to haunt him whenever he felt that huge hollow of his soul resurfacing on the brim of his heart. They scratch the wounds until it starts to bleed, yet again. As the dark blood soak himself while he lay on the side of bed with tears of anguish soak the bedding. His eyes darkened as the black hole and deeper as the Bermuda triangle.

Sanskaar had remembered the times of how he wished to stay back in the shadows of darkness and not a beam of light peak through those creaks of his window. The rays of bright gold blinded him and the withering bandages he had managed to put on with shaded tales of hope melted in molten yellow and burnt the bruises and left him with a notion of being exposed. Somehow, he felt as if he was going back to that every stage.

"You stumbled, fell but also raised to walk again." It was her melodic voice that got him out of the deep pondering and a weary smile pasted on his lips at her comment, " Falling down doesn't not show your weakness, it displays how exhausting the long run is that you want to take a break. A very needed break to pace back your lost breathe and strengthen your sore legs to start the play again, maybe today or tomorrow."

Swara had seen Sanskaar often forcing himself to bury into things too much that leaves a mark on him. The circumstances he had been in always pushed him to the edge, almost letting him stranded that he had to use his entire potential to come back again. Sanskaar would smile even if that was hurting inside and goof around only for his grandmother to think he was doing well.

"I'm hanging there. Just a little more and then I can finally relax." He spoke as looked up at Swara who had her lips curved up a little but those beautiful orbs were coloured in concern. Sanskaar had been saving up money for future expenses to be met in ease. He didn't mind about getting hurt in that process and if only both his ladies- Grandmother and Swara gets to know, he was sure to get an earful.

"Shona!" Came a screeching sound from the little Mia who was done playing with her new friends. The enthusiasm has still not decreased a bit that she wanted to play more and more until the night falls.

Sanskaar lazily woke up and waved back to the Mia who asked them to join her yet again. Swara was rather debating whether to let Sanskaar play owing to the fact that he was tired. As if he was reading her mind, "Mia makes it a little easy to breathe. Let's join her."

Mia had become the stressbuster to his depressing life. Sanskaar was not sure if it was that rambles and small complaints she put forth nor that affectionate, beaming smile she would have everytime she meets him. A little pain strikes off and heals in those rejoicing laughter everytime he twirls Mia up in the air. A little relief wash over his sense at those comfortable silence and warm shoulders Swara gives, like a constant reminder he was not alone.

Swara's gaze shifted to the little one walking towards them with that happiest grin beaming her bright face. True, it was this little human who managed to bring out the fading light in him and her, acted like an anecdote to their seering pain. "Come!!" Mia whined as she held both of their hands and dragged them to the ground to play with her.

The night has started to fall but the ashen clouds still seemed to overcast the gloomy state. The breeze had started to turn into cold wind but neither Sanskaar or Swara felt it anymore. The giggles of Mia managed to spread the soothing warmth they'd lost in the track of musings and tiring events.

That's how, a gloomy day turned out to be the brightest day for him. And that's how Mission: No Sanskaar day, turned out to a failure mission which she no more cared of it becoming Sanskaar day!

☆Dheere dheere se meri zindagi mein
anaa..
Dheere dheere se dil ko churana.. ☆

And I'm back after 1 freaking month! Hope I still have audience to entertain 🤧.

Love,
Diya❤️