~:Compromised:~

As the black Mercedes screeched to a halt in front of the concrete patio leading to the relatively old shabby building which housed the small flat of the Mallick family, Mr. Arora, the senior grimaced. It was a large yet well maintained compound, but the old buildings discoloured with time and wear were what snatched the grandeur out of the beautifully tended green compound.

Mrs. Arora had unarguably stated that not only were the Mallicks a good family, there was nothing better than the prospect of uniting both the families through marriage. And that was what had brought them to pay a visit today to their long time family friend Mr. Pragnajyoti Mallick. Also, there was another reason she had favored the Mallicks for. She simply couldn't get her mind off the lovely little bachchi of Mr. Mallick. How she radiated the bright happiness of youth. And how her youngest son had oggled his eyes out at her from the shadows of the party hall. But that was nearly four years ago.

Now he had completed his masters at USA, and attained an eligible age for marriage. Hell, he was one of the most sought after bachelors in town. And Mrs. Arora had no doubt that Mr. Mallick's daughter will make a good partner and spouse for him.

Whilst her elder son had shown little to no interest in either girls or marriage. His extreme lack of care and conviction when it came to the opposite sex disappointed Mrs. Hema Arora greatly, when he had thrown out the envelope containing the pictures of girls eligible for him in a fit of rage. She had completely given up on him, and taken up the task of getting her more complying younger son, Nikhil to be tied up in nuptial knot before his vacation ended and he went back to States.

The fact that the Mallicks were not really of the grander status of the Aroras, had created some initial resistance upon the part of Mr. Abhayraj Arora. But the cons were quickly overcome by the pros of the favorable union, were such to take place. The girl was young, fair and beautiful, educated, and well mannered (here, she couldn't help but add how the sweet girl had folded her hands and said Namaste to her when she had met her at the party years ago). And that was when Mrs. Arora's unfailing motherly instincts told her how perfect she would be for her son.

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Entering into the Mallick home, they were greeted by Mr. Mallick himself. A man of middle stature and built, clumsily dressed in a rather large ill-fitting light blue green check shirt and plated grey pants. His jovial countenance was marred by numerous weary wrinkles that had set in with age and his undyed hair were a confusion of black and white, thinning near the center of his head.

As the Aroras entered, another face was seen peeping through the curtains of the adjacent room. Beaming with curiosity, Swastika couldn't help but giggle as the 'Groom-party' came in. Swastika was Mr. Mallick's eldest daughter, who was married just a year and half ago to Raghav Oberoi, a reputed lawyer settled in Delhi. Raghav who had found himself un-expectedly occupied with a big case had to make a trip to Mumbai. And as soon as Swastika heard about the marriage proposal that had arrived for her little sister she was hell-bent on coming to see her sister and meeting her would-be 'Woh'. A reluctant Raghav had submissively complied with his over excited wife's wishes.

All through the trip he had to hear Swastika's constant chatter on the things that needed to be done in a house with impending marriage, important points that were to be kept in mind while talking with the groom party, her rough estimate of marriage expenses, the kind of dresses and the number of jewelry that would need to be purchased, etcetera etcetera… Her list was long and her topics of discussion never ending, Raghav felt a major migraine coming on. And who wouldn't when they had to hear their wife nag for the entire journey. Rubbing his temples he eyed her with a frown etched clearly on his face wondering where she got that kind of energy from. Non-stop 24 hour bakarr-bakarr. It seemed she was either oblivious to his utter distaste to her talkativeness or if she saw she chose to ignore it blatantly on his face.

However to his immense relief she slept like a baby throughout their taxi trip. These were the moments he liked her. Her overall personality wasn't that bad... And why! Minus the chapar-chapar she could be the angel of his dreams.

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The moment Swastika arrived it had spelled the impending doom for her sister. She teased her to no ends. And even though her little sister avoided her like plague, she too couldn't help but be affected by her infectious sense of humor and silly grotesque jokes of love and sex that she coined in the oddest of moments.

It seemed after a long time after the passing of Mrs. Mallick, that happiness had filled the house. And day and night, the once occupied yet empty rooms rung with the airy laughter of the sisters. Finally the house felt like home. The children had come home, and were under the same roof and Mr. Mallick had never been happier.

Things changed after the death of Swastika's mother. While her father was forced to spend most of his time working hard at office, young Swastika had to grow up a lot within the short time. There was of course a maid for domestic chores, but not all things a maid can do. Through thick and thin she learned to take care of her baby sister. Sometimes with rebukes from her father when she did things the wrong way and sometimes by realizing her own mistakes. Slowly but surely she learnt to grip the reins of her family. Learning responsibilities and dutifully (and sometimes much against her will) doing them. The few spare hours of her evenings after school and later college that she had to herself when her mother was alive, was cut short and now spent looking after and taking care her younger sibling.

Yet she did not let the heaviness of her dull life diminish the spark of her eyes. A spark that was intricately preserved within the spirit of her younger sister. She enjoyed when she could, or found the time or means to. She outweighed the sadness that had filled her soul with the loss of her mother with her deeper understanding and optimistic way of viewing life. Her maturity did not lie in how young or careless she looked; they were imbibed within her with the circumstances she faced and the experiences that these circumstances brought with them. She learnt; she lived.

To say the sisters were close would be an understatement. They loved each other inspite of their differences. For her younger sister, Swastika was the mother figure she had very vague memories of. Sometimes loving, sometimes hard and crude like a demon. The bitter-sweetness of their relationship strung the together in a bond deeper than expected. And Swastika's early marriage, brought in a sober melancholiness within her sister. She spoke less, preferred staying alone and indulged in her eccentric yet new found preference of solitude. This new development within his younger daughter worried Mr. Mallick. But it seemed with time even he grew accustomed to his daughter's new mood swings.

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They had sat and talked for nearly twenty minutes, talking business and other things, when finally Mrs. Arora asked for Mr. Mallick's younger daughter. Swastika, the peeping tom had been discovered earlier from her hiding place from amongst the curtains by Mrs. Arora's unfailing critical eye, when her new Kolhapuri chappals slipped on the polished floor making her step on her sari and fall backwards on the floor. Suppressed chuckles ensued, and an unsuspecting Mr. Mallick turned red at his daughter's antics. Mr. Arora had laughed and the Arora junior, Nikhil had chuckled as the girl in pink sari fell out of the curtains and landed with a thud on the floor instantly earning himself a glare from an embarrassed yet angry Swastika.

The world had blacked out for a few seconds as she lay flat on the cold floor on her back, simply staring at the white washed ceiling above until she felt gentle hands gripping her by the arm and helping her up. She looked up to see into the worried face of Mrs. Arora, who being nearest to her had rushed to her aid. Colouring instantly as she realised what had happened she rose to her feet with Mrs. Arora supporting her as she ran a hand over her sari and smoothed it brushing back her long mane of dark hair over her shoulders trying to preserve the remaining bits of her dignity, as she finally mustered the courage to look up and find the men guffawing with laughter. Instantly cringing her pretty nose she directed a sharp glare at the youngest male who seemed to be having the laugh of his life making him choke amidst his laughter mid-breathe. Men these days, she thought, as she turned to register the elderly woman next to her enquire something to her.

"Are you okay dear? Are you hurt?" Genuine worry laced deeply in her eyes, her face contorted with motherly concern. Swastika nodded her head bashfully, offering a small smile.

"I am fine Aunti-ji. Thank you."

The bright twinkling eyes of the girl, the soft smile on her lips nudged something within the elderly woman's heart. And instantly Hema Arora had taken a liking to the elder sister as well, just like she had with the younger sibling. What sweet kids, she thought.

"Be careful beta. You could've gotten hurt."

Not knowing what to do or say Swastika nodded her head again rather shyly.

"Ji, Aunti-ji."

"This is my elder daughter, Swastika. Naughty as hell when she was younger. And still so!" Mr. Mallick laughed trying to make light of the situation, making him the second to get another glare pointed from Swastika as she made a face towards him.

Everyone laughed.

"Very lovely children you've got Mr. Mallick," Mrs. Arora spoke. And Mr. Arora nodded his head back and forth in approval.

"Speaking of children, where is your youngest daughter?"

"She's.. she's inside. I… I'll get her." Swastika interjected quickly, turning around and excusing herself, running inside to fetch her sister.