Swara and laksh were eating noodles while watching their favorite movie.
“Swara do you love Sanskar?” laksh asked.
“No at all” she stammered.
“Don’t lie ”
“I’m.. I’m not lying”
“Please Swara at least don’t lie to me”
Yes laksh her bestie is like a human lie detector and there is no way she can escape for him.
“I don’t know where it’s love or not. ”
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“Shivaay I’m really scared”
“Don’t worry! Everything will be fine” he squeezed her hand gave a reassuring smile.
She doesn’t know why but whenever he does that she feels that everything will be just fine.
“I don’t know how she’ll react to this”
“Anika she’s grown up Now and she’s mature enough to understand this”
“I hope so”
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“Swara where are you taking me?” Sanskar said as she grabbed him by his arm.
They entered a flat. There SHE was. One look at her and all the memories Cam back to him. He broke down. Tears spilled out of his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” Sanskar’s voice cracked.
Does he still love her? No he can’t. This can’t be true. Even though he doesn’t love her but he couldn’t hate her too.
“I called her” Swara said.
“Why?”Sanskar asked
“Sanskar I want you too move on. I’m sorry for whatever happened in the past but I can’t see you like this. At least think of your family. Doesn’t it hurt them seeing you like this?!” Tanya said moving closer to him.
Tears spilled out of his eyes. Why did you he choked at his own tears. Not able to speak, he left the place.
Swara ran behind him. Sanskar she called out for him. He ignored her and continued to walk towards the car
She grabbed his arm.
“Swara I need some time – please”
*******************************************
“Swara we need to talk”Anika said in a serious tone.
“Yes di” Swara replied
“There is something you need to know”
“Yeah I’m listening ”
“We are.. “Anika’s voice cracked.
She couldn’t do this. “I’ll be – I’ll be back” not able to control her tears, she ran to the bathroom.
She couldn’t do this. She bolted the door and cried silently.
She wiped her tears, stood up and splashed cold water on her face before wiping it with a paper towel.
She came out but Swara was gone.
*******************************************
Next day—
Sanskar was sitting thinking about Tanya. He wanted his answers.
His mind drifted to Swara. Unknowingly a curve appeared on his face.
She was the first one after his family that he has opened up to. He was glad that he did.
*******************************************
“Swara “Anika said tears rolled down her eyes.
Swara pulled her in a tight hug. She was worried for her. It’s been a week since she has been tensed lately. Something was bothering her. She skipped her meals, used to come late, avoided spending time with her.
“I’m so sorry “she mumbled.
“What happened di?” Swara said stroking her hairs gently.
“I lied to you” her voice cracked. “You are my adop-adoptive sister “she choked at her own tears. It was bitter truth she had been hiding.
Swara quickly pulled out of the hug and looked straight into her eyes.
“Is it true?”she asked darkly. She knew that her sister wasn’t lying but a part of her couldn’t believe it. She badly wanted her to say ‘no I’m lying. ‘
Not able to speak Anika just nodded.
Tears rolled out of her eyes. She felt like someone stabbed her. Her whole life was a lie. She was not able to understand why her sister did this to her?
“Why?” She asked harshly. She was deeply hurt.
Anika couldn’t answer. Only tears were spilling out of her eyes.
Swara was hurt not because they are not sisters by blood but by the fact that her sister had lied to her. All these years she was living a lie. She trusted her the most and she lied to her.
She ran to her and sat on the floor, hugging her knees.
Why did she do this to me? Why?
Sanskar rushed to her.
His heart ached seeing her in such a state.
‘Swara’ he called her. But she didn’t respond. He went close to her and called her. She looked up,her eyes were red and swollen.
His heart dropped seeing her condition.
She threw her arms around his neck. He felt his neck wet with her tears. He gently stroked her hair. His eyes were moist.
She held him for a moment as cool breeze wiped their face.
“Why Sanskar? Why did she do this to me? ” She choked.” The person I love the most lied to me”
She has always been close to her sister, even more than their mother.
Her sister was everything for her- her sister, her bestie, her teacher.
She was always there for her. She was the one who wiped her tears when she used to cry.
She used to fulfill her every demand. She would get scoldings for something Swara did.
She taught her everything- tying shoelaces to finding squareroot to handle situations maturely.
“Swara “Sanskar said in a soft voice. “Relations are made by heart, not by blood.” He said caressing her hair as she continued to son clinging onto him.
*******************************************
Anika grabbed Shivaay’s collar.
“It’s all because of you. I told you that she won’t be able yo handle the truth. I hate you Shivaay. I hate you “and she broke down again.
Although he knew that she meant none of those words but still it hurts.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and caressed her hairs.
“Shhh…..everything will be fine” Shivaay said kissing her hairs lightly.
*******************************************
Swara woke up and remembered yesterday night. Only she knew how badly she wanted all of this to be dream.
It was too hard for her to accept the bitter truth of her life.
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