Chapter – 2 – Can we love someone so deeply?
New York
"May I come in sir?" Mike asked while opening the glass door slightly.

"Yes" voice came from inside. Mike entered the cabin and saw his boss working on his MacBook with dedication. 

He saw thin line of worry on his forehead, dark circles and pale face showing his boss again had a sleepless night. Even with pale face and dark circles, his boss has look which can flatten any girl. But he knows that his boss is not at all interested in these things he is reserved, calm, humble but workaholic. 

Its 11:30 PM at NewYork that too during December, light snow is going on outside, Xmas is on its way, but his boss has full concentration on his MacBook looking at annual results of his company to be presented at Annual General Meeting.

"Mike, is the first draft for the contract with Mr. John ready? Do we have any comments from legal team?" Mike heard him when his boss was typing something on mac. 

"Yes sir, legal team has added few comments about amount disbursement time interval clause. And I have asked Rachel to get those comments accommodated on the draft we will have final draft ready by tomorrow morning". Mike replied with professionalism.

"Ok." That's what his boss replied. Sanskar just checked his iWatch showing its already 11:30, "you are still here, don't you want to go home?" Sanskar asked Mike while looking at him. 

"Yes sir, but you are here at office so I will leave once you head towards your home". Mike treats his boss as his elder brother, last two years he is working with Sanskar. He knows for outer word he shows that he is stone hearted but for his closed ones he is very caring. 

"I am also leaving with in next 5-10 mins". Saying this he picks up landline and dial number and said "David please bring car at entrance" after saying this he put down the receiver. He finished his document save it and close his mac. 

He gets up from table while taking his coat, packed his stuff and while typing something on phone he left the cabin. Behind Sanskar, Mike also left the cabin.

Sanskar came out of the main entrance of the building and looked outside snow fall is still going on, temperature is quite chilly. He looked upwards raised his hand and some snowflakes land on his palm, small smile appears on his face. "Winter is coming, your favourite season". Meanwhile David brought the car in front of him. Sanskar sat in the car and went from there to his house or their house. Their home, sweet home sweet.

Black Porsche entered the main gate, crossing grass fields it stopped at the main entrance of the bungalow. It's a beautiful two storey home painted with white colour from outside with mostly large glass windows. He came out and ring the bell of main door. A lady who is nearly 55 years opened the gate. She took Sanskar's coat and kept it on the closet. 

"Sir please get freshen up I will set dinner table" Rosa said politely. 

"No, I am not hungry" Sanskar said and went upstairs to his room.

He entered their room, which has grey shade of colour with white furniture of king size bed and sofa set showing the elegance. Room has huge balcony, walking closets with dressing room attached bathroom. There was a huge couple pic above a king size bed with smiling faces, anybody who see this picture can figure out this couple is madly in love with each other. 

Sanskar came after some time in his night t-shirt and track pant from bathroom while rubbing his hairs with towel. "How was your day?" he asked smiling. "I was too much busy sorry I am late." He said looking at the pic. He is staring the picture which has a girl and boy. 

A girl, his love his life, the game he started at the initial days of their university years turned into love. Yes, he fall for her, earlier he thought this could be his infatuation but slowly he understood this girl became the his life, without her, he cannot even breath. For her only he fought with his dear Bade Papa, left his house, disconnect himself from his mom and badi ma. But today that girl is no more in this world, three years back she left him and went into the different world from where she can never come back to him.

At Maheshwari Mansion
DP opened the door of the room, he entered inside, room was cleaned and neatly organised. Nobody can say the owner of the room has left the house three years back. Yes, it was Sanskar's room. 

DP was looking at the pic above the bed, this pic was clicked when Sanskar topped at his board exams and earned scholarship to Howard university for further studies of Engineering. His plan was clear first Engineering then MBA. Sanskar holding trophy and his dear bade papa beside him with proud feel, holding his nephew by his shoulders. Both had huge smile on their faces. 

"Why did you leave me alone?" DP murmured while caressing Sanskar's face. "I miss you my son. Today there was Roka ceremony for Laksh and Swara, don't think that I accepted Swara even though she is Bengali because Laksh is my son and did not approve your love. I was angry that you did not tell me that you were in love from past 3 years. You married her without telling me, you were scared of me, my Sanskar was scared of my reaction. My own shadow distrust me that hurt me. My Sanskar did not believe me enough to share his choice with me. My ego hurt, hearing that my Sanskar did not tell me the biggest truth of his life. I got to know it from someone else. Why Sanskar? If you would have told me I would have accepted it" DP was crying. He was missing his son. "Nothing was important to me than you. Please come back home, your bade papa needs you". 

Annapurna was standing at the door with tears rolling from her cheeks watching the helplessness of her husband. She knows how much her husband is incomplete without her nephew.

After Sanskar left there were so many changes to their life, Lakshmi Maheshwari could not bear the loss of her favourite grandson. She locked herself in her room, stopped talking to DP, she died with heart attack after two weeks. DP became more reserved, silent. One can say he stopped living he was just breathing. Ram trying to be strong for Sujata. He was blaming himself that he could not understand his own son and raised hand on him that day because his son went against his Bhaisa. If Ram would have acted sensibly, they would be a happy family today. Sujata used to keep herself busy in her loving son's memory. Earlier she was chatterbox, but now one cannot even notice that she is there at the home. She keeps on staring the phone whole day thinking her son will give her a call and she would at least be able to hear his voice. Annapurna being a strong lady trying hard to hold her breaking family. Laksh still blames himself about the blunder he created that night. The whole Maheshwari mansion has lost its charm three years back.

At kalibadi
"Swara, let's go we need to go for shopping, Laksh is waiting outside we need to select ring for your engagement" Ragini chided with excitement. 

It was decided that engagement will happen after three weeks followed by sangeet, mehndi, haldi and shaadi. All these functions will be private functions whereas Maheshwari's will be hosting grand reception post marriage.

"Ma can we postpone the marriage dates, just with in next three weeks it's too early. I guess I am not ready for early marriage" Swara said to Sharmishtha. 

"Are you mad Swara, what do you mean by you are not ready, common you are getting married with Laksh, he loves you so much. Just smile and be happy." Ragini replied before Sharmishtha say something. 

Sharmishtha just smiled and nodded with agreement. Ragini dragged Swara out of the house, Laksh was waiting for them outside.

"What happened to Shoru?" Dida asked Sharmishtha. 

"Nothing ma, she is just little confused with the marriage proceedings, she thinks this is too early. You know those bride's nervousness kind of thing" Sharmishtha said while arranging the thali for evening arti. 

"Surely, something is bothering her but what it is" dida thought. "Even I think it is too early for their marriage, Swara and Laksh should know each other before marriage." Dida said loudly. 

"Arre Shobha this all things happen in Bengalis but not in Marwaris. Once boy agrees for marriage, we don't waste time just tie them together, and Swara has got the best sasural, why you are not understanding it?" Dadi said to Dida. Dida keep on thinking about Swara, how she can bring the old Swara who used to be so chirpy and bubbly.

At Maheshwari Mansion
It was first time for Swara to step in Maheshwari Mansion, it's a huge mansion with its own glory and elegance. Swara, Ragini along with Laksh came to MM, Annapurna and Sujata welcomed them. 

"Did you select the ring beta?" Annapurna asked Swara while caressing her hair. 

"Yes aunty" Swara replied with smile. She took the blessings of Annapurna and Sujata. 

"I hope Swara you would have chosen the most expensive ring form store?" Pari said teasingly while entering at the hall with orange juice glasses for all. 

"Haan Bhabhi accha hota agar aap Lucky bhai ka pura bank balance khatm kar dete" Uttara joined the teasing session. Laksh hit Uttara's head while making faces. Laksh gets a call so he goes from hall leaving all ladies for their shopping discussions.

"Bhabhi come I will show you your future home and especially your room I mean Laksh bhai's room." Uttara said. 

"Haan I also want to see Lakshji's room I mean my jiju's room" Ragini said. 

After some time, Uttara and Pari took Swara and Ragini to their home tour, they showed them kitchen, house temple, Gym area, small theatre, dining area, outside Patio, family room, study room, DP AP's room, then they went upstairs, Sujata and Ram's room, Pari showed them their room where as Uttara was excited to show her room. 

"Now the most awaited part of this tour, Laksh Bhai's room" Uttara said. "Taddaaaa" saying this Uttara opened the room door.

Swara examined the room neatly organised, with some furniture and bed with adjacent bathroom and balcony. "This is gonna be my room after three weeks, I am gonna spend my entire life in this room. Me and Laksh happily married. But still why I am nervous, I am not excited about this marriage. Ma is right I am facing those Wedding nerves." Swara shake her head while thinking. Her thoughts got disturb when Ragini's phone started ringing. They came out of the room and started to walk through corridor. Ragini and Uttara went ahead while talking, whereas Swara was walking with Pari.

"Are kaka aap ne aaj Sanskar ke room ke flower change nahi kiye?" Pari asked Shankar kaka. 

"Haan badi bahu abhi karata hun" Shankar kaka said. 

Swara halted at the spot with Pari's voice. She was confused who is this Sanskar? She never met him. Is he a family member living in this house then how come nobody introduced him to her? 

"Are Swara what happened? Are you ok? You look confused?" Pari said while looking at Swara's confused face. 

"Nothing Bhabi I am fine" Swara said while looking at the door which is closed now and asked with curiosity. 

"Bhabhi who is Sanskar?". That one question brought tears on Pari's eyes. She looked at Swara with pain-stricken face.

"Sanskar, elder son of Chacha and Chachi. Uttara's elder brother." Pari said while opening the room door of Sanskar's room. 

"Ohh where is he, I have never met him." Swara said. 

"We don't know where he is." This sentence pinch Swara's heart. How come they don't know one of the family member. 

"I met him during my wedding to Adi 5 years back. He attended our wedding. He was in US for his studies, He was visiting India just to attend our weeding. He had completed his engineering and have got admission for MBA that time. He were here for couple of weeks due to his vacations." Pari said while looking at his picture on the wall. 

"He was full of life, pride of Papa & Chachaji, lovely son of Ma and Chachi, naughty brother of Adi, Laksh, and Uttara. After 2 years of my marriage when he was coming back after finishing his MBA my parents wanted my little sister Payal to get married with Sanskar. They proposed this alliance to Papa, Papa accepted the alliance and decided to go ahead with engagement ceremony once Sanskar will be back as he was going to come within a week or two. We all decided to keep it secret from him even though Papa was hesitant with this secret game. When he came, we had already made all arrangement for his Roka with Payal. Firstly, I think he got confused but then when he realised, he refused to go ahead with ceremony asking some time to think, which we all accepted. But two days later Laksh came to know about Sanskar being in love with Bengali girl whom he met in US and is in relation with her from past 3 to 4 years."

"Sanskar asked him to keep quiet, he will talk to Bade Papa about this. But then everything got turned around that day Laksh went to his friend's birthday party and returned home in drunk state. Papa was angry with him and shouting at Laksh that he needs to be responsible and mature, he is no more a kid now and he should behave like Sanskar. Laksh lost his control and spills Sanskar secret being in love with Bengali girl and he also said that Sanskar have married to the girl back in US since he does not have any trust on the family that they will accept their relation. Everybody was stupefied with this revelation. First Sanskar tried to explain everything to Papa and Chachaji, but then nobody was ready to understand each other point of view. All family members were hurt with the revelation. There was huge rift between Papa and Sanskar, they had fought with each other and said all those nasty things which should not have been spill out. This results in Sanskar leaving the house."

"We thought since he is also hot tempered like Papa, he will be back after some time, but no he never came back. After two days we got a call from police station that they have found Sanskar's car abandoned on the Howrah bridge, everybody started searching for him but no clue. Police traced him at the local hospital of nearby village, he was admitted there, some villagers found him drowning in the river. They saved him and admitted him at hospital. When we reached there, we were told by the staff that he had already left, before leaving he was shouting at the hospital staff and police about the girl who was with him. Police declared that they have not found anyone. He just rushed outside for searching her. Three days after Chachi got a letter from Sanskar that he is leaving India and going somewhere, and we should not search for him." Pari said with her unshed tears.

"What happened to that girl are they together, happily married?" Swara asked looking at Sanskar pic. 

"She is no more." Pari said shocking Swara she looked at Pari with wide eyes. 

"I also don't know exactly but as per his letter, he said he has lost his love, the girl which Sanskar was searching found dead, in the same river few kilometers away from where villagers found Sanskar. He loved her so much that today also he is in love with her and did not move on still living with her memories after so many years. Sometimes he gives a call to Chachi and Ma, they both asked him several times to come home or at least move on, but he is not ready for either." Pari said. 

"Can we love someone so deeply?" this was the question Swara asked herself while staring at Sanskar' pic

Precap -Ms.Bose you are going to have my all attention