"Swara why are you not eating? You don't like uthappams?" Pari asked scrunching her eyebrows.

"No Kaki ma, I like it very much" Swara said shaking her head but blushing profusely.

They were at breakfast table, Swara was eating her mini uttapam with Sambar by her left hand because Sanskar was holding her right hand under table and caressing back of her hand with this thumb, and she was trying her best to pull her hand out of his tight grip. He was talking to DP and Ram, but his full concentration was on their under-table romance.

"Sanskar please" Swara muttered in low voice, which could be heard by her husband only.

"What happened Swara?" Sanskar said making very innocent face like baby.

"Bhai, you can release your hold from Bhabhi's hand else you will only scold her about losing weight" Uttara interrupted their little romance.

Swara coughed very hard listening to Uttara and Sanskar immediately left her hand and gave her water while patting her back. While others enjoy their embarrassed faces.

"Sorry" Sanskar muttered blinking his eyes.

Swara looked at him and then focused on her breakfast plate to hide blush.

"I might be little late Swara." Sanskar said grabbing his laptop bag.

"Ohh have a good day, and please try to come early" Swara said going behind to accompany him till drawing room entrance.

"Sure, dear I will try, bye take care." saying this Sanskar kissed her forehead.

"Bye" Swara said with smile and wave her hand.

"This is a great improvement" Pari said looking at the love bird couple of Maheshwari family.

"True Pari, Jiji, they have come so much close over these days hai na?" Sujata said with tears in her eyes.

"Haan Sujata they both love each other and now look they are inseparable. I knew it, Sanskar can only fall for Swara, her innocence and purity will touch his heart. And for Swara, he is her supporter and biggest strength. They complement each other" Annapurna said feeling content.

'Kakisa, can I ask Swara's hand for my son Sanskar.' Ragini remembered Annapurna's words and threw the glass water jug breaking it into small pieces. One sentence from Annapurna changed her complete world. Ragini remembered how she tried to impress Annapurna and Sujata when they came to meet Swara. On marriage day when Annapurana and Sujata announced Sanskar's acceptance, Ragini went to Nikhil's house to convince them wearing concerned sister mask. She observed Nikhil's sulked and disturbed face, he was arguing with his family members. But when his mother gave her swear to him, he dropped his shoulders in defeat.

"Ragini, please ask Swara not to feel bad and stay strong, I will try to convince my family. Meanwhile be with her. Please give me some time" Nikhil asked folding his hands in front of her.

'It's over Nikhil' Ragini thought and left his house, when she was back, she saw Sanskar entering Badi along with his family members. He sat for Ganesh Pujan and after some time his mother's brought Swara to mandap. Her parents did Kanyadaan for her cousin sister half-heartedly. Soon all rituals were finished and Pandit declared them as husband and wife tying them in holy scared relation of matrimony.

'He was forced by his mothers to marry Swara. He is from rich family, successful, and charmer. He will not accept Swara as his wife as he is forced. Swara, she is naive and timid, she will surely not give him the pleasure which rich boys such as him will need. I have seen rich husbands they always have extra marital affairs and generally prefer easy reachable girls. If I start giving him extra attention and flaunt my beauty with my skills, he will get trapped automatically. Once I became his weakness, I will ask him to kick Swara out of his life and will take her place.' Ragini was occupied with this mindset for two-weeks post Swara's marriage. Her doubt got confirmed when the news flashed for their marriage as top headline for only 5 minutes, and there was no confirmation from Maheshawari family, 'he does not want to disclose his marriage to public' thinking this Ragini started looking for all possible options to reach out to Mumbai and be with Sanskar.

Ragini got first opportunity when Shekhar received call from DP about wedding reception for Swara and Sanskar. She was upset with the reception function but then she carried away thinking this will be the best way to stay near Sanskar. When they reached to Maheshwari House, she was awestruck with their richness, power, influential status. She observed her cousin who looked happy.  When Sanskar came back from office his all attention was on Swara, he was caring and pampering her, not only Sanskar but everybody from Maheshwari family were surrounding Swara to make her happy, that pinched her heart, giving first blow to her mindset.

When Ragini saw Swara descending with Sanskar for the reception holding his hand, she burned with extreme jealously. Ragini was observing them from the moment they stepped out of their room, Sanskar's possessiveness towards Swara while introducing her to his guest and they were referring her as "Mrs. Maheshwari" with utmost respect.

When Swara was in Kolkatta post Dida's demise along with her family, Ragini observed Sanskar, he reached to the peak of his overprotectiveness for Swara, shielding her from Sahil.

Ragini thought to make Swara suffer from mental trauma. Swara was already suffering from emotional stress due to Dida's death and Sahil's re-entry. She sent messages to Swara from Sahil's phone, thinking Swara will go in shell, and Sanskar will not trust her which can result in the rift between the two.  When she got the blocked notification on Sahil's phone, she remembered her talks with Nikhil that she can use VOIP apps to call and message for long distance which will be hard to track. When today, she talked to Swara on their landline, her cousin sounded very happy and normal this frustrated Ragini to the core.

"What happened to your mobile? I was trying the number, but it was unreachable?" Ragini enquired her.

"Ohh actually that number, I am facing some network issue so it's better you call on landline only" Swara told her and continued "Ragini if you need any help to get more information about course let me know I will check out." Ragini gave call on Maheshwari House landline, since Swara's mobile was unreachable with the reason of inquiring about one institution offering course for interior designing.

Swara talked to her for some more time asking about others at home and then cut the call.

Swara felt delightful after talking to Ragini. Earlier Swara thought that after Dida, her relationship with Sharmishtha and Gadodia family will break but Ragini took a first step to maintain the relation, as her sister first time in her lifetime. Swara will happily accept and take more steps to improve their bonding. Swara always felt some emptiness when she looked at Sanskar and his siblings. 'May be my and Ragini's relation can also be the same as them' thinking this Swara started keeping Sanskar's and her's ironed cloths in closet.

When Sanskar came back from office he heard Swara's humming of some hindi song, he could not recognise the song, but her humming gave much needed peace to his heart.

Swara felt two strong arms wrapping her in an embrace and her back collided with strong wall, she knew her husband's touch. Sanskar kept his chin on her shoulder and said pulling her towards himself "good evening kitten."

"Good Evening, I missed you" Swara said with smile looking at him from corner eyes, holding his hands which were on her stomach.

"I missed you too" Sanskar said rubbing his nose tip on her smooth slender neck with closed eyes.

His hot breath, Dior's woody musky perfume gave all tingling sensations in Swara's body, she started feeling weak in her feet, and her breath got heavier due to his intense proximity. She would have fall down if Sanskar was not holding her firmly in his grip.

"Sanskar" Swara moaned his name feeling his intense touch, she tightens her hands over his which results in Sanskar pulling her towards himself more and more.

Listening his name from her was always sounded melodious to his ears but today, it sounded completely different, that caused Sanskar to lose all his senses and he put his lips on her neck and started brushing his lips on her neck with closed eyes.

Swara turned in swift moment when she felt his lips on her neck, wrapping her arms around his neck and hiding her face in his strong chest.

Sanskar could feel her heavy breathing against his chest, her rose smell filled in his lungs. "Swara I lo..." Sanskar whispered, he wanted to convey his feelings at that moment but then he shake his head and thought 'I need to wait for one more week, it will be your birthday and I have been planning something for us kitten, from so long.'

They stayed in each other's embrace for some time, Sanskar broke the hug when they both calmed their feelings. But Sanskar hold her encircling his one hand around her waist. Swara was shy even to look at him. She was staring at his shirt button playing with them, so he raised her cherry red face with his fingers holding her chin.

"Ohh god kitten why are you so innocent that I lose all my self-control every time I look at you." Sanskar said in husky voice.

Swara gave a quick glance at him and tried to escape to hide her crimson face "I will get your coffee. You go and get freshen up"

Sanskar pulled her back and she collided with his chest, Sanskar locked her in his arms and staring at her face. He said, "do you remember when I was going to US, I promised you that once I am back we will have something special?"

Swara nodded her head remembering his first kiss on her forehead.

"Soon it will be that time kitten, on your birthday, we will have our something special. I was planning for it from so long" Sanskar said staring at her with love moving her one hair strand behind her ear.

Swara looked at him in amazement, 'how does he know my birthday?'

"Kitten I am your husband so of course I know about the day you came in this world to become my world" Sanskar said kissing her forehead.

"I am waiting for that something special Sanskar from so long" Swara said staring in his eyes and cupping his right cheek with her left palm.

'I will confess my feelings for you on my birthday Sanskar, I love you more than I could even imagine. You made me fall for you with your caring, loving and supporting nature.' Thinking this Swara felt overwhelmed she came closer to Sanskar and gave a peck on his left cheek mumbling "Please don't make me wait too much."

Sanskar's grip on her waist loosened when he felt her lips on his cheeks. Swara took that opportunity and left from dressing room while laughing loudly. Her laughing sound broke his trance and he looked at her in bewilderment. First time someone tricked Sanskar Maheshwari and it was his kitten. Sanskar laughed thinking this shaking his head.

Sanskar was talking on phone with someone and Swara was walking beside him looking at the full moon humming song from Guide movie featured on Wahida Rehman 'aaj fir jine ki tamanna hai, aaj fir marane ka iraada hai.' They both were out for their night walk.

"Sorry it was kind of urgent, so how was your day?" Sanskar asked putting his phone back in his pant pocket.

"It was as usual, Kaki ma was trying new recipe for Goan Style Mutton Curry with Neer Fosa, we marinated mutton today and tomorrow we are going to have it for lunch" Swara said excitedly.

"Wow so something new and tasty will be there for Sunday Lunch" Sanskar replied with smile appreciating their efforts thinking 'Swara always found happiness in these small things.'

"How was your day?" Swara asked him.

"Pretty much busy, I had back to back meetings. There are couple of deals we are working on and besides that we need to start preparing for AGM it will be held at end of March where we need to announce yearly results and dividends to our shareholders so was working on the updates from all companies falls under our umbrella" Sanskar replied.

"Sanskar do you know where this Bright Star Interior Designing Institution is?" Swara asked him after some time of silence.

"I don't know but we can google it or if you want, I can ask Mike to check it. Do you want to join it?" Sanskar asked her.

"No no not me, Ragini was asking. Today she gave call to inquire about it." Swara said which caught Sanskar's all attention.

"Did she get admission over there?" Sanskar asked narrowing his eyes.

"That I don't know, she was asking me to help her to find out about its reputation and their diploma courses, also value for them in curent job market. And I want to help her. Ragini first time asked something from me. I mean me and she were never close." Swara said remembering her old days.

"But you both are cousins" Sanskar tried to drill her to get more information about Gadodia's.

"Actually, Ma and Masi had some issues. I don't know exactly what those were but yes, I used to feel it when we used to visit Dida's house in Udaipur during our summer vacations. Dadi and others are quite orthodox first Ma was adopted daughter of Dida and Nanu plus she married with Papa in love marriage who was Bengali. And after Ma and Papa, I faced nervous breakdown, Dadi felt I have some psychological problem, so she kept Ragini away from me. Ragini was also busy with her life so there was no time for us to develop that level of bonding between us." Swara said shrugging her shoulders and continued "but today Ragini herself called me and asked my help . I hope we will develop that bond which I missed my entire life."

Sanskar looked at Swara, she took deep sigh and was smiling brightly.

'I hope Gadodia family is not involved in this scandal else it will hurt Swara. I have to keep her out of this all mess.' Sanskar thought returning fake smile to Swara.

It has been two days Sanskar asked Roger to find out about the boy who were supposed to marry Swara as well as to keep an eye on Gadodia's, nothing suspicious found from Gadodia's side. But Roger message in the morning asking about Sanskar's availability to discuss something urgent captured Sanskar's attention. He checked his calendar on outlook and confirmed 2 pm slot. Sanskar also messaged Laksh about their meeting.

"Sir there is something which needs your attention, not sure how much we can move ahead in this direction but" Roger gave opening statement increasing curiosity of Sanskar and Laksh.

"Roger come to the point" Sanskar said cutting him.

"The guy you wanted me to find out is Nikhil Chaturvedi, IT professional, family is based in Kolkatta but he is settled in Mumbai, recently he visited his parents in Kolkatta and ...... he is working with Maheshwari Telecom Inc. head office complex, Tower number 2, 6th floor with Network development team as group lead" Roger informed, receiving all attention from Sanskar and Laksh.

"What he is working with us?" Laksh said surprisingly.

"I want to check his HR profile" Sanskar asked Roger.

"Sure Sir" Roger said turning his Mac Screen towards Sanskar.

Sanskar scrutinises the pic in front of him on screen display. 'I have seen him somewhere' Sanskar thought.

"Keep an eye on him Roger" Sanskar asked him glancing HR details from screen.

"Till today we have not found anything suspicious about him but still he is on our list. About Sahil tomorrow's Delhi times will have breaking new about scam. We have been successful to capture a good number of workers from his Mathura site; he has started facing issues with his delivery timelines. Also, with the help of one private investigator we are opening the case of Gayatri Gadodia, it will be difficult to prove it as murder since it was car crash with truck. Truck driver is already dead few years ago, but we will still try our best."

"Good, and don't worry even if it was an accident Sahil himself will admit that he killed his wife, I will make him confess." Sanskar said in dry and cold voice.

It's been one week and Sahil Gadodia started facing wrath of Sanskar Maheshwari, his Agra site scam was on headlines and he had been captured by Delhi Police for interrogation under the charges of acquiring agricultural land and bribing government officials. When he came out on bail, he faced income tax raid on his home and office. Income tax officers kept him in their custody for interrogation due to incomplete documentation for his funds transfer and company incorporation documentation. He has started receiving threats from his lenders for returning their money due to non-completion of project. Mathura site was completely deserted since workers who used to work with him, they either moved to some other contractor or rest others were on strike asking for higher wage rate. And today again Delhi Police team was standing at his doorstep to take him along with them in their custody for his wife's murder case. "It was an accident. That too long ago why will I kill my wife when she was pregnant with my child" that was the argument Sahil did when police arrested him.

Swara was sleeping in Sanskar's embrace as usual, it has become their habit to sleep holding each other. Swara's head was on Sanskar's chest and he was caressing her hairs holding her with his one arm and checking his watch every minute.

"Happy Birthday Swara" Sanskar whispered in her ears when he saw clock stuck to 12am.

"Hmm" Swara slowly opened her eyes looking at him trying to understand why he was waking her up.

Sanskar turned Swara and pinned her to bed. He came on top of her not putting all his weight on her petite figure.

"Wish you many many happy returns of the day. Happy birthday Kitten." Sanskar said kissing her forehead.

Swara felt delightful feeling his kiss and he was the first person to wish her on this day. Swara smiled at him. Their trance was broken when they heard a loud bang on their room door.

Sanskar shake his head and muttered "everybody is my romance breaker."

Swara laughed hearing his frustrated voice.

"Bhai, open the door. Or should we break it?" Pihu screamed from outside.

"Bhai please give some pause to your romance; we just want to wish Bhabhi" Uttara sounded teasingly.

"Bhai hurry up. We have already lit the candles" Pihu screamed again banging on the door.

"Pihu Uttu, what are you doing? Wait. Have patience sis. Give them some time to come in their presentable form." Laksh said loudly receiving a smack on his back from Annapurna.

"Shut up Lucky" Sanskar said loudly while opening the room door and giving death glare to him.

"Happy Birthday Bhabhi/Swara" a loud voice ranged in the room. All her family members entered room ignoring Sanskar wishing her a birthday song and clapping thier hands.

"Thank you" Swara said feeling overwhelmed with their love.

"Bhabhi come on cut the cake" Pihu beamed with happiness. She kept the cake on coffee table. It was beautiful Raspberry Mango Moose Cake.

Sanskar held Swara's hand and took her towards coffee table. She sat infront of the cake surrounded by all her family members.

"Swara make a wish" Pari sounded excitedly.

Swara looked at Sanskar and then she closed her eyes, 'Hey Durga ma please bless our relation and keep us always as one. I love him a lot. Please give me all strength to keep him happy.'

Swara blew the candles and cut the cake. Sanskar took a first piece to feed her. She had happy tears in her eyes, after 10 long years there was celebration for her birthday, earlier it was only her and Dida. Dida used to make cake at home for her, but it was always like a normal day for her.

"Happy birthday beta" Sanskar's dadi wished her and kissed her forehead. After Dadi all one by one fed her cake and wished her. Her MILs kissed her forehead with all love whereas FILs kept their hand on her head giving her blessings. Uttara and Pihu gave her hug.

"Should we have repeat telecast of 21 years?" Laksh said grabbing a piece of cake and feeding Swara while giving her side hug.

Swara looked at him in confused face.

"Laksh can you please talk in lay man's language. I don't understand what you talk" Swara said pouting shaking her head.

All laugh at her statement they were enjoying their teasing sessions.

"Ok my dear Bhabhi I will tell you what I mean but then you have to do it." Laksh said shrugging his shoulders.

"No, Swara don't agree. I will make you understand" Sanskar said loudly widening his eyes and pulling Swara to his side.

Swara looked at Sanskar with confusion, but she was enjoying their banter.

"No Bhabhi don't listen to Bhai, please listen to Lucky Bhai" Uttara said beamingly.

"Swara you are my wife you have to listen to me" Sanskar said being stubborn.

"What Bhai? You are such a useless. By the way how you will make her understand by theory or practical?" Laksh said wiggling his eye brows.

Swara looked at them in wide eyes she still did not understand what they are talking about.

"Come on Laksh, now it's enough. Let's leave its already late" Annapurna said pressing her lips to control her laugh.

"Haa Jiji is absolutely right its very late. They must be waiting for us to leave them alone to continue with their private celebration." Sujata said with serious face pushing everybody out of the room, listening to Sujata their room roared with laughter.

Swara closed her eyes tightly and with her right palm she hid her eyes pressing her lips to control her blush.

When Sanskar looked that all have been left from their room, he held Swara's hand and pulled her towards himself encircling her in his arm, Swara was staring at his eyes.

"Once again Happy Birthday" Sanskar again wished her, cupping her cheek with his palm and bend towards her cheek to give kiss. "This is what the repeat telecast is" Sanskar mumbled against her cheeks.

Swara had closed her eyes holding his t-shirt in her fist.

Their trance was broken when they heard a sound of picture clicked.

"Kaka look at this what a capture exactly same. Perfect pic for before and after. Great Bhai....nothing has changed between Bhabhi's 3rd birthday and today." Laksh said showing his mobile screen to Adarsh, they were standing at door step and peeping inside Swasan room.

"Get out Lucky" Sanskar shouted and went to close the door of the room.

Swara was laughing, blushing and shaking her head listening their banter.

"Let's sleep we need to get up early and need to go somewhere." Sanskar said pulling Swara in his embrace. He was lying down on the bed.

"Where are we going Sanskar?" Swara asked keeping her head on his chest, playing with his shirt buttons.

"That's surprise kitten" Sanskar said kissing her hairs, he extended his hand to switch off night lamp.

"It's my birthday you should tell me." Swara said snuggling more on his chest moving closer to him.

"Good night Swara" Sanskar said and start caressing her hairs to make her sleep.

"Good night Sanskar" Swara said she slightly raised and gave a peck on his cheek. She again snuggled in his arms closing her eyes slipping in deep slumber with smile on her lips.

'I was waiting for this day from so long Swara, just few hours to go now' Thinking this Sanskar once again kissed her hairs, pulled her more to himself and slipped in deep slumber with smile on his face.

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

I hope you all will love this chapter please provide your love and feedback in the form of votes and comments.

Also, next chapter will be the most awaited one when our lovely Swasan will confessed their feelings for each other. Can anyone guess what Sanskar would have planned for his kitten?

Please vote Finding My Other Half book for The Lattes Yearly Choice Awards (2020)

Love
AngelTweet