Chapter – 11 - What should I call you a friend or betrayer?

"Swara, what are you doing? I am calling you from so long" Sanskar was standing at kitchen entrance with all ready in his black suit and tie in his left hand. 

Swara along with Maheshwari ladies working in kitchen for preparing breakfast. Annapurna and Sujata gave a quick glance at him where as Pari chuckled while cutting coriander leaves. Swara widen her eyes and gave a death glare to Sanskar while her cheeks have become cherry red due to excessive blushing. 

"What do you need? Tell Ramesh whatever you want. I am busy, I cannot come my puris will get burn" Swara said ignoring Sanskar. 

"Then who will do this? You know I cannot make knot for my tie" Sanskar said while making pout. 

"Swara why don't you help him out? See he might be getting late. I will look after puris." Pari said with teasing smile. 

This has become their routine from last two weeks.

"Why did you come downstairs? Badi ma, Mom, Bhabhi all will tease me a lot once you leave for office." Swara said while tying his tie in complaining tone. 

"And by the way I had already made knot and kept it besides your suit then.... you did it purposefully na?" Swara said with fake anger hitting him on his arm. 

"Come on Shona, how can I miss chance to romance with you?" Sanskar said while encircling his arms around her waist and pulling her closer to his chest. 

Swara was lost looking in his eyes, Sanskar bend a little and gave feathery kiss on her cheeks. 

"I love you Shona" Sanskar mumbled on her cheeks. 

Swara was melting in his touch she wanted more and more from him. But they were standing near dining hall, and this will be not a good place, anybody can come here at any moment since its already 9.am breakfast time. She needs to control him else Maheshwari family will get one more reason to tease the love bird couple. 

"Sanskar please we are in dining hall, somebody will come." Swara said breathing heavily. Hearing Swara's voice Sanskar gains his senses and realises their position and place where they are standing. He releases his hold on her and look here and there. Swara smiled and leave from there. 

"Sanskar" Swara called him, Sanskar turned and looked at Swara, she gave him flying kiss, and said "I Love You" without voice. "Me too" Sanskar copied her with smile.

Ragini was watching them with tears in her eyes, she wanted such moments with Laksh. In these last two weeks she was observing Swara and Sanskar from last two weeks, the way Sanskar care for her, their little romance by holding each other hand under dining table during breakfast or dinner, how Sanskar is dependent on her for all small things, when Sanskar is at home all time he has his eyes on her, his possessiveness towards her, the way he cherish her and make her smile all these Ragini dream with Laksh. Ragini was feeling jealous with Swara, every time Swara gets what Ragini desire for.

"Today its been two weeks Swara is still there at ladoo's house, Shekhar we need to do something. I talked to her she was not sounding happy, she was disturbed." Dadi said to Shekhar. 

Shekhar was sipping his tea. "Ma I think Swara is saying truth, I mean why will Sanskar and she.." Sharmishtha was cut by Shekhar "Don't worry Ma I will talk to DP ji. Two days later there is Makar Sankranti, Ragini's first festival after marriage. Some people just act that they love my daughter but in reality...." Shekhar left his sentence incomplete.

It was 1 am and Sanskar's driver parked the car in the parking area, he entered his room all tired. He was in dinner meeting with his clients, he has already asked Swara to finish her dinner and sleep. But when he entered his room there was no one in room, he was expecting Swara to be in bed in deep sleep. He kept his laptop bag on couch and went in balcony, Swara was standing there but what took his breath away the sight in front of him Swara was looking at stars wearing beautiful black colour saree with red border and red deep neck blouse. Sanskar took slow steps almost moving in trance. He called her, her heart flutter, she tightens her grip on the railings but still did not move her gaze from stars.

 Sanskar came and stood behind her, he called her one more time "Shona". She closed her eyes and turned towards him with lowering her face. Sanskar raised her face holding her chin with his two fingers. She opened her eyes and found herself lost in enchanted pools of love and passion of his eyes. Sanskar leaned forward and touched her lips with his for a kiss that marked the night of their mutual surrender. Soft murmurs, deep moans filled the room as their naked bodies met and melted together. They discovered each other sensuously and declared their love for each other in the most expressive way. When he took her, she cried his name, arched up closing tight around him.

It was after some hours Sanskar was staring at his Swara, wrapped in single sheet, with smeared sindoor, hairs spilled over pillow, swollen lips, cherry red cheeks she was looking divine to him. 

"Did I hurt you? Are you ok?" Sanskar asked softly while caressing her cheeks and brushed away loose tendrils off her face. 

"You can never hurt me, you meant to love me" Swara said feeling blessed to have husband like him. 

"I love you Shona" saying this Sanskar kissed her forehead and lie down on his back and he took her in his arms. 

"I love you too Sanskar" Swara said snuggling more to him. She was drawing patterns on his bare chest. They both were silent but still speaking a lot.

"What are you saying Sanskar?" DP was shocked to learn Swara's missing case updates, he sat on the chair with thud. 

Sanskar messaged him to meet at study to discuss something very urgent. DP had observed Sanskar when he came back from office, he was disturbed. Even Swara asked him but he gave her some lame excuse. In morning when SP Chatterjji messaged Sanskar to meet him. Sanskar went to meet SP, and the revelation from SP made him numb. 

"Yes Bade Papa, its Ragini...." Sanskar looked at DP and continued "Police found video footage from the club which has one person taking Swara to that club wearing burkha, but video capture the taxi number from which Swara and that other person got down, and with that number they traced it was uber taxi, when contacted with uber they informed the taxi was booked by Ragini's phone number. Also, on the time when Swara was there at Ghat police looked for known active cell number. It was again Ragini. They have more proofs against her, it's because our family name is involved, they wanted us to discuss and confirm." Sanskar said while sitting in front of DP. 

"What do you want to do?" DP asked Sanskar after long pause, while looking at him. 

"I don't know, if it would have been someone else, I would have killed him or her for harming Swara, but its Ragini, Laksh life is involved. After all whatever happened with him it's difficult for him to overcome but still, he is trying to move on with her but now this truth will break him completely Bade Papa." Sanskar said feeling helpless, he had tears in his eyes thinking about his little brothers' fate. 

He loved one girl who was his brother's love and wife, he married to another girl who tried to harm his first love. Whether god had written true love and happiness in his life or not. There was complete silence in the study, DP left a heavy sigh.

"Ragini's fate will be decided by Swara and Laksh. Tomorrow its Makar Sankranti, Gaododia family will also be here at home, ask SP to come with proofs." DP said while getting up from chair. 

"Bade Papa" Sanskar said while widening his eyes. 

"Laksh needs to understand Sanskar that if he takes life's decision in haste what will be their results, he decided to marry Ragini in the heat of moment, without thinking much. May be this incidence will make him more responsible towards his life. And whatever it is Ragini has committed crime for which she will get punishment." DP said and walked out of study.

'I need to talk to Sanskar he looked disturb' Swara thought while climbing stairs. When Swara entered her room she saw Sanskar is already sleeping, Swara was busy with Maheshwari ladies for next day's puja.

She came out from washroom in her night gown lie down on the bed. She caressed his hairs not disturbing his sleep kissed his forehead and said, 'I love you' and slept snuggling him. After some time Sanskar opened his eyes, he was caressing Swara hairs. She was in deep sleep and had beautiful smile on her face.

'I am sorry Shona, I acted like I am sleeping, but what should I do, if I was awake you would I asked me questions for which I don't know what the answers should be. I just don't want to see tears in your eyes. I don't know how am I going to handle you and Laksh tomorrow.'

"This is what you always wanted, am I right Swara?" Ragini said with tears and anger in her eyes.

Next day when Gadodia & Dida came followed by SP Chatterjii everybody was astonished with his appearance. Once police were there DP asked SP Chatterjii to reveal the truth behind Swara's missing on her so-called marriage day. Gadodia's and Maheshwari's were shocked, would have been an understatement. 

Sanskar hold Swara by shoulders, she had tears in her eyes. She was never close to Ragini but in last couple of years she was looking forward for her relationship with Ragini not as sister but as a friend. And now Swara was feeling soft corner for Ragini post her marriage with Laksh. But Ragini tried to defame her, betray her, killed her.

Laksh was beyond shock to say anything after a long pause he asked with teary eyes with calm tone to Ragini "Why Ragini?....Why?" He could not believe the girl who looked so pure and timid can plan to kill her own sister. 

"Because I love you Laksh, from day one" Ragini mumbled. "and how easily you said you love Swara and want to get married with her. Swara always got everything whereas I never got whatever I desired. I only desired one thing from my heart desperately and that is you Laksh but she snatched you also from me, how can I let her do this?" Ragini said while holding Laksh hand. 

"Swara never loved me, she was always in love with Bhai even when Bhai was not here and she was not remembering anything." Laksh said while releasing Ragini's grip over his hand. 

"Ragini we loved you so much and how can you do this with us with Swara? She is your sister." Sujata said with tears in her eyes and continued "How can you stoop this low?"

"Swara beta, why are you not saying anything? Ragini is your and Laksh culprit you both needs to decide her fate, whatever decision you both will take that will be my final decision." Dp said caressing Swara's hair, she was standing besides Sanskar and he was holding her with shoulders. Sanskar knew how much Swara would be broken by the revelation.

"DP ji I understand Ragini has done a very big mistake, but can you please forgive her, she is your daughter in law, Laksh's wife. I beg you DP ji, please lets sort out this as family matter, why to include police? It will bring embarrassment for both families." Shekhar said while folding his hands and bowing his head. 

DP looked at SP and asked him to wait outside. 

"Shekhar ji Ragni's fate is in Swara and Laksh's hand since she has hurt them the most." DP said looking straight.

"What should I call you Ragini a friend or a betrayer?" Swara said while wipping her tears. 

"You wanted me out of your life so you can get Laksh's love, but I never loved him, it was always Sanskar who had hold on my heart even though my brain forgot him, but my heart used to beat only for him. I was never ready for marriage with Laksh you convinced me to say yes for this. Why? You should have left all the things the ways they were. But still I will be always thankful to you that because of you I got my Sanskar, my life back. I considered last two weeks who ever unintentionally hit me on the Ghat was like god gifted person for me." Swara continued while looking at DP. 

"Bade Papa how can I decide her fate, when I got my life back due to her action, even though she betrayed me. Its Laksh who needs to decide her fate, not me." Swara stepped back and stands beside Sanskar. 

Sanskar looked at her and hold her hand in assurance.

"I need time" Laksh said and left from hall leaving everybody. 

"Lucky" Sanskar said and went behind Laksh, before going he just gave a glance at Swara to check if she is ok or not. She just nodded her head in agreement.

Precap – I will make him come back
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Hey readers
Please let me know in comments do you like Sanskar's and Swara's character? If yes then what shade of their attitude you like the most?