~SwaSan Story ~ A Bound Relation ~ Updated Epilogue - 10/04~ - Page 30

Chapter 15:

A couple of days went by with everyone worrying over Swara, with the exception of Ragini of course who thought that everyone was being ridiculous. Though the horrifying incident slowly faded away and everyone learned to forget it and move on. They were thankful that Swara was okay. Swara noted that Sanskaar was quieter than usual lately and barely said a word unless spoken to. She had tried thanking him for saving her life, but he had only brushed her off.

Sanskaar couldn't seem to understand what was happening to him all of a sudden. Why he was behaving the way he is. The incident still hadn't left him and he continued to shiver every time he thought about it... Though he didn't understand why... What is it that he feels towards Swara? He had thought it was hate, but now lately...he is doubting his own thinking.

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Swara comes out of the bathroom, completely ready, and sees that Sanskaar is still sound asleep on bed, the comforter barely on him, his back turned to her. She looks over at the clock and sees that it is past 8 o'clock, he is usually awake before then. Should she wake him up or let him awake on his own? No, she couldn't let him wake up on his own... who knows when he will and he'll become late for work.

Hesitantly Swara walks around the bed and to his side. She stalls for a couple of minutes, not having the courage to wake him up and experience his angry wrath. But she knew that it is important for her to wake him. Nervously she calls out to him...

Swara: Mr. Maheshwari...

No response.

Swara: (clears her throat) ... Mr. Maheshwari?

Still no response.

Swara: (slightly louder) Mr. Maheshwari?

Sanskaar doesn't move at all and remains sleeping. Not knowing what else to do, Swara leans down by his side, meeting the same level, and then tries shaking him lightly on his shoulder.

Swara: Mr. Maheshwari?... Mr. Maheshwari, please wake up... It's 8:25... You will become late...

Sanskaar stirs a little and it takes him awhile to fully wake up and open his eyes. As he does, he is greeted by the sight of his wife, peering at him with a nervous expression. Alerted by this, Sanskaar quickly sits up in bed and tiredly runs a hand through his hair. Then looking back at Swara...he talks.

Sanskaar: What do you want? (growls)

Swara: Ji... woh... you were still sleeping... and I thought I should...

Sanskaar: (still grumpy) I'm awake. You can go.

Lowering her eyes down, Swara nods her head and stands up. Leaving him to get ready, Swara walks out of the room...

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She wanders around the kitchen preparing food for breakfast with Shambu by her side. In the middle of cooking, Dadi calls out for Shambu. Shambu gives Swara an apologetic look.

Swara: It's okay, Shambu, you may go. I have everything under control.

Shambu leaves Swara by herself in the kitchen, tending to the cooking food. Needing some sugar, Swara realizes that she is too short to reach for it. It was in one of the top cabinets. Shambu would usually grab it for her since he was unbelievably tall. Knowing that she can't wait for him, Swara looks around the kitchen for a stool which she finds in a corner. She grabs it and pulls it in front of the cabinets. Stepping on to it, Swara reaches out for the cabinet and stands on her toes to give herself a boost. She struggles to reach for it, shifting the wobbly stool side to side. Just as she manages to grab the container of sugar, the stool falls beneath her feet, causing her to go with it. Frightened, Swara squints her eyes and grips hard onto the container in her hands and waits for her to meet contact with the hard floor, but is instead surprised to be caught in a pair of strong arms. Lifting one of her eyelids open, Swara sees Sanskaar staring down at her with an expression of annoyance. She opens her other eye and flushes terribly underneath his gaze.

Sanskaar had entered the kitchen, in search for his Maa, and had seen Swara reaching for the sugar, the stool shaking underneath her. Seeing the stool tilt and Swara slip, he quickly made it to her side and luckily caught her on time. Her carelessness annoys him... what is she, a magnet to trouble?

Sanskaar: Do you have no common sense at all?--- Using a stool with an uneven leg?

Swara continues to blush with embarrassment. Sanskaar places her down at her feet and Swara lowers her eyes, not able to meet his.

Swara: ... I- I needed the sugar...

Sanskaar: Couldn't you wait for Shambu instead of getting it yourself when you know you can't reach it?

Swara: (continuing to look down) ... Ji... woh...main...

Sanskaar: Forget it, I don't want to hear it.

Swara looks up at his angered face. His anger confuses her, but makes her feel slightly happy...her carelessness must be the reason for his anger, which must mean that he does care for her. She holds in her forming smile.

Swara: ... Ji, a-aap... kitchen mein? ...

Sanskaar: (demanding) Kyun? Am I not allowed to come into the kitchen?

Swara: (blushing ferociously) Ji, nahi. I didn't mean it like that... I was just--- D-do you need anything?

Sanskaar: Is it necessary that I have to tell you everything?

Swara: (flustered) N..nahi to... main to bas----

Sanskaar: (cuts her off, barks) Where's Maa?

Swara: Woh apne room mein hai... bas anewale hai...

Sanskaar, without saying another word to her, leaves Swara alone in the kitchen once again, hugging the container of sugar against her, and looking on after him...

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9 o'clock approaches by and everyone arrives at the table, sitting in their regular seats, ready for Breakfast. Shambu sets the table and Swara comes out, bringing the food. On seeing Sujatha arrive and also sit down, relaxes Sanskaar. He had been waiting impatiently for her, wanting to tell her something. After serving, Swara sits down in her seat, next to Sanskaar, and with Uttara on her other side.

Sanskaar: Maa, aap kahan the? I have been looking for you.

Sujatha: I was with your Dadi. Why? What happened?

Sanskaar: I just needed to inform you that---

Dadi: (excited) Arre, Sujatha, tell him what we were talking about doing.

Sanskaar stops midway in his sentence from being cut off by Dadi and looks at her strangely, then at his Maa.

Sanskaar:...Wh-what were you two talking about?

Sujatha: (smiling) Oh, well we were discussing how long it's been since we all have done something together as a family. Why don't we go to the Farmhouse tomorrow, Sanskaar? It's been so long since we've last been there.

Ragini: Maa, Farmhouse?

Sujatha: Yes, why not? We'll have fun, just like the other times.

Ragini makes a face and just continues to eat her food. Laksh, Samar, and Neetha look down at their food, trying to avoid the topic. The last thing they wanted to do was go to the Farmhouse. Laksh just wasn't in the mood and Samar and Neetha had plans of their own, and the Farmhouse would come in the way of them. Swara and Uttara just wear blank expressions on their faces, which Sujatha clearly sees.

Sujatha: Arre, Swara, don't tell me you don't know about the Farmhouse.

Swara throws Sanskaar a startled look. Sanskaar avoids her and Sujatha's gaze and instead looks down at his plate.

Sujatha: Sanskaar, you are too much! It's been a month since you've been married and you haven't even mentioned to her about the Farmhouse?

Sanskaar: (mumbles) I didn't think it was important to mention, Maa. Besides, tomorrow won't be possible for me.

Sujatha: (puzzled) Kyun nahi?

Sanskaar: I'm needed in Goa. I have to go and look at the site where they're building the other chain to our hotels.

Sujatha: (disappointed) Oh... For how long will you be gone?

Sanskaar: ... Perhaps for a few days or for how long it takes. That's what I wanted to tell you.

Sujatha is quiet for a little while and Sanskaar can see that she's brought down by this.

Sujatha: ... (depressed tone) I was looking forward to it...All of us spending time with each other.

Dadi: Oh, don't worry Sujatha. When Sanskaar comes back, then we all can go. Right, Sanskaar?

Sanskaar has no other choice but to oblige.

Sanskaar: ... Of course.

Sujatha: Kher... when do you have to go to Goa?

Sanskaar: Tomorrow morning.

Suddenly an idea creeps into Sujatha's eyes and a smile builds on her lips.

Sujatha: (cheerfully) I have a wonderful idea. Why don't you take Swara with you?

Swara who had been sipping on her water throughout this whole conversation, literally chokes on it and starts coughing. Uttara, worried, pats her sister's back. Sanskaar looks over at Swara, whose face turns red.

Sujatha: Arre, Swara, careful. Don't drink too much.

Swara: (flushing) Ji.

Sujatha: Anyways... What was I saying? Oh yes- Take Swara along. That way I don't have to worry about you.

Sanskaar: That isn't necessary, Maa. I've gone to plenty Business trips by myself. I think I can handle this one also by myself.

Sanskaar lifts up his own glass and drinks his orange juice. Dadi shakes her head at him.

Dadi: Arre budhu, she is suggesting that you take Swara along and make a honeymoon out of it.

This time it is Sanskaar's turn to choke on his drink. Swara's face grows an even darker shade of red. Neetha and Samar giggle at this, but Sanskaar silences them with a look. Terrified, Swara holds onto her sister's hand, underneath the table, for some support. She hopes that Sanskaar is successful in not taking her along. She knew she couldn't able to handle going with him to Goa for even a day. How can she manage a few?

Sujatha: Arre, what is it with you both? Do you two not know how to drink?

Swara flushes more by her remark and surprisingly even Sanskaar has the decency to look embarrassed.

Sanskaar: (croaks) Honeymoon?

Sujatha: Haan, Honeymoon. Maaji had told me that you two haven't even been able to go on one since you two have gotten married when I went to my trip. But now you two have the opportunity to.

Sanskaar: (hastily) But Maa, I will be stuck in meetings and will be wrapped up with work. We won't... I mean we won't have time... for a honeymoon.

Sujatha: Nonsense. You won't be stuck in meetings for all those days. And you said yourself that you are only going there to look at the site, meaning that there will be days that you'll have nothing to do.

Sanskaar: (exasperated) Maa...

Sujatha: Sanskaar, don't refuse.

She flashes him a pleading look, the same pleading look that she always uses with him. Sanskaar groans to himself. The things he has to do to make his Maa happy...

Sanskaar: Teek hai, Maa... whatever you want.

Sujatha smiles brightly at him. Swara stares at him with shock. Sanskaar, avoiding her gaze, stands up from his chair and tells them all that he is getting late. He makes his way out of the room.

Sujatha: (cheerfully) Swara, after eating, go on upstairs to your room and start packing. And haan, start packing for Sanskaar also, I'm sure he won't have time to after he comes back from the office.

Swara:...J-Ji..

She lowers her eyes down to her food.

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Swara spent the most of the day packing for herself and for Sanskaar, using separate suitcases of course. She had done her packing quite easily, only taking a few sarees, night wears, and toiletries with her. But when it came to do her husband's share... she was lost. She scanned his whole wardrobe, wondering what he would want to wear, which was a difficult task. Swara was scared to decide for him... Finally she just chose the suits that she thought would look good on him. Black suits, a white suit, a blue, and then a gray. She then chose the undershirts: black, white, pink, blue, and red. She carefully packed all this into suitcase, made sure to pack in some of his shoes and night wear as well, and left his toiletries to do on his own.

Setting their suitcases aside, Swara went downstairs to help with the house chores and make dinner. Dinner went by swiftly and Swara was a little disappointed on not seeing Sanskaar join them. He is probably stuck at work, she concluded.

Soon twelve o'clock strolled by, and Swara continued to pace back and forth, waiting for him, and occasionally looking out of the window for any sign of him. She wrings her hands together. She had been waiting for him for the past hour, worrying sick over him. Swara had tried going to sleep without him, but didn't feel right without him near. She couldn't go to sleep peacefully knowing that he hadn't come back home yet.

On hearing a honk, Swara quickly looks out of the window and sees his car waiting outside in front of the gate. A smile of relief appears on her lips. He honks again, gesturing for the guard to open the gate. Seeing Sanskaar's car pull up on the driveway, Swara hastily makes her way over to his wardrobe and pulls out one of his night wear. She lays it down on his side of the bed and then lies down on her own side. She closes her eyes and pretends to be sleeping. Swara didn't want him to know that she had been waiting for him.

Minutes later she hears the bedroom door open. She stiffens when she hears his loud footsteps walk into the room and approach the bed.

Sanskaar stares at Swara's back and then looks down at where she had laid his nightwear. He had told her a couple of times, warning her not to touch his stuff, but it seemed to not have an affect on her and he stopped trying. Instead he became accustomed to seeing his clothes laid out on the bed. Silently he takes it into his hand and walks over to the bathroom to change.

Swara patiently waits for him and closes her eyes once again when she hears the bathroom door open.

Sanskaar casts his gaze over at Swara again and looks at her sleeping face for a moment before he walks over to his side of the bed. He switches his lamp off and realizes that the lamp on Swara's side is also on. Not knowing what else to do but turn it off himself, Sanskaar is careful with not waking her up, and leans over next to her, reaching for the lamp. His chest brushes up against her back. Swara's heart races by this contact and she grips tightly onto her pillow. A click is heard once the light is switched off.

She feels Sanskaar slowly move away from her. Sanskaar lies down on his side, places a hand behind his head, and stares up at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts. Neither of them knew that they were both awake till late into the night...thinking of one another.

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Sanskaar tried his level best in convincing Sujatha to stay home and that it wasn't necessary to come drop him and Swara off to the Airport, but she was adamant. Along with Sujatha, Uttara and Laksh volunteered to come along. Sanskaar, feeling annoyed, agreed. They all drove in the same car and got Sanskaar and Swara checked in. Their luggage was transported into the plane and now all they had to do was wait for their flight to be called so they could board onto to the plane.

Swara fiddles with the pallu of her teal saree and creates tinkling sounds with her bangles. Sanskaar, who was seated down in one of the black benches in the airport, yapping on the phone with one of his business associates, informing him of his arrival, was intently watching Swara looking nervous. He watches as Uttara tries calming her down and placing her hands onto of Swara's nervous moving ones. Swara drops her pallu.

Uttara: Di, don't worry, you'll be fine.

Swara: I'm scared, Uttara. I've never been on a plane before.

Uttara: Di, it's just a plane... which is going to transport you from here over to Goa. Please, relax. You'll be fine. Nothing will happen. Besides, Mr. Maheshwari will be with you.

Swara: Still...

"First class passengers of fight 118 to Goa, please begin to Board the plane immediately. I repeat, first class passengers of flight 118, please begin to board the plane", the woman over the intercom announces, her voice echoing through the large airport, and creating a rush of fear to swarm inside of Swara. Sanskaar takes this as his cue to get off of the phone. He quickly says his farewell to his associate and stands up, standing just nearby Swara, who seemed to have frozen in her spot.

Sujatha, smiling encouragingly, walks over to Swara and Sanskaar.

Sujatha: Now you two.. Have a good trip.

Laksh: Swara, call me once you arrive there.

Swara: (still feeling frightened) J--Ji Bhaiya.

Laksh: (noticing this) Kya hua? Why do you look scared?

Uttara: Bhaiya, she's scared. She's never been on an airplane before.

Sujatha: Arre, Swara, there's no need to be scared. Sanskaar is with you. You won't be alone...Sanskaar, take care of her.

Sanskaar: Ji, Maa... We should go now...Come, Swara.

He gestures her to follow after him. Sanskaar begins to walk towards the gate, but seeing that Swara isn't beside him or behind him, he stops in his steps and turns around. He sees her still standing besides Uttara, Laksh, and his Maa, her face pale.

Sujatha: (encouraging) Swara... don't worry. You'll be fine.

Swara doesn't budge. Slightly peeved by this, Sanskaar walks back over to her and stands before her. Swara slowly lifts her eyes up at him and stares at him scared. Without a word to her, Sanskaar takes her hand and puts it in his. Swara quickly looks down at their joined hands and glances back up at him, who looks at her with no expression and just tugs on her hand, signaling her to follow him. She looks over at Sujatha, who only encourages her with a smile, and then over to Uttara and Laksh, who surprisingly also smile lightly at her, and gesture her to go on. Swara lets herself be lead towards the gate, and on reaching there, Sanskaar drops her hand and gives their tickets to the woman standing by the gateway.

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Because of her lack of sleep, Swara fell asleep in the middle of the flight, her head resting on Sanskaar's shoulder. Sanskaar tried a few times to move her off of him and keep her head straight up, but it always ended up tilting back onto his shoulder. Giving up, he let her lean on him and rest on his shoulder. Even he was tired from not sleeping well from last night and unknowingly also fell asleep, resting his head against Swara's...

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