SwaSan MiniShot: after the injury

Breathe in and breathe out.

Swara had been feeling some tension in her gut since yesterday. Well, the whole of last week really. You know that feeling which nags you in the middle of the night, just as you have decided to settle into a deep sleep? And it invariably keeps you awake, wondering why you feel like a coiled spring.

Her mother used to take yoga classes..and take her along when she was a child. There would often be nobody to look after her in those days, considering her Dida had not retired from her teaching position at a girls' school..and her Ma had just taken up the job of a sales manager at a reputed jewellery store.

Since then, Swara had kept up the habit of relieving stress, by doing pranayama, the meditation yoga. It helped during exams. You are supposed to empty your mind..and breathe in and out slowly, counting 10-20 between each breath.

Today however, Swara had failed completely at her feat. No matter how she tried, the image simply would not leave her anxious mind alone.

Sanskaar's injury was not serious, however it had bled...and caused some pain. Swara had never known she could feel this much disquiet over someone's injury..someone who was yes, her best friend...but not exactly family. Her palpitating heart seemed to remind her that, this was someone, a scratch on whom had the power to send her heart reeling into frenzy...and cause her mind to go blank.

He had been sitting rather forlornly on the bed...with his right arm bandaged. He sent his fussing mom away, gently, but firmly telling her that he will manage to eat himself. However, eating with his left hand seemed not to be his forte. The soup kept slopping back into the bowl.

Swara decided, she had had enough of peeking through the window. Sujata had rather angrily asked her to not bother her chhora when he was injured...so she had been pacing outside his room...stealing glances to check on him. But now, she had to go in.

"main khilau?"

Sanskaar looked up and saw her.

"Haan..wo main..."

"Dekha maine...main khilati hoon." Swara busily plopped herself down beside him..and started spooning it into his mouth.

Sanskaar sipped a few spoonfuls without a word...gazing at her. It cheered him up immensely to have her paying so much attention to him...worrying and nursing.

Then suddenly, his gaze changed. Swara noticed.

"Kya hua?"

Sanskaar did not reply. He just turned his mouth away moodily...and left swara's hand holding the spoonful of soup an inch from his mouth.

"Don't wanna drink it any more."

"Why? Tabiyat kharab ho raha hai kya?" Swara fussed.

"nuh-uh."

"toh?"

"I want some water."

"oh. Soup zyada garam tha? Batana chahiye nah." Swara poured him a glass of water from the jug.

Holding it to his lips, he sipped at it..and then suddenly shook his head.

"What?" Swara asked bewildered.

"Ye paani thanda nahi hain...I want cold water." He grumbled.

"Nahi milega. You drink it straight from the fridge..and get throat trouble." Swara chided. A cold on top this injury...she certainly would not condone.

"Then I am not drinking the soup." Sanskaar returned decidedly, making a face.

"offo..doctor recommended some soup and broth. He said its nutritious and will help you heal. Waise bhi you have vitamin deficiency. Chalo drink."

"Nooo." Sanskaar pouted rather like a kid...and then grinned, blinking up at her...and cheekily scrunched up his nose.

Swara understood the grin. He was just pulling her leg...enjoying himself watching her fuss over him.

"masti ho raha hai?" she said, fondly, smiling as well, narrowing her eyes at the same time.

"hmm."

"why?" swara sat back down.

"Awayi...maza aa raha tha." he shrugged, nodding mischievously.

"mujhe pareshan karke maza aata hain?" swara raised her eyebrows...widening her eyes in mock rage.

"hmm. Kyu pareshan karunga toh nahi khilaogi?" Sanskaar enquired softly, smirking.

Swara just kept on feeding him some more, with a smile. She was not going anywhere, no matter how much he yanked her chain.

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This scene kept replaying in her mind...like a video put on loop. It will continue..until Swara realises what he means to her.(, yep, I will loop it myself)