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Locking her hands behind her back Sanskar teases, "you could have at least waited until we were alone. Now the family will come to know you are a husband beater," he ends, chuckling. Getting no response from Swara, he asks, "have you calmed down? You won't attack me if I let you go, right?" Releasing her, he asks patiently, filled with concern, "why are you so angry? What happened?" His eyes searching hers as he tries to understand her extreme reaction.
Her hands free, Swara attacks again, but this time Sanskar is prepared. He has her pinned to the bed before she could blink, his body covering hers, ensuring that she is unable to harm him by kicking. Her arms, above her head, held tightly by his hands. Their faces inches apart, Sanskar says furiously, "I have had a bad day. I am not in the mood to entertain your tantrums. Stop with this childish behavior."
Affronted, Swara shrieks, "childish behavior? Childish behavior! I shall show you childish behavior." Saying so she leans forward, lifting her head off the bed... Shocked, Sanskar pulls his face away, says with disbelief, "you bit me." His hand automatically rubbing his bruised right cheek. Shaking his head, as he tries to process what just happened, he stares into satisfied eyes and says, "you are crazy."
Oozing with satisfaction that she got one up him, her gaze challenging him, Swara retorts, "you wanted childish... You got childish." Staring into challenging eyes, Sanskar stops himself from reacting instinctively, instead admonishes her by saying, "this is what happens when one bottles up their emotions... It spirals out of control." Releasing her, he steps away, needing to keep his distance for every fiber in him wanting to accept her challenge... Wanting to make her submit. Her behavior stiring his primal instinct.
Ignoring her, Sanskar studies his reflection in the mirror, checking the damage done, satisfied that the bite mark was faint. His gaze automatically seeks out swara's through the mirror. He thinks with reluctant admiration, "damn she is feisty," as she holds her head high.
Ignoring the horror that is quacking inside her, over her behavior, Swara meets sanskar's gaze through the mirror, boldly. There was no apology on her face over her action though her mind was numb with shock.
Turning around, studying her through new eyes, Sanskar says, "the mark is faint. I think we shall get away with it. Do you want to stay for dinner or not." Exhausted after her attack, Swara says in a quiet voice, devoid of emotion, "I am not going anywhere with you."
Frowning Sanskar slowly walks up to her, sits on the bed, several inches away from her, confused, he asks, "why? Has something happened?" Unable to control herself, tears fall silently down her cheeks as she replies, "I refuse to go anywhere I am not wanted." "You are crying," Sanskar says in surprise. Wiping her tears roughly, Swara says angrily, "the credit doesn't go to you... I am just emotionally drained." Raising his hands up, a gesture of surrender, Sanskar says softly, "okay. Explain what you meant with that statement."
Folding her arms across her waist, lips compressed, Swara glares at him defiantly. Exhausted with her antics, already annoyed with the day's events, Sanskar says, "now is not the time for silence." Getting no response from her, having reached the limit of his patience, Sanskar stands up and say, "fine. Stay here. Like I care." Swara bites out, "I know you don't care." Sits up, on her knees as she glares at him angrily, adding passionately, "I know you don't want me... And I, Swara Bose never go where I am not wanted."
Sanskar stares at Swara, stunned over her outburst... His mind trying to make sense of what she is saying... Does she want me to want her... Doesn't she love Laksh...What the hell is going on in her head... Taking a deep breath, Sanskar slowly walks towards her, knowing that he needs to tread carefully. Sitting by her side, not wanting to lie, he says, "Swara, it is true I don't want you in my life..." Seeing the pain reflecting in her eyes, he stops her from reacting by saying quickly, "let me finish. I am not done." He begins again, his voice soft, filled with empathy, " I may not want you in my life, but I don't, don't want you in my life. Isn't it the same for you?"
He sits inches away from her, patiently waiting for his words to sink in, relieved when the hurt in her eyes fade as understanding dawns. He adds calmly, stating the reality of their situation, "we are together not because we want to be together, but because we have to be together." Her voice husky from her emotional outburst, she asks, "then why did you betray me?" Taken aback, Sanskar asks, "when did I betray you?"
"When we married, was not one of your conditions that you would be my present and future?" Swara asks.
Perplexed, Sanskar answers, "yes it was."
"Did I not refuse to divorce you when you suggested it last night?" Swara asks.
"Yes you did," Sanskar answers.
"Did I not ask you to help me unite Ragini and Laksh last night?" Swara asks
Sanskar replies, "yes you did."
"Then why did you offer to divorce me. You have given Laksh hope of reuniting with me... and Ragini despair that I might reunite with Laksh." Swara says. Swara continues, "Laksh has asked Ragini to help him. Have you any idea how much my sister might be hurting? And worse, she can't share it with me... Because she has to be happy for me!" She ends angrily.
Understanding dawns on him, for several moments Sanskar stares at Swara , quietly admiring her, thinking guiltily, "she is angry because her sister is hurting... And here is me, who didnt care that I hurt my brother." He says quietly, "I was not able to stop myself... When I saw Laksh filled with so much pain... I was not able to stop myself... And if it helps, it was before you mentioned your match making plans." Swara looks into eyes filled with regret, with pain, she gives him a weak reassuring smile, says, "I should have realized that just as I want Ragini's happiness, you want Laksh's."
Leaning forward, Swara caress his wounded check and says sheepishly, "I am sorry for my childish tantrum." His eyes bleak, guilt eating him, he stares silently at Swara drowning in her trust, warmth and acceptance of their situation. Holding the hand that was gently caressing him cheek, he pulls it away, staring at it for several seconds, looks back into eyes filled with warmth and says gruffly, "it's okay. Forget about it." Then adds cheekily, "and what off the hairbrush?" Laughing, Swara teases, "I am not sorry about the the brush." Staring into smiling eyes, his gaze drops to her smiling lips, the urge to kiss her, strong. His heart races as he tries to control the unexpected passion she ignites in him. Oblivious of sanskar's thoughts, Swara says happily, "so it is agreed, we divorce after Ragini and Laksh marry."
Sharmista paces too and from outside the room, trying to ease drop... There had been muffled yelling... Then silence. Her heart was in her mouth ever since Ragini had whispered in her ears that Swara had hit Sanskar. Unable to handle the suspense of how Sanskar has handled the attack any longer, she burst open the door, feverently praying, "please let him not hurt my baby." She stops, relief pouring in as she see Swara and Sanskar siting next to one another... Swara's hand in his.
Sanskar turns towards the door, seeing Sharmista, he drops swara's hand like a ton of bricks, stands up and says, "Swara, it is quite late. We need to get going." Acknowledges Sharmista and walks out of the room. Needing reassurance that all is well, Sharmista walks towards Swara. Swara oblivious of the worry her mum has, smiles, hugs her mum and says, "I gotta run. It is quite late." And rushes past.
Swara walks into their, looks around, pleasantly surprised, turns around smiling and says "you cleared up after me. So sweet." Sanskar looks up from his phone, takes in the cleared, neat room and says as he walks in, "not me. Probably mum."
"No, no, no, don't say that," Swara says in a rushed tone as she walks towards the cupboards, opening them, "gosh what will your mum think." Sanskar, who is seated on the divan, unpacking his shoes, looks up smiling, says, "she will think that my wife is very messy." Walking towards her, barefoot, he adds teasingly, "bet she is cursing the day I married you. Hmmm, when did we marry?" Stuck between him and the cupboard, Swara whispers, "yesterday. Oh gosh Ragini was right... First impressions and all... Your mum must hate me." Pulling a towel from the cupboard, Sanskar walks towards the ensuite bathroom, throwing the towel on his shoulder, says, "lucky you, it will be a temporary hate."
Parineeta knocks lightly on the door, Swara turns, parineeta walks in smiling and says, "don't you worry. I sorted it out before bade maa and choti maa saw the mess." Squealing with joy, Swara hugs her tight, saying, "thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are a life saver."
Smiling parineeta asks, "How was everyone at home? How was your day?" Swara smiles back, answers, "they are all fine. Mum missed me a lot. I can't recall the last time she hugged me so tight." swara adds, "you know what... Am starving... We haven't had dinner yet." Parineeta replies, "Come, I shall help you reheat the food."
Towering his damp hair as he walks out of the bathroom, Sanskar stops and breaks into a wide smile, says, "ooh food... I am starving." Throwing his damp towel on the bed, he sits on the divan while Swara serves him dinner before serving herself. They eat in amicable silence, when Swara's attention falls on the damp towel on the bed. She scolds Sanskar as she gets up to take the towel. Sanskar says, "let it be. I shall pick it up." Ignoring him, she takes the towel, races to the clothes railing near the bathroom, places the towel and races back, saying, "done." And continues eating.
Swara asks, "why was your day bad?" Surprised, sanskar asks, "what makes you say, I had a bad day." Shrugging her shoulders, saw a says, "you mentioned it when we were arguing." "So, what made your day bad?" She asks. Not wanting to share, Sanskar replies, "nothing in particular happened. Lots of things compiled together." "Such as?" Swara asks, curious. "Such as... Our arguement slash fight," Sanskar replies, adding, "first day of marriage... Not a good start... Oh and my messy room." Frowning, Swara replies, "are you politely, trying to equate me to bad... Because the common thing in both situations is me." "If the shoe fits," chuckling, Sanskar teases. Laughing, Swara, replies, "it fits."
Sanskar sits back, watching Swara clear up, quietly admiring her forthright nature... Her lack of pretence was like a fresh breeze... Sanskar sits up and says, "why don't you go shower and call it a night. I shall clear the rest." Swara smiles, replies, "okay." Watching her walk towards the bathroom, he says in a quiet voice, "Swara," waits for her to turn, then adds, "you are no longer Swara Bose, but Swara Sanskar Maheshwari."
The dishes all washed, Sanskar switches off the kitchen light and heads up the stairs for his room. Reaching his room, he finds Swara fast asleep on the divan. He prepares for bed, occasionally chuckling as he revisits the events during their arguement. As he lay in bed, smiling, he rubs his bitten cheek, murmuring, "she is crazy." As he falls asleep. It was the first night in five years that Sanskar fell asleep with a smile on his face... The first night in five years where he didn't remind himself of his revenge... The first night in five years where his past was nowhere in sight.
Ishaani
