"Julia Aunty why don't you join us for breakfast?" Swara asked while helping Julia to set breakfast table in Granny's room as usual.

"No Swara, I am not hungry. I will just have some orange Juick."

"Just orange juice?" Swara raised her eyebrows.

"Yes because of you only. You come here on weekends and do most of the work. And then nothing remains for me." Julia twitched her nose. She took quick pause and then whispered to Swara, "I am gaining weight these days."

Swara laughed loudly.

"Ohh come on Julia Aunty. Who will say you are gaining weight? Look at you. You will still give complex to any fashion fiesta."

"Silly Girl" Julia hit her on her back.

Sanskar was standing at the doorstep with small smile looking at their banter.

'She can make anyone happy without even trying anything extra.'

His eyes moved to Granny; she was looking something at her iPad. But looking at her flared nose buds he could guess, his grandmother is upset over something.

"Granny come on you can start" Swara pouring juice in her glass.

"Where is your workaholic husband?" Granny asked raising her eyebrows.

"Good morning, Granny"

"Good morning Swara"

"Good morning" Swara replied with smile.

He took a seat between two ladies of his house.

"Granny, what happened? Why are you cursing me in the morning?" he was in teasing mood today.

"What is this?" Granny forwarded iPad to him.

He gave brief and started digging in his breakfast plate.

"It's a stale news Granny."

"Don't you have simple courtesy to tell me this?"

Swara kept on shifting her eyes between two without any context of their discussions.

"Granny you are overreacting." He was careless.

"OVEREACTING! My grandson was awarded with the best businessman award for North America. And you are telling me, that I am overreacting?"

"Wow. Congratulations" Swara wished.

"Did you know about it?" Granny turned her focus to Swara. "I am sure no."

Swara bent her head to withdraw herself from upcoming war between grand mother and her grandson.

"So, when is the award function?"

"It's on Tuesday"

"Swara you should go for shopping now. Go and make your husband bank corrupt because he hid such a big news from all of us."

"Why Granny?" she became confused.

"Oh, my Child he got award because of you only."

"Excuse me Granny. How have I got award because of her? It's all my hard work." He was back to his self-centered nature.

"Because she is an understanding wife. If she was crabby wife, would you have been able to work in office late night?"

Granny's statement made his tongue tied. He knew no one can win with Granny in talks.

"And she supposed to join you for award ceremony, so she needs to look like a queen."

Her statement chocked Swara and she started coughing badly.

"Oh, my poor child. Are you ok?"

Sanskar poured water and passed glass to her.

"No Granny she cannot accompany me as I, myself is not going over there."

"Hey, my Kanhaji" Granny was real drama queen. "I don't want to listen anything you and Swara going hand in hand for this function that's it. This final. And you will listen to me if you don't want to face my silent treatment again." She blurted out everything in one breath.

"Granny you know I don't like such functions"

Swara pressed her lips looking at their banter.

Granny ignored and played news videos praising her grandson over his success.

'Mr. Sanskar Maheshwari, CEO of Karma Business and Grandson of Mr. Anant Maheshwari has been awarded with Best Businessman Award for 2021. This young, handsome, and dynamic businessman has number of successful achievement feathers in his cap. Congratulations to the most eligible bachelor of Canada.' Granny stopped video and replayed it for couple of times.

"What does she mean by the most eligible bachelor?" her question was straightforward but swiped the floor beneath Swara and Sanskar's feet.

They both shared brief eye lock.

"Who is she?" Granny pointed at Swara.

"Granny, please leave it" Swara tried to interrupt for the first time.

"No no. I need an answer Sanskar. WHO IS SHE?"

"She is Swara"

"Ok let me reframe my question, who is she to you?"

"My ... my... my... My wife" he looked at Swara in corner eyes.

'My Wife' just two words from him enriched Swara's cheeks with cherry red colour.

"Exactly, so why this girl is calling you as eligible bachelor?"

"Because our marriage is not in public yet."

"Sanskar?"

"Granny, listen I have my reasons. And you know them very well. So please." He held her palm in her's with pleading look.

"This is not acceptable Sanskar." She shook her head in disappointment.

"And how can you keep your silence on this? You are his wife. You have the utmost right over him. Everybody should know about you being Mrs. Swara Sanskar Maheshwari." this time Granny turned her glare on Swara.

"Granny, it's ok. I ... am ok with this. We... we had talked about it. He had already told me that our marriage will be hidden from public, and I trust him with my life." Swara blurted out without giving a second thought.

'I trust him with my life. What does that mean? Does she really trust me or is it just to convince Granny?' Sanskar could not shift his eyes from her face.

"You both are made for each other. Always covering up for each other." Granny shook her head maintaining her eyes on Sanskar.

'This is not over yet' messaged was passed by her and received by Sanskar.

In afternoon, Swara started leaving to make Granny's favourite Ginger Tea.

"Swara" Sanskar called from back. He was working on Mac sitting inside Granny's room.

"Hmm?"

"Are you making tea for Granny?"

"Yes" she narrowed her eyes. "Do you need anything?"

"No nothing" he shook his head. He cursed himself in mind for calling her.

"Ok" she left for downstairs rolling her eyes.

Granny woke up after her afternoon nap. She found perfect opportunity to confront Sanskar in absence of Swara.

"Sanskar we need to talk."

"What Granny?"

"It's been 7 months for your marriage with Swara but why you are not declaring it too public? Everyone should know about her being your wife. Everyone should respect her as Maheshwari's daughter in law."

"She is an independent girl. She does not need my name to get recognition, or to earn respect."

Swara halted in her tracks at door listening their talks.

"Don't trick me with your words."

"Granny, you know right we are surrounded with wolfs. I need to protect her. Else they will hunt her down and..." he could not finish but his voice turned ruthless suddenly.

"Are you comparing Swara with Serena?" Granny observed his face for long time.

"Serena? Where did she come from in this?"

'Who is this, Serena? I have never heard her name anytime' Swara's train of thoughts was running with jet speed.

"Come on Granny. Serena... she ... she was ... she was a..." he couldn't find w word.

"She was a bitch." Granny helped him.

Sanskar looked at her with wide open eyes.

"You taught me not to use bad words and now...?"

"She was a bitch. Ok back to the topic. Sanskar, Swara is not like her."

"Of course, not Granny. In my wildest of dream also I will never compare Swara with that selfish, greedy woman. Swara is selfless. She thinks about everyone before her own self. She has a pious heart. I know she can never ever hurt anyone."

Swara's heart was running marathon hearing his thoughts.

"Then what's the issue?"

"I cannot let our enemies to know about Swara. I know, I trust her that she will never come in their words and betray me. But that quality of her's will result in danger for her which I don't want. So, by hiding, I am protecting her." He was determined.

'She will become my weakness if they come to know about her. They will surely target her to weaken my knees.' He engrossed in his thoughts.

'But why I am thinking about her?'

'I don't care about her.'

'I don't bother if she lands in any danger.'

'She is no one to me.'

'But I don't want her to land in any danger because of me till the time she is my wife.'

'No... not wife... till the time she is my responsibility.'

'Yes, she is just my responsibility till we both are in this contract.'

Swara entered in Granny's room. She served ginger tea to Granny and then moved towards Sanskar.

"Your dark roast coffee" she handed over coffee mug.

'How does she know I wanted this?'

'Does she know mind reading?'

'Now a days she has started understanding my inner thoughts with out I voice it out.'

'This can be too dangerous for you Sanskar.' He took sip of coffee which was exact as per his taste preference.

Weekend passed as it came and Swara and Sanskar were back to their hidden married life.

As announced Sanskar did not went to receive award, he sent his PA. But this needed celebration for overall Karma Business House. So, it was decided to throw dinner party at one of their own 7 star restaurants for higher management.

"So Swara are you going for that exclusive dinner?" Ayesha asked while cleaning dishes.

"Yes, I have meeting invite for it. It's for everyone right?"

"Nope it is only for staff who works directly in Sir's team. We are poor common employees. We just got one Ferrero Rocher's box." Ayesha chucked out.

Swara chuckled out.

"Hey but you are going right? Wow it will be an amazing experience. Did you choose what you are going to wear?" There they both goes on.

Ayesha gave her one of her dresses which was simple yet elegant irrespective of Swara's continuous denial.

"Come on my girl, have this. You will look fab."

It was the night when dinner was planned, Swara went with Brittany directly from office. Full private area of hotel was booked for them.

Surprising to all Sanskar attended this event earning raised eyebrows from most of them.

Swara's eyes turned to him.

He was dressed in navy blue suit with white shirt and matching tie.

They both shared brief eye lock passing quick nod and small smile in recognition before getting engrossed with their discussions with others.

Servers were roaming around while serving variety of starters.

Sanskar saw one server asking Swara to pick up starter from plate. She was observing what to pick up.

Her mobile buzzed with ring. She saw it was flashing "Olaf Calling"

Her gaze searched for his presence and there he was staring at her.

"What?" She mouthed and raised her eyebrows.

Sanskar just shook his head making sure no one is observing their silent exchanges.

"What?" her confused reaction was the same.

He rubbed his forehead.

He took out his phone and typed something.

'Ting' her mobile buzzed, it was message. 'Don't eat that starter. It has beef and pork.'

Swara raised her eyelashes with amazement.

'Thank you' he saw her reply. His lips stretched with smile. He gave her simple quick nod before turning to his associates.

'He cares for me.' her cheeks started competition with tomatoes.

After routine congratulations and formal speeches, it was time for dinner.

Swara took a seat besides Brittany on one of the big oval tables set in hall.

She felt some one sitting beside her when she raised her eyes it was her husband, he was still busy with discussions with others from their table.

She became alert. Her heart started thumping inside her ribcage with jet speed.

"Why are you sitting here?" she asked in whisper covering her mouth.

"Need to check what you are eating." He replied in same tone.

Swara bit her lower lip to supress her chuckle.

Dinner was going on in full swing as well as their silent exchanges hidden from everyone.

Sanskar got a call and since it was loud noise over there, he moved to an isolated area to attend the call.

He finished his talks and turned to see the most unexpected person. He rolled his eyes and started passing intruder.

"Sanskar now you don't even want to look at me?" Serena held his arm.

Over last 4 months, she had tried every way to reach to Sanskar through blank calls, visiting his penthouse but till today she was unsuccessful.

A message from her old friend who works in Karma gave her today's opportunity.

"Dare you" he jerked releasing her hold.

"How can you forget about us Sanskar? We were in so much love. We were going to get married. You were crazy for me. I love you so much baby. Let's get back together." Serena held his jacket and pulled him on her.

"Leave me you nasty woman." He tried to release her hold from jacket.

"No Sanskar. Not this time. I love you. I love you so much." Serena tried to kiss on his neck.

Swara came in the corridor to see Sanskar and Serena. Her eyes widened to see Senera throwing her self on her husband.

She felt pang in her heart looking at their proximity.

With one harsh jerk of Sanskar, she stumbled back.

Even though she was drunk she managed herself.

"Love me?" He passed ridiculed smile.

"If you would have loved me then I would not have to see you fucking someone in my bed, in my room, in my home just a night before our marriage."

Unknowingly, Swara's eyes turned moist, but they landed on Serena. She could easily remember this girl visiting their office.

Sanskar turned and saw Swara standing in front of him with teary eyes.

He took long steps towards her. Looking at his steps Swara bent her head down she turned to leave but he blocked her way.

He stopped in front of her not moving his eyes from her anxiety filled face. He held her wrist and started moving out dragging her along with him.

She followed him but her confused eyes stayed on his stone face.

'Who is she?' Serena's forehead creased with confusion.

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

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