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So my first fanfic ever. A Swarya fanfic. turns out when you don't have much to do, you can do anything.
Warning: Some adult concepts. non of the characters are perfect and sprightly, the story poses many moral dilemmas so be prepared! but if your gonna take a moral high ground, this story is NOT for you.Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there...Rumi
CHAPTER 1 (Super Long next ones will be shorter)
Laksh and Swara the night before their wedding, Laksh sneaks into the badi. They're both happily unaware of the conspiracies being made to stifle their love. both refusing to see the alienation from family and society. both lost in their love and just being with each other, in simply being lucky and shona, finally swara had let her guard down and let Laksh's love flood her system and thats what Laksh did, flooded her system with love. And she was happy, truly and completely happy, she felt complete in Laksh's arms and she felt even more complete that it was her sister Ragini that gave her this happiness in life. Swara would've sacrificed Laksh for Ragini in the blink of an eye but instead her sister had given her permission to pursue the relationship that was now the base of every other relationship in her life.
Laksh climbs a ladder upto Swara's window and (whispers): Swara! Swara! Shona! So gayi kya? Utho na jaan!
Swara who was laying awake in her bed next to a sleeping Ragini, quickly yet carefully scooted out of bed and went to the window.
Swara (whispers): Laksh! Yeh kya kaar rahe hon loser! Kisi ne dekh liya na toh mar dalenge humein! Pata hain na shaadi se pehle milna mana hain! toh tum kyun aye yahan?
Laksh puts his hand on her mouth to stop Swara from saying anything.
Laksh: Shhh! Chup Shona! Main niche tumhara wait kar raha hoon. come down.
He goes down the ladder and waits for her to come down.
Swara: Ok! Aab bolo. Kya hain?!? Kyun itni raat gaye disturb kar rahe ho? Kisi ne dekh liya na toh bawal maach jayega!
Laksh: Oh hello! Mujhe bhi koi shokh nahi hain bawal machane ki. Mujhe toh sirf apni good night kiss se matlab hain. Tumhe kiss kiye bina mujhe neend nahi aati.
Swara started laughing.
L- Shona! I'm serious! tumhe kiss kiye bina mujhe neend nahi aati. Peechle der mahine mein mujhe aadat si hogayi hain tumhe secretly kiss karne ki. (he starts backing swara into a wall), tumhe choo neki (he backs her into a wall and hold her tight against himself with one hand and runs his other hand down her body and swaras body flutters with anticipation), tumhe pyaar karne ki (he kisses her cheeks and proceeds to kiss her neck and shoulders when swara stops him)
S- Bas Laksh. Aur nahi, Kaal humari shaadi hain. uske baad.
L- Kyun Shona? mujhpe bharosa nahin hain kya?
S- Agar tumpe bharosa nahin hota toh main kabhi bhi tumhare saath...(she blushes)...mera matlab hain, main kabhie bhi humare rishte ko itni aage barnehi nahi deti.
L- Kya tum humare beech k woh darmiyan regret karti hon?
Swara look him in the eye and says- Kabhie nahi. Maine tumhe mere har cheez pe haq diya hain, sirf mere shareer pe nahi, mere aatma par haq diya hain. Bas daar lagta hain ki koi hume alaag na kar de. Shayad pehle main seh jaati par aab, agar maine tumhe kho diya Laksh, main jee nahi paungi.
L- Shh! Kaal humari shaadi hain Shona. Agar nahi bhi hoti, toh bhi humein koi alag nahi kar sakhta. i love you Shona.
S- I love you too Laksh. Bohut pyaar karti hoon tumse. Par paata nahi kyun mujhe kuch thik nahi lagh raha hain.
L- hey Shona. Tum mujhe kabhi nahi kho sakhti aur agar bhool se main tumhare saath nahi raha, toh bas apni ankhe baand karke imagine karna, ek badi si pahar, chari orh baraf hain, haseen wadia, bas waha mujhe awaaz lagane ki der hain Swara, aur main tumhare paas aajaunga.
S- Shotti?
L- Pakka wala shotti. Aab kiss nahi karogi toh kamse kaam apna mehendi toh dikha do? Mujhe kaal apna naam dhundne mein asani ho jayegi.
S- huh? no ways cheater.
L- dikhao na, swara dikhao na, Shona!
Swara shows him angutha and Laksh starts chasing Swara, unaware that someone was watching from her room, someone who'd ruin all their happiness.
SHAADIWALA DIN, SANSKAAR GETS SWARA KIDNAPPED AND THE FAMOUS RS BRIDE SWAP HAPPENS. SWARA MAKES IT BACK JUST IN TIME TO SEE LAKSH FILL SINDOOR IN THE MAANG OF SOME GIRL UNDER A GHOONGHAT AND SHE GOES INTO SHOCK ONCE THEY FIGURE OUT ITS RAGINI.
Swara is standing in the middle of a snow covered mountain.
S: Laksh! Laksh! Kahan ho tum? Laksh?
L: Kya hain Shona? Kyun chilla rahe hon? Main yahi hoon.
She turns around and sees him standing there, looking handsome as ever, she runs into his embrace.
L: Kya hua Shona? Itni dari huyi kyun ho? Aur tum ro kyun rahi hon? kuch hua hain kya?
S: Pata nahi Lucky, mujhe bohut daar lag raha hain.
L: Arre! Pakkawala shotti bola na maine?
S: Ok toh thik hain.
L: Waise Shona
S: hmm?
L: Kuch nahi bas (he put snow down her shirt and runs)
S: Laksh! Loser! Lucky k bacche! ruko tum! main dikhati hoon tumhe!
They run around till they both fall in the snow laughing and tired next to each other. Swara cuddles into Laksh's warmth.
S: I love you Lucky. Mujhe pata hain, main zyaada bolti nahi hoon par i do. bohut pyaar karti hoon main tumse.
L: Mujhe pata hain Shona. I love you too.
FLASHES OUT OF SWARA'S IMAGINATION
AT THE BARI- Its been three days since the incident.
PD (Parvati Dadi) walks behind Shomi: aab chodi kaisi hain?
Shomi stares out the window and stares off into a distance as tear drops fall from her eyes.
SH (Shomi): Pata nahi ma, abhi tak kuch bol nahi rahi hain meri bacchi. Sab kuch karti hain, subha uthke naha sakhti hain, nashta kar sakhti hain, humare saath baith sakhti hain, leth sakhti hain, chal sakhti hain, par na hasti hain, na roti hain, na soti hain, nahi kuch bolti hain nahi meri sunti hain.
She pinches a still Swara sitting on the bed with all her might, but she doesn't react at all. she doesnt even blink.
SH: Yeh kuch kehti kyun nahi!!! meri beti aisi nahi thi ma! meri beti bohut sari baat karnewali, masti karnewali, ek samajdar bacchi thi. usne toh kisika bura nahi kiya kabhie. toh uske saath aisa kyun hua? kya dosh tha meri bacchi ka ma? itna hi na ki woh Laksh se pyaar karti thi? arre ragini ek baar bata k toh dekhti, shona apne pyaar ko apne hoton takh aane bhi nahi deti! par yeh, saach kahiyega ma, kya meri beti ne ragini ke saath itna bura kiya ki uski aaj yeh halat hain?
PD: Nahi mari bitiya, laado ne jo kiya...usko uski maafi na mil payegi, par tu aur mari poti, manne maaf kar dena, mare sanskaar mein hi kami reh gayi hogi joh aaj khatu shaamji hume yeh din dikha raha hain. manne maaf karde shomi.
SH: maaf karnewali main kaun hoti hoon ma. balki ho sakhe toh mujhe maaf kijiye ga. meri hi galti hogi, usiki saaza toh meri beti bhugat rahi hain. pehli galti thi aapke bete se pyaar karna, phir shona ki haqq ke liye na larna, phir shekhar ko saach batana, phir shekhar se shaadi karna aur ragini ko apne beti jitna pyaar dena. yeh sab toh meri hi galti thi na m...(she notices shekhar standing at the door and turns away from him and gets up to leave, as she is about to exit Shekhar holds her hand and she immediately shakes him off)
SK (Shekhar): Mishti pls ruk jao. hum hi chale jayenge, hum bas itna batane aaye hain ki humne doctor se baath ki Swara ke bare mein aur unho ne baataya ki...
SH: Kya kaha doctor ne? Shekhar bolo na! kya kaha doctor ne?!?
S: Doctor ne kaha k, doctor ne kaha k swara ka dimaag shock ki vajai se rukh gayi. woh chal phir sakhti hain kyunki uski motor skills wala hissa woh sab kar sakhti hain jise use aadat hain karne ki par woh kuch bhi apni marzi se nahi kar rahi hain. aur agar woh jald se jald shock se bahar nahi aayi toh uski saari organs ek ek karke bandh hona shuru ho jayegi. matlab
SH: Matlab ki meri beti ek chalti phirti laash ban chuki hain.
(Shekhar looks down ashamed)
SK: Mishti please mujhe ragini ki galtiyon k saaza mat do. Swara meri bhi beti hai.
SH: Saaza main tumhe nahi khudko de rahihu shekhar. tumse pyaar karne ki saaza. agar tum saach mein swara se utna hi pyaar karte jitna ragini se karte ho toh jao insaaf karo shekhar. laksh ko wapas leke aao shekhar.
SK: Mishti main yeh kaise kar sakhti hoon? ragini ki shaadi ho...
SH: Nahi kar sakhte ho na? bas isiliye main khud ko saaza de rahi hoon.
(Shekhar's face gets hard with grief)
SK: Kaal subha Swara k blood reports lene jana hoga humein.
Shomi nods and exits.
PD comes and puts a hand on Shekhar's shoulder.
PD- Apna dil chota mat kar Shekhar, ma hain na, kuch din baad thik ho jayegi. Waise Lado ki koi..
SK: Ma pls! Mujhe Ragini k bade mein kuch nahi jaan na. Usne hamari parvarish ko gaali di hain, apna raasta khud chuna hain, uska anjaam toh use bhugad na hi hoga. Bas dua kijiye ki uski karni ki saaza Swara ko aur bhugadna na pare.
ACROSS TOWN IN THE MAHESHWARI MANSION
DP and AP are worried sick. Laksh left the wedding premises after finding out he married Ragini instead of Swara and hadn't returned in 3 days.
AP: Mera jee bohut ghabra raha hain ji. Aap kuch kijiye na! Laksh ka kahin kuch pata nahi. 3 din hogaye hain. pata nahi mera beta kis halath mein hoga.
DP: Kyun Annapurna, yeh tumhara faisla tha ki uss ladki ko iss ghar ki bahu ka darja di jaaye. toh aab kyun itna soch rahi ho? Laksh pe is waqt kya beeth rahi hain yeh hum samaj sakhte hain. usse waqt chahiye aur woh waqt usse hum denge.
AP: yeh aap kya keh rahe hain ji? woh bechari ladki Laksh ki patni hain. woh kaha jayegi? shaadi k durandh baad uski pati usse chod k chala gaya. uske mata pitah usse naraaz hain. woh iss ghar ki bahu hain, aur uss nateh se humara farz bantah hain.
DP: Bechari nahi hain woh! jo ladki apne behen ki zindagi k saath itna bada khilwar kar sakhti hain, woh kuch bhi kar sakhti hain. uske liye humare dil mein koi bhi sahanubhuti nahi hain. aur jaha tak humare beten ka sawal hain, humein daar hain ki agar use swara ki halath pata chal gayi toh woh kuch kar na beithe.
AP: yeh aap kya keh rahe hain ji? aisa maath boliye. aap bas usse kisi tarah se ghar le aaye. mujhe yakeen hain ki ragini ka pyaar uske sare dard bhula dega...(right then they spots Ragini standing at the doorway, her eyes full of tears)
DP: yeh sab itna aasan nahi hain Annapurna. do tute dilo k chitah par apna grihasti sajana itna aasan nahi hain. yeh baat tum jitni jaldi samaj jaoge utna accha hoga, aur iss ladki ko bhi samjha dena.
(ragini runs away crying to her room and throws everything around and weeps bitterly)
AT THE BADI
A plastered drunk Laksh shows up with omi hot on his trail.
O: Lucky mere yaar. please iss waqt yeh maath kar. dekh ghar chal. tune bohut zyaada pee rakhi hain.
L (laughs hard): Kaisa ghar kiska ghar? jaha woh chudail, meri patni, kya naam hain uska? ha! ragini rehti hain? arre dhuth! mera ghar toh waha tha jaha mera dil hain, mera shona hain. baas ek baar mujhe usse dekhna hain. uske baad toh main jahannum chala jau! (he knocks on the gadodia door and yells) Shona! Shona! please bahar aao! main janti hoon tum mujhse naraz hon. mujhe toh uski haath apne haath mein lete huye hi samajh lena chahiye tha k yeh tum nahi koi aur hain. par pls shona! bas ek bar mujhe apna chehra dikha do. peechle 3 dino se main zinda toh hoon par jee nahi pa raha hoon. saas lena jaise mushkil ho raha hain. jaise mere gaale mein macchi ka kata atak gaya hain. main toh non-veg khati bhi nahi. (he chuckles) Swara please! darwaza kholo!
Shekhar comes out, the rest of the G's following trail, all badi people as per their nightly routine also come out for a fix of their nightly entertainment. Shomi watches from the window in swara's room.
SK: Laksh! yeh kya tamasha laga rakha hain? nashe mein humare ghar aake tamasha karke tum kya prove karna chahte hon?
L: uncle nashe mein insaan humesha saach bolta hain. aur main peechle teen dino se bohut nashe mein hoon. uncle main swara k bina saas nahi le pa raha hoon. mujhe baas ek baar usse milna hain, baas. phir main chala jaunga yaha se.
SK: Pagal hogaye hon kya? Laksh tumhari shaadi ho chuki hain. dekho beta main samjhti hoon tumhara halaat, hum kaal baat karenge. thik hain? Omi beta please Laksh ko ghar le jao.
L: Nahi uncle main Swara ko dekhe bina yaha se nahi jaunga. Shona! Shona! Shona! Please bahar aao. Shona!
O: Lucky please chaal yaar. hum kal subha phir aayenge.
L: chod mujhe Omi! SHONA!!!
Shomi is watching it all from Swara's window when she hears shuffling behind her and a faint noise. she turns around to see Swara with tears in her eyes.
S: Laksh. Laksh. (she seemed to be testing out the name like a new born playing with her first words). Laksh. Lucky!!! LUCKY!!! LUCKY!!!
Shomi looks on shocked and before she could get to her daughter, swara ran downstairs faster than ever before, the whole while shouting for her Lucky. Once downstairs she ran past her family as if she didn't even see and ran directly to Laksh who stood there with his arms spread wide to embrace her. Swara embraced him as if he was her lifeboat amidst a deep sea ship wreck. Lucky held onto her like his last breathe and he finally felt alive. Swara kept on holding onto him tight and repeating his name over and over again, tears leaking out of her blank eyes. She looked up and touched his face.
S: Lucky.
L: Haan Shona tumhara lucky. sirf tumhara. mujhe maaf kar dena shona maine hume hara diya. par main saach kehti hoon shona, main saas nahi le sakhti tumhare bina. i love you so much.
S: Lucky tttuumm aaa...she faints.
L: Shona!!! SHONA!! ARREY KOI PAANI LAO!
Shekhar and dadi runs towards them.
SK: Swara beta! Swara kya hua tujhe beta?
L: YEH UTH KYUN NAHI RAHI HAIN! KOI MUJHE KUCH BATAYE GA?
Shomi enters the scene
SH: Laksh beta yeh sab baad mein batati hoon. tum pehle Swara ko uthake ghar chalo. Shekhar tum doctor ko phone karo.
L: jee ma. Omi please yaar papa ko phone karke bata dena ke main zinda hoon aur badi main hoon swara k saath.
He lifts swara in his arms and takes her inside. Omi stands there shell-shocked at Laksh's immediate transformation hyde to jekyll, from a raging drunk to a responsible man holding swara in his arms like she's what tied him to this world, and thats when omi realised, thats exactly what swara was; she was Laksh's axis, nothing meant anything to laksh without her, his best friend was a body without a soul, swara's magical touch was his soul.
O (thoughts): Yaar itna pyaar kaise kar liya Lucky? Itna bhi pyaar maat kar yaar ki tuh khud barbaad ho jaye.
INSIDE G HOME
Laksh puts swara to bed and pulls a blanket over her and kisses her forehead as everybody watches uncomfortably. He then looks up at Shomi questioningly.
SH (crying tears of joy): Shaadi ke baad, maine aaj pehli baar apni beti ki awaaz suni laksh.
Laksh is shocked.
L: Matlab
SH: Shaadi ke din ke baad Swara na royi hain, na hasi hain, na soyi hai aur na kuch bolti hain. Doctor ka kehna hain ke trauma ki vajay se shona ki dimaag kahin ek jage pe atak gayi hain. woh ek machine ki tarah chal-phir sakhti hain, par sochne ki shamata kho chuki hain. par aaj woh boli, woh royi aur usne sirf tumhara naam liya.
L: par ma iski ilaaj kya hain? kuch toh hoga.
SH: Doctors ne kaha tha ke kuch bhi ho sakhta hain, shayad ek din shona khud hi ro pare aur sab thik ho jaaye, ya phir shayad woh apni puri zindagi aisehi...(Shomi starts crying again, Shekhar tries to comfort her but she jerks off his hand) Humne toh umeed hi chod di thi par phir tum agaye. aur meri beti k jaan mein jaan agayi. Thank you beta! Thank you!
Laksh holds onto Swara's hands tight and stares at Swara's sleeping form.
SH: Beta tum chaho toh aaj raat shekhar ke saath so jao main yahi rukhti hoon.
L(still staring at swara's sleeping form): Main Shona ko chod k nahi jaungi.
Shomi was about to protest but then nods and Shekhar is shocked that she would allow this. Shomi heads to bed. Shekhar is about to go as well but Dadi stops him.
PD: Shekhar sun mari baat. hum jaane hain ki laado ne galati ki hain, par jaise bhi jo, dono ki shaadi toh huyi hain. aise mein jamaisa ka aise swara k paas rukhna...
S: Ma please. ragini ne galati nahi gunaah kiya hain. uski harkaton ko galti bol ke unhe chota mat kijiye. Par ha, aitraz toh humein bhi hain Laksh se par iss liye k hum nahi chahte k koi humare beti swara par ungli uthaye. hum baat karenge mishti se.
AT MAHESHWARI MANSION
Ragini is still crying in her room when she hears a knock on her door. She wipes her tears and goes to open the door.
AP: Ragini beta woh Omi ka phone aaya tha...tum roh rahi thi?
R: Nahi toh ma. hum toh baas aise hi, ghar ki yaad aa rahi thi.
AP: Jhooth mat bol Ragini. Tujhe unki baaton ka bura laga hain na? aab dekh galti toh huyi hain tujhse.
R: Ma aap bhi? Hum aur kya karte? Bohut zyaada pyaar karte hain hum Lakshji se. Nahi dekh pa rahe the unhe Swara k saath.
AP: Mujhe pata hain. par aab rona baand. Kaal tum apne mayke jaogi pagh phere k liye.
R: Ma aapko toh pata hain na, humare gharwale humari shakal takh nahi dekhna chahte. Aise mein hum pag phere k liye kaise jaa sakhte hain?
AP: Tujhe waha jaana hoga Ragini. Aur apne pati ko ghar wapas laana hoga.
Ragini is shocked.
R: Ma?
AP: Haan main tujhe yahi baatane ayi thi. Omi ka phone aaya tha. Laksh bari mein hain, swara ko dekhne gaya hain.
Ragini breaks down into tears and falls on the floor.
AP: Nahi Ragini! Tum aise toot nahi sakhti. Apne pyaar par bharosa rakho beta. Laksh ko tumhare saath ghar wapas aana hi hoga. aur iske liye main khudh ja ungi tum dono ko shaam ko lene. Thik hain?
Ragini nods and AP hugs her.
THE NEXT MORNING AT THE DOCTORS
Swara is laying on the hospital bed, when she gained consciousness in the morning Laksh was away at Omi's getting ready to meet the family at the doctor's. Since then she'd again become a silent mummy. And once again the whole family was horribly disappointed.
Doctor Chatterjee was a famous neurologist in Kolkata and had agreed to take on Swara's case. He was looking through her tests and bloodwork to discuss with the family. Shomi and Shekhar were sitting opposite to him and laksh was standing leaning against the wall next to them.
SH: kya baath hain doctor? Shona ki results main kya aaya hain? Aur kaal toh usne react bhi kiya tha. Toh aaj phir aisi kyun hain?
Dr. C: Interesting, very interesting. Maine sab kuch check karliya hain. Par isse pehle k main aab logo se kuch kahu main bas ek chota sa experiment karna chahti hoon. Kal raat swara ne Mr Maheshwari ko dekh k react kiya tha na? (they nod) phir kya swara ne aaj subha unse koi baat ki?
L: Nahi doctor uske hosh mein aane se pehle hi main fresh hone chala gaya tha.
Dr. C: Hmmm...interesting. Mr Laksh aap please zara mere saath aiyye.
They walk to Swara's room whilst the doctor gives him instructions on what to do. where she's laying totally still. Laksh enters the room.
INSIDE SWARA'S HEAD.
Swara and lucky are cuddling in the snow with Swara's head on Laksh's chest.
L: Accha Shona ek baat batao. Hum hamesha yaha kyun aate hain? tumhe toh thand kuch zyada pasand nahi na?
S: Loser k loser hi raho ge na tum lucky? arre! hum hamesha yaha aate hain kyunki tumhe barf pasandh hain isliye. aur mujhe na pasand nahi hain. maine toh kabhie barf real life mein dekha hi nahi.
L: Seriously?!? kabhie nahi dekha? kabhie ma aur dida k saath kisi hillstation pe chutti manhane nahi gayi?
S: Keh diya sahibo wali baat. Humare paas kabhie paise nahi the toh ma k paas kabhie itna waqt nahi tha.
Laksh rolls over so he's on top of Swara. He kisses both her cheeks and gives a small peck on her lips. Swara smiles shyly.
L: Shona main wada karti hoon main tumhe haar mahine ek naya desh dikhaungi.
S: Chal jhuta! Papa ki business toh kya birju kaka samhalenge? Mere jaane se pehle bas ekbar barf hi dikha dena.
L: Kyun? tum kaha jaane wali hon?
S: Kahin nahi bas...accha mujhe tumhe kuch batani hain.
L: Kya? Accha ya bura?
S: Mere liye toh accha hain, tere liye pata nahi. Par...
L: Shonaaa! Baat ko gol gol maath ghuma!
S: Laaaksh! Main...tumhe...NAHI BAATATI! She laughs and pushes laksh off her, throws a snowball on his face and runs off.
L: Shona! Shona! Rukh tu! Kya kya phekti rehti hain meri taraf, pehle jhal muri aur aab snowball.
S: hahahahaha! Nahin pakad pao ge!
L: Shona! ruk tu main tujhe batati hoon. Sho...
OUTSIDE SWARA'S HEAD, IN THE HOSPITAL
Laksh is sitting next to Swara's bed and whispering in her ears
L: Shona? Ai Shona. aab bohot hogaya ye sab mazak ha? aab chalte hain. Shona kuch bolo na pls? mere liye? pls?
Swara still remained still, unmoving. Frustrated, Laksh takes her hand in his and squeezes it and immediately feels her squeeze back. He looks up at her in happiness.
L: Shona?
out of curiosity, he caresses her arm, and immediately swara's other hand reaches out to caress Laksh's arms. his closes the distance between their faces, looks directly into her eyes and caresses her face, in turn Swara looks him directly in the eyes and reaches out and takes his face in her hands. Laksh cries in joy and holds her hands to his face and kisses them.
S: Lucky...
L: haan Shona. tumhara lucky.
S: Mera Lucky, main Shona hoon. tum mera Lakshya. Tum aagaye mere paas?
Laksh nods through his tears. Swara wipes his tears and sits up.
S: Laksh tum ro kyun rahe hon?
L: kyunki tumne toh meri jaan nikal di thi Shona. Wada karo phir kabhi bhi tum aise chup nahi rahogi. chahe mujhse jhagda kar lena par chup maath raho Shona. Tumhare gusse mein, tumhare har shabd, har sur mein meri jaan basti hain.
All this while, Shomi Shekhar and the Doctor were looking on. Shomi unable to control her happiness rushes to the room and envelopes Swara in a hug. But to her shock Swara doesn't respond, instead she looks at her with blank eyes. Laksh notices and takes Swara's hand in his. She immediately becomes expressive and attentive again.
SH: Swara. beta kya hua beta. apni ma k gale nahi milegi Shona?
Swara just keep on looking at Laksh.
S: Main Shona.
SH: Haan bacche, tu toh meri Shona hi hain.
Still Swara doesn't move her eyes from laksh. Instead she only holds onto Laksh's hands harder.
Laksh moves closer to Swara on the bed and puts his arms around her shoulder and turns her around to face Shomi.
L: Shona, tum ma se baath kyun nahi kar rahi hon?
SH: Haan Shona, main ma hoon.
Swara confusedly looks at laksh who nods in Shomi's direction forcing her to look as well.
S: Ma hain? Nahi Laksh ma toh main hoon.
L: Nahi Shona, yeh ma hain. Tumhe ho kya gaya hain? tum inhe pehchaan kyun nahi rahi ho?
Swara's hand instantly travel to her stomach and she caresses it lovingly.
S: Lucky ma main hoon.
L: Haan Shona. Jab hamari baby hoga toh tum ma hogi aur tum inki baby ho toh yeh tumhari ma.
S: Par Lucky baby toh...
The doctor and Shekhar come in.
Dr C: wah kya baat hain. Swara tum toh bilkul fit lag rahe ho. aab kuch hi der mein hum tumhe discharge de denge. Mr Laksh, Sharmishthaji aab pls humare saath aaye. kuch formalities pure karne hain. chaliye shekhar saab. Swara again confusedly looks at Laksh.
S: Lucky yeh Swara kaun hain?
Everybody is shocked at her question and look questioningly at the doctor, who signals them to stay calm and follow him.
L: koi nahi hain Shona, tum bas aaram karo, ok?
He moves his arms from around Swara and gets up to leave when he feels her arms around his waist.
S: Laksh tum nahi ja sakhte!
She starts crying. Laksh takes her face in his palms and shushes her. She immediately stops.
L: Shona bas kuch der ki hi toh baat hain. main yu gaya aur yu aaya. ok?
She nods and laksh leaves the room.
AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
SH: doctor yeh sab kya ho raha hain? Swara ko toh apna naam yaad nahi.
Dr C: Sharmishthaji maine Swara ki saari reports maine check ki hain. reports k mutabik Swara ko heriditay peripheral neuropathy hain. aam tor pe ye koi severe bimari nahi hain. zyadatar logoko pata bhi nahi chalti iss bimari ki. par swara ko kisi baat ki bohut gehra sadma laga hain jiske karan iss bimari ne uske brain pe attack kiya hain. iske bohut saare symptoms hote hain, sabse common hota hain paralysis ya phir jaise swara ki case mein hua hain woh apni sochne samajne ki shamata kho baithi hain.
SK: Doctor par iska koi toh ilaaj hoga?
Dr C: Science abhi bhi iss bimari ko puri tarah se samaj nahi paya hain Shekharji. Isliye is bimari se patient ka bahar aana lag bhag namumkin hain. Par apne mujhe jo bataya aur maine jo dekha, usse mujhe yakeen hogaya hain ki Swara thik ho sakhti hain.
L: Kaise doctor?
Dr C: Its a miracle Mr Laksh par yeh sab aapki vijay se hain.
SK: Matlab?
Dr. C: Apne dekha nahi? Woh Mr Laksh ke chune se aur unke baat karne se response karti hain. Swara k dimaag ki jis hisse mein Mr Laksh se juri yaadein hain, woh abhi bhi kaam kar rahi hain. koi bhi aur cheez, koi bhi insan usse nahi yaad hain aur nahi woh kisi aur bahari stimulus pe respond kar rahi hain. usse sirf wohi stimulus samajh mein aate hain jo Mr Laksh se jure hain.
SH: Par doctor isse meri beti thik kaise hogi?
Dr. C: Yehi toh. apne dekha nahi Mr Laksh jab unhe kuch samjhate hain toh woh use samajhti hain. Swara ko chuke woh jo bhi gestures karte hain, woh usse samajhti hain, jaise ki Mr Laksh k chune se unke shareer mein jaan ajati hain. Agar Mr Laksh uske saath rehke usse woh saari cheeze karwae jo woh aam tor pe karti hain, toh dheere dheere uske dimaag ki baki k hisse bhi normal hone lagenge. ho sakhta hain usse uski yaadasht bhi wapas mil jaaye.
SK: Par doctor, yeh sab?
Dr. C: Dekhiye Shekharji, Swara ki yeh jo bimari hain, agar aisehi woh untreated rahi toh ahista ahista uske baki sare organs pe bhi asar dikha sakhte hain. especially uski pregnancy k vajai se toh yeh aur bhi risky hain.
At the last sentence Laksh feels the color in his face drain completely. Pregnant. Swara is pregnant. he was going to be a father. Swara was pregnant.
SH: Doctor, yeh yeh yeh aap kya keh rahe hain? pregnancy? yeh kaise possible hain? yeh nahi ho sakhta. zaroor aapko koi galat fehmi hui hain doctor. Swara pregnant nahi ho sakhti.
SK: Shomi...
SH: YEH NAHI HO SAKHTA SHEKHAR!
She turns to Laksh
SH: Laksh aisa nahi hon sakhta na?
Laksh stares at her shell-shocked
SH: LAKSH KUCH BOLO!
SK: Laksh beta ye saab.
L: Uncle woh hum dono ne...woh...humari shaadi honewali thi...aur hum...
SH: PAR HUYI TOH NAHI! AAB KYA?
Dr C: Sorry aapke family matter mein dakhal dene k liye par mujhe toh laga tha k aapko maloom hoga. Swara ne toh ek hafte pehlehi ek test karwaya tha, aur uske reports bhi collect ki thi. woh kareeban 6 weeks pregnant hain.
L: Swara ko pata tha...
Laksh ran away from the room as quickly as he could. all he could think about was needing to see Swara. he needed to see her and feel her presence and comfort. he needed her...them.
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
