Hello people

I am back with next update.
You will have a full view of Swaras back story and few answers .

Happy reading .
Please ignore any errors or typos found.
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Numb, was what he felt the moment those words hit him, the impact of it landing on him with a  thud. She stepped back from his hold and whirled away. And he stood right at that place, too shocked to process.

6 months ? just 6 months. And against it weighed his 5-year-old pain...and with that came shame, guilt, that every word he hurled, biting back at him. He wanted to rush behind her, but he knew it better than to invade a personal moment where pain becomes your best friend..where you would want to grieve alone.  He thought she was grating his old wounds but it was him … who resurfaced her pain with his cruelty. He wanted to hurt her like she was hurting him, it was anger that took over him … but …he didn't mean to … 

His eyes squeezed shut as pain raked through him.

He stood watching the closed door of her room knowing nothing he would say or do would mean a thing at this moment. 

“I am sorry, Swara”  Those words came as a murmur. He would say them aloud tomorrow.

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Swara stifled her sobs as she sank herself down, curled up in the comfort that cushion on the balcony offered at the moment. She didn't want to disturb Tara, having a dreamy peaceful sleep, she didn't want to wake her up to the pain, misery, and sufferings of this world. She vowed to protect her …save her from this cruel way of the world. 

A promise she made to her dying sister …holding her bloodied hand. Her dear sister, Asha

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They were a happy family of 4, a simple, self-sufficient middle-class family.Her dad Sekhar bose had a small garment business. Her mother Sharmistha taught kids at home and her sister Asha … 4 years older. … was her best friend and partner in crime and Swara wished they had stayed that way.

But Fate and its way are strange. 

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Losing Sharmistha to a prolonged illness was the biggest blow they endured as if everything had scattered and fallen into pieces. She still recalled the comfort of her sister’s hands, when she wiped tears holding back her own.

“Shona main hoon na … Tumhari didi hain tumhare saath”. And she had been there all while, donning the roles of a sister, mother, and her best friend.  It was a moment of pride when Asha landed her first job. The excitement as she  tossed sweets …and they had a simple celebration with home-cooked food and Ice cream,

“Baba .. ab main bhi aapki madat karungi.” She held Sekhar's hand and Swara beamed with pride as Sekhar gave a loving pat …“Your mom would be so proud of you” He replied fondly.

“I will make you both proud too..one day”, Swara promised herself.

They could have stayed that way …if not for that monster who walked into their lives with a mask. Her sister's husband. Falling in love is a beautiful experience, the romantic heart would never deny it, but with the wrong person .. the dream would simply turn into a nightmare.

It did for her sister.

Sahil absolutely came across as well educated, with a handsome job, and a good person when they met him for the first time, a nice person who cared for his loved ones.

 It had been one sweet match of Office Colleagues turned lovers … and they hadn't been happier. But soon the reality surfaced.

1 year passed happily. And he fell into bad ways.  First, he had quit his job owing to a little disagreement with his boss. “ That scumbag thinks he owns me, just because he is paying me a check at the end of every month. Wait till I set up my business. I will eat him up …”  He declared.

He burned all his savings …despite protests from Asha and when his partners dunked him … all he did was to curse and get drunk. Drinking turned into a daily ritual so did gambling. Easy money was his target. Her every plea fell on deaf ears. He demanded money and when she refused to let him have his way, he abused her.

“You feel superior don’t you? that you hold a job .. acting as if I am feeding off your money. You bitch! Let me get my hands on a jackpot …For sure I am gonna win this time. Then I will show you.” He gritted his teeth and hurled abuses.

She bore all the emotional torture and didn't let a bird know of her state, let alone her family but one night, he raised his hand and the abuse turned physical. 

She packed her bags and left.

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A bruised eye and sting marks on her cheeks were how she walked in that night into Bose's house. As she narrated the horror, her husband has turned into…

“I am not going back, Baba, Please. I can fend for myself. I am not going back to that monster. He didn't even spare me when I told him I was …  Her tears spilled as she fell into the arms of Swara. “  I was… pregnant. I had a narrow escape. If not. I” Her words turned into sobs as Swara wrapped her into a gentle soothing hold. “I am sorry, I was wrong. I should have told you this earlier, but I thought he would change …. But I was wrong ..so wrong.”

“Ye tera ghar tha , hain aur hamesha rahega.” Sekhar cradled her. No one would mess with his daughter. He needs to have a word with Sahil.

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Asha took a few weeks to recover …   She joined back her job which she took a little break from and Swara loved their evening sessions post her internship hours when they would cook together like old days…spend hours talking. Soon, Swara found a job in her much-aspired field. And when Tara came into their life after a few months everything just became more beautiful. 

Swara smiled through the tears recalling the moment she held this little bundle of joy in her hands for the first time. The pull and rush of love she felt for her niece.. Her internship offered her more hours with Tara while Asha was at her work trying to build a safe and secure future for ‘little one’

Asha shared her plans to apply for divorce after a few weeks. She didn't want to take stress during pregnancy hence she held back ..but now, it needed to be done.

Sekhar protested mildly, “ Wait for a few more days. He might come around, ''he said hopefully.

While Asha was intent, she had always adhered to her dad's words. She will wait just for a few more days and broach the topic again. but she had no intention of going back to her husband. 

Just when everything was falling back into place .. Asha landed on a document of their house mortgage.  That was the only piece of property they owned.  When confronted, Sekhar confessed the same and it was nothing less than shock when Asha realized the money was handed over to her husband.

“He was so sorry when I met him. Shekar tried to explain,” He said he was frustrated because he was trying to build a good life for you and the kid and nothing was working out. All he needed was some financial help for him to get going. I did what I thought was best …for you. He promised he would come back and get you both.  Everything would be fine again. Do you think I can stand and watch my daughter destroying her life-giving into momentary madness?  I know you would never agree .. iss liye …Trust me beta … sab theek ho jayega.”

“Kuch theek nahi hoga Baba. He would never come back until he runs out of that money. I have seen him and know him closely. He wouldn’t. You believed his words over mine. It's all because you didn't like your married daughter getting out of a troublesome marriage, because you can't stand up to a society that always sides with Men. I am not immune to all talks going around Baba, I know and I have heard enough of ‘issi ne kuch kiya hoga’ , ‘iski pati ne isse chod diya’ aur bahut kuch ….but I wasn't hurt then, because I was prepared for all this … but this from you Baba…Never !” 

Disappointment would no way come close to what Asha felt at that moment. She felt betrayed.

Swara stood right there holding Tara. That was the only comfort she felt watching the confrontation unfolding before her eyes. She felt mad at her baba for letting her sister down, for siding with the wrong person And for once wished, Her baba had been strong enough. She would have killed Sahil if she found him anywhere near.

Asha didn’t budge to Sekhar’s explanations. “He manipulated you baba, and we have to figure out a way out of this and I am applying for divorce, '' she declared leaving no chance for Sekhar this time. 

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“Di you are so strong,” Swara told her that night.

“No Shona! Situations made me strong. You know, at one point, I wasn't sure. I thought that would be the way my life would end. Weak, victimized, Trying to compromise hoping things to get better,” She shuddered to recall the nightmare she sustained. “But I think it comes down to the choices we make. There are always two paths in life … for better or worse. I chose mine.”

Maybe those words have been imprinted on her heart and mind, Swara always chose to look at the better and brighter side.

And it was just after a week, on their way to the lawyer, Asha and Sekhar met with an accident that claimed their lives. Sekhar died even before he could make it to medical help while Asha fought for those last few minutes.

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Oh! How could she forget, the call, the hospital … that blood sprawled over, the smiling faces now frozen, those eyes staring at her lifeless…

Those last words of her sister before she breathed last 

“Tara is yours”

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She was left with nothing, no one other than one little life who cries calling for her mother to have her torn apart. And she cried along, grieved days and nights before she picked back her life before she made a choice to fight back at everything that life had thrown at her.

Days passed to months …and she picked those pieces trying to make them whole. Thankfully Tara was used to her … and she was too young to understand. Her ‘maasi’  always ended up as ‘Maa’ which her sister and Swara had a hearty laugh about in the past. She embraced her fate and chose to live … Life might have broken her, but it gave her something beautiful to live on.

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And now everything came back to her rushing … all the loss. She managed to put up a brave front before Mr.Maheshwari, walked back to her room, head held straight, only till she shut the door. Then her feet gave up and she crumbled.

She cried till her tears dried off and she didn't realize it when she walked lifelessly to the bed and slipped into deep slumber holding her little lifeline…

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Sanskaar stood outside their room, torn between need to talk to Swara and leaving her alone. Sleep wouldn't come to him, not after what he did. He waited right on the couch, his eyes never leaving the sight of the locked door, with a flickering hope. Hope died slowly as his eyes gave up.

It was in the morning he woke up a frantic Mrs. Braganza, who gave the news of Swara packing to leave

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