Against All Odds- A SwaSan Four Shot

Hey all,

I am back with a Three (potentially Four!) Shot this time. It is widely structured around the current track, but with considerable re-telling on my part, to make sense of the numerous elements of what we are seeing on screen that don't quite agree with me. Generally speaking, the below is set almost to flow on from my OS Entrusted (https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/swaragini/4500898/entrusted-a-swasan-os), where contrary to what we saw in yesterday's episode, Sanskaar was very much a part of the "photo-gate" disaster and it was his support of Swara that actually saved the day. I now wanted to explore the next juncture of this tale, hence this piece. I am posting Part 1 and am hopeful you won't have to wait long for the full story, intending for the next part at least to be posted tomorrow at some stage, final to follow Sunday.

This whole story is dedicated to Medha, an amazing friend and a truly generous spirit, I have been lucky enough to find on this Forum, along with many others. I was struggling to make sense of various elements I wanted to bring out and she provided me with her usual perceptive input, as well as some excellent plot ideas, which I will be using. She knows what they are and I will share them at the end. Medhs- this one is for you, I hope I don't disappoint! I know the "belan" hangs over my head like the Sword of Damocles but today, I have to risk that you have to accept the huge thank you that is your due!

Enjoy it if you can guys and please do leave me comments so I know whether I am doing ok or whether I need to abandon this and stick just to the day job!

AGAINST ALL ODDS

Part 1: The Battle Lines Are Drawn

"Every battle is won before it is even fought" - Sun Tzu (The Art of War)

Swara sat pensively in the back of the car, resolutely avoiding the glances Lakshya kept throwing at her through the rear view mirror. She instead focused on staring out of the window, as if fascinated by the usual streetscape flashing past her as he drove, with Ragini next to him and her in the back, towards an unspecified destination. The last thing Swara felt like doing was traipsing around with her sister and Lakshya, sensing something was brewing and knowing full well it would be unpalatable. She had been morosely mooching around Maheshwari Mansion, waiting for the day to pass, as it would herald Sanskaar's return, at which point she knew her whole day would be rejuvenated.

She had been thinking how strange it was that it had now become almost common practice for her to measure how well her day had gone by mapping it against the moments she spent with her husband, scrap that- her best friend. Since the eventful night where the fiasco with those cheap photos of her and Lakshya had surfaced, and Sanskaar had masterfully defended her and salvaged her pride and dignity, they had fallen into such a comfortable routine, albeit one underlain with an undercurrent of peculiar tension between them. She had been overcome with his unstinting support and his refusal not only to entertain any aspersions cast on her character, but also to ask her for any explanations. He truly believed that she had needed comfort, and despite her having seen the pain in his eyes at the grossly misleading but tawdry images, he simply said he trusted she would never do anything wrong. She had wanted to go further and clarify that there had also been no feelings on her part when Lakshya had held her to comfort her, or when he taken the liberty to kiss her forehead. In fact, when she had hugged Lakshya in a state of mindless fear and panic, the person she had desperately craved for to soothe her, had been Sanskaar. However, he had made clear he didn't want to pursue this discussion and she couldn't very well come out with disclosures about how she had wanted to be held by him without embarrassing herself irretrievably, so she let it go, yet still feeling an odd unease about it. However, as ever, Sanskaar had soothed her, if not with his embrace, with his gentle manner and care he so generously showered. She could tell he was truly touched when she asked him to sleep on the same bed, a gesture she had surprised herself with too. But as she had known, he had entirely respected the unspoken conditions inherent in that offer- he had himself constructed a fragile yet symbolically powerful wall of pillows between them, and for that first night had kept himself very much confined to the outer edges of the bed on his side, so much so, she had feared he would fall off. However, when she had woken this morning, she had found that they had both unerringly drifted to the middle of the mattress. Her hand had actually been draped halfway across the flimsy pillows in between and he had been lying on his back with a long arm stretched overhead, as if almost seeking to draw her to him. She had fancifully thought that had it not been for the cushions in between, she could have well been lying with her hand on his chest and him holding her close. She blushingly recalled this inappropriate thought as the car sped on, once again, forcing herself to trample down on such dangerous notions and the images they conjured.

Soon, the arrived at their destination, and Lakshya had parked the car and had jumped out in an unseemly rush to open the door for her. Swara had noticed that they had arrived at Millennium Park. Whilst it was not Central Park, the site of the previous debacle, this still irked her no end. She pointedly looked at Ragini, who was watching them with her hooded gaze, something almost sinister sparkling in the depths of those once clear and innocent eyes. Why was she not reacting to Lakshya's overt attention? Swara's disquiet grew. It was the same feeling that had gripped her when Ragini had interrupted her earlier reverie at home to ask her to accompany her on an outing. She said she needed a break and was feeling anxious and agitated and wanted Swara to come with her and Lakshya. Given her recent experience at the Park, she had resisted but Ragini had been strangely insistent and had insisted that there were things she needed to say to Swara, which would be better disclosed away from the house. A mixture of reluctant curiosity and the usual misplaced indulgence she accorded Ragini as well as concern as to what she really wanted to say, led to agreement. She had wanted to let Sanskaar know but Ragini and Lakshya were both very vague about where they were going, and she knew he would worry and possibly forbid her to go but as Lakshya was also with Ragini, she didn't think he would let harm come to her. Also, if Ragini was behind the last trap she and Lakshya had unwittingly been caught in, she wanted to have it out with her. Seeing where they had come, Swara worried that Sanskaar's and Lakshya's suspicions about Ragini were sounding more and more plausible.

They went into the Park, Lakshya avoiding the busier areas around the amusement rides, which were always prone to be bustling with children and their parents entertaining them on the rides, or youthful youngsters enjoying themselves. Swara couldn't contain herself any longer. She rounded on Lakshya and Ragini as soon as they had stopped at a relatively quiet spot, overlooking a vast expanse of green all around, interlaced with floral borders and planting around, the amusement section visible in the periphery.

"Kya baat hai Ragini, tumhe kya kehna hai, ke tum mujhe yahan leyana chahthi thi? Yeh Park Park khelne ka kya matlab hai?"

Her peculiar expression still intact, Ragini met her look levelly, but not before Swara saw her and Lakshya flash each other a wary look.

"Swara hum thakk gaye hai, pichle kuch dino phir se itna hungama hua, humme ghar se kuch deir bahar jaana tha."

"Haan toh Ragini, tum Lakshya ke saath bahar aati na, mujhe saath challne ka itna force kyun?" countered Swara.

"Tum hamari behen ho Swara, ek waqt hum sabse atchi dost hua karti thi, pareshaan hote the, toh tum hamari madad karti thi. Humne socha ke tum bhi saath challo, aur agar tumhe aur Lakshya koh bhi koi baat karni hai, toh hume koi aitraaz nahi he." Ragini decided to use the trick that had always worked with the incredibly nave Swara in the past- tug on her heartstrings, remind her of their happier times.

Swara was now openly frowning at her, looking from her to Lakshya who was trying unsuccessfully to array his features into a deadpan expression, but unable to prevent the suppressed tension simmering underneath.

"Mujhe lakshya se koi baat nahi karni Ragini! Kitni baar batana padega tum dono ko? Yeh bakwaas sunne ke liye laye ho mujhe? Mujhe aana hi nahi chahiye tha. Main ghar jaana chahti hoon aur agar hum nahi gaye, toh mein Sanskaar ko abhi phone karti hoon," Swara had already started to reach for her mobile from her bag.

Suddenly, she felt Lakshya place his hand on her arm as if to stop her; she started at his effrontery.

"Swara, ek minute, baat toh sunlo. Itna overreact karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Hum sirf baat karne toh ayein hain na. Challo yahan beith ke discuss karlein," indicating the benches scattered around them.

Swara was now really fed up. Whatever these two were up to, it seemed incomprehensible and she wanted no part of it. It was incredibly strange that Ragini would let Lakshya talk to her like this and actually instigate such an encounter but then, she thought with a flash of sudden understanding, not if she wanted a repeat of the drama they had had with the photos. But Lakshya- why the hell was he playing along? He had been furious when he accused Ragini of machinating the entire kidnapping saga, so this about face was utterly bewildering. Swara was starting to really get worried now and was regretting having come, especially without Sanskaar at her side. She tried to shrug Lakshya's hand off but to her further shock, he tightened his grip.

"Lakshya!" she burst out in s shrill voice, and just then, over his shoulder, she saw a sight that seemed like a benediction. As if in answer to her fervent prayers, she saw Sanskaar striding across the grass, his long legs making short work of the distance between them.

Swara's smile was like the sun breaking through the clouds on an otherwise grim day, thought Sanskaar as he hurried across, his gaze honing in on her in concern. He had rushed here as fast as he could, and it seemed just as well he had, he thought, as his lips tightened at the scene before him. Both Lakshya and Ragini had now spotted him too and their expressions ranged from startled surprise to rage on Lakshya's, and quickly concealed frustration on Ragini's. Sanskaar had now reached them and whilst his eyes had not missed the hold his cousin had retained on his wife's arm, he kept his eyes locked on Swara, who was still beaming at him. Despite his irritation at her, he couldn't help his lips twitching in answer, helpless like always to resist her. However, he had things to deal with, he reminded himself grimly.

"Bhai!", Lakshya was saying in a petultant voice, "Tu yahan?"

Fixing him with a stern stare, Sanskaar first reached out and firmly placing his hand on Lakshya's, determinately yanked it away from Swara's arm, but carefully so as not to jar Swara. Only then, did he respond, unaffected by the anger in Lakshya's eyes at this clearly possessive gesture.

"Yeh toh mujhe tumse aur Ragini se poochna chahiye na Lakshya? Abhi kuch dino pehle hi ek aur Park mein Swara kidnap ho gayi thi, aur aaj tum usse phir Park mein lekar aaye ho? Tum dono shayaad ghumne aaye ho, lekin Swara ka kya kaam hai?"

Lakshya seemed to be spluttering with rage but never as quick as Sanskaar with his repartee, he was still thinking of a reply when Ragini interjected,

"Sanskaar, hum sirf kuch time saath mein bitana chahte the, aur hume Swara ke saath hamara rishta bhi sudharna hai toh isiliye saath aaye. Issme aap ko itni chinta kyun ho rahi hai? Waise bhi Swara hamari behen hai na?"

"Hmm, haan woh toh hai, aur Lakshya ki saali aur Bhabhi bhi," there was a devil in Sanskaar that wouldn't be stopped today; his worry for Swara had unleashed something almost primal in him. "Lekin unn rishto se Swara ki safety ki toh koi guarantee nahi hai na?"

"Tu kehna kya chahta hai Bhai," Lakshya had recovered enough to belligerently question.

"Kuch bhi nahi Lucky, main toh sirf Ragini ko samja raha hoon ke Swara ki mujhe fikkar kyun rehti hai. Challo lekin abh main aagaya hoon. Aisa karte hai, tum dono joh karne aaye the karo- I mean, ghoom firlo, mujhe waise bhi Swara ke saath kuch baat karni he."

This sparked off immediate protest from Lakshya but Sanskaar would brook no argument, and Swara showed her solidarity, firmly coming to stand by him. Always one to choose her battles wisely, Ragini conceded that retreat was the better part of valor at this exact moment, and stilling Lashya with a loaded glance, suggested that she would like to walk the extensive grounds with Lakshya. Again, much to Swara's surprise, Lakshya despite his obvious reluctance to leave her and Sanskaar, agreed. Sanskaar on the other hand, had a slight smirk on his face and looked at them knowingly, his gaze having momentarily sharpened at the earlier silent exchange between Ragini and Lakshya. Waiting for them to be out of earshot, Sanskaar turned to Swara, who was still looking inordinately pleased to see him, as if entirely oblivious to the risk she had taken; which she most likely was, acknowledged Sanskaar exasperatedly.

"Swara, what is wrong with you? Maine tumhe kuch hi dino pehle samjaya tha na, ke tum phir se Ragini ke kehne pe iss tarah akeli ghar se bahar nahi jaogi?"

"Lekin Sanskaar," said a slightly sheepish looking Swara, "Lakshya bhi saath tha. Ragini maan hi nahi rahi thi aur tumhe pata hai, ussne kaha ke woh kuch baat karna chahti hain, aur main..."

"Aur tumne socha ke kyun na Lady Bond bann jaoon aur saari mystery aaj solve kar loon?" retorted Sanskaar, still somewhat irritated, "Swara, tum kabh samjogi ke tum Ragini pe bharosa nahi kar sakti? Yeh toh atcha hai ke mujhe pata chall gaya aur..."

"Haan! Tumhe kaise pata challa ke hum yahan hai Sanskaar?" Swara was trying to distract him, desperately wanting to divert him from giving her the deserved reprimand. A ruse Sanskaar of course saw through at once, as his raised eyebrow indicated. Swara blithely carried on, "Oh, tumhe Mom ya Badi Maa ne bataya hoga nahi? Main unko keh kar gayi thi Sanskaar!", she seemed to strike upon what she hoped was the saving grace here.

Slightly shaking his head, but now giving in to the desire to smile at his adorable wife but prima facie best friend only, he adroitly refused to answer her query about how he had found out her whereabouts so quickly. If only Swara knew, he thought wryly, but acknowledging that if she did, it would make her paranoid and unnecessarily worried. For ever since Swara's recent kidnap attempt, he had arranged for a number of trusted detectives to be deployed to keep an eye on Ragini and all key members of the family, including Swara, himself and Lakshya. He was in agreement with Lakshya that Ragini had been behind the kidnap and he would not take risks with Swara's safety. Besides, he wanted to find out what her diabolical sister was now planning. Thus, he had received a call as soon as Lakshya and Ragini had driven Swara out, and he had departed soon to ensure he got to wherever they were headed. No, best to ensure his Swara stayed smiling as she was now doing, and that he took care of the unpleasant details.

"Sanskaar, tumhe pata hai, uss taraf itne atche stalls aur rides hai," she was gesticulating towards end of the amusement section. Strange, she thought, how whereas minutes ago all she had wanted to do was leave, she now couldn't imagine a better place to be.

"Oh really, aur aap ko wahaan toh jaana hi hoga na?, he responded indulgently. He wanted to forget his fears that had flared up when he had seen those heinous pictures of her with Lucky, and the same dread that had gripped him moments earlier when she indicated how she came along despite his instructions as Lakshya was there. She seemed so happy to be in his company, surely she was not pining for his cousin? He resolutely decided he would not think about this just now, not when he was too greedy to have her to himself for a short while. "Challiyen phir Madam", he finished, his heart soaring, as she unselfconsciously linked her arm through his in anticipation.

That afternoon marked a glorious interlude in Swara and Sanskaar's usually tumultuous journey. They walked around the simple amusement park section, delighting ostensibly in the rides and stalls dotted around, but actually soaking in each other's company more than the atmosphere. Swara seemed to have reverted to the "old" Swara- happy and childlike. She skipped around the stalls and dragged an almost equally carefree Sanskaar on the brightly painted carousel, their hands lightly touching on the garish bar of the unicorn she insisted on standing next to. Sanskaar couldn't take his eyes off her sparking beauty, her hair lightly flying about her lovely face as they whirled around in the contraption, her laugh ringing around them like tinkling bells. Next, she wanted a humungous pink furry monster at the stall where you had to throw a ring over a set lynch pin and the furthest away one would determine the size of the prize. Sanskaar valiantly tried but as he knew, the games were rigged not to allow a win, and he couldn't quite manage, despite coming perilously close to the target a few times. Seeing her crestfallen face, he made a snap decision. Letting her think he was taking a call whilst some other poor sucker parted with his pennies, he sidled closer to the stand on the pretext of still talking on the phone and when she was busy engrossed cheering the next victim, he slid an inordinately large note to the stall attendant, indicating what needed to happen. Needless to say, when Sanskaar took his second chance at the target, the attendant had ensured the slight movement that the base made was absent as the attendant had locked it in place, and had also surreptitiously slid the target a little closer. The sheer delight on her face when she took proud possession of the rather ugly (in Sanskaar's estimation) fluffy stuffed animal, must excuse his subterfuge, thought Sanskaar. His reward was not only her ear splitting smiles, but also an excited hug she couldn't control, despite soon breaking away slightly awkwardly when she realised what she was doing. After a few more entertaining stops, they finished with him buying her a handful of candy floss, watching her devour the ton of coloured sugar with childlike glee. He even dared to sample some, when she sweetly held out her sucrose covered delicate fingers. He gently clasped her wrist and guided her hand towards his mouth. Both their euphoric smiles slowly faded, and a more intense emotion flared between them as his lips touched the softness of her fingers, which in their turn seemed to linger at his mouth, even after the morsel had been fed. Their eyes stayed locked to each other and it seemed almost as if all the cacophony around them had faded to a gentle buzz, the air around them suddenly sizzled with something unspoken. Sanskaar desperately wanted to kiss her, they had unconsciously stepped really close to each other and his heated gaze now dropped to her sweet lips, still glistening from the floss she had just eaten, knowing she would taste far sweeter than nectar, let alone the sweetened candy. Swara too was mesmerised, she felt heat rush into her cheeks as his eyes dropped to her lips, her mouth parted involuntarily and she felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. It was a blissful moment, their personal sanctum amidst the mayhem around them.

Two pairs of eyes watched them from a short distance away, malice and impotent fury respectively burning through. Ragini felt a bone deep jealousy at the sight of these two. Swara had destroyed her life, she thought bitterly, and whilst she had thought that depriving her of Lakshya was punishment enough, she had clearly miscalculated. Having a love like Sanskaar's to replace what had been a somewhat contrived form of an advanced infatuation, was a blessing in the truest sense and Ragini could not countenance a sanctified Swara. Further, her old "Guru" as he liked to call himself, had to pay for his part in her downfall. She had an oath to keep- she would wreak havoc once more in his life. He had been restored by his love for her sister. For most it was a sight that inspired worshipful wonder; for Ragini it signified an Eden she had to infiltrate and destroy, and she knew just the poisoned apple to do it with, she thought with a satisfied smile at Lakshya. Foolish, impetuous and utterly ridiculous Lakshya- how she had loved him and perhaps in a twisted way, still did, but disdain was now the predominant emotion she felt for him. They all had to pay, and he would perhaps pay the most- he would become that which he most reviled.

"Dekha Lakshya, hum aapse kehte hain na, ke aap joh bhi kahe, Swara bhi Sanskaar ke liye mehsoos toh karti hi hai," she sibilantly hissed. "Isiliye hamara saath dene mein hi aapka bhalla hai. Aap joh bhi samje, hum aapki zindagi mein woh khushiya lautana chahte hai joh humne hi cheeni hai. Isiliye abhi waqt nahi hai sabko bataneka ke hume sabh yaad hai, agar aisa hua toh Swara Maa Baba ke paas laut jayegi aur aapko usko mananeka mauka nahi milega. Waise bhi Sanskaar..."

"Main Sanskaar se baat karunga Ragini, woh aisa nahi karsakta!" burst out Lakshya angrily. "Aur haan, yeh matt samajna ke main tumpar poora bharosa karta hoon, meri nazar hai tumpar. Main sirf aur sirf Swara ke liye sabh ke saamne tumhara yeh naya natak expose nahi kar raha hoon."

Ragini smiled with a pretend docility and sadness, her eyes wide with her habitual mask of deceitful innocence.

In the little world they seemed to often create for themselves anywhere and everywhere, Swara slowly and reluctantly lowered her hand from Sanskaar's mouth, her fingers still tingling from where he had touched them with his lips. They couldn't however tear their gazes away from each other entirely, and she didn't protest that his hand stayed lightly holding her wrist, her other hand clutching the precious prize he had won her. They slowly started walking away from the stalls to his car, sneaking lingering glances at each other, enveloped in a magic of their own making.

To be continued...

Hey guys, here is Part 2. I warn you, it is rather "heavy" but the story needs it before coming to its resolution. I am going to start working on Part 3 today itself so if all goes well, I may be done with it by late tonight! Hope this isn't too bad!

PART 2: Of Stratagems and Choosing Sides

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."- Sun Tzu- The Art of War

Swara and Sanskaar arrived back at the Maheshwari Mansion, still enveloped in the mellow haze that seemed to have wrapped around them during the happy hours they had just spent at the Park. As they stepped out of the car, still smiling, Swara was excitedly chattering, wrestling her unwieldy pink furry prize from the car, whilst Sanskaar gently teased her about the "thing" being almost as big as her, just chubbier! However, as if sensing a discordant note marring the music she felt floating around her, she glanced up, the smile abruptly vanishing from her face. Seeing this, Sanskaar also looked up and saw Lakshya standing at the balcony to his bedroom, which overlooked the front of the Mansion. Sanskaar too felt his smile evaporate. His cousin looked entirely distraught, his hands were clenched on the balustrade and even in the softly approaching twilight, his eyes were blazing with a disturbing mix of anger, frustration and pain, overlaid with an odd desperation. Swara seemed to have paled and took a long time to look away. All of Sanskaar's earlier suppressed niggling doubts about what his wife felt for her old fiance, began to trickle through once again. It shattered the already fragile bubble they had managed to morph around themselves earlier, and they entered the house far more subdued than they would have, had it not been for that silent encounter.

Soon after, Swara's phone beeped, announcing a text message from Ragini. Reading it, she frowned slightly, and then walked out to head to Lakshya and Ragini's room. Sanskaar was in the bathroom, getting ready for bed, and did not see her leave. Reaching the bedroom, Swara rapped the door and heard Lakshya call out to her to enter. She did so, scanning the room for Ragini, who seemed absent.

"Ragini kahan hai Lakshya, iss waqt usne kyun message kiya?" she asked warily, still uneasy about the way both Lakshya and Ragini had behaved all day.

"Swara, mujhe tumse zaroori baat karni hai", Lakshya was clearly agitated and not really bothering to hide it. "Yeh sabh kya chall raha hai, Swara? Tum Sanskaar ke saath kya kar rahi ho? Tum jaanti ho na ke main tumse kitna pyaar karta hoon? Toh aaj Park mein tum uske saath aise kyun behave kar rahi thi? Tum mujhe abh kitni sazaa dogi Swara, kitna tadpaogi?."

Swara fought the feeling of growing rage; she felt she ought to at least try to make Lakshya see sense. She was so tired of these disturbing conversations, which were making her feel stifled; as if the walls were closing in around her, pushing her to a place she would suffocate in. Her voice was correspondingly sharp in response,

"Lakshya! Please, please apni roz ki yeh bakwaas bandh kardo! Main phir se yeh behaz dohrana nahi chahti. Maine tumhe saaf saaf batadiya hai ke main kabhi bhi tumhari zindagi main waapis nahin aasakti. Main aage badh gayi hoon Lakshya, aur tumhe iss tarah dekh kar mujhe atcha nahi lagta. Hum kabhi dost bhi the, uss dosti ke hi waaste, please yeh sabh chod kar, apni zindagi phir se jeene ki koshish karo. Par joh bhi hoga, Lakshya, hum saath nahi ho sakte."

Swara was quickly losing composure and any rational person would have seen the sincerity with which she spoke, but for one as afflicted as Lakshya currently was, there was no seeing or understanding, only senseless reacting. He moved closer to Swara and as he had done many times before, reached out and clasped her hands, causing her to start and immediately try to snatch them away.

Whilst this had all been underway, Ragini had been busy putting the finishing touches to her latest ploy. She had planted the suggestion to Lakshya that he must talk to Swara to negate any effects from her afternoon spent frolicking with Sanskaar, and had helpfully preceded to send the text. She had then swiftly departed to see Annapurna, telling her in honeyed tones that Lakshya really wanted some warm milk flavored with almonds, just the way his mum made it. That done, she had proceeded to Sanskaar's bedroom, where he was just coming out of the bathroom, wondering idly where Swara had disappeared to. As soon as Sanskaar saw Ragini, he knew trouble lurked. Ragini pretended to be seeking Lakshya as he had apparently been missing from their bedroom, and then suggested to Sanskaar that maybe they should ensure everything was fine, as Lakshya had been very disturbed about his and Swara's Park interlude. Sanskaar of course saw through this ruse straightaway, but he had to go and check on Swara. God knew what Ragini was up to and given Lucky's current state, he could not take risks.

Thus Sanskaar and Ragini arrived just in time to see Lakshya holding Swara's hands. "Perfect timing," thought Ragini, satisfaction glinting in her veiled eyes, "Couldn't have planned it better. But then, how well I know you dear Husband? You would never disappoint me. Why would you not grab your sister in law (twice over) again to convince her of the veracity of your discreditable feelings? You are in love after all..." She had to resist the temptation to let a grim smile break forth. She focused instead on taking pleasure from the naked pain that flashed across Sanskaar's face as he took in the unsavory picture before him.

Seeing them, Lakshya finally relinquished his hold on Swara's hands. Swara was once again looking hugely relieved to see Sanskaar but unlike earlier, hurt and anger was overriding chivalry for Sanskaar. His eyes were now thunderous and a muscle twitched in his jaw, but he kept his voice admirably steady,

"Kya ho raha hai yahan?"

Swara immediately rushed over to him but was brought up short by the forbidding expression he now wore. She rushed to explain,

"Sanskaar, mujhe Ragini ka message aaya tha, lekin main jabh yahan aayi toh woh nahi thi aur..." she trailed off embarrassed recalling the distasteful renewal of his feelings from Lakshya.

Never one to let sensitivity get in the way of his expression, Lakshya now burst in,

"Haan toh?! Bhai, maine Swara koh yahan bulaya tha. Atcha hua ke tu bhi aagaya. Mujhe tujse bhi baat karni hi thi. Abh yeh sabh drama bandh kardete hain. Tum dono ki yeh jhoothi shaadi waala natak bahut hogaya. Swara tumse pyaar nahi karti, aur tum dono jaante ho ke main Swara se pyaar karta hoon. Isiliye main..." Suddenly he realised what he had just said and broke off, registering all their eyes widening in shock at him. Swara immediately looked at Ragini, who was looking at Lakshya furiously, and Sanskaar now had a very thoughtful gleam in his eyes.

"Lucky, tu yeh sabh apni patni ke saamne bol raha hai? Aur woh bhi meri patni ko? Tera dimaag kharaab hogaya hai kya?" The implication was crystal clear. If Ragini was suffering from her convenient memory loss, how on earth could Lakshya confess his feelings for Swara in front of her? Ragini stepped in to salvage what she could,

"Haan Lakshya! Aap aisa keh bhi kaise sakte hai? Hum aapki patni hai! Aap ko koyi khayal nayi aaya," for good measure she squeezed some tears out; an Oscar would have been Ragini's true calling in different circumstances. Swara was looking shell shocked, her eyes darting between all of them.

Lakshya clenched his fist, trying to think as quickly as he could. He had made a huge tactical error, but now it was too late. Trying to convey a silent message to Ragini with his eyes to play along, he continued,

"Haan! Mujhe yeh nahi kehna chahiye tha aur main jaanta hoon ke Ragini meri patni hai! Lekin Ragini meri sabse atchi dost bhi toh hai, hai na Ragini?" imploring his puppet master."Main abh apni feelings nahi chupasakta, main Swara se abh bhi pyaar karta hoon."

Swara had now had enough too,

"Bass Lakshya bass! Kitna giroge? Tumhari himmat kaise hui yeh baat karne ki! Mujhe kitni baar naa kehna padega?! Sanskaar," she continued, turning to him in despersation, "Challo yahan se please, yeh sabh hadd se zyaada ho gaya hai."

Seeing Lakshya about to still say something, Sanskaar raised a preemptory hand, halting any further tirade before it could begin.

"Enough! Lucky tum apni harkato ke barein main kuch socho aur Ragini, apne pati koh samjao, tum iski sabse atchi dost joh ho? Mujhe aur Swara koh iss betuki bakwaas main kuch interest nahi hai. Challo Swara." Saying this, he stalked out, Swara in tow. However, just outside the room, they both stopped abruptly.

Annapurna was standing there, a glass of milk in her hand, looking ashen and wide-eyed. She had clearly heard much of what had ensued. They stated at each other as if in a frozen tableau, Swara paling too. Sanskaar's eyes met Annapurna's and after a moment, Annapurna almost imperceptibly nodded to him, abandoning her mission to deliver the milk and walked off.

Back in their bedroom, a strained silence prevailed. Swara looked distraught and Sanskaar angry. Swara felt she needed to break the tension that seemed to be seeping into the very air of their previous sanctuary, but she was rather awed by Sanskaar's forbidding expression- it was reminiscent of a Sanskaar from a darker time.

"Sanskaar, mujhe wahan nahi jaana chahiye tha na? Lekin Ragini ka message..."

She stilled as Sanskaar made an involuntary gesture, his face tightening even more.

"Lekin tum kabh sochti ho Swara? Ragini ki baat thi, toh tum phir se bhaagi. Jabh ke tumhe pehle hi demo mil chukka tha, phir kyun gayi tum? Ya phir Swara, kya tumhe shaayad pata tha ke Lucky bhi hoga aur tumhe usse baat karni thi? Tum pehle usse dekh kar upset thi na?"

Sanskaar heard the words coming from him as if undergoing an out of body experience. He could tell by her stunned expression that he had inflicted a wound, and anything that caused her pain, always caused him far more anguish, but he was powerless. He had to make her see that her utter naivet was disastrous. But he also knew this was not the full truth. The demons that danced around in his head and heart, constantly fought to break free. He kept them valiantly imprisoned with chains of will and determined stoicism, but they never quite ceased their whispering to him. In the dark, they susurrated that she still loved his cousin, she would never love him, she only denied Lucky from duty to her sister and how long could she resist the call of her heart? Would she not give in too, helpless, just as he was for want and need of her? He masked his pain with almost superhuman effort each day, and when she bestowed her sweet smiles and tender glances at him, the imps would run and hide, only to resurface when she was occupied with showering her generous attention on the very object of his greatest fear and her suspected unresolved love, Lucky.

"Sanskaar...!" Swara's voice was tinged with disbelieving hurt. "Tum aisa kaise soch sakte ho?"

"Toh main kya sochoon Swara?" Sanskaar responded, raking his hand through his hair in haplessness. "Park ki baat theek thi, lekin ghanton baad phir se... aise kitne haadse honge jisse hum ignore karein? Maine kabhi nahi socha ke tum kuch bhi galat karogi Swara lekin tum kabh takk doosro ke piche apni khud ki parva kiye bina, apne aap ko nuksaan ponchaya karogi? Main tumhe galat nahi samaj raha Swara! Lekin shayaad Lucky tumhe galat samaj raha hai."

Just then, they heard a scream from Ragini; a high pitched keening sound and in shock they both abruptly ran out, Swara almost pushing Sanskaar aside in her instinctive rush to get to her sister. Swara and Sanskaar were the first to get to Lakshya's room, the rest of the family, following suit in stages. The sight that greeted their eyes made Swara scream out Lakshya's name in reflex, and curdled even Sanskaar's blood. Lakshya was lying on the floor, semi comatose, a pool of blood congealing around him. Ragini was sobbing and wailing hysterically and Swara ran forward, screaming at her to get the first aid box. The next few minutes seemed to pass by as if in a blur. Swara tried to staunch the flow of blood, which was flowing from Lakshya's wrist with her dupatta and Sanskaar immediately set to dialing for their doctor. Even when she brought the first aid box, Ragini delivered a histrionic performance, suggesting she felt faint at the sight of the claret coloured liquid oozing from the ghastly cut on Lakshya's wrist. Fortunately, the doctor arrived promptly and proceeded to administer treatment, explaining that the cut was not deep enough to be fatal and neither had it gone to the artery, which everyone put to fortune rather than design, although Lakshya and Ragini knew better! Ragini explained that it had been an accident with a paring knife whilst slicing some fruit, which seemed unbelievable but the alternative was even more so, thus prompting the majority of the family to accept this weak excuse. What had been noticeable throughout this though, was Swara's obvious distress at Lakshya's state and in response, the strange, almost triumphant gleam in his eyes at her concerned ministrations. Once he was reassured that Lakshya was in no danger, this fact was immediately apparent to Sanskaar, as well as to Annapurna, who after losing her remarkable composure initially, also recovered enough to make these observations with her sharp gaze that missed little, but concealed much.

Much later, back in their bedroom, Sanskaar and Swara lay on their now shared bed. Today the cushions dividing them were irrelevant. A deep chasm seemed to have opened up between them, which threatened to prevent either of them reaching out to pull the other one across its yawning mouth. Sanskaar knew Swara had been silently crying. His heart ached with the need to hold her, but he could not- he was battling his own torment. Swara for her part felt as if she had been tainted. She knew why Lakshya had done what he had. Ragini had whispered the words of poison to her before she left the room, softly but viciously telling her that she was responsible for Lakshya's state, as he had done all this in response to the earlier confrontation in their room. Swara blamed herself- she never thought Lakshya would stoop so low. To actually attempt something as awful as this- how could she not feel guilty? What if he had died? She was being torn apart by conflicting emotions which seemed to be ripping her insides to shreds. She wanted to fling herself in Sanskaar's arms, knowing that would offer her succor as it always did, but feeling even more ashamed for such thoughts when the man she had promised to love forever not so long ago, had almost killed himself for her. And so that seemingly interminable night passed.

Eventually, Swara seemed to doze off, her hair spread across her pillow like a curtain, the tears having dried in transparent streaks on her pale cheeks. Sanskaar gave up the quest for respite in the very early hours of the morning and silently raising his tired body up to a semi-sitting position, looking at her beloved face and form, his heart sore. Ensuring he made minimal movements so as not to disturb her, he gently leant over on one elbow, still gazing at her, her face wan with the ordeals of the previous night. Almost as if in a trance, the fingers of his other hand very softly touched the strands of her luxuriant tresses that were fanned around her, providing perfect backdrop for the perfection of her face. He felt himself lean in closer, breathing in her scent, wanting to enfold her in his arms and to kiss that Cupid's bow of a mouth. Recalling himself just in time, he instead simply settled for drawing in the covers closer over her, tenderly and with care. With a silent wistful sigh, he then swung himself off the bed and went downstairs. Swara's eyes fluttered opened slightly and suddenly, she felt as if the giant fist squeezing her heart had let up its hold. A soft smile broke through and she felt tiny tentacles of hope curl through her heart. She knew he would make it ok for them somehow and thinking this, she drifted back to a now slightly deeper rest.

Sanskaar freshened up in the guest room and then made his way downstairs, finding much to his surprise, his Maa sat in front of the family temple in the hallway. She looked as though as she had sat here all night, clearly disturbed by the incident with Lakshya, thought Sanskaar with a pang. He loved his Maa- she had always held a part of his heart and their connection ran way deeper than that of an aunt and a nephew- he was the son she deserved, but did not get. For him, she represented what a mother of an extraordinary son should, a void his birth mother was incapable of filling.

"Maa.." he called out gently, as she had not turned, despite having sensed him, he knew.

She now looked at him, there were dark circles under the porcelain of her skin and her eyes were deep dark pools of sorrow. She stood, regal and proud as she always was. This is how their exchange was conducted, before the silent, but all-seeing deities, ensconced in the marble temple before them.

"Sanskaar, neend nayi aayi tumhe bhi? Mujhe laga tha ke shaayad tum jaldi hi neeche aajaoge, mujhe tumhe bulane ki zaroorat nahi padegi."

"Haan Maa, neend toh hum dono ko kahan aani thi. Lekin, aap theek toh hai na Maa? Aapne sunna na, ke Lucky ko koi khatra nahi hai."

"Nahi Sanskaar- khatra toh bahut hai. Aur abh mujhe saaf dikh bhi raha hai. Isiliye mujhe tumse kaam tha."

"Haan, bataayiye na Maa, kya kaam hai."

"Pehle main tumhe kuch dikhana chahti hoon Sanskaar." She had a white envelope that had been partially obscured by the voluminous folds of her rich saree previously, which she now opened, removing a sheaf of photographs from it. She noted the flash of anger in Sanskaar's eyes as he realised that they were the same photos of Lakshya and Swara that has caused such turmoil only days ago.

"Aap yeh photos ke saath kya karrahi hain Maa? Maine uss din hi clear kardiya tha, ke yeh jhoothe hai."

"Haan aur naa Sanskaar. Yeh photos joh saabit karna chahte the woh zaroor jhooth tha- ke Swara and Lakshya ke beech main kuch galat hua tha. Lekin inn tasweeron se joh nazar aata hai, woh jhooth nahi. Unn dono ke beech abhi bhi kuch hain, bhale hi woh usko nazar andaaz karein. Aur yahin mujhe kall raat Swara ka Lakshya ke saath bartav dekh kar bhi nazar aaraha tha."

Sanskaar felt as thought she had smacked those offending pictures across his face. "Swara Lucky se pyaar nahi karti Maa", he tried to keep his voice emotionless but she knew him too well, and the raw agony emenating from him jarred her too. But she was a warrior Queen, made of sterner stuff.

"Yeh tum jaante ho yah phir maanna chahte ho Beta?" They both looked at each other, so similar and yet so different.

"Tumhe yaad hai Sanskaar, kuch waqt pehle issi jagah par tumne Bhagwaan ke saamne ek kasam khayi thi? Aur maine tumse kaha tha ke agar tum joothi kasam khaoge toh main tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karoongi?"

Sanskaar felt ice begin to spread around his heart but he simply nodded once, his features a mask of forced composure. Annapurna continued,

"Maine tumhe maaf toh kardiya. Tum aakhir mere bete ho. Lekin abh uss gunah ki bharpayi ka mauka hai, Sanskaar. Aur tumhaari yeh Maa apne bete se kuch mangna chahti hai, doge na?"

Sanskaar's smile was a rictus of grief; comprehension had dawned quickly on him, as she knew it would.

"Aap jaanti hai na Maa ke main Swara se pyaar karta hoon." He had to at least throw the dice, knowing now how ill fated Yudhistir must have felt realising he was about to lose everything, but compelled to still play.

"Haan, jaanti hoon. Isiliye maang rahi hoon. Main chahti hoon ke tum Swara ko samjao ke woh Lakshya koh ek mauka de, apne aap koh kuch deir takk usse door karo, taki woh sahi faisla le sake. Kya tum yeh karoge Sanskaar?"

Sanskaar's level stare almost made her flinch, but she grimly held on.

"Haan Maa- aap jaanti thi ke main kya kahunga, warna aap poochti hi nahi. Lekin Maa- main sirf Swara se baat karoonga aur khud raaste main nahi avunga, lekin Lucky jiss tara ki zor zabardasti ki zidd par tikka hai, main aisa kuch bhi nahi karoonga. Aur ek aur baat Maa- Swara joh bhi faisla legi, wohi final hoga."

"Itna kaafi hai. Aur Sanskaar, ho sake toh apni iss Maa ko maaf kardena?"

Now his smile was a barbed slash, "Maafi kaisi Maa? Kaushaliya ho ya Kaikeyi, Maa toh Maa hi hoti hai na?". Sanskaar's parting shot hit its mark, the tears flowed from Annapurna's eyes as he walked off and she softly whispered to herself,

"Lekin harr koi beta Raam nahi bann sakta, ye Kaikeyi yeh bhi jaanti hai."

Unbeknown to either Annapurna or Sanskaar, besides the idols in the temple, there had been one more spectator to this momentous exchange. Ragini shook her head in frustration. She should have known Sanskaar wouldn't be totally amenable, and his condition to not pressurise Swara could cause a kink in her plan. She decided that she may need to take matters into her own hands again and do some lateral thinking.

To be continued...

To those patient readers who have waited this, as promised, I am posting Part 3. It is just gone 11 pm UK time so I hope I stuck to my promise of delivering Part 3 today too!

I hope this goes some way to soothe those of you who cried at my Part 2. There is angst aplenty in this Part too, but by the time you get to the end, I hope the following come through:

1. I have tried to redeem my Swara. For those accusing her of being as stupid as the one in the show, I had to maintain some consistency, as my aim in writing this whole 3 turned 4 Shot, is to re-tell the current track in a way that I can justify to myself. So with this part, I hope the explanations Swara herself gives, and more importantly, her acknowledgment of her shortcomings, somewhat restores her.

2. My Sanskaar is not overly "mahaan"- he did what I always think Sanskaar would do- he leaves the choice to Swara, but doesn't force her to an unwanted route either.

3. Some may feel slightly cheated by the end BUT there is a Part 4. I had too much material and it was optimistic of me to think a Three Shot would suffice. What you may see as an odd end the chapter is, I think, necessary to enable me to properly square it all off in the end.

There is more but the plot will then be revealed, so I leave you to read and comment and I will aim to have Part 4 finished by the end of tomorrow. I am now going to try and ease my back, which is cramping after a session that started at approximately mid morning, and is finishing now (discounting limited breaks of course!).

I am very nervous of this part but have poured heart and soul into it so hope it passes muster!

Part 3: A Call To Arms

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." - Rumi

Despite the relatively early hour, Swara was awake. Sanskaar must have left before dawn, she thought, as she looked at the clock ticking towards six am. She was still anxious, but the short amount of sleep she had managed to snatch after his sweet gesture, had somehow helped her draw upon some untapped reserve of strength to face the day ahead. She needed to talk to him- about making sense of the drama ensuing with Ragini and Lakshya and especially her confusion about how she felt responsible for Lakshya's actions, no matter how much she was disgusted by them. She was confident though, that talking to him, would help her work things through, his calm assured manner and sensible analysis could always be counted upon. Just when she was wondering if she needed to go looking for him, she heard a polite rap at the door, which she had come to recognise as the herald of his arrival. Her fledgling smile faded before it took full flight though at the look on his face when he did walk in. She knew something was terribly wrong.

"Kya hua Sanskaar?" she was all wifely anxiety as she walked up to him, out of rote, raising her hand to lay it on his arm. His responding slight flinch however, felt like a slap. She automatically took a step back, her eyes absorbing the torment in his, and reflecting it back.

"Swara, mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai."

She was staring at him in consternation, sensing she was not going to like what would come. "Swara main ghuma firake baat nahi karna chahta, isiliye seedha point parr aata hoon. Kya tumhe lagta hai ke tumhe Lucky koh ek mauka dena chahiye?" He ignored her slight gasp of shock at his blunt question and continued, wanting to get this ordeal over with. "Uski harkatein bilkul behooda hain, lekin woh sach main sorry toh hai. Aur kall raat tumse bhi uski haalat nahi dekhi jarahi thi. Hamari shaadi toh waise bhi jhooti hai, tum nahi isse maanti ho, nahi maanna chahti ho. Toh agar tum usko ek mauka dena chaho, toh hum hamari shaadi ke barein mein sabh gharwaalo ko batasakte hain. Maa zaroor hamari madad karengi."

Swara felt like she had walked in to a nightmare. The only problem was the person who usually could be relied on to wake her from it, was the one pushing her towards the monsters.

"Sanskaar, tum chahte ho ke main Lakshya ko mauka doon?! Tum uski haalat ka zimedaar mujhe samajte ho?"

"Nahi Swara! Bilkul nahi. Main yeh nahi chahta, lekin abh time aagaya hai ke tum decide karlo ke TUM kya chahti ho. Ragini nahi, Maa aur Baba bhi nahi, Lucky nahi- Swara kya chahti hai woh teir karne ka waqt aagaya he. Tum joh bhi faisla logi main usme tumhare saath hamesha ki tara khada rahoonga, lekin faisla tumhara hoga"

"Maine toh mera faisla kahin baar sunadiya hai Sanskaar..."

"Lekin yahin toh problem hai Swara! Faisla sunane main aur uss faisle ko jeene main bahut farq hai. Tum kehti ho ke tum Lucky ki life main nahi rehna chahti, lekin tum apni life ka bhi kuch nahi kar rahi. Yeh joh tum mere saath jhooth jee rahi ho, uski ek umar hai, aur abh mujhe lagta hai, ke iss kisse koh anjaam dena hi hoga. Iss tara se toh hum nahi jee sakte na? Ek din Ragini natak karegi, ek din Lucky, stage same rahega, hum kya props bane rahege Swara? Humesha ke liye?"

Swara's head was reeling, "Mujhe kuch samaj nahi aaraha hai Sanskaar..."

Sadly shaking his head at her, "Main jaanta hoon Swara, lekin abh tumhe samajna hoga. Aur decide bhi karna hoga- choices do hain- ya toh Lucky koh apnalo, ya uske saath apna joh bhi rishta hai woh khatam karo. Ragini ke liye, apni life par lagaya hua permanent break uthado Swara."

Sanskaar had left soon after this, he felt there was nothing left to say to a shell- shocked Swara, who he knew would need time to sift through the scattered threads now strewn around her. He also just needed to get away- the mayhem was taking its toll. If her decision went against everything his soul cried out for from her (which he suspected it would), he would shatter, and needed some time to try to steel himself against the desolation he feared awaited.

Just when Swara thought things couldn't get any worse, Ragini walked in to her room. Swara started at her wearily, wondering what new contrivance her sister was now planning.

"Swara, humne Sanskaar koh gusse main jaate dekha, tum theek ho na?"

"Haan Ragini, aisa kuch nahi hai, main theek hoon."

"Tumhe jhooth bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai Swara. Hum jaante hai ke tum dono ke beech Lakshya ko lekar tension hai. Aur unki kall ki harkat ke baad toh yeh hona hi tha. Dekho Swara, hum Lakshya koh iss tara nahi dekh sakte. Agar unki khushi tumhare saath hai, toh tumhe ek baar unke barein mein sochlena chahiye. Sanskaar ne bhi yakeenan tumse yahi kaha hoga na?"

Swara would never cease to be amazed how guileless her sister could look, her cherubic face only ever reflected sweetness, but if one looked closely enough, the glint in her eyes often belied something else entirely. Swara wondered how she had been blind for so long. Or willfully blind perhaps was more accurate.

"Tum yaadash khone ka natak kar rahi ho na Ragini?"she retorted blandly. That scored a hit, she thought with an uncharacteristic satisfaction as Ragini's eyes slightly widened and she started, allowing the mask to slip for a second, giving Swara the confirmation she had needed.

"Kya matlab hai Swara, kya yaadash? Tum kehna kya chahti ho?"

"Bass Ragini, abh nahi! Main thakk chuki hoon. Main jaanti hoon ke tum mujhe duniya ki sabse bewakoof behen samajti ho, aur main hoon bhi. Lekin tumhe pata hai Ragini, jabh mujhe sach dikhta bhi hai na toh main bahut baar usse ignore karti hoon. Main uss choti bachchi main hi fassi hui hoon joh apne Maa Baba aur ek poore parivar ke liye marti thi. Par, Sanskaar theek kehta hai, abh bahut hogaya. Yeh tamasha abh khatam karna hi padega. Ragini, main mandir jaa rahi hoon, mujhe kuch deir akele rehna hai, lekin jabh takk main waapis avun, tum soch lo, ke kya tum Bade Papa aur sabh ko sach batana chahti ho, ya main batadoon? Kyun ke iske baad tumhe Baadi laut na chahiye. Mujhe ek aur faisla bhi lena hai aur woh bhi main aaj hi teir karungi..." Seeing the sudden interest in Ragini's sharpened gaze, which overrode her shock at this entirely unexpected Swara, she continued with a slight grimace, "Nahin Ragini, yeh woh faisla nahi he joh tum samaj rahi ho, lekin yeh tumhari problem nahi hai. See you later Ragini." Swara exited, leaving an incensed Ragini in her wake. She followed Swara after a long moment, finding her now at the bottom of the stairs talking to Annapurna.

"Baadi Maa- mujhe please thodi deir mandir jaane dijiye. Mera aaj darshan karne ka bahut mann hai."

Annapurna was looking at Swara, thoughtfully. She thought she knew the reason for this agitation and as she was partly the cause, she felt obliged to agree with what was after all a harmless request.

"Theek hai Swara, driver tumhe lejayega, lekin jaldi aajana? Aur kaunse mandir jaa rahi ho?"

"Birla Mandir Badi Maa, woh sabse paas main hain naa".

Ragini smirked to herself, suddenly knowing what she needed to do.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Reason lost the battle, and all I could do was surrender and accept I was in love" - Paulo Coelho

A short while later, Swara felt like she could finally breathe. Despite the Mandir being far from quiet, it still worked its magic in soothing Swara's overwrought nerves. There was a major Bollywood film event taking place in the Mandir's palatial central courtyard. Famous actors Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor were there to promote their Diwali release and were surrounded by the inevitable hordes of fans, press and attendants. Swara, who would have in the past been overjoyed to catch a glimpse of superstar Salman Khan, found herself totally uninterested. She was able to worship in supreme peace as the interior of the Temple was conspicuously less populated, the masses congregating outside, but curtailed to a respectful distance by security and cordons, yet thronging to hear Salman and Sonam talk about their film.

Inside, Swara prayed fervently. She asked God to guide her steps and help her make the right decision. Sanskaar's words kept playing on a loop in her mind. She knew she felt more for him than she should as a friend. She had deliberately suppressed those feelings; she was an expert at that. Her relationship with her dysfunctional family had given her plenty of practice, acknowledged Swara, finally able to look into the mirror Sanskaar had shown her earlier. Yet, could she be confident enough to name her feelings for him love? How could she dare love after the debacle that had been her and Lakshya? Was she so fickle that she swore she he was the love of her life and then promptly went and fell for his cousin, a man she had forced herself to confine to the category of best friend? Yet, sitting here before God, she couldn't lie anymore. Why had his ultimatum delivered today made her heart sink, simply because it did not give her a third option- that of staying with him? Could she deny anymore that the thought of leaving the Maheshwaris now caused an odd sort of turbulence in her? It raised the specter of not seeing him daily, not being able to laugh with him, watching his eyes crinkle and feeling that thousand watt jolt she felt when his smile lit up his face. The way she craved his tacit approval when she was dressing up, which she imputed from the way a sudden heat flared from his eyes, despite him never uttering a word, the way she had started to like the smell of his woodsy cologne, how his slightest touch both soothed and inflamed her instantly, what did it all mean, if not love? The truth was, Swara feared loving Sanskaar- if fate betrayed her again, instinct told her that she would not survive his loss. This was far more intense, more fundamental than she had ever felt for Lakshya, it was like comparing a drop to an ocean. Yet, she feared drowning in the deep, but was finding herself increasingly helpless to fight the tide.

Swara stood up eventually and walked out, slowly looking around the central square the Temple sat in, noticing the festive atmosphere prevalent. On one side, there was a giant screen showing scenes from the forthcoming film and music was now blaring from speakers around, people were dancing, excitedly watching the actors too shaking a leg, firing up the crowd with zeal. Some people on the periphery decided to enliven the atmosphere further by setting off firecrackers. As she tried to weave her way amongst the crowd, she noticed a scene flash on the big screen. It depicted the hero striding over to the decked out heroine, and proceed to dramatically take a pinch of vermillion from an ornate tin, and line her parting with the striking red streak. It immediately transposed Swara to a different place and time. She remembered in vivid detail how Sanskaar had filled the same colour on her that fateful night, after which he had made his astounding confession. Today, that recollection brought her intense joy, sharp contrast to how she had felt at the time. She looked back at the sanctum she had just walked out from, actively choosing to acknowledge this as a sign.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Sometimes I wonder if love is worth fighting for, but then I remember your face and I am ready for war"- Unknown

The detective Sanskaar had hired to keep tabs on Swara had finally managed to reach him and update him as to his wife's whereabouts. Sanskaar was less concerned this time as he knew she had gone alone with the driver, rather than with Ragini or Lakshya. However, when the second call came to let him know that there seemed to be an odd man trailing Swara, he felt apprehension flare up. He speedily headed over to the Temple, biting off strict instructions to his man to ensure he got close to Swara, and if necessary, remove her from the Temple grounds. His worry increased when he heard that there seemed more than one person tailing her and his man was finding it difficult keeping them in sight, especially as it was difficult to see what they were planning to do such a public place. His attempts to phone her were fruitless, as she could not hear her phone ringing in her bag, amidst the revelry surrounding her.

Sanskaar breathed a sigh of relief when he finally reached her and was managing to adroitly weave his way through the crowded courtyard to her. She was engrossed by the giant screen and perhaps watching the film stars standing some distance away, and seemed fairly oblivious to her surroundings. He tried to call out to her and just then, he saw something that made the blood freeze in his veins. From the periphery of his vision, he had just caught sight of a man who appeared to be one of the many merry makers now bursting crackers, or dancing to the music, inch closer to Swara. Sanskaar suddenly realised that he had lit a firecracker with a long fuse, and intended to throw that straight at his entirely unprotected wife! Without thinking, propelled into action by a fear that was almost paralysing, Sanskaar lauched himself at him with a cry, managing to grab his arm at exactly the same moment he was about to fling the dangerous missile; which was also the exact moment that Swara was alerted by Sanskaar's yell and the sudden commotion around her. Swara felt her heart lurch to her mouth as she saw Sanskaar, suddenly appear from nowhere, and now grappling with a beefy man, who seemed to slip from his grasp, but not before the lit firework caught the sleeve of Sasnkaar's beige blazer, setting it alight.

She heard screaming, not registering that the sounds were coming from her and she mindlessly rushed to him, uncaring that his one arm was a living flame. She felt someone from the crowd clutch her; she was a mindless mass of frenzy, kicking, screaming and clawing, all her energy concentrated on reaching Sanskaar.

Sanskaar had felt a blinding flash explode and then felt an indescribable heat scorch through his clothes and in reflex, he flung himself to the ground, rolling around trying to tamp the flames down, fighting against the agonising heat. Some quick thinking people around had also immediately leaped to help, and torn off their own shirts or grabbed duppattas from the women around, and helped to beat off the blaze before it spread any further than down Sanskaar's arm and side. The whole thing was over in minutes, but to Swara it felt as if time had stilled forever. As Sanskaar lay spluttering on the floor, his entire arm and side singed, writhing in agony, she finally managed to tear herself from her well meaning captor, and flung herself on the floor next to him. She clutched his head on to her lap, sobbing hysterically, her throat raw with her earlier screams. Sanskaar was looking at her with pain-glazed eyes, but trying valiantly to croak out that he was going to be ok. Swara would not be so consoled.

The next few hours were the worst Swara had ever experienced. She had thought that she had felt the nadir of despair when she had woken up in that hospital bed, after her sister had pushed her to her intended death, but the sheer terror she felt for Sasnkaar, far outstripped that. The detective Sanskaar had hired ensured that they were transported to the hospital in record time. Swara of course had no idea who he was, believing him a concerned Samaritan. The rest of the Maheshwari family was promptly called to the Hospital too, and soon Sanskaar was safely ensconced in a large and extremely comfortable private room, suitably covered with a large quantity of gauze, and dosed up with adequate quantities of morphine to dull the edges of the pain the burns would be causing him. The doctor pronounced him very fortunate, he and those that helped him had beaten the flames off extremely quickly. He reassured them that despite pain and discomfort for some days, Sanskaar would suffer no lasting ill effects, except maybe some very minor scarring. Throughout it all, Swara refused to leave his side, except when she was almost forcibly ejected during the actual treatment. So distraught was she that even Sujata felt obliged to be somewhat restrained, no mean feat for that inimitable lady!

Once the frenzy had subsided and they were all confident that Sanskaar was in no immediate danger, the family was gathered around the patient's bed. His wife stayed glued to his uninjured side, making implicitly clear to everyone that this was her place, and she would not relinquish it to anyone. Sanskaar looked sleepy and still glazed over with pain and medication, but this didn't stop him shooting wondering glances at Swara from time to time, her overt custody of him, a more soothing balm than any of the drugs he had been given. Finally, Durga Prasad gently questioned Swara as to what had happened, having earlier been able to make no sense from her incoherent crying. The very mention of the ordeal caused fresh tears to spring up in her eyes, but she gathered herself and recounted what she remembered, with Sanskaar filling in his part. There was a shocked silence when they finished and Durga Prasad queried whether Sanskaar was sure the lit implement had been deliberately aimed for Swara. Sanskaar confirmed it was, his eyes unerringly seeking Ragini's, who had as ever, masterfully projected shock and worry at Sanskaar's "accident". The one time friends held each others gazes for a long moment, and Ragini was the first to drop hers, slightly flushing at what she saw in the steely glints of Sanskaar's. Similarly, Sanskaar had looked at Lakshya to see if he suspected anything, and thought he sensed his cousin also looking at Ragini with a very suspicious demeanor. For Lakshya, his concern for his cousin seemed to be vying with a jealous rage at Swara's attitude towards Sanskaar. Durga Prasad picked up these various undercurrents swirling around his family and then in his usual pragmatic style, dictated that they would deal with this when Sanskaar was a little better.

Talk then turned to letting Sanskaar rest and the suggestion was made, again by the scion of the Maheshwaris, that they should all, save Sanskaar, perhaps now go home. Before anyone could utter a single word, Swara firmly announced that she would of course be staying with Sanskaar. When Sanskaar himself tried to protest, she shot him an almost angry glance, and then proceeded to shock everyone even further by saying,

"Bade Papa, mujhe kuch kehna hai." At Durga Prasad's nod, she proceeded, looking at Sanskaar with an odd expression that he couldn't decipher, but noting the heightened colour in her previously pale face.

"Shaayad yeh sabh ko meri badtameezi lage, aur shaayad mujhe yeh iss waqt nahi kehna chahiye, lekin aaj joh bhi hua, uske baad mujhe lagta hai ke yeh kehna zaroori hai, aur abhi kehna behetar hai. Jabh main phir se ghar main aayi thi, toh humne teir kiya tha ke hum che mahino ka time lenge hamari shaadi ke barein main faisla karne ke liye. Main aaj yeh kehna chahti hoon, ke mujhe abh unn che mahino ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Agar Sanskaar manenge toh main hamesha unke saath rehna chahti hoon." Swara was now looking straight at Sanskaar, as if the rest of their utterly astonished clan no longer existed.

"Kyunke main Sanskaar se pyaar karti hoon, aur unki patni banke rehna chahti hoon. Sanskaar tumne kuch mahino pehle sabke saamne mujhe apni feelings ka izhaar kiya tha. Aaj meri baari hai, aur main bhi tumhe batana chahti hoon ke I love you Sanskaar! Tumne kaha tha ke tumhe pyaar kabh, kaise, kyun hua, pata nahi, mujse hi kyun hua pata nahi, aur iss pyaar ki koi manzil hai bhi ya nahin, pata nahin. Lekin, mujhe tumse pyaar isilye hua hai, ke tumse atcha jeevan saathi kisibhi ladki ko nahi milsakta aur mujhe deir se hi sayi, lekin yeh ehsaas hogaya hai. Mere pyaar ka raasta bhi tum ho, aur manzil bhi, Sanskaar."

Sanskaar felt as if he was stupefied. He vaguely wondered if this was a hallucination caused by the drugs, but the way his heart was thudding and the expression on Swara's face, the slight sensation of her delicate hand resting on the edge of his uninjured arm, felt all to real. Their eyes were locked to each other's; he tried to probe hers to decipher why she was doing this, but all he could discover was an expression he had only dreamed of seeing on her beautiful face. Their trance was broken when a murmur of voices broke out in the room and starting slightly, now flushing a deep red, Swara saw everyone's expressions. These ranged from suppressed amusement and approval, to bewilderment and outright fury, the latter naturally confined to Lakshya and Ragini, who immediately exchanged strange glances, with Ragini surreptitiously placing a warning hand on Lakshya clenched fist, stalling him from an outburst he was clearly brewing for. He reluctantly subsided. Annapurna for her part looked totally taken aback and tried to catch Sanskaar's eye, but he resolutely refused to look at anyone other than Swara in that moment.

Whilst this was a manna from the Heavens for Sanskaar, and his very soul cried out to him to snatch this offered benediction, after all they had been through, he had to put his love and hers if she was to be believed, through its final test. If Swara had made this revelation at any other time, Sanskaar would have gone down on his knees to thank his Maker, but his heart could not take any more betrayals and setbacks; he would not survive it, so he had to be sure. Ignoring the entreaty he could see shining in her expressive eyes, he forced the responding words of love back from his lips, brutally resisting the temptation to tell her he had never believed the love he felt for her could even exist, let alone be felt. Instead, he uttered words he knew would wound him as much as her,

"Swara, mujhe lagta hai ke tum abhi bahut upset ho, hum iske barein main baad main baat karenge. Aur phir, abhi sabh koh ghar bhi waapis jaana hoga na."

Searing pain lanced through him, far worse than that the flames had earlier caused, as the sparkle in her eyes was extinguished, replaced by a sheen of threatened tears. He looked away from her in desperation, cursing himself a thousand times for a fool, and turned instead to look at his still agog family. He then hesitatingly repeated the suggestion for Swara to go home with the others to rest. But he had not reckoned on his wife's grit. She had squared her stubborn chin, and he heard her tell his Mom to please have some clothes sent for her here as she would stay with Sanskaar, in a tone that would make his Bade Papa proud.

As the hapless Maheshwaris filed out from the hospital room, Swara and Sanskaar looked at each other. It marked the advent of an even more eventful chapter in their already extraordinary lives.

To be continued...