After a long time, she saw dreams- happier ones with no ghosts of horror swarmed to destroy that.

Blue skies and lush green grass in their garden, Swara views everyone she held dearly close right before her. Her family, friends-- they all call for her.

Yet, someone's absent. Oh! It was him. She looks around and finally spots him there. Alone. But with that same boyish grin which often flutters her heart.

She takes a step forward and him backward. But still in her view. Still with a smile. But far away from reach.

Swara turned. Beams of the dying sun slowly wore off her dream and made the reality slip in that she opened her eyes.

Weird dream.

Almost six in the evening; Swara hardly had remembrance of dozing off at noon after Mia excused to go to Aditya's room. Later-- well she did not remember anything else.

Her preparation for the second round had kept her busy with practices that left her exhausted. These days she was so oblivious of how sleep gets to her.

Swara gathered her locks into a loose bun while her mind wandered on the particular dream. Why would Sanskaar move away? No, he'd never do that- she had blind faith.

Nonsense! It only managed to make her mood bitter. Swara walked out of her room. If anyone could lift up her mood now, it could be only Mia since Sanskaar might be busy at work.

"Slept well?" Aditya asked. A pause to the file check he did as he watched his sister descend the stairs.

"Yes." Swara sat on the couch next to Aditya, still fighting the sour mood as that little brat was not upstairs "Where's Mia?"

"Wasn't she in your room?" Reema came from the kitchen to handover a glass of juice to Aditya, "Both of you were playing?" She glanced at her.

"We did. But she ran away to bhai's room and I slept. Not sure if Mia returned back but even if she did, she's not there upstairs. I just checked."

Aditya's eyebrows knitted and lips pursed at confusion, "She did visit me. Hardly for ten minutes and was off to your room while I returned to the office. Just now I dropped in to take some documents."

Swara stood up, abruptly, "I'll check the wine house and garden." On that notice, she stormed out to look out for Mia.

Reema took the downstairs and Aditya, the upstairs. They looked all around and assembled back to the hall, hoping Swara had got hold of her somehow.

Instead, Shafali came in. Aditya and Reema seemed to have a worried expression etched on their faces,

"What is it?"

"Was she there?"

Swara too returned with empty hands, unaware of Shafali's presence calling out for good news. She wasn't there; her hazels darted wide.

"Who are you three looking for?" Tensed faces. Shafali looked around. Her daughter had not come to greet her, that was odd, "Where's Mia?"

No answers. It dawned on her--- Panic faces and her daughter not in sight, Shefali's entire frame hardened, "Is she missing?"

The other three had to exchange worried glances as fear sank into their hearts.  Because after a hunt of search the answer was damn clear,

Indeed, Mia was missing.

~

Sanskaar was familiar with roads, atleast certain areas due to his part time. Now that he strode on one such, few lanes away from home, Sanskaar did not have his mind to himself.

It was lost. So was he.

Asha's health had massive improvement. Fatigue and flu gone.  But it was not easy for him to bring back the anxiety that soared. It usually takes time, a lot of it.

He could neither share it with Swara. Definitely not when she had her own work to focus on. The particular would only divert and cause worry. Something he did not like.

Sanskaar was glad for the time out that unexpectedly came as the cafe owner took a holiday for the cafe. He was unaware or else he could have called Swara for a walk.

Not that she would not come if he called now but he just didn't. Sanskaar wanted a time out for himself; to breathe and settle these pessimistic thoughts down.

He sighed and looked at the sky. The sun had almost set, leaving traces with shades of reds and oranges aesthetically blent. Sunsets- pretty as always.

Sanskaar continued to stroll but paused at one point. That particular kid behind the stone bench was quite familiar- blue dress and pig tails.

Oh! He knew her. That baby girl who had a gorgeous smile, enough to brighten the entire world.  Nothing about her was dull so today shouldn't be one, can it be?

"Never expected you here."

Mia craned her neck to her side. Sanskaar was already there. The usual smile but she could not return the smile back.

"I am hiding."

She was seated there. Hiding? Sanskaar did not let his mind ponder more and instead, tried to read her.

"Mumma says it's rude to ask people to be silent. But I do it-- Don't ask me anything."

"Okay. Do you mind me sharing this hiding space with you?"

Mia patted the grass beside her. The moment Sanskaar sat, she scooted closer to him. Her small hands played with his larger ones.

She would not talk and he would not initiate either. Regardless, he waited with patience.

"There was a speech competition-- for father's day." Mia started slowly, "Everyone spoke about their father. But only I did not. Because I don't have one."

Sanskaar was not sure what pierced his heart more; if it was her words nor how battered she looked as she said that.

"Everyone has a mumma and daddy, so why don't I have him?"

He knew that miserable emotion he saw in Mia's eyes, the yearning and wounds that would inflict for the rest of the life. Sanskaar had been there too, still there.

His classmates have bullied him countless times. Why? Everyone brought their parents who were young. And he brought his grandparents who always seemed like a misfit in the group.

Why? The parents signature had always remained empty on his report card. It was just guardians for the world. Not parents, even if they are more than parents for him.

"I don't have a father too." Mia blinked when Sanskaar patted her head, "You can't celebrate father's day too?"

When Sanskaar said no, Mia was quick to ask the question she longed to ask her mother, "Can we call them back?"

He wished. Sanskaar had the share of times asking this question to himself back then when his grandfather passed away. Not all questions get the deserving answer, do they?

"They are gone for good Mia. We can't call them." He said, "But why only us?" She rebuked instead.

"Because we are strong. Stronger than all of them who bullied us. Stronger because we have the bestest mother who provides us more love than anyone else."

"Mumma is a superwoman. I know." She agreed in pride, "But am I strong too?" Mia's hazels swam with curiosity. An uncanny similarity the sisters shared.

"Like a super hero? But I don't have any powers." She pondered, a hand on her hip and finger on her chin as she stood up.

"Who said? That smile of yours can beat any super heroes. But currently it is missing. Should we file a case to find it?"

Sanskaar saw her face bloom back to normal. The smile driving off all the dull colours from her face. Mia was too young to think of such flaws in life.

Life had a long path for her. There was no rush for these harsh truths to storm her happiness. Just not yet.

"So my smile is the power?" A large grin had settled on Mia's face. Something that made her adorable.

"Yes! And so is your strength. This should be a secret okay?" The minute he stood up, Sanskaar scooped Mia in his arms that she giggled all the while,

"Okay. But will it still be my power even if my tooth falls?" She pointed at a missing tooth and it only made him chuckle. The little one was growing well, "Even if the sky falls."

"You are my favourite superhero." Mia had her arms around his neck as she kissed his cheek and beamed at him.

"Likewise superhuman. Now let's get you home. We can't make your supermom or your family worried anymore, can we?"

Mia bobbed her head as they, together made their way back home.

~

Shefali refused to go inside. Tears strained face and hopeful eyes stilled by the gate, she waited. Reema had been near her while Swara paced to and fro.

The creaking sound of the gate drew everyone's attention. It should either Aditya nor the security with some news regarding Mia as they went for a search.

Indeed, Mia had come. But neither with whom they expected. It was Sanskaar at the far end of the driveway walking closer and the little one ran towards others.

Shefali went by her knees to embrace her daughter. Tears glistened at relief. Reema and Swara displayed the very reaction as they saw the mother- daughter's reunion.

After Swara informed Mia's safe arrival to her brother, her hazels shifted to Sanskaar. He had his eyes; melting eyes to the others with a smile.

Shefali couldn't help but be grateful to have her daughter back. Safe and sound. Mia was the sole reason for her existence, "All of us were worried. Don't repeat this. Ever!"

"Mumma, I'm sorry." Mia tried to wipe away the tears while Shafali chuckled at the attempt, "I will not go alone. Promise."

"How long was she out?" Sanskaar asked. The evening almost fell when he saw this little munchkin being on a hide.

"Should be more than three hours. None of us knew when this brat disappeared." Swara glared at Mia who by now was out from her mother's arms to reach out to Reema and her.

"Shona. You don't like me?" There goes her Trump Card; the puppy eyes that always melted everyone like ice on the pan.

"You--" Swara almost wanted to chid, it was by the edge of her tongue until she remembered Mia was still her favourite kid, "Come here." She lifted her, "You okay?"

"Yes! Because of my superhero." Mia stretched her hand towards Sanskaar who seemed to have a conversation with Shefali. Often consoling her.

Aditya stepped out of the car, the panic slowly fading as he saw Mia. She was safe, "Oh damn! She's alright." He sighed.

Looking out on those lanes, Aditya felt like losing his insanity. Good god! Only after seeing Mia he could feel the lost breath coming back to him.

"And this is--Sanskaar." Sanskaar turned to greet him. A minute or two and Aditya recalled him, "You found her? Where?"

"We have a few crooked lanes for walking a little away from here. Vehicles cannot get there. She was there." He filled in some details.

"Mia! How many times have I told you? To never go out on your own?" Mia hid herself behind Aditya's legs and peeped with a famous innocent look.

"Once again, thank you Sanskaar. I hope she hasn't troubled you much." That was the tenth time he heard her thank him, "Mia is an absolute sweetheart. So you need not worry about that case."

"Well, I should leave now." After all the purpose of his presence here was completed, "Sanskaar you should stay for dinner."

"I'd love to but my grandmother at home would be waiting for me." He replied back to Aditya's request. Well, she wouldn't eat a morsel if not for him beside her.

"Atleast have tea with us. You brought our child back home and we can't send you like that." Reema insisted and so did Shefali.

Sanskaar's gaze moved to Swara. She was there. All smiles on the lips and stars on her hazels, "Stay."

She mouthed. Needless to say, Sanskaar could not refuse the proposal anymore. Not after when Swara also joined the rest of them to make him agree.

The tea affair with Gagodias brought all the visuals of what he only heard from Swara's narration. People she lived with were a combination of warmth and cold; Sanskaar felt that.

Reema reminded him of Asha, just in another version. Shefali being termed as the coolest aunt was no joke and there's Aditya; cautious and polite with word exchanges.

Ten minutes down, Swara handed over a cup of chai and said, "Consider mine atleast ticking off the basic level. I cannot beat your pro Max mark."

"Pro Max?" Shefali enquired.

"I work at a cafe. Part times. The very one Swara often visits to sip in chai." Sanskaar gladly provided the needed information.

"Particularly his chai." Swara took a seat opposite him, "You'll ask for more, trust me. That's how good it is." She could not help but praise his coffee making skills.

"I should make a visit then. Someday" Aditya said. There were two reasons. One- he loved coffee, too much for his own likeness. Two- Sanskaar.

Swara's confidence in Sanskaar and the boy's ways of reaching his sister was quite surprising. He would definitely love to learn more about him.

"Did anything happen at school? I saw her being moody earlier." Reema questioned Shefali. For she knew Mia could not be easily dazed from her usual self.

"It was father's day speech. Mia could not give one." Shefali's voice turned faint as her head hung low. Times like these made her helpless.

She bared the role of two - father and mother. Yet, certainly there are things a mother cannot fit in for the shoes of a father, no matter how good she can be.

Mia missed him. Longed for him. And it infuriated her but a part of her ached. Her daughter deserved to have a father too.

But not that man of ugly heart had snatched what she dreamt of a happy family life. Not that man who gifted wounds and scars and drowned her in misery. 

This was him. Shefali wanted to confess it all to her. Just not today, but someday. For she was still young to bear such a heavy heartbreak. Till then she has to wait.

"It worries me. I hope she's not bullied much.." Shefali left a heavy sigh. By the time Mia made an entry, she had to come up with a happy facade.

"Mumma! I have some-ting to say." Mia tried to climb on the couch and when she failed, Aditya gave a helping hand, "Tell me?"

"I will not be upset if I miss dad." She dropped herself on her mother's lap and looked at her, "Because I am strong. I have superpowers."

Sanskaar winked when Mia looked at him after she told her mother about her powers. Of course, the silent interaction was noticed by others.

Shefali felt her eyes brim with tears again. She could not help as she kissed her daughter and caught up with Sanskaar's eyes,

"Thank you."

Swara's hazels slightly blurred with unshed tears. Right on time, Sanskaar looked at her. Gratitude was way too small for what Sanskaar had done.

Because he would never know how by saving Mia, he saved Shefali from ruins. Of how the impact of his words managed to reduce a little burden of what she carries.

And he may not realise.

She smiled.

~

The cold breeze of the night welcomed them as they stepped out of the mansion. Sanskaar and Swara walked together along the drive way.

"I've never been thanked so much like that ever before. I literally lost count." Sanskaar mused aloud. Never did he had an inch of idea of being poured in showers of gratitude this evening.

Life can be a lot surprising.

"Well, I haven't shared my part of thanking you yet." Swara had to remind him, "No! Not you too." His exclaim brought laughter to both of them at the end.

But when it died, Swara had paused for the walk. So did he when realised her absence beside him. He waited for her.

She struggled to voice them. The words she wanted to convey had gone, absorbed by the heavy lump in her throat. Though, she tried,

"Sanskaar I--"

He had closed the distance by the time Swara tried. Sanskaar held her hands on a firm hold, eyes assuring her as if he knew what it was about.

"You don't have to." Sanskaar's tone had turned soft at the shift of her emotions. It must be hard, even if the matter was sorted, the panic needed time to settle.

Swara's grasp on him tightened. For some bizarre reason, the dream from earlier came to her. However it was his warmth that affirmed her.

He would be there for her. Always.

"By the way, your chai did pass the basic mark but you cannot reach my level." She did not know even a simple tease could make her grin.

"My results are tomorrow. You are coming, aren't you?" Sanskaar changed the topic in ease.

Swara sniffed softly, nodding her head, "Of course I'll be there." She said. He gave an entrance exam a few days ago, not long after her preliminary recital round.

"You both are still here?"

Both of them looked behind to see Aditya walk towards them. Their intertwined hands were gently let go off from each other's hold.

"He was about to leave." Swara answered. They were just a few steps away from the main gate.

"You saved the day for us Sanskaar. Thank you once again." Aditya shook hands with Sanskaar. But what caught their attention was Swara's efforts of stifling the giggles.

"Hardly a few minutes back he complained about the piles of thank you's he received."

Though Sanskaar passed a you-better-stop-now glare with a forced smile, that did not affect her.

"It is given when you play a hero role in someone's life. On that note, It was really good meeting you in person after a long time." Aditya commented.

"Mutual feelings S-- Bhai. I should get going now. My Grandmother would be waiting." As Aditya gave a nod, his eyes moved to her.

"Bye Swara." He mumbled and she did the same. Nothing in words otherwise, but it was their eyes that spoke even in that fleeting moment.

Sanskaar left but Swara was still there. Her gaze fixed the way he had gone and Aditya knew. There were sparks between them. Undeniably. He could vouch for it.

"Are you coming in?" Swara asked as she shifted her view to Aditya. He shook his head in denial,

"One mess got a solution. Another one awaits me at the office. He sighed as he looked at the file in his hands, "Let me complete it and come."

"Okay. Come soon." Swara's hazels slightly shifted back to the gate. Ah! She did not want to go in. Yet ultimately she had to for Sanskaar was no more at sight anyways.

With a sigh, she left.

Aditya could not exactly pin point. Just not yet. But there was something about the boy and his sister- that much he knew,

Very well.

~

Sanskaar reached home in ten minutes. The usual routine was followed- Having dinner, cleaning the kitchen, making Asha gulp tablets ( the difficult phase) and that followed with getting her to bed.

Today, it was different. Asha had rare days of being with her dear grandson in bed together for sleep, excluding all her sick days of course.

"Did the Sun set East today?"

Seated on bed beside her, Sanskaar's wide smile reduced to an annoying scowl at that commentary, "I'm going."

He dumped the pillow aside and almost got up. Until Asha had to act amidst her laughter to hold her boy back. Sanskaar sat, nevertheless with a frown.

"You say anything dadi." The frown still remained as Sanskaar slipped under the sheets next to Asha, "It ruins my mood." He whispered softly from behind.

Asha could feel her grandson cuddle close to her back and a hand which rested over hers, played with her bangle precisely. A sort of habit he followed.

"Sanskaar"

"Hmm?"

"Happiness looks good on you." She noticed. Since all of those changes that happened in Sanskaar's life, she saw him visibly blooming. It made her elated.

"I am happy." Sanskaar agreed. These days he was happy. Truly. More smiles and laughter were added to his otherwise boring life. Lately thoughts as these occurred to him often.

Swara's life travelled all along troubled waters and it's been a while since it had all settled. She was happy and that only was enough to lift up his spirits.

No matter of the troubles, Swara has always felt like a home, a gentle breeze to him after Asha, "But is it okay to be like that?"

In instance, Asha turned to face Sanskaar. It broke her heart a little, "Do you think it is not Sanskaar?"

"No-- I--" He sighed at defeated, "It scares me dadi. You, Swara and everyone are doing good and if something happens I can't--"

"Sanskaar, one cannot stay happy. It changes, it shifts, it renews and if you are going to deny yourself from embracing them, you cannot live." Asha's warm hands found a way to his cheek.

"I don't know how to." Not entirely. There was always an alarm in him. Each time doubting. Each time pausing him to accept any that came with happiness.

"The world shall not collapse if you focus on yourself, your happiness for once. A selfless person trying to be a little selfish would do no harm."

"I'll try then." Sanskaar cheered up Asha. He had quite dampened her mood and was not going to continue anymore, "Now let's do the work we came for. Sleep!"

"There you go. I am the elder here." She faked a glare and Sanskaar royally ignored her words. Instead he wrapped his arms around and snuggled into her warm embrace, "Good night darling."

Asha smiled as she pressed a kiss on his head and closed her eyes to sleep. She made a small prayer before for her grandson for life to go a little favourable for him so that he can be happy.

Sanskaar observed her breathe slowly even out. On the other hand, Asha's words reeled in his mind. Selfish- the word felt more like a luxury; something he never wanted or tried to have.

But he can try-- if only time permitted him.