A part of mine,
In you does shine!

You're my little miracle,
A benison bequeathed from empyrean above.
Every moment I feel your presence within,
I can't help but fall more and more in love.

Once you open your eyes to the world,
You'll know me no more.
So, these nine months I have with you,
I have come to simply cherish and adore.

Every time you smile, my little one,
Gazing at a twinkling star!
Just know it's the star-crossed me,
Blessing my beloved, though from afar!

© GS_Stella

---------------------

Gusting chorus amidst the trees, sending those loose leaves on a dancing funfair ride, hypnotic and beautiful, the wind gushed into her room tousling her hair as she scribbled her first word on the paper.

She smiled to the chortles of the swirling wind in the silence of night. No matter what, the wind had always been her alter-ego. There was something so soothing about the free wind of the outskirts of the city... though being so cold itself, it always rendered a gentle warmth.

She was finally doing it!

But how should she start? The fluttering of the paper pierced through her solitude and she smiled tracing the page of the small journal she had in front of her eyes on her table. Smiling after a while... felt good. It really did!

Knowing that this would be something that she was going to cherish for all the coming years of her life, she sighed looking at the few words and letters written on the top of the page.

'21st July, 2017'

And she stopped with questions shrouding her mind endlessly. How should she address? Should she write a name? How wonderful it would have been to have him by her side right now! He always had an answer to her bubbling queries. But...

Knowing where she would find an answer to all her questions, she allowed her mind to travel back to her past... a past she would never forget and she did not even want to.

---------------------

"Swara, I want a baby!" he whispered into her ear wrapping his arms around her waist as she embellished her hairline with a pinch of 'sindoor' (vermillion).

It had been two years ever since they got married and she could not have been happier. He was everything she could wish for and she thanked her parents every moment for bringing him into her life. She had never imagined that she would fall in love with this man so deeply... so madly... so irrevocably.

Sighing, she snuggled closer resting her back against his chest and smiled. "A baby boy?" she asked and he shook his head in denial. "Naah! I want a girl... just as beautiful as you are or maybe even more. You know how greedy I am. I love being surrounded by beautiful ladies," he whispered again, kissing the nape of her neck tenderly.

"You know, I've even decided a name for her," his childish chime made Swara chuckle. Her husband was no less than a kid and here he was demanding a baby from her. "And what is it?" she could not help but ask.

"MAHI!"

---------------------

That one memory sorted out every bit of dilemma she had and she scribbled the next three words.

'My little Mahi,'

And with that being written, each drop of falling ink bedraggled the mere piece of paper with the avalanche of emotions she had contained within herself for so long.

And it was just the beginning!

'21st July, 2017

My little Mahi,

I know you won't be reading this anytime sooner or later but I can't help it. I just can't. I have so much to tell you... so much that I know I will never be able to speak in front of you. I'm helpless but still I want you to know how special you are to me.

I don't believe that it has already been a month... one whole month since we have been together. You are like the brightest star that has been tearing apart every bit of darkness of my life and this whole time I have with you, just know this my little love, that it is something that I can never express in words. I just fell in love with you the very first moment I felt you so close to my heart.

Having you breathing inside of me, I feel alive again! With you, I know something new will born inside of me as well!

Love,
The Mother you'll never know'

And that was it! Her first letter to her 'unborn child'.

A light knock on the door broke her trance and she pulled her gaze away from the journal. Sighing, she looked at the clock. It was 9:30 pm and she knew who it would be exactly... someone who had come to understand her after all this while. Someone she could call as her... 'almost friend.'

Smiling a little, she opened the door and greeted the person, "Hello, Mr. Maheshwari!"

And he smiled noticing the slight curve of her lips, so simple yet so serene. It was much more different than what he saw for the first time and this undoubtedly gave him immense happiness. "Hello, Swara! I was just wondering if you..."

"I have my jug of water completely filled up. Thank you very much!" she replied with yet another smile knowing what exactly he was here to ask about and he scratched the back of his head smiling sheepishly. It was his daily routine to come and ask her for water before retiring to his room for the night and Swara felt really good on having someone care for her after such a long time.

"Yeah, right!" he smiled shyly. "And how's the baby?" he asked and Swara smiled placing a palm on her non-existent one month old baby bump, "Perfectly fit and fine!"

"That's great! So, I will take your leave then" he beamed at her and she smiled back nodding her head.

"Sure! Good night, Mr. Maheshwari."

"Good night, Swara. Good night, my baby," he smiled looking at her belly and then without another word, he turned around and left for his room.

---------------------

But for Swara, it was once again a sleepless night. In just a matter of few months, everything had taken an unanticipated turn and her life was something she had never imagined. It was all so messed up and she had no way out.

Sighing deeply, she stood next to the window looking at the moon. The bright ambient light of the moon made her realize once again how analogous they both were, that sometimes it took even her by surprise. Though in the multitudinous sky the moon stood amidst numerous stars, yet it seemed so lonesome, so doleful.

Swara's situation was nothing different. She knew it exactly how it felt being alone in a horde. And very much like the moon, even she had several flaws. But to her dismay, unlike moon her flaws were not taken so easily by the so called society.

A tear drop silently rolled down her eyes even today reminiscing everything that tore every bit of her being apart.

---------------------

"It's all her fault."

"She ruined everything."

"She is nothing but a bad omen."

She had been bearing the excruciating maliciousness of the society for almost a year now but when it finally came from her family, she had nothing left to call hers.

"Maa, it... was it really my fault? Please don't do this... to me," her voice faltered at the end as the most afflictive words left her mother's lips.

"But for one daughter we can not destroy the lives of other two," came her mother's obdurate reply and that made Swara wonder was it actually her fault!

"That's it, Swara. You're going to the 'Vidhwa Ashram'. No more arguments on that," her father's authoritative voice boomed across the walls of her small home and she knew this was the end. Her wrecked soul wrenched every moment, and her withering heart reminded her again and again that she had lost all the control on her life. This was how her life was supposed to end.

Little did she know 'every end is a new beginning.'

(A/N : Vidhwa Ashram is a place of residence for Widows)

---------------------

"No! Please...," her anguished cry echoed all around and only added gloominess to the sullen surroundings of the Ashram. She squirmed under the hold of two other widows as she saw another one approaching with a pair of scissors held firmly amidst her fingers.

No! Not her hair!

After her eyes, her hair was something that 'he' adored the most. He loved caressing her long black tresses with his fingers and for her that feeling was nothing but pure bliss! She missed him... she missed him with every bit of her being. Oh, how she missed those ardent embraces and tender kisses! She had never felt something so serene, so pure.

But he was not there. He was gone just like a swooshing wind, as if he was never there. He was nothing but a pleasant dream. And now she had no one. There was no one to stand by her side and she knew it all too well. Her lips quivered and her now pale skin became even paler. Closing her eyes, she tried her best to control her trembling self and that was when everything was paused abruptly by a loud holler.

"STOP!" an earsplitting voice forced her eyes open and there he stood in front of her with his fists clenched to his sides.

"Mr. Maheshwari?" the name of the man she was seeing for the first time in her life escaped the lips of the woman holding one of her hands right now. To say they were shocked would be an understatement and Swara was nothing but flabbergasted.

"Just let her go." He ordered walking out of the corridor and into the small ground where they had held her.

"Mr. Maheshwari, it's Ashram's internal matter. It's the rule to be here and though you're the son of the chief trustee, you're not supposed to interfere," the eldest one of all the widows spoke and Swara's eyes brimmed with tears. He did not know why but something snapped inside of him. Though with the withered features, chapped lips and hopeless eyes, he knew she would be the perfect one. So, what he spoke next had shut everyone up.

"I want you all to know that father has decided to make me the trustee of this Ashram. So, from today onwards I will be taking all the decisions and my first decision is... this girl will not be staying here." He announced and everyone gasped. But all Swara could see was his finger pointed towards her.

"Thank you, Mr. Maheshwari. I will leave as soon as possible. I won't be creating any more ruckus at this place," Swara spoke as everyone else left and without any other word she turned around all set to leave.

But only one step ahead and his voice stopped her dead on her tracks. "No, you're not going anywhere." His voice held a firm authority that took Swara by surprise and she turned around to look back at him.

"Excuse me?"

"I helped you, so, isn't it natural I will be expecting something too," he spoke taking a step closer and an inaudible gasp escaped her. She was scared and did not even want to think about all those things he might ask for.

"W-What do you want?" she somehow gathered some courage and words stumbled out of her mouth.

"I want you for the coming next ten months of your life," he spoke and she stumbled back.

Did he just say what she heard? Or had she started imagining things!?

---------------------

Another gush of wind broke her line of thoughts and Swara looked around only to find herself still standing by the window of her room. Realizing it was time to sleep a little, she turned around to move towards her bed but was stopped instantly by chortles of the 'happy couple' in the adjacent room.

In those two, she had found two really good persons and quite possibly two good friends too. She, without any doubt, felt happy for them but in a way her heart wrenched too. How come she had ended up in here!? With her husband gone, her perfect life was gone too. And all that was left were his memories and the love they had for each other.

If it had been him right now, then wouldn't it have been possible that the little 'Mahi' breathing inside of her would have been their baby instead of... someone else's.

---------------------

"Thank you. Thank you so much for all that you are doing for us," the beautiful lady in front of her right now expressed her gratitude profusely holding Swara's hands.

When Mr. Maheshwari finally told her why he wanted her for the next ten months of her life, she was taken aback. She had never imagined even in her wildest dreams that she would be doing something like this but in the lieu of saving her life, she owed him that much. Moreover, the broken, forlorn person under all those façade of authority made her nod her head in agreement.

ONE CONTRACT! ONE SIGNATURE!

And that was all of it. Her life was changed once and for all. She had no idea where it was heading to, so, all she did was let her broken self go with the flow.

Ever since Swara signed the contract, this woman had been thanking her incessantly and her delectation had been shining in her eyes ever since then. Her never ending smile gave rise to this desire inside of Swara's heart to smile again. Maybe she finally had a reason to! And that was what she did.

"Please, don't thank me so much, Mrs. Maheshwari," Swara said placing her palm over hers and she smiled at her.

"Oh! No. No. That won't do. You can call him Mr. Maheshwari but please call me... Kavita. And just know this that from here onwards, we are friends."

Swara nodded her head and her lips finally twitched up into a smile after one whole year. Was it for good or bad, she had no idea but all she knew was that 'everything happens for a reason'! And if this was her destiny, then she was going to accept it with open arms.

The one she had loved with all her heart was not by her side. Yes, that was true! But another truth was that she was finally going to make their dream come true.

She was going to give birth to their 'Mahi'. She was going to be a mother.

A SURROGATE MOTHER!

---------------------

"Mumma! Mumma!" Swara smiled to the pleasurable chiming of the delicate voice. And hardly a moment later two fragile little hands were outstretched to reach out her. Two little feet tumbled towards her with small steps. The feeling was much more beautiful than Swara had ever imagined. The soothing giggles of her little daughter filled up the surroundings and she stretched her arms towards her.

"Mumma is here, love. Come here," Swara called out and the little baby's eyes shone with excitement. She leapt towards her mother but to Swara's horror she stumbled just at her next step.

She ran towards her without giving it a single thought. She could not let her baby get hurt. She just could not. Extending her hands towards her, Swara attempted to protect her child from the fall but all her arms were greeted by was emptiness... nothing but air.

"Mahi?" Swara called out desperately. Her heart thudded crazily inside the rib cage as she awaited a response. But to her dismay there was not any.

"Mahi?" she called out again. And yet again there was no response!

"Mummaaa!" Swara's breath stopped the moment she heard the strangled screech. Turning around immediately all she saw was the pair of little limbs vanishing into thin air even before she could reach them, as if they were never there.

"MAHIII!" Swara woke up with a start, breathing heavily. The foreign pain tugging at her heart had left her breathless and the scream was all that issued from her gape. Fisting the fabric of clothing near her wrenching heart she tried fighting back her tears but she couldn't. This inflicting pain of losing something very dear to her hauled callously at her heart. And she found herself too weak to fight back. Her first tear broke free and as her pain intensified, her tears did too.

She felt this desperate need to have someone by her side but was crestfallen on realizing that she had no one... no one to comfort her, to console her, to hold her and say that everything would be alright, that this time would also pass.

She needed him!

She needed him more than anything else!

---------------------

"Are you okay?" That was the first thing he asked her as he sat next to her on the bed. Swara squirmed at her place and felt him smile.

"You know you can remove that veil, right?" She could feel his amusement from her words and she nodded her head meekly but made no efforts to remove the veil from her face.

'Veil should be removed by the husband only.' Her mother's words rang in her ears. And it was their first night together after their wedding.

Seeing his newly wedded wife not making even a single move, he chuckled and asked, "So, do you want me to remove it?"

Gasping, Swara shook her head vigorously in denial and in an instant she removed her veil herself. Hearing a small laugh, she lifted her head up and the moment her eyes met with his smiling orbs, she felt something unknown stirring her heart and the huge tug of his lips upwards even made her smile a bit.

"Swara, I know this is an arranged marriage and we are strangers to each other to a great extent. So, before your husband I want to become your friend. And if you allow then your best friend too. Yeah?" His sincere words stirred the unbeknownst strings of her heart and in a beat her heart chimed that this was where she was supposed to be.

She nodded her head to his friendship proposal and in that moment she had earned the most beautiful relationship. Friendship! And the light touch of his lips on her forehead that followed next was the most blissful feeling she ever had!

---------------------

Hearing the desperate knocking at the door, Swara wiped off her tears.

"Swara! Are you alright?" She heard the terrified voice of her new friend and with trembling fingers she pulled the comforter away from her body. Stumbling at her steps, she made her way up to the door and the moment she opened it, she was taken aback by his fazed condition.

"M-Mr. Mahesh... wari?"

"What happened? Are you okay? I heard your scream," his situation was much haywire than expected. He placed his palms on both of her shoulders and held her still. "I... I... It was a... N-Nightmare!" Swara somehow stuttered.

And even before she could realize his arms were around her as he pulled her into a hug, "It's okay. It's okay. I'm here. There's nothing to worry about."

That was the moment Swara was grateful that he was her friend.

---------------------

'24th September, 2017

My Little Mahi,

It's been three months and tonight was the first time I dreamt of you. I'm scared... really scared. I had never imagined that I would grow so attached to you in just a short duration of time. I don't even want to imagine what would happen after six months.

I know I've signed the contract promising once I give birth to you, I'll never try to meet you or even look for you. But this heart has started reprimanding me. I'm scared of losing you... forever!

Love,
The Mother you'll never know'

And that was another one of the several letters she had been writing in her secret journal addressing her unborn baby.

---------------------

"Swara, come on! Hurry up," Kavita called her out excitedly as after a lot of persuasion and emotional blackmailing her husband had finally agreed to sing a song for her. To add up to her excitement they were having a movie night after quite a number of months and since they were the only three living in the house, Swara was more than happily invited to join them.

"I'm coming. I'm coming." Swara chuckled seeing her excitement and as Kavita held her hand tugging her out of the room, Swara held herself back. Kavita was confused at her resistance and furrowed her eyebrows, to which Swara rolled her eyes pointing towards her now prominent belly, "I can't run."

As realization dawned upon her, Kavita smiled sheepishly, "Sorry! I forgot you were six months pregnant. Um... Thank you so much, Swara!"

"How many times are you going to thank me? I thought we were friends," Swara said and Kavita chuckled.

"Yes, we are now. But you agreed to help a stranger selflessly. When the doctor told me that I can never be a mother, I..."

She choked and Swara kept her palm on her shoulder, "If your body isn't strong enough to bear a child, then it's not your fault, Kavita. And moreover, it's not selfless. Mr. Maheshwari got me out of the Ashram. Remember?"

Kavita nodded her head smiling a little and without another word she held Swara's hand before making her way out to the living room.

---------------------

"You guys begin with the song. I'll go and get popcorn for everyone," Swara said as they finally reached the living room.

"No! I'll go and get it. You need rest, Swara," Kavita spoke interrupting her and Swara shook her head. "No, Kavita. The song is for you. So, it's you who is staying here. Besides, it is good for me and the baby, if I work a little bit."

With that being said Swara turned around making her way to the kitchen.

Filling the glass bowl with cheesy salty popcorns, she smiled taking in the aroma. She had been craving for cheese much more than expected now-a-days. So, he had made sure that their kitchen was filled up with several items of cheese without even asking for and Swara couldn't help but smile at his thoughtfulness.

With yet another smile, she picked up the bowl and made her way back to the living room. He would have started singing by now!

Just a few steps away from the living room and his voice hit her ears. And all the pain she had tried confining inside of her spurted out with the full force. Those words... Those were the exact same words...

Lag Jaa Gale Ke Phir Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho
Shaayad Phir Is Janam mein...

All of a sudden, all her strength gave up. She found herself too weak in that moment and the glass bowl slipped from her hands breaking the happy couples beautiful moment.

"Swara, are you alright?" he spoke getting up from the couch taking a step towards her.

She stepped back. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't... want to..."

"The bowl is not the concern, Swara. Are you hurt?" Kavita came running up to her and she stepped even back.

"I... I forgot something in my room." And then without another word, she stormed back to her room. Locking the door behind, she somehow made her way back to the bed. And no sooner she did, her tears flowed out with all the pent up emotions. The pillow became the companion to her tears and muffled sobs and her heart wrenched with memories of her lost moments.

It was the same song!

It was their song!

---------------------

Lag Jaa Gale... Haseen Raat...

Swara had played a soft music as she was arranging their room, awaiting her husband's return from the office. The way their friendship had grown into best friendship, Swara had never expected the same. Walking down the lane, hand-in-hand, without even a sign he had made his special place in her heart. And no matter what, even she couldn't deny the bizarre fluttering of her heart whenever he was close to her.

"Swara," his voice rang in her ears and the second moment he entered the room with a scowl on his face, "How could you do this?"

Excuse me! What did she do wrong?!

"What happened?"

"Such a beautiful song and you're doing what... arranging clothes. Like seriously! What's wrong with you, Mrs. Singh?" He complained untying his necktie.

"Huh!?" She was confused and even before she could say anything he had raised the volume of the song and pulled her closer holding her arm. Swara's heart skipped a beat as his hand made its way around her bare waist and finally resting at the small of her back.

"Now, that's more like it!" He chimed as he started swaying their bodies together to the music unknowingly stirring their souls.

Lag Jaa Gale Ke Phir Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho
Shaayad Phir Is Janam mein
Mulaaqaat Ho Na Ho
Lag Jaa Gale Ke Phir Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho
Shaayad Phir Is Janam mein
Mulaaqaat Ho Na Ho
Lag Jaa Gale se he...

And they did not know themselves when they had covered the minimal distance amongst themselves. With their hearts beating to the rhythmic beats of euphoria, Swara saw something change in his eyes.

Humko Mili Hain Aaj Yeh Ghadiyaan Naseeb Se
Humko Mili Hain Aaj Yeh Ghadiyaan Naseeb Se
Jee Bhar Ke Dekh Lijiye Humkok Qareeb Se
Phir Aapke Naseeb Mein Yeh raat Ho Na Ho
Shaayad Phir Is Janam Mein
Mulaaqaat Ho Na Ho
Lag Jaa Gale se he...

Her breath hitched and her heart skipped several beats as he pulled her closer, kissing her forehead the next moment. Her eyes closed instantly feeling the warmth of his lips seeping inside, down to her heart and that was the moment she realized that unknowingly he had become much more than her best friend. There was no denying. She was in love! Without even the single bit of her knowledge, she had fallen in love with her husband... and most possibly too badly, too madly.

Paas Aayiye Ke hum Nahi Aayenge Baar Baar
Paas Aayiye Ke hum Nahi Aayenge Baar Baar
Baahain Gale Mein Daal Ke Hum Ro le zaar zaar
Aankhon Se Phir Yeh Pyaar Ki Barsaat Ho Na Ho
Shaayad Phir Is Janam Mein
Mulaaqaat Ho Na Ho
Lag Jaa Gale K Phir Yeh Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho
Shaayad Phir Is Janam Mein
Mulaaqaat Ho Na Ho
Lag Jaa Gale se he...

And even before the song ended, his lips had captured hers in a soothing embrace for the first time ever and the world fell apart. With every tender stroke of his lips over hers, Swara had this unfamiliar feeling tugging at her heart. The kiss was much more than she could have asked for her first kiss. It was slow yet arduous, comforting yet passionate and expressed much more than words could ever. Resting his hand below her ears, he caressed her cheek with his thumb and she instantly melted in his embrace.

He was everywhere. His fragrance engulfed her in an ardent embrace and even before she could realize her hands worked their way down his spine pulling him even closer and with every amount of distance vanished from in between them, she could finally feel his heart beating crazily against her chest.

With their breaths mingling together, she knew she was losing herself. He was perfect... way too perfect. And just when she thought the moment couldn't be any better his words stole her breath away.

"I love you, Swara," he breathed out resting his forehead against hers and with one look into those enticing orbs of his, she realized that though her heart was hers but it had started beating for someone else.

---------------------

Oh, how badly she missed him! She really did. And as the time passed, even the pillow failed to muffle her sobs. Soon enough, the room was filled with her hysterical cries. She had no one. No one!

No sooner she thought this, a jolt of light pain raised from her stomach and her cries stopped abruptly. Did she just feel...

And there was another one!

Yes! Yes, she did! Her baby had kicked her! With yet another kick, her little Mahi had made her realize that she wasn't alone. She was there for her mother. Her feel was there to soothe her scorching hurting heart and bring her withering soul at peace.

Wiping off her tears, she placed her palm on her protruding belly and whispered, "Mahi..."

And she felt the moment again. That one feeling made her forget every pain of hers. Getting up from the bed she made her way to the door. She needed to tell them. No matter what they were the real parents and they had every right to know.

The moment she opened the door she found him walking frantically to and fro in front of her room.

"Mr. Maheshwari?"

"You were crying," he said and that was not a question. He had heard her cry. Swara wiped off the lingering evidences of her breakdown and spoke, "No. I... just... You know what?"

"What?"

"The baby kicked," she said with a small smile and in an instant his palms were on her belly. He frowned on not feeling any movement and Swara chuckled looking at his expressions.

"I don't feel anything," he complained with a pout.

"Maybe the baby is tired. I'll let you know the next time I feel the movement again," she spoke slowly and his eyes shown with excitement. "Really?" he asked and Swara nodded her head.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much." And in an instant she was in his embrace with his lips kissed her forehead gently. In that very moment something snapped inside of her and she pushed him away. "Mr. Maheshwari, what are you doing?"

"I'm... I'm so sorry, Swara." He was at loss of words realizing what he had done. Apologizing profusely he tried taking a step towards her but her raised hand stopped him then and there.

"Don't. Please go..."

"Swara..."

"Go, Mr. Maheshwari! Your wife must be waiting for you."

With that being said she turned around and closed the door without even a single glance back. Tears pooled up her eyes once again as she rested her head against the doorframe.

She couldn't betray him. She had loved him with all her heart and she couldn't give her heart to anyone else. He was the one for her and he would be the only one... always. He kept loving her until his last breath. The least she could do was do the same for him!

---------------------

She paced up and down her room as she awaited his arrival. He was never this late. It had been almost two hours past his usual arrival time, but there was no sign of him yet. With every passing moment her anxiousness had started reaching its peak and the moment she was about to lose all her patience before going out to look for him, her mobile phone rang with his name flashing on the screen.

She sighed with relief before receiving the call, "Hello! Where are you? When will you..."

"I'm... sorry, Swara," his pained voice immediately brought her unplanned speech to a pause and her heart sank realizing there was something wrong.

"W-What happened?" She stammered as she heard his ragged breathing from the other side.

"I'm sorry, Swara. I couldn't... give you... our Mahi," his broken words shattered her heart even more and her self-control was on edge, "Why... why are you saying like that?"

"I'm sorry... just know this that... I love you. I always... did," and with those words the other side of the call went silent and Swara's soul trembled with an unknown fear. Her knees wobbled as she starting calling him out frantically, "Hello... Hello... Kya hua? Please, kuch toh boliye. Hello."

And with a sudden chaos rising on the other side, she felt something rived inside of her.

"Hello!"

"Hello! The owner of this mobile phone has met with an accident. We are taking him to the city hospital," a frantic voice replied from the other side and her whole world came crashing down to her feet.

NO! NO!

He could not leave her. Not like this. She wanted it to be nothing but a dream but to her dismay it wasn't. He had promised her to be with her for all the lives to come. How could he break his promise in this life itself!? She screamed silently, suffocating with each breath. She found her being too mere to bear it all and she fell down on the floor as the recent words of the stranger registered themselves deep down inside of her.

"SANSKAAR!!" His name was the only word that she could muster out of her lips. Gathering the last bit of her strength, she ran... she ran before it was too late. She knew he needed her. She had to reach him before it was too late.

But the cruel destiny had played its card already and even before she could reach him, her Sanskaar was gone... FOREVER!

---------------------

Ever since that moment, Swara had tried maintaining her distance from him and to her relief he did the same too. He had made no efforts to approach her again, for the guilt of the mistake he did in the spur of moment was clearly visible in his eyes.

As expected, even the next three months passed out in a blur but what she hadn't been expecting was the bond that had developed between her and her Mahi. She knew she had no right on her. Though she called the baby as hers but she knew she wasn't going to be the mother the child was going to know. And no matter how much she tried controlling herself, she was breaking bit by bit with every passing moment.

'17th March, 2018

My Little Mahi,

It's finally time. Time for us to get separated. I just wish we could be together forever but we both know it's not possible.

No matter what everyone says, just know this that you're my daughter. The one I have nurtured inside of me for nine long months. I love you, Mahi. I love you more than I love anything else. I wish you all the happiness, my baby.

Though I'm not allowed to see you once you are born but for once... just once, I'll surely come to see how lovely you've grown up as. This is my promise... an unsaid promise from a mother to her child.

Love,
The Mother you'll never know'

---------------------

And finally the moment arrived. As Swara was taken inside the hospital room, both her friends waited right out of the door.

The pain was unbearable... much more than she had anticipated. She felt every bit of her being crushed mercilessly but even that couldn't hide the pleasure her soul carried for she was giving birth to a new life... a new hope.

And with the first cry of her baby she was greeted by the happiness that she was the proud mother of a baby girl. She did it! She finally did and she knew that her Sanskaar would be proud of her with every bit of his being. The dream they had seen together was a reality now. 'Their Mahi' was breathing right in front of her eyes.

On her earnest request, the doctor had given her daughter into her arms before going out to call the biological parents of the child. Swara cooed lightly as the baby stirred in her arms. She looked very much like her real parents. There was no doubt in that but Swara couldn't help but feel a bit of her resemblance too in her. Until that moment she had never realized that something could be so fragile, so delicate, so pure.

And that very moment she fell in love with her daughter. But then the moment ended as Swara noticed Kavita's tear filled eyes as she looked at the baby with an unwavering gaze. Knowing this was it, she handed the baby to her rightful mother but feeling her warmth going away, the baby had instantly held her finger with her frail ones.

But even before she could react to it, Kavita had freed her finger out of the baby's grip and with that everything ended. As soon as her Mahi came, she was gone too!

She was broken once again! But this time she had refused to stay broken!

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It had been five years ever since then and there hadn't been a single moment when she hadn't missed her daughter. The first feeling she had of her still lingered with Swara.

Fighting and striving for peace for two long years, she finally found it away from everyone else. In a small town of Himachal Pradesh, she had opened a small music school for children and this was her life now.

Tracing the cover of the journal she had written all the letters in, Swara sighed. It was Mahi's birthday in two days and she had finally decided to go to complete her promise. And even her birthday gift was ready...

THE JOURNAL!

Landing back in Kolkata after five long years rose every sort of feelings inside of her. All the memories, both good and bad, came rushing back to her and Swara took a deep breath.

Standing in front of the house where she had spent nine months of her life, Swara's heart clenched more and more. And that was when she heard those soulful chortles... of her Mahi!

"Amaya, stop running and drink milk. Sahil, look at your daughter. She never listens to me," Kavita's angry voice rang around with Sahil Maheshwari's chuckles and the next moment Swara's breath hitched as she saw a lovely little girl dressed in blue frock running out of the house chuckling all to herself. But to her horror she stumbled on her next step.

Forgetting everything, Swara ran out to her and unlike her dream this time her baby landed straight into her arms. This time she had saved her and Swara could not have been happier as the little girl looked up at her with her shining eyes and lips stretched into the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.

"Are you okay?" Swara asked her but her eyes were trained on something lying behind her. Turning around, Swara noticed that her little one had already found her gift.

Leaping out of the her arms, she picked up the journal and forwarded it towards her, "Aunty, your copy!"

And that was like a blow for Swara. She wanted to tell her that she was her mother. But... was she? Or she wasn't? She wasn't so sure herself. Then what right she had to gift her the journal?! Holding the journal tight in her grip behind her back, she kept watching as Mahi, or should she call Amaya, ran back to her parents... her real parents!

And without a word Swara was gone too!

'Life is not a fairy tale.' She knew it all too well. And she knew it too that it was her who had to fight for her happiness. No one could give it to her. Yes, she had lost many things in her life but still she had so much to hold onto. And with that thought in her mind she returned back to Himachal Pradesh with Sanskaar's love in her heart and Mahi's memories in her secret journal.

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A/N

Hey everyone! So, this is my os entry for the contest being hosted by freakswithus

I hope you all might have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. See you all tomorrow with the epilogue of ENCOUNTERS OF FATE.

Till then, stay blessed and happy reading!

With love,
Stella ❤️