After a week of their marriage, Sanskaar was returning home in his car in the evening. Today he had finally gone to the office, as there was some important work to do and he was missing her.

As he entered the house, his eyes scanned the entire area for his beloved Swara, but she was nowhere to be seen.

An: I know.. You are searching for Swara, right..?

He was startled to hear Annapurna's voice, as she approached him.

Sa: (smiling) Maa..! (bends to take her blessing)

An: (blessing him) Be happy, always..

Sa: (smiles) Ok where is she..?

An: In the kitchen..she is making something special for you..

Sa: Really..!

When he entered, Swara was alone in the kitchen, busy with the cooking. She was wearing a yellow sari and a silver blouse.

He noticed that her hair was tied into a messy bun and then his eyes scanned down her saree clad body in which her delectable curves looked invitingly sexy.

Swara was startled when a pair of hands snaked around her waist, and before she could shout or make a noise, Sanskaar placed a sweet peck on her cheek. Her cheeks blushed at his presence and she smiled wide.

Sw: Sanskaar..(then whispers) what are you doing..we are inside the kitchen..!

Sanskaar placed another kiss on her cheek and then whispered into her ear.

Sa: Shut up, Swara..I thought you would be waiting for me in the drawing room..

He bent down his face and placed another kiss upon the curve of her neck. Swara closed her eyes for a moment and savoured the chill it gave down her spine.

Sw: (opens her eyes and squirms in his arms) Sorry, Sanskaar..(stutters) I..I..I didn't know u r-reached home..

Sanskaar began to enjoy the way she was reacting to his touch.

Sa:(naughtily) Really..? You didn't know, huh..?!

He began to trail his lips in an up and down motion along her slender neck, and Swara's both hands clutched around the edge of the kitchen platform, as she was feeling aroused.

Suddenly, Sanskaar turned her around to face him, his hands still around her waist. Swara was gaping at him with her round awestruck eyes and her heart beats began to race at the sight of him.

He looked handsome as ever in his cream shirt and maroon vest coat. His hair was still sleek and shiny as it was in the morning. Their eyes locked and Swara was lost in them like always.

Sw: (slowly) Sanskaar..

But she couldn't utter whatever she was about to say, as his lips slowly captured hers and she was lost in its magic. She grabbed his shoulders for support as his kiss became deep. He pulled her body closer to him and she hugged him tightly. After a few more seconds, he pulled out of the kiss and they stood apart from each other.

He was gazing into her eyes with a naughty smile and she blushed hard, as she moved a stray hair behind her ear with her fingers.

Sa: I missed you.. (kisses her forehead)

Sw: (cups his face with both hands) I too missed you..(with love filled eyes)

Sa: (thinking something) Well Swara..you miss going to work too, I guess...What about you joining my office..And that way we won't miss each other..

Swara was surprised with his suggestion and she took off her hands from his face slowly and was thoughtful about it for a moment. Then she looked at him with a frown,

Sw: But...I don't know anything about business...I know only about Event management..

Sa: (places his hand around her shoulders) I know my dear..And that's why I have thought about something..

Sw: What is it..?

Sa: We own a Textile Company right..So I am planning to start a clothing line...You can be the head of the section which will handle the fashion shows and all such promotional events.

Sw: (eyes shine with delight) Wow that's too good.. (hugs him) Thank you Sanskaar...

Sanskaar was also happy seeing her excitement and he hugged her with love.

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

Next evening, Sanskaar and Swara were returning home in their car. Sanskaar was driving,

Sa: So how was your first day in your office, sweetheart..

Sw: (smiles) I don't know.. At first, it was pretty exciting to sit inside in a huge and stylish cabin on my own..But..

Sa: (frowns) But, what..? (looks at her)

Sw: You know..I worked as an Event manager right..And I had a lot of work to do, just by sitting inside my small cubicle in Shaadi Mubarak's office...And I was surrounded by a lot of neighbouring cubicles with my colleagues and every minute of my work hours was eventful..But this is a bit boring..As I have to sit inside the spacious cabin and having no one to talk to..(pouts) And we only met once or twice today, as you were really busy..

Sa: (smiles) I know baby..I had planned this to stop missing you, and the first day itself, I made you miss me..I am sorry, sweetheart...

He put his arm around her shoulder and leaned in to kiss her forehead. And as he turned his gaze towards the road again to concentrate on driving, he was shocked to find a lady who was trying to cross the road.

Within the nick of time, Sanskaar noted her hand signal (which intended him to slow down so that she could cross safely) and as he suddenly applied the brakes of the car, he realized he was a bit late in doing so.

Swara was shocked beyond limits and she shut her eyes tight as the car screeched to a halt just a few centimeters away from the lady.

Thankfully nothing happened to her, but still, they saw her catch hold of her forehead as she fainted in front of their car.

As it was deserted road, thankfully people didn't crowd around them to scold them for their mistake. Swara and Sanskaar got down from the car and took the lady to a nearby hospital.

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

After a while, the doctor informed them that the lady had regained her consciousness. They thanked him and went inside the doctor's cabin to meet her.

But as soon as the lady saw them, her face was drained out of its colour and she couldn't believe her eyes. Sanskaar and Swara were afraid seeing her reaction, feeling that she was becoming unwell yet again. Swara rushed to her and held her shoulders,

Sw: Are you ok..?

Sanskaar stood beside her, with anxious eyes and looked around, and found a nurse..

Sa: Nurse, call the doctor..

But the lady composed herself in a moment and spoke, looking at either of them, with unbelievable eyes.

Lady :No..You cant be...! (shakes her head)

Sanskaar and Swara looked at each other in shock.

Sa: We are really sorry..Its my mistake..I was not careful enough while driving...

Lady : No, its not that..(shakes her head) You look just like Pratham and Zaara...

Suddenly they felt a familiarity with those names and they looked at the lady, feeling quite uncertain,

Sw: Pratham...Zaara..But who are they..?

Lady : My name is Karishma...(smiles) and they were my friends..

Sa: They were means..? You are not friends with them, now..?

Ka: (shakes her head) No...They are no more...(then smiles).... No, I guess I can't say that anymore, right..As I feel that they are living on through you both...(smiles wide)

Sw: We don't understand..

Ka: Can you people come with me to my home..I will explain.

***********

After reaching her home, she served some tea and snacks to them.

Ka: Please wait..I will be back in a moment..

She had an old photo album in her hand when she returned to them.

Ka: Please take a look..

Sanskaar took it from her and as he turned the first few pages of the album, he just couldn't believe his eyes. He was looking at a picture of three persons. One person looked just like him when he was around 20 years old and there was a much younger Karishma and then there was a Muslim girl who looked just like Swara. And he understood who they were.

Sa: So these are Pratham and Zaara..!

Swara took the album from him and looked at the picture.

Sw: Oh my God, Sanskaar..I just can't believe..These are...they look just like us..!

Ka: I know..That is why I wanted to show this to you..

There were more pictures inside, some of the couple Pratham and Zaara and some in which they were with Karishma and two more of their common friends. As they flipped through the pages, Karishma continued,

Ka: We all were neighbours who stayed at Chandni Chowk, years ago...Pratham belonged to a Hindu family and Zaara was a Muslim..They were childhood friends..They fell in love as they grew up and they wished to get married to each other..But as they say, religion comes in between some relations..And their families didn't agree..Their parents fought with each other and Zaara's family shifted to Agra...After a few years, Pratham got a job and he and Zaara decided to get married secretly... Zaara was waiting with me at the court for Pratham on the day they fixed for the marriage..But unfortunately, his car met with an accident and he didn't survive...

Swara felt tears forming inside her eyes and Sanskaar was feeling a strange suffocation feeling, listening to the story.

Sa: And...

Ka: Zaara couldn't bear the news and later from her home, she attempted suicide, by drinking poison..

Swara could feel a choking feeling inside her throat and she could feel her heart beating in a fast pace.

Ka: But her family could save her on time as they took her to the hospital..Poor Zaara, she took a lot of time to come out of that shock..

Swara could feel her body shivering a bit and she slipped her hand into Sanskaar's hand. Sanskaar could feel that she was feeling apprehensive and he placed his other arm around her shoulders protectively, while tightening his hold around her hand.

Ka: Five years later, her parents could finally get her married to a man named Rashid. But she married him on a condition which she had secretly made to him...That she would never love him like a wife and that their relation would be only namesake...I still don't understand why he agreed to that condition, may be, he expected her to love him as time passed..But much to his misfortune, she could never forget Pratham and love another man..And after six months of their marriage, both of them died in a car accident..

Suddenly Swara stood up from the chair and at the same instant, she fainted right into Sanskaar's arms.

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

Pratham adjusted her dupatta around her head and he cupped her face inside his palms.

Pr: Zaara...You don't know how much I love you..

Za: I know, Pratham..

Pratham kissed her forehead and then he gazed into her eyes. He moved his lips closer to hers and she too moved her face forward to him.

But suddenly, she could feel that he was moving backwards. She moved forward and it was as if some force was pulling him backwards away from her.

He was going away from her. She reached out her arm to catch him but it was impossible. She tried to move forward, but she couldn't. Some kind of force was holding her back. She wanted to cry out loud, and she cried out his name..

PRATHAMMMM...

Swara sat up on her bed and she felt that her whole body was sweating and it was dark inside their room. Suddenly she felt him beside her and she felt him taking her inside his arms. He hugged her quite protectively..

Sw: Pratham..!!

Sa: Shh..It's me, Swara..your Sanskaar..

He tightened his hold around her and she pressed her cheek close to his chest. She spoke in a weak but clear voice,

Sw: I know it's you Sanskaar...But now I know..that you are Pratham and I am Zaara...

Sanskaar didn't know why he wanted to believe her words then, but he also could feel that she was speaking the truth.

Sa: I guess you had a bad dream, Swara..And you need not worry now, I am with you..Pratham has united with his Zaara now..in this birth..

Sw: Hmm..

He made her lay down back on the bed and caressing her forehead and hair, he made her sleep in his arms with love.

*******End of Part 23*******

Hope you enjoyed the chapter..

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Love,
Naina