Mumbai

After their midnight birthday celebrations, the elders went off to sleep. Shekhar Gadodia and Sharmishta Gadodia in their own apartment, where as Lakshya's parents, Ramprasad Gupta and Sujata Gupta went off to the adjacent apartment.

The Gadodias and Guptas have been neighbours for over twenty years, and this was the main reason for the strong bond of friendship, they shared with each other.

When they became neighbours, Swara and Lakshya were small kids, both were two years old. Swara and Lakshya were of the same age and their birthdays fell on consecutive dates, Lakshya's being one day older than her.

Sharmishta gave birth to Ragini, two years later. Swara and Lakshya, both of whom were four year olds then, had delightedly taken care of Ragini, ever since.

Lakshya and Swara had been best friends since they met each other, and they shared a very special bond. Their character traits were really similar to each other, mostly due to their consecutive birthdays. Swara and Lakshya had always been in the same class, while they were in school. And they even joined the same course at college, only because they enjoyed each other's company.

Each and every person in their apartment complex, school and college, appreciated and secretly envied the special bond of friendship these two shared.

Even Ragini felt left out during those moments when all the three were together. Ragini had her own set of friends, since she was younger to them. But still, she too envied the relationship between Swara and Lakshya.

Now, after the elders went away, Ragini and Lakshya sat down on Swara's bed.

Ra:(excitedly) Swara, did you like our surprise..?

Swara looked at both of them and pouted sadly.

Sw: Nooo...It wasn't great..!

La: (feeling irritated) Liar..!!

Ra: (shocked) Really, Swara..??

Sw: (slowly)I mean to say..It wasn't great..(grins widely)Ha ha..But superb, awesome, fantastic..!!

Ra: (smiles) Swaraaa..you are such a drama queen..! (hugs her tightly)

La: You know what, Swara..(chomping on his cake piece) I had selected the cake for you..Red velvet pastry..I know you just love them the most, now-a-days..(winks and offers her a bite)

Sw: I know..(takes a bite and then smiles naughtily) And yesterday night, for your birthday, who selected that Black currant pastry cake..? I did..!! Because I knew that it has become your favourite right now..And last year, I chose Black forest pastry for you..Remember..I knew you loved it then..

La:(excitedly) Of course..And yours was Chocolate pastry..Which I had selected especially for you..!

Sw: (smiles wide) Hmm..You always know about my favourites, Lakshya..You are the best..!

Ragini's eyes darted to and fro between them, like she was watching a tennis match, as they talked with each other.

Ra: (helplessly shouts) Oh God..Even I am here..And don't you people forget that I also did so much to make your birthdays special, ok..!!

Swara and Lakshya looked at Ragini with shocked faces and the next instant, both of them started to laugh seeing Ragini's face.

Ra: Well..now you guys make fun of me..!(looks away feeling irritated)

Swara and Lakshya went to her either sides and put their arms around Ragini's shoulders affectionately.

La&Sw: (happily)You are our princess, Ragini..!

Ragini smiled widely hearing this, but the next instant, Swara and Lakshya looked at each other..

Sw: Hey we said the same thing..!(gives hi-five)

La: (gives hi-five) Yo..!

Ragini looked at them with an "Oh no..Not again..!!" kind of look.

La: (taking his hand off Ragini) Ok then..both of you get some sleep..I am going home..See you girls tomorrow...

He hugged Swara and she hugged him back.

La: Happy birthday Swara..

Sw: Thank you..(smiles and pats his back affectionately)

La:(pulls off from hug) Goodnight girls..!

Sw&Ra: Goodnight Lakshya..

Ragini and Swara watched him go with love filled eyes.

Ra: Ok Swara..I am also going to sleep..you also sleep, ok..Goodnight..And Happy birthday, once again(hugs her tightly and kisses her cheek)I love you..

Sw: (kisses her cheek) Love you too, Ragini..Ok Goodnight..

Ragini went out of the room and Swara closed the door.

Swara went towards her window and stood there. Cool breeze caressed her face and she thought about Lakshya. She knew she loved him, but since when, she didn't know. But she was afraid to confess her feelings to him, she never wanted to lose his friendship.

Smiling at her thoughts, she raised her eyes and gazed at the crescent shaped moon. But then her expression changed, she felt as if she was missing someone, who was very much close to her.

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

Kolkata

Sanskaar's Flight arrived early in the morning. As he was walking towards the lobby of the airport, his eyes spotted her among the group of people waiting to receive the home-coming passengers.

With a brief nod, he walked towards her. Kavita Singhania was watching him with eager eyes and a wide smile, which he didn't return. It didn't mean that he didn't like her. In fact he loved her, and she knew that. She had known him for two years, and she very well knew that he was a man of zero expressions.

She flung his arms around him gently, where as Sanskaar just put his one arm around her and patted her head briefly. She pulled off from the hug and looked at him.

Ka:(smiling wide)Congrats, Sanskaar..For the deal..!

Sa: (nods with a stern smile)Thank you..

Ka: I knew, we will achieve this..! I had full faith in you..!

Sa: (seriously) Ok then..Let's go to the office now..

Sanskaar had started to walk fast and Kavita tried hard to keep up with his pace.

Ka: What..?? Office..? Its only 7 in the morning..!

Sa: Board meeting at sharp 8:30..Start informing everyone else, now..!

Ka: But, you have got to freshen up..I thought we were going to your home..!

Sa: I don't have enough time to spare, Kavita..This is urgent..

Ka: But..

Sanskaar stopped and glared at her. She knew that she couldn't argue with him more than that.

Sa: (impatiently) For your info, I have a pent house apartment on top of my company building..I can freshen up and change into my office wear from there..

Ka:(nods) Ya..I know..

Sa: Ok, then..

Kavita followed Sanskaar to their car and both of them started off to their office.

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

Mumbai

It was her birthday and Swara woke up early in the morning, shining with excitement. On this day, Lakshya and Swara celebrated their birthdays together in an orphanage. This was a tradition, since the time they had been 12 years old.

Eleven years ago, when they had returned from school, one day, they saw an abandoned newborn baby inside a dust bin, near their apartment complex. They rushed inside and informed their parents.

Shekhar and Ramprasad had then taken the baby to a nearby orphanage named "Mother's Cradle" and Lakshya and Swara also had gone with them, since they wanted to watch them hand over the baby.

When Lakshya and Swara saw the kids at the orphanage, they felt love and compassion towards them. From that day onward, Lakshya and Swara celebrated their double birthdays with the orphanage kids on Swara's birthday.

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

The Maheshwari Textile Company Head office, Kolkata

It was 8.20 and Kavita and the board of Directors were waiting for their MD Sanskaar Maheshwari, in the board meeting room.

When the clock struck, 8.30 a.m, Sanskaar entered the room and the others stood up to greet him and the meeting commenced.

***********

Even though Miss. Kavita Singhania worked as the P.A of their M.D Sanskaar Maheshwari, everyone in the office knew that she was Sanskaar's fiancée. She was the daughter of renowned poet, Mr. Rajvardhan Singhania, who was a close friend of Sanskaar's father, Late. Mr.Durgaprasad Maheshwari.

Durgaprasad Maheshwari had died ten years ago, when Sanskaar was only 18 years old. After his death, the Maheshwari Textile Industries, having lost its Master, began to fall apart, slowly.

His wife Annapurna, Sanskaar and his younger sister Uttara (at that time she was 12 years old) were shattered by his untimely loss. But Annapurna knew that her son was capable of taking the ownership of the company, she had full confidence in him.

Sanskaar was a fun loving teenager, just like every other boy of his age. But, Annapurna began to motivate him in such an inspirational manner that he turned into a sharp-focused, career minded persona, within a short span of time.

He started going to his father's office, in that young age and he studied almost everything related to their family business, while he completed his college education in Business studies (both graduate and post graduate) with the help of distant education courses, during the night.

Soon, he grew into the shrewd and sharp-witted business man, as he is known today.

When Sanskaar turned 26 years old, Annapurna began to feel that, it was time she found a suitable bride for her son. It was then that she met Kavita, who was the daughter of Mr. Rajvardhan Singhania, who was a close friend of her late husband, Durgaprasad Maheshwari. Annapurna loved her instantly and thought that she would be a perfect match for her darling son. Sanskaar also liked his mother's choice for him.

Kavita had just joined her M.B.A course then. Since she wished to complete her studies, they had postponed the official engagement ceremony till she finished her course. During this period, Sanskaar and Kavita often met at various occasions, and they got to know each other really well by now.

Now it was time for her to do her college internship, Sanskaar offered her the post of his P.A, in his office. According to him, it was the best way to learn everything about their business, plus her college internship also would be completed in the mean time. Later after finishing her course, they could get married and she would also join him in taking forward the family business.

**********

After the meeting finished, Sanskaar and Kavita left the office and started off to the Maheshwari Mansion, in his car. Sanskaar was driving, Kavita put her arms around Sanskaar's left arm and leant on his shoulder.

Sa: (impatiently) Kavita..I am driving the car..

Ka:(shrugs) So what..?! I missed you..(pouts)

Sa: (rolls his eyes) You very well know that I don't like this kind of childish behaviour..Sit properly and let me drive safe..

Ka:(sighs) Ok Mr. MD..But we are not in your office and so right now I am not your P.A..We are going to your home..(looks at him with a helpless face)

Sa: I know that..(looks at her softly) But all I am asking is to behave yourself..You are 22 years old now..Not some ignorant kid..

Ka:(smiles and shakes her head) I am sorry..I just got carried away, since I missed you so much last week..

Sa: I missed you too..

He touched the back of her head, affectionately.

When they finally reached the Maheshwari Mansion, they got down from the car and walked inside. Annapurna and Uttara came towards them with wide smiles. Sanskaar bent and took blessing from his mother.

Then he straightened up and hugged her affectionately. Uttara too hugged him tightly, and he hugged her back, with love.

Ut: How are you, bhaiyya..! (bhaiyya means brother)

Sa: I am good..little bit tired.. I will take some rest and then return to office..

Ut: No need..just stay home..you can go to office tomorrow..

Sa: No Uttara..I am needed there..I have to start working on that new Italian deal..I need to visit our factory too..Lots of work to finish off, my dear..

An: (sternly) He is right, Uttara..(smiles proudly at her son) Sanskaar, you go and take some rest..

Sa: Ok Maa..(nods)

Saying so, he went off to his room and Uttara looked at Kavita. Within past two years, they had become great friends, since they were of the same age.

Ut: Kavita..Lets go to my room..

An: (smiles) Kavita..I will send over your breakfast to Uttara's room..Have it ok..

Ka:(smiles) Ok Aunty ..And Sanskaar haven't had anything till now..

An: (smiles) I know..I will send for him too..

Ka: Ok..(smiles)

Annapurna thought as she walked away towards the kitchen, " She is such a sweetheart..and she is the perfect girl for my Sanskaar.."

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

Three months had passed since Swara's birthday...

Mumbai, 3:45 pm

Swara was sitting inside her office cubicle, when her land phone rang. She picked it up and answered.

Sw: Yes, M'am..

Sw: Ok..

And then she got up and walked hurriedly towards the door at the far end of the vast room which held the office of "Shaadi Mubarak" Wedding Planners. The sign on the door read, "Nalini Kapoor, Chief Wedding Planner". Swara knocked on the door, before entering.

Sw: May I come in, M'am..

Na: Yes, Swara..

Nalini Kapoor was a stylish young woman, who was still in her early thirties. Single handedly she had started this business, when she was only twenty years old. In the beginning, she had dealt with low budget weddings. And now she sat in her posh office, which had almost twenty assistant wedding planners working under her so that "Shaadi Mubarak" could handle ten-twenty weddings at time, anywhere in India.

Swara noticed that Lakshya was already seated in the office, in front of Miss. Kapoor. Swara and Lakshya had joined "Shaadi Mubarak", only last year, when they completed their Event Management course.

Na: Ah..Swara, take your seat..

Swara smiled at her and sat down beside Lakshya, facing their Boss.

Na: Ok..So I am going to hand over this to you both..It's the wedding of the sister of a business tycoon in Kolkata. We have just received an inquiry from one Miss. Kavita Singhania.

La: So the wedding venue is at Kolkata..!

Na: No Lakshya..They want this wedding to be held at their ancestral haveli, in Udaipur..(a haveli is a kind of traditional mansion)

Sw: Wow..Haveli and all..It will be so cool..!

Na: Yes..I know..So you need to contact Miss. Kavita Singhania and then ask her about the details.

La: Oh..So she is the bride..!

Na: (smiles) Well, no..She is the fiancée of Mr. Sanskaar Maheshwari, the bride's brother, he is a famous businessman in Kolkata. The bride's name is Uttara Maheshwari, she is his only sister.

Sw: But M'am, we usually consult with the bride and the groom..!

Na: Hmm..But in this case, the brother is arranging the whole wedding, and he is paying for it..And I guess that the bride is an unobtrusive girl, who is too meek to interfere in the proceedings..

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

Kolkata, 4.00 p.m

Sanskaar was sitting in his office cabin with Kavita.

Sa: (impatient tone) Kavita..Why did you get in touch with "Shaadi Mubarak" Wedding Planners. They are based in Mumbai, right..We could easily access some of the famous Wedding Planners in Rajasthan itself..

Ka: (sighs) Sanskaar, "Shaadi Mubarak" people are the best..! I had been to Mumbai for my friend's wedding, right.."Shaadi Mubarak" had organized the same.. And you know what ..(with a dramatic flourish)The whole wedding was just mind blowing..!!

Sanskaar smiled slightly, seeing her enthusiasm and nodded at her.

Sa: Ok then..I will go with your choice..

Kavita smiled at him happily. Just then her mobile rang, it was from an unknown number, and she picked the call.

Ka: Hello..

La: M'am, I am Lakshya Gupta from Shaadi Mubarak Wedding Planners..

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

So this was PART 1 of the story.

Please let me know how you feel about this story through your comments and votes

Love,

Naina