SwaSan SS ~Remember Me~ Updated Epilogue on Page 45 - 04/09 - Page 2

Originally posted by: sarathy321

Welcome to the forum

nice update

Continue soon

Sent pm if possible

Originally posted by: Amreee

Nice start..

So even here swara lost her memory. ..

N that guy who sent flowers must b sanskar... y this shekhar is so rude to him...hope u unfold this soon in the upcoming chaps..

Update soon. .

Originally posted by: MusicAddict

Hey!!
I just loved start! Quite intriguing. Amazing one must say
Please do continue soon!!

Chapter 2:

Swara had the opportunity to meet Annapurna Maheshwari, who was also with her on the day of her accident, quite a few times and is rather fond of her. She has certain warmth to her that always made Swara feel safe and as if she were a loved one. She never felt any type of estrangement when with her as she did with everyone else. So it was obvious that she was very keen in going to Mumbai to visit her with her sisters' company. She would be going for three months in which she will leisure and spend time with her favorite person in the world. Her father was reluctant in the idea at first when asked by Annapurna, but caved in later due to unknown reasons to her. All she knew was that Shekar and Annapurna had a heated exchange in her father's study in which Annapurna came out with a triumphant look whereas Shekar scowled.

She knew that Annapurna lives with her son and daughter, whom she had alone raised from their childhood since her husband's death. Ragini, her daughter, happens to be Swara's childhood friend, from what she has been told by Annapurna.

"You two were the naughtiest children when together. No one could ever split you apart," she remembers Annapurna telling her one time on one of her visits to Australia.

Swara merely smiled and acknowledged this fact, unable to remember it though. She had, however, questioned her why her supposed best friend did not keep in touch with her anymore. Annapurna's smile had fallen at this...

Annapurna: She was really devastated by what had happened to you... Believe me beta. She always inquired about your health at the time of your accident. She had to move to London around that time as well because of her marriage, which is why she could not see you. And making phone calls to here are very expensive... waise"you would not have remembered her either way...

This didn't answer any of her questions and for some reason she felt like Annapurna was hiding something from her. If Ragini was her best friend, wouldn't she had stuck by her side no matter what obligations she had? Swara would though now be seeing her best friend for the first time as she has heard from an excited Annapurna that she moved back to Mumbai a month ago...

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Swara smiles wonderfully at the sight of a grand white mansion in view as the cab pulls up at the front gates. Her spirits soar in anticipation from thoughts of meeting Annapurna. It would be two months since she had last seen her. However, she sees her sister face written with hesitance as their car moves along the long driveway, leading them to the front of the mansion. She does not dwell on her behavior any longer as her face glows on seeing Annapurna coming out from the front doors and greeting them with a warm smile. She instantly goes into her arms once leaving the car...

Swara: Maa...

When Swara first met Annapurna as her mother's friend after the accident in Australia, she called her aunty, to which Annapurna said that she, Swara used to call her Maa just like she calls Shomi, her own mother. From then Annapurna is another mother to her.

Annapurna: Swara beta, it feels like forever since I have seen you...

She kisses her lovingly on her forehead before rushing her and Uttara into the house. On arriving through the front doors, Swara is unexpectedly greeted by an elegantly dressed woman around her age with an oval face and wide expressive eyes. She looks gorgeous in a designer blue saree and her hair open. Tears spring in the woman's eyes as she startles Swara by embracing her tightly.

"It's been so long... It's so great to see you again, Swara," she speaks with deep emotion running in her voice. After a long moment of not feeling Swara return the hug, the woman steps back and stares sadly at her. Hearing Annapurna's voice draws both of their attention to her...

Annapurna: Swara... this is Ragini... I had told you about her, remember?

Swara looks back over to Ragini who nods affirmatively with her glistening eyes. She feels terrible for not remembering her best friend and can tell Ragini is secretly hurt by having her completely forget her. She takes her hand into hers and smiles as sweetly as she can...

Swara: It's nice to finally meet you...Ragini.

Swara watches as Ragini glances up at her after hanging her head from disappointment and smile radiantly at her... to which she couldn't help but return...

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For the next two weeks Swara had slipped into a relative ease in the new environment... Fairly quickly than she had expected... Annapurna as usually acted as a typical mother to her and Ragini was proving to grow on Swara who was beginning to think of her old best friend as another sister. Swara was finding that she really loved Mumbai, more than her own home in fact...

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Swara wakes up the next morning just on time to catch Annapurna and Ragini start on cooking Breakfast with the cook, as well as butler, Ramu kaka. For the time being, Ragini and her husband, Lakshya Agarwal, are living with Annapurna until they find their own place to settle in. She has met Lakshya a few times who is a very jocular fellow that she has taken a liking to. However, he remains busy most of the time as he dedicates it into the family business, the Maheshwari Group of Industries.

He is business partners with his wife's brother and best friend, Sanskaar Maheshwari, who is the CEO of the company. From what she hears, Sanskaar Maheshwari had fought tooth and nail to build the company from nothing but scratch. And over the years it has grown vastly and now is one of the most well known companies in India and overseas. She often inquired from Annapurna and Ragini of whether she will ever meet the mysterious Sanskaar Maheshwari who also happens to be the owner of the mansion-like house. She didn't miss the nervous glance the two women shared when asked this.

Annapurna: He is actually abroad due to business reasons. He will arrive as soon as he finishes up his work obligations.

Swara eyed both Annapurna and Ragini suspiciously but let the topic drop... She now glides down the stairs on her way over to the kitchen where she can smell delicious food in the process of being made. Just as she arrives at the doorway, she stops suddenly and stands quietly nearby as she listens into Annapurna and Ragini's low whispers...

Ragini: (worriedly) Maa, Bhaiya will be coming home today in some time...

Annapurna: I know Ragini...

Ragini: Maa, I feel a little worried about all of this now... I mean, it sounded perfect and wise in the beginning, but now when time is getting near---I am actually starting to think that this just may be a horrible idea after all.

Annapurna: Shub shub baatein kaho Ragini beta... Do not think like this... I am sure all will go well...

Ragini: Lekin ----

Annapurna: Nothing will happen... Things have just been fine these past weeks... And they will continue to be.

Ragini: Par Maa--- I can't help but worry...You know very well what will happen, what we fear the most will occur and it will be all of our fault----

Annapurna: (admonishingly) Ragini, please. No more of this discussion...As it is, we can't do much now... can we?

Ragini is silenced, knowing no matter how much she expresses her worries to her Maa, the woman will not budge away from her determination... She nods her head in agreement and turns her attention back over to the cooking food. That is when Swara decides to make her entrance, ignoring her overwhelming thoughts and the strong urge to question...

Swara: Good morning Maa, Good morning Ragini...

If Annapurna had been worried before, she did not show it with the way she smiles brightly at Swara. Ragini manages a soft smile in her direction as well...

Annapurna: Good morning Swara beta...

Ragini: Swara, why are you up so early? Breakfast will not be served until some time...

Swara joins them at the counter and lets Annapurna kiss her sweetly on her forehead. She wraps her arms around Ragini who is in the middle of buttering toast.

Swara: Ragini, I thought of helping you and Maa in preparing Breakfast this morning...

Annapurna: That is very sweet of you dear...

Ragini: And very thoughtful... Here, you can take over and finish buttering--- I need to check up on the other things...

Swara obliges and takes Ragini's place, helping Annapurna toast and butter the bread. She begins to make light conversation with Ragini who stands not so far from her, mixing the atta...

Swara: Did Laksh Bhaiya already go to work, Ragini?

Ragini: (sighs) Haan... tum to jaante ho ke tumhara Bhaiya kaisa hai... He goes early to work and then spends the rest of the day looking for a house...

Annapurna: (grunts) I don't know why you two always put aside what I say...What is the need for a house? You have a home right here. And this will always be your home. You will live here with me and go nowhere else, you hear?

Ragini: Maa, how many times do we have to go through this? Laksh and I don't want to act as a burden to you...

Annapurna: Does a mother ever think of her children as a burden? No, na? How could you two even think of such a thing...?

Swara wears a small smile on her lips as she listens Ragini and Annapurna fighting fiercely over the much heated debatable topic. Ever since she had arrived this topic seemed to come in every five minutes of a day... She giggles quietly to herself. Their debate, unsurprisingly, lasted until the beginning of Breakfast in which Uttara finally made an appearance...

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As a normal routine she picked up on her stay in Mumbai, Swara decided to pay her respects in one of the mandirs nearby. There aren't any mandirs back home in Australia, at least none that she has heard of. When Annapurna first took her to one, she was excited and felt peaceful after her visit. From then on she made a decision to come by the mandir often. She dresses into a simple, yet flattering pink churidar and informs every one of her whereabouts. Uttara, like usual decline her offer to come along... Annapurna felt tired and wanted to rest. And Ragini replied that she had somewhere else to be, but would not give Swara an answer when she questioned where. She simply ignored that part and left...

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"We will now be landing in two minutes. Please begin to fasten your seatbelts," he hears the flight attendant announce into the speaker who flashes a small smile in his direction. He politely returns it and reaches for his belt after she walks on back to fasten herself as well. Within minutes the plane plunges down gracefully from the air and toward land...

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An hour later when Swara returned back to the mansion, she was in a whirlpool of questions. After all, why are Maa and Ragini so worried about Sanskaar Maheshwari arriving? And how will this affect things in anyway? Should she be wary of him? She now knew that ignoring the matter would not help her, she needs answers and she needs them right away...

"Swara bitiya, aap aagae?" asks Ramu kaka as he spots her walking in from the front doors. Swara smiles politely at him and like usual, offers him prasad. He happily takes it from her.

Swara: Kaka, where is everyone? I don't see anyone around...

Ramu kaka: Uttara bitiya is in her room... She is watching a film...

Swara: Where are Maa and Ragini?

Swara watches as a pleased smile grows on the butler's face.

Ramu kaka: Woh Sanskaar baba has come today... so Maalkin and Ragini bitiya are with him...

She doesn't know how to react to this. Sanskaar Maheshwari is finally here. For the two weeks she has been wondering about his whereabouts and now he has finally come. Ragini and Annapurna's conversation from before comes back to haunt her...

"You know very well what will happen, what we fear the most will occur..."

With these thoughts floating around in her mind, she quietly dismisses herself to her room, informing Ramu kaka that she will join her sister, but really she wished to go to the privacy of her room. She makes her way over to the spiral marble staircase and climbs them in a daze.

"Nothing will happen...Things have just been fine these past weeks" ... "But I can't help but worry..."

Swara lets out a soft gasp as she knocks into something hard and loses her balance. Just when she feels herself about to fall, a pair of arms circles around her waist and keeps her steady. Breathless, she looks up only to find herself drowning into the depths of beautiful molten chocolate eyes. Her heart skips a beat and her gaze stays transfixed onto her savior. He is a gorgeously attractive man with thick jet black hair, fine black eyebrows overlapping his stormy eyes with sooty eyelashes, a chiseled like nose, strong jaw line, rugged features, and full lips. He has a lean, tall frame close to 6'' or may be more, and a well fit physique of a body that oozes masculinity. She flushes under his set gaze on her and consciously steps out from his loose embrace.

Swara: (softly) I'm sorry... I wasn't seeing where I was going...

She doesn't miss the look in his eyes as he stares at her, a look she is unable to recognize or pinpoint. But the intensity in it sent shivers down her back. Suddenly a thought strikes her... Is this the much talked of Sanskaar Maheshwari? Then another thought crosses her mind... He seems familiar. She examines him some more, nearly scrutinizing him. Oddly familiar, yet she is unable to recognize him. Has she met him before?

Swara: (cautiously) Are you Sanskaar Maheshwari?

Shock registers on his face and Swara watches how his eyes study her with a hint of disbelief; as though he's searching for something. He, however, recovers quickly and clears his throat before nodding his head in affirmative. "Yes, I'm Sanskaar Maheshwari...," he replies with his silky deep voice. Swara shyly introduces herself.

Swara: I am Swara...Swara Gadodia... I am staying here with your family for some time... Woh... Your Mother is my mother's best friend... I hope you know that...

Again Sanskaar Maheshwari nods.

Sanskaar: (swiftly, dry) Maa had told me, you and your sister will be staying with us...

Swara opens her mouth to speak some more but is cut off by the approaching figures of Annapurna and Laksh.

Annapurna: Aah, Swara beta... I see you have met my son, Sanskaar...

Swara: Ji Maa...

Annapurna: He has just arrived. Ragini and Laksh went to go receive him from the airport. I am glad you two have already met... Now there is no need for further introductions. (lightly smiles)

Swara: Maa... I feel like I have met him some place before.

Swara watches as Annapurna and Laksh both exchange glances to one another whereas Sanskaar Maheshwari continues to stand coolly and seem unaffected. He wears an expressionless look on his face.

Laksh: Really Swara?

Swara: Yes, I don't know... I just feel like we have met before.

Annapurna: (lightly chuckling) Oh yes... you two have met before... some times before in your life, but you may not remember that...You were always at our house playing with Ragini, Sanskaar was here and there... But the day of your accident...Sanskaar was with everyone else as well... Perhaps you are remembering that.

Swara tries to remember but nothing comes to her as that day remains as a very blurry memory for her--she had been going through a lot that day, a crisis over her lost identity, weary of all the unknown faces surrounding her. Though, she decides to agree and let the subject drop.

Swara: Yes... maybe... But I am happy either way that I am finally able to meet Sanskaar Bhaiya... (smiling warmly)

An awkward silence develops between everyone and Sanskaar Maheshwari looks slightly baffled which confuses her. She looks around at them all, wondering what the problem is.

Swara: (innocently)... Kya hua?

Laksh: (attempting a small, strained smile) Swara... Sanskaar tumhara Bhaiya nahi hai... I mean to say... You have never called him Bhaiya before in your life...

Swara: (confused) But I call you Bhaiya and Ragini is like my sister---so why not----

Annapurna: It is because you are Ragini's best friend. You two are just like sisters as you said... Besides Sanskaar was never really around since he was completing his studies abroad... You just have never referred to Sanskaar as... bhaiya.

Swara: Oh... (taking this in) Then what do I call him?

Sanskaar: (intervening) Sanskaar is just fine...

Swara blushes from embarrassment as she had forgotten he was right there for a moment. Annapurna and Laksh smile agreeingly.

Annapurna: You used to address Sanskaar by his first name before... It'd be better if you continued to do so...

Swara nods her head in understanding and from the corner of her eye she catches Sanskaar Maheshwari's gaze lingering on her. She meets them and is surprised that he does not remove it from her as he continues to seem like he is searching for something in her...

Laksh: Sanskaar, why don't we go on downstairs and discuss some business matters in your study? I wish to speak to you about the Goa project...

Sanskaar nods his head and makes a movement to join Laksh but Annapurna refrains him from taking it as she abruptly asks him, "Sanskaar... Don't you wish to say anything at all to Swara?"

Swara flushes as his eyes switch back onto her and by the captivity in them. After a pausing moment he responds in his swift, curt tone, "Welcome to Mumbai Miss Gadodia..."

And with that he dug his hand into his pant pocket and joined alongside with Laksh down the remainder of the steps and soon disappeared out of sight in the direction towards the study. Swara looked on at this, blinking dumbly after him. What a strange encounter... If Swara wasn't mistaken, it seemed to be that Sanskaar Maheshwari isn't rather fond of her...

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Lots of questions!