Back with an update. Delayed than intended. Apologies.Hope this update makes up for the delay.

Happy Reading. Please ignore errors and typos.

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A morning, on a note of pleasant surprise. Can one ask for more? At least Swara didn't want to. If Ragini walking in with a bouquet of fresh tulips, in a blazing mix of red and yellows brightened her up, the news of Ragini and Sanskaar being on good terms was another.

"I think he is right for you. In fact perfect. He knows the worldly ways and with him by your side, I will have less to worry." A smiling Ragini told her.

"When did this happen?" Swara asked, feeling a little glow at Ragini's approval of Sanskaar.

"Well, We had a kind of little talk last night and sorted it out."

"Trust me! I will sort it out." Swara reminisced Sanskaar's words and muttered a silent thank you. Finding someone who values your loved ones as you do is indeed a blessing. She loving held the bouquet, now that little glow out in her eyes and smile.

"These are beautiful, aren't they? Full of life and colours." She traced the dew on the delicate petals smiling wide.

"Just like you," Ragini picked her mobile, "Now if you would pose for me with that lovely bright smile of yours and bouquet. I have a task in hand to send few snaps to your someone special. It's on special request. Arey aise Nahi Swara ...aise pakdo na...Yes! This looks nice."

"You both sound like the best friends on the block, " Swara smiled following instructions.

"We soon might be .." Ragini said clicking few quick ones "He just wanted to be sure it is delivered to you. So he called me up last night."

Swara's smile faded a little. So he thinks Kavita had done it on purpose, in spite of her admission of a miss and an apology.

"Did Kavita know this? I mean, you got the bouquet." Swara asked, a bit worried. She didn't want to give a wrong impression.

"She does. Neeche milil thi mujhe.." Ragini replied casually but was quick enough to notice Swara was no longer smiling.

Ragin sighed realising she's feeling bad for Kavita. When will this girl learn? Her Family had always been a weak thread, or one can say Swara 's Achilles heel. Swara never had been the one to encounter unpleasant truths.

Just like her fascination for Sanskaar, she always believed her family to be good ...or that's the conception she had been feeding herself from childhood. Sumitra's indifference, Kavita's bratty attitude, Dadi's ignorance, She would have justification for everyone and would look for the good in all.

For Ragini, this has been the most loved quality of Swara but the most dreaded one too. Now with Sanskaar in the picture, it's no longer a concern.

"Swara, You tend to overthink", Ragini tried to divert the topic " Chodo Na. Acha tell me.."

Pushing aside her thoughts, Swara focused back on Ragini ..but somewhere deep down she had a bad feeling.

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Kavita didn't move an inch ...her thoughts wandering around Ragini. It's 'going to be tough with Ragini around, and she needs to figure a way out. But how? As she heard Sumitra' s voice calling her, She didn't have to think any more and she exactly knows how to turn the tale in her favour.

"Kavi ..I have been calling you ..Waha kya kar rahi ho?" Sumitra walked up to Kavita. A look at her, she was concerned. "Kya Hua? You look upset."

Kavita smiled within. Exactly the question she had been waiting for. " Kuch nahi mom, I'm fine" She tried to walk off knowing this would have her mother insisting. Sumitra did the same.

"You know the miss of bouquet yesterday Right! I apologized to Swara, didn't I ? And today Ragini got one saying she didn't want it to fall into wrong hands. Ragini never liked me. You know that, but her remark ... I just felt bad, Maa. And you ask me why I don't get along with Swara. This is the kind of impression she gives to her friends on me about our family."

And Kavita knew she has hit exact right notes. It was no secret to her, Sumitra never had a much liking for Ragini and equation with Janaki was just on cordial lines.

Yes, it was. Despite her attempts, she could never warm up to Janaki who always gave her impression of Sharmistha being the best. She always had an issue with Swara spending much time with Gadodia family, especially Swara and Ragini's bond ...on account of fear of questions being raised. She is stepmother after all.

But with Sekhar's death ...things changed. She had a family to handle, business to run..which she did successfully for years, didn't have much time to focus. She let Swara be her way..never objected her friendship with Ragini again ...Maybe she was wrong.

She never thought it that way but Kavita has a point. Swara might have been cribbing about them to Janaki. That could only be the reason of Janaki's cold natured treatment and Ragini's not so good terms with Kavita. Why did it occur to her all these years? Is Swara the culprit behind not so good terms with Gadodia?

Swara and Ragini might be best of friends but at the end, Ragini is an outsider and she is no one to pass comments and insult her daughter. She had seen last night how sorry Kavita was and. Sumitra decided it's time to have a word and keep a check but Kavita had other plans.

She no way wanted to hamper any opportunities of Sanskaar being a visitor to Bose House. Her Mom can be quite adamant if she decided on 'No bouquets ' which are fine but No Sanskaar policy ..Nah!

"Its ok, Mom ..Aap please Swara ko Kuch mat kahiye...Let it be at least for time being. She's not well and I am not holding it against her."Kavita brought her most earnest expression.

Sumitra nodded but the seeds of doubt were already sown.

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Greeted by the pictures of a smiling Swara, blooming like flowers, the day started on a good note for Sanskaar. It just went on to get better with his favourite oatmeal pancakes served as breakfast. Though not a fitness freak, Sanskaar always believed in maintaining a well-toned body. They had a gym set up at home. His regular fitness regime of a quick 30 minutes, including 20 minutes of resistance training and 10 minutes of strong cardio perfectly served the purpose. He preferred to start his day with a healthy breakfast ..and today was no exception.

"Wow! Bhabhi ..You know you make the best pancakes. I totally love how you add a healthy touch " Sanskaar tossed a mouthful which had Parineeta smiling. She looked at Adarsh who gave her a thumbs up reaching out for more syrup. Parineeta loved cooking and she would try different recipes add a touch of her own, which worked out mostly and always brought her compliments. But today she had a motive behind.

"Thank you, Devar Ji..." She smiled sweetly waited for a minute and dropped mini bomb slowly "Waise ..Swara Bose Kaun hain?" which had both brothers choking on their breakfast

Sanskaar shot a murderous look at Adarsh " Did you tell her?"

"No, I didn't, "Adarsh shook his head innocently

"Then how?' Sanskaar raised his eyebrows in question.

And Parineeta noted all the silent exchange and decided to take pity on sibling duo."Before you workout your brains .. I went for a general checkup yesterday and Dr.Radhika had been generous enough to spill the beans about how devarji took on the entire hospital for certain Swara Bose. She went on to ask me if she was his girlfriend. Is she? " Parineeta crossed her arms casting a question, raising her eyebrows and Sanskaar could bet she looked exactly like CID officer

Parineeta turned to Adarsh " You knew about Sanskaar's girlfriend and you didn't say a word to me. So Bad! She poked Adarsh shoulder mocking anger. "You started keeping secrets from me Right! "

"Arey Nahi Pari...woh.I just got to know yesterday, Sachi!".Adarsh went on to explain

For a minute, watching their cute nok jhok Sanskaar forget the context .! He recalled Swara's tantrum and his subsequent ice cream treat to pacify her...and her pout, cutest of all.

"Arey Sanskaar ...batavona isse... "Adarsh words jolted him out.

"Devar Ji I want to meet her," Parineeta came up with an immediate demand or at least show me a photograph of your girlfriend. You might be having many."

Girl Friend? Annapurna's voice came from behind... and silence fell around.

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Annapurna walked up to them with a slight smile. So finally Sanskaar likes someone. From past 1 year, he always brushed off the marriage topic, despite proposals floating in. This news, She couldn't be happier, " Kaun hain woh .. Zara Mujhe bhi batavo."

Sanskaar didn't want to break news this way ..not with uncertainty. Yes! He and Swara are in love but...he needed more time work things out, yet he didn't want to run away when the news is out in open.

As Annapurna patted his hair lovingly, Sanskaar looked at her and smiled. "Maa... I like someone, but I need little more time," he looked around the table "and trust me, you guys will be the first ones to know when it falls into place. I will bring her to meet you all...but abhi kuch mat poocho. "

A ring on mobile, Sanskaar never had been more thankful. He didn't want to prolong the discussion ."Office se hain ..I have to leave ." He quickly kissed goodbye to Annapurna, gave a silent nod to Adarsh and rushed out. But sadly Adarsh was caught in crossfires. Being cornered by ladies of the home was definitely a scary prospect.

"Her name is Swara." He started off hesitantly, "She's an intern and worked with Sanskaar these 2 months. I think he really likes her ...usse jyada mujhe nahi pata but ...," Adarsh paused. This little bit might be a game changer, "She's Bengali...Uska naam Swara Bose hain." He told slowly.

And from Annapurna's expression, it was clear it would be an issue. Annapurna took a minute. She didn't have anything against Bengalis but...she knew differences that would crop up. Rituals, culture, food habits many more ...and she would never want a discord in her family on this basis. And her husband ...

The sound of footsteps alerted them all. Annapurna glanced at her husband, then at Adarsh, The message was taken. Not a word at this point, not before Sanskar comes back. But little did they know Durga Prasad Maheshwari caught on each word of Adarsh.

'Swara Bose.'

Durga Prasad Maheshwari took a note. An intern and not from their background. So this clears why Sanskaar opted out of the interview committee. He will wait, till Sanskaar comes out in open and Annapurna would sooner or later broach this topic with him.

As they had a silent breakfast, Durga Prasad Maheshwari decided he needs to meet this girl and he had a perfect opportunity.

"Adarsh.."

And he had immediate attention, "I am joining the interview committee for interns and I want it to be under wraps till last minute. Not a word to interns or guides." He told in his usual strict tone.

Adarsh nodded wondering at sudden decision of his dad.

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Next few days went easy breezy for Swara. If bouquets coming in every morning made her days and their little talks over the phone made up for dreamy nights. She woke up and slept with a smile and her ankle no longer troubled her. Before one day of viva voce, she was as fit as fiddle.

Last night they discussed project and Sanskar gave her few handy tips. Waiting for her turn, Swara pushed aside little nervousness peeking out. She worked hard for it and she would earn her place in Maheswari Group, Swara determined. Sanskaar told, he would meet her post interview and joked it's because he didn't want to distract her or vice versa and he knew she would do well.

Swara no way expected Durga Prasad Maheshwari to be a part of it..but that didn't stop her from answering questions confidently. DP seemed more keen towards her family background which she didn't ponder upon much. He came across as a tough and formidable person, very knowledgeable, a man of few words and to the point. He made his presence strongly felt with little no effort at all.No doubt, he commanded such respect across business circles and had been behind the success of Maheswari Group.

Done with the interview ... Swara stepped out extremely happy over the way it went. All well.

She didn't miss a question and she could make out she left most of the panel impressed barring Durga Prasad Maheshwari who didn't give way any of his impression. Good or bad.

Swara walked up to Sanskaar's call bubbled up and a glance at her place, she realised she missed this little space, right near Sanskaar. Rosy greeted her like an old friend, checked on her sprain ..and wished her luck.

When she enquired about Sanskaar, much to her dismay "Oh! Sir left for the day. You might have wanted to meet him as this is your last day over here. Right? I will pass a word to him, Swara. Hopefully, you will be back soon to join us." she told with a smile and got back to her work.

Did he leave? Swara stepped out of Maheswari Group..little lost.

Cmon Swara! He is a busy person ..something important would have come up. It's ok. Maybe a call at night, she could share snippets of the interview. Swara placed a call to Ragini and sighed on not being reachable. Adi would be in his tuition...Who would she share her excitement with?

Trying to not sulk, Swara walked up to the bus stop and didn't feel like being a part of the crowd. A little way, was another bus stop probably with a thinner crowd. Swara walked in slow steps lost in thoughts of her own, totally ignoring the sounds and hustle bustle around. It was a lovely evening, the weather seemed pleasant and a walk might definitely cheer her up.

Few steps ...

"Want a lift ?" the much familiar voice, gave her break from thoughts. She looked up only to find Sanskaar ...in casuals leaning against the car, looking smart and dapper.

When was the last time she had seen him killing the look so effortlessly? All these days it had been formals ...all tucked up in suits. For a minute she felt transported to college. The moment she had seen him for the first time with guitar ... flashed before her eyes. He looked same...like a dream. All he did was to pair black crew neck tee with slim fit denim. A stylish watch and loafers completed the look. He walked up to her, all calm and collected yet exuded an air of confidence. Irresistibly charming.

A flash of his dimple, Swara's heart skipped not one, but several beats. He stood before her in a minute.

Dream, It did look like one, he did. Like he walked, right of her scrapbook, coming to life. Swara stared at him at loss of words. How many times she would have imagined this moment during college days. He would walk up to her one day, smile at her ...and

"You are a dream ?" Swara didn't realise she said those words aloud with an unblinking stare. She didn't want for the fear. A blink, this dream would end.

Did she call him a dream? Sanskaar felt like one ... the warm soft glow in her eyes made him feel so, just like that night where she gazed at him like he was a fascination, touched him like she wanted to live it. She didn't have a do or say a thing yet she made him feel 'so special'. Every time she looked at him in awe ...his heart thrummed a beat. This was even before he realised she was his masked girl and now... He felt his heart picking up its beat bit by bit and on its way to a tango.

Her's - A long-lived fascination ...His, a wait for years. Felt like it all came down to a moment as they stood to face each other and he wanted to tell her, show her ...

His knuckles brushed her cheeks softly, shooting a sweet jolt of sensation, breaking her trance.

" Not anymore." He whispered softly.

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So we are all set for dreamy Swasan date in next update. Keep watching the space. Soon

Thank for reading and don't forget to drop your love.

 Love

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