Hey guys, before I start, I would like to thank one of my little sisters SamairaRajput who made a beautiful cover for this story. Thank you so much Ishu. Love you.

A highly unedited chapter.

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"Love", uttered Sanskar leaning back on his sleeping bag and looking at the stars.

Am I in love? Is it how it feels to be in love? Happy, content, nervous, excited...Oh my God, this is so funny. But it feels good, to have someone who understands your silence and who makes you her priority. She is courageous, independent, sweet, beautiful...Right, she is beautiful. It would be wrong if I would say she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen because I have never looked at anyone measuring their beauty. Now thinking about Swara, all I could remember is her big black eyes which has confidence all the time except while talking to me and I wonder why?

Thinking about Swara brought a smile on his face and with that, he glanced at Abhay who was sleeping peacefully. Taking in the silence around him, he again lost in his thoughts.

It's been hardly one month since we first met and we have not had any conversations for hours together. But those few minutes did all the magic that is required I suppose as I never thought I would get used to someone so easily and now I don't even remember how I used to spend my free time before meeting her.

"If you had any", taunted his heart.

Ignoring it, Sanskar continued thinking about the new relationship which he never dreamed to be in.

Her every text reminded me of her cute smile making it hard for me to ignore her, she would be the best marketing manager if she wished to as no one would be able to reject her convincing speech. Arnav bhai was right when you find the girl who is born for you, you don't need days or hours to understand that you are in love, everything falls in its place on its own. I don't know why but I have a strong feeling that Swara is coming to Mumbai for me. Her voice gave away the fact that she was lying. But then wouldn't it be good to hear the same from her? Just 36 hours more, she would be here.

With these thoughts, Sanskar drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Abhay was pacing around the room while Sanskar was making a presentation.

"Sanskar, why are you wasting your time? We just have 24 hours and we need to plan so many things. What will you wear tomorrow? We need to check if there are matching shoes and watch, if not we need to do shopping. And what about the gift? Did you think of something that Swara would like? And most importantly how you are going to propose her? Should I book a place or do you want to decorate one of our villas?", Abhay bombarded Sanskar with so many questions forcing him to look up from his laptop.

"Relax, buddy. You are making me nervous. I don't want to think much about it or invest so much time on it. I will just go with the flow. So, please let me concentrate on my presentation. Karma Industries have got their first project Abhay, today morning I have received a mail from the Malhotra Industries, the company which we visited in Kolkata last month. They asked me to mail them all the details about the resources and implementation details related to the project. It is very important", replied Sanskar.

"Wow, congratulations Sanskar, and I am so happy for you. But what about your first proposal?", asked Abhay.

"Please", is all Sanskar needed to say to calm down Abhay.

"Fine, if you need any help, don't ask me. It's Saturday dude", saying which Abhay settled down watching football match while Sanskar got immersed in analyzing the cost for the requirements.

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In Kolkata, after breakfast, Swara went into Sharmishta's room after making sure that her father left for office.

"Mom, I have to go to Mumbai tomorrow morning", said Swara playing with her dupatta and not looking at her mother.

"What? Why so suddenly?", asked her mother. Taking a deep breath, Swara replied

"Mom, I have to meet Sanskar, the one who was with me while helping Sandhya, do you remember?"

"I do, but why do you want to meet him?", asked Sharmishta praying to God that what she is thinking should not happen.

"I love him", replied Swara closing her eyes expecting a slap.

"Swara", shouted Sharmishta before Swara even completed the sentence.

"Mom please, I know dad doesn't like love marriages but Sanskar is a very nice guy. But before I speak with dad, I need to know what Sanskar thinks about me. For that, it is important for me to go to Mumbai and tell him my feelings. Please, mom, try to understand", requested Swara trying to convince her mother.

"I don't know Swara if your dad finds out about this, then...", before Sharmishta could complete, Swara added.

"Mom, tell him that I am going out on some office work. If Sanskar agrees to marry me, then I will convince dad"

Sharmishta didn't want to agree but she couldn't even deny looking at the expectant face of her daughter. She trusts her but at the same time is worried about the reaction of her husband. "Swara, I will let you go on one condition. Promise me that you won't marry Sanskar without your father's consent"

Hearing which Swara sighed in relief. "Mom relax, Sanskar is very practical and disciplined. Even if I say let's get married now, he won't do it without your consent. Don't worry"

"I don't know all that. Just promise me", said Sharmishta being stubborn.

"Okay mom, promise", saying which Swara went to her room all excited and nervous at the same time. Her heart says that everything would be in her favor but her brain constantly reminds Sanskar's cold attitude during their college days.

Swara spent her entire day in Sanskar's thoughts thinking how to put forward all her feelings while Sanskar was immersed in his presentation.

Sunday came early to the two souls who woke up with a new hope of lifetime togetherness with the person who has got their name imprinted in each other's hearts. Swara boarded her flight and landed in Mumbai while Sanskar was waiting for her at the airport wearing his usual white T-shirt and blue jeans which Abhay highly disapproved of but Sanskar being himself didn't want to dress up for just picking up Swara from the airport. One thing that Abhay appreciated in Sanskar is his calm and composure at all times not worrying about the result.  

Swara came out of the airport looking around for Sanskar and when her eyes landed on him, all the courage she muttered during the journey seemed to vanish and her palms started becoming wet. Taking slow steps she reached Sanskar where he was standing with a bright smile. 

"Hi, Swara. It's so good to see you", saying which Sanskar hugged her taking her off guard and making her mind blank. Getting no response, Sanskar broke the hug and looked at her trying to read her expressions.

Feeling his gaze Swara composed herself and greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, Sanskar. Thanks for coming. It really means a lot to me"

"Get in", said Sanskar smile not leaving his face. 

"Where now?", asked Sanskar after they both got into the car.

"I will be staying at a hotel in Malad. So, can we have lunch there?", requested Swara looking at him expectantly, keeping her fingers crossed.

"Sure", agreeing to it Sanskar started the car.

"So, when is the meeting?", asked Sanskar framing the next questions in his mind to get the desired information out of Swara.

"Tomorrow morning", replied Swara looking outside the window. 

"Venue?", questioned Sanskar sounding as casual as possible.

"My office", replied Swara not at all looking at Sanskar.

"Really, what's the location Swara?", asked Sanskar, and this time Swara felt the sarcasm evident in his voice.

"Oh, no looks like he found out that I was lying. How stupid of me to not think about this even after knowing that he is also into the corporate field?", thought Swara closing her eyes and cursing herself under her breath. 

"Well, Sanskar I...I came to Mumbai for you", said Swara turning towards him, gaining all the courage to fight back the negative thoughts which paved their way into her mind voluntarily asking her what if he rejects her.

"For me? why?", asked Sanskar acting to be innocent. But not getting any response even after two minutes, he looked towards her only to find Swara who was looking at her hands with tears almost falling down her eyes. Moving his car away from the traffic, he stopped it to the left side of the road.

"Sanskar...I", before Swara could complete, Sanskar held her hand and said with a smile, "I understand".  

With one glance into his eyes, she hugged him so tightly that Sanskar's heart couldn't help dancing with happiness. He wrapped his hands around her waist while she placed her hands around his neck with her tears wetting his shirt. 

Pouring all her pain, insecurities, and longingness, Swara hugged him making her grip tighter every minute showing him how hard it was for her all these years to be away from him. 

"Swara, isn't it a bit uncomfortable here in the car?", teased Sanskar making Swara blush. Breaking the hug, she turned her face away from him trying to hide her face which by now turned as red as a tomato. 

Without another word, Sanskar started the car and drove towards Raizada Mansion where he asked Abhay to be as he wanted to introduce them to Swara irrespective of the reason why Swara came to Mumbai. All the while Swara didn't ask where they were going but after reaching the mansion, she became conscious.

"Sanskar, is this your house? I mean I am not yet ready to meet aunty and uncle", said Swara brushing her sleeveless long frock and setting her messy loose hair.

Looking at her panic-stricken face, Sanskar smiled.

"Relax Swara. Come with me", holding her hand Sanskar took her in where Arnav, Khushi, and Abhay were sitting in the hall waiting for them anxiously.

"Hello, guys, we are here", announced Sanskar gaining everyone's attention.

"Swara, let me introduce you to the three most important people of my life", said Sanskar turning towards Swara.

"This is Abhay, my constant companion who was with me at every phase of my life"

"Welcome home", greeted Abhay with a bright smile which was very contagious because looking at him, Swara instantly smiled.

"This is Arnav bhai, my inspiration, my mentor, and more like my elder brother", Sanskar introduced Arnav.

"Good to see you Swara", saying which Arnav gave her a hand-shake.

"And she is our captain who rules this house, Khushi bhabhi", introduced Sanskar.

"Ignore him Swara", said Khushi hugging her.

"Sanskar, you are so lucky, she is very pretty", complimented Khushi holding Swara's hand and looking at Sanskar.

"Now, tell us who proposed first?", asked Abhay unable to withhold his curiosity.

"To be frank no one did", replied Sanskar shrugging his shoulders.

"What?", shouted Abhay.

"There was no need for it actually", came Swara to Sanskar's defense.

"Don't be so lenient Swara, he is the same like his brother. They don't even know the alphabets of Romance", interrupted Khushi. Turning towards Sanskar, she ordered, "I know you have to learn many things, so let's start from this. Now propose her"

Sanskar looked at Arnav, Khushi, and Abhay who were glaring at him as if he committed some crime.

"Okay fine, it's not a big deal, I will do it", saying which Sanskar went towards Swara and stood facing her while Swara was looking down feeling shy. Before starting, Sanskar cleared his throat and found everyone looking at him anxiously.

"Well, Swara, looking at the perspectives and taking into consideration as of how compatible we are based on our few conversations, I am pretty sure we would make a very good couple. So, why not we seal the deal by getting married?", asked Sanskar looking around triumphantly as if he has just delivered the best speech of his life. Swara was just staring at him not understanding how to react.

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That's all for today guys. 

Finally, Sanskar proposed, How is it? (Don't curse me for such a weird proposal. The author's brain has got zero romantic nerves)

Thank you,

Praahi