Swara had the leading seat towards the laptop. Sanskaar, right behind and Asha stood a bit tensed.

"There we are." They were just a step behind to view if he was selected in the entrance exam, "On a count of three, okay?"

She announced. Sanskaar had a stiff composure from the amount of pressure. Good lord! He had to crack in. It was the first step to seal his goals of becoming a prosecutor.

Not that he was not confident. Yet, the fears of what if's had quite a nice hold on him. I would pass- Sanskaar repeated in his mind, eyes stressfully closed as Swara started her count.

Three, two-- and Swara paused. Well, she already clicked the enter option to the student login of the college website. Her hazels etched to the screen as her internal chants of prayers took a pause.

"Why are you--" She cranked her head to be greeted with Sanskaar's frown and alerted shoulders. Without a moment of delay, Swara had her arms thrown around his neck.

Sanskaar's eyes looked beyond her shoulder frame, direct on the screen. He was visibly frozen. All the raised thumps of his heart found the exact time to skip a beat.

"Congratulations." It was Swara's warm voice that poured against his ears, made him come to reality. This--- everything felt like a dream.

A long dream that was now a reality

Reality.

He was aware of Asha's happy squeals and her rush to the kitchen to fetch something sweet. Swara in his arms had withdrawn, her hands reaching out for his cold ones.

"Snap out of your anxiety my handsome boyfriend. We are safe." She assured. Oddly, it was she who gave him warmth, not him. Yet it felt nice.

Asha returned with a bowl of sweet rice pudding (kheer)  Not sweeter than her smile though. She fed Sanskaar a spoon full with misty eyes.

He embraced his dearest lady and mumbled some nonsense chatters to make her smile. Which she did very soon. Sanskaar stared at the picture frame. His grandfather's.

Are you happy? - He had the urge to ask. His grandfather and him dotted this dream, this goal together. Now that he took a stable step forward to reach the goal, he was not there to witness.

Times as these make Sanskaar miss him more, think of those what if's scenarios. Finally his gaze landed at the painted family portrait. 

His grandfather shall not reside in the form of the human body. But would always be around them. Watching them. Sanskaar smiled.

And then he looked at Swara. Beams of joy that she could not control, spilled through her lips and sparkled in her eyes. Sanskaar held out a hand.

She had told him for numerous times of what a warm family he had. Of how the grandmother - son everytime managed to pull her heart strings.

But today, Sanskaar wanted her to know. She was already a part of the family she adored. She was his family alongside his grandparents and he grinned.

Because she knew.

As now her hand laid upon his. Willingly. Sanskaar recalled Asha's words - being selfish. It would be worth it to give it a try.

To be selfish. For him. For her.

~

"Right on time! Sanskaar, let's escape before your girlfriend gets us dead just by walking." Jay whispered into Sanskaar's ears.

Sanskaar sighed. An hour down since they accompanied Swara for her sudden shopping spree. Bestest part? She picked nothing from those three stores they visited and came for another.

"I see you have no plans of seeing the world tomorrow Jay." Sanskaar's commentary made Jay's facial features scrunch, "You have a devil of a girlfriend."

"I hear whispers." Swara reached the boys with two hangers on her hands, "Bad whispers about me?" She placed it on Jay after the other.

"Aye! We were just praising you." Jay pressed his lips for a visible forceful smile and Swara glared at him. Jay must have forgotten. She was his bestfriend for a god damn reason.

"If I catch you both planning again, Especially you Jay Sharma. Say goodbye to your legs." Swara turned back to the racks. For her focus laid only upon choosing the right clothing for her boys.

"You've become vile. I call you a merciless witch for no reason!" Jay whined. But all of them were unheard or royally ignored by Swara.

At last, they settled upon a leather jacket that satisfied Jay and Swara about the choice. She also managed to shortlist a few clothing for Sanskaar too.

"Guys! Listen. I should hurry now." Jay had the biggest silly grin on his lips as he looked up from his mobile, "I'm going for a date."

"Stop smiling silly. You are blinding my eyes." Swara cried when Jay literally threw his arm around her, "The timing of you getting me a new jacket and my date literally coincides."

"It should be my celebration treat and why am I getting tagged instead of being the main man of treating you both?" Sanskaar was still against the idea of Swara gifting them.

"Sanskaar! Your girlfriend has some surprising knacks under her sleeve. Enjoy the royal privilege you're getting." Jay remarked.

"And also because you deserve it." Swara placed another shirt on Sanskaar, only to make a face. Nothing satisfied her. It was neither the colour nor the pattern that didn't suit.

"Oh yes! Make sure to visit the store opposite this one after your shopping." The other two took a minute to check which store and it dawned on them. Lingerie store.

Sanskaar coughed at the sight. Swara was ready with her fist and threw daggers from her eyes, "Jay Sharma! Can you come closer?"

Jay managed to step away a little far, laughing at both of their state. No matter what, the shades of red on her cheeks and on his ears couldn't be unseen.

"Forget him." Swara shooed away and picked a selected clothing. It was just a plain solid black turtle neck t-shirt. Not a big or a grand one. But this one was his style. Simple and classy.

"You are spoiling me." He pointed and she paused and her eyebrows shot up, "As I should. I've literally been spoiled from all the overflowing love you shower."

"Now time to return the favour. Go and get changed while I get rid of that monkey and come." Swara urged him to enter the trial room.

"Both of you get a room! Take my suggestion and visit the opposite store. Who knows it may or may not come in handy." Jay made an entry again to come up with a cheeky tease when he saw them together.

Sanskaar wanted to laugh. A seething Swara and a save-me Jay were having a fight just through their eyes. Well, he would rather be a spectator and enjoy the fun.

"You just called upon your death wish." She shoved her sling bag on Jay who dodged the hit. Thanks to his reflexes. But she had already followed him behind.

Sanskaar glanced at the clothing. Swara's enthusiasm had not slid even for the slightest in the hours of shopping. She still remained energetic as before.

He already knew; the next time she calls for shopping, he would very gladly reject the offer. Sanskaar went to change. Definitely, he was not going to dampen her happy mood.

Swara returned in a short time. That annoying monkey bestie of hers was gone for good after they billed for the jacket. But her entire world paused.

Her boyfriend-- oh god! Who gave him the permission to look like-- Swara couldn't blink. Black did wonders on him but it was that damned turtle neck that made him look like heaven.

Yes. Heaven, for her. Sanskaar stepped forward towards her and could not move. She could not breathe. Swara felt butterflies down her stomach.

"Sanskaar."

"Mm?"

"Don't you dare go before my aunt wearing this. Like just don't. Ever. If you don't want to become a model." Sanskaar chuckled softly the way her hazels had darted wide with stars in them,

"If it weren't for my passion for law, I could have taken fashion given the number of pushes you'll give me." Swara could have dragged him if not for his life goals.

"Too bad, the law school and the court are going to bag such a handsome face amidst them. What a shame." He shook his head at disbelief and with a big smile, "Anyways, we are buying this!"

"We can't buy this one Swara. The price is beyond reasonable and moreover, the size seems large to me." Only then she noticed. It was not an exact fit to wear but was not too baggy as well.

"You have no say about the price boyfriend. My choice, my rules. Now let me check about the size." Instantly, Swara moved to the rack to check for the smaller one.

There was none available at the smaller size much to her disappointment. She seeked help from the saleswoman and even that fetched nothing.

"This shouldn't be much of a nuisance if you can wait. It may not fit perfectly now but as you grow, it will."

Swara looked at Sanskaar. It should be okay to wait a bit for it to settle well on his frame. The saleswoman's words had totally convinced her.

"I can see you wear it for a long time and not for only a few days." He couldn't deny it after that. Sure, like the saleswoman and Swara said it would fit him well someday if not for today.

She did not want him to change and Sanskaar surrendered; yet again to all her desires. Can he ever say no to this girl? - he only wondered.

They spent their evening together in the usual way- sips of beverages, some talking under the dusk, a lot of flirting and being just them.

The real them.

Time ran faster that they had to retire back to their respective homes. Sanskaar and Swara almost reached her mansion. Hardly a lane away. But they had no plans of withdrawal from each other.

Sanskaar had been talking. Too indulged to notice the heart eyes Swara had for him. The outfit already made her insides flip and to add more sweet torture, he had to grin brightly more than a sun often.

It was a good day. Out of all, he was happy and a happy Sanskaar was quite an amusing sight to see. He speaks more, laughs more and hesitation does not cloud him.

Swara loved him this way. It suited more on him; the Sunny vibes. She had not realised how they reached her residence, what he spoke to her for everything was a blur.

And all that she saw was him.

Only him.

In an instance, Swara tugged his wrist to pull him closer. The abrupt action startled Sanskaar and even before he could ask; a kiss at the corner of his lips undone him.

"Stay like this. Always! And congratulations." Swara made soft mummers near his ear and stepped back with a smile.

Sanskaar sighed. Thankfully she gave that space to recover or else-- he blinked to steady himself, "What was that?" He gasped.

"Gift for the day." The tease evident on Swara's tone as she answered him. Just as Sanskaar was about to catch her, she escaped from the hold with giggles.

"That's unfair!" Sanskaar exclaimed almost like a kid whose candy was snatched. He had no idea such dangerous thoughts ran in her mind.

"Well! Everything is fair in love and war Romeo." She teased. Swara almost stood at the edge of entering the mansion. Safe place from his threat, "Good night."

"I'd revenge you later. Good night." Sanskaar at last had a smile. The biggest among all the smiles he had for the day as he walked back home.

Swara laid back on the bed the moment she entered her room. A few shopping bags they purchased together carelessly strewn to the side.

The ceiling greeted her view for another night to pass. She felt like a living dream- to be this peaceful, this content with life and surroundings with her dearest people beside.

If it was a dream, she did not want to be awake. Nor if it was a reality, she did not want it to change. And all she could do was hope.

Swara cranked her head to the side. But her eyes caught the particular shirt that stayed at the bay of the bag; half in and half out. Oh! Sanskaar's shirt.

She had forgotten to return it, for that teasy fiasco kept her busy. A faint scent of his lingered through the shirt that she now had her hands on. It brought a huge smile.

Anyone could call it a non-sense if she confessed of how she found the same solace of a person even in the things he used.

Nevertheless, Swara had already made up her mind. The shirt would never return back to its owner and so does that owner himself.

~

A fresh daffodil bouquet rested on his hands. Aditya; still in a formal dressing and weary features as he stood before a door he had not thought of coming. Ever by himself.  (even if convinced by Swara)

Yet, there he was by the almost mid hour of night. Aditya's gaze faltered to his wrist watch- Exact midnight and the time he waited for. With an exhale, he rang the bell.

Coming- he heard a vague word and footsteps reaching closer from the other side. His grasp on the bouquet tightened at that.

A debate about the goods and bad of the meet kept him busy throughout the journey. Now that he heard her; even if he wanted there was no escape.

The door swung open. Sharmistha had words, sharper than blames to attack for intruding her space at an ungodly hour. But everything vanished in thin air.

Aditya stood there with flowers. He had no formal smile; nor a frown he used to give her- her son looked normal. Tired but very normal. But was he real?

"Can I come in?" Aditya had to break her musings. For the older lady seemed to not believe his presence, something he couldn't believe either but he was there. In front of her.

"Please." Sharmistha let him in. So, he was really there- She could help the small smile that slipped through her lips. But she had questions. Plenty of them.

Aditya sat on the couch and had a brief look around his surroundings. The awful silence lingered around; a very uncanny feeling that Gagodia mansion gave.

Sharmistha had to ask him for preference of beverages or food to be served but Aditya refused any of them. Instead, he asked her to be seated.

"Is it about the company matters? Or any paper signature work?" She enquired because she knew how workaholic her son was. Midnights do not matter if he wanted things to get done.

Work matters? Good heavens! He came straight after hours of work with flowers, without a break to be called out like that?

"No it is not. I--" Aditya paused. This was much hard. Harder than all those meetings that brought fright and tense to others. How could such an easy say be this different?

Sharmistha was amused. Changes did occur in their equation but it never reached the personal level, just not yet and she accepted that.

For a difference, today it was Aditya reaching out to him. Nothing about business but about something else. It warmed her heart.

"Whatever it is about, this could have waited till morning Aditya. You look awfully sleep deprived." Sharmistha could not ignore the fallen features of her son amidst all.

"Are you pushing me away?" Again? He wanted to add. The question was rather the six-year old Aditya had to ask when his mother came after months and left him. Again.

Same ache, same yearning mirrored in Aditya's eyes- just the small boy had now grown into a young lad. Back then she noticed but failed to recognise.

"I won't. Not anymore." Earnesty reflected in Sharmistha's voice. She once made a mistake, a grave mistake and she would never repeat it ever.

Aditya acknowledged with a nod. Somewhere in his heart, tight knots that kept suffocating him had started to wither. Slow yet stable.

The awkward air made shift into a calm one. Sharmistha and Aditya dwelled in the comfort of each other. After a long time it was peace and not conflict.

"I came--" He grabbed the flowers and stood up. In the passing time, he forgot the purpose of his coming, "Happy Birthday." Aditya smiled as he forwarded the bouquet to her.

Sharmistha stood frozen. Her birthday-- she usually kept no records of them nor did it matter when she had no one to spend the day with.

But he remembered.

Her loving son remembered when he had no obligation to do so, despite all the cruelty she had done--- Aditya bore the date in his mind.

"Thank you."

Sharmistha embraced Aditya abruptly. A certain realisation dawned on him; he missed the mother's warmth or maybe his mother herself no matter how reluctant he was to accept.

He savoured the moment, hands still fisted to his side because it was these arms the young Aditya wanted around him years ago.

To ensure her presence near her. To provide warmth of a safe cocoon she usually gave. It was all back. Late. Yet, she was back again with the same mother he once lost.

The present Aditya now had both- his heart and arms open to embrace this woman. The distance still remained but it was not as wide as before.

"You grew so much." Sharmistha held his arms. Her son was so small the last time she hugged him. And now, it was she who hardly reached the base of his throat.

Aditya's lips curved up with misty eyes. Years of rift did not let be this close, physical they were but their hearts always reminded.

He had so much to tell her and he would unwrap all of them slowly. Now that she would be with him. Always.