SwaSan SS ~Mere Ajnabee~ Updated Last Chapter on Page 38 on 13/10 - Page 4

Hello Everyone.. Here is the next chapter.. I hope you like it.. Please ignore mistakes and share your views.. Eagerly waiting for them.. I hope I won't disappoint you with it..

Chapter 3:

He hears her let out a startled gasp before screaming. Instantly his hand flies to her mouth, worried that she will wake everyone. Her eyes widen as a reaction to what he does and she stares at him with momentary disbelief. They silently keep their eyes locked with one another until Sanskaar allows his to lower and take her appearance all in. From what he can make out, she is about 5'4" or 5'5" with full, silky long hair... a slender body... Smooth, baby soft seeming skin from what he can see of the exposed skin made noticeable from her tang top. Before he can give her a thorough look through, both Sanskaar and the stranger unknown to him hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Seconds later they hear Shekar speaking in furious whispers to someone. Sanskaar looks back to the girl, who stares curiously back at him. Without removing his hand from her mouth, he startles her as he wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him, and then whisks her off to the side, hiding behind the refrigerator. He presses her against the machine, standing in front of her with his hand securely kept over her mouth. A moment later the kitchen lights come on, lighting up the whole room.

Sanskaar's insides rise as he can clearly see her features now. Olive smooth skin... Silky black hair... big, expressive doe like eyes... a small cute nose... full, pink soft petal like lips (which he sees after slowly lifting his hand apart from her mouth)...and a very curvy feminine body...

"See Shekar, no one is here. You are hearing things," Sharmishta says tiredly to her husband. "Sharmishta, I am telling you. I heard something," Shekar replies, holding high confidence in what he says. "It was probably the neighbors... Come on, let's get back to bed. You have work in the morning anyways...," Sharmishta attempts in pushing the topic aside. "But," Shekar protests. "Just forget it Shekar... it was nothing. Now go back to sleep, please," Sharmishta's last words to her husband as they close the kitchen lights and leave...

They drown in the darkness once again, but remain eye to eye with one another... It feels like a century goes by with them remaining silent...except for their clashing eyes. It is Sanskaar himself who breaks the powerful spell...

Sanskaar: (softly) I'm sorry that I frightened you...

Swara proceeds in staring at him, wide-eyed...not muttering a single sound. Judging by her silence, Sanskaar takes it that she isn't as friendly with strangers as her younger sister, Uttara. He will have to be patient with her...

Sanskaar: (slowly) Are you Swara?

He sees shock register in her eyes and smiles lightly on her response. So this is the girl who has been avoiding him all day, claiming to have a headache. He knows this as he incidentally listened into one of Uttara's and Sharmishta's hushed conversations.

Sanskaar: ...That was some headache you had there, Swara. You have been resting all day. (subtly mocking her)

He watches her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink as she lowers her gaze from him, looking away sheepishly. He has caught onto her white lie.

"Shekar...will you stop it already? I'm telling you, na, no one is in the kitchen," they hear Sharmishta's voice whisper angrily from a distance. Swara becomes stiff as she hears her father more clearer voice says, "I just want to double check... I thought I saw something from before." She looks back over to Sanskaar, who seems equally stuck in the predicament as hers, and expresses her panic to him. He only places his finger against his mouth, signaling for her to remain quiet. Mutely he takes a hold of her arm and leads her farther back and out of the kitchen through the other way, leading them into dining area. Together they see the kitchen lights spring back on...

"...What is this spoon doing on the ground?" Shekar muses loudly to himself. Swara mentally curses herself for dropping the utensil in the first place. If her father catches her like this, that too, with an older boy late at night, he would burst and tear Sanskaar into limbs. After a couple of moments of hearing her father pace around the kitchen a little bit, she heaves a sigh of relief once the lights switch back off and her father's footsteps slowly fade away. Thinking that she has had enough fright for one night, she hastily decides to return back to bed without any food and starve herself rather than having to risk being caught in an awkward situation once more. She doesn't waste time in moving out from their hiding place, taking her chance to flee quickly and go back to avoiding her family's guest, but her hopes are dashed once she feels his grip grow firm around her lower arm, keeping her in place.

Sanskaar: Wait... at least let me properly introduce myself to you.

Not willing to give him this opportunity, she pushes off his hand from her, releasing herself, and runs for her room as fast and quietly as she can...

*************


The first thing Sanskaar thought of right when Sharmishta came to wake him was of his bizarre meeting with her second oldest daughter, Swara, from last night. Yet he was left intrigued by the strange girl.

Before freshening himself up for a new day, he was given promise from his Sharmishta Aunty that she would have pancakes made at Breakfast for him especially. He didn't know what else to do but smile. He was appreciating the woman's efforts in making him feel welcomed, but perhaps she is going to a little extreme here. The Christmas tree in the living room was enough to prove that point of his. After dressing in a casual shirt and comfortable pair of jeans, Sanskaar joins his host family at the table to be served Breakfast. He gives his pleasantries to Sharmishta, who scurries around setting the table, Uttara, who smiles brightly at him, and Shekar, who grumbles his good morning. Sanskaar sits down beside Uttara after she enthusiastically pats down at the chair next to her. They had really hit it well yesterday and Sanskaar already felt a close bond with the girl.

As he does this, he doesn't fail to notice the empty seat across from him. Is Swara choosing to avoid him once again? What will it be today, stomach pain? His conclusion is cut short once he sees the very girl he thinks of emerge from the kitchen doorway...

***********

Swara was furious. Her mother woke her at 6 AM, instructing her to get ready and then come downstairs to prepare pancakes for her favorite person in the world at the present----her best friend's only son. She grumpily set to the task, burning about five pancakes, openly expressing her detest to the whole idea of making breakfast to the rich American stranger, until her mother angrily scolded her and she properly cooked them just to put an end to the shrilling. She had to closely follow the instructions on the box as she had never made pancakes before in her life.

She stacks all of the "perfectly" fluffy golden brown pancakes onto a serving plate and walks out of the kitchen to the table after she hears her mother call out to her for the umpteenth time... Swara scowls under her breath as she makes her presence known in the dining room, holding the plate securely in her hands.

"Thank God Di that you are finally here with breakfast. I am starving," Uttara comments loudly as she spots her sister finally joining them. Swara purposely ignores Sanskaar, who has set his attention on her, causing her to be very well aware of herself. She can literally feel his eyes following her every move. She consciously places the plate onto the table and obediently sits down into her chair once her mother asks her to do. She stubbornly keeps her eyes on her plate, refusing to let them wander up and look at the person across from her. However, she is forced to as her mother doesn't hesitate in introducing them immediately.

Sharmishta: Sanskaar Beta...this is my daughter, Swara. She is two years younger to Kavitha. There is not much of an age gap between them which is why they behave more as friends than sisters. And Swara, this is Sanskaar. Your Annapurna Aunty's son and our guest for the next few weeks... Say hello.

Swara: (barely audible) Hello...

She switches her focus down onto her plate again. Sanskaar holds back a forming smile. Her behavior towards him is quite cute really... He has never seen a girl so quiet and distant around him before. He's never met one of those kinds from where he comes from, where girls usually throw themselves on him.

Sharmishta: She was feeling quite sick the other day, which is why you weren't able to see her since she was resting... (nervously reminding him)

Sanskaar: It's nice to finally meet you... How are you feeling now? (making light, polite conversation with her)

Swara: (softly) Fine, thank you.

Sharmishta: (adding enthusiastically) It is Swara who has made you pancakes this morning, Sanskaar. She was very sweet enough to offer to do so.

Swara's eyes widen with shock as she hears her mother's words. Lies! I did no such thing... You had practically shoved me out of bed and dragged me down to the kitchen to get cooking!... she fumes to herself. Somehow Sanskaar does not believe Sharmishta as he sees Swara angrily shoot daggers at her mother. However, he chooses to go along with it...

Sanskaar: Thank you... That was kind.

Swara's cheeks bloom red by the sincere look he directs in her way and she tears her gaze quickly off from him.

Uttara: Awww, look Sanskaar, you made Deeds blush! Isn't that so cuuut-----Ooowww!

Shekar: What happened Uttara?

He speaks for the first time since morning. Uttara's eyes water as she bites down on her lip, preventing her from voicing her pain anymore. She shakes her head at her father and at her curious looking mother. Even Sanskaar gives her a wondering look.

Uttara: No... it's nothing. I just... jabbed my own finger is all.

Swara bites down a smirk as she brings her foot back to her side. She was glad to think that she could have possibly left a bruise on her sister's leg from her kick.

Sharmishta: You should be careful Uttara...

She comments while affectionately running her hand down her daughter's hair, which in the meanwhile, Uttara pouts at her older sister. Sharmishta turns to look at Swara, who instantly stops shooting dirty looks in Uttara's way.

Sharmishta: Arre Sanskaar beta... what are you waiting for? Dig in. Have your breakfast.

She tells him as she notices him not touching his pancakes which she had placed in his plate.

Sanskaar: ... actually Aunty, I was wondering where the syrup is...

Sharmishta; (confused) Syrup..?

Uttara: Yeah Ma. Syrup... You're supposed to have them with pancakes.

Uttara clearly had been doing a lot of research about the American life along with other things she enjoys researching. Swara often scolds her that if she loves the American culture so much that she might as well go live in America to spare everyone the lectures she always has ready to share at Dinner.

Sharmishta: (embarrassed) Why... I didn't know that---- You can't eat pancakes without syrup?

Sanskaar: Well you can----

Uttara: (cutting in) Mom, you always have to have syrup with pancakes.

Sharmishta: (brought down by this) I'm sorry beta. We don't have any syrup. Your whole breakfast is probably ruined now.

Sanskaar feels like an a** for putting Sharmishta down. He wouldn't have asked for the syrup in the first place if he knew they didn't have any. He catches Swara looking a little miffed with him.

Spoilt brat... she growls to herself. He just needs everything, doesn't he?

Shekar: (his voice rough) Don't worry Sharmishta. I'm sure it's just fine without the syrup.

Uttara: But Pa---

Sanskaar: Uncle's right, Aunty. It's just the same. I was just wondering if you had it in the first place. You don't need it with pancakes, really. Don't worry about it. (politely)

Sharmishta smiles feebly at his attempt of making her feel better. To prove his point, he takes his first bite of the plain hotcakes and smiles brightly at her, further reassuring her that it's completely fine. He comments earnestly on how well they have been made. Sharmishta blushes, glad that she managed to please him. From the corner of his eye, he sees Swara turn a little pink herself.

Sharmishta: (suddenly back to her cheery self) Swara, I was thinking that you and Uttara should take Sanskaar around the city today. Your father has work and I've been invited to a friend's house this afternoon, so neither of us will have time. Besides, he will have more fun with you girls rather than the company of two older people.

Uttara: (excited) Oh, Deeds, that'd be so much fun! Wouldn't you like that Sanskaar?

Sanskaar: I would very much like that...

He replies while looking in Swara's direction. Again her cheeks become flushed.

Swara: (obviously reluctant) I don't know Maa. I have a study session with Priya later on.

Uttara: Study session? Deeds, but I thought you were on break and didn't have exams unt-------Ooowww!!!!

Sanskaar: (amused) Jab your finger again?...

He asks her to which Uttara replies with a pained nod...

************

Despite her futile attempts in excluding herself out of the tour around the city, in the end, it was her mother who had won the argument, even against her father.

Sharmishta: You two are being ridiculous! What do you expect the poor boy to do at home while we are all out?! ----And Swara, didn't you care to think that it should be you who takes Sanskaar around rather than Uttara? You know the city far better than your sister and you know this!

She would have to give it to her mother; she really nailed her right then and there. Which is why she is at the moment acting like a tour guide for her foreign guest, who lingers behind with her sister fooling around. His laughter was really irking her. Here she is, dedicating her full time for him, setting aside her own plans (well, not really since she didn't have any plans rather than to relax at home) to entertain him, and he is not paying the least bit of attention. She angrily moves on...

***********

Thank you,

Shreetha..