Hi guys... I am updating a new chapter...will reply to your comments soon... I apologise again for not updating for months. 😭
CHAPTER 10
Sanskaar was ready for his first day at Maheshwari Industries. He was feeling nervous. This was the day he had been waiting for since he was a boy. Adarsh had at a very younge age decided that his interests lied elsewelsewhere. Business was not his thing. That left Sanskaar and Laksh as the possible successors to the vast empire their parents had built. Laksh was always content with following his brother around. This made everyone see Sanskaar as the successor to the Maheshwaris . He would have done this years ago if not for some misunderstandings and his own foolishness. First it was his falllout with his Bade Papa which had resulted in him renouncing his family and starting his own business. Then when he had reunited with his family, he had been suffering from another heart break. He couldnt find it in himself to be in the company of those he loved. And so he had left home again and taken up a job in London. He was an asset to the company he had worked in and they had requested him not to leave. But when Laksh asked him to attend his engagement, he decided to quit his job and take up the responsibility his uncle wished to entrust him with.
His mom and Badi Ma had asked him to take some time off before joining office but idleness wasn't good for him, especially when he knew he would spend every spare moment thinking about her. Swara Gadodia. How he wished he had never met her in the first place!
Yet he was curious. There were a lot of questions he wanted answers to. And he knew his brother could answer some of them.
He came down and saw Parineeta hustling around getting things for Adarsh. She smiled as she saw him .
"Sanskaar why do you have to start working today? You are back after years. Why don't you spend some time with us? " she asked.
"Pari, Bade Papa was saying that there is a lot of work to be done. Plus Lucky's wedding. Anyway I will get bored at home. Lets catch up when I am back from office." He told her.
She made an annoyed face and said "I am your elder brother's wife. Call me Bhabhi. "
"I am not gonna call my best friend Bhabhi just because she married my bro. " Sanskaar replied.
Pari made a face again and Adarsh laughed. Just then Laksh came down.
"Both of you look so tired. Didn't you sleep well? Laksh was probably talking to Ragini all night. But what about you Sanskaar.? What kept you from sleeping? " Pari asked.
Sanskaar gave her a sharp look and headed for breakfast. After that the brothers left. While they were alone in the car Sanskaar decided to talk to Laksh. He started by asking Laksh about Ragini and her family. Laksh told him a lot of things most of which he had heard from Swara.
"So Ragini' s sister runs the business? Ragini doesnt have much to do with it? " he asked.
"No. Ragini prefers to stay at home. Swara Di too wasn't interested in joining business initially. After their parents' death she joined business only to help her grandfather. "Laksh said.
"I met her fiance yesterday. I heard they have been together a long time. " Sanskaar said.
"Ya. They were childhood friends. Met in college again. Fell in love. They have been engaged a long time. They wanted to focus on their career before getting married. " Laksh said.
Sanskaar didn't ask any more questions. So they were indeed in love. He wasn't even a part of their story. Why had they played with his emotions?
I hate her, he thought.
**********
The brothers came back home tired. Annapurna had phoned Laksh asking them to come home as soon as possible. The brothers heard some commotion as they entered the house. Sujata and Uttara were arguing.
"Yeh sab kya ho raha hai? " Sanskaar asked.
"Panditji came today morning. He said that we have to conduct the marriage in 2 weeks. There is some problem in Laksh' s horoscope and we would have to wait an year if the marriage isnt done in a month. So we decided to have the wedding in 2 weeks. " Annapurna explained.
Laksh was surprised but he had no objection. So his mother went on. "We have to decide on the card design immediately. So Laksh has to go to Ragini's place so that they can choose the card they like. "
"And mom is not allowing me to go with bhaiyya. "Utttara interjected.
"Haan. And I am not changing my mind. I don't want you to be around Swara. I know she is a successful woman but I don't like her and I don't want you to become like her. "Sujata declared.
"What is wrong with Swara Di? " Uttara asked.
"Everything is wrong. She doesn't even have the manners not to keep quiet when elders are talking. It is her grandparents' fault. They have given her too much freedom. She is so proud of herself. Thank god Raginiis not like her. She is Marwari and is marrying a Bengali. That is if she marries. I dont think she will. She has been engaged for years but did not marry him. Why? Because she wanted to work. And yesterday she was dancing with him, walking hand in hand. I tell you something is wrong with her. If not why is her younger sister getting married while she is not married..." Sujata said her voice full of dislike.
"Not another word against her mom." Sanskaar shouted at her. He had beenpatiently listening to his mom but this was too much. He hated Swara but that didnt mean he would enjoy hearing someone badmouthing her. He noticed that his family was looking at him confused.
"I mean, she is a girl. You shouldn't say such things about her. If a younger sibling is getting married before his brother or sister does it mean somrthing is wrong with the elder sibling. That would mean something is wrong with me too. After all Laksh is my little brother. What century do you live in mom? " he asked.
"Sujata, Sanskaar is right. It is Ragini who is going to be our bahu. And Swara seems a nice girl. "Annapurna said sternly silencing Sujata.
"Ma I will go alone. Why should someone accompany me? " Laksh asked.
"Laksh, I know you can go alone. I just thought that since Swara' s family will be present, it will be better if someone from our family too was present. I don't think Uttara will be of much help in this case. Why don't you take Sanskaar along? He has a very good taste in such things. " His mother suggested.
"No Ma. I am tired. "Sanskaar said quickly. He was already exhausted and didn't want to see Swara.
"Please Bhai. " Laksh requested.
After some convincing from Laksh and his aunt, Sanskaar agreed to go.
"Sanskaar this is good. You will be seeing her a lot now. The sooner you learn to deal with it the better. "He thought as he went to his room to get ready.
************
"No more work today right? I have to go home. " Swara told her assistant Priya.
Ragini had called her that afternoon to tell her that the wedding date was fixed . Two weeks later. The pandit had told the families that there was some problem in Laksh' s horoscope and they would have to wait an year if the marriage wasn't done that month. She had told Ragini to speak up if she had any problem but Ragini said she was ok with it.
Rishi had come to pick her up from the office. On the way back home he asked
"So Mishti how are we going to deal with Sanskaar? "
"What? " she asked.
"I mean do we ignore him, avoid him or will you confront him? "Rishi explained.
"Do we have to discuss this right now? " she asked.
"Yes, since we will be seeing him in a few minutes. He is coming with Laksh. " Rishi told her.
"Rishi, dont take me home. I don't wanna meet Sunny. " she said panicking. She had said that name after a long time and it hurt her.
"You will have to see him sooner or later. And what will you tell Ragu? " he asked.
She calmed down. Rishi was right. Further leaving Rishi and Sanskaar with each other wasn't a good option.
"I am not confronting him. I don't want to risk Ragu's happiness. I don't want anyone to know about us... I mean him and me. And anyway it doesn't matter anymore. I moved on. " Swara said looming out of the window.
When they reached home the brothers had not arrived. The cards had arrived and the Gadodias were waiting for Laksh. Laksh and Sanskaar arrived a little later. Dida and Dadi left for some bhajan at a neighbour's leaving the five of them.
Sanskaar looked at the sofa. One seat was occupied by Laksh and Ragini who were already busy looking at the cards. The seats opposite to them were occupied by the staff who had brought the card designs. That left the middle sofa which was occupied by Swara and Rishi. Seeing them together was hurtful enough. He didn't want to sit with them. But he had no choice. He could ask for an a chair or sit at the table a little away. But he would have to give some kind of explanation. And what could he say?
He saw Swara looking at him. She too was worried about the same. He looked away and walked up next to her and sat down. He felt her stiffen despite the space between them. He could feel the tension emanating from the three of them and hoped Ragini and Laksh wouldn't notice it.
He recalled the evenings they spent together watching movies with her friends. Sitting on a couch like this laughing and having fun. It also reminded him of the times they spent together at his home. She would edge closer to him, loop her arm through his and rest her head on his shoulder. They would enjoy the silence. He had felt she belonged there. Close to him. And now he felt uncomfortable near her. Yet there was something soothing about her presence. Like being tied to a stake and still enjoying being burned. Near him Swara too was dealing with similar feelings. She too remembered the past occasions when she would enjoy sitting between her best friend and her love. The camaraderie and happiness was lost. Here she was, waiting for him to leave yet wanting him to stay.
"Di. Which one do you like? " Ragini asked her.
Swara and Sanskaar finally came out of their thoughts.
"This one. "They said together pointing to a card.
"Wow. Your choices are similar. But don't you think it is looks too dull? " Laksh asked.
Even Ragini agreed and they all went back to selecselecting the cards.
"This looks good. " Swara said picking up a card. It was white with small hearts on it. Neat and elegant.
"I don't think the elders will like it. It lacks a traditional touch. Atleast not my family. " Sanskaar said coldly looking at Swara.
Swara saw him glaring at her.
"Sanskaar you know your family really well. You love them so much. You rarely meet guys who think about their family before making the smallest of decisions. " she said looking him in the eye.
"Thank you Swara. I think you should have this card for your wedding. It will suit you guys. You are so much in love with each other. It is a pleasure to see you together." Sanskaar said smiling to hide the bitterness in his voice.
"I think so too. "She replied with a fake smile.
"I think right now we should concentrate on these two. "Rishi said pointing to Laksh and Ragini.
A few minutes later they finalised a card Ragini had chosen. When the staff left Ragini insisted that the brothers stay for dinner. Sanskaar was once again left with no option for the elders too had returned home by then.
They were all seated at the table. Ragini had made most of the dishes herself and Dida and Dadi had made the rest.
"This malai kofta tastes just like my mom's. " Laksh said.
"I made it but the recipe is Di 's. Some friend of hers taught her. " Ragini said shyly.
Sanskaar smiled. No wonder it tasted familiar. He wished he could tell Laksh it was because it was his mother's recipe which he had taught Swara to make when she told him that it was her favourite and Rishi' s too. He still remembered the numerous times they cooked it together.
"Your friend must have been a wonferful cook. You must have benefitted a lot from the relationship. "He taunted.
"Yeah. He taught me some great lessons which I can never forget." She retorted.
"I am sure he himself learned a lot. " he replied.
Ragini looked at them confused. She sensed some kind of tension between them. Was it her imagination? Even while selevting the cards she had felt the same. But what problem could they have with each other? They didnt even know each other. She was probably over thinking.
After dinner Sanskaar convinced Laksh to leave immediately. The rest of the family went to see them off while Rishi and Swara stayed backed. Swara sighed and slumped on to the chair.
"This is not going to be easy . If you guys continue this bickering people will suspect. " Rishi told her.
"I know. There is only one way. I will have to talk to him. " Swara said as she left the room.
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Hope you like this chapter...Will try to update next week but I have exams coming up...so I am not sure.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
