The Best of Things
(RagLak, SwaSan) Fan Fiction Series
By Bubble
Chapter 26
Lakshya stood on the first floor corridor and watched the family.
Sanskaar had gone downstairs... Durga Prasad Maheshwari and Ram Prasad Maheshwari had come home... and they were being filled in about the whole situation... and somehow, from the version the ladies were giving them, it ending up looking like Swara wanted to end the marriage and leave... and was only biding her time... whereas Lakshya knew that the situation had not started with her... she had not spoken about her relationship to anyone... then...?!
***
Swara sat there, staring woodenly at the armrest of her chair. She felt like screaming. No, you are all wrong... I don't want to leave! I want to stay! But there are some things I need to discuss with Sanskaar!
But they weren't even listening to her... earlier in the day, they had just kept asking her Yes or No questions as if she was in the dock being subjected to rigorous cross-examination. Bolo, Swara, tum donon ke beech pati-patni ka rishta hai bhi ya nahin?! And Mom saying, Yeh Bangali chhori toh mhhare chhore ko vash mein karke apne hi matlab ke liye istamaal kare hain, bas aur kuch nahin! Tears trickled down her cheeks at the humiliation of it. She needed to talk to Sanskaar! She looked across at him, but he was staring blindly at the carpet.
Maa and Baba were supposed to come any time now... may be then she could actually get her opinion in and make her wishes clear. She dashed away a tear.
***
Standing a little retreated from the central group was Ragini. Lakshya saw her in the background, hands gripped tightly, paying intent attention to everything that was being said... her face a revealing mixture of excitement, worry and... guilt.
Ragini felt someone's eyes on her... and looked around warily. She then raised her eyes to the first floor to find Lakshya staring at her. She looked back apprehensively... and she saw, as if in slow motion, a look of intense sadness mingled with disappointment cross his face. It was followed closely by disgust and finally, anger. He held her gaze till hers dropped. Did he know?! The thought churned her stomach.
She had not planned this far... it had been an incoherent plan... but she was so practiced at manipulation, she knew just where the pressure points of a situation were... where to target for maximum impact... only, she had not reckoned with Lakshya's reactions, not prepared for his response to what she had done... didn't realise that he would easily connect her to the situation she had dexterously created.
***
Swara looked up eagerly. Maa-Baba had arrived!
After greeting everyone, Sharmishta and Shekhar sat down with the elders, looking solemn and worried.
After making them welcome, Annapurna said, "Sharmishtaji, I understand that it is at your behest that Swara has consented to remain in this house... but this situation is so unfair on Sanskaar! If Swara has no intention of even considering this marriage, why are we wasting time, investing our emotions in a relationship that has no consequence?"
Sharmishta said, "But Annapurnaji, didn't we all decide a few months ago, that there was no reason why Sanskaar and Swara should not go on to have a happy marriage... did we not all decide that they should be given time to see if it is possible? Sanskaar is a wonderful person.. he loves my daughter... I could not have picked anyone more suitable for her.. I don't understand why this has come up now?"
Annapurna firmed her lips. "Because Swara has no serious intention of staying. Because even after all these months, they have not moved from being friends to becoming husband and wife. Because, even now, Swara goes stealthily every night to sleep in the guest room!"
A shock rippled through everyone. Swara cringed and put a hand to her forehead. Sanskaar looked stony.
Sharmishta looked aghast. "Shona, is this true?" Swara couldn't manage a word out, but gave her mother an anguished look.
Sharmishta was shocked into silence. She looked at her husband and their wordless exchange seemed to have conveyed something to her, because she got up and sat next to Swara. "Shona, I had requested you to give this marriage your best effort for at least six months, but I had no idea that I had placed you in such a fix. If you are so troubled by this relationship, I take back my words... you don't need to continue... your Baba and I just want to see you happy! Come home with us now."
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
