Hi friends.. I am sorry for the short update.. Thank you so much for your love and support.. It means a lot to me..so thank you.. 🤗 Here is the next chapter.. Its only SwaSan in this update.. I hope you like it.. Please share your views and ignore mistakes..
Chapter 6:
Just as Sanskaar sits down on his bed, he hears his cell ring. He grabs it from the dresser and checks the screen to see who it is. His mother... He debates whether he should answer it or not. But decides to in the end as he had failed to call her lately to tell her he had safely arrived. Before she can even ask him anything, he goes ahead and answers her worried questions...
Sanskaar: Yes Maa... I got to Sharmishta Aunty's house perfectly safe, I had no troubles in getting here, she is very nice just like you said, and she and her family are treating me nicely. Are you satisfied now?
Annapurna: But what took you so long to call me? I have been ringing your cell phone for the past five days.
Sanskaar: I got a little distracted. But I'm telling you, I'm perfectly fine.
Annapurna: Accha... so how is India so far?
Sanskaar: It's great... (sounding a little miffed)
Annapurna: How is Sharmishta and everyone?
Sanskaar: They're fine too...
Annapurna: (catching on to his tone) Sanskaar beta, why do you sound upset?
If only you knew... he bitterly thinks.
Sanskaar: Nothing Maa, I'm just probably still tired from jetlag.
Annapurna: Are you sure?
Sanskaar: (sighs) Haan, Maa.
Annapurna: Teek hai... toh... What do you think of Kavitha's family?
Sanskaar: (annoyed) Maa, first of all, the girl you are trying to set me up with is not even here. What is the whole point of this trip then?
Annapurna: Sanskaar, no need to be angry beta. I know that Kavitha is not here.
Her mother had told me she had gone to a small vacation.
Sanskaar: Yeah, coincidentally around the same time I was going to drop by to see her.
Annapurna: Sanskaar, there is more to your trip than just Kavitha. You are also there to connect with your native culture. I want you to learn about the culture you are traditionally a part of, where your true roots really lie.You may have been born in America, but your roots are in India, son...
Sanskaar: Still I----
Sanskaar stops midway in his sentence as he hears his bedroom doorknob turn and slowly his door open. On seeing Swara standing hesitantly in his doorway, he keeps his eyes on her while he ends his conversation with his mother...
Sanskaar: Uh, actually Maa, I'll call you back in sometime. We'll talk then.
Annapurna: (protesting) But Sanskaar----
Sanskaar cuts the call and places his cell back onto his dresser after putting it on silent, knowing very well that he's going to be receiving some calls back from his mother.
Swara: (softly) Can I come in?
Sanskaar: (indifferently) It's your house... You can go wherever you feel like, you don't need permission from me.
She interprets this as a yes and allows herself to come into his room. She quietly closes the door behind her and approaches him slowly at his bed. He looks up at her with an expressionless face which nerves her. He sees from behind her back that her hands fiddle with something. Swara catches where he looks at and slowly brings it into view. She presents him with a Poinsettia flower held firmly in her hands that he recognizes as there are quite a few around the house as a part of the Christmas decorations.
Sanskaar: What is this flower for?
Swara: (shyly admitting) It's for you...
Swara watches as he gives her a long, hard look before saying...
Sanskaar: ... I'm not amused.
She feels her boost being deflated from his words and wears a look of defeat on her face. She knows that she deserves his attitude though. She hasn't been a very nice person to him so far. Swara hesitantly sits down beside him on his bed and looks at him with miserable eyes that it makes Sanskaar feel terrible and regret his action in trying to give her a taste of her own medicine.
Swara: (barely audible) I don't blame you for behaving like this with me. I would do the same if I were you. I have behaved rudely towards you since you have arrived here and not very welcoming.
Like father, like daughter, he muses.
Swara: (close to tears) And I'm very ashamed about my behavior. I'm sorry ... I really am.
Sanskaar: Tell me ... Have I done anything to make you angry with me in the first place?
He asks her subtly as he doesn't want to make her feel worse than how she already does. He just wants an honest answer. Sanskaar watches as she lowers her eyes and shakes her head...
Swara: No... you didn't directly. (she adds hesitantly)
Sanskaar: (curious) But I did indirectly?
Swara: (continuing on after a pause) ... I was angry of all the attention you were given this past month. My mother has been driving us all up the wall about making your stay here comfortable... She had even decided that we'd celebrate Christmas for you. Uttara did a lot of research on it and Maa made us do a lot for its preparations. ... I---I wasn't used to the whole change and I held you responsible for it. I felt that you were making us all go out of our way to please you . (quietly)
Sanskaar: That's understandable...
He defends her reasoning as he finds a little truth in her words. He has noticed how far Sharmishta has gone to make him comfortable and impress him.
Swara: (going on, feeling better in bearing the weight off of her chest) I thought you were a spoiled brat.
Sanskaar raises a brow at this while Swara flushes from embarrassment by his reaction.
Sanskaar: So that's where all the prejudice came from...
Swara: (meekly) Sanskaar, if you can, please forgive me... I have judged you wrongly. You are a far better person than what I had thought of you to be. Especially after what you did tonight for me and Uttara...
Sanskaar: You mean after tonight... as I haven't done anything else to appease you.
Swara: (red, nodding her head) After tonight...
A silence begins to build in them and together they dwell on the incident.
Sanskaar: (suddenly) How is Uttara doing?
Swara: She's sleeping... she was very frightened.
Sanskaar: I know...
Swara: I---I want to thank you as well... for what you did.
Sanskaar: I would have done the same even if it were anyone else, Swara...
Swara: (nodding her head again in agreement) Which is why you are such a good person.
Again there is silence. Sanskaar nervously looks down from Swara's captivating eyes. The depths of her warm, big doe eyes unnerved him and made him feel out of place. He directs his gaze back over to the flower that still is held firmly in her hand and slightly alerts her as he gently takes it from her, their fingers brushing...
Sanskaar: It's amazing that I had to beat up two perverts just to get you to talk to me... (softly grinning at her)
Swara, lightly smiling back at him, looks at him with new hope.
Swara: Does this mean that you forgive me?
Sanskaar: (his grin growing wider at her hopeful expression) Let's just put this behind us and start afresh...
Swara watches Sanskaar extend his hand forward and she stares at it for a moment before glancing back at him as he says...
Sanskaar: Hi, I'm Sanskaar...
Without any effort, Swara breaks out into a dazzling smile that makes Sanskaar's heart skip a beat. She eagerly takes his hand into hers and cutely replies...
Swara: Swara...
Swara's cheeks turn crimson and her insides become warm as he takes her hand and kisses it sweetly...
Sanskaar: It's nice to meet you, Swara...
Swara: (stammers shyly) N-now what?
Sanskaar: (grinning handsomely) Now that we are friends Swara, would you mind helping a friend out and tend to his wounds?
Swara mentally slaps herself for forgetting the whole purpose in coming to his room in the first place and politely obliges. She begins at the task by dipping the cotton balls into the rubbing alcohol and dabbing them gently on his injuries. He would briefly flinch from the stinging. While at task, she can't help but blush as his eyes constantly meet hers... Soon enough they slip into a slow, but comfortable easy-going conversation in which they learn a little about one another... Awhile later, he suddenly asks out of the bloom...
Sanskaar: So tell me... what was it that made you so mad with me that one day... I think four days ago?
Swara: (confused) About?
Sanskaar: At the museum... when I tried to apologize to you...
Swara: You were trying to apologize? (further puzzled)
Sanskaar: (nodding his head) I said it in Hindi though... Uttara taught me... ...Main tumse pyaar karta hoon... That means I'm sorry, doesn't it?
He sees how her whole face turns bright red and how she avoids looking into his eyes. He grows a bit confused himself...
Swara: (shyly advises) You shouldn't try learning any Hindi from Uttara... She will get you into trouble one day with the stuff she is teaching you.
Sanskaar: Why? What does it mean?
Swara: (continuing to blush) That is besides the point... Just please, don't learn anything from that girl. She loves making a fool out of everyone. And you are no exception.
Sanskaar: I thought she likes me though...
Swara: She does... which is why she will harass you even more.
As Swara places the last bandage onto his lower jaw, she closes the bottle of rubbing alcohol and gathers the used cotton balls.
Swara: You're all done... Keep on icing down your eye. Hopefully it'll help somewhat.
Sanskaar: You're going?
Swara: (smiling lightly) Yes... It's pretty late. Close to midnight to be exact.
Sanskaar glances over at the clock and sees that she's right. It is close to twelve. He looks back to her, disappointment lingering inside of him.
Sanskaar: Thanks...
She smiles sweetly at him as a response. He watches her rise from his bed and stand idly before him.
Swara: I... I should go now... Um, let me or anyone else know if you need anything.
Sanskaar: That won't be necessary, but thank you anyways.
Swara nods her head and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, nervously.
Swara: Um... Goodnight then. I-I'll see you in the morning.
Sanskaar: (smiling) Goodnight, Swara.
Swara gives him one last look before turning and walking to the door. She is just about to leave until she stops in a heartbeat once she hears Sanskaar call out to her...
Sanskaar: Swara...
She looks back at him with her heart beating strangely fast.
Swara: Yes?
A friendly smile appears on his lips as he says meaningfully, "Sweet dreams." To which Swara replies with a small blush looming in her cheeks, "Sweet dreams to you too." Sanskaar watches her disappear from his door and looks on for a moment before turning his attention over to his cell phone that flashes brightly, indicating that he has a call. He takes it, knowing who it is.
Sanskaar: Hey Maa, can you answer a question?
Annapurna: (startled by his quick reply) Sure... what is it?
Sanskaar: What does... Main tumse pyaar karta hoon, mean?
He hears her mother's tinkling laughter on the other side of the line which puzzles him to no ends.
Annapurna: Kyun? Has someone said this to you?
Sanskaar: No... Can you please just answer the question, Maa?
Annapurna: (still giggling) Sanskaar beta... It means I love you...
At first Sanskaar is shocked but slowly a smile makes its way back onto his lips. So this is the reason behind her blush... He chuckles softly to himself.
**********
Swara lays beside her sister and rests her head onto her folded hands. She stares out from her bedroom window and softly smiles with the thoughts of Sanskaar in mind. Maybe having him marry her sister won't be such a bad idea after all. She has no doubts about him anymore...
**********
Thank you,
Shreetha..
PS: I am sorry friends, I will not be able to update my other stories this week as I fell sick again, may be due to bad weather. I don't want you all to wait for this update and as I promised I'll update soon, so here I am with the next part of MA. I hope you understand and sorry once again.
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