🍁 Written for MUSICALLY COMPETITION hosted by soumyavk. The song that I had selected for this OS is JAB TAK from the movie M. S. DHONI : THE UNTOLD STORY 🍁

✨ Declared Winner on 10/05/2018

"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment."

-Sarah Dessen

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'Falling in love' was something that was never on Sanskaar Maheshwari's to-do list. A trouble-maker, a nuisance to everyone at the Apex University was what he was. All he loved doing was complicate things beyond repair and irritate the hell out of the people. That was his forte and nobody ever dared to raise a voice against him for he was the son of the most influential businessman and the chief trustee of the University. But things went a little wrong when he sneaked into his teacher's chamber one day, stole the upcoming exam paper and had put it on the display board for all the students. He called it 'Community Service'... doing good to everyone. And that was where the whole chaos landed him up into.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER!!

"We are sending you for Community Service, Sanskaar, to do good to people who actually need some help. You need to get your mind work straight", the commanding voice of his Head of Department boomed across his office and Sanskaar's eyes widen in disbelief but not for long enough as soon a smirk crept up to his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. Have you forgotten who my father is?", he chided back audaciously as if he owned everything.

"Oh, I definitely remember. We just had a meeting and Mr. Maheshwari has himself asked me to send you there. Looks like he's, too, fed up of you. He knows either this way or that, you are not going to study", his HOD retorted back with a victorious smile on his lips.

"Damn it! I'm not going to any God Forsaken place!", Sanskaar huffed angrily throwing his hands up in the air and the HOD looked at him amusedly.

No matter what, he wasn't winning this time!

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And despite all his efforts, here he was, seven months later, for doing something he had never expected himself to do...

PROPOSE THE GIRL HE HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH!!

Turning on the music system, Sanskaar rubbed his palms together waiting for her. He went all jittery and jumpy just by anticipating the upcoming moments. He loved her and without a doubt she loved him too. But would she agree to be his girlfriend? He wasn't so sure. She had too many insecurities that might force her not to agree to his proposal. But one thing he was sure of was that she was the one for him and he wanted nobody but her in his life. She was his solace. His own personal paradise. She was the sole placid force pacifying his clamorous life.

Jab Tak tujhe pyaar se
Beintehaa main bhar naa doon
Jab Tak main duaaoon sa
Sau dafa tujhe padh naa loon

Soon enough, the melodious jingles of her anklet had his heart all pumped up and his hand went all sweaty as her ravishing beauteousness gleamed with the illuminated flickering candles. She was serene and once again he wondered what good had he done to deserve the love of such a beautiful soul.

"Sanskaar?", her scared yet mellifluous voice chimed and he found himself smiling. She had always had this effect on him! With her by his side, nothing else mattered to him. And in an instant he walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She stiffened at the unexpected touch but within a moment she relaxed for she knew how he felt like. With his arms around her, she snuggled closer into his embrace seeking his warmth. If this was how beautiful love was, she would have wanted to live her entire life in this one moment.

Haan mere paas tum raho
Jaane ki baat naa karo
Mere saath tum raho
Jaane ki baat naa karo

"Yes, My Love!", he whispered in her ear and she giggled. She was much more ticklish than usually people are and Sanskaar found it really adorable. Oh, how he loved the jingling sounds of her laughs! That was the most soulful music to his ears succoring his heart as well as his soul.

"Why did you call me? And are there candles and roses in here? I can feel them, Sanskaar", she asked and he kissed her temple.

"Do you remember the day we first met?", he questioned back without answering but the kiss had silently answered all her questions and she nodded closing her eyes. How could she not remember? That was the day when everything in her life changed once and for all. Sanskaar Maheshwari had entered her life like a swirling whirlwind and had knocked everything upside down even before she could realize.

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That day, Sanskaar had been cursing his stars out loud. He had almost begged his father to let him take his car to the Community Service Center but his father had lend him a deaf ear and as a result he was struck with his bike for traveling but that wasn't exactly why he was irked. The main cause of his frustration was...

RAIN!!

He hated getting wet but only after being halfway to the Center, he was caught up in the heavy downpour and that held him at the edge. Did they really have to send him during the rainy season? And now he would be going through this torture for four days every week for the entire semester.

Great! Just freaking great!

By the time he reached the Center, he was drenched from head to toe and his head was all set to burst into flames any next moment. Ugh! He was never going to step into rain again! Making a futile attempt to brush the raindrops off his clothes, Sanskaar entered the premises hurriedly when all of a sudden he bumped into something... or someone to be precise. Involuntarily, his hand worked on their own accord and soon enough in his arms he had the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!

Tum aa gaye baazuon mein mere
Sau savere liye
Sau savere liye

Gasping she had fisted his shirt in her palms to steady herself up as her wide eyes stared up at the ceiling of the hall. But all Sanskaar could notice were her big doe orbs that definitely did speak a lot.

"Isn't it very rude of you? A very handsome young man is having you in his arms but you are staring up at the ceiling. Don't you think it's being unfair to my awesomeness", Sanskaar whispered huskily to her and she was caught off guard.

"Huh! I'm... I'm so sorry", she fumbled with words trying to stand straight looking everywhere but him, but Sanskaar didn't seem in a mood to let her go. She wiggled in his arms to free herself, "Let me go, please."

Woah! Not even her eyes but her voice was mesmerizing too!

"Only on one condition!"

"What?"

"My name is Sanskaar. Yours?", he asked tilting his head sideways when he realized that she wasn't looking at him but somewhere else... maybe somewhere behind his shoulder. But then she spoke, "My name..."

"Swara!", another voice called and Sanskaar frowned as she hurriedly freed herself up.

"Ragini?", Swara enquired as her friend came up to her.

"What are you doing here, Swara? Your class is on other side of the building", Ragini said holding Swara's hand and she chuckled, "Looks like I walked in a different direction again."

"That's why I always ask you to take your stick before coming to the building. You left this in the room again", Ragini huffed before handing Swara a white folding stick to which she obliged with a smile. They had been sharing the same room for a year now and Ragini knew that this was the only thing that Swara always forgot.

Swara unfolded the stick and smiled as she felt the ground under its tip. And that's when the realization dawned upon Sanskaar and his eyes widened instantly.

She was visually challenged!

Sanskaar felt a sharp pang of pain shooting up his heart. How unfair it was that those beautiful eyes couldn't see how beautiful everything was around her! Looking at her, he finally realized how unjust and merciless life could be.

"Let's go Swara. Your students are waiting", Ragini's voice had his attention once more and even before he could realize the word rolled down his tongue, "Students?"

Swara smiled, "I'm the music teacher of the children living at this community center."

This girl was undoubtedly full of surprises and Sanskaar couldn't help but admire just within few moments of meeting her!

With that being said both of them turned around as Ragini helped Swara to get back to her classroom whereas Sanskaar stood rooted at his place. This wasn't the plan! It definitely wasn't! All he had planned was to create hell lot of nuisance here until these people might kick him out themselves but now a certain someone had gained his interest.

Apparently his stay here had instantly elongated!

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It had been about two months since Sanskaar started working at the Community Service Center and as the saying goes 'Habits Die Hard', he couldn't help but do something nonsensical from time to time. To say the people over there weren't very fond of him wouldn't be an understatement, except for one person... Swara! She hadn't been rude to him even for once and no matter what he did, she always greeted him with a smile.

'My Smiling Sunshine'... that's what Sanskaar had started calling her secretly!

Done with his day's work one day, on his way to the main gate he heard Swara and Ragini talking as Ragini watered the plants in the backyard.

"Swara, why are you so good to Sanskaar? He always troubles everyone", Ragini asked and Sanskaar's steps came to a halt. For some odd reasons he wanted to know what Swara thought about him. He wanted to hear her reply, so, he stood behind a pillar looking at Swara who was smiling as usual.

"He's not a bad person, Ragini. All he has is his father, so, I think he's lonely. All he wants is people to look up at him and since he's helping us here, the least we can do is be a little polite to him."

And the words had hit him hard. No one... No one had ever been able to look past that façade he had created around himself and this girl was already doing it without even realizing. She saw what he wanted to conceal and the unknown feelings tugging at his heart had left him exhilarated. He didn't know why but for once he wanted to be good... for someone special. He wanted her to look at him... with her heart!

Haan baadalon se utara gaya
Tumko mere liye
Sirf mere liye

And he changed! He changed for her and the pleasure of this change was quite evident in those enticing orbs of hers. Finally, everyone was seeing what her heart had seen already!

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"Sanskaar, please I can't do this", Swara made another futile attempt to free her wrist from his firm grasp but his grip tightened, "We are almost there, Swara. Trust me you can do this."

Sanskaar had heard of this 'National Talent Hunt' being organized in their city and he had insisted Swara to participate and sing in front of everyone for he knew her talent deserved recognition and appreciation. But Swara hadn't been so sure. She was insecure like always. Her blindness had always crumbled her confidence to pieces and she didn't know how to put it all together again. And now standing in the queue for registration her self-confidence had given up again and she decided to step back.

"I... I can't...", she started but was immediately cut off by an unknown voice, "Just listen to her, buddy! Who knows while going up the stairs she might trip not knowing where to go!"

Loud laughter reverberated across the hall and that comment had Sanskaar's blood boiling with rage, "Shut your freaking mouth or trust me you won't be able to speak again."

"Why are you even wasting your time at her? Look around, you have much better options", a girl interrupted and even before Sanskaar could reply to her Swara ran away from there... not knowing where she was going she had just let her feet take her and soon she was out of the building with Sanskaar screaming her name and following right after her. With the building being in the outskirts of the city, he was afraid she might get lost in the unfamiliar surroundings.

He hadn't realized it yet but the moment his first step was out of the building cool droplets met his skin. It was raining. Again. He hated it still but now his senses had been overpowered with one person whom he wasn't ready to lose.

Screw the rain! Screw the world! He wasn't going to lose her!

Taking a deep breath he ran after her, held her hand and in a heartbeat she was engulfed in his embrace as he caressed her back whispering sweet nothings in her ear. And she finally cried. She cried her heart out with her head on his shoulder. She had never let her disability have an upper hand on her but being not able to see had never hurt her this much ever before. Those words had made her realize how imperfect she was for him and she regretted having these budding feelings inside of her heart.

Minutes later, as her cries muffled into silent sobs, Sanskaar took her towards a little shaded area that he could find nearby.

"I'm sorry", she whispered to him.

"Why are asking for forgiveness Swara?", Sanskaar asked confusedly and she sniffed a breath, "I don't deserve this, Sanskaar. I don't deserve this respect and love. She was right. Don't waste your time on me..."

She kept on blabbering and in an instant Sanskaar cupped her face in his palms and whispered, "Hey! Hey! Don't think about what others are saying."

"But..."

"I respect you, Swara... More than I have respected anyone else. And you know why? Because... you're just as caring and loving as my mother was. I see a reflection of hers in you", he said caressing her cheek and her eyes widened.

That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her... but deep inside her heart she felt that she didn't deserve such a respect.

"What... What are you saying... You can't..."

And then he said what she wanted to hear but never wished him to say it. Because after that she knew there was no turning back.

"I love you", he whispered and in an instant his lips found hers in a soft caress. Swara gasped and stepped back as no one had ever been so close to her touching her in a way she had never expected anyone to, and all the color from Sanskaar's face drain away on realizing what had he done. He had ruined the slightest chance he had with her.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Swara. I didn't mean it that way. I'm... We... We should go back." As she felt him turn around her momentary trance got broken and immediately she held his hand. Sanskaar's breath hitched as he turned around and for the first time ever, he found her eyes turned in his direction as if she was looking at him only. He was still trying to comprehend what was happening and that was when she smiled shyly. He wasn't able to believe. She did actually smile!

"If you're going to wish me good luck for the contest then shouldn't you do it properly", and her each word knocked every ounce of breath out of his body. But her smile had said it all. He hadn't ruined everything... for the first time in his life...

Jab tak meri ungliyan
Tere baalon se kuch keh naa le
Jab Tak teri lehar mein
Khwahishein meri beh naa le

And his lips, oh so gently, took her lips in an almost gentle and tender embrace! His fingers caressed her smooth long tresses and she had a firm grip on his shoulder for she was sure if it hadn't been him, she would have melted in his warm embrace by now.

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The still playing soft music in the background broke their reverie and pulled Swara and Sanskaar out of the beautiful reminiscence. She was still in his embrace as he rocked both of them, swaying to the beats of the soulful music.

"Sanskaar, what are we doing here?", Swara asked pausing for a moment and he smiled kissing her cheek, "I want to tell you something."

"What?"

"I love you, Swara", he whispered in her ear before brushing his lips against her earlobe and she giggled again earning a chuckle from him as well. She had always loved the way he treated her. She had never expected love to be so beautiful... so soulful!

"You told me that four months ago already. Don't you remember?"

"Ahan! Sharp memory, I see!", Sanskaar chuckled and then took a deep breath. It was now or never. He was scared yet enthralled, nervous yet excited. He knew he had to do this. Even if she was going to reject, he had already planned what he was going to say. He was going to ask her again and again and again until she would say 'yes'. One thing he was absolutely sure of was that she was the only one for him and there was no way he was letting her go!

"If not that, then how about this?"

"What, Sans...", and the words got stuck in her throat wherever they were as he held her hand and she felt him dip.

"What are you doing, Sanskaar?", she asked furrowing her eyebrows and he gave out a nervous laugh, "Sitting on my knees."

"W-Why?" Was this really happening!

Haan mere paas tum raho
Jaane ki baat naa karo
Haan mere saath tum raho
Jaane ki baat naa karo

Sanskaar took one deep breath as he finally said what he had been practicing for weeks, "Swara, I know I'm not the best person anyone would want as a partner but I can assure you that no one can love you more than I do. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You saw what I was hiding behind those high walls. You saved me, redeemed me and loved me the way I had never expected. I know you think that I can get someone better but I don't want anyone but you because trust me when I say this... for me you're the best. I love you! I love you so damn much! You and me, together are one. With me, I promise you'll see the world with my eyes. I promise to kiss all your pain away. So, will you give me a chance to fulfill my promises? Main zindagi ka har 'Lamha' tumhare saath bitana chahta hoon! Ms. Swara Bose would you do the honor of making me the happiest man on the Earth by being my girlfriend?"

"Yes!", she said in an instant and her first tear broke free of its barriers rolling down her now blushing cheeks. The smile that had made its way to her lips widened with each moment as tears kept rolling down.

Sanskaar was exhilarated. She had said Yes! Finally! Kissing her hand that was still in his, he slid a ring into her ring finger and the next moment he felt her stiffen and she stuttered, "Sans... kaar... This..."

"Shh! Relax", he whispered getting up on his feet, "I'm not asking you to marry me now. However, I will, once I become good enough for you. But from here on, I want you to be with me in every moment of my life. This is my promise ring, Swara. I promise to be there for you, with you... always."

"Why are you making me cry?", Swara sniffed on her happy tears tracing her fingers over his promise ring and her smile widened, "I love you, Sanskaar."

"I know", he smirked earning a whack from Swara on his arms as she sobbed again.

"Come on, Swara. I'm not that bad that you are crying."

"I want to see you, Sanskaar", and with her words his smirk fell and he took her hand in his and caressed her cheek.

"You don't need eyes to see me Swara. I already have a very special place booked for myself. In here...", he took her palm and placed in over her heart, covering her palm with his own and she smiled again. How did she become so lucky to have him in her life?

"You know, Ragini says you're gorgeous", Swara chuckled and Sanskaar raised an eyebrow, "Really? But isn't gorgeous a word for girls. Let's go and ask Ragini."

He took her hand in his all set to run and find Ragini when Swara immediately shrieked, "What? No! Not now."

"Then what? What do you want, Swara", he whispered walking closer to her and she tilted her head to her side, "How about a hug?"

"And here I was hoping for a kiss", Sanskaar huffed dramatically, "No worries, a hug will also do for now."

Swara giggled as he wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer and placing a kiss at the top of her head.

"Thank you, Sanskaar!"

"Anytime Princess, anytime!"

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A/N

Hey everyone!

I seriously can't believe this FIREFLIES has been ranked #3 in short stories. Thank you so much for all the love and support. That really means a lot to me.

I hope you all enjoyed reading the OS. I have changed a few things in the first draft of the story. Though it's not much just a little.

P. S. : I'll post the next chapter of THE HIDDEN HALF tomorrow night or the day after depending on when I'm able to complete it. I'm sorry for the delay but I have exams coming up.

With love,
Stella ❤️