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"I'm not just falling in love with you,. I'm falling into you. You're an ocean, and I'm falling in, drowning in the depths of who you are ., it's scary in a way, but it's also the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. You are the most amazing thing I've ever experienced."*

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Though not sure of what to name these new emotions he felt towards swara, Sanskaar was absolutely certain about one aspect : he was no longer content just being a friend to swara. He craved for more. He longed for those moments with her, beyond little flowers ..just both of them. The sealed pact was put to good use and he didn't mind breaking few rules intentionally. Pure selfish deed on his part. Be it a meeting over a simple cup of coffee or sharing an ice cream... He eagerly looked forward to their meetings.. He knew they both were special for each other but he wanted to see it, feel it .

He looked for hints in her words , gestures ,trying to gauge her feelings and thoughts . He no longer wanted to hide or fight that undeniable attraction and the pull he felt towards swara and it was all in his eyes for her to read.

When not with swara all he could think of was her and when with her ,he didn't have other world around...it was just her ... Any of days he didn't get to see her, talk to her he grew restless and cranky.

One such night ,he missed her very badly .he didn't get to see her whole day, courtesy his meetings and her new project in college ... He wanted to listen her voice and on impulse he dialed her number ,admittedly at an odd hour .

The phone rang .. but no response .She must have slept ..disappointed he was about to disconnect, her voice came in

"Hi sanskaar" ..she sounded surprised ..he must be sleeping by now as per his schedule.

He should ..but how could he ..it felt like her voice was only lullaby that could put him to sleep

"Hi swara"

"Sab teek hain na waha.. iss waqt call kiya" ..she sounded bit concerned .He didn't call her usually at these hours.

What would he tell her , that he missed her badly ..wish he could find words to tell her how much...

"Woh tumse baat karne ka maan tha tho... aaj teek se baat nahi hopaaye na" ..he paused before he questioned," Kyu nahi kar saktha?"

He waited for her answer .He wanted to know if he had that right to call her at this hour.

"Of course kar sakthe ho" swara replied wondering why did he even ask that ? She would have never thought for a second for same ..Should she ?

"Woh sanskaar actually main bhi soch rahithi ki call karu par laga ki tum sojaavoge ..u know Mr.Perfect ke time table ke hisaab se ." Smiling she settled on the couch comfortably.

He knew she was smiling..he smiled too .'Mr . Perfect'. From her ,it was an endearment..one of those things he loved .

"Itna bhi perfect nahi hoon madam ...acha ye batavo aaj..." he laid back on bed.

And they talked and talked into the night .In soon became their new ritual. Her day would start with his good morning wish and his day ended with her Good Night wish.

As days passed Sanskaar didn't even realize when swara had become center of his universe.

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Sanskaar , usually preferred subtle colors over bright .He felt bright colors were loud ,didn't even bother giving them a second glance. Untill the day swara made a casual remark.

"Sanskaar tum bright colours kyu nahi pehente ..I feel ki they would suit you And then she had added, "Tum zyada handsome lagoge."

However casual it was ,his heart did a somersault .She found him handsome ...He heard this from many..but anything from swara was extra special for him, just like she was..

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Next day as swara walked out of college she found him waiting for her ..she rushed to him half excited, half surprised ..

" Sanskaar ,Tum yaha ??.tume bataya nahi ki tum pick karne aa rahe ho."

"Free ho ??..shopping par chaloge? ..I wanna buy some shirts you know bright colours and I thought I might use some help ...tho ..."

He waited with bated breath for her answer..He turned up all of sudden because his scheduled meeting got cancelled . He had never felt happier over a cancellation.And the next min he rushed to her ,wishing she didn't have any other plans..and he smiled in relief when she said..

"Tho ..kis baat ka intezaar hain Mr Maheswari ..chale." Swara shook her head smiling as he opened the car door .In next few min they were out for shopping.

Shopping with Swara had always been fun ,be it grocery or wish list.. but this felt different .She choosing shirts for him , It thrilled him and it felt so right She made him try many and he didn't complain .He found it amusing when she started calling him colors - flavors of ice cream, she told him laughingly every time she made him try a new color. Mango, Strawberry, Pista ..

"Bas bas khaajavoge kya ?" he asked finally when she didn't stop..

"I won't mind ..you are looking yum" ..she winked at him playfully tossing one more at him for trail..His cheeks became warm at that comment.

"Sanskaar ..are u blushing by any chance ?" swara asked trying to hide her grin ..aww he looked so adorable she wanted to rush to him ,pull his cheeks and ruffle his perfectly combed hair ..

Caught red handed ,he mumbled not knowing how to react , "Nahi ..woh main " main .. ye shirt try karke aata hoon ." he rushed into trail room leaving swara in smiles.

When they stepped out he had almost dozen shirts to his credit. Done with shopping, they had chat..golgappe before he dropped her back at her place.

Maheswari Mansion

Annapurna was surprised when sanskaar entered MM with all shopping bags. He usually picked one or two on his usual shopping spree.

Once back in his room , Annapurna looked at her son ..his face beaming with delight as he narrated the events of shopping, showed her picks and all he talked was of swara .

She knew he liked her but his eyes told a different story now .She still remembered that night when sanskaar rushed back to her ,fed her milk cake and repeated over and over how swara cooked this for him..just for him and that surprise at little flowers ,how special she made him feel .

"Aaj kal tum sirf swara ke bare main baat kar the ho." she tried voicing her worst fear not giving him a hint .

"Kya karu mom uske alawa mujhe kuch soochta hi nahi hain." ..he said so casually emptying contents of bag into wardrobe not even realizing the intensity of what he said .

Annapurna knew it clear now .He loved her ..a little away from realization but he loved her and with an intensity which scared her from within .His happiness is tied with that girl, that was an absolute fact..but what about swara? ..Did she love him too? and her husband ..his plans for sanskaar ?

Her thoughts were interrupted by sanskaar.

"Mom ..kaha khogaye?? ..aap ko pata hain ye swara bhi na...jab main yellow shirt try kar raha tha ..mujhe mango bula rahi thi aur phir iss pe strawberry woh tho hain hi paagal ,ek din mujhe bhi kardegi ."

He looked so happy ..so content . She didn't have heart or right to deny this happiness to him, neither her husband ..

"Mom..kya soch rahi hain aap?? ..bolo naa ..swara ne kaha ki red main I look cute ,tho main soch raha hoon ki kal jab use milne javunga na I will wear red ...aap ko kya lagta hain?"

"Teek keh reh thi swara ..bahut pehle try karna chahiye tha ye saare colors,"she patted his cheek , "Khaana lagadeti hoon ..aajavo fresh hoke."

She started to leave but something crossed her mind . "Sanskaar, kal usko ghar kyu nahi le aate? waise milne jaa rahe ho tho ...bahut din hogaye mile huye aur pichle baar jab who aayi thi tho tum nahi the .."

Why didn't he think of it? Swara's last visit to MM had been under unpleasant circumstances. Time to turn that around.

"Maine tho ye socha hi nahi hain mom ..abhi usse poochta hoon." he kissed her cheek and rushed for his phone .. Annapurna left the room thinking ..she needed some answers

Next day

It was a pleasant meet between Swara & Annapurna .After exchange of pleasantries, they were seated in hall and Annapurna started the chat with casual questions. In midst she didn't fail to notice the dreamy smile on sanskaar's face and his eyes didn't leave swara for a minute but swara seemed totally oblivious of the same .She happily chatted over and that worried annapurna ..May be she is yet to realise or feel ...or is it like she doesn't harbor same feelings like sanksaar does ..

Annapurna looked at sanskaar who was content just looking at her, listening to her like nothing else existed for him and that worried her more. She asked sanskaar to show swara around as her last visit had been very brief and they can join her shortly on snacks and chai .She left for the kitchen as sanskaar took swara for a guided tour of MM.

"Ye study room hain ...aur ye mom dad ka kamra.." swara walked along with sanskaar as he explained her and then ..he stopped before a room ..his room ...

This is first time someone other than uttara and his mom , is stepping inside his room and its swara .Excited and nervous, he opened the door for her to enter.. "Ye ..mera room hain"

Walls painted in navy blue with floral pattern and every single piece of furniture in white complimented the colour so well... it carried a serene and subtle feel ..just like sanskaar ..swara thought as she looked around

"Wow! This is just beautiful sanskaar."

Sanskaar sighed with relief ,if felt her approval was important for him.

Slowly she made her way towards balcony ."Let me guess ...ye tumara fav place hogana..?"

"Tumhe kaisa pata?" he asked wondering

"Sanskaar itna tho jaanti hoon main tumhe." She smiled and then moved on to few photographs on the wall .

Few family photographs ..looking at DP ..must be his dad.. may be she would meet him one day .she wondered if he would be same as annapurna ,warm and welcoming and moved on to next few... from his college days

"Ye tumhara college ka photograph hain?" she picked one. "Sanskaar tum iss main kitna cute lag rahe ho...aur ye?"... she picked another .."Let me guess again ..tumhari behen hain?

"Haan Uttara ..!

" Bahut pyaara naam hain ..and she's lovely too ...Hey! ,Is this the one jiske liye hume gifts pick kiye na uss din ...sanskaar nodded yes ..

"Tuhme yaad hain sanskaar uss din pehli baar humne messages ki through baat kiya ..aur tumhara asshirwaad" ..she broke out laughing ..God! that was classic!...

It was embarrassing then but now it's one of the precious moments for him ..his first shopping trip with swara ..he looked at her as she continued, "Waqt kitna badal gaya hain na ..tab hum ek dusre ko teek se jaante nahi the aur ab.." ..she paused abruptly.

What would she say ..that she longed him to be more than a friend, in fact her feelings for him started venturing into new realms of ...she brushed them off again she can't ..she doesn't have that right to wish

He waited ...may she would say something which he wanted to hear...but swara immediately moved onto next pic..He felt the same flicker of disappointment like that night at her place, but he was quick to lighten up ..with bundle of energy and a cute chatter box around that can't be much tough... but he wished ...he was more than just a friend

Swara continued her tour .."Aur ye hamara little flowers ka picnic waala aur ye..." and she went on not having a clue of how her words effected sanskaar. He couldn't comprehend why that simple word of "HUM" had this effect on him ..like they both are together .Every time she would say "Hum" "Humara", his heart responded with a beat which is much familiar now and it felt like every beat of his heart ... was for her .

Once done with tour, they joined Annapurna for tea and snacks.

"Aunty aap ki chai bahut achi hain ...can you share some tips over the same with me?" Swara asked enjoying adarakwaali chai made by annapurna.

"Haan kyu nahi.. lekin is ke badle tumhe mujhe milkcake ki recipe deni hogi" said a smiling Annapurna.

Swara looked pleasantly surprised, cast a look at sanskaar and he smiled in answer.

"Sanskaar ne bataya aur khilaya bhi ...bahut acha tha swara ..tho kab sikhavoge mujhe?

"Aap jab kaho aunty .. aur mujhe aap se kheer ki recipe bhi chahiye ..sanskaar ko bahut pasand hain na...

Annapurna's didn't fail to notice the exchange of smile and sparks in the eyes of those kids .. that one minute of spark she has seen in swara's eyes was enough for her to to know ,swara held same feelings for sanskaar though they were not much evident as sanskaar...she sighed in a bit of relief..

Swara added in .."Woh sanskaar hamesh kehta hain ki aap kheer bahut acha banati hain ..tho.."

"Jaroor beta ..."and they chatted for some more time ...

Sanskaar couldn't be happier at their bonding well .The most important ladies in his life. Could he ask for more ... he wished uttara was here ..she would have loved swara too .

Next few days went like breeze. With the date of charity gala event coming in closer Sanskaar become quite busy but he managed his schedule such that he would have enough time with swara .

One night before gala .

"Oh C'mon swara! ..it's a gala event for charity and I want you to be there" ..Sanskaar tried convincing swara over phone

"Lekin Sanskaar .main kya karungi waha par?" she tried to protest but he was not ready to gave in

"Kya karungi matlab?? Madam aap Little flowers ki active volunteer ho, uss hissab se tho aahi sakte ho aur upar se ye party hain aapki Mr. Perfect ki hain..he paused for a while .. "Swara...main tumhare bina bore hojavunga ..please aavo na ..mere liye ..."

And she couldn't refuse ..how could she? ..it was such heartfelt and earnest plea.. .. she can do at least this .. for him..

"Teek hain aajavungi ."

Sanskaar almost jumped on his bed at her yes ..she would be coming ..

"Tho pick karne kab aavu?" he asked all excited

"Uski koi jaroorat nahi Sanskaar ..party tum de rahe ho tho, you have to be there na..main aajavungi ..just message me address and dress code .I will be there ..haan ..I will be safe aur kuch chahiye tho I will call you then .."

"Pakka waala promise." He wanted to re confirm

"Haan baba pakka promise ..ab sojaavo ..raat bahut hogayi hain... Good night"

"Good night swara" ... he disconnected the call with smile.

He loved this journey ..this journey of discovering where he and swara were going and he is loving every moment of it .

Swara stood near balcony wondering the same where were they going ..this journey doesn't have a destination ..their journey... but still she loved every moment of it ..

Then came that night which answered their question...changed their lives.

Contd...

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*Quote at beginning - , Jasinda Wilder - Falling For you