One Last Time - The creak of the front door, though vague was distinct due to the eerie silence of midnight in the house. Sanskaar sneaked in safely and made his way to his grandmother's room, hoping her to be rested already.

Just as he thought, the ivory room was enlightened by the dim gold night lamp but the old lady had already slipped in a deep slumber. Asha had sunk in the pillows yet not in a proper sleeping position. The book she read remained abandoned on the bed, her right hand placed on the particular page.

Sanskaar reached her in baby steps to lower her to the soft pillows gently and pulled the covers up to keep her warm from the cold winds. Asha was turning older he could say- her tender pale skin held more lines even when she rested and a few more locks of black had turned silver to join the majority.

Asha's presence alone was enough to put down his chaotic mind at rest, even if it was for a temporary cause she held that power to calm him. There were several times Sanskaar had kept her in dark, mostly about the extra jobs he used to pick up once in a while. The guilt that engulfed him everytime he does such stunts would vanish at thought of her disappearing smile. That was something he could never afford to do so.

He stroked away the streaks of silver that rested on her closed eyes. From the very moment, he would no more have a reason to hide things nor go through guilty trips until he was off to sleep every night. Afterall he had resigned those jobs for good before working for one last time. Sanskaar pressed a brief peak on her forehead before leaving the room, "Sweet dreams."

Back in his room, the royal blue shimmered in the flicks of silvery moonlight through the window and the wind screen danced in the tunes of the cold breeze of the night. No cold winds and moonlight bothered him much the way the band-aid palm did. Of cause, he had it changed twice a day but still those gentle damps of antiseptic cotton on his ragged skin and her soft touches lingered faintly.

As Sanskaar roughly threw his jacket on the arm rest of the chair, something fell down from the clothing and laid on the cold floor. When he bent to reach the unknown object, his hands retreated for a moment. It was the beautiful butterfly ear piece she dropped in haste and he picked to keep it safe. He had been carrying in with him all around.

Sanskaar leaned by window frame, the dark orbs trying to seek comfort in the midnight blues and moon's glow. The cold ear piece she left, he held it in his warm palm- so gentle and hearty that he could feel the coldness the silver metal emitted, sunk into his warm layers of skin. True, that his skin was warm but something in him remained cold.

Three dawns have rose and dripped into the horizon and was gone in abyss, and he had not seen her ever since they exchanged a conversation and she left incomplete abruptly from his sight. The crowded school hallways, teacher's lectures, presidental duties and side jobs besides- Sanskaar had so much to do. But her absence bothered him and fragments shared flashed across only to falter his focus.

Damn! he missed her too much that even verbal terms may fail to express the exact emotion felt. Sanskaar was so prone and addicted to her presence that for the past few days not having her beside got him foul mood. Even Asha pointed out the difference many times and he would casually shrug it away.

Frustration and longing was so high on him that he left quite a number of texts and calls which were all unanswered. Several number of times, his foot had lead him to her house on it's own but he just couldn't go in. The vow to keep himself away from her didn't let him in take another step forward, for he knew just a glimpse of her and he would melt.

Promises would be long forgotten, lines drawn for boundaries would be erased and Sanskaar knew he would loose it all and more. He was more afraid of the after consequences which might be both- positive or negative sides. How dare she torture him like that even without her presence, Sanskaar sighed as he collapsed on the couch.

Despite all these, a greater part of him got worried for Swara. Several thoughts about her well being ran in the very mind which opposed to think of her minutes ago. None knew about how she was doing; Aditi and Arya were clueless like he was and Jay, he had supposedly vanished along with his best friend. Sanskaar sighed, maybe he should give it one last time calling her.

In a swift, Sanskaar stood up to pull the mobile he had kept in his jacket. Much to his surprise there were missed calls from Aditi with quite a number of messages unread. He couldn't use his mobile on the working hours and Sanskaar was totally out of mind to check on his mobile after.

Sanskaar rather preferred to check up on the messages rather than calling Aditi at such an inappropriate time. A wide gasp escaped his lips on the account of seeing the messages- Aditya Gagodia met with an accident three days ago!

Damn! the news seemed to be all over the media channels from the evening and he had not come across even a single hint of it at all. Sanskaar ran his mind to all extends to remember the exact moment. Three days... that was exactly about three days he saw her rush away after a call from Jay as she told. Maybe it should have been after the incident.

A sudden spark of restlessness ran through his veins and his heart paced in panic at the thought of what Swara must be going through. He should check on her- yes! Sanskaar dailed her number. For instance, he had already started chanting repeated prayers to attend his call though he had no belief. He had to hear her voice, just once to know if she was okay and nothing else.

"Swara? Are you okay? You-"

"Sanskaar..." A faint tone after all his bombarding questions and it was enough to knock down his breathe away. Her tone devoid of the usual chirpiness and melodic phrase rather her voice had a kind of rawness that held unfiltered ache and devastation. As if she had struggled to even utter his name... how beautifully she used to pronounce his name and this one only broke his heart.

"Swara! Are you- no wait. Where are you?" Nothing mattered at the moment for Sanskaar; time, place- nothing! He could comprehend the amount of pain she would be going through, after all he was in the very place not so long ago. As far as he knew Swara, she would inflect self torture in alternative of showing to others. He wanted to see her at the very moment.

"Ho- house." Sanskaar stood up abruptly, grabbed his jacket from the chair, "Stay there. I'm coming." He whispered breathlessly as he stormed out of the room in haste. But the minute the call was disconnected, more of red alarm rung in him. No; she was not okay. Sanskaar ran with all his might.

Having her house just two lanes away felt like a blessing for the moment as Sanskaar sprinted, his footsteps were the only source of sound to rebound in the awfully silent roads. When her house was in his vision, Sanskaar fastened his pace and only paused at the entrance.

The gatekeeper watched the young boy approach him, catching his heavy breathe, "Uncle, Swara.. is she here?" Sanskaar had a hard time battling to bring his breathing normal, especially with the time passing by and not seeing her made his heart race and weight tons.

A lot of media people surrounded the residence since the news of Aditya's accident broke out. For sure he had seen him quite a times with youngest Gagodia but owing to the current situation he was not sure if he should let the boy in. Sanskaar who saw the hesitance in the older man quickly spoke, "Please.. let me just meet her.. please."

The boy seemed to be a lot more worried and tensed that his legs didn't stand in a place, his eyes wavered back to the mansion and him and despite the heavy breathing his plea was desperate. He would do no harm; with that conclusion he nodded and Sanskaar thanked him before he jogged further through the paveway.

Hoping everything would turn better, the gatekeeper retired back to his room at the entrance after all he endured a tiring day.

Sanskaar pressed the doorbell. The anxiousness in him were doubling in numbers in him as the door was not attended. He knocked the door twice despite the bell, impatience got into his nerves a little too much. The door lock clicked and his midnight orbs grew wider more eager to meet Swara. But everything froze at the sight before him. No ... this was not her, no!

"Swara!" He gasped in concern. A very dishevelled Swara stood on the support of the door, almost clinging on to the knob to keep her straight. Her face pale as snow with crease of stress lines adorning her forehead and tears sparkled in bay in the waterline was in sight everytime her eyelashes fluttered in slow motion.

He took her hands from the knob and she collapsed. Sanskaar pulled her towards him, let her face nudge on his nape as he held her protectively. Her body trembled and she was dreadfully cold against his warm, "You.. are here."

A relief was all Swara felt at the moment, though it was momentary before the flashes swirled back to her. Voices of past echoed in loops, she was tired of fighting them all. She wanted to surrender, give herself away to the demons willingly as a feast.The bitterness swept through her deep sense and everything looked hazy and everything was cold except for Sanskaar.

Sanskaar's exhale rattled at her quivered words, his midnight black glossed by the moisture and a heavy lump settled on his throat yet he spoke, "I'm here." He gently stroked her hair and her grip on his arm and collar suddenly tightened

The hike of fragments on repeat had completely snatched away the rest of the resistance she held with struggle. All the while Sanskaar stood as a pillar of support, stroked away the locks to soothe her and often took a worried glance. "Don't.. go." She mumbled softly with trembled lips.

The hand that clenched his collars in a tight fist had the drip bandage. Swara hissed in pain often, tears drenched her face and soaked his shirt. She was fighting, struggling to get away from the trauma that was taking in toll of her. The visible pain on her face and vulnerability in her low tone broke his heart.

"I promise. Just stay awake, for me." Sanskaar's arm tightened his arm around her, his mouth pressed to her hair and a tear rolled down as he tried to blink them away. She borrowed and nudged to seek all the warmth he had and he let her rest in his embrace.

Soaked in venom of memories that mercilessly haunted her, scratched the wounds until it was left in flood of blood; Swara couldn't get hold of herself in that torrent. Forceful she been reliving the hard times of past- hospitals, tears, blood and mourns. Getting back to the mansion was definitely a bad idea- after all the entire place only got her back in years.

It was him who held her hands back as she stood in the brim of the abyss with no ends, struggling to balance. Sanskaar's comforting words and actions were slowly pulling her back to the reality but then Swara knew she wouldn't be able to keep herself awake longer. The exhaustion of fighting a war against the demons remained and she wanted to sleep- to never get up again for a very long time.

"Swara who--" Reema halted and her words ceased abruptly as she witnessed Sanskaar holding on to a whimpering Swara. She was traumatized- Reema knew the very moment just by the glance. The lady knew Swara wouldn't be in a good shape, especially visiting the house but then she was too adamant to tag along.

Sanskaar pulled back, her blood shot hazels unfocused and distant as she inhaled and exhaled harder in trembled breathing. She shook his head often, helpless moans escaped through her colourless lips softly as she held him tighter for dependence, "Are you seeing things?" He softly questioned as he gathered her back in his arms, unable to bear her distressed condition.

"Mm." The flashes slowly dimmed away, black spots appeared often that she couldn't shrug them away. So Swara hummed in response. Pain seeked through every fiber cells active and flowed all the throughout her body. Even breathing felt like a torture to intake.

And just like that Sanskaar knew he had to take her out. The shudders and breathing wouldn't stop or calm down as long as she remained in the place that had triggered her to wits, "I'm taking you out. You can walk on your footing right?" Sanskaar shot a glance at Reema would nodded in positive.

Swara hadn't answered but stepped forward for the question he sent her way to answer. Sanskaar's arms came around her as a solid support as Swara leaned half her weight on him, eyes fluttered often. Reema gathered all the required stuffs that were in shortage of due to the stays overnight making sure if Sanskaar would handle Swara.

She would feel her head turning light and stinge of pain lingered with every foot step taken. If it wasn't for Sanskaar, Swara knew she would have collapsed all the way in the entrance itself. The coldness in her bones and heart shuddered her more that even the breeze of midnight did not manage to take toll over her numb layers of skin.

The chill breeze of the midnight blew in fluctuating rampo of speed as Sanskaar paused the walk. Swara remained unbothered nevertheless of the cold and had not shuttered more or less of the chilly wind. Not wanting for to get more sick, He wrapped her in his jacket and held her close, "You're.. warm."

Her throat burned to even utter a word for it was devoid of moisture. But Swara couldn't help herself from confessing Sanskaar of how his warmth felt so unfamiliar yet gave a cosy solace to her cold figure and heart. No wonder she found him as a warm person.

Swara's words stirred Sanskaar's heart in a painful swift once again. She had always labelled him as an warm person from a very long ago, it was not just today or the last time. But today, Sanskaar knew what she meant- the homely comfort and safety he emitted had moved her. It was surprising how she found him that way while he had not expected anyone to do so.

"Maybe I am?" Sanskaar sighed in disbelief, "Swara look at me." The tone was strong but somehow it sounded like a plea to himself. Nevertheless when Swara gazed at him blankly, blinking in drowsiness, the terror long gone as her eyes turned distant with no sparks of life, "None can change whatever has happened, it's done and dusted. Your brother's going to be okay."

Her eyes flickered to his as he stroked away the tears from her cheeks, his own throat tightened while he shook his head. Swara tore away her gaze and leaned against him, eyes brimmed with all anguish and agony she had refrained to let them out all these days. Tears slipped, her hands gripped his wrist in a painful hold but Sanskaar rather focused on her.

Swara sobbed them all in small muffles and silent cries owing to the very little energy she had left behind. There was so much guilt and recollection wrapped up in pain surfaced in her. How was she supposed to throw them away? When every one dear to her meet deadly ends for reasons that linked her in a way or the other- while some return, few didn't.

The vision blurs more by the moisture that pooled in the rims of her hazels and the other her view itself. Sanskaar was there near her, wasn't he? No! He was not supposed to. Swara steered herself away, blinking profusely as she staggered back with shivering body and drenched face, "No. Don't!"

He reached for her and she shuddered away in violence blinded by fear but Sanskaar managed to reach her shoulders to get herself a hold, "Swara!" She halted at that familiar tone of voice and stronger hands but suddenly everything had turned too dim to her sight.

She could feel the warm hand reach to her cheek as she tried to bat her eyelashes for a steady vision but nothing worked. Her limbs gave out and once again he became an shield. Sanskaar urged her to wake up, gently patting her cheek, "Swara? Swara?"

Afraid was just a short synonym Sanskaar could define whatever he had been going through. Swara was slipping into unconscious state, her eyes were closing and lips parted, "Sanskaar.." she whispered, "Stay awake." His own vision blurred.

Everything was fading and diminishing and Swara had no plans to return herself to the war of fighting on daily basis, she liked things work out this way- much more calmer and sinking down to an abyss where nothing would be heard or seen and she eventually passed out.

Reema who just came back in hurry with all the required things, stunned at the unconscious Swara and a frozen Sanskaar. She rushed to them and eventually Sanskaar placed Swara inside the car and tagged along to the hospital.

Even then, her hold on his sleeves were tight that Sanskaar with a heavy heart had to unclasp her hand before she was taken to the ward for the check up. Only after doctor ensured it was normal to pass out after getting triggered and she would be physical okay, Sanskaar and Reema breathed.

"How's Aditya si- bhai doing?" He had recollections of how Aditya had told him not address him in formal terms. Sanskaar was still not accustomed to call him brother yet that his words came out with lot of hesitance.

"Not the best. He should have gained his conscious already but still he hasn't." Reema casted a look back at the end of the corridor where Aditya laid lifeless with all those artificial machines and bandages in the ICU. His accident had tored off everyone's strong walls to crumble down.

"I hope he gets better soon." Sanskaar wished. Somewhere he had always looked up to Aditya as an inspiring man, who knows to handle and tackle every business hurdles at ease with professionalism. Now, at the moment to see such a powerful man in a limited space and no action sure made Sanskaar feel bad.

With a soft gaze and gentle caress on his hair, Reema took Sanskaar in a comforting hug. The ghosty look lingered on his exhausted face from the time she had seen him embrace Swara and been all strong. Sanskaar was definitely a strong child who had gone through hard times and maybe that's why she always had soft corner for this boy just when Swara had told about him. Sanskaar surrendered in her arms, eyes clenched to rub away the incident.

"You should go home Sanskaar. It's past midnight and you have school to attend tomorrow." Reema said and Sanskaar gently pulled away to disapprove her words. How could rest away and keep going when he knew she was hardly resting because of the medical drugs and going through worst time?

"Don't worry. There's a lot of people to take care of her Sanskaar and once her brother wakes up, she's going to sprint back to school." Sanskaar nodded. Of cause, as much as he knew Swara, she would definitely run back to school but what concerned him more was her emotional stability. She was awfully vulnerable.

With no much choice left Sanskaar agreed to go back home, unwilling not before getting permission to look at her for one last time. Swara looked pale enough to match the white sheets that covered her, the IV drip once again attached to her veins. Even while resting, a line of stress etched to her forehead and brows almost drawn together at the distress.

With a fragile hold, Sanskaar held her knuckles to his forehead. He was too terrified to wits and pained by heart to witness Swara in such an vulnerable way, this memory and the feel would always haunt him in the future. She doesn't stir as he pressed his lips on her hand.

He would ask for nothing except for the happiness of the two ladies who beholds a special place in his life. No suffering would be greater than watching your loved ones suffer and Sanskaar was once again pushed to taste the bitter poison. He wished things would turn better for them soon, for him and for her. Sanskaar pressed a forehead kiss and whispered,

"Come back soon."

A/N: Back again! College have started and I'm so busy with all the work and exams. It almost feels like I forgot how to write, so posting it with mixed feelings.

For the ones who missed Sanskaar, here he is 😉