Hello People

Finally, feels good to be back with a new story on SwaSan. If you are here, thanks a lot for keeping up with the long delay. Means a lot. I am planning to keep this story short. And I hope it will keep you entertained like rest.

This chapter will be setting the stage for other events to unfold.

Happy Reading.

W H E N S T A R S C R O S S

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The Day Sanskaar Maheswari decided to get married was the same day, Swara bose decided to self employ herself as a relationship consultant. And their paths were about to cross.

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Maheswari Inc.

Hell is empty and the devil is still in the office, Arjun murmured to himself as he entered the cabin of his best friend and employer, Sanskaar Maheshwari with a gentle knock.

The man barely raised his eyes from the screen of his laptop to take notice of him, before diving into another open file.

"Come in Arjun," he said. "We need to discuss Mehra's venture."

And Arjun felt like Cinderella for glancing at the clock to make sure he hasn't lost much time, before swiping reject another call from his wife. He is in for it, either way, today, in the hands of the devil or his better half.

Only Arjun didn't know how he was going to get out of here before Sanskaar Maheshwari is too tired to go on working. The man barely eats or sleeps and it is the grace of the Lord that he doesn't need a special time to breathe, otherwise he would have killed himself a long time ago by simply forgetting to do that.

Arjun never said anything because he knows. Work isn't just work for Sanskaar. It is his escape.

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Arjun had known Sanskaar for long enough, first in college as a best friend, then as boss. He always took pride in working for the Maheshwari Group, a reigning business group in India. The success story was no secret. It's Anand Prasad Maheswari who laid the foundation and legacy was successfully carried on by his only son, Ram Prasad Maheswari under whose wings Maheshwari group flourished to its heights. Then Sanskaar Maheswari stepped in.

For the outside world, Sanskaar Maheswari has everything one could be envious of. The scion of Maheswari group, good looks and charming personality which he is acutely unaware of, and sharp business intellect.

He had seen him transform from being a shy, nerdy kid in college to one who could ease his way through business meetings like a breeze over years under his Dad's able guidance. But Sanskaar always had his feet grounded, the quality Arjun admired most.

And Maheswari Family was the sweetest. He always felt home with them on his occasional visits. Sujata Maheshwari warming as always and Uttara treated him as a brother. A really sweet one.

Things would have been the way they are ...if not for an ill-fated plane crash. He was right there, when a cheerful Sanskaar came back after dropping his family at the airport and when the call came in after an hour.

And the world came crumbling down for Sanskaar.

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He was no longer the same but a changed one.

It was at the age of 22, Sanskaar joined the business. At 25, lost his family and at 30, Maheswari group emerged to an unprecedented and indisputable leader in the business field. Many credited the success to Sanskaar, to his perseverance. Only Arjun knew it was not any of them but ...pain.

The pain of loss which threatened to break him, bring him down. And Sanskaar Maheswaari was not made for it. Work was his only solace and he worked like a monster for years followed. And it served him well. The numbers went up year by year but Sanskaar wanted more and more.

He hated social life and obligated business parties only because he had to. He smiled because he was the face of the business group. A smile that never reached his eyes and tears that never spilt out, frozen. Maheshwari Mansion was no longer a house, just a resting place at the end of each day when he drove himself to exhaustion.

His ruthless approach to work earned him the nickname 'Devil' for he turned into one expecting the same level of perfection from people around him. 'Do or die' was the motto. Arjun never complained because he was the only one who came close to understanding why Sanskaar turned the way he is. That's the very reason he would patiently put up with Sanskaar's demands, but ...things had been turning tough for him lately.

He had already been making enough comprises on family time, keeping up with his wife's complaining which escalated into continuous nagging past few weeks. He had to leave today and had been trying to hint him subtly but Sanskaar seemed in no mood to pick hints. An attempt to talk was dismissed, with a wave of the hand, then came a straight strict No!

"Not before we can close this!"

That broke Arjun's flimsy restrain. " Damnit Sanskaar!" Arjun snapped back for the first time, "Do you have any clue what you have been doing? Burning yourself up and others too. For years, I didn't say a word because I know this is your escape.Ab bahut hogaya, Yaar. You don't have a life..but others do and just because you don't have a family, don't expect others to ..."

He paused abruptly realising the intensity of what he uttered. One look at Sanskaar, he knew, he had hit him where it hurts most. Arjun immediately regretted. He didn't mean it come out that way but he could see the damage was already done.

"Sanskaar ..Sorry, I didn't mean to .." He tried.

"Leave!" came Sanskaar's voice, first as order then a plea "Arjun, Please."

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"Just because, You don't have a family..."

He had one once, a happy one, full of life and laughter. Standing in the hall of Maheshwari Mansion, for the first time in years, Sanskaar Maheswari didn't run away, but faced those voices, of his loved ones.

"Aagaya tu," his mother's loving pat and her mock glare to his dad, " Kitna kaam karwarahe hain aap maara chore se."

His dad's laugh followed. "Abhi se kaam na karega tho aage se badega, Sujata."

"Wow! Maa! You never say that when I go to college. You love bhai more." The chiding of his little sister.

He stood letting the emptiness descend on him as voices died slowly as their happy faces vanishing into thin air next. And he was all alone, again.

He cried.

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It took two days for him to make peace with Arjun, a few weeks to come into terms with the idea that he should not dwell in the past, but move on and one month to decide on getting married.

It wouldn't be tough at all once the word gets out, proposals will flock in for sure. But Sanskaar had issues to deal with.

He had always been socially awkward and Women were more or less like an alien subject to him. He had been absolutely content being in love with his books during college days, never entertained the idea of girlfriend. The chronicles of their famous mood swings, tantrums and demands made him reach a conclusion.

"Ladkiyon ko samajhna mushkil hi nahi naa mumkin hain." And he is no 'Don'. Once in business, he never really had a chance rather he never took a chance.

No! He didn't have an aversion to women but found them rather complicated. Oh! He brought himself up handle the business discussions adeptly but any advances beyond just spelt trouble for him. The only cue his mind gave was ' Bhaag Sanskaar Bhaag'

In parties, he would watch few of his associates and counterparts playing charmers, wooing women, flirting like pro's and he wondered how. They seemed to know exactly what to say, how and when unlike him, apprehensive and confused. At times, he envied them because his skills, in this case, would score a zero.

"Dealing with women is an art. Sab ki bas ki baat nahi hain." Few flaunted. And he had to agree, he's bad at it.

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Marriage looked like a big leap, but he needed someone.

That 'someone special' who would be a companion for a lifetime, as a friend, lover, and wife, someone who he could share his every joy and sorrow and who could pull him out of the abyss he sank himself into. Only if his mother had been alive, this wouldn't have been the case, for she knew who would suit him, but now he's all on his own. He was not sure if he is ready yet and he had no intentions to jump into the straight fire.

He didn't have many to call friends whom he could turn for advice. Poor Arjun, it took him years to share a word of discomfort. He had no intentions to trouble him more. Hence Sanskaar decided he needed professional help. A crash course on relations precisely marriage counselling.

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Swara Bose strongly believed she has a unique knack for reading people's minds. The same belief led her to earn a Masters in psychology and an additional certification in counselling psychology. A job at one of the best agencies was just the start, she needed and it hadn't been tough to find one.

Marriage and relationship/Teen counselling was her forte and it didn't take much time for her to turn favourite of clients. Empathy and patience coupled with good listening skills were her strengths and she played them to her best.

Life would have been smooth if not for twists in her life, Swara sighed looking around breaking from thoughts clouding her mind. 'No time for replay, Swara. Get back to business,' she told herself and eyed the business cards of her name.

Maybe this would be a new beginning and she couldn't think of any better place to start. A high profile business party, she managed to get in through some connections. 'Professional networking' to the rescue she would call it.

Party started on a good note. She even ran into one of her clients. A parent of a troubled teen and it felt good to know that kid is doing well. And it reminded her why she loved her profession as a counsellor. The kick in the gut of playing a little part in making someone's life better. She would term it 'priceless'.

Her exit from the party would have been smooth, if not her lady boss, Mrs Mehta who owned a chain of counselling agencies across India. A middle-aged woman. Oh! Age is just a number was her frequently used line. One look at her, you will know she's tough, smart and all elegantly sophisticated. She made no mistake in her appearance projecting the same. No wonder she had been running the agency successfully for years.

Only Swara knew, behind the lovely made up facade was a devil, She recently came to despise.

"Oh! How lovely to see you here, Swara," Mrs.Mehta said all sugar-sweet before dragging her off to a corner. "How dare you?" She muttered next, hissing under breath. "Should I remind you were fired days back? You have no business here."

Swara bit back all curses and faced her calmly. In other scenarios, her presence would have been intimidating but not today. She no longer has to operate under the thumb of this woman. "Only because I chose to call out your exploitation of patients under the name of treatment and routing them to clinics you have tie-ups with." She gave a strong retort.

"And no one's gonna believe you, Darlin. They might think you are just bitter as I have thrown you out of job. I can make it look so, " she gave a low laugh "Don't waste your time and what's with this card business?" She eyed the card with a smirk and toyed with it. "No one's gonna hire you either. I will make sure of it " That smirk turned into a sneer as card crumpled in her fist.

Swara never hated anyone before as much as she hated this woman. If she thinks she can throw her down and walk all over .. she has no clue of what Swara Bose is made of Swara tipped her chin proudly and stared at her eye to eye.

"Well! Good luck with that. Mrs Mehta." she answered back in low sure tone and watched her smile die. Now that's a good start, Swara smiled and walked off. One day she will make this woman repent. One day.

All she needs is a chance.

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Back in his room, Sanskaar toyed with the card, his eyes intent on the name in bold.

Swara Bose.

It was by luck he chanced upon it in the business party, he attended the night. Picking his drink, his eyes caught card lying on the bar counter. It had his immediate attention and friendly discussion next to him, gave more inputs.

"I know her, Swara Bose," One of them said, "She helped me with Rehan. You know how kids are these days. Troubled teens. And she's good at her work. I have never seen Rehan opening up quickly to someone. So, I know it for a reason,"

When the other one-pointed, the card looks like an individual business, not of agency the other remarked perhaps a fallout with boss. "And you know how Mrs Mehta is" He added. "There she is. Hey, Swara!"

Sanskaar turned back to catch a glimpse of a tiny elfin woman dressed in a light pink shirt and black trousers, Her hair set loose, she walked straight up to them with a smile. Greetings did, they got into a little chat.

Pleasing words, friendly approach and she's got a charming personality, Sanskaar thought sipping his drink. In these years of business, he has learnt the knack of assessing people. Words, actions, body language and eyes many giveaway basic nature and intent of a person. All one need to learn is to take the right cues. And Sanskaar ranked himself considerably high in that department.

Then came her boss. One look at Mrs Mehta, he knew she's not the same in and out. He was quick to catch her smile turn to sneer as they excused themselves. He usually wouldn't have eavesdropped but he sensed trouble brewing. Few more minutes, he had a clear picture.

He had to admit, he quite liked the fighting spirit of Miss Bose, her confidence, courage in calling a spade a spade despite consequences. Impressive. Good at work. Good at ethics. He liked that. He dropped the idea of calling an agency not after he caught on tie-ups. There's a big picture to it, he concluded. He didn't want leaks, but he needs help for sure.

The card played between his fingers rested in his palm. Sanskaar cast a long glance on the name and contact details.

Could she be the one? Well, He's gonna figure that out.

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Meet in the next chapter! Thanks for reading. Do let me know your thoughts.

Love

Lucky.