A small chapter .. working on next part already .You will have your answers ,all of them ..in this update and next chapter would be a new start.Thank you for all nice and kind words dropped for last chapter ..
Happy Reading ..Please ignore errors and typos ..--------------------------------------------------------------
Untamed # Chapter 7

"Ab aap dulhan ki maang sindoor se bharoge" Pandits voice jolted Sanskaar out of his thoughts. He glanced at dibbi of sindoor held before him and at his bride next to him .'Shona'.Picking a pinch of it he looked at her as her ghoonghat was lifted for him to fill partition .. their eyes met and held each other for a moment , he could clearly see tears at verge of her eyes and brief shut of her eyes as his fingers filled in vermilion ..marking her as his .As he tied Mangalsutra around neck, Swara held it gently trying to sync in the feeling that she is getting married to love of her life ,Her Sanskaar, and recalled the events that led to this.

Being found in each others embrace by whole Gadodia and Gupta family along with guests attending marriage had raised questions well as few eyebrows and created nothing less than chaos

"Ye sab kya hai shona ..?" Her dad's voice echoed in garden . About to answer Swara halted as Sanskaar held her hand .Puzzled first , she stood bewildered as Sanskar declared "Maine bulaya Shona ko..." not battling an eyelid before taking up the entire blame upon himself "mujhe milna tha , ek aakhri baar ..iss liye maine..." Before he could complete, there was stinging slap on his face and Sharmistha stood before him ,her eyes spitting fire .

" Tune bulaya " Sharmistha slapped him again " Baarat aake ke saamne khadi hain aur ..tu.." and very soon her Dadi Parvati Gadodia too joined with her venmous words "Dekh liya tune ..ek anaath ko sar pe chadane ka natiza" She shot an accustaory glace at Sekhar and Sharmistha "hamare peet peeche hamare ladki ke saath ..Chi chi ..Maare khatu shyaam ji ...aur tu" she galred angrily at Sanskaar

" Tune aakhir apne aukaat dikha hi diya na ..anaath kaika.."

And that raised every shackle on her body .. "Dadi .." Swara's voice had everyone staring at her "Aap .."She would have given a befitting reply if not for Sanskaar who nodded his head saying " Don't' and then there was Sahil's Mom accusing her, name calling her family "We should have known on engagement day itself when She left my son and ran to him ...Pata nahi aur kya kya hua hoga .."

" Aisa nahi hain ..Maa "Sanskaar tried

Sharmsitha raised a hand halting him "Mat bula mujhe maa ...Tu aisa karega maine .." and paused as she caught murmurs around group.

"Dekha ..Main tho pehle se jaanti thi .. Bachpan se dekh rahithi .. tabhi pata tha ki kuch chakkar jaroor hain.."one older lady pressed her mouth

"Ha, ha Dekho bina sharam ke kaise khadi huyi hain."..A lady said pointing Swara. And that was just start .. " Shaadi ke din bhi shayad apne aashiq se dil nahi bhara hoga ..." and many more floated in.

Sanskaar squeezed his eyes shut ..he knew what might have been interpreted , how it might have looked like .This is last thing he would have ever wanted ..a mark on his shona's image ..he remembered the day when he promised himself he wouldn't let shona taint neither with his friendship nor love and today every finger pointed towards her ..

.One person whom you loved the most is snatched away from you ruthlessly pushing your life into despair .One moment , one last glimpse of that loved one ..Was it too much to ask for? And he knew it was ...

"Dekha tune ..Suna tune ..tu jaanta bhi hain tune kya kiya ?" Sharmistha looked at Sanskaar who stood his head hung down " Meri taraf Dekh ..Waada kiya tha na tune mujhse ki tu shona ko bhool jayega ..uski zindagi se dur chala jayega " she shook him hard holding shoulder " aisa nibhaya tune ..this is how you pay back for all the love this house given you all this years...Bolo Sanskaar,"

Sharmistha heard a gasp of shock behind her and turned to find her husband looking at her, his eyes questioning ..and she knew she owe some explanations .

Midst all this Swara stood firm .She knew all this was going to come , fingers will be pointed at her, her character would be questioned and she was prepared ,but guilt raced through her as she watched Sanskaar trying to explain and convince everyone it's not like what it seemed to be.

"Aap sab jaise soch rahe ho waisa nahi hain ..Trust me Baba he held sekhars hand ..Shona aur meri beech ab kuch nahi hain.."

"Tho pehle Tha?" Her Baba's question threw him into loops as he stood silent."Sach Bata Sanskaar .. "and before he could answer

"You always had an eye on her ...you bas***d ,tune hi bulaya na yahan ..."

Burning with fury Sahil charged at Sanskaar threw a punch at him yet sanskaar didn't react and stood taking beating .. and when Swara tried to intervene Sahil's recation had her and everyone startled "aur tum Swara .. dur raho usse..he forcefully held her hand oulled her to him " Tum meri honewaali biwi ho samjhi ..aur tum wahi karoge jo main kahunga ..aur kal saans bhi tumhe meri marzi se leni hogi ,agar dubara aisa kiya tho tumhe main ..You characterless .." he lifted his hand to hit her and then she heard a roar ..

"Sahil ... "

In next minute Sahil found himself struggling for breath as Sanskaar hand gripped his neck almost choking him...his eyes burning with fury and he would have died in few minutes if not for Sujoy and Laksh who had to pull him back.

"Shona ke paas aane ki himmat bhi mat karna " Sanskaar warned him

"Dekhliya aapne" Gayatri tuned to her husband " Mere bete ko maara ..Agar ye ladki mere haath main hothi ab tak tho iski woh haal karti .." her words clearly spelled out her intentions.

"Ye sab kya hain Sekar ji .. Amit, Sahil's father raised his voice "this good for nothing fellow raises hand on my son and you didn't say a word .. You should be by now falling on our feet and begging us to let this marriage happen .. after all what your daughter had done ,..

Bas ! Sekhar's voice rang across silencing everyone " bhaut sun liya aur dekha liya ..ye bhi ki meri beti na kya kiya aur aapka beta kya karne waala tha .. What did he say Saans bhi uski marzi se leni hogi...and he raised his hand on my daughter, bad mouthed her ..aur aapki biwi .. What she just said ,I can imagine what my shona's plight is gonna be in your house .. maaf kijiye Gupta ji .. ab ye shaadi nahi hosakti."

And that stunned everyone other than few

"Aap jaante bhi hain aap kya keh rahe hain ? Amit questioned him furiously . How dare he to call off marriage and point fingers at his son , while he should be literally begging him for his daughter's marriage .

"Sekhar" Sharmistha looked at him shocked "ye tum kya kar rahe ho .. Shaadi rukh gayi tho uski Zindagi .."

Sekhar lifted his hand halting her and walked up to his daughter, placed a hand on her head gently " Apne baba par bharosha hai na tumhe Shona .." and she nodded. He held her hand and gently led her to Sanskaar and stood before him

" Sach main paagal tha main ..kaha kaha uss insaan ko dhoonda tha raha, jo mere Shona ko khush rakhegha usse utna hi pyaar karega jitna main karta hoon ..Jab tu mere saamne hi tha ."

"Baba ..." Sanskaar stared at him in disbelief

"Ab tho bol .. aur Sach bata beta .. pyaar karta hai Shona se ..uska haath dhamega?"

"Pagala gaya hai kya Sekhar ? Tu jaanta bhi hain .." Parvati gadodia watched her son his words giving her almost heart attack.

"Maa ..."Sekhar glared sharply at his Mom and back at sanskaar " Bol .."

Sanskaar looked at Swara ..her eyes held a hope, which tugged his heart but above all the chaos, his one moment of desperation to meet her led to this and that thought clouded his mind ..and he had to rectify it. He wished this question was asked in other circumstances but now ..

" Haan Baba " he answered meeting Sekhar's eye at last .

Sekhar looked at his daughter .He didn't have question her.. Hey eyes said it all as She nodded gently saying yes .

Sekhar looked around " Shaadi hogi aur ussi muhurat pe hogi ..Meri Shona aur Sanskaar ka .. "he then addressed everyone .. " Jisko Pasand hain woh aake shammil hosakta hain.. He shot a glance at his wife and mom "nahi tho .. feel free not to attend."

"Ye Tumne teek nahi kiya. Tumhe nahi chodunga Sekhar ..You will have to pay for this insult" Amit warned Sekhar fuming along with his wife and son

Not saying a word Sekhar walked in holding Swara and Sanskaar, ignoring every glance of fury followed by Ragini , Sujoy , Laksh and Maheshwari's.

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Ragini clasped Laksh's hand watching her sister's marriage " Thank you Laksh ji .." she said drawing a surprised look from him.

"Maine kya kiya?" he asked surprised

"Kuch nahi "Ragini simply nodded ..

He had no clue what he had done, If not for him .. nor for his words at Coffee shop ..it might have never stuck to her ,how much she have wronged her sister .It was her who had seen Swara sneaking out on holi day, followed her and caught her with Sanskaar . She had her doubts till then but looking at them and in almost an impulse moment she took a step that led to all this ..

"Kya bol rahi hai Raagu ..aisa nahi hain " her mother didn't believe her when she said the same ..but later she did .. She had been silent witness of exchange happened between Her mother and Sanskaar, the promise and pay back her mother had asked for and also of pleading by Sanskaar to not to snatch his love for him and it gave her a sadistic pleasure at that moment. She led her sister to believe it might be Sanskaar by hinting the name of groom starts with S' when she knew it was Sahil had seen how broken her sister had been when Sanskaar broke up with her, the pain they had been through..

And that day she felt same pang of pain with laksh's words .

If she can't think of leading her life without her 4 months love .. how would Swara and Sanskaar survive. Her conscience had been beating her up, yet she didn't give in she fought, stayed in denial mode ...but as she caught her sister crying her heart out in room on wedding day .. she gave in .. she didn't know if she was too late but she can't live with feeling that she led her sister into his when she could have stopped it.

She rushed to Swara ...

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Shock was understatement fort what swara felt as he she heard Ragini, and now she knew why Sanskaar acted that way .. of all her mother ...knowing she loved Sanskaar too ...

"Hame maaf kardo Swara .."Ragini held Swara's hand which Swara snatched back

"Kyu ragini .. Kyu kiya tumne aisa ?" she questioned her .when no answer was coming in she shook her " bolo ragini please ...bolo"

"Kyunki I was jealous .." Ragini stepped back from her sisters hold ,her eyes filled with tears , they spilled out just like her words " Haan I was jealous of you and Sanskaar , your bond ..all the attention you garnered.I wished for that kind of attention , wished Sanskaar would give me same importance he gave you, but nahi .. he could never see past you, you were his world .. and you would never let me near Sanskaar and I hated it ..and perhaps the hatred grew along years ..and Dadi's words of hatred for Sanskaar just added to my anger "Ragini wiped her tears" I always waited for a moment when you both would be separated at least for sometime ..I wanted you both to know how it felt when you don't get what you long her ,but that never came in .. and That day in hotel when I saw you both I knew you were love with each other .. and on day of holi .." her voice choked with guilt..

Swara stood stunned at her Sister's confession .. so much of hate, but what bothered her was " Ragini ..kahi tu Sanskaar se?"

"Nahi Swara .. aisa nahi hain .. trust me.. I was jealous but when Laksh came into my life , I got what I longed for ..but what I did with you ..is inexcusable .. please hame maaf kardo ..Please."

Swara sank on bed, tears streaming down her cheeks " Ye tumne kya kiya ragini ..pehle batati .. ab tho .." and they heard sound of baarat." Bahut dher kar diya hume sorry Swara ..' I am really sorry ."Ragin's voice seemed distant as Swara's eyes were fixed on letter which fluttered ..with wind.She could see and hear nothing as every word of letter ran before her eyes ..

Swara wiped her tears and stood up resolute "Shona Sanskaar ki hain aur hamesh Sanskaar ki rahegi." She turned to Ragini " Are u really sorry Ragini? " as Ragini nodded " You have to help me.Suno ..."

Ragini looked shocked listening " Swara .. tum jaanti ho ye .."

"Aur koi raasta nahi hai Ragini .. Sanskaar kabhi nahi manega ,.woh maa ko diya huva promise kabhi nahi thodega .. She reached out to letter pad and scribbled quickly on piece of paper "Ye please Sanskaar tak pahuchade aur .." and they startled at knock on door.

Sujoy stood at door watching them both Swara Ragini exchanged a look and turned to face Sujoy ..'Dada ..woh .."

" Need some help ,my dear sisters.." he crooked a eyebrow and grinned .

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Frustrated on not being able to do anything Sujoy wanted to have one last word with Swara before it's too late .. As he approached her room he heard ragini's voice and caught whole discussion and he knew desperate times called for desperate measures.

The scene was intended to be created ..which would leave no option than getting Swara and Sanskaar married . Ragini took responsibility of creating chaos of bride not being in room and gently leading them to garden , Sujoy made sure letter reached Sanskaar in time in which Swara mentioned to meet her for one last time before they parted ways forever ..if at all what they shared all these years and last few months did matter to him...and like expected Sanskaar rushed to meet Swara

The trio knew timing had to be perfect ..but they didn't have to worry as Swara and Sanskaar made it much easier, lost in each other's arms genuinely ...and the plan worked.

Sujoy sent a silent prayer thanking god .. as he watched Sanskaar and Shona get married .Finally Sanskaar is his jiju now, officially.

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Parvati Gadodia scowled in room alone.She could hear the vedic chantings of marriage , but she didn't want to be a part of it. At Least that's the way she could think of expressing displeasure over her son Sekhar's decision.How could he even think of getting her poti married to that nameless orphan .She would have threatened, even gone to the extent of threatening to harm herself to stop this marriage but she knew that's going to be in vain .She knew her son , He is no way like his father who would give into her every demand ... and how she loved making him dance on her fingers. Though he is no more, Parvati recalled him when' she missed being controlling figure of Gadodia house..which now Sekhar is.

Sekhar views stood in stark contrast to hers and once decided he would not flinch from his decision and Now that laawaris would be jamai of this house. " Hey maare khatu shyam ji ..ye sab dekhne se phle mar kyu gayi nahi main ...Ye tune teek nahi kiya Sekhar ..aur dekhna ek din .. tu pachatayega , jab tu dekhega ki kitna farak padta hain insaan ki jaan pehchan se.,khandan se." She is absolutely sure of Sekhar repenting his decision and even Swara would once she would see her sister Ragini becoming " bahu of Maheswari's .."

Then they would realise .. it was a mistake..oh how much she wished for it

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Was it a mistake ? What she had done? The payback she seeked from Sanskaar.

Sharmistha stood watching her Shona getting married to Sanskaar. She felt conflicting emotions coursing through and her own doing stared right back at her Though she adored their friendship as kids but as years passed by .. she had her reservations.Being absolutely aware of wagaing tongues and fears instilled by her mother in law ..how this friendship would cost future prospectus of her daughter , She told Swara to keep her interactions with Sanskaar at bay .She feared a protest given the deep bond Swara and Sanskaar shared but to her surprise , they willingly obliged.

But now..she wondered if drifting them apart was ,what brought them closer

When Ragini expressed her doubts about Swara and Sanskaar being together , she dismissed it . But the seed sowed in her mind started taking it roots slowly and that day when she had seen them together in garden ..her worst fear came true .

Sanskaar and Shona?be it her motherly instinct or deep fear rooted ..she didn't want them together .. "Meri shona ko zindagi bhar taane sun ne honge ...Maana ki Sanskaar acha ladka hain lekin woh Shona ko ..achi zindagi nahi de payega ..naa ghar, parivaar ..nahi ..meri shona ko jaise uske baba kehte hain rajkuimar jaisa ladka chahiye ...Sanskaar nahi .."

Giving into her fear over good life for her daughter, she did what she felt was right as a mother . She knew Swara would never oblige...but she knew whom to have a word with .. and she did. May be she was wrong ...and that smile on her daughter's face, tears of happiness that brimmed through her as Sanskaar filled her maang and tied on Mangalsutra ..That moment sharmistha knew she was Wrong ..she did a mistake ..

But every mistake does have its consequences ...doesn't it?

contd...............