Chapter 11
Swara did not know why she let this all happen. She knew from the beginning. She knew that Sanskaar could never be hers. He came all the way to India specifically to meet her sister for marriage. At one point even she was going along with the idea, having her sister marry the man she was growing to like. It was falling in love with him that came unexpected. Now the very idea of having Sanskaar marry her sister or anyone else for the matter pierces her heart severely.
Swara hesitantly makes her way to the kitchen where she knows she can find her mother and talk to her alone. She arrives into the area and sees her mother busy in making breakfast. She slowly seats herself down onto one of the stools and softly calls for Sharmishta's attention.
Swara: Maa...
Sharmishta turns on around on being called.
Sharmishta: Oh Swara beta, Good morning. What are you doing in here so early? I purposely didn't wake you this morning because I thought I'd let you rest for a little longer.
Swara: I... I couldn't sleep. So I thought of just waking up.
She watches her mother nod and turn back to the sizzling pans. After another hesitant moment, she draws her attention back...
Swara: Maa... are you really planning on having Kavitha Di marry Sanskaar?
Sharmishta stops stirring and looks at her daughter with a slight startled expression.
Sharmishta: Swara... tumhe kaise pata?
Swara: (sheepishly) I overheard one of your conversations with Annapurna Aunty...
Sharmishta gives her an admonishing look but Swara ignores it.
Swara: Tell me Maa... are you?
Sharmishta: Yes... I very much approve of Sanskaar... his mother wants to get him married and now Kavitha has reached an appropriate age to get married as well... They both will suit each other perfectly... Don't you think so?
Her mother turns her attention back to her cooking and Swara's face falls... She gathers up her courage once more as she asks...
Swara: Does it have to be Kavitha Di? ... (softly)
Sharmishta stills in her actions and again looks back to her solemn daughter.
Sharmishta: What did you say?
Swara: ... I said, does it have to be Didi?... What if there is someone else for Sanskaar? (slowly)
Sharmishta: (puzzled) Swara beta, I am not following with what you are saying... Do younow not wish for Sanskaar to marry your sister?
Swara opens her mouth to reply but is intervened as she hears the very person on her mind speak from behind...
"Good morning Aunty... Good morning Swara..," Sanskaar wishes them happily as he nears Sharmishta and kisses her affectionately on her cheek. Her mother blushes in a pleased manner...
Sharmishta: Oh... why, Good morning to you too beta... Did you sleep well last night?
Sanskaar: (grins) The best sleep I ever had Aunty...
He seats himself onto the other stool near Swara, who seems quite uncomfortable and nervous by his presence. She avoids looking at him.
Sanskaar: So, how are the two of my favorite women doing this morning?
He asks, the question going for both of them, but his eyes lingering on Swara...
Sharmishta: Arre, nothing is new with us... We are just fine. I am making one of your favorites this morning... French Toast... Your mother told me how much you enjoy eating them.
Sanskaar: (smiling) Thanks Aunty, you're an angel...
Sharmishta beams radiantly at him. Sanskaar switches his gaze to Swara who mumbles something about being somewhere and leaves. He looks on after her curiously... He excuses himself and leaves as well...
Swara makes her way over to the stairs, wanting to be alone for awhile, but is held back by a firm grip on her wrist... She looks behind her and sees Sanskaar staring at her with question.
Sanskaar: Swara, are you alright? You seem a little... off this morning.
Concealing her forming tears with her level best, Swara attempts to smile off his worries.
Swara: (sweetly) I'm fine Sanskaar... I-I just have a small little headache. I haven't been feeling so well since I woke up...
Sanskaar: (concerned) Did you take anything?
Swara: Yes... and... I want to sleep for a little bit... usually that puts off a headache...
Sanskaar on the other hand is not convinced by her futile try of lying to him. He can clearly see behind her mask that something is troubling her. However, he doesn't press on it... He obliges to her wish of being alone by releasing her hand...
Sanskaar: Sure... I hope you feel better.
Swara hastily nods and runs off to the sanction of her room where she chokes into tears all over again...
"What was I just about to do?... Getting Maa to change her mind like that... She obviously believes that Sanskaar will be great for Kavitha Di... and she really wants the proposal to work out... I can't get in the way of that happening...," she scolds herself... "Kavitha Didi deserves happiness and perhaps she will never get another proposal as good as this one... Sanskaar will keep her happy, I know he will..." She snuggles close against her blankets as she tries to her best of capabilities to soothe her troubled mind...
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Sanskaar noticed for the next couple of days that Swara seemed a little down and quite distant from everyone, even from him. He tried to get down to the matter, but she only covered it up by saying she was feeling a little sick. He glared at her, letting her know that he wasn't believing a single word that was coming from her mouth...
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It wasn't until the arrival of Kavitha that Swara went back to her old cheery self. In fact, she was evening pushing her sister onto Sanskaar, causing him to be suspicious of her actions. What is it that she is trying to pull? Just a few days ago she was so gloomy and would barely carry a single conversation with him. And now suddenly she is Mary Poppins and trying to play matchmaker? He was getting annoyed with what she was doing as well as upset. He was missing his Swara that would talk nonstop with him, blush at the littlest of his teasings, and even fight with him...
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Sanskaar fiddles with his mug that contains his untouched black coffee and tries his best not to become so worked up on getting his payback from Swara and Uttara afterwards. It had been their "fantastic" idea to take him and Kavitha out to lunch. And it had also been their idea to insist on separate tables so they would not act as a "third wheel". He grinds his teeth together in frustration.
Damn her... Sitting over there and giggling, acting completely innocent and unaware of what she is putting me through... Sanskaar angrily bickers to himself. He glances up and catches the sight of both sisters talking in hushed voices and throwing him sly looks now and then. He growls after Swara and Uttara wink at him in a knowing manner. He looks across from him at Kavitha, who isn't enjoying their awkward silence as much as him.
Kavitha: ... So you're planning for us to just sit here for the rest of lunch, are you? (coolly asks)
Sanskaar: (clearing his throat) ... Sorry Kavitha... I'm behaving rather rudely to you... Instead of striking a conversation with you, I am just making this even more awkward than it already is...
Kavitha: It doesn't have to be awkward if we don't make it... Tell me about yourself Sanskaar... I feel like a stranger with how my whole family completely adores you and know everything about you when I know absolutely nothing...
Sanskaar: (politely) What would you like to know?
Kavitha: ... Are you enjoying your stay here with us?
Sanskaar: (nodding) Your family has been very kind to me ever since I have arrived. They have made my whole experience in India very warming.
Kavitha: So I'm taking that you like my family just as much?
Sanskaar: Yes... You can say that I have even gotten quite attached to them.
Kavitha smiles a little at this...
Kavitha: And my sister, Swara? What do you think of her?
Sanskaar is thrown off by this sudden question of hers. He looks at her closely as if trying to scrutinize her.
Sanskaar: What about her?
Kavitha: (calmly) Well, do you like her? ...Do you find her pretty?
Sanskaar: (eyeing her) What are you trying to get at Kavitha?
Kavitha: Nothing... I just wish to know... Do you like my sister or not? It's a rather simple question Sanskaar... (tauntingly)
Sanskaar, instead of taking offence of her taunting, merely smiles in an amused manner...
Sanskaar: And if I say that I do? If I say that I feel much more for Swara than just as friends, then?
Kavitha: (smiling herself) Then I would say you two have my blessings...
Sanskaar: Blessings or no blessings, I would take her away from here either way... I am not afraid of anything or anyone... It is your sister who is afraid.
Kavitha: (her smile growing wider) I see that we are finally sharing a decent conversation... (wanting to point this out)
Sanskaar: So we are...
There is a brief silence in which Kavitha settles back against her chair and keeps her eyes set on Sanskaar.
Kavitha: The poor girl is hung up on the fact that you came to India to see me...not her. It will take her a little while to understand that nothing has been finalized and it is not as if we are engaged.
Sanskaar broods in their building silence and looks up with a soft smile.
Sanskaar: Our meeting is quite different from what I had imagined it... I didn't think we would be speaking so bluntly about how I like your sister instead.
Kavitha: (shrugs) I am a surprising person... You on the other hand are exactly how I imagined you...
Sanskaar: And that is?
Kavitha: Straight to the point and very impatient... (giving him a knowing look)
Sanskaar chuckles at her reply...So she had noticed him eyeing her sister throughout lunch...
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Thank you,
Shreetha..
Anupamaa
Debate Mansion
