Durgaprasad Maheshwari and his younger son, Sanskaar were returning from their office in car. They owned the renowned Maheshwari Industries in Kolkata.
DP: Sanskaar bete, I need to say something important to you..
Sa: Jee Papa, tell me..
DP: I have found a girl for you to marry -- Kanika, Shekhar uncle's daughter.
Shekhar Rajput was Durgaprasad's business partner and they were best friends. Sanskaar merely looked at his Papa and was thoughtful for a few minutes. Durgaprasad gazed at his son expectantly. Then he answered.
Sa: Papa, your wish is my command. I am ready to marry her.
Durgaprasad smiled widely and patted Sanskaar's shoulder.
DP: I am proud of you my son. I am lucky to have a son like you. (happily continues talking) Anyways you have already met Kanika at numerous occasions. So there will be no need to meet her officially. I will call and tell Shekhar that you are ready for this alliance and together we will fix the date for your engagement function after consulting a pundit ji.
Sanskaar smiled at his father's happiness and he looked out of his car's window. Durgaprasad was talking with Shekhar over his phone now.
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When they reached home, two young boys ran towards Sanskaar. They were Rahul (9 years old) and Dhruv (8 years old). Rahul and Dhruv were Adarsh's and Parineeta's sons.
Ra & Dh : Chaaachuuu...
They hugged around Sanskaar's legs and he knelt down and hugged both of them.
Sa: Wow..What a surprise..! When did you both arrive..? Where is your Mumma Papa..?
Ra: (frowns)Hmmph..As usual, both of them went off to Bangalore for some office work or meeting or something.
Dh: Ya Chachu, and they dropped us here before they went off.. I mean, what is this yaar..They don't even care for us..! (grumpy expression)
Adarsh was Durgaprasad's elder son. He worked in the Media field unlike Sanskaar and Durgaprasad. His wife, Parineeta too worked with Adarsh in his office. Durgaprasad was not a father-in-law with orthodox values and he had no problem with his daughter-in-law doing office work also. Adarsh and family lived in another flat in Kolkata.
Just then Durgaprasad got a phone call. It was Adarsh.
DP: Hello beta..
Ad: Papa..Hope you have come back home..We are going to Bangalore. It's an official visit. We have dropped Rahul and Dhruv at home.
DP: (laughs pleasantly)Ok beta..We just came back from office and met them here..You don't worry. They will be fine here..
Ad: Hmm..We know that..Both of them love to spend time with Sanskaar..He will handle them perfectly..
DP: Hmm..That is true..Anyways, Adarsh..There is good news..I have fixed Sanskaar's marriage with Kanika..You know her..She is Shekhar's daughter.
Ad: Wow Papa..That's great news..Give the phone to Sanskaar..Let me congratulate him..
Durgaprasad handed his mobile to Sanskaar.
Sa: Yes, bhaiyya..
Ad: (laughs) Congratulations Sanskaar..So you are the next scapegoat of our family..Marriage is a tough deal, buddy..!
Sa: (laughs loudly) Stop teasing me, bhaiyya..
Ad: Wait..Parineeta wants to congratulate you..
Pa: Hello, Sanskaar..Don't listen to your bhaiyya..Anyways, Congratulations..!
Sa: Thank you bhabhi..See you when you guys come back..!
Pa: Ya..We will be back after a week..Hope those two little devils don't trouble you..
Sa: (looks at the kids) Not at all bhabhi..We are like best friends forever..Ok bye..
Pa: (laughs) Bye, Sanskaar..
Ad: Bye, Sanskaar..
Sanskaar disconnected the call and looked at the kids. He placed his arms around both of them.
Sa: So champs..What's up..?!
Ra: Chachu..You are going to get married to Kanika aunty..!
Dh: We need a big treat..!
Sanskaar smiled at his naughty nephews and nodded at them. He loved them very much and would do anything for them.
He took them to their favourite hangout place where they ate pizzas and burgers and ice creams as they wished. He loved to pamper them like anything. Even though, they were kids, they behaved like elders and Sanskaar also considered them like his friends. This was the best thing they loved about their Chachu. The other elders always considered them as pestering little kids and so they also chose to behave with them in that way only.
At night, Sanskaar drove them back in his car. Rahul and Dhruv were noticing Sanskaar since the evening. He was looking very thoughtful and was also less talkative than ever. Rahul nudged Dhruv with his elbow and gestured at Sanskaar, who was silently driving. Dhruv nodded at Rahul meaningfully.
Ra: Chachu..Are you happy..?
Sanskaar was jerked back from his trail of thoughts and he turned to look at the boys through the rear view mirror at the middle.
Sa: Why do you ask..?
Dh: That is not the answer to our question, chachu..
Sanskaar shrugged and smiled feebly.
Sa: Yes..I am happy..But, don't I look happy..?
Ra: You look different, not at all your usual self.. Otherwise you are usually so funny and would crack jokes till you make our tummies ache.
Sanskaar smiled widely at the boys and shook his head feeling amused.
Dh: Yes, since your marriage got fixed, are you trying to be more mature..? (smirks casually)
Sanskaar couldn't help laughing at this.
Sa: Stop teasing me, guys..! It's just that I am not sure about this marriage thing..! I have told 'yes 'because Papa wants me to do so. His happiness is my happiness.
Ra: Hmm..Think about it, chaachu..You are only 27 years old..Are you sure you want to get married now..?
Dh: You know what..Rahul is right..Just tell Dadaji that you are not ready for this marriage.
Sa: I can't do that, guys. I have never ever said "No" to my Papa in my entire life. He is like God to me. And you know that.
Ra: But there is something like personal likes and dislikes Chachu..It's your life..!
Sa: (smiles) You won't understand..! Ever since my Maa passed away, my Papa is everything for me.
Annapurna Maheshwari was Sanskaar's mother. She died in a Bus accident when she had went for a religious pilgrimage with her parents. It had happened when Sanskaar and Adarsh were kids.
He stopped the car and got down. They had reached the Maheshwari Mansion and the boys also got down.
As they stepped into the house, Durgaprasad approached Sanskaar and hugged him. Sanskaar noticed Shekhar Rajput, who was also present in the living room and he smiled at him.
DP: Sanskaar, the engagement is fixed on the coming Sunday. That is there are only six days left for the event.
Sh: We just met the Pundit ji and came home.
He came and hugged Sanskaar and smiled.
Sh: Thank you for saying 'Yes' to this relation, beta.
Sanskaar didn't say anything and he just merely smiled at him.
Rahul and Dhruv looked at each other and shrugged casually.
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Next day morning, Sanskaar was getting ready to go to his office. Suddenly Rahul and Dhruv entered the room with tensed expressions.
Sa: Good morning..(smiles, then he notices their faces) You both look worried..!!
Ra: Chaachu..Dadaji is calling you, urgently..
Sanskaar was adjusting his tie, looking at the mirror.
Sa: Ya, I am coming..Give me a few minutes..(combs his hair to look stylish)
Dh: (shouts) Why don't you understand? It's urgent..!
Sanskaar frowned and looked at the two boys.
Sa: What is the hurry..? Is there any problem..?
Ra: Yaa.. A lady has come here asking for you..
Dh: (raises his right eyebrow)Seems like she is one of your old girlfriends..!
Sa: (shocked) What..?!!
Sanskaar immediately walked out of his room and climbed down the staircase.
A lady, who was wearing saree and a little girl with long hair was standing opposite to his Papa. He could only see their backs because they stood facing the other side. Durgaprasad looked at Sanskaar with a tensed expression.
DP: It's good that you came, Sanskaar..! This lady is claiming that this little girl with her is your daughter.
Sa: (shocked)What..?!
The lady turned around and when he saw her face, he felt as if his world turned upside down. "Swara..!!", he thought.
He just couldn't believe his eyes. "Why is she here..? After all these years..!!"
Then Sanskaar's eyes fell on the cute little girl beside her, who might be around six years age.
Durgaprasad walked towards him and pointed his index finger towards Swara.
DP: Do you know her, Sanskaar..?
Sanskaar was not expecting a sudden question and he mumbled uncertainly.
Sa: I -- I don't even know her, Papa. I am -- I am seeing her for the first time..!
DP: (glares at him)Are you sure, Sanskaar..?
Sa: (nods his head) Ye -Yes Papa..!
Sw: (confidently) No, Durgaprasad ji..He is lying..!
Sanskaar turned towards her and hissed angrily pointing his index finger at her..
Sa: You shut up, Swara..!
Now, Durgaprasad was surprised, that his son knew this 'stranger' woman's name.
DP: Sanskaar... How do you know that her name is Swara..? She told it to me earlier when she had arrived here..But you were not present here at that time..
Sanskaar shut his eyes tightly when he realized his clumsy mistake and he inwardly cursed his own foolishness.
Sa: (talks faster to cover up his mistake)Ok Papa..I mean I have seen her before..Now that I saw her closely, I recognize her..She was a student in our college..
Durgaprasad nodded with grumpy expression and serious doubts were clouding his mind.
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So this was PART 1 friends..
Please let me know what you feel about this update, through your comments..
Please like this update, if you enjoyed it..
Love,
Nainađ