Swara’s POV
“it’s 3KG then. ” Ragini said as she sat on the floor to search for the CD. Sanskar and Siddhanth groaned.
“not again…. ” Siddhanth shuddered.
“ragini…. We’ve watched it n number of times… ” Sanskar reasoned.
“and the n means it’s just 344. We could round it of to 345.” laksh offered with a smile.
I could barely contain myself when he pouted feeling the glare of his brother and his to be brother in law.
Siddhanth sent pleading glances to mom…. I meant my mother in law and she sighed.
“I’m game for anything… ” she trailed.
“dad… ” Sanskar tried but he signed him to let go.
We were having a movie weekend before weekend even started. It was Thursday. Everything was planned. Popcorns, done. Soft drinks, done. Kitchen cleaning, done. And now, we sat in front of the TV, waiting for the CD to be slipped in.
Ragini rummaged through the heap of CD’s searching for the film, for about good fifteen minutes before she slipped the first part, in.
Everyone were in the living room except for shruti who was with Aadhya, making pancakes for them duo. She was quite stable now. She would cook, talk, run down the stairs when none among the men were home. And tripping now and then, she played with Aadhya.
Every look at Aadhya, made something in me, flinch. Not that I hated her, not that I was jealous of her. But still being close to her made something in me tremble with fear. Maybe the idea of losing her. To that I settled.
“I want Bambi…. ” I heard Aadhya’s sweet voice through the dining room. And they were soon by the living room. As shruti once again stumbled with the furniture, Siddhanth was by her side, catching up to her in a second.
“we can play it tomorrow… ” she offered before thanking Siddhanth with her eyes. As far as I have observed they never fought. It was her who said something always and he would accept without a word. Sometimes he commanded over too. It was good that way. They didn’t have to part.
I couldn’t help the smile when Aadhya ran into me, with her little hands carrying small pancakes in a plate.
“mom, I did this… ” she said proudly and of course I was proud myself. She was so adorable.
“wow! ” I exclaimed.
“would you share some with us? ” I asked.
“Yay! ” she said gleefully. Shruti smiled at me before she took her seat across from us.
“I give to lask, Rani, dadi, dadu, dad, you and me. ” she said pointing to each of us.
“and me? ” Siddhanth asked faking a frown.
“I don’t talk to you. Shruti will give you…. ” she spat. The little one was angry with her uncle for not clicking a proper picture of her. He feigned a cry before burrying his face in his hands. Aadhya smiled victorious. And we laughed at their cute fight. Aadhya was highly conscious about her looks at this early age that made me think of her in her college days. I know it’s quite too much but I can’t help. Mother’s instinct. Did I just say that?…
“so? ” shruti asked.
“it’s 3KG ” Ragini squealed.
“oh.. Okay! ” she said and I guess she isn’t having a problem. The movie of course was good and entertaining and all but I didn’t know how it works with this family. I was new. That’s different that they don’t think so. Yet, it’s takes time to settle. As a day passes I feel I’m opening up to something I’ve never experienced. Family. It was never written in my fate I had guessed. But what you guess is not always what you get. And this was insanely good.
“Swara.. ” I jumped when laksh called. Did he just call me that? Its been ages since he spoke to me, calling me by my name other than a cheat or something else.
“can you shift? ” he asks. My mouth went dry. I couldn’t answer. I nod.
“laksh, pass the remote… ” dad asks. And he starts agitated.
“hell no. I want to see the movie for 3 hrs and you will just finish it within three minutes. ” he shreiked.
“silence… ” ragini says, coming back to sit next to laksh on the floor.
I sat with Sanskar next to me on the right most corner of the couch. Laksh and ragini consumed the left most, sitting on the floor and leaning against the couch. My in-laws sat on the couch perpendicular to us with Aadhya. Shruti was sitting with Siddhanth next to her on our right. This was spectacular. A family. Now, I had a family I dreamt of. And I had no words. I have two brotherly figures, two sisters, a mom and a dad, who was unlike my real one.
I jerked when Sanskar pulled me against him. My eyes widened. What would my in-laws think? I shook my head but he’d no way listening to me. I motion my head asking him if we get caught by them, and he does the same. I turn to see Shruti’s back attached to Siddhanth’s front, and his arms wrapped around her. Ragini and laksh were also in the same position. Mom had her head on dad’s shoulder. Aadhya was sitting on his lap.
I smiled. They of course we’re different. They were one of the types and no replica.
Sanskar tugged again and I fell onto his chest, cheeks resting against his heart.
“you’re kidnapped. You aren’t supposed to be here, watching movie… ” he whispered, cockily.
“well, yes of course, if I had a TV in my room, I wouldn’t be here… ” I played along.
He smiled. Just like that. The smile that only I saw. As if it was for me alone. His brows furrowed for a moment before he was back to his self.
“what’s wrong? ” I couldn’t help.
He smothered my hair.
“nothing. ”
“don’t lie Sanskar. ” I warned.
“shruti will tell everyone later. ” I nodded.
My heart hammered in my chest. I hoped that she didn’t want us to split. She wouldn’t send me back. The thought of going away from them sent a shiver down my spine. They were something I wanted. I craved for. My family. And my heart and mind was at that.
“nothing bad, really” he promised, taking in my stiffened form.
I nod again.
I first part of the movie finished in no time and there were two more.
Inserting, the second part, ragini resumed her position.
“I feel it’s as if it’s me standing there as hrithik.” laksh sighs.
“that is how, I always take care of this beast ” he says pointing Sanskar. I sit there amused.
“yeah… Me too.. ” shruti nods.
“no… Not you… It’s me… ” Sanskar starts. I could see their significant others smiling, and so was I.
“they’re so into the movie… You’ll just see more… ” dad says at my amused form. I nod.
“do you think that was needed? He could have enjoyed the lone attention he was getting. ” laksh interjected.
“I bet. ” shruti agrees.
“Oye, he wants family… Unlike you… ” Sanskar intervenes.
“and did you see, it been years but this fellow can still feel the elder one, who almost feels nothing. ” shruti said, disgusted.
“yeah… Just like your significant other Swara… ” laksh drew me. Instantly, I could feel my cheeks heating up and my eyes widened.
“do I startle you? ” he asks, amused, his cheeks forming a cute dimple. I nod.
Ragini almost gave up, laughing hard as her boyfriend rolled on the floor.
“don’t hit on my wife… ” Sanskar says, angrily, wrapping me protectively. Winking at me.
“Sid, literal ROFL…. ” shruti shreiks. Siddhanth chuckles. I feel my own lips forming a curve. Sanskar smiles knowingly at laksh and sweetly at me. This family amuses me hell lot. Like how will you change your expression in mere seconds?
“you’re so cute Swara… ” shruti grins widely. I blush. As a reflex I bury my face in Sanskar’s chest. He wraps me up.
Everyone ‘awe’d in unison. Including my In-laws.
Sanskar’s chest vibrates as he chuckles.
“silence… ” we hear the little voice scream.
“I, movie… “she says and blushes herself.
“come here sweetie… ” laksh calls and instantly she is by his side.
The movie night passes with few more comments, ooooos and aahhhhs.
…..
“you mind? ” shruti asks, standing at the door the our room. I nod.
“well, laksh is coming too… ” she warns and instantly, he is by the door.
“can I? ” he asks. Always a gentleman. Just like my husband.
I nod again.
“ragini too… ” he says and she enters without hesitation.
“sid too… ” she says and he stands by my door.
I nod him to come.
“so, I can’t stand… You know, my legs aren’t healthy yet. You mind I take a seat?” shruti asks. It stung. Guilt.
I nod. Everyone settles down. I stood there and they had their attention on every move of mine.
“Sit, Swara… ” laksh says and I nod, taking seat on the chair.
“come here… ” shruti smiles patting the empty space next to her.
“there’s a meeting in two days. And I want you to attend it. ” she says. Her voice wasn’t icy. Yet I felt the cold.
“I… ” I couldn’t form a coherent sentence.
“I’m not asking you. ” she declares.
I bet here and now, we’ll have a confrontation. I wished at once Sanskar was by my side. He was off to some meeting early in the morning.
It was almost 2pm.
“we wouldn’t question you until your husband is home. But I want answers. ” shruti said leaving no light for a argument.
I tried to nod.
Laksh’s phone beeped. He informed that Sanskar would be home by five minutes.
My heart hammered again. I could feel the heat all over my body and my heartbeat in every of my nerve.
Every second felt like an hour.
“mom and dad are taking Aadhya to the park. We’ll talk in my study. ” shruti said and everyone left the room. For a second everything stopped. My eyes teared up. I felt ashamed. I felt helpless. I felt, killed.
I clamped my palms on my mouth and cried cried and cried. Till when I don’t know. I was exhausted and my eyes drooped.
I woke up to heartbeat next to my ear. I slowly looked up to see Sanskar smiling at me. I feared he’d leave me.
I snuggled close to him before the reality hit. I should face them. That had to be done someday and why not now? I thought.
“are you ready? ” he asks his voice as smooth as I always felt.
I nod.
“Swara” he calls motioning me to sit.
“baby, see, my sister is a lot better than you can imagine. I think you’ve noticed. She didn’t ask you for almost 2 months regarding things. She’s frustrated within herself and that son of a b*t*h, Sahil has got her furious by saying something. She just wants to know what exactly happened. Can you do that? ” he asks.
Isn’t it what I should have done already?
I nod.
“Sanskar you wouldn’t hate me right? ” I ask. He frowns.
“I can never do that. And I promise, all your questions will be answered today. And I just hope we’ll get the answer of ours. ” he asked, expectant.
I nod.
I will do this.
“they wouldn’t hate me right? ” I ask. Fear. My heart goes a mile a minute.
He pulls me closer so my cheeks against his chest.
“I can’t promise that they won’t be angry. But I bet, they wouldn’t hate you. Not after knowing you for two months. ”
“but you did. ” I said, instantly regretting.
“I didn’t” he flinched.
“I can never do that. I just wanted to overhand your father. And get answers from you. ” he said genuinely.
I smiled sadly.
“I really thought you hate me” I whispered, clinging on to him.
“remember, I can never do that. ” he said.
“they’ll be waiting… We’ll go. ” I said and after a few moments we got up to go to the study.
…….
“but, how can that even be possible?” I heard Siddhanth’s voice from the study. I stopped walking for a second stiffening.
“I have no idea… ” laksh laughs loud.
“it’s going to be fine… ” Sanskar assures me. I smile at him before hugging him tight. He hugs me back. We walk holding each other to her study. As I said, the house was really huge with a study to every offspring of Maheshwaris. Their occupation was different too.
“so, the villain shoots the hero and just so it happens that the heroine shoots him from his back as well. I thought the villain and the heroine had teamed up to kill him. Later it’s revealed that she did so to save the hero. ” laksh concludes.
My head goes spinning.
“you guys always talk about movies… ” I said annoyed. Just then, realising I spoke more than required.
I met their eyes to apologize but saw them smiling warmly.
“be like this. ” laksh says, of course, surprising me.
I nod. And my stupid cheeks heat up.
“there’s nothing to be embarrassed. ” ragini says from his arms.
“Swara it feels like you’re not one among us. Every time I see you, I will have to ask you to take a seat. ” shruti sulked.
“I’m sorry. ” I said walking to Sanskar who was already seated. All the four of them dropped their head.
“stop apologizing. ” Siddhanth spoke.
I nodded. True, I was apologizing more now a days.
“so? Coffee everyone? ” shruti asks and we nod.
“except for you. ” Siddhanth says and she pouts. Cute.
“not for a few days, love. ” his voice melts. She reluctantly agrees.
“will you have some milk? ” he offers.
“not white… ”
“fine with almonds. ”
She nods.
“Mary darling…. ” laksh calls out and there appears aunt Mary with a smiling face.
“I will have to complain my husband. ” she warns.
“of course honey… Tell him you have three handsome boyfriends.. ” Sanskar offers. I giggled.
“in partnership though. ” Siddhanth says pointing to us.
She laughs.
“I’ve got to lot of works. Tell me what you want now? ”
“coffee for us and milk with almonds for shruti. ” I answer, trying to take the liberty.
She smiles.
” I so dreamt of this. ” she says before she walked out. And we didn’t question what. We knew.
Soon she brings us the drinks and then the atmosphere tenses up. Atleast for me.
“Swara, we’re vegetarians.. ” laksh offered.
“I know… ” I said talking to him for the first time in a while.
“start where you fell comfortable. ” ragini says.
“we can help adding a few instances ” shruti smiles. I smiled back.
They were trying to calm my nerves and hell it worked.
“okay… One minute… ” I say and turn to my side to hug my husband who almost willingly takes me in his arms.
When I turned back, they had changed their position. Shruti and Siddhanth on the couch, her head on his chest, ragini settled in between laksh’s legs.
It wasn’t awkward like I always thought. It felt good to see lovers everywhere.
I giggled.
“you people are different, I meant fee minded. ” I said freely than intended to. They grinned.
“we love being so… ” Sidhhanth said.
“okay, here we go. The reason here we meet up is, shruti and Siddhanth had a meeting with Sahil where there were few things which hitched. I was there too. But it was most unlike situation. We want you to say what exactly you said when your father asked for your help and what exactly you replied. ” laksh said.
” Swara, remember that we trust you. And I hope you wouldn’t lie. And I would love if you start it from the first. ” shruti said and I felt Sanskar nod.
“promise me, you all will not hate me? ” it was more a question. I didn’t want to lose them.
“we will never hate you. I have seen you as my sister, laksh as his friend and so did Sid and shruti. Just so, Sanskar can’t see you as his sister. ” ragini said humouring me.
I laughed.
“I understand. ” I say.
Sanskar chuckled too.
“okay” I started.
“I met Sanskar in the college as you all know. ” they nod.
“I was dared by Sahil to get him to date me for a month. And then I had to leave him. So that his heart breaks. ” I felt them hiss at Sahil’s name.
“I went to Sanskar and like every other girl, I was charmed. I idiotically said everything to him and then, I realise that I have told him everything. So I ask him to act like he’d date me and at the end act like I broke his heart. And of course I rambled nonsense. Thankfully he agreed. Then, we started sitting together at lunch, chatting, we exchanged phone numbers and we just went along forgetting that we were to play date. And one day, like on the day I was supposed to break his heart, he, angrily, kissed me, just because I said that I was leaving. ” I felt my cheeks heat up. The four of them smiled slyly.
“well, the kidnapper is quite romantic. ” Sidhhanth teases.
I could tell that Sanskar blushed without even looking at him.
“shut up. ” I felt him smile.
“then?”
“well, it was the vacation going on then. We met every day somewhere and I did feel someone watched us. But I felt I was assuming. We did that for almost two years, I completed my graduation and Sanskar was already working with dad. He had you all informed about us but I hadn’t said anything to my dad. Because I feared I’d be grounded. And when my father learned this, he grounded me. Then, Sahil came to my rescue. He helped me run and just because I forced Sanskar and I got married. ”
I felt Sanskar flinch.
“I would’ve married you eventually if not. I had loved you all along. ” it felt like music to my ears. That’s when I recognise that he hadn’t said that to me in ages. That he loved me.
I craved to hear that.
“true, Sanskar was never attached to a girl like he was to you. ” shruti said. I smiled. He was solely mine.
“we got married, and later it was when Sanskar informed me that you people were visiting, I was excited. I never had a family. I was ecstatic that I would get you all. But wasn’t sure if you’d like me. Trust me, now I feel like you people like me, though. ” I added soon before their smile turned to frown. They smiled again.
“like earlier I said. I had no clue how and when my dad had got to know that shruti was coming. And I bet I didn’t even know it was you. Sanskar had denied to show me your photos because he wanted me to see you in person.” I felt him stiffen. Soon he relaxed. The siblings spoke to each other through eyes.
“one day, ofcourse even before Sanskar had informed me about your arrival, I got a message from my dad. It just stated that he wanted to talk to me. I didn’t want to, so, I didn’t revert back. But later, the next day, he texted me and warned if I didn’t reply he’d do something irreparable. I knew he’d do that. Because he wasn’t a person with good deeds. I had known it all my life. ” shruti signed me to pause.
“weren’t you close with your dad? ”
“nope” I didn’t understand what gave her that idea.
“we were told that you wanted to get the project. ” Siddhanth intervenes.
“that’s fishy. ” laksh concludes. I didn’t understand. It wasn’t matching.
“continue. ” Sanskar nudges me.
“I was given your number, asking to call you. And you didn’t pick for the first time. But you called me back. I just sent the address that he gave me.”
She nodded.
“I was called and informed not to go to that place. But I was all curious. I knew I had put people in trouble and I felt guilty. I just wanted to come there just before they arrive and just get off from there. But when I reached there, there was nothing. No one. It was some godown and I knew it was my father’s. I had seen it once maybe when I was in my teens. I don’t remember much. I was there waiting if someone arrives and later a car came to halt. I saw a few people whom I recognized to be my father’s bodyguards. I hid from them, or atleast I tried. The last thing I wanted was to get caught. And then again I saw your car, I suppose, I just saw a guy driving it. Siddhanth maybe. But a few more arrived within seconds. I saw more people who I knew worked under my father and they had arms with them. Like a few had knives and a few guns. I tried a lot to focus but I didn’t have my lenses on. ”
I was quite embarrassed admitting. Everyone around me were gorgeous. It’s not that I looked myself down, but something just stuck.
“even I wear lens. I’m a doctor and it’s a rule like every doctor should have a lens on. ” Siddhanth winked. I smiled. They knew how to get the better of me. “there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. ”
I nod.
“just as I was about to come out of my hidden place, to warn you, I felt a sharp sting on my head. And something just pierced into my hand, which I guess was some injection. And I just saw Sanskar’s car arrive and you two got out when my eyes drooped shut. ” I said as the day’s events played along my mind.
“did you see who was it? ” laksh asked eagerly.
“stupid, he was at her back… ” shruti retorted.
“you sit quiet. I didn’t ask you… ”
“okay… I didn’t see.. “I said.
“I couldn’t turn back, it was like I was frozen at that moment. ” goosebumps arouse all over my arms, remembering that.
“uh, why did you do that? ” shruti asked, impatient.
A shiver ran down my spine. They will hate me for being selfish. I knew it already.
“it’s not like you felt pity for your father and you just helped him out. I know it was difficult for you, knowing you. There must have been some bargain. Some exchange which propelled you. Or if I can name it blackmail. Why? ”
My lips closed tight in a straight line. I had to answer. I stiffened and I felt him rub my arms.
“I didn’t accept at first…” my voice cracked up. I hoped they believe me.
“it really wasn’t easy on me. But I had to do it. Because, he has my mother captive, even now. My mom whom I haven’t seen for almost 20 years is in his hands. I don’t know how he caught her. She’d run away from him when I was small and that’s what I remember. I don’t even know how she is. He didn’t leave a small thing which reminded him of her. Not a photo, not a cloth. He burnt everything into ashes the next morning. He started hating me, not that he didn’t before. Now, there was a reason. I reminded him of her, but he couldn’t kill me because my grandpa had left a few properties in my name before he died. It seems they are valued diamond. Well, the thing is when I disagreed for the nth time he said he has something for me to know. Then, he sent me a pic of a woman and by what I remembered slightly, I could recognize her as my mother and said he’d kill her. Then, he asked me to do it and had promised me that he wouldn’t do anything bad to you and he wanted you there because he had business to talk.
I didn’t believe him. He threatened me that he’d kill her and he already had her captived by then. You see, I hadn’t met her for a long time and I thought it wouldn’t matter if I didn’t see her again. I couldn’t risk someone else’s life for my mother whom I hadn’t seen like forever. And then he started threatening me about Sanskar. And stupidly, I almost believed him when Sanskar had a small accident the next day. Of course he had known it beforehand so he tricked me. After all that I had gone through, I couldn’t lose Sanskar. It was almost painful to do but then I accepted. There he caught me. Fooled me. ” I completed. Tears streamed down continuously. With a few sobs, I had finally said things.
“did you know who we were? ”
“no. If I had I would have informed Sanskar. Though I was warned not to. ”
“That must have been difficult for you. Then why did you not come back home? ” ragini asked
“I was grounded. He had promised me to let me meet my mom, and being the fool I’m, I just followed him, the next day. I was hospitalized on that day. When Sahil informed me about Sanskar coming I thought he came to take me back home. But again, I want as unlucky. He had come to get my sign on divorce papers. ” I sighed. I was quite strong I must say, facing all these. I wiped my tears up.
“what happened then? I was unconscious as soon as I saw Sanskar arriving. Will you tell me what happened then? ” I asked, curiously.
I felt Sanskar stiffened. Others did too. Everyone eyed Sanskar. Maybe he knew it exactly.
*****
Hey guys….. Thanks for the votes and comments earlier. Couldn’t update soon. Hope you like it…
See you soon…. Bye….