Hey all,

Back with an early update. Happy Reading.

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It didn't take much time for Sanskaar to deduce Swara's fangirling over him. Every morning he walked in, her eyes would lit up. A smile back, she would go all mushy. Together at work, She would steal glances in between and would avert eyes when caught in the act, much to his amusement.

A word of appreciation, he would be gifted with beaming smiles and little dance outside cabin, probably assuming she's out of his sight. A simple compliment, she blushed profusely. It was written all over her face and in the eyes the neon glowing letters in bold shouting 'TU MERA HERO, and he loved every bit of it. He had always been immune to the attention of women, nothing exciting or new, right from his college days. For the first time, he didn't mind having someone crush over him. Swara literally made him feel like a 'star'

And her work, with each passing day, he was thoroughly impressed. He didn't have an ounce of doubt, Swara would be soon employed with Maheswari group and has potential to make it big. He will definitely make sure of that. He always respected dedication, hard work, and talent. Miss Bose have them in abundance.

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Soon he had a burning concern. Miss Bose and her love for chocolates. He was sure, she carried a bag full of them and would munch on one or two literally every hour. Too much of chocolate? Nah! He decided to address it.

One day after finalizing his schedule for next coming days, He started off casually.

"Swara, Do you have cavities?"

"Huh? What!" was Swara's unspoken question. Her Face made it clear.

" I mean, the amount of chocolate you eat..." Sanskaar paused.

Swara nodded like she got his point. "Oh! I can't have cavities," came her prompt confident reply. Can't have? Matlab? Before Sanskaar could ponder further, "Because I use Colgate." She finished with a flashy smile.

Sanskaar gave her a blank stare first then burst into a laugh so hard, he literally had to hold desk not to fall off from the chair. For a minute Swara looked at him struck. He looked like same carefree 'sunny' back in college days with the cute, boyish charm. Then she realized, he was laughing at her.

Sanskaar was quick to note the change of expression. Oh! Miss Bose can pout too, How cute!. But she would be upset soon. He can see that. He stifled his laugh, " I am sorry, Swara. I am just not used to having someone so lively as you around me." He meant it. Swara Bose was like a burst of freshness, a dash of madness to his otherwise mundane life.

That brought a smile back on her face.

"So my dear expert! What if I use some other paste like Close- up."Sanskaar asked still not believing he was having such a silly discussion with his lovable intern, but it was fun.

Taking their discussion quite seriously, "Well! They never talk about cavities.it's only about fresh breath. So if you have a sweet tooth and planning to have chocolates, I think it's time to switch." Swara offered her expert advice.

"Noted! Thank you. I will keep this in mind." Sanskaar nodded, trying hard not to giggle.

"Welcome!"

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"I mean .. she's so cute yaar lucky. She's like one of those antique pieces. Uski baatein, uski harkatein. She's like those little kids jo choti choti baaton pe khush ho jaate hain and you know what happened yesterday...."

Laksh watched an excited Sanskaar talking about his intern from past 25 minutes and didn't seem in any mood to stop, add an extra 10 minutes for, 'she makes awesome coffee' ;10 more for 'she's very talented.'

He over abused the word 'cute' already and was on his way to do the same with 'sweet'. Finally, someone who could pull Sanskaar out of his 'masked girl' trance. Laksh wiped his imaginary tears. Little mercies.

Sanskaar shook his head. There he goes again another antique piece with his dramatics." I told you, not to join that theatre and drama classes in college, Lucky. Look at you. You still have that hangover."

"Let's talk about your hangover ,brother," Laksh countered, "utar gayi na. Thank God! nahi tho do saal, I mean do saal pakaya tune mujhe with your 'mere sapno ki rani kab aayegi tu' concept. I have right to shed these tears of happiness. Finally, I am free and You found the one who..."

"Relax, Lucky!" Sanskaar cut him in between, "Aisa kuch nahi hain.And if you think I am letting go of my masked girl. You are wrong. Never!...Woh toh main bas aisi hain Swara ke baare main..."

"Oh Really! Bas aise hi? So When was last time you called someone cute?"Laksh shot back. He wasn't in a mood to let go of this opportunity. This girl, whoever it was, looked like a good start to pull his bestie out of the imaginary world ."When was the last time you talked about some other girl?"

Sanskaar tried to brush off. "It's just, I am working with her most of the time... Iss liye."

"Well! You have been working with Rosy from past 2 years. You never talked about her. It's just been weeks and all I am hearing now are 'Chronicles of Miss Bose and her cute antics' from past 30 minutes non-stop and you were smiling like an idiot talking about her."

"No! "

"Oh Yes! I was about to say you blushed too."

'!Rubbish! No way !'

"Admit it or not Sunny. You like her." Laksh concluded. Sanskaar wanted to deny, He did for next few days.But then came one moment, he could no longer.

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It was on one of the evenings when they had to stay late owing to his meetings. He offered to drop. Swara refused but Sanskaar was highly insistent. Swara had to oblige at the end.

She followed him quietly with mixed feelings of anticipation, excitement, and tinge of nervousness. This is something straight out of her wish list. A long drive. What if it is not one of those romantic ones, she dreamt of. Holding hands, leaning on his shoulder with a nice lovey-dovey number playing in the background and yes! they were kisses too. Swara blushed at her thoughts.

Get a hold Swara! You are going in the same car with your sunny. That should be enough. Don't dream much.

The sight of his Mercedes snapped out of her musings. Such a beauty in black and classy. He opened the door for her, a small gesture that left her all warm and gooey from inside. Such a gentleman. Not words, but these little actions are what matters. Manners and Manliness go hand in hand, True!.

As she sank in the soft seat, the door closed very gently. Her heart skipped a beat when he leaned down to the window."Make yourself comfortable", He said with a smile. Swara nodded a little breathless.

She drew in a deep breath as he slipped in next to her. The interior light was on and Swara couldn't help but steal a sight of him for a few more minutes. As if he didn't look enough sexy with a slightly loosened tie around the collar, his fingers running through hair pushing it back and five o'clock shadow over sides on his face ...The temperature in the car was already soaring up.

Hottie.

He asked her to put the seat belt on,'Safety first,' He added, fastening his own. She did too. In a few minutes, they were out on the road.

Comfortable silence hung in for while. He first struck the conversation, asking if she informed her family and apologized for keeping her up this late and promised he would make sure she will be out of office on time.

No more drives! thought a disappointed Swara. This might be first and last. Then he asked about her family and sensed obvious discomfort on Swara's face. He decided not to probe but Swara decided to share. She didn't want to give any wrong impressions. As she gave in details...

"Choti maa?"Sanskaar quizzed.

"I lost my parents, Maa when I was 6 and Baba when I was 15, in an accident." Her face turned grim and sad. That's when Sanskaar realized for the first time, behind the happy go lucky personality of Swara, there's this vulnerable one which she rarely depicted. She looked sad and lost and for one moment, he was very much tempted to reach out to her hand, give a gentle assurance.

But he didn't. He didn't want to look like one taking advantage of her vulnerability. But he had thought of a way to get her out of this gloomy mood.

"Mind If put some music on?" Sanskaar asked his eyes focused on the road. Music had always been his key to relax after a tiring working day.

No, she wouldn't, Swara answered in a low tone. Maybe a bit of music would cheer her up.

"Don't worry, It's not those numbers with lots of noise, beats and all but rather soft ones like..."

"Beethoven!" She gave in and she didn't mind this slip. She knows it's his favorite, it was hers too. How could she forget the day when she mused on their common favorite. He was surprised and she chose to address before his doubts would escalate further "He's my fav. Especially his piano sonatas...I find them very soothing. "

"And very relaxing. What about Bach and Mozart ?" He asked, glad his ploy was working.

"Oh, the violin ones God! they are too good, especially..." Swara jumped in her seat excitedly and they chatted happily over music for a while. Finally, someone he can discuss his favorite, English classical with. Not everyone's cup of tea. He was glad it's her.

Just as another heavenly note played, Swara smiled a little more. The day had been tiring but Beethoven already worked wonders and this particular one. Oh!her fav lullaby."This is just..." Swara sighed happily closing her eyes, sinking more comfortably into the seat, drifting off to her own dreamland.

."I know, Right! It's just..." he turned and was struck by the sight of her. The dim glow of map light gave him a clear view of her soft, delicate features. With closed eyes, a serene smile sneaking on her lips, her silky hair which she chose to let loose rarely, few tendrils swaying slightly over cheeks, She was a sight to behold and ...

'Magic' He murmured softly, utterly lost. He didn't want to blink, didn't wish to.All he knew was he could watch her for hours and hours.

The 'moonlight ' floating in, gently wrapped him more into sight of 'sleeping beauty' right before his eyes, like a spell was being cast. He didn't have the power to resist. His heart seemed to tune an unfamiliar symphony on its own and unconsciously his fingers reached out to brush those loose wisps, Oh! How much wanted to!

From the deepest part of me

There came a melody

Complete with harmony

As my heart played for me

A Symphony

The sound of horn jerked him out. And it hit him, how lost he was! He would have had them killed. He pulled his fingers back, tore his gaze away.

This is Wrong!

He had to drive, he had to focus, He told himself again and again and he did, trying hard not to look at the one seated right next to him, turning his world upside down, every time she was around.

He could bet, it had been the toughest ride of his life, where every minute he struggled with a dying need to look at her and his resolve not to. Oblivious of anything, Swara was lost in her own land. It was only when he softly told they have reached, she realized sleeping during the ride.

She muttered a quick sorry, thanked him and asked if he would like to come in '.Some other time' he told citing it's already late and bid her bye.

A sense of relief? It should have been. Only it was not. He looked at the empty seat and all he felt was a sense of loss. He drove back tangled badly in his growing feelings for his intern.

You like her! Laksh's word struck him back. He didn't deny.

And Beethoven still played, only it was less magical this time.

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Thanks for Reading. If you liked the symphony of Sanskaar's heart, Do let me know. A star and a few words.

Love

Lucky

PS; Link for 'Moonlight Sonata' by Beethoven can be found at the start of Chapter.

The lines mentioned in between and this chapter's title are from "My Heart's Symphony" which is a song written by Glen Hardin and performed by Gary Lewis & the Playboys.

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