Swara’s POV
“Swara, you’re not attending your interview now… ” laksh groaned seeing me almost break my skin on my hand by squeezing it.
I forced a smile at him, before following the same.
“my sister is a vegetarian, for your information… ”
I scoffed at him, before walking to Aadhya’s room, with him as my lead. He let her sleep for a moment and went to her closet to get clothes for her. The little one was so used to him that she didn’t care to wake up, even when he nudged her once before walking to her closet.
“can you please get some sandwiches for her. She’d be hungry. I’ll wake her and get her dressed up. ”
I nodded.
“sweetie…. ” I heard him call her before I exit the room.
“umpf… ” I breathed out once I was out.
Now, now, this has to go good. Laksh has been really good with me, even after (as I think) knowing everything I did. Maybe not exactly he knows everything. The best thing now, would be that I speak to him before we go there. Maybe then, I’ll be able to face Sanskar and those two. I can feel my hands shake, in fear.
I put the bread slices into the toaster while I managed to cut the vegetables. The girl would like it. As far as I have known, she does have a liking for sandwiches.
Finally done with everything, I started to her room. I could feel my head thumping and my legs vibrating. Soon reaching the room I saw Aadhya ready to go, all dressed up waiting for the sandwiches, like she was telling him that her stomach ‘growled like a wolf’ in hunger. He laughed at her statement. He sat her on his lap, while he took the seat next to the headboard, as he saw me entering.
Laksh’s POV
That feeling of losing someone, was never new to me. I lost my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister-in-law who was my best friend. But the pain now wasn’t even. Everything wasn’t same back then. I had lost them at once. But shruti was not the same case. I was losing her every day and that stung in my heart. My mind always went blank at the thought of losing her for once and for all. But somewhere in my heart, there was a hope that she would come back for me, to stay with me. And that kept me alive.
Now, that she’s up, I’m losing my ability to talk to her. I don’t know if things which are going on are for real? Or if it is something I’m just imagining. If I lived for the day, then, I would have to face the harsh reality that proves she’s not up yet. I was so confused. Blank. Unsure. Not even when I heard her voice, I could believe myself that she was there for me. She was back. Things hurt. Real bad. I almost knocked Ragini out when she tried convincing me with shruti. Poor thing, she didn’t show me her annoyance towards me. She was just quiet, holding my hand, sitting next to me. She smiled at me assuring me things were alright. But I could see the pain behind those beautiful eyes. I had never been the one who I was since shruti was knocked out. And she faced my wrath, while I acted well, in front of my brother, not to worry him more.
“my tummy growling like wolf… ” Aadhya shook me, bringing me back from the reality.
I laughed at her lifting her to my lap, when I saw Swara enter.
She smiled at me while I returned her with my best one.
“here you go… ” she handed the plate with sandwiches, to me.
Her voice told me something, that I couldn’t catch.
“laksh, I want to talk to you about shruti. ”
My breath hitched. I strained myself to remain cool, not to scare her. I knew there was something that had my brother hate her. Something with her and shruti. But thing was I knew nothing about it. He never told me completely. By what I know, she was the one who lead shruti to the godown. I sat Aadhya on the bed before walking to her.
“well, this conversation had to come and stop by anyway. I’m all ears.. ” I smiled, sadly.
“hey! People. Something for me? ” ragini entered smiled to the fullest.
“Swara, I want her to be with me when I face things…?” I told, or it was more a question. It was also important that she was comfortable with that. And I would never keep anything from Ragini.
She nodded, unsure.
“what’s up?” ragini asked as the situation heated up.
“she wants us to know something regarding Shruti’s… ”
She nodded.
I nodded her to go with it.
“the day I knew about you guys coming to meet us, I had got a message from an unknown number. But later I got to know it was my dad, when he… ” her eyes teared up.
“when he used certain words he usually used to call me when he wanted me… To do things…. ” her voice hitched.
“like? ” I encouraged.
“when he wanted me to talk…. To someone…. With…. Whom he couldn’t. I don’t know how, he already knew that you were arriving….. Or most likely, shruti, who was one among the dealers with the ‘Embedded Systems’. You remember, back then, the contract for smart watches was laid? ”
I nodded. That was our dream project. We’d almost put our life into cracking it.
“our company was right next to yours, which had cracked the deal. If you were not on the cue, we would have got it.” I nodded in agreement.
“as you know, that would have increased the profit irreversibly. And our company was always seconded with Maheshwari’s. My dad wanted this particular project because, I guess, with some PI I had got to know, that it was the most important project of her life…” her voice cracked up.
“it was you who had called us? ” ragini asked to confirm before jumping into conclusions.
She nodded.
“I was bl… Black…. Black mailed. ” she cracked up.
” my dad had warned me not to tell this to anyone, in case I did, I… ”
My phone started ringing, forcing us to stop the conversation.
“laksh, here in fifteen minutes….” Siddhanth said, his voice, stern. I hope nothing was wrong there.
It was almost time that I knew it.
“we have to go…. Sanskar had called me.. ” Ragini tugged, and I nodded.
Aadhya had almost completed her sandwich. The little kid was looking for any sort of attention she could get. With all these things going on, we couldn’t take care of her properly.
“shall we go darling? ” I asked, walking to her side of the bed.
She chimmed, jumping as I held my arms opened for her.
“I go, see dad, uncle… Lask. ” she said jumping into my arms. I held her close to me, to avoid any damage to her bouncing form.
“Rani, come… ” she said as she directed me to go out of the room.
I didn’t glance back at Swara. I knew that would hurt her. But it almost killed me when she confirmed, that it was her, who had called us. That day was caged in front of my eyes.
“we have to go. ” I said walking out of the room.
Ragini’s POV
“Swara, he’s hurt. I know it hurts you too. But their bondage was something you can never imagine. ” I tried reasoning her, for laksh’s ignorance.
She just nodded, tears flowing down, her cheeks. It hurt to see her in that state. I hugged her, my eyes filled with tears.
“babe, we’ve gotta go.. ” I said, breaking the hug.
I dragged her out of the room, to laksh’s car outside the house. Aadhya had occupied the passenger seat and I and Swara took the seat at the back.
“mom, sanfish, super… ” she cheered jumping on her seat facing us. Swara tried smiling at her.
“baby, sit properly….” laksh, nudged her.
“okay…! ” she said plopping herself down on the seat, clapping her hands. She was so innocent and everyone adored her. Things would have been great if we were all like her. No enmity, no hatred, no grief.
“don’t worry, she’s (shruti) fine to handle. ” I said suppressing Swara’s hands from fidgeting.
“I hope so. ” she said softly.
Soon we were at the hospital. Swara, Sanskar, Aadhya and Siddhanth, inside Shruti’s room while I sat with laksh, outside there.
“laksh, you’re not helping….. Did you see her? As I told, she was black mailed. ” I told him, taking his hands in mine. I’d almost forgot the feeling of his touch. That electrified.
“stand up… ” he told and I did as he said. He pulled me to his lap, resting his head on my shoulder. I placed my palm on his cheek, caressing him softly.
“how could she? ” he asked, annoyed.
“she did tell you that she was being black mailed right? ” I asked and he nodded.
“ragini, you wouldn’t put someone else’s life in danger just because you’re being black mailed right? ”
“when situations are out of hand, you can’t help it laksh. You remember the reason why Sanskar had to divorce Swara? ”
He nodded.
“I know, that Gadodia had kept Aadhya in trade for the divorce…. ” he said. I nodded.
” that’s how things go. Sanskar didn’t divorce Swara just because she did something to his sister. Because he knows that there would have been some reason behind her doing it. He loves her more than his life. If that devil of a person had not held Aadhya kidnapped, Sanskar would have never divorced her. Likewise, Swara also has a reason. And that reason may be is with Sanskar’s safety, or something else which we are yet to know. ” I told him my opinion.
He nodded.
“I understand. I should apologize. I was rude. ” I smiled at him.
“you better” I said wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
“yeah… If the situation is stilled for a moment, I would do that…. ” he said kissing my cheeks. I giggled at him before kissing him back on his cheeks.
“that’s my boy… ” I said proudly.
Sanskar’s POV
“hey!! ” I said as Swara entered. Her eyes widened, amused.
“h… Hi… ” she said. My heart stung at the fear behind her eyes. And it hurt that I was the reason behind her fear.
“let’s meet shruti first, and then, we have to talk.. ” I said, and she nodded, unsure. Things should be made clear.
I just cannot live like this with her. I love her and I cannot hold it for long.
I had seen her crying inconsolably, many a times. But my ego stopped me from consoling her. But not now. She’s mine and that is what I wanted Sahil to know. We have suffered enough because of him and I don’t want any problems due to this. If she was not ready to talk about Shruti’s accident now, she would tell me whenever she was ready. I was not pushing her from me anymore. Shruti had got this into my mind, just before Swara entered, that I could never live without her. Now, I was sure about what I was doing.
“shruti… She’s Swara… ” I introduced, as I entered her room, with her soft hand in mine.
“my wife… ” I smiled at her, while she jumped slightly, at her address.
“hi… ” shruti chimmed from where she slept.
“I would love to hug you… For being a very good mom for my darling, but my doctor, has forbidden me to get up. ” she said, pointing Siddhanth, who had a gentle smile on his face.
We had decided, no one among us would make her feel unwanted. Or do something that caused her any uneasiness possible.
“hi… ” she replied. I chuckled. I always knew she would turn quiet if she doesn’t know what and how to start a conversation.
Shruti glared at me, shutting me up.
“sunny, go, get Aadhya something to eat. ” she said smirking and I glared at her.
“I’m Sanskar…. Not sunny. ” I complained like I always did, faking anger. This was what I was missing, without her. She was the one who could make anyone smile.
“dad… Sunny… ” my daughter chuckled, and I pouted.
“Aadhya! What’s my name? ” my voice warned her. But she has her aunt’s qualities, I don’t complain.
“sunny… ” she chimmed.
Swara looked confused, but remained silent.
“I’m not talking to you three for three hours… I will get something for us… ” I said tugging Swara with me, walking out of the room.
I heard them laugh out loud and I smiled. Finally everything was falling to its place. And it was my turn.
I lead her to my car and drove off to ‘our house ‘ once we lived in.
She sat quiet all the way, while I held one of her hand in my free one. I know she was taken aback with whatever I was doing. But trust me, neither of us would regret it.
“Swara, get down… ” I held the door open for her. She stood there like a statue at the view.
“come.. ” I lead her to our house.
“get refreshed. I’ll get something for us. ” I said, and moved towards kitchen, leaving her in the hallway.
Memories gushed through me, making it almost impossible to stay, but I had promised myself and shruti that I’ll do this. Things has to settle down today. And I will do it with whatever it takes for me.
Ragini had always kept an eye here. She knew some day, it would be worth it. Thanking her mentally, I poured some coffee into the mugs which I had heated up.
I walked with coffee in either of my hands and saw her standing near the bed, waiting for something. I placed the mugs in the table next to her, and walked up to her.
She shivered as I placed my hand on her shoulder. I smiled at the reaction I could still cause in her.
I made her sit, taking my seat just opposite to her. I handed her one coffee mug, sipping into mine. She gulped down the hot coffee, and my eyes widened.
“you, okay? ” I asked, trying to start a conversation.
She nodded.
“Swara… Talk… ” I said impatiently. Her silence was killing me.
“I… I’m fine. ”
I took her right hand in mine, forcing her to look into my eyes with the other. We sat there staring at each others eyes for a while, until her eyes glistened with a layer of tear.
“Sanskar… I can’t… ” she said, dropping her head down in shame. What was she ashamed of?
“shona?” I called her with all the love I had for her. How I died for not calling her that. And that undid her. Her body shook hard with her crying, closing her mouth with her hand.
” I’m sorry shona… ” I pled, caressing her shoulder.
Idiot… I screwed myself before forcing her to see me again.
“shona please… Look at me… ”
She didn’t.
“okay.. I’m going… ” I got up to walk out.
I couldn’t. I stood near the window gazing the flower plant below as if some magic could happen.
And yes! It did.
She was standing, right next to me, looking at her fingers.
My hand involuntarily went up to her shoulder, wrapping around her.
And she cried undone, into my chest. While I held her tight to me. She wrapped her little arms around my torso and my eyes, dropped a few bits of tears.
I hope this solves things between us….
******///
Hey! People…. How’s it? Okay…. I have updated it real fast… Is it too fast? I don’t know…
Do tell me how it was…
Now, what did shekar want from Swara?
Hadn’t I mentioned a clue for this in the above chapters?
Let’s see who’ll get it? Right?
Okay!!! See you all with the next chapter…. (I don’t know when?)…
Bye… Tc… Loads of love. ???