SwaSan SS: Firestones Part 3 Pg 6

She found herself standing before them all again, the very people she'd once called family. They were all there, to welcome her, or to rub salt into her wounds with their pleadings and apologies, she couldn't tell. All she did was stare at the floor, moving herself closer into Sanskar's warmth.

It began with Sujata, who as usual raved about how wrong she'd been and how she'd misinterpreted Swara again. How she was so sorry she never trusted Swara, never wanted Sanskar and Swara to be together even though she knew Swara held her son's very heart in her hand. Then the blame game began. Accuses were hurled at Ragini, who stood in the corner traumatized, or pretending to be so, that it had all started with her, that she had turned Lakshya into the monster capable of committing the horrendous crime he had. Swara closed her eyes, every word that every person spoke not registering in her senses. The entire scene was a blur, there was shouting, continuous apologies floated from everyone's mouths, her mother, her father, who'd not very long ago joined hands with the Maheshwaris and given Swara a piece of their minds, telling her just how very disappointed they were that their other daughter was following in the footsteps of the first. They'd never found themselves capable of believing that Swara's hands could ever rise in an attempt to snatch her sister's life.

And then, there was silence. Blissful, pure silence.

"Swara?" Sanskar whispered.

She opened her now eternally tearful eyes, letting the small drops slide down her cheeks. She realized they were all waiting for her to speak, looking at her with hopeful eyes. She spoke, perhaps first time, for her own self.

"I have nothing to say. I am sorry that I am left without anyone to call family today. Not even my own parents. And this house, where I was supposed to come as a newlywed, blushing bride who looks forward to a happy, jovial togetherness with her new family, I came as a girl who had been wronged and cheated and deceived, by somebody who was her own flesh and blood, with nothing but a sickening desire to set things right. And even then, I had nobody with me. It was only my Dida and my best friend. But when I thought all was good, that my sister had mended her ways and my entire family had realised how wrongly I had been judged, it all happened again. And trust me, I was not just surprised, I was aghast. At just how easy it was for everyone in this family to raise their fingers at me. And I still am. And now, I want to laugh. I really do. You ask for forgiveness? I give it to you. But does anyone give me the assurance that one day, again, when somebody decides that injustice has been done to them, like so many times before, and they come with vengeance dripping from them, they will not make me a weapon to try and make their own brand of justice prevail? I was used and blamed, when Sanskar decided that he had been wronged. My principles were put to test when Ragini decided that I had snatched her love. I was accused, looked at with eyes filled with disgust, by none other than those who call themselves my family. And now again, when it was Lakshya's turn to avenge what supposed wrong had been done to him, it was ME and ME again! Will this ever stop?! EVER?!"

Her normally sweet and singing voice now rang in the Maheshwari Mansion, as she yelled her lungs out demanding for nothing in particular. Because she knew, here she would get nothing. Except for fake apologies and empty promises.

"Sita had been tested by the fires once, and even Ram was not capable of stopping it. But when she'd emerged pure, untouched by filth, she was never put to test again. But here, there is no fire pure enough to vindicate me, it seems. And now, I want away from this. Away from all of you."
"Swara..." Annapurna began, but she was halted.

"Enough, Badi Ma. Enough. Both me and Sanskar are leaving this house this very minute. And if you have yet not had enough, if you people are going to blame me again for making Sanskar do what I say, then you can ask him. I am leaving. To come with me is solely his choice."

Sanskar looked up at his kin, he knew his eyes were filled with nothing but unadulterated disgust. He wanted to say a lot, but the words wouldn't come. His beloved brother stood in one corner, staring down at the floor. He had not one shred of guilt on his face. It was blank, as if his brain had failed to register what had happened in the past few days. He wanted to kill Lakshya. To beat the living hell out of his spineless body. What he'd seen Swara go through in the past few days of drama that had ensued in the house, it was enough to make him loathe Lakshya for as many lives a human soul had. She was broken. Ripped into pieces at the hands of this monster. Her eyes had become a perpetual source of tears. Her face had lost its glow, the twinkle in her eyes had faded, making way for a permanent set of worry lines on her face. The cheerful, smiling, valiant fighter he'd fallen in love with, had put down her weapons. Not because she had lost. But because she had to fight the very same battle, against her own people, again, and again, and again. But now, they'd both had enough. Love without trust was baseless. They had been shown down enough. She was not to be treated like anything but a queen. His queen.

"Come, Swara."

He gently pressed her shoulders and turned her around, as they walked back the stairs they had come, to the exit gate. Their bags were packed, all already in his car. Silence prevailed in the renowned Maheshwari Mansion, as pairs of eyes, some wise and understanding, yet saddened by grief, some tear filled and guilt ridden, some oblivious, blank, but one, still filled with malice and thirst watched the retreating backs of Swara and Sanskar.

Swara did not once look at the immense resplendence of the Maheshwari Mansion as Sanskar backed the car out of the gate.

"Relax, Swara. We've left them now. You can begin a new life now. With no strings attached to the past. Pretend like these past few months of your life never happened."

She looked at him, amazed at how he was always worried about how she was feeling. here he had left his family behind for her, and...

"How can you do this, Sanskar? How are you still worried about me? When I have made you..."

"You haven't made me do anything, Swara. I know what a bunch of hypocrites I have got for a family. That is exactly why I left them behind so many years ago. I came back with a purpose, but this time...I really don't know. They are unbearable."

Swara laughed dryly.

"Where are we going?" She asked suddenly.

"Ermmm...Baadi?"

"WHAT?! No. Sanskar, i am not going home. Didn't we already have this discussion? I don't want anywhere near those people. At least for some days. Till I get through this. I am going to stay with you."

Sanskar looked away, biting his lip to conceal his smile. Stay with you. You always stay with me, Shona. You live in me.

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Sanskar's apartment was every bit what Swara had imagined. Classy, spacious, sorted, the right things in the right places, just perfect. Like him.

She sat on the large white bed and stared out through the all glass floor to ceiling window in the bedroom, watching the moon cast its shimmering glow over the city of Kolkata. She pulled the blanket closer to herself, snuggling into it, a smile forming on her face at the contentment she felt. Even though her life had been turned upside down in the past few days, she felt comfortable. Protected. Like she knew this had only made her strong. Like she could deal with it, as long as he was with her. She could deal with anything and everything, then what was a psycho ex.

"You're still awake?"

Her eyes flitted to his figure walking through the door. There eyes locked, like they did so many times a day, their gazes held by an unnamed, unexplainable force. Swara felt a weird sense of calm by looking into his eyes. Their serenity granted her peace, she felt at ease even though the world around was in a chaotic turmoil. His eyes were so beautiful, they were undescribable. they were magic.

"Sleep, Swara. You've not slept since the past few nights at all. I'm in the next room."

She shook her head. "Sleep here. Beside me."

He looked away, discomfort worrying his features. "Swara..."

"Sanskar, please. I'm scared. You know how difficult it was to sleep in that hell..."

Sanskar's eyes were filled to the brim the moment he recalled how she had suffered in that small, dingy lockup. He blinked his tears away, walking over to her and enclosing her in his arms. Swara melted into his embrace, instantly her arms slipping around his body, as if she'd been waiting for this, wanting this. He hugged her tight, clutching her to himself, for a moment giving up on all inhibitions and limits of their friendly marriage. She needed him. He needed her. They were the only two who could provide each other solace.

"I'm so sorry, Sanskar. I was such a fool! I should have listened to you. Should have given your words more weightage. I don't know why I do this to you every time! And yet you never leave my side..." she sobbed quietly into his shoulder.

"Shhh...shhh. It's okay, jaan. I'm here na. Kuch nahi hoga tumhe. Kuch nahi, Swara. Never. I promise. Stop crying. Please stop crying Swara. It hurts. Please."

Swara's sobs subsided, she found herself getting more comfortable in his embrace. She snuggled in closer, if that was even possible, and slumber took over.

"Swara?" he called out when he realised her movements had stopped. He pulled away slightly, still supporting her by her arms, and gently lowered her onto the bed. He pulled the blanket further over her, quietly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and caressing her beautiful face with his fingers.

"You've cried enough, Shona. Now no more. I promise you, I will give you all the love that I'm capable of. I'll take away all your pain, all your tears. Fill your life with happiness. I'll make you the old Swara again. I swear, Shona. I swear on our relationship."

She stirred, and Sanskar freezed for a moment. She turned to her side and curled into a smaller ball as she slept, making Sanskar smile. He leaned down, not able to stop himself, and gently kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Shona. I love you."