Chapter 1
[NOCOPY]
Hi Friends...
So here I am, back with another SwaSan OS.
What to do, I'm beyond addicted. 
Just a brief explanation of the title before I get down to the tale. The Dyuta Parva is a sub-book of the Mahabharata, covering chapters 45--73. It deals with the game of dice, where Yudhishthira wagers and loses everything-- his kingdom, all his possessions, his brothers, his own self, and even their wife, to the Kauravas; prompted by the wiles of Shakuni.
When the episode aired showing Durga Prasad being manipulated by Dadi to hand over control of the family home, wealth and their business to Ragini; I got reminded of this section of the Mahabharata.
This OS is an attempt to examine the resolution of the SwaSan MU, the way they take their relationship forward, in the backdrop of this action by Durga Prasad. I will also be focusing a bit on Ram Prasad's opinion and emotions. It will be departing considerably from the present serial plotline.
I would like to dedicate this piece to:
My very dear pal Sakura, who shares my interest in exploring Ram Prasad's character. The poor guy has precious little to do on TV, but he has to have some substance--he's Sanskaar's father, after all!! Saku, I've also put in a couple of references regarding our other shared interest---would love to know if you spot them!
And also to Nitz & Sree: For your very lovely words on my writing and for being such absolute sweethearts, motivating me to write more. This one's for you, dears, hope it meets your expectations.
Lastly, I have written this as a self contained, independent OS; but I just might write a sequel OS to this one sometime after I return from Xmas holidays in Jan 1st week. But don't worry, this one doesn't end in a cliffhanger, is a standalone piece.
A very Happy Xmas in advance to all my lovely SwaSanian pals on the forum.
Do let me know what you thought of this piece. As always, your feedback means a Lot. Part 1--The Throw of the Dice
No one who knew Ram Shiv Prasad Maheshwari could ever have helped a moment of wry contemplation, that while the man was named after the Great God-King, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu Himself, his nature was far more suited to the younger brother of the God in question.
Ram was, in fact, cut in the mold of Lakshman. Definitely not the King of his family, not the Kingmaker, either. Not that this was necessarily a bad thing. He was unquestioningly loyal. Unflinchingly obedient. And he would always, without doubt, defer to the words of his elder brother, Durga Prasad, whom he practically venerated.
This attitude was, as is usually the case, a blend of both nature and nurture. When baby Ram had been born in 1968, his elder brother Durga, was already 8 years old. Their father, Shiv Prasad Maheshwari, while an intrinsically good man and an affectionate enough husband to their mother Gauri, was frequently away on work. Shiv Prasad operated a fairly lucrative trading business, and ensured his family were kept in considerable comfort. But he did have to travel much of the time, with the result that his sons saw rather little of him.
For the little Ram, his elder brother had played more of a paternal role than his own father had. Durga had helped him take his first steps, read stories to him, sang lullabies to him, protected him from bullies at school, and in a myriad other ways, helped Gauri take care of his younger brother. Ram had responded with a hero worshiping adoration of his elder brother, that would never leave him, even when both grew into adulthood, started their own families, and their children grew into adulthood in their turn.
But now, with the sordid way things had come to pass, for the first time in his memory, Ram could not help but question his elder brother's decision, if only to himself. He held himself ramrod straight, his mind and heart in utter turmoil, as he clenched his fists tight in contemplation. He could hear Sujata's wails of discontent and panic just behind him, demanding to know what they would do now, with that Ragini, that evil daayan, that chudail, now the mistress of their home. Things had looked bad enough when Bhaisa had vowed 10 days ago to Ragini's dadi, that her beloved laado would now be the malkin of Maheshwari House, and handed over the keys of the house and the safe to her. But things had steadily gotten worse, with Ragini losing no opportunity to slight and belittle everyone at home. Sujata, never the most forbearing and patient of women, now chafed at having to kowtow to someone as vile as she considered Ragini to be. But of course, the fact that she had not too long back, supported Ragini against Swara, amid those sordid allegations inveigled by Ragini's deceit, Sujata now conveniently forgot.
Ram shrugged impatiently, and curtly told Sujata to keep her mouth shut, and give him some peace to think! Sujata immediately subsided--her husband rarely, if ever, countered her. He was a good natured man, and generally turned a deaf ear to her craziness, unless she really crossed the line. Realizing that her husband would not tolerate her litany of complaints now, she took herself off to Uttara's room, hoping to wail there in peace about their changed fortunes.
Ram was now lost in thought, morosely recollecting a particular tale which his revered brother had told him long ago, when Ram was a mere toddler. Dangling him on his knee, Durga Prasad had enthralled him with tales from the Mahabharata. Even now, so many years later, Ram could distinctly recollect the tingling sense of awe and excitement, as he was told about the feats of Gods and heroes, valiantly upholding dharma against a sea of covetous deceit. In particular, one chapter from the Mahabharata stood out in his memory, the tale which his brother had told him in hushed undertones, magnifying the tragedy and pathos of the scene. The Dyuta Parva, where Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava brother, gambled away their kingdom, all their possessions, their very freedom and their wife; despite the muted protests and counsel from his younger brothers.
It pained Ram terribly, to question his elder brother's decision, even just to himself. But just as he was a brother, he was a father, too. He was always conscious that when it had come down to brass tacks, he had failed Sanskaar as a father. He had let his cheery son, the sunny joy of their home, have his spirit crushed and broken by his family's rigid orthodoxy. Mainly driven by his Bhaisa and Bhabhisa, and of course, by Sujata, the family had rigidly opposed Sanskaar's love for Kavita. And Ram, despite feeling that it might be better to agree, to ensure Sanskaar's happiness, had stood by and done nothing. Sanskaar had had to pay a terrible price; and Ram had had to endure what no father should ever have to see: his son descend into a hellfire of bitterness and hate, thirsting for vengeance and retribution. For Sanskaar, it had been a mere existence for 5 years, perhaps even worse than death, and Ram had suffered the pangs of self loathing, lashing himself mentally day after day, minute after minute, for having failed his son.
And just when it seemed his son was finally set to see some long overdue happiness in his life again, yet another blow had fallen. Ram bitterly recalled how just a couple of weeks ago, Sanskaar had, in a supremely respectful and magnanimous gesture, merged his firm Karma & Co. with their family partnership firm Maheshwari & Sons. But Bhaisa had been in such emotional turmoil at Bhabhisa's delicate health, when Lakshya had been sent for a time to jail; that he had promised control over the family home, their finances and their firm, all to Ragini. Ram reflected bitterly, how could Bhaisa have promised something which wasn't only his to give? Wasn't a good part of the firm now built from scratch by Sanskaar? How could the family again treat him so unfairly? And it wasn't even as Sanskaar had been responsible for Lakshya's state. Ram knew, that the relationship between the cousins had been tense for weeks. Though he was not privy to all the details, he had understood that Lakshya had in fact connived with Ragini, in an attempt to compel Swara back into his life, and thereby break Sanskaar's heart and lacerate his soul, all over again. He had noticed how Lakshya had actively tried to cast suspicion on Sanskaar, when Ragini was kidnapped.
So was this to be Sanskaar's cross to bear again? To have what he built up handed over without demur, in security for his cousin who had of late tried to do him naught but ill? Ram shook his head determinedly. This had gone on too far. If he failed his son now, he would never be able to look him in the eye again; would never he able to look at himself in the mirror again, come to that. He remembered with a thrill of long suppressed memory, what Bhaisa had told him about the Dyuta Parva. Vikarna, the most righteous of the Kauravas, had himself strenuously objected to his brothers' enforcing of Yudhishthira's wager. He had pointed out, very logically, very correctly, that Yudhishthira had no right to wager anyone or anything which didn't belong to him.
But Bhaisa, though he had explained the story so well, had gone ahead and done precisely that. And though Ram would still have preferred not to go against his elder brother, he realized that the time had come to take a stand. Ram had finally had enough of playing Lakshman's role.
Just when he had made up his mind of what he had to do, and was wondering how exactly he had to go about it, he heard a knock at the door...
Part 2--Love, Actually
""It should be a privilege to be able to say "I love you" to someone. It shouldn't be something people say just because they feel like it. A privilege that is earned. They say you have to earn the right to be loved; but no, love is unconditional, if you love someone, they don't have to earn it. But the right to tell someone that you love them? That has to be earned. You have to earn the right to be believed.""
-----C. Joybell C.
Swara stood disconsolately on the first floor landing, watching Sanskaar stride angrily away from her; his lithe, athletic frame literally sprinting down the staircase. She felt a sharp pang in her heart, and despite her valiant efforts at control, the tears started to flow down her cheeks. She had been trying so very hard for almost 10 days now, to get Sanskaar to listen to her, to convince him of her very deep feelings for him. She had wanted to proclaim her irrevocable love for him from the rooftops of Maheshwari House---but Sanskaar would not even give her the time of day to whisper this fact to him in person.
Swara was a courageous, determined lass. Anyone who had grown up in the less than ideal family circumstances of her childhood, could not have been any less. She had seen her mother and grandmother determinedly facing down snide remarks about Swara's paternity, about Shomi's illicit liaison, with a rare grace and dignity. They had almost never lost their poise, and those who tried to get a rise out of them invariably felt diminished and ashamed of their own malice afterwards.
But to the young Swara, such repeated taunts had bred a deep insecurity, a near unquenchable thirst for what she imagined a perfect family to be. She had wanted a father's strong love and care, a sibling to play with and protect, paternal grandparents to alternately indulge and gently scold her. And for an all too brief moment in time, her wish had been granted. She had got her father, her sister, her Dadi and Dada; and her parents had been reunited. But alas, this picture perfect family unit which seemed to meet all of Swara's ardent dreams, turned out to be a cruel mirage. At the first sign of strife, of conflicting desires, her sister had mercilessly tried to get her out of the way; and even more woundingly, her father had cut all ties with her. And her innately prejudiced Dadi and Dada had gleefully followed suit.
Though her bond with her father was now tenuously restored, Swara knew that she could no longer view him with quite the same degree of unconditional love and regard. She owed Shekar respect for his age and his status as her parent, and that she was whole heartedly prepared to give. But she, and her mother too, were all too conscious that Shekar had feet of clay, and was very far from being ideal paternal material.
But in the meantime, Swara's dreams of having a perfect family had transmuted to her in laws--by virtue of her "marriage" with Sanskaar. The poignancy of this situation was completely lost on Swara--she was investing her love, her dedication to another group of people, who were perhaps as unworthy as Shekar, Ragini, her Dadi and Dada had been. Annapurna, whose first preference for daughter in law, had always been the "sundar, susheel, sanskaari Marwari chori" Ragini; and Sujata, whose pea sized intellect prevented her from seeing how deeply and irrevocably in love, her son was with the "bengalan bahu" she so maligned.
But Swara had been more than willing to ignore the barbs from these ladies, for in a very real sense, she had discovered a father figure in the upright Durga Prasad, who had been a very pillar of strength and rectitude. Her deep respect, bordering on veneration for him, had only deepened after he had done her kanyadaan at the marriage she and Sanskaar had been coerced into by Ragini. Swara had a lot of genuine affection for Sanskaar's own father too, the quiet and unassuming Ram Prasad.
But be that as it may, she had returned to Maheshwari House not to rescue her in laws from Ragini's tyranny, but because she had realized her own irrevocable love for Sanskaar. She had been in denial for so long, hiding behind the comforting and convenient label of Sanskaar being her best friend. She had never really realized the wisdom of the saying, that if one was really lucky, one would find that one's soulmate was disguised as one's best friend the whole time. She had failed to realize what her heart was telling her, preferring instead to rely on her skeptical mind, that had been so badly burnt by Shekar's betrayal of her mother, as well as callous and impetuous Lakshya's betrayal of herself.
It had taken her return to the baadi, and Sanskaar's very angry and hurt sendoff, for Swara to realize the enormity of her own feelings. The few days she had been there, she had imagined Sanskaar everywhere around her, and had missed him terribly, with a palpable, aching void which just could not be filled. Missing him was the reverberating echo of everything wonderful about him: his deep, throaty laugh; his melodious crooning of his favorite songs; his fragrance---a blend of the woodsy Hugo Boss scent he used and the pleasant, subtly musky scent of his body; his tender, reassuring touch; and the power of his words. She had yearned for their easy conversations, the way they could talk to each other for hours and never feel bored, echoing into the comfortable silences held in each other's company. She had finally realized, with a burst of elation and nervousness---that this was it, for her. She now knew, that not only was she in love with Sanskaar, but she did not know where she ended and he began, so inextricably linked had thoughts of him become in her consciousness.
She had returned the very next day to Maheshwari House, breathlessly eager to tell him how she felt, only to find him adopt a veneer of anger and indifference towards her. He had bluntly told her that he did not trust her anymore, and could not believe she had come back for him. Surely, he sneered, there must be a larger mission at stake. Stingingly, he seemed to be perfectly certain that the only reason Swara had returned, was to take on Ragini, and retrieve his family's fortunes from her grasp. His importance to Swara was in his mind, wholly tangential to this mission, merely incidental to Swara achieving her goal.
When Swara had protested tearfully, that she would never lie to Sanskaar about feeling this way about him, he had merely looked at her consideringly for a long time. "I don't deny you perhaps think you care that way for me, Swara", he said bluntly. "But I can't believe you would really change your mind like that. For weeks, knowing how much I adore you, how much I literally worship the ground you walk upon, you kept saying that my love was a bakwaas baat, that it was some kind of dhoka to our friendship. What happened now, to make you feel differently, all of a sudden? Was it because you saw how upset I was when you packed to leave? Well, I don't want you feeling obligated to love me Swara! I don't want pity love from you, merely because you think its the right way, the convenient way, to feel about me! I want you to adore me, need me, want me; the way I feel for you! And I'm sorry, but nothing you've said or acted has shown me that you feel anything more mere guilt for having doubted me. That's not good enough for me, Swara! I deserve better than that---and frankly, so do you. What is the point of being tied together in this relationship, when you have to force yourself to feel a certain way, and I have to endure pain and regret, seeing my love get cheapened in this manner?"
Nothing she had said could convince him. And both Ragini and Lakshya were always hovering around, bringing to mind the hyenas and vultures of the Serengeti, forever willing to snatch whatever opportunity presented itself. Lakshya had tried to insinuate more than once, that what Sanskaar was doing now, was no different from what he himself had apparently been tricked into doing before. Not trusting Swara, showing antagonism towards her. If, whined Lakshya, Swara could forgive Sanskaar, and still keep trying to restore her bond with him, why should he be treated differently? He deserved another chance too, he insisted, and assured Swara he would never doubt her again, ever.
It was all Swara could do not to plug her hands into her ears and scream, whenever Lakshya started his juvenile prattling. But she had worse to contend with. Ragini had made it her life's mission to slyly insinuate to Swara at every opportunity, that she may as well sign the divorce papers and return to the baadi, since there was nothing to hold her back in Maheshwari house anymore. Couldn't Swara see, Ragini asked, that Sanskaar hated her? That he avoided any conversation with her? In earlier times, Swara just might have fallen prey to Ragini's scheming. But she had come to know Sanskaar very well indeed, to read his eyes, his actions, even when his words suggested something completely different.
Though Sanskaar had withdrawn almost totally from their friendship, and employed his formidable array of emotional defenses against her, he could not fully shutter the expression in his eyes. Swara saw the same concern there she always had, the same focus on her well being. She had seen him stand up to Ragini when she had got particularly malicious, telling her curtly to mind her own business and not dare to taunt Swara! And she had realized something with crystal clarity: however much Sanskaar might pretend to be indifferent to her, he still loved her every much as he always had. Her task was now clear: to convince her stubborn, insecure husband that she loved him as much in return. She knew very well that Sanskaar would always, as ever, readily cleave himself in two to give her what she wanted. She just had to somehow force him to give her the couple of minutes she needed, to convince him all she wanted was him! And she wasn't Swara Sanskaar Maheshwari for nothing---she would find a way to do this.
She had finally decided to think like Sanskaar would, to extricate them from the mess they were in right now. Their relationship was worth fighting for, even if part of the battle was against her own husband, to make him realize the magnitude of her feelings for him.
There was the matter of her discussion with the corporate lawyer she wanted to take up with Sanskaar---if only she could figure out a way to make him listen to her...
"When you say I love you, you are making a promise with someone else's heart. You should honor it with actions to prove it. Love is not only an emotion, love is a verb."
-----Author Unknown
Part 3--Circling the Wagons
Hearing the knock at the door, Ram Prasad glanced up, and smiled gently as he saw his daughter in law standing a little unsurely at the entrance to his room. "Come in, beta", he called, warmly. Swara came in, and before Ram could ask her if there was something he could help her with, she started talking. Looking carefully about her, speaking in hushed whispers, she started laying out a plan of action. Ram's expression shifted from consternation to amazement, and then finally to a deep admiration. He rested his hand gently on Swara's head. "God be with you, child" he murmured. "Despite all the sins that the people of this home have visited upon you, you are still...". But Swara had respectfully intervened. "Please don't say that Papa." she said, sadly. "You make me feel as if I'm not a member of the family, when you say that. I am doing this in a way, for our family; but frankly, that is only incidental. The main reason I am doing this, is for the person who's more important to me than anyone else. I'm doing this for my husband." Ram had smiled at that. It was a very warm, overjoyed smile, at having finally discovered somebody, who would put his son first. Something neither he nor his wife, had ever done for Sanskaar.
"Tell me what I need to do, beta", he asked fondly. Swara stood awkwardly, twisting the edge of her dupatta nervously between her fingers. "Can you call Sanskaar to your room, Papa? We need to discuss this with him; and well---he is angry with me now. He wouldn't listen to me if I tried calling him..." Her voice broke off in an anguish, and Ram sighed understandingly. He had seen the obvious signs of discord between his son and his daughter in law, which had deeply puzzled and distressed him. But equally, he could also so clearly see, that they both adored each other. He silently vowed to himself now, that he would do whatever it took, to bring them back together again.
Sanskaar came in a little later, summoned by his father who had merely said there was something vital he needed to discuss. As soon as stepped into the room, his gaze flickered beyond his father, to where Swara was standing. a closed, guarded look came over his face, and he stiffened imperceptibly. But Ram proceeded as if he hadn't noticed a thing. He rapidly outlined the plan which Swara had explained to him, emphasizing that they needed to put this into effect the very next day, when Ragini was attempting to get the official papers signed by Bhaisa, handing over control of Maheshwari Karma & Sons, to herself.
Sanskaar, like his father before him, had listened to the plan in rapt attention, and he could not help but shoot an admiring glance at Swara. She had really pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one. Sanskaar had known about this loophole, of course, and had briefly considered exploring it, too. But he had feared that his family would never accept it, and he would again be viewed as a prodigal son for having suggested it. But here was Swara, who had apparently managed to unearth the same plan, and had even convinced his father about the wisdom of this alternative.
His gaze softened to his customary tenderness while beholding her, before he quickly shuttered his expression, a curiously blank look entering his eyes again. But Swara had seen the change in his expression, and it sent hope flaring in heart again. Ram, too, had noticed, and he now tactfully left the room, saying he had some things to attend to. In the cautious silence left behind him, both Swara and Sanskaar stole longing, though uneasy looks at each other. It was Sanskaar who finally broke the silence. "How did you come to know about this?" he asked. Swara mulled her answer for a couple of seconds. And then, with the innate female intuition which is the property of all members of the elite club of womanhood, Swara answered like an intelligent wife would. With supreme understanding of her complex, fascinating, wonderful, and yet occasionally difficult husband.
Swara had come to know Sanskaar very well, indeed. She knew, for instance, that though he had long pretended to enjoy solitude, during his estrangement from the family, his loneliness was a constant ache. And she knew very well also, that though he might well pretend to be worldly wise and cynical, the traditional symbols of their bond, their marriage, meant the world to him. She touched her neck, indicating her mangalsutra. Very firmly, holding the proof of their marriage up to his eyes, Swara said, " I decided to learn something from my husband. There is nobody more important to me than you, after all..." Sanskaar made a convulsive jerk, and took half a step towards her, his eyes gleaming with hope. But he seemed to think better of it, and after an awkward pause, had strode out of the room. Swara smiled softly to herself. Things did not look so hopeless anymore, after all...
Later the evening, Ragini stood regally in the Grand front hall of Maheshwari house, receiving the guests with an almost queenly condescension. She held the file containing the transfer of ownership papers securely in her hand, eagerly looking at the wall clock in anticipation of it striking 8pm. She had fixed upon the auspicious time when Durga Prasad would designate her as the owner, from when she would reign as the undisputed prima donna, the malkin of the hallowed firm of Maheshwari Karma & Sons. She smiled grimly to herself as she reflected on the sweet revenge she was taking on the Maheshwaris. Truly, revenge was a dish best served cold. She could now watch the family squirm and grovel before her, having to ingratiate themselves to meet their every need. They deserved no less than this, thought Ragini bitterly, for allowing Lakshya to break their engagement twice over, leaving her heart shattered and bleeding. What did they think, that she was a fragile plaything they could cast aside when the fancy passed them? She would now teach them a thing or two about what she could do when she held power in her hands.
When just a few minutes remained till 8pm, Ragini had glided over to where Durga Prasad was standing with some business associates; and curtly reminded him that the time was nigh for the papers to be signed. Just as Durga Prasad nodded resignedly, and prepared to walk over to the table where the official papers had been kept, Sanskaar intervened. "I don't think so, Ragini", he said calmly. "No ownership transfer is going to happen---not today, and not ever!" Ragini had flashed an angry look at him, which was not devoid of wariness. "What do you mean, Sanskaar? Papa Ji has already given Dadi his word! He has already promised to transfer ownership of the firm to me. You can't possibly object now---do you want Dadi and me to send Lakshya back to prison?"
Sanskaar had smiled a very cold smile at her. "Shall we all move to the study room to discuss this in private, Ragini? You may not want to make a fool of yourself in front of your party guests, you know. Uttara and Parineeta Bhabhi can stay on here if they don't mind, to represent the family. The rest of us have some very important things to discuss." And without waiting for her reply, smiling casually at the guests and explaining that they would have to attend to something for a few minutes, Sanskaar had shepherded the other family members in front of him to the study room. Durga Prasad had looked completely flustered, while Swara and Ram stood steadily by Sanskaar's side. Sujata looked alternately gleeful and worried, while Annapurna had her eyes fixed worriedly on Lakshya. Whatever Sanskaar was planning, she didn't want her favorite to go back to jail...
Ragini flounced angrily into the study room, with Dadi next to her, already fuming at Durga Prasad for letting his family go against his pledged word. But Sanskaar had had enough of the elder lady's drama. He held up his hand, and spoke one very firm word-- "Enough!" He said it quietly enough, but the echoes of his steady voice reverberated in the study. Dadi's loud, querulous voice died away in shock. This was one person she could not browbeat, and she understood that only too well.
"So Ragini, as I was saying outside", continued Sanskaar, seemingly without a care in the world, "You seem to have misread the legal position a fair bit. Didn't your lawyer tell you, that Maheshwari Karma & Sons is a Partnership firm? You see, under law, admission of a new partner can be done only with the consent of all the existing partners. And Papa and I will not agree to admit you as a partner, under any circumstances. So the question of transferring ownership to you doesn't arise--Papa and I own half of the firm, and we aren't willing to transfer anything to you."
Ragini had glared with malevolent fury at him. She hissed in a venomous, sibilant whisper, that Durga Prasad had made a solemn vow, with God as witness, that she would be the malkin of the home and the business. But Sanskaar, again, interrupted her, both Ram Prasad and he shooting an apologetic glance at Durga Prasad, for what he was now about to say. "Bade papa made that promise, yes. But he only had the right to promise you what he has ownership over. He can promise you his share in the firm, and perhaps, those of Adarsh Bhaiyya and Lucky as well, since he passed on a part of his share to them earlier, when they joined the business. That is between them to decide.
But Papa received his share in the firm from his father, not from bade papa. And my share in the firm after the merger, is my contribution from Karma & Co., which I slogged to build in the last 5 years. I think Bade papa would be the first to agree, that he would not compel us to hand over our share to you--and we aren't going to do it, come what may. Ragini--understand one thing, and understand this very well, I don't like repeating myself. We have the law on our side. You only have the right to receive 50% of the profits of the firm--that's assuming Adarsh Bhaiyya and Lucky agree with bade papa to transfer their interest in the firm to you. Neither do you have any right to interfere in the conduct of the business, nor do you have any right to sell any of the assets. A massive pity your lawyer didn't advice you of this, before you started building castles in the air about becoming the owner of our firm, isn't it?"
Ragini glanced in panic at Dadi, who mustered the bravado to speak up again. "So Sanskaar, you would not mind sending your brother to prison is it? If Ram Prasad Ji and you decide to use the law to prevent Laado from getting her rights, we can use the law as well, in a way you would really not like!"
Annapurna moved reflexively closer to Lakshya, and started pleading with Ragini and Dadi not to do this to her son, she would ensure that what was promised to Ragini would be given. Sanskaar had merely glared contemptuously back at Dadi and Ragini; and with a considerable degree of disillusionment at his badi ma. "Dadi, if you are trying to emotionally blackmail me, you are going to fail miserably. You and your precious laado can go right down to the police station and reinstate your FIR against Lucky. But you know what? I am going to come down there myself, with a copy of the wonderfully clear CD I have, of Ragini's confession at the farmhouse. Have you forgotten all about that? I'm sure the police will be very interested in the confession---it points to mitigating circumstances and provocation for Lucky, you see. We will easily be able to prove that Ragini attempted to kill Swara, and that she entered into the marriage with Lucky under fraud. Are you prepared, Ragini, to spend time in jail? Because there certainly won't be any mitigating circumstances you can claim, you know..."
Dadi had been mercifully struck dumb by this, and Ragini blanched in fear. One look at Sanskaar was enough to convince her that this was no idle threat. He was outwardly calm, even suavely debonair. But his eyes had a sharp glitter, and his jaw was thrust out pugnaciously. This was Sanskaar at his best SK avatar, who would not mind coming out all guns blazing, to achieve his goals.
Ragini started thinking furiously about how she could still manage to salvage the situation, but Sanskaar was certainly allowing her no leeway that evening. "I'll save you some time, Ragini, since you obviously seem to be plotting some new diabolical scheme to get out of this. Let me tell you, if you dare make any attempt to harm Swara or myself, or Swara's Mom, or any member of this family; I have left copies of the CD with 3 separate lawyers in whom I have the utmost confidence. They are under strict instructions to forward a copy to the police, were you to attempt anything of this sort. And let me remind you, Ragini, this isn't some melodramatic TV serial, where you can hunt them down and either eliminate them, or bribe them. Your course of action is very simple. Take what bade papa has promised you--the transfer of his interest in the firm. Nothing more. And don't try to play games with me, Ragini---this is your last warning."
Ragini was certainly a lot of things, but she was nothing if not canny. She realized that the cards were stacked against her for the time being, and she would do well to beat a tactical retreat. Her eyes glittering balefully like cold pebbles, she slithered out of the room, closely followed by Dadi. The family heaved a collective sigh of relief, and Durga Prasad convulsively held Sanskaar's palm tight, thanking him for rescuing their family from this nightmare. Sanskaar smiled back at him warmly, and his eyes met Swara's. A look of deep understanding passed between them. This battle had been won, alright. But Ragini still remained a thorn in their flesh, till either her attitude changed, or her temerity was vanquished, the war would not truly be over...
Part 4--From here to Eternity
It was the day after the momentous party evening. Sanskaar sat in pensive silence in the guest room, cradling a photo of Swara and himself in his hands. It was one taken at the time of their wedding, which Ragini had coerced them into. Sanskaar had dreamed of his marriage to Swara, of seeing his love come to fruition in a tender expression of his commitment. But despite the bitter and far from ideal circumstances in which their wedding had actually taken place, he had always considered himself bound to Swara, even when she was so sure that they could only be best friends, nothing more .
Sanskaar was gazing at the photo now in almost fierce desperation, with the air of a drowning man holding on to his only lifeline. Try as he might to portray indifference towards Swara, the truth was that she had seeped so deeply into the very fabric of his being, he could not see her hurt without lacerating his own soul. Swara moved him almost unendurably, she had become as vital to him as breathing. Truth be told, he could not really conceive of a life without her. But Sanskaar was never a man to do anything in halves. He adored Swara completely, without holding anything back. And he could not settle for anything less from her. Her brief mistrust had battered and bruised his heart again, and it was this that had compelled him to retreat behind the barrier of his emotional defenses against her. But her fervent avowals of her love for him, the very apparent sincerity in her eyes and voice were chipping away at those walls steadily. If only he could trust her not to hurt him again....
Sanskaar was lost in this brooding reverie, when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up to se his father gazing at him with a cautious smile. "Everything fine, Papa? " he asked. Though matters had settled down after the previous day's dramatic confrontation with Ragini, things around the house were still tense. Dadi and Ragini were always hanging about, moody and saturnine, and one could literally hear the wheels turning in their cunningly fertile minds, exploring and discarding avenues for renewed scheming.
"Everything's fine, beta, nothing to worry about on the home front. I just came to tell you that Swara was looking for you, she said she wanted to give you some papers she'd signed?"
Sanskaar's heart literally stopped beating for a couple of moments when he heard that. So he had finally driven her past endurance. Though he had kept insisting that she sign the divorce papers which he'd already signed a few days prior, a large part of him had always hoped and expected, that she wouldn't do it. He quickly looked away from Ram to hide his tears, absently rubbing his chest in a vain attempt to ease the sharp pain in his heart. He heard his father's voice behind him, sounding curiously tinny and distant, through the dizzying roar in his ears. "Go to your room and meet her, beta. It seemed to be urgent, I saw her looking everywhere for you; I think she'd come here earlier, too, but you weren't here then. Are you avoiding her?"
"Nothing like that, Papa" muttered Sanskaar distractedly, hastily moving out of the room before he broke down. He stumbled his way to their room, his legs noticeably shaky, his mind in utter, painful turmoil. You did it finally, you fool! his mind berated him. She kept telling you she loved you, but you kept trying to push her away. Happy now? You've broken her heart, and she's leaving now, breaking yours in turn. Was there any point in this futile cycle of mistrust and pain and regret?
His desperate musing paused as he entered their room. Swara was apparently getting ready, standing in front of the dressing mirror, running a brush through her luxuriant tresses. She caught sight of his reflection as he entered the door, and turned around to speak to him. Smiling a little warily at him, she looked concerned as she took in his rather bloodshot eyes and air of very apparent tension. If things had been normal between them, she would have rushed to him, to demand what was troubling him. But she now feared being shot down if she displayed her concern. Instead, she picked up a sheaf of papers which she had placed on the dresser, and cautiously walked up to him to hand them over. Sanskaar's hands shook as he took them, and a mist seemed to rise before his eyes as he glanced at them.
It took a while for him to register amidst the utter emotional turmoil he was in, that what Swara had handed over to him, weren't the divorce papers at all. In utter amazement, he realized that they were the title deeds to some property his bade papa and papa had purchased in their joint names at the time of their wedding, the release deeds for which she had now signed.
He looked up at her, sudden tears of joy in his eyes, and she must have guessed what he had feared. She moved a little closer to him, and said softly, "Sanskaar, I did tell you, didn't I, that I wanted our marriage to work? I am never going to sign those divorce papers, and just so you know, I've already torn them up. I just signed these property papers since you may have some issues with Ragini claiming her share of the firm's profits, right? You could sell this property or pledge it if you need liquidity---that's upto you. But Sanskaar---I want you to believe me when I say something. I know you doubt my feelings for you, but isn't this exactly what you told me earlier, when I was angry with you for confessing your love for me? That though I might choose not to reciprocate it, I should never question the sincerity of your love? That's the same thing I want to tell you now. I took time to realize my feelings for you, a very long time, I admit. But you know what they say right, that before you find your soul mate, you must first discover your own soul? I had lost all faith in love, Sanskaar. I needed time to think things through, to realize how deeply I feel for you. I miss you when something really good happens, because you're the one I want to share it with. I miss you when something is troubling me, because you're the only one who understands me so well. I miss you when I laugh and cry, because I know that you're the one who makes my laughter grow and my tears disappear. I miss you all the time, but I miss you the most when I lie awake at night and think of all the wonderful times we spent with each other, for those were, and will always be, the most memorable times of my life. I do love you. And this will never change.
I know that you feel I might have come back just to protect the family from Ragini---but trust me, I came back only for you. The fact that I tried to prevent Ragini from abusing the family, is what I would want to do as your wife. Wouldn't you likewise do what you could to help my Mom? Sanskaar---you did so much to help me bring my parents together. Didn't you do that, really, for me? Because I do know, that you felt my father wasn't really worthy of my Mom, and probably, if I hadn't been so keen on seeing them get back together, you might not have bothered. Trust me on this, please. What I tried to do for our family is similar---I only did that because I knew you would never want them victimized by Ragini."
Sanskaar swallowed the giant lump in his throat, and slowly nodded. Things weren't fully mended between them yet, but there was real hope now, a warm blazing flame that had flickered to life again. Swara smiled tentatively at him, and turned to walk slowly back to the dressing mirror, to complete getting ready. Looking straight at Sanskaar's reflection , meeting his eyes in the mirror, she took a pinch of sindhoor and filled her partition with it.
She smiled at Sanskaar, trying to put all her love, her trust, her determination to win him over again, into that one smile. Sanskaar saw her smile in the mirror, reflecting her heart, and smiled back at her tentatively.
There was a determined vow in her smile, a growing hope in his. Swara's image in the mirror looked radiant, with the red adorning her forehead. The promise of their future was marked in her sindhoor, a thick slash of beautiful vermilion, proclaiming her as someone meant only for Sanskaar. For now, that was enough...
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Notes:
Modified versions of a Couple of quotes I have referenced in this OS:
1) "Before you find your soul mate, you must first discover your soul."
----Charles F. Glassman
2) "He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended and she began."
----Leo Tolstoy, in the novel Anna Karenina
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