Hello everyone.. Here is the next update.. Hope you like it.. Please ignore mistakes and share your views.. Thank you.. Chapter 6:
Swara walks slowly down the stairs, feeling edgy and a tad nervous by the crowd of people and the media scattered around. She looks wonderful in a teal sari with silver works, looking like it was designed especially for her, paired with only a set of long dangling earrings and matching bangles along with her wedding bangles(Shaka Pola). She gazes around hoping to see any people whom she knows and is on good terms with unlike her sister-in-law and husband. Swara finds her sister at the end of the staircase chatting with Neetha. She catches Uttara's eye and sees her sister smile at her and nod her head, beckoning for her to join them. Happily, Swara makes her way towards her.
On reaching the last step, Swara feels an iron grip on her arm, causing her to squint in pain. She turns to her right and sees Ragini staring at her with a forced smile. "Where do you think you are going, you fool?--- You should be at your husband's side. This party hasn't been held for your amusement", she mutters through her gritted teeth. "Come, the media is waiting to take pictures...".
Uttara's smile fades and she stares at Ragini's tight hold on her sister's arm. She watches on angrily, yet helplessly.
Before Swara can even say a word, Ragini drags her off leading her towards the center of the party, her grip on her wrist not loosening a bit. Swara tries her best in getting Ragini's hold off of her.
She becomes relieved as Ragini finally lets go of her hand, but that is shortly lived as she sees where her sister-in-law has led her to...to her husband, who turns around and the smile that had played on his lips moments before vanishes. Instead he becomes grim and stares at her with his flaming eyes. Ragini leaves as fast as she came on seeing a group of her kitty friends.
"Is this your wife, Mr. Maheshwari?", the reporter standing in front of him eagerly questions. Sanskaar looks back over to him and nods. "Yes, this is my wife, Swara Maheshwari", he says with no emotion in his voice. Swara is too busy protectingly holding onto her wrist, which still aches in pain from Ragini's unbelievably strong grip. The reporter surprises Swara by taking her hand and shaking it with so much enthusiasm.
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Maheshwari!". Swara smiles meekly at him and pulls out her hand, putting a stop to the annoying shaking. "Tell me, Mrs. Maheshwari, how do you feel about your husband winning the huge business deal? I hear it will benefit the company a lot!". Swara mutely looks up at Sanskaar, who also happens to be looking down at her. She feels his cold hand travel down her back and to her waist. He pulls her into his side. She shudders by the contact of his hand with her bare skin.
Sanskaar: Go on, Darling, answer the nice man's question...(he says in a low tone only for her to hear)
The reporter, oblivious to the tension between husband and wife, mistakes Sanskaar Maheshwari's sudden hold on his wife as affection or possessiveness. He smiles at them.
Swara takes in a deep breath, calming down her racing heart, and smiles shakily at the man. She decides to answer truthfully for once...
Swara: I'm really happy for him. He deserves it after all the hard work he puts into the company. There isn't any other better man worthy of this deal. I'm glad that it is him who has won it.
The reporter quickly notes this down and makes small talk before wandering off to get some snacks and enjoy the party. Sanskaar stares back at Swara and arches one of his eyebrows at her.
Sanskaar: I'm surprised by your response, Mrs. Maheshwari-- you almost even had me convinced. Tell me, did you always want to be an actress when you were young? Is that why you are so talented at deceiving people?
Swara's eyes lower. Not having the strength to put up with his hurtful comments anymore, Swara places her hand over his, which rested on her waist, and pulls it off. She makes an attempt to walk away, but feels him hold her back by her hand. Sanskaar brings her back into him and stares at her with his hard molten chocolate eyes.
Sanskaar: (harsh laughter) What an attitude you've got---- Where did you think you were running off to, Mrs. Maheshwari--- we still have pictures to take.
Swara stiffens with his arm around her tight. Ignoring her discomfort and begging looks, he whisks her away towards the impatiently waiting crowd of media, who immediately perk up on seeing Mr. and Mrs. coming to them. They quickly interrogate Sanskaar with numerous of questions regarding about the deal. Swara quietly stands by his side, his arm still around her.
Sanskaar reaches into his pocket, pulls out a cigarette and lights it. He answers their questions in a nonchalant tone. Swara, not used to the awful smoke, tries to hold down her want to cough and holds in her breath, which fails miserably after a few seconds. She can't seem to stop reacting to the smoke. She looks up at him with pleading eyes and asks in a soft tone, only audible to him, "Mr. Maheshwari, please, --the smoke...". Sanskaar turns to her and pauses in the middle of his answer to a journalist. He takes the cigarette out of his mouth...and breathes out a puff of smoke which hits Swara directly in her face, making her close her eyes and face the other way.
"...so yes, I am indeed happy with the proposition of the deal", he finishes off and looks back over to the paparazzi. He sticks the cigarette back into his mouth. Swara feels her eyes water from suffocation.
After a set of pictures and snaps of the newly weds, the media finally put a rest to their continuous uprising questions and decide to enjoy the party. They leave Sanskaar and Swara alone...
Sanskaar: You can't stand smoke, is it?--- (he breathes out some more smoke, and smirks) Don't worry, Mrs. Maheshwari, you will get used to it soon...
Sanskaar says to her in a teasing tone before leaving her by herself in the midst of the party. Swara watches him trail off with sad looking eyes.
Feeling a squeeze on her shoulder, Swara turns around and finds herself face to face with a beautiful, elegantly dressed woman... Bhavni, a famous film star and also one of Sanskaar Maheshwari's closet friend...a good friend of hers also up until all this mess happened.
Bhavni: (sympathetic smile)...I don't like it either when he smokes. But he is what he is.
Swara keeps her eyes focused back on Sanskaar who has joined a set of guests, not able to meet Bhavni's friendly gaze which would only make her feel guilty with the fact that she is married to the man Bhavni loves the most, and probably will always...
Bhavni: But hopefully he will get rid of the habit...now that you're in his life.
Swara makes the mistake of looking at her when she says this. Seeing Bhavni smile sincerely at her, causes her to break down...
Swara: (blurts out) I'm so sorry...
Bhavni arches her professionally thinned eyebrows at her and smiles a confused smile.
Bhavni: About what?
Swara: (miserably) You don't have to be sweet to me anymore...I have hurt you. You have every right to be angry with me.
Bhavni: (her smile fades) Swara, what are you talking about dear?
Swara:...You hate me, do you not? --For marrying Mr. Maheshwari?
Bhavni is momentarily taken aback and becomes mute. She looks past Swara and at Sanskaar, who smiles generously at his business associates who he currently is speaking to.
Swara: I have taken away your love from you...
Bhavni smiles lightly at seeing Swara's downcast face. She takes Swara by her shoulders and looks down at her.
Bhavni: You have not stolen him away from me...he wasn't even mine to begin with. --- and whatever had happened, it's not like you had any say in it Swara- I don't blame you nor hate you for anything.
Swara: But----
Bhavni: I have no right over Sanskaar...because now he is yours...he is your husband, Swara... (smiles warmly) And I hope and will pray from the bottom of my heart for both of you to have a successful marriage and be happy together. (she continues on as she sees Swara open her mouth to protest once again) there is a reason why you two are together today, Swara...perhaps I was never destined to have Sanskaar and you are...maybe it is you two who belong together...maybe it is you who Sanskaar needs in his life...
Swara looks at Bhavni with disbelief. How could she even come up with something so impossible? Her, Swara Gadodia, destined to be Sanskaar Maheshwari's wife? Destined to be in his life? No...destiny wasn't a part of this. It was just all a big mistake...It is a big mistake...a cruel twist in fate.
Bhavni: (her voice lowering)...Swara, please promise me something...promise me that you will keep Sanskaar and yourself happy...promise me that you will try to make your marriage work.
She takes Swara's hands in hers as she says this in a pleading tone. Swara, stunned, stares at her for a long moment. She peers into Bhavni's face.
Bhavni: For once I am asking you something, Swara...take care of him...make him happy...please.
Swara feels her own eyes water from Bhavni's request. It isn't fair...it isn't fair that Bhavni doesn't get to have her love, which she deserves...it isn't fair for her to watch the man she loves with another woman...it isn't fair for her to give him up...in fact, none of this is fair...it isn't fair how fate has played such a cruel joke on all of them... Bhavni... Sanskaar...and herself...none of it is.
Swara slowly nods her head and smiles reassuringly at Bhavni, causing her to smile in relief...
Swara: I promise...
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Hours went by in a blur and a few guests were already beginning to leave the party. After bidding Bhavni a farewell and promising to call her sometimes, Swara finds Uttara, who stood by Dadi throughout the party, looking clearly bored to death, and joins her sister's side with a small smile.
After a couple of minutes, Swara feels a tap on her shoulder and looks away from Uttara and stares into Laksh's worried looking face. Her smile disappears and immediately she becomes curious.
Swara: Bhaiya... What happened? Is there anything wrong?
Laksh: Woh- Swara... Sanskaar...
Swara: (alert) What has happened to, Mr. Maheshwari?
Laksh:... he's drunk... completely drunk, Swara.
Swara: (quickly, concerned) Drunk...again?! He don't like drinking then why he is doing like this bhaiya? He is spoiling his health... Where is he, Bhaiya?
Laksh:...In the garden. I tried helping him out of there, but he just doesn't listen.
Swara, not wasting another second, makes a movement to walk towards the doors leading to the garden, but feels a tug on her hand. Turning around, she stares into Uttara's disapproving face.
Uttara: Don't go, Didi... who cares what the man does to himself. He has made it perfectly clear to us all, that he doesn't need anybody to take care of him... so why do you always go running to his side?
Swara:... He's my husband, Uttara.
Swara is surprised by how easily and calmly she had said it.
Uttara: So what? -- Has this husband of yours ever treated you with respect, Didi?-- No, right?
Swara looks into her sister's face long and hard. She faintly shakes her head and pulls her hand out of hers.
Swara: You wont understand, Uttara.
Giving her brother a thankful look, Swara rushes away from Laksh and Uttara and down the hall towards the garden...
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She finds him sitting in one of the garden chairs, his legs resting up on the table before him, and his head tilted to the side. Running over to him, Swara places a gentle touch on his shoulder and bends down by his side. Sanskaar stirs in his unconscious state and looks around with woozy eyes. He finds Swara bending down on the ground before him, and slowly blinks at her, confused.
Swara: Mr. Maheshwari, I will take you to your room.
Sanskaar shrugs off her hand from his shoulder.
Sanskaar: ..I-I'm fine... I don't neeed anyone's help... Nooot yours... not Laksh's... nobody's...leave me alone...
Swara: (gentle tone) Mr. Maheshwari, please, come with me.
Sanskaar: (growls) I said I'm fffine.
Swara: No you are not. You're not well, Mr. Maheshwari...and not in a condition to be by yourself...
Sanskaar: (brushing off her hand once again) why doo you bloody care?-- why shoould you? --- I-I'm nothing to you... and you're definitely nothing to mee... just gooo away, Swara... leave me the hell alone... I can take care of myseeellf----
As he says this, Sanskaar grips onto the armchairs of the chair and pushes himself up. He makes an attempt to walk on his own, but only ends up losing his balance and falling.
Swara: (concerned) Mr. Maheshwari!
Sanskaar groans and continues to lay on the cold grass, too weak to get up by himself. Swara takes him gently by his arm, wraps it around her neck, pulls him off of the ground, places a hand on his chest, grips tight around his waist, and carefully leads him inside. Sanskaar silently lets himself be taken away...
She brings him to his bedroom, where Sanskaar regains some type of control and motions her to move away from him with the raise of his index finger. As she backs away and remains standing, Swara watches Sanskaar fall down onto his bed and slowly drift off into a deep slumber.
Swara walks over to the end of the bed where his feet are and takes his shoes in her hands. She unties the laces and slides off his black polished designer shoes off his feet. She places them neatly by the edge of the bed on the floor. Taking the comforter in her hands, Swara lays it securely on him, making sure that he is covered completely in it. As she flicks the room lights off and opens the bedroom door, she hears a small mutter escape from his lips. "...Priya".
Stopping only for a few seconds after hearing this, Swara lowers her eyes and closes the door firmly shut...
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Thank you,
Shreetha..
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