She was thinking of that night. Thinking of her Sanskar.

"Try Mr Husband... and I'm all yours." His lips crushed hers. "Marry me, Nymph."

The world around them had faded. All those hoots, catcalls or the bloodstained evidence of the battle were cast aside. Two sets of drum rolls had picked up the pace, the sole music playing in her jukebox. She looked up from his chest, tears glistening, grinning like a blissful idiot. "Hm, not a proposal then. Can't say I'm charmed by your dictatorship, Mr Rathore. You make me want to rebel. Although, I.."

"Don't play with me, Swara." He fisted her hair, his voice grated as he forced her to meet his gaze, to see the desperation and desire in them. "Will. You. Marry. Me?"

And she did. "I was going to say yes anyway." She laughed, deliriously.

"Thank God." He sighed in relief and any gap between them had been gone. Nothing else mattered. Not the crowd, nor the chaos.

How could they, when their match had been made in mayhem?

She shrieked in surprise, sensing the sudden invasion. Sneakily he came onto her, nuzzled the creamy expanse of Swara's neck. Element of shock left her body as recognition set in.Her  back slackened against his chest and Sanskar chuckled in amusement.

"I need to breathe the same air you breathe in. I want to see you whenever I open my eyes. Night or day, no matter when my body stretches in bed, I want my arm to touch you, as soon as possible." He looked like a sleep deprived devil at that night, as he rushed into her bedroom. With the might of his deadly charm, he bullied her to accept an advanced wedding date.

"Scared of me, my love?" She elbowed him in mock anger. Unfazed of that cute attack, he dipped his face closer, delved into deeper, his hands untangled the thick masses of ebony silk from her fancy fishtail braid, loosened petals showered all over the floor. "You should be. When Viv sent your photos, I wanted to carry you right away. You in those flowers..." he kissed on the headpiece, "... looking this tempting, like a sunflower waiting to be kissed by the sun..." he traced the outline the neckline of the yellow top embellished in mirror and thread works, she sucked in a deep breath.

More petals fell on the floor.

"Go away, Sanskar. Our moms will kick you out of this world if they find you here." She frantically look at the door. As if in cue, Sujata's voice floated in distance, ushering Swara to squirm more.

Spun around, pins undone, dupatta left her frame. An oasis in front his perched vision. Sanskar couldn't get enough of her.

Darkened eyes, fervent passion.

"Nice try, but I had never been the obedient one. Mom could yell at her heart's content. But,but all I care about is having you.." Arms of his brought her closer. "... touching  you." Leaning face to face, he shared his share of turmeric on hers, palm rubbed the yellow paste on her flawless  stomach. A soft moan escaped her lips. Eyes closed awaiting for what his mouth was gonna do to hers...

"You are mistaken. Sunny went out for an errand, not sniffing around your darling Bahu." Vivek's loud voice drew them out of their dreamy haze. "Not every groom is filmy like your husband."

Sujata's smack followed by a loud "Ouch!" was heard. Sanskar places a quick peck and ran to the balcony.

"That's my signal. Brace yourself for tomorrow, Nymph. You'll wear my signs, be my wife and then I'll consume you so completely that you won't recognize yourself anymore. Until then, good bye, princess."

And he jumped down on cornice and vanished.

**********************************

Flowers and chandelier. Hymns and holy fire. She was an angel in her ruby red trousseau, he was her Prince Charming on the way to swept her away. Round and round the sacred flames, vows meant to last for more than many lifetimes he touched her forehead with the red sign of eternal belonging.

Tears of pearls embraced the smile of bliss. Sanskar slipped the sacred chain around her neck as he leaned to look at her down cast eyes. Too bad, those happy tears threatening to flood those cinnamon hazel eyes oddly filled him with satisfaction.

So he placed a quick sly kiss irrespective of hundreds taking in their best moments of life.

Startled, Swara looked at him. There stood her man, his sly smirk changing into ear to ear grin. And those eyes, so intense, glowing with sublime love. And she thought she couldn't fall any deeper for this guy. So much, that her world around would pale in comparison.

To that extent, she would drown into his dreamy gaze despite watchful audience surrounding them.

Ram wrapped his arms around Sujata, his emotional mess of a wife. He couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Once upon a time he had found his soulmate who made him whole. Now life completed a circle, his offspring has followed the legacy by binding his future with a special woman.

Sujata came around, went on to congratulate the lady who brought the greatest happiness on this earth for her son in the form of a exquisite young woman.

Sharmistha eyes were glistening. "I wish Sandeep had been alive!"

"I'm sure from up there uncle can see his son-in law's blatant PDA." Vivek spoke out lightly. "Now go, mommy dearest! Give blessings and do whatever rituals you need to do. The way his mood is, you never know, he might decide to start with his most wished ritual right here!"

Jaws dropped, Sargam sent the nastiest glare. Then they were teetering with laughter.

**************************

"I kind of feel bad for her, beta. I mean..." Sharmistha asked in a low voice on the way to the airport. "You keep a lot of things from her and she knows that. I hope it doesn't affect your relationship."

"Mom, you know Kavita. She is okay with the fact that I won't share anything regarding Kiddo unless that brother-in-law of mine gives me a green signal."

Kavita Chaudhary, the only daughter of a widower scholar Dr Pradyut Chaudhary was the latest development in Sargam's life. Sargam met her at broadway show. She was intelligent and cultured, not too mention utterly gorgeous. Sargam felt the instant connection as they talked, had an idea that she might be the one for him. What started with a  coffee date soon followed by impromptu lunches, innumerable texts. With time they became more involved, closer than ever.

A month later, Swara and Sanskar came to know about Kavita.Sargam secretly hoped to brace some severe teasing from them.  But all his excitement evaporated as Sanskar voiced his suspicions. "Don't get me wrong, but after all that had happened I tend to suspect every new person in our circle. Just don't mention any details about Swara."

They agreed on a background check, but nevertheless Sargam felt guilty as a boyfriend. But caution is better than being sorry. So what Kavita wasn't holding his hand during his most vulnerable moment when he had to gave away his little sister! Someday she would meet Swara very soon, and Sargam would love to see his two favorite girls together.

********************************************

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Shut up! He needed to throw something at the source of that annoying noise. And this darkness. Voices kept banging inside his head, yet none had any decency to flip the friggin' light switch on.

"Do you see any improvement, doctor?" An authoritative smooth man asked, with a hint of concern being apparent. "All I see him is blinking once in a blue moon. When will say something new? It's been months, for God's sake!"

Showy! I know very well that kind. Sounds like a rich snob. Laksh wanted to oust him right away. But at first he had move his body. That  effing finger of his seemed to weigh a ton.

And someone should turn on the damn light switch!

"Mr Shukla, he's lucky to survive with such a massive haematoma. We thought he would die on the operation table. In our terms, he is minimally conscious state. You can't predict his outcome . He may wake up right now, or... might be months or years."  Okay, this guy sounded like a lousy, whiny professor. "I may sound cold, but pulling the plugs is legal and in some cases it's even kinder for the patient. Given you paid for his treatment, you are his only guardian, since no one has looked for him."

Better I pull the plug off your life, you piece of s**t?

"You said there was some kind of electronic chip planted inside his body. What if he used to work undercover for the government? We should contact the police for updates again.His face looks almost recognizable now. Perhaps they'll find his identity with better photograph."

Rajesh Shukla and the doctor chatted some more, closed the door, leaving behind one hopeless case. But little did they notice a hand gripping the bed sheet in a fist, knuckles turning white in their regained force.

Thirty six hours later, the night doctor was found smothered in the duty room, eyes wide open in surprise. The nameless comatose patient was nowhere to be seen.

**********************************************

She was there by the window, statuesque, silvery shades of moonlight peering through the panes softening the fiery glow of candles on her skin. The jewels on her had their own whimsical display of radiance, casting an unearthly halo.

Sanskar was merely few strides afar, aching to calm the raging heat tormenting his body and soul, yet he was scared. The vision in red was too mystical, too angelic, as if she would escape the moment a lesser mortal like him dared to have her.

Swara wondered how had he dreamt of this night. Had he envisioned her as a demure bride shivering at the prospect of invasion? Little did he know that he was so wrong!

Not his fault though that she had turned into such a contradiction. She relished every moment with Sanskar yet she still transformed into a blushing belle whenever he got wicked. And wicked had he been with her since they got engaged.

Technically her virtue was intact. But their pulses skyrocketed, clothes on their bodies did not exactly stayed at their places. Their breathing often suffered a great deal, and sometimes... he made her scream.

She shuddered as those memories came to her mind. Frustrated, she closed her eyes. Why that husband of hers hadn't devoured her yet?

"You're glowing too much, wifey." As if he could read her mind, he tentatively placed a hand on her cheek. "I'm afraid I'll be burned."

"Coward." She accused.

A chuckle came out of his throat. Feigning hurt he complained. "And whose fault was that?"He wrapped the corner of the dupatta around his wrist and raised before her eyes. "The fabric on you is rose, tempting yet so pure; and those jewels, are twinkling stars. How can I claim you, when they set you so high, make you seem so divine?"

Looking at those hazel doe eyes, Sanskar was convinced he was going insane. Behind those long lashes he noticed hidden door had been unlocked. There he found curiosity and frank desire. Slowly, in seductive motion she pulled off the pins holding her veils. When she turned her back to him his little issue didn't matter anymore.

What mattered more were those three necessary tugs against her bare back. No more holding back.

"Take back your precious offerings, devotee." One by one she began to remove her earrings, left out a moan as she felt the fingers on her spine. "Pull me down to earth, Sanskar, and take me to heaven."

**********************************

A/N:
To all my lovely readers,
I know a sorry isn't enough. Last year had been so tough for me. Post graduation has been extremely hectic till now, the path will be harder. Yet I needed to be back to my passion and I feel obligated to complete the story. I'm overwhelmed by the increased number of votes and reads. Thanks every one who had given this story a chance. Pray for me, so that the next post can be uploaded much earlier.

Love
Anahita

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