Here is the next update. Please keep your expectations low as this is a small part I managed to type in midst of my trials to get over writer's block. This update sets the tone for the next few chapters.

Happy Reading. Let me know your thoughts. Ignore errors and typos.

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Sanskaar stood at the same place, his eyes fixed on empty darkness stretched before him. Only this time it felt like a warm embrace and he welcomed the silence and peace it brought him, unlike last time, landing him in chaos.

It's her..Swara. The feeling sank in slowly. His mind started reeling in events and all of sudden everything fell back into its place. This explains everything and it perfectly makes sense: the reason he was irrevocably and hopelessly drawn to Swara when all these years no one could hold his interest. That girl had his heart.

How could he be so blind? She was right before his eyes and he couldn't figure out. The call of his heart. He had been an idiot to ignore, trying to fit in the logic.

A ring on his mobile distracted him. He didn't even glance at the screen and took the call. Laksh.

"Are we meeting? " His voice came from another side. Sanskaar stood unblinkingly.

Yes!

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Her pulse raced and breath came in uneven and shallow as she ran through the corridor mindlessly. She managed to catch a bus in time and was thankful for finding a place for self. She drew in deep breaths in a bid to calm her inflated senses. She wouldn't call it steamy or passionate, the kiss and those emotions coursing through her. They were hard-hitting and intense where she felt every bit of his pain, longing and her own need for him after all these years. It was the same. Passion. Love is always one Right! A burning passion, flickering at times and smoldering at other times.

But she had another burning issue and there's only one person she could share this with. Swara headed straight to Gadodia house.

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"What? Swara?" Laksh was no less shocked at this new revelation. "Are you sure It's her and you are not mixing up both because you are unable to let either of them go ?" He tried to confirm. They met at his place over drinks. The swim - up pool bar at Mathur Mansion had always been a favorite hangout place for get- to- together and house parties.

Be it lazing out on sunny afternoons with chilled beer after a swim or a round of drinks and barbeque on wintery nights, this had always been the best-loved place for the duo right from college days.

"Of course, I am Lucky, 100 % sure. " Sanskaar replied confidently "I Know what you mean and where is this coming from. Post our discussion in Starbucks I have decided to move on, yaar. I genuinely wanted to give myself and Swara a chance, but you know the turn of events, Right!"

Laksh nodded.

" Trust me, Lucky! It's Swara. I can't be wrong . I mean..I know her. I know those eyes How could I not? They haunted me for years. Even If you ditch the eyes part, I know how she feels in my arms and I know how she tast..." Sanskar paused. He is not giving in details of the kiss. "You know ...I meant.."

"Aha! "Laksh cleared his throat grasping the rest. "Am I missing few details,?" He asked grinning.

Sanskaar grinned back. "You are not getting any. I don't kiss and tell."

"Well! I rest my case then...So finally, "Laksh stepped down from the bar stool holding his drink. "The curious case of the mask is resolved and the mystery is out."

"Nahi Lucky! Not yet!" Sanskaar shook head, his mind still wandering around Swara. " I still have so many questions ...and I need those answers. Why would she keep it a secret? Why the mask and all that night? On top of that, all these days she was this close to me, right before me and I didn't have a hint. She acted normal as if it's not a big deal. If I had been in her place I would have gone absolutely crazy staying away."

He would have, thought Sanskaar sipping his drink. How could she be so unaffected after what transpired between them 'that night' which turned him insane for years? Didn't it matter to her? Of course, It did. He did. The kiss then and today makes it clear. She loves him.

Then why was she playing in shadows all these while? Why?

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Kiss?

Ragini stared at Swara in horror who stood like a culprit and nodded in silence.

"Are you out of your mind, Swara? As far I remember you were trying to move on from Sanskaar and where does kiss exactly fit in your I -am -moving - on- plan. Don't tell me you got tempted ..and " Ragini scanned Swara's expression.

"Great! Whom am I talking to? You couldn't get rid of his thoughts even when he was miles away and was completely unaware of your existence and now when he is ten feet away from you, expecting you to move on is like ... "Ragini shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "I don't know, Swara. I am just trying to help. If you don't want to be helped..."

"No Ragini," Swara held her hand, "Don't say that. I am sorry. I shouldn't have but it just happened, but there's a serious problem. I .. I think he knows it me, that I am the masked girl."Swara mumbled hesitantly.

"What? Ragini freaked out, "He knows it's you? But how and ...Damn! Where are your specs? She gazed at Swara in horror, "You eyes, Usne dekh liya. Damn Swara! Ye tune kya kiya yaar?" Ragini asked in clear disappointment. Swara landed herself in more trouble.

Swara seemed equally upset and guilty too. "I don't know .. I just messed up everything. I .."

"Ok, Relax! We will figure out a way," Ragini assured not intending to upset Swara further. There was only silence other than the cool breeze rustling the leaves, the sound of the swing moving to and fro and both lost in their thoughts. Ragini was the first one to break the chain of thoughts.

"Swara, I will be honest. I never brought your theory of eyes and the guessing game around it. But If we assume Sanskaar knows your secret. There are two ways he would go about it "

What? Curiosity took over Swara. She always admired Ragini's ability to handle chaos and she had been always been the one to come up with solutions.

First! Confrontation.

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"Confront? Are you serious lucky? No!" Sanskaar dismissed the idea, "It will not work out. She would deny outright. That's the end of it. Agar usse batana ho tha tho she would have done it long back and your word makes absolute sense now. She never wanted to disclose this, issliye woh mere saamne nahi aayi and I don't think she would further..Unless..." Sanskaar ran his finger over the rim of the glass, his eyes fixed on amber liquid and floating ice cubes.

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"Play a game" His lips curved up slowly into a smirk.

"Game? "Laksh raised his eyebrows.

"Truth or dare. Itna tadpaaya hain usne mujhe. She's gonna get a lovely payback. Main usse itna tadapa vunga ,she will have no choice other than to admit the truth. She will have to give in at the end and I have my plans" His smirk widened.

"Wow! That sounds like a dangerous plan," Laksh walked up to Sanskaar. " Btw did you notice something funny? You were planning to kill yourself but turns out, you are the one whom Swara kissed and I was plotting to get the masked girl out of your life and keep Swara in. That's some messed up equation I was working on." Laksh laughed out loud at the irony. "On that note, let me raise a toast for your new love story with your masked girl aka Swara. Time to celebrate."

Sanskaar smiled and raised his glass. Finally, His love story will take off ... and he will make sure it will be one lovely ride.

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"No way! You will not give in. If he confronts ,you are gonna deny right! I don't think he would do that. He will try to make you admit ...and it all comes down to you, Swara. Can you hold the fort? "A doubt lingered in Ragini's eyes. "Or you want to come clean before him? "

"I don't think that would make sense, Ragini not when he has someone else in his life.and you are right! It's just a few more weeks, I have to be careful and play safe." The idea sounded good.

"Exactly ...After that Sanskaar is out of your life." Ragini's excitement died down watching Swara's grim expression. She shouldn't have said that. Swara quickly wiped a lone tear about to slid and nodded.

He will be. But did she want him to be?

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That night either of them could get a wink. Sanskaar stared at mask but this time it felt different. The eyes behind the mask have a face ..and she's the one he had lost his heart not once, but twice.

Swara...

And he felt his heart humming a beat at that Finally, he is at peace and he can't wait to kick start tomorrow. Miss Bose has many secrets. He intends to unmask each one of them.

Sanskaar went to sleep with a smile.

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Same couldn't be said to Swara. As if the kiss was not enough to leave her restless, his thoughts and her own failed resolution troubled her. He was upset because she started ignoring him. Nothing else! Swara told herself He was angry and it's his outburst. Nothing more. She didn't want to ponder upon the kiss or the effects of it or implications it would bring in.

And she had no clue what was in store for her. What would the dawn bring in? Doom or a new start? Either way, she has a secret to keep.

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I cannot let you burn me up, nor can I resist you. No mere human can stand in a fire and not be consumed.

That's the context for the next update. Thanks for reading.

Love

Lucky