Hello everyone.. Thank you so much.. I love you all.. I am sorry for delay..Here is the next chapter.. I hope its not bad.. Please ignore mistakes and share your views..Chapter 9:Sanskaar arrived at the Mansion at a relatively early time compared to his usual timing. However, he was surprised when he was greeted by darkness. Sanskaar looked around the place in confusion, wondering why the lights are turned off when it is only ten at night. He then remembers that Ragini had told him earlier about some party they would be attending to. He proceeds on inside and calls out for Shambu, surprised that he hadn't come to greet him.
Sanskaar: Shambu... Shambu... Where the hell are you? Ramu kaka..
After a few calls, he gives up on his disobedient butler and places his briefcase and slightly wet coat, due to the rain stirring outside (It is monsoon season once again). He knows that Ananya must have gone to the party as well with the rest of the family. He decides that he will first go and change after a small shower and find something to eat before retiring to bed.
He moves towards the stairs and once he places his hand onto the railing he hears someone calling for him from behind.
"Mr. Maheshwari, is that you?" He stills in his tracks as he recognizes the sweet voice. Startled, he turns around and catches the shadow of a figure from a distance. It approaches him in slow steps and after a couple of moments pass, he sees the figure come into view and holding a burning candle, radiating off little light.
"Mr. Maheshwari?" she calls out for him again. Sanskaar clears his throat and answers her.
Sanskaar: Yes, it's me.
She walks into the small light casted off from the moon peering through the windows and he looks at her tongue-tied by her appearance. Her long, black hair cascades down to her back and in subtle, wavy curls while her alluring eyes gaze at him wide. Her fair face radiates under the moonlight and her pink lips curve into a pleased smile. She is dressed in a flattering pink saree that fits her like a glove and brings out the rosiness in her cheeks. His insides lurch on the bewitching sight and he watches her give him a shy look.
Swara: You're here... I thought you would come later.
He gathers himself and tears his gaze off of her, not liking where his thoughts are leading to. Again he clears his throat roughly.
Sanskaar: No... I finished things quite early today...
Her smile grows and she comes nearer, standing only a few centimeters away. Her dancing eyes look to him as she speaks her next words excitedly...
Swara: I have a surprise... Come.
Sanskaar looks down as her small delicate hand grips onto his much larger one and pulls on it, beckoning for him to follow her. He does so hesitantly, becoming curious as to what she is up to. His eyes drink her appearance once again...
She leads him to the dining room where he is greeted by the sight of two plates already containing warm meals on them, ready to be devoured, two glasses filled with chilled water, silverware lined along the round plates, napkins folded neatly, and lit candles placed in the center of the table. He glances over to Swara in sheer surprise and she smiles further.
Swara: (sheepishly) I've made us dinner... What do you think?
He becomes at a loss for words and looks again at the clear effort she has put into all this. This had all been planned? Is that why she has dressed up as well? He knows that he cannot get out of this, it would hurt her after all that she had done... for him.
Sanskaar: You... You shouldn't have. I would have managed.
Swara: But I wanted to. (ending softly)
Their eyes meet at that specific moment and a smile returns slowly on her pink lips. She, again, takes a grip on his hand and leads him to his chair, encouraging him to sit down.
Swara: Sit...
Sanskaar obliges and seats himself down while Swara smiles happily at him accepting her invite for dinner and sits down across from him.
Swara: I wasn't sure of what you would like, but I tried to guess what would appeal to you. (sounding uncertain)
Sanskaar: Everything looks just great... Thank you...For doing all of this... You have gone out of your way.
Her cheeks bloom as her eyes lower down to her plate. He feels an awkward silence beginning to build in between them and opens his mouth to get rid of it.
Sanskaar: Err... How come it is so dark?
Swara: The power has gone off because of the rain... I found as many candles as I could to use.
Sanskaar: (licking his dry lips) And Shambu and Ramu kaka? Where are they?
Swara: (guiltily) ... I... I told them that they could leave. I thought it wouldn't be necessary for them to wait around with nothing to do. You don't mind, do you?
Sanskaar: No, that's just fine.
She gives a pleased smile and lifts her fork to dig into the cooked noodles. She glances up and sees him remaining still in his seat.
Swara: Go on and eat... otherwise the food will grow cold.
Sanskaar nods and lifts his own fork, following pursuit in eating the meal. Swara watches carefully as he takes the first bite. His eyes briefly connect with hers as he looks up from his plate and sees her shyly avert her gaze down. He chews slowly while quietly watching her pick at her food"perhaps waiting for his comments before eating herself.
Sanskaar: ...The food tastes great...
Swara looks up and beams radiantly at him. She takes her first bite as well and they slip into a small silence before Swara suddenly speaks out to strike conversation.
Swara: ... (hesitantly) How... How was your day at the office? You had left early today.
Sanskaar: (brisk) It was fine. There was a lot of work.
She senses a discomfort and a sort of restrained manner that he hangs onto, refusing to let himself be his true self around her. Perhaps it is because of what had transpired between them the night before. Be it for any reason, she is determined in breaking the very wall he has built around him.
Swara: Is there always so much work for you to do?
Sanskaar: ... I'm an owner of a multi-millionaire company that is expanding abroad. There is a lot of work that comes with it.
She remains mum for a moment, not knowing what else to ask about his life since he is such a reserved man. Instead, though, she is surprised when he hears him speak a few moments later.
Sanskaar: (slowly) ...Er... How was your day?
Swara: It was fine... I went out shopping for some time with my sister and Ragini. Then came back and spent time with Ananya before she left to the party with everyone else...
Sanskaar gives a light nod and again silence makes its way in between them. They quietly eat their dinner until Swara drops her fork a minute later and finds her voice.
Swara: (begins) Mr. Maheshwari...
Sanskaar looks up.
Swara: I would like to get to know you... I had planned this dinner as a chance for me to do so... Please, tell me something about yourself. So I can at least know something about you other than that you are a busy businessman.
Sanskaar places his own utensil down and looks to his displeased looking companion. He understands her situation and realizes that he as perhaps been too reserved with her.
Sanskaar: Alright... What do you want to know then?
Swara: Anything. Your likes, your dislikes, your hobbies, your opinions and views, your childhood, --anything you wish to tell me.
A grimace sets on his face as he kneads his brows together. Swara watches his silent form while holding her breath and anticipating his next words. When he does not say anything for a few prolonged moments, she almost allows herself to succumb fully into defeat till she hears his deep voice.
Sanskaar: ... I like my work, I like the color blue, I like sports"football (soccer) in particular, I like a good book at times, I find weather disasters interesting and watch the news as much as I can, and I like to jog early in the mornings in order to catch the sun rise. I dislike anything that doesn't go accordingly to how I want it, I dislike crowds, I prefer tea over coffee, I think whatever happens in life happens for a reason, that we are all fated for something... and I had a decent childhood being raised by my mother... Anything else you would like to know?
She blushes by his intense gaze and shakes her head, but feels dismay overcome her. She had wanted this to go in a different way, the two of them together speaking of their likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc"slipping into an easy going conversation. But here he is just giving her a list to cut it short. She gives a sigh and solemnly proceeds to eat her food.
They speak nothing for a long minute or two, no noise heard except the pounding of the rain against the windows. Swara sneaks a glance at him, who obliviously resumes eating his meal in silence. Frustration with how things are going overtakes her and she finds herself taking matters back into her own hands...
Swara: ... You are a tough man to get to know, Mr. Maheshwari... Tell me, why do you push others away? ... Why do you distance yourself so much?
Sanskaar, who was about to take a bite, holds back his forth from his mouth and gives Swara a look. He lowers his hand down...
Sanskaar: Just because I am a busy man, Miss Gadodia, does not distance me from everyone else... I agree that I don't have time to share, but that does not mean I do so intentionally...
Swara: (ignoring his excuse) You have built this wall around you, refusing to let anyone come in... even your own family. Only Ananya gets to see that soft side of you, but even then I believe you are hardly your true self when around her as well.
His dark eyes gleam at her across the table.
Swara: Mr. Maheshwari... for these past months, I have tried endlessly in order to get to know you... to get your attention... to get familiar with you as I have with the rest of your family. But you have only pushed me away and away from time to time... I do not understand why you distance yourself. I haven't done anything to upset you, have I?
Sanskaar sees how her face begins to crumble and he hates how it is due to him and his behavior. He hadn't thought that it would affect her so much in this way...
Sanskaar: No... no, you haven't done anything ... (reassuring)
Swara: (muttering miserably) ... Then why do you push me away? -That night out in the garden, I had been so sure that you felt exactly what I fel"
Sanskaar: (croaks, cutting in) Don't"
Swara: (her voice growing, tears springing in her eyes) Mr. Maheshwari, can't you see? See that I like you more than I should? I am falling for you but you are indifferent to my feelings. For some reason you continue to keep away from me, only conversing with me when necessary. -Tell me, do you really regret the night out in the garden so much? Do you dislike having to deal with me? Please, give me an answer. It would explain so much... It would explain everything... (begging, on the verge of breaking into endless tears)
She watches how his color has drained and an alarmed look presides on his bewildered face. In a blink of an eye, he pushes back his chair and rises.
Sanskaar: (firmly) I don't wish to speak about any of this.
As he turns to leave, Swara hastily rises from her chair as well and holds him back by gripping onto his arm.
Swara: But I do! Please, tell me"tell me what's bothering you. Why you have created this big wall around you? Why you are afraid of being close to anyone? Why you are running away from love? -How will you ever be able to move on if you do not get rid of the burden inside of you...? I want to help you... because I worry... I care... and I lo"
Sanskaar turns back around to face her with a growing determined look. He grabs onto her hand that holds him by the arm and brings his face close.
Sanskaar: What you're asking for is not possible. Don't you understand? (stresses)
Swara: (tearing) Why not?! Why isn't it possible for you?! -I know you are hurt because of your wife leaving you, but that does not mean that your whole life is over"it does not provide a reason for you to stop living. Time cannot always stay still, you always have to carry on and move forward. You must learn to live and go on in life"not just stay in the same spot for the rest of your life. The world goes on, whether you like it or not and you must abide by it... You have to live for your daughter, your mother, and your sister who all love and worry over you. You are dragging your loved ones into your misery by continuing to suffer in this way... They cannot see you like this... I can't see you like this... It hurts to see you the way you are... But if you would only let us in, let us love you and help then"
Sanskaar: (voice booming loud) Enough!!
She stops short in her words and looks up at him with a terrified expression as she sees how dark his eyes have become.
Sanskaar: What you want for to happen is not possible... None of it... Do you understand? (hard tone)
Swara gazes at him through her blinded eyes and after a moment roughly breaks his hold on her lower arm and runs off without a backward glance...
Sanskaar watches her swiftly climb the marble staircase and disappear out of sight, her heavy sobs echoing after her. He feels frustration at himself arise and he bangs the table beside him, causing the silverware to shake and the water glasses to spill...
***********
Thank you,
Shreetha.. Edited by -Obliviate- - 9 years ago
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
