Chuckling, Sanskar stares at the photographs his investigator gave him earlier his gaze cold, hard, thinking, "oh the ironies of life. After years of keeping a close watch on this family... Finally my turn has come... Another wedding... Priceless!" Setting her photograph on fire, he makes a promise to her and to himself, "just as my marriage to the girl I wanted did not take place... Your marriage too will not take place."
Two week later
Twenty two year old Swara breathes in the cold sea breeze, excitement twinkling in her eyes as she watches the sun begin to set. The air held a promise of new beginnings. Turning towards her new found sister, Ragini, smiling, she gives her a tight hug, saying chirpily, "I can't wait for mum and dad to get married." Sharing her excitment, twenty one year old Ragini replies, "it is high time mum and dad unite. They have loved each other from afar for all these years. It is time for their love to translate to marriage." Linking their arms together they stare out into the ocean, both content to finally having a full family... A mother, a father and as a bonus, a sister.
Swara says, "you will have to handle dadi..." Ragini turns and replies, "and you dida." Both giggle as they realize that they shall have to babysit their grandmothers, who were once friends then enemies and now reluctant friends, to ensure that they don't get up to any mischief since neither were convinced nor happy about the coming nuptials.
Looking back into the ocean, Ragini says whistfully, "I want to experience love such as mum and dad have... It is so pure, so deep... All these years, they have waited for each other without any expectations from one another... Even now, they are apart just to please out grandmother." Turning to Swara, she continues, "isn't it beautiful." Nodding her head, Swara agrees, says, "to love with no conditions, no expectations is definitely very beautiful." With a no nonsense voice Swara adds, "we need to make sure that there are no more delays. I want mum and dad to get married as soon as possible."
Ragini says, "I still can't believe dadi allowed me to come on this trip." "Thank mum," Swara says, "she convinced dad that it would be a good opportunity for some sister bonding." Laughing, Swara says, "can you believe my luck, winning a raffle I don't even remember entering. Anyways enjoy this week away from your dadi..." Quickly corrects, "our dadi, you better make the most of it girl." "Oh no," Swara says dramatically, teasing, adding, "freedom... What shall poor Ragini do with herself." Laughing, Ragini races after Swara, trying to hit her for the teasing, yelling, "why... You... Wait until I catch you..."
Later in the night, after dinner, the girls join other guests of the hotel at the bonfire on the beach. Under the stars they sang old Hindi songs and told one another scary stories. Swara in the mood to play some music, runs off to her room to get her guitar. Soon the guests and the other girls dance away around the bonfire.
Lost in her music, Swara does not realise how late it is and that the others had long gone to bed. A sleepy Ragini walks up to Swara, interrupts her, saying, " it's nearly morning. Everyone has gone to bed. Let us go too." Swara looks up at the sky, says, "let's wait for the sunrise." Shaking her head, Ragini replies, "another half an hour. No ways. You stay and enjoy the sunrise, I am off to sleep."
Several meters away in the shadows stood twenty seven year old Sanskar, silently enjoying the melody, not realising how late it was until Ragini spoke. Watching Ragini walk away, he debates where to stay or go. Deciding to stay, he slowly walks up to Swara, her back to him, he calls out so as to make her aware of his presence, "you play beautifully." Swara stops playing, turns around and says, "thank you." Smiling, she asks, "are you here to see the sunrise?"
Sanskar points to a spot next to her and asks, "may I?" Swara gestures for him to go ahead. Sanskar sits next to Swara on the sand and answers her earlier question, "actually I was so lost in ur playing that I did not realise that it was nearly morning." Giving him a friendly smile, Swara asks, "do you play?" Smiling, Sanskar replies, "if noise can be called music, then yes I play." Hearing his answer, Swara burst out laughing, says, "you are funny." To which Sanskar replies, "and you are beautiful."
Sanskar adds charmingly, "okay before we spend the morning returning compliments to one another, I think it is only fair that we introduce ourselves... Sanskar." Smiling, Swara shakes his hand and introduces herself, "Swara." They sit in comfortable silence, enjoying the sunrise. Wanting an excuse to stay by her side, Sanskar asks, "so what does one have to do to play like that?" Her eyes shining with excitement, Swara asks, "do you want to learn? I am here for a week. I can teach you."
This was a start of a beautiful friendship that blossomed into love within days. Swara's happiness knew no bounds. Here she was surrounded by a man who was totally crazy about her... Who showered her with affection... Attention... Love. Never did she suspect he might have an ulterior motive. She was a young woman who was flying high... Lost in her music and in the man for whom she was the sun and the moon.
Ragini looks at Swara, her gaze filled with worry. "Swara, it is late. Where are you going?" She asks. Swara smiles, replies, "remember I told you I have a music student." "Why is he a secret? Why have I never met him? I don't like this," Ragini says. "Ragini, you worry too much. I have told you this before, he is a guest at this hotel. He is here on a business conference and his name is Sanskar," Swara replies. "I am joining you tonight," Ragini says. "No. No. I am not ready to share, but soon. I promise," Swara says, adding, "stop worrying"
On their last night together, sitting contently in his arms, Swara stares into the bonfire, savouring their final moments together... Not sure when and how they shall meet again. They were so lost in the moments, that they never discussed the future.
Nuzzling her neck, Sanskar says, "I want to make you mine." Swara turns to look at him, smiles, replying, "I am already yours." Shaking his head, he whispers, "marry me." Surprised by his proposal, Swara hesitates, saying, "Sanskar, I..." He places his forefinger on her lips, stopping her midsentence, and says, "marry me unofficially. I know we can't marry without family and deinately not before you get yourself a high flying career," he adds teasingly. Seeing doubt lingering in her eyes, he says huskily, "I can't wait to make a promise to you... A promise of love... A promise of care... A promise of respect... A promise of a lifetime together." Kissing her lightly on her lips, he says against her lips, "say yes." Lost in the magic he weaves, Swara whispers against his lips, "yes." Happy, he kisses her passionately, leaving them both breathless.
Staring into eyes filled with love... Passion, Swara places her hand in Sanskar's. Pulling her up, he wraps his arms around her waist as she wraps her arms around his neck. Together they take steps around the bonfire... One backwards... The other forewards... As they gaze into one another. With the waves for music they promise themselves to one another.
Taking the thread wrapped around his right wrist... A thread his mother always tied on to his wrist after completing puja for his success... He smiles sheepishly as he ties the thread around her neck, saying, "I am sorry hunny. I don't have anything else." Swara smiles, her gaze filled with love, says, "this thread is the most precious thing I own." Taking some beach sand, he shrugs at her questioning look, saying, "sindoor!" Laughing, she nods, repeating, "sindoor." Glancing at the colourless sindoor, the fire in his heart mellows slightly as he thinks, "just like my life... Colourless"
Pouring two glasses of champagne, Sanskar gives Swara a glas, raises his glass, says, "to our future." Watching her drink her champagne, Sanskar's gaze turns dark, no longer filled with love or warmth. He holds her as she loses consciousness, careful that he does not hurt her. Carrying her into his arms... He walks into the darkness.
Swara wakes up disoriented, her head heavy, thinking, "what the hell did I have last night?" Frowns as she realises that all her memories of last night were fuzzy... Nothing made sense. She turns to her side, wanting to wake Ragini, frowns when she does not see her, calls out, "Ragini"... No answer... "Ragini"... No answer. She sits up, feels the cold air on her body, looks down in surprise as she realises she is naked. Pulling the sheet up to hide her nakedness, her heart racing as she tries to deny the obvious conclusions her mind has made... She wasn't in her room... She wasn't wearing clothes... She closes her eyes, thinking, "oh no... How far did I go."
She calls Ragini from the room phone. Ragini answers her room phone, filled with worry, she asks, "do you know what time it is? Where are you?" Tears falling, Swara replies softly, "I don't know." Wanting to reassure her, Ragini says, "don't worry, I will find you. I shall speak to reception and find out where you have called me from." Nodding Swara says, "okay." "Wait," Swara says in a rushed voice, "let me call reception and find out which room I am in."
Swara dresses as she waits for Ragini, too stressed to enjoy the beauty of the room. Hearing a knock, Swara opens the door. Taking one look at her, Ragini says worriedly, "you look terrible." Ignoring her, Swara asks, "did you bring the pain killers, I have a terrible headache."
Watching Swara struggling to remember the events of last night, Ragini decides to call reception and find out more about Sanskar. Frowning, she says into the phone, "are you sure the room is booked under Swara Bose?" "Yes ma'am," the reception staff replies,"there is a note on the system saying that Miss Swara Bose requested for an upgrade on her last night. Because she won a raffle, management decided to grant her her request for an upgrade, hence the suite." Ragini replies, "thank you." A sinking feeling in her stomach, Ragini tries, "may you please tell me which room Mr Sanskar is staying in?" The reception staff replies, "I am sorry ma'am, we do not give out guests information. Good day."
Ragini meets Swara's gaze and says reassuringly, "i am sure there is a perfectly good explanation. Let us wait for Sanskar."
Drying her damp hair with a towel, Swara shakes her head, feeling more in control of herself after her shower, says "the writing is on the wall. I don't want to discuss it. I want to go home." Ragini says, "we need to tell mum." Nodding, Swara says, "we will, but after the marriage." Holding the thread that was tied around her neck, Swara wonders what it could mean. Ragini observing Swara's perplexed reaction as she studies the thread asks, "what is it?" Placing it on the dresser, Swara replies, "this thread was tied around my neck. I don't know what it signifies." Ragini says, "did you notice anything else." Swara shakes her head, replying, "no." Then adds, "I don't have any marks on my body... Do you think that means..." She leaves her sentence hanging, unable to complete.
Smiling reassuringly, Ragini replies, "possibly... Why are we even assuming something bad happened? The room was booked in you name... Maybe the staff directed you to this room and you were feeling hot and hence removed your clothes." She ends lamely. Swara nods, says, "you could be right." As instinct warns her that this was not true. Deep down, both sisters know that this explanation of events was very unlikely, because neither of them had requested for the upgrade.
"Yes," Sanskar says into the phone as he goes through the spreadsheet his manager had placed in front of him. The reception staff hesitates fractionally, before saying, "sir, Miss Swara Bose has checked out." Sanskar hangs up, looks at his manager and says, "we shall convene later."
Sanskar walks into his suite, picks the damp towel that was thrown carelessly on the bed. His gaze falls on the thread on the dresser. Without a hint of regret he takes the thread, re-ties it around his wrist, walks out to the balcony and stares coldly out into the sea, thinking ruthlessly, "let us see how this wedding takes place, dida!."
Cricket
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Forum Games
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
