"Almost done Papa. This is a last sip" Swara was feeding Anurag tomato soup which was brought by Rohan.

It was one week for Anurag's operation and Doctors have shifted him to private ward.

"Shona why did you ask for private ward? General ward would have cost us less."

"Papa why are you thinking so much. Don't worry. I told you right this is covered under family insurance benefits where I am working." Again, lame excuse from Swara.

"Are you sure Shona we don't have to pay anything?"

"Trust me Papa. We don't have to." She had already decided to talk about repayment with Sanskar once she goes back to Toronto.

His simple thought brough small smile on her face.

"Just two more days Papa and then you will be discharged."

"I am so proud of you Shona. You handled everything single handed. When did you grow up this big?"

"I am still your small Shona."

"When are you going back? I mean how many days you have taken leave?"

"I have taken one week as leave and then next two weeks I will be working from home. My manager accepted my request so I can work from India as per Canadian timings."

"How are you Anurag Bhaisa?" Sumitra and her family entered inside private ward.

"Arre Bhabhji, please come. Have a seat" Anurag welcomed them.

"So Swara, you really proved as a son for your family. I mean you did everything alone without taking anyone's help. This is really commendable" Sumitra praised after general talks.

Her eyes left wide open when she observed Anurag was shifted to private ward of this ultra-modern hospital.

"By the way how much you had to pay in total?" Radhika asked inquisitively.

"I did not pay but my company paid as my family is covered under employee's family insurance." Swara intervened smartly dodging their question.

She was least interested to talk with these people but right now she did not want to create any drama.

"You work for Karma Business House, right?" Radhika's husband, Ramesh asked.

"Yes Uncle."

"Maheshwari's. This is a big name in North America."

"What is their owner's name? It's something San..."

"Sanskar Maheshwari" it was for the first time Swara took her husband's name and she felt goosebumps in her stomach. She bit her lower lips, but her cheeks were enriched with blush.

"My friend used to work in that company. That Sanskar is very rude, selfish and arrogant man I have heard."

"No, he is a man of ethics, morality and kindness." She remembered all her encounters with Sanskar.

'He is the most perfect man I have ever met in my life.'

Nikhil observed her small smile and shining eyes which created some confusion, but he shrugged.

"By the way Swara, it's been almost 6-7 months you are in Canada but did not visit our home even for single time." Radhika started her backbiting masking her face with smile.

"I think Aunty I visited you on first weekend when I came to Canada. Don't you remember I got your requested list from India from apparels to food to sweets. My one bag was filled with your list only." Swara replied in same tone shutting her mouth.

"Swara how are you?" Nikhil asked. They both were walking out of main gate of hospital.

Earlier Anurag asked her to accompany Nikhil and his family members for seeing off.

"I am good. Much happier, as recently realisations have started hitting me hard." She turned to go back after bidding bye to his rest family members. They all left in taxi.

"You have changed a lot."

Swara turned to look at him with scrunched eyebrows.

"You were never like this passing sarcastic comments every time."

"Life teaches you so many lessons Nikhil."

"Are you sure your company paid all money for Uncle's treatment?"

Swara became alert.

"No... Your company did not pay the bill. No company will pay such huge amount for any employee who joined company just 6 months back."

"It's none of your business." She avoided.

"You took a loan for treatment from your company?"

"Why do you want to know about it? It was for my Papa. I am earning and I can support my family. You don't need to worry about it. AS USUAL." She challenged.

"What do you mean I don't need to worry? If you would have taken loan, then it would impact our life as well. Once we are married, we need to look for our own life. We have to settle there. We have to build our home. We ..."

"Marriage? Our Life? Our home? Are you serious Nikhil? I am not even thinking about this right now."

"But one day we will be married and then..."

"I am seriously not interested"

"Not interested means?" he turned her holding her arm.

"Meaning is clear Nikhil. I don't think you are any child whom I need to explain each word. Leave my hand. I need to be with Papa."

She released his grip not breaking their heated eye lock. She left inside.

'She is not the Swara which I knew all these years. She is changed.' He could not flicker his eyes but stared at her retiring figure with open mouth.

Two days later, Anurag was discharged and was shifted back to their home. Surprisingly Nikhil was there this time. In last one week, he visited Anurag every day and tried to talk to Swara but she maintained distance with him.

'What's going on in her mind?' reason behind Nikhil's regular visits to Swara's house.

Swara maintained her civil with him.

'This is not a time to confront him. He will create a scene. Doctors said there should not be any stress for Papa.'

"Uncle, I am so sorry for what happened that day. I mean, I did not realise the consequences. I am really guilty for my and my family's behaviour for that day." Nikhil joined his hands.

"It's ok" Anurag stared at his daughter's disgruntled face.

"Swara, I am really sorry."

Swara hummed with tight smile.

On one night when Swara was standing in her home's balcony staring at stars her mother came.

"Shona, your favourite cold coffee."

"Coffee" Swara remembered how Sanskar is fuzzy about his dark coffee.

Both mother and daughter talked all other things and then Reva broached awkward topic.

"Shona, I am not asking you for reasons for delaying marriage. I know you are big, matured, and responsible girl. You would have your own valid reasons, but you need to give these to Nikhil, and he needs to understand them. I feel something is missing between you two."

"My expectation is simple atleast I feel it is simple. If he wants me to take care of his family, support him for his dreams, be his strength in difficult times then he should also take care of my family, support my dreams, and hold my hand in problems. Is this too much to ask for from your life partner?"

"You know what these words are majestic when you heard, read or speak about them but in reality, it hardly works out."

"You mean to say my expectations are wrong."

"No. Not at all. I am just saying set your expectations in front of him."

"And even I set and he did not understand then?"

"Shona, when Sumitra Ji brought this alliance for you. It was your decision to accept it. Me and Anurag supported you. And keep one thing in your mind, whatever your decision will be me and Anurag will always support you. We just want you to be happy."

Reva's words released major burden from Swara's heart. She took heavy breath sipping her cold coffee.

Days were passing with jet speed for Swara and the day arrived for her to go back. In this time Nikhil always tried to find opportunity to be alone with her but she was always busy with her household responsibilities and office work.

Her flight was at mid night and on continuous insistence of Nikhil, she was asked by everyone to spend some time with him. They both came to terrace.

"What is wrong with you Swara?"

"I don't believe you are asking me this." She ridiculed.

"Swara what's going on in your mind? Why are you delaying marriage date?"

"Am I delaying marriage date? Wasn't it supposed to be after one year of my shifting to Canada? Are you forgetting my status in Canada is still married? Are you forgetting that because of your impulsive move and your long-lasting dream I had to push myself in contract marriage? Thank god it was San..." She halted becoming alert.

"I know... I know... but why are we fighting over this. It's just 4 more moths and then we will get married. You can sponsor my residency and then..."

"This is the problem Nikhil. You just think about your own self. You are worried about your dream, your life, your residency. It's you... you and only you? Where am I in this? Where is my family in this?" She lashed out at him.

She turned to other side crossing her arms around her chest. She took deep breath to settle her mind with closed eye.

"I think we need to take step back. I think, our expectations from our life partners are different, this will be difficult for us in future."

"Wow, now your expectations are different than mine?" It was question rather than statement.

"Nikhil, I need time. I want to think about this relation from start. I cannot ..."

"Exactly because your expectations would have been changed as now you have NRI status, and I am still here."

Swara looked puzzled.

"But are you forgetting you are enjoying all this NRI status, highly paid job, earning in dollars everything because of me?"

"Because of you?" she raised her eyebrows.

"It was me who made you meet that agent? It was me who did everything for you and ..."

"It was you who made me marry in contract marriage with one stranger."

"Yes, thank god you remember it. I hope you also remember that your parents do not know about your so-called marriage."

She became tongue tied.

"What will happen if they get to know about their daughter who married with stranger in contract marriage just to get residency of foreign country." He took threatening step towards her.

Swara left flagger basted with his one statement.

"Nikhil you can't do this" she could barely mumble.

One tear dropped from her eyes.

That was moment when Nikhil realised, he had crossed his line.

"I am sorry Swara. I should not have said those things. I am sorry, I lost my temper."

'Papa should never know about this. He won't be able to bare this. Ma will break down. Her trust on me will be broken for forever. Rohan will be ashamed of me.' thoughts about her family left his word hit on deaf ears.

"You know I will never do something like this"
He tried to held her shoulder. She took a step back.

"But you said so" she countered shedding tears.

"I am just scared to lose you. I love you so much to lose you." he tried to cover up. 'She is my Visa to settle down in Canada. I cannot lose her.'

"Nikhil, I think I need to leave else I will be late."

"Swara please. I am sorry. You know how much I love you. I know we had some issued between us. And I also know somewhere I am the reason behind them, but can we start a fresh? Let's leave everything behind and focus on our future. Our future. You and me."

Swara nodded her head staring at his eyes.

"Don't worry I will sort out. I will convince Ma for marriage date delay. Once everything is sorted out, we will get married. I promise I will not give you any chance for complain."

"Hmm" Swara nodded her head not breaking their eye lock.

'No Nikhil, I cannot trust you now. But I cannot let you know what is in my mind. Today, I saw evil in your eyes. If I would have broken up with you; you would have surely created drama about my marriage in front of my parents. At this time, I cannot take any risk with Papa's health. I have to maintain this façade in front of Nikhil, till the time I take Ma and Papa in my confidence.' Swara's thoughts were running with jet speed along with flight taking her back to her contractual hidden husband.

It was Monday, and Sanskar was working in his cabin. He was attending one phone call standing in front of glass wall giving perfect look of Toronto's skyline.

"May I come in Sir?"

"Come in" he was engrossed in his talks that he could not focus on the voice. The voice he wanted to hear badly from last three weeks.

After her breakdown, Swara never called him. She did not want to disturb him by entering in his personal space.

But without forget Swara regularly used to message him about her father's health, his discharge, results of his regular check-ups.

He never replied but her messages used to make him restless increasing his crave to see her.

Swara could see his back, he was dressed in dark grey suit. She waited for him to finish his call.

He cut call and turned to see the person whom his heart was craving for from last three weeks.

"Swara"

The way he took her name gave fluttering's to her heart. She never felt her name was so melodious depicting its meaning.

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

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