Hi guys...I have a slow pace of story telling which is evident here...plz bear with me ...hope you like this part...will update next part soon.
CHAPTER 2
Swara lay on her bed thinking. Three weeks had passed since she arrived in Kolkata. Since Kavi died. She had run out of the house that day and no one had stopped her. Ragini had brought her home straight. She had been confined to the room most of the time. Now she was going back to Mumbai. The tickets were booked for the next day and Ragini was going with her.
She had been feeling restless all those days. She blamed herself for everything that was happening in his life. After all it was because of her that he married Kavi. She feared that he too thought the same. That look in his eyes as he saw her. He seemed to hold her responsible for everything.
Her thoughts were interrupted as her Janaki Ma entered the room.
"Swara, you still haven't learnt to pack. " Janaki said smiling at her daughter as she rearranged the packed clothes.
Swara winked at her. She would never understand why Janaki loved her this much. She was just Shekhar Gadodia' s daughter born out of wedlock. Her father and mother, Sharmishta Bose had been friends since their school days. Friendship had changchanged into love. But her Dadi, Parvati Gadodia had refused to accept the orphaned Bengali girl as her only son's wife. Torn between his widowed mother and love Shekhar had broken up with Sharmishta, who had been very understanding. While he hoped that someday his mother would change her mind, Sharmishta realized that would never happen. So she completely vanished from his life, even hiding from him Swara' s existence.
When Swara was 5 , her mother had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Worried about her daughter'sfuture, she had contacted Shekhar. Swara didn't know what exactly had happened. Her mother had never expected the family would take Swara in. She hadn't wanted to cause any problems in Shekhar' s married life.
Three years after his seperation from Sharmishta, Shekhar had married Janaki, who belonged to a traditional Marwari family from Jaipur. It had been arranarranged through Urvashi Aggarwal, Kavita's mother and Janaki's best friend. Urvashi was married to the Gadodias' neighbour. And so the friends had become neighbours after marriage.
Swara remembered the day her mother brought her to Gadodia mansion. Janaki had brought her to this room which had been hers ever since. She could hear her Dadi' s scolding her son and daughter in law and her mother. But then Janaki had told her that she was going to live there.
She would never understand Janaki Ma. The woman had accepted her as her daughter. She herself had no children at that time. She had even convinced Dadi into accepting her and she took care of Sharmishta until she passed away a few months later. Swara in her childish fears had been initially scared of her stepmother. She knew from stories that stepmothers were evil. She had even been harsh on Janaki. But Janaki won her over.
Ragini was born about an year later. Swara had expected that Janaki wouldn't love her anymore . But Janaki loved her all the more . She had never discriminated between them. Even after all these years Swara couldn't but wonder at the woman.
"What are you thinking? " Janaki asked her.
"Nothing. " she lied.
"Do you have to go back so soon? I miss you a lot. And now Ragini is also going with you. " Janki said.
"I miss you too ma. Come with us na." Swara said making a puppy face .
Janki pulled her cheeks and said " I would love too. But i have a family to take care of. You will understand when you are married. "
Swara' s face fell at that and Janaki noticed it. But knowing this was not the right time for this talk she remained silent .
"Swara, I wanted to talk to you about something. I know that Kavita's death was a shock to you. But running away like that wasnt right. So why don't you meet them once before you leave? " Janaki suggested.
"I know Ma. But Urvashi maasi and Kavya are at her brother's right? " she asked.
"Yes. I meant the Maheshwaris. And you can meet Ananya too. " Janaki told her.
Ananya Sanskaar Maheshwari. Sanskaar's daughter . Did she want to meet Ananya? But she had promised Kavi that she would meet her daughter the next time she came to Kolkata.
"Ok ma ." She said.
Without any further questions Janaki left the room. Swara looked around the room. It seemed like a moment ago that she met Kavi. The room was full of memories. Their first meeting, their fights, giggles, gossipping, their first talk about Sanskaar and their last meeting before she left for Mumbai.
She smiled remembering Kavi telling her about her engagement to Sanskaar.
****fb*****
Swara had returned home from London just the previous night after completing her degree course. She was unpacking when she heard Kavi knock the door.
"From when do you knock my door before coming in? " Swara asked trying to sound hostile.
"Shona are you angry with me? I wanted to wait up for you last night but I dozed off. Sorry baba. " Kavi said hugging her.
"Angry I am but not for that. How could you hide such a big thing from me?" Swara asked angrily.
"What? " Kavi asked pretending not to know.
"You want me to remind you. Your roka took place three months ago." Swara said.
"Shona, who told you? I just wanted to see your reaction in person when I break the news. I will kill ur sister. " Kavi said.
"It wasnt Ragu. Ma and Maasi were discussing about it. I heard them." Swara said looking away.
It didn't take much effort for Kavi to convince her.
"Get ready Swara. The engagement is after 2 days and i haven't bought my dress or his ring. I wanted you to be there with me. The wedding is next month." Kavi told Swara who was melting.
"First tell me about him. Do I know him? " Swara asked.
"Yes. " Kavi said with a smile.
"Who? " Swara asked .
"Sanskaar Maheshwari. " Kavi replied smiling.
"What? You couldn't find any other guy in the whole country? " she asked surprised.
"Shona thats rude. He is my fiance. " Kavi reminded her.
"Oh Kavi. You know I never liked him. And if I am not wrong you weren't fond of him either. " Swara said rolling her eyes.
"Shona that was when we were kids. Would you rather I marry Laksh? He is kind of handsome too. " Kavi replied with a wink.
"Kavi, he is your would be brother in law. Anyway I am not interested in Laksh Maheshwari either. He was my childhood friend. Thats all. " Swara told her.
The Maheshwari boys, Sanskaar and his cousin Laksh were their seniors at school. In addition to that, they were family friends and as children they saw each other a lot. Swara had been close to Laksh who had been her partner in crime. They were both mischievous and she had found Laksh cool. They had even attended guitar classes together. But she had never liked Sanskaar much. He was too perfect. He was good looking, no doubt but he was too arrogant. In all the years they had know each other he would have talked to her perhaps 3 times other than a formal 'hi' . He was the genius kid at school, monitor in every grade, President of school clubs and the apple of every teacher's eye. If that wasn't enough, she felt strange around him. Every time he was close she fell silent. There was a certain tension between them.
But all that was long back. After their 10th grade, The brothers went abroad to complete their studies and when they returned she herself wasn't in Kolkata anymore. She wasn't even in contact with Laksh.
"How long has it been since you met either of them? " Kavi asked.
"Long long time. I dont even know what they look like. " Swara told her.
"You will see soon enough. At the engagement party. And maybe you will change your mind about Laksh. " Kavita reminded her.
"No way dear. I have my dreams to fulfil. Nothing, not even love can make me forget that. " Swara said determined.
"Ya ya. Lets see. Now get ready. We have to go for shopping. " Kavita said leaving the room.
"Shonu, nothing can stop love. It will happen when it has to. " Kavita said solemnly closing the door behind her.
********fb ends *****
Swara felt the tears flow down her cheeks. Kavi was right. Love happens when it wants to, as it wants to, and with who it chooses. She could never tell Kavi that. How could she, when they had both loved the same person?
"I am sorry Kavi. " she said wiping her tears.
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This chapter was mainly to show how close Kavi and Swara were and is also the starting point of SwaSan story...hope like this...next part will be SwaSan meeting. Waiting for your feedback.
Cricket
