Hey guyz….. this chapter is a Sunday treat for you all…. Specially on the demand of Pravee and Mahjabeen…..enjoy and let me know how is it….
Recap: Swara’s bonding with all family members……..
Chapter 13
It was Sunday, an off day for most of the people but a really busy day for Maheshwari Mansion. The whole family was sitting in the living room, busy in chatting, laughing and giggling on the jokes cracked by Laksh in between. Sujata and Annapurna were preparing special menu for the day including everyone’s demand.
Sanskar: (looking at Annapurna) Mom, where is Siya?
Annapurna: (smiles) where she can be, must be with Swara?
Sanskar: (surprised) but today is Sunday?
Annapurna: (looking at him) I know its Sunday, perhaps your daughter forgot that in Swara’s company.
Sanskar: (little astonished) Strange!! It never happened before….
Laksh: (cheerfully) that’s a good sign bhai. You should be happy that finally Siya liked someone’s company. Well I knew it seeing Swara for the first time that she is different.
Sanskar raising his brow to Laksh “Oh really Laksh! And who was the one to mention that this time my choice is weird. On hearing Sanskar’s sarcasm Laksh gave him a sheepish grin.
It’s almost a month since Swara came here…and Siya gelled up so well with her leaving everyone surprised…now most of her free time she spend with Swara… no doubt she was as naughty as before, playing prank on ever body…even on Swara but the thing is that now she was also concentrating on her studies…. And Sanskar was happy about it.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Siya’s room
Swara was trying hard to make Siya understand some mathematical problems but she wasn’t in a mood to study. Noticing her disinterest Swara decided to give it a halt.
Swara: Siya lets have a little break…..
Siya: (squealed in excitement) really!!!
Swara: (smiled at her antics) yes but promise me after that you will study properly. Tomorrow is your first exam and I want you to perform well in that.
Siya: (hugged her happily) promise, a pakka wala promise.
Swara hugged her back and asked “so dear, what are you planning to do in the break”. Siya thought for a second and shouted “will you play guitar for me today? Please…please…please” Siya pleaded with innocent eyes.
Swara: (caressing her cheek) ok fine, but for that I need a guitar.
Siya: I have seen Laksh chachu’s guitar in store room. I will go and bring.
She was ready to fly from there but Swara stopped her by holding her hand. “Let’s go together” she said. In no time they were in store room searching for the instrument. Swara was keenly scanning every inch of the place to get some glimpse of guitar. Suddenly she heard Siya’s scream “Shona di, there it is” she jumped in excitement pointing towards the topmost shelf of the rack placed at the corner of the room.
Swara: (looking at the shelf) how we going to reach there? It’s too high.
Siya: should I call Anand bhaiya? He will do this for her.
Swara nodded to her and she ran from there, all excited and cheerful.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Sanskar was walking through the corridor towards his room when he noticed Anand running hurriedly towards the store room. He thought to enquire about the matter.
Sanskar: (calling him loudly) Ananad!!!
He stopped and turned around, on hearing Sanskar’s voice. Without wasting time he quickly moved up to him.
Sanskar: (commanding tone) where are you going in such a hurry?
Anand: vo bhaiya… Siya baby asked me to come to the store room.
Sanskar: (confusingly) what she is doing there?
Anand: (innocently) I don’t know bhaiya, she didn’t tell me anything.
Sanskar: you go down, I will go and check.
He nodded and left. Sanskar with the anticipation of what his daughter is up to now, moved towards store room.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Meanwhile in store room Swara was balancing herself on a stool which was kept on a chair of same height trying her best to reach the uppermost shelf of the rack to pick the guitar lying over there. She decided to take this risk for Siya who being the impatient one was all ready do it by herself, reluctant to wait for Anand who was taking little long to be there.
She was in between her struggle when an acquainted voice made her startled.
“What the hell are you doing?”
She turned around just to find him standing at the door, staring her with angry eyes. She knew he was furious. He gave the same angry glare to Siya who was cheering and shouting for Swara a while ago, was now quiet. Swara gasped out of fear as he came up to her with his raged eyes.
Sanskar: (yelled) what do you think you are doing Miss Bose?
His screaming voice made both Swara and Siya to look at each other helplessly. Before Swara could answer him, Siya interrupted.
Siya: dad, I asked her to play guitar for me. So we came here. I called Anand bhaiya for help but he didn’t come yet.
Sanskar: (keeping his eyes on Swara, said in stern tone) Step down Miss Bose……
Swara: (dumbfound) what?
Sanskar: (louder than before) I said step down right now.
Like an obedient cadet who always act on his officer’s command she sat on the stool and trying to step down but to her bad luck she couldn’t as she was standing on the thing which was double of her height.
Sanskar: (annoyed with all this) how you stepped up when you can’t step down by yourself?
She was also confused like him that how she managed to step up before because right now it was looking almost impossible to her to get down. “May be because she is more conscious now in his presence” she thought.
Siya: (looking innocently at Sanskar) dad… please help her.
His anger was gradually vanishing looking at her daughter’s pleading face and helpless Swara. He raised his hands to hold Swara’s waist who was still sitting dumbly on the stool. But to the contrary she was in no mood to take his help. She raised her hand to stop him and screamed “No…. I can manage on my own”.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Sanskar’s POV
She was sitting on the stool confused and perplex, unaware what to do next. I was hell angry when I stepped in the room just to find her balancing on the thing double of her height. But looking her helpless like this my anger melted. I can’t deny she was looking cute. So, when Siya asked me to help her I immediately moved my hands to help her and I swear I genuinely wanted to help her but to my surprise she refused to take my help and it irked me to hell. Now I was adamant not to help her even if she has to spend her whole day sitting on that stool. “Ok then, do it by yourself” I said with cold voice. Looking at her facial expression I could easily make out that she was regretting for her impulsive decision. I smirked at her and it wasn’t unnoticed by her. But suddenly her expressions changed. The vulnerability and uncertainty was replaced by determination. She took a deep breath and made herself stand on the stool, by balancing herself. I was worried for her so, just to make her act little sensible I said “Miss Bose don’t expect any sick leaves from me if you end up breaking your hand or leg because of your so called ego”. But my words had zero effect on her instead she gave me an annoyed look. Very next moment she embattled herself and placed her one leg on the lower shelf of rack and another on the joint of the stool. I was concerned for her dress. She was wearing a long skirt, what if she entangled her leg with her dress, I thought. But to my surprise she was doing it perfectly in tandem and finally stood on her feet in front of me with winning expression on her face. I tried hard to suppress my laugh and gave a blank look to her. Siya ran and immediately hugged her cheering for her victory “Shona di! That was awesome” she chuckled and continued “I also want to do it, it was fun”. “No!!!” me and Swara we both screamed together holding her hand as she was all geared up to start her so called adventure. I shook my head in disbelief thinking whether I brought this girl to tame my daughter or to spoil her. I couldn’t tolerate this drama anymore so I pulled a small stool, picked that guitar and passed it to her. Without uttering a single word, she left with Siya.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Diner time, at dining table
Everyone was present there, relishing the special menu of the night…. Admiring the efforts of Annapurna and Sujata as they themselves prepared today’s food
Siya: (excited) you know Chahu….Shona di played guitar for me and sang too… she is too good, should be a music teacher
Laksh: (looking at Swara) really Swara…. I didn’t know you have interest in music….
Swara: yeah… I do
Ragini: Swara are you professionally trained or what?
Swara: well I learnt music for 7 yrs…started when I was 10…. Initially it was a forced choice as being from a Bengoli family my dadi wants me to learn music, but later I started enjoying it….
Ragini: (looking at Laksh) you know what during college days Laksh was very active in music…he had his own band
Swara: (surprised as she never thought of him as a music lover) really Laksh!!!
Laksh: yeah…. I was but I am not professionally trained like you … it was my hobby
Annapurna: (looking at Swara) Swara since Siya praised you so much….you must sing for us also, what do you think Sanskar?
Sanskar: (who was listening to them silently, looked at Swara) off course why not…
Swara: (hesitate) but….
Laksh: (interrupting her) no if no but…. You will sing that’s final…
Swara: (smiled) ok…..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
After dinner, living room
All settled there with Swara in the middle holding a guitar…. All waiting eagerly for her performance
Swara: (passing guitar to Laksh) Laksh will you play for me… I will sing
Laksh: sure…which song?
Swara: (after a thought) …..Tujse naraz nahi zindagi
(Please go through the song, don’t skip it)
She closes her eyes and started
Tujhse naaraz nahi zindagi
Hairaan hoon main
Ho hairaan hoon main
Tere masum sawaalon se
Pareshaan hoon main
Ho pareshaan hoon main
Jeene ke liye socha hi nahi
Dard sambhalne honge
Muskuraaye toh muskuraane ke
Karz utarne honge
Muskuraaun kabhi toh lagta hai
Jaise hothon pe karz rakha hai
Tujhse naaraz nahi zindagi
Hairan hoon main
Ho.. hairaan hoon main
Aaj agar bhar aayin hain
Bundein baras jaayengi
Kal kya pata inke liye
Aankhen taras jaayengi
Jaane kab ghum hua, kahaan khoya
Ek aansu chhupa ke rakha tha
Tujhse naraaz nahi zindagi
Hairaan hoon main
Ho.. hairaan hoon main
Tere masum sawaalon se
Pareshaan hoon main
Ho.. pareshan hoon main
Sujata and Ragini were slowly clapping for her….Sanskar was staring her continuously…he was lost in her melodious voice… for him it wasn’t a song, it was the truth of his life rather their life (his and Swara). As she finished she opened her eyes and saw his soft gaze on her… their eyes were communicating something, something unspoken…. Their trance broke with the clapping sound….
Ragini: you are awesome Swara (she hugged her)
Annapurna: jeeti raho beta (god bless you dear)….you sang really well
Sujata: you Bengolis are really very talented Swara….blessed with such beautiful voice
Ram: (looking at Annapurna and Sujata) she can sing in janmashtami function… what say?
“Yeah why not, that’s a great idea” Sujata replied
Laksh: So madam Swara….how many hidden talents you have? That was really awesome…. you trained really well…why didn’t you peruse it as a career?
Swara: I always wanted to join Dad’s business that’s why……..
Sanskar could see the pain in her eyes brought by the memories of her past….
Laksh: Bhai you won’t say anything?
Sanskar: (soft voice) Miss Bose that was really good….. You are blessed with a good voice
She was in daze….she never expected such words from him.
Swara: (in her mind) “oh! So he can also speak like that…I thought he will never praise me but he did…strange….itna bi bura nai hai shayad (he is not that bad perhaps)”
Though they have their own melodies but destiny had started composing a new melody for them which they have to sing together……………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Precap: Sanskar’s goest to Indore for some official work……. And his visit to Swara’s house