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Hello readers,
Swara follows Sanskar to their room, worry gnawing her as she wonders where Laksh is and if he is okay. She was itching to call him. Sanskar stops abruptly in the middle of the room, Swara who is lost in thought does not see him stop and bumps into him. Swara instinctively grabs Sanskaar's shoulder as she tries to regain her balance.
The Pawn Series will be in the form of one shots because I do not want to commit myself to a SS or FF. I do not want readers to have an expectation of future chapters and then feel cheated if I an unable to write any.
I do not watch this show regularly, in fact only came back when I read that Ragini is going to turn positive. Today I read that Laksh is still after Swara... If this is true, then I shall be running away from this show soon.
Leaning against the wall, his eyes shut, Sanskar tunes out the sounds of laughter and celebration, focusing all his energy in holding back the tears that threaten to fall. Images race to his mind's eye... Of long silky black hair... Of laughing eyes filled with love... Of a warm smile... Of a bride dressed in wedding finery... His heart cries out in agony, "I miss you. I miss you very much. Every breath I take reminds me how far apart we are. My heartbeat, a constant reminder that we shall meet again when it beats no more."
Masking her sadness, Ragini rushes around like a busy bee admist the celebrations, a smile in place as she serves the guests with snacks, making them comfortable as they wait for the auspicious moment when the love of her life marries her new found sister. Needing a moment to herself, she heads off to her room. Shutting the door, she allows herself to cry her heart out.
Ragini's grandmother looks around the courtyard, her eyes filled with sadness as she takes in the light and decorations. With a heavy heart she recollects how just two months ago there was a similar setup... Where her darling angel, Ragini had gotten engaged to her Prince Charming. Her gaze filled with quiet fury, thinks, "and today he is marrying another."
Sujata watches her son from across the courtyard, filled with anger and hurt... Anger that Durga Prasad had given in to his son's demands and allowed for this marriage to take place... Hurt that why did her son have to suffer... It was just not fair, why did Durga Prasad not change his mind five years ago. Wiping an escaped tear from her eye, she thinks, "it has been five long years... I crave to see my son happy... To see him smile..."
Filled with guilt, Durga Prasad glances towards Sanskar, regret emanating from his entire being, only one thought occupying his mind, "if only I could turn back time... This time I won't make the same mistake."
Worry etched on her pretty face, Annapurna rushes towards Sanskar and whispers something to him. Worried, Sanskar follows his badi maa to the room that is allocated to Laksh during the ceremony. Sanskar asks, "badi maa, what do you mean by Laksh is not answering his phone? Where is he?" Tears falling, Annapurna replies, "Laksh said that he had forgotten something and would be right back. That was an hour ago."
Sanskar quickly places a call to Laksh, ready to tell him off for being so irresponsible. Frowning, he disconnects, saying, "his phone is switched off!" Angrily he snaps, "first he breaks his engagement... then insist on marrying his ex fiance's sister... Now he disappears!"
"Sanskar, I don't know what to do," Anapurna states, "oh gosh, how will your badi papa react." Fuming Sanskar tries Laksh again, but to no avail. "Badi maa, we have no choice. We need to inform everyone that Laksh is not here," Sanskar states.
"I know," Anapurna says with a heavy heart. She takes a step towards the entrance of the room when Sanskar places his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. He has softly, "I think we should inform Sharmista aunty and Swara first." Placing her hand on his, she squeezes it slowly, saying, "yes of course." "Badi maa, wait here. I shall bring them here," Sanskar says before walking past his badi maa and out of the room.
Swara feels guilty over the sense of relief she feels on hearing the news of Laksh's absence. Her mind trapped in what she had witnessed just moments ago... Her sister crying her heart out over her lost love. From the moment she had witnessed Ragini's private moment, she had been cursing herself for believing Ragini when had stated that she had no deep feelings for Laksh as it was an alliance arranged by the families... She had been cursing herself for listening to Ragin by taking her friendship with Laksh towards love.
"Ragini wants Laksh's happiness... I want Ragini's," Swara thinks. Turning towards Sanskar, Swara asks, "will you marry me?" "Swara!", Sharmista admonishes. With a hint of reluctant admiration lurking in his eyes, he thinks, "she is courageous." Sanskar says, "Sharmista aunty, badi maa, please give us a moment alone."
Both mothers look anxiously towards one another, then at Sanskar and Swara, nod affirmatively and leave the room. They quietly wait behind the closed door, not knowing what to think.. Neither sure if they want their children to make such a huge compromise for the family's standing in society."
Sanskar takes a few steps away from Swara, distancing himself from her, both physically and mentally as he evaluates the situation. Leaning on the wall, he turns to look at her and says softly, "have a seat," as he nods towards the bed. "No thank you," Swara says in a no nonesense voice, "I am comfortable standing."
Seeing distress lurking in her eyes, Sanskar sighs, then says, "Swara, Laksh will come. I am sure he has a very good reason for being absent. Wait for him. He loves you very much."
Recollecting Ragini's breakdown that she witnessed just moments ago, Swara shuts her eyes, not wanting to share the pain she felt, she couldn't believe that she was partly responsible for the hurt her sister was going through, she thinks with anguish, "oh Ragini, please forgive me for being so blind towards your pain."
Composing herself, Swara thinks, "I can't have anyone know the truth. I need to find another reason that can be acceptable to my marrying Sanskar." Taking a deep breath, Swara lowers her gaze slightly, says, "I just recently found my father. My father's family is very conciancious about their standing in society. My family has just recently endured a broken engagement. I don't think my grandparents will be able to handle this too."
"Yes of course," he says reassuringly,"I understand where you are coming from. The strictures of society always dictates our movements." He pauses for a moment, waiting for Swara to meet his gaze, before continuing, "I have some conditions before we marry."
Swara takes a deep breath as she waits for Sanskar to continue. Seeing the worried look on her face, Sanskar sighs and says, "look, let us just forget this happened and wait for Laksh." Swara takes a step toward him and says, "no... No... Tell me your conditions."
Nodding, Sanskar says, "my first condition is that Laksh will be your past, and I your present and future." Swara nods affirmatively. Seeing her positive response, Sanskar continues, "you will always be mindful of my family's standing in society, their respect is very important... And lastly..." He stops leaving his sentence incomplete.
Curious, Swara says, "lastly..." Sanskar continues, "I know it will take some time for us to be comfortable with one another... However I would like if society and also the family would think that there is some mutual affection and admiration between us."
Swara just stares at Sanskar, her expression clearly saying, "what!"
"Relax," Sanskar says reassuringly, "I dont mean... Like tomorrow... But maybe in a few weeks, a month. We can keep our distance in private, but in front of the family..." He stops, suddenly unsure what to say next. Tries once again, "our families would be upset, if they were to see distance between us... More for their sake, we should..."
Swara interrupts him, not wanting him to complete his sentence, "got it. I understand. Your conditions are reasonable. I accept."
Furiously Sujata storms towards Sanskar, yells out, "I refuse. Why should my son always be the one to make sacrifices for the family. This marriage will not take place."
Sanskar looks towards his bade papa and Swara's family apologetically and says, "mum, please calm down. I am not making any sacrifices. I admire her courage and positivity. Look at her, here she is standing before all with her head held high."
Seeing the determined look in his eyes, Sujata realises that Sanskar has made his decision and nothing would change it. Reluctantly she allows for the marriage rituals to continue.
Durga Prasad paces to and fro in his living area, worried just like the rest of the family over Laksh's absence. "Jiji," Sujata says in a reassuring voice, keeping her worry at bay, "I am sure Laksh is fine. He is probably staying away because he is scared of his father's temper." Sanskar disconnects his phone and says, "bade papa, I have spoken to the commissioner, he is arranging for a team to scout the city as we speak."
Bade papa nods affirmatively, looks at the wall clock, the time reading half past midnight. He frowns over the lateness, looks towards Swara, then turns to Sanskar and says, "it is quite late, it has been a long day for Swara. We shall see you in the morning."
Swara follows Sanskar to their room, worry gnawing her as she wonders where Laksh is and if he is okay. She was itching to call him. Sanskar stops abruptly in the middle of the room, Swara who is lost in thought does not see him stop and bumps into him. Swara instinctively grabs Sanskaar's shoulder as she tries to regain her balance.
Gritting his teeth, Sanskar patiently waits for Swara to steady herself, once she lets go of her hold on him, he turns around and says, "it is quite late. Go to sleep."
Hearing the should of a car engine, Sanskar walks up to the window and looks out. He walks towards his dresser, places some items in his trouser pocket, looks at Swara and says, "Laksh has come. Do you want to come down?"
Guilt eating herfor what she had done, Swara shakes her head, not ready to face Laksh and his accusations. Deep down she knew that Laksh would have a good reason for his absence.
Nodding his head, Sanskar says softly, "go to sleep" and walks towards the entrance of his room. He stops abruptly at the entrance, turns towards the room. His gaze studying Swara, he says, "Laksh has come. If you want to change your mind about this marriage. I will..." Swara interrupts him, shaking her head, she says, "I will not change my mind." Nodding, Sanskar turns and walks away.
Laksh slowly walks into the house, still reeling from the impact of sharmista's slap. He wanted to cry at the unfairness life. The love of his life married to his brother. Climbing the stairs, he wonders how it is that he is still breathing.
Sanskar rushes down the stairs calling out with worry, "Laksh!"
Laksh, stops at the landing, turns to see Sanskar racing down the stairs, tears fall from his eyes. Sanskar reaches Laksh, hugs him and asks worriedly, "where were you? What happened? Are you okay?" Instead of answering, Laksh hugs him tight.
Laksh looks toward his family, worry and relief etched on their features. His gazes searches for Swara, but in vain. He realises that she is not in the living room. His heart constricts with pain when he realises that she must be in Sanskaar's bedroom. He closes his eyes at the sharp pain he feels, telling his broken heart, "she is married now."
Slowly he narrates to his family how he was chased by some men who had mistaken him for someone else. How they had held him against his will because they thought he was having an affair with a girl in their family. He tells them that how the girl came to his rescue when she found out about it. His eyes bleak, he smiles weakly, "they apologised for their mistake... But by then it was too late," he ends brokenly.
Anapurna hugs Laksh tight and says through her tears, "I wish you had called. Why didn't you call? Why was your phone off?" Laksh replies, "I think my phone is in the car." He pulls away from his mother's hug and heads out. Sanskar calls out, "I will give you company."
Sanskar stops Laksh just before his car and says in a quiet voice, "Laksh, I will divorce Swara if the family will agree to your marriage." Hope rekindling in his eyes, Laksh gasps happily, "really!" Then shakes his head and says sadly as reality kicks in, "dad will never agree. It is not possible." He turns and unlocks his car, looks for his phone and says with a frown, "my phone is not here, I must have dropped it."
Sanskar says, "let me help." Opening the back door, he checks under the seat, saying, "look properly in the front." Slowly Sanskar takes the phone out of his pocket and says, "here, found it." Looking at the phone, he adds, "either it ran out of juice or got switched off when it fell." Giving the phone to Laksh, he says, "I will see you in the morning."
As he walks towards the house, he looks up towards his room window and as expected, there was his wife, looking down at them. Ignoring her, his gaze falls on his loyal driver who was several feet away, waiting for further instructions. Sanskar gives him a slight nod in acknowledgement before calling out, "good night."
He recollects how fate lent him a helping hand... He had followed Ragini, only to hear her wail over her broken heart... He had spilt his drink 'accidentally' on Swara, then guided her to Ragini with the excuse to wash the drink before it stained... With a cruel smile that turns to a smirk, satisfaction in his eyes, Sanskar slowly climbs the stairs, heading towards his room... His wife.
Pawn 2 - click here
Cricket
