"Ma, please don't ask me why? But I am not in state of mind for marriage with Nikhil. Lot of things have been changed in this 9-10 month. I trusted wrong person with my life." Swara finally voiced out her inner thoughts to her mother over video call.

"Shona what are you talking about?"

"Ma, Nikhil is not the one for me." she took deep breath declaring her final decision.

"Shona, I am not understanding anything. Nikhil says everything is going on fine between you two and here you are saying this..." Anurag became perplexed.

"Papa he is just creating a façade. Do you trust me?"

"Of course, Shona, is this anything to ask?"

"I know Ma. I am sorry to put you and Papa in this mess. But Ma, I have made my mind. I know, I owe you and his family an explanation for my decision. I will talk to Nikhil and his family personally. But before that just avoid this marriage topic. Please." Swara pleaded to her parents.

'I have to bring Ma and Papa here first. Then only I can convey my decision to Nikhil. If I, do it now, for sure he will create chaos. Papa will not be able to bare it. I need to give detailed explanations to Ma and Papa for my contract marriage with Sanskar. It's high time they are in dark. I just hope they both will understand me.'

"Ma, don't pressurise Di." Rohan's voice broke her trance. "I am with you Di."

"But how are we going to handle all relatives and society?" Reva turned panic.

"You don't have to worry about them. I will be the one facing them. I promise, I will not allow anyone to raise their finger on the upbringing you two gave to me." Her determined voice added more confusion for her parents.

She ended call with her parents.

'Good decision Di. Don't worry, I will talk to Ma and Papa about Nikhil.' Message from Rohan brought satisfactory smile on her face.

'Thank you'

'Send me all list of documents, I am applying for Ma and Papa's visitor visa.'

"Ms. Mehra, Sir is not inside"

Swara turned to look at Mike helplessly.

"Ok"

"I will inform you once he is back in office." Mike recited as usual.

It was two weeks for Granny's death, her last meet with Sanskar. Swara was trying her best to return to her normal life, but his thoughts used to haunt her.

Over last two weeks she had called Sanskar numerable times, messaged him, there was no reply from his side. And then one day she received blocked notification from his number.

She called Julia to inquire about him. 'He left from here the next day you went back to city. Is he still not at home?' Julia's worried reply increased her panic.

She somehow managed to give lame excuses to Julia but her heart was sinking with each passing day with no news of Sanskar.

Earlier, she had hoped that he will burying himself in office work. This hope made her to go to his cabin for updates every day.

And every day she used to return to her seat being disappointed.

She even tried to call Roger, but he was also not reachable. She knew he was the most loyal employee of Sanskar who would not take even a step without his master's permission.

"Today also he did not come?" it was question from Brittany.

"No" Swara mumbled controlling her tears.

"Poor fellow. Mrs. Maheshwari was the only family to him. I am working in this company from the days of Mr. Anant Maheshwari, when he had passed away, Sir stoop up to shoulder everything. I believe he had emotional support from his grandmother that time. But now... it will be hard for him." Brittany took deep breath.

"You know Swara, that golden gate project. It is slipping away from Karma. Our rivals are taking it as an opportunity." One of her colleagues speculated.

"Yes, even share prices are going down due to Sir's absence. Already he had cancelled board meeting two times. His assisting team is trying to manage but he is unreachable."

This was not new for Swara, she had heard lot of speculations over these two weeks from her fellows.

'Where are you Sanskar?' this was only the thought which had taken away her sleep.

Even though it was Saturday's late night, she was pretending to do her work.

"Swara, it's 12:30. You are still working?" Rupali's mother asked her.

"Yes Aunty, there is some office work I have to finish."

"So good of you beta. I just hope Rupali learn something from you."

Swara gave small smile. And the same moment her phone started ringing flashing with, 'Private Number'

"Hello"

"Mam, Roger here. I am downstairs can you please come right now?"

"Why? What happened?"

"Sir is in mess."

"I am coming."

She ran outside.

"Where are you going?" Rupali's mother's words fell on deaf ears.

"Roger where is Sanskar? Where were you? I was calling you from last two weeks."

"Mam Sir is in total mess. He had ordered me not to inform you anything. But today, it has gone out of my hands. I know, if anyone can handle Sir as of now, then it will be you only."

"What happened to him?"

"Please seat in car. We will talk on the way"

'Who is he?' Rupali's mother saw them talking from balcony. She saw Swara slipping on back seat and car speeded away.

Roger drove car inside underground parking of 30 storey glass building. It was private parking.

He led her towards private elevator and they both reached to the top floor within a minute.

It was only one door guarded by security.

"Please come inside." Roger entered passcode.

It was for the first time Swara entered inside Sanskar's penthouse.

She followed Roger who went upstairs. He knocked on the room door, but there was no response from inside.

Finally, Roger opened the door with spare key and the scene in front of her swiped away floor beneath her feet. And Roger's earlier words started ringing in her ears.

'Mam sir has locked himself in his room.'

'He had broken all the things.'

'He is not eating anything.'

'He is just drinking alcohol to forget his pain.'

'He is burning with fever.'

"Mam, careful there is a glass." Roger showed her broken glass piece.

"Sanskar" she roamed her eyes on the room. It was a total mess.

"I will check this way."

"Sanskar"

She took a step where she saw him sitting in the balcony on the floor.

"Roger he is here."

"Sanskar, open your eyes." She bent to his level to tap on his cheeks.

"Roger he is burning with fever."

"What are you doing outside in this cold?" it was winter. Snow fall was going on outside.

"Roger let's take him inside and please call doctor."

They both somehow brought him inside and made him lie on the bed.

Meanwhile Roger called doctor and increased temperature of the room. Swara was rubbing his hands and feet to pass some heat.

"Where is kitchen?" Swara asked.

"It's downstairs."

"Ok" she ran outside of room.

She searched for kitchen to find one bowl and napkin.

She came back and kept cold water cotton plates on his forehead to reduce temperature.

Meanwhile doctors came and gave injection and prescribed some medication.

Roger informed to get medicines and then staying downstairs if she needed any help.

Swara stared at his face. It was pale, he had dark circles around his eyes. His nose had turned red. Within just two weeks she felt he had lost his weight.

'What have you done to yourself?' tear rolled over to fell on his cheek.

She kept on changing the cotton plates due to which his temperature was coming down.

Morning sunrays disturbed Sanskar's sleep. After long efforts he opened his eyes to look at the face he was craving to see from last two weeks.

Swara was sleeping in sitting position beside him resting her head on headrest. Her one hair strand was disturbing his look. He wanted to shift it back to her ear. He tried to raise his hand which was intertwined with her's.

"Swara" her name in his voice broke her sleep. She lazily opened her eyes to get lost in his dark brown one's.

"Sanskar" her lips stretched in bright grin.

"How are you?" She touched his forehead for temperature check.

"What are you doing here?" he was still blank with her sudden entry.

'Is she really here or am I dreaming?'

"No, you are not dreaming. I am real to be here." her eyes filled with fresh tears.

"You should not be here. Just go away." He got up maintaining distance between them.

"Enough Sanskar" first time she raised her voice.

"Look at yourself. You need care. And I am not going anywhere. This is final, I don't want any arguments." He was stunned to look at her dominating stand.

"I am going downstairs to get some food for you. And you are not getting up from bed. We need detailed talks Mr. Maheshwari." She raised her eyebrows which made him mum for a moment.

'How dare she orders me?'

'But how come she is here?'

'Roger you are dead.'

"You should thank him instead of planning his murder." She gave tight smile from doorstep.

Sanskar tried to get up but due to last night overdose of drinks he had severe headache.

Swara somehow managed to make his dark coffee and bread toast. She brought it back to his room. She passed coffee mug and toast plate to him sitting infront of him.

"You don't need to do all these things. Just leave me alone."

"Sorry but I can't. I have promised Granny for taking care of you."

Her name filled his eyes with fresh tears.

"What do you want Sanskar? Do you want to hurt Granny?"

He raised his eyes to her.

"With this you are hurting Granny." She raised her palm to hold his.

"Sanskar, we should not mourn on her departure, but we need to celebrate Granny's life. She was a pious soul. She lived her life loving all her loved one's selflessly."

'But she left me all alone' tears formed in his eyes.

"Granny I did not know your Grandson is such a crybaby" Swara chirped with bright smile looking at other side.

"Granny I am..." Sanskar replied abruptly but then realisation hit him hard.

He looked at Swara in confusion.

"Exactly this is what I am trying to make you understand Sanskar. Granny have not left us alone. She is here only with us. Just look around yourself."

She held his hand in her's.

"Sanskar it depends on us whom we want to be around ourselves. Sometimes people are alive, but we don't even feel them around us. We don't even think about them and sometimes even though the person has left this world we can feel their love and care around us. Because we keep them alive in our memories."

"It is upto us to keep Granny around us. Just close your eyes. You will feel her here." hearing her soothing voice his mind compelled to shut his eyes.

"Granny is here Sanskar. See she is smiling. She is happy" Swara raised their hands and kept it on his heart.

He could see his smiling Granny; she was looking at her other side where he could see Swara smiling brightly.

"You are not alone Sanskar. Granny is always with us." his lips stretched in smile feeling two most important people of his life.

'I hope you both will be with me always.' Thought crossed his mind jerking him back to reality.

He stared in her confused eyes.

"Sanskar, Karma Business House needs you. I don't understand much about higher management, but they are throwing all gossips around. You need to bounce back to shut their mouths. This is something you owe to Grandpa."

"Yes, you are right." He agreed.

They both spent day together. Swara' care and healing words helped to reduce his temperature.

Soon it became late evening, it was time for Swara to leave back to her apartment.

"Come I will drop you back"

"Sanskar no, please. I will go alone."

"Come on it's fine."

"Have you seen outside. It's snowstorm. Your fever has gone just now. You are still feeling weak."

"Listen, it's me who own the right to be dominating among us." Sanskar and his sarcastic replies. He picked his car keys from drawer.

'Hitler' she rolled her eyes.

"Swara where is your jacket?" he narrowed his eyes.

"I forgot at home" Swara bit her tongue.

"This is Canadian Winter. Just wait here."

He went back to his room to bring on packet.

"Wear this"

She opened the packet it was limited edition Moose Knuckles Winter Jacket. She could not guess the brand but looking at Jacket she knew it would be expensive.

"And this is final. No arguments." He responded even before she could deny it.

They both drove back to her apartment.

"See you tomorrow in office." He wished when she pulled off her seatbelt.

"Bye good night." She waved her hand unaware of furious glares thrown at her.

Next day, Sanskar was busy with his work. His gaze was moving towards his apple watch as he was waiting for 10:30 or should we say to get one glance of his contractual wife.

"May I come in Sir" Brittany asked entering in his cabin.

"Where is Swara?"

"She is on sick leave."

Brittany kept on giving him updates but he was dialing Swara's number continuously. His frustration was increasing when every time he received, 'number not available' message from other side.

"Brittany let's do this tomorrow" he asked her to leave.

"Roger where is Swara? What happened to her? She is not picking up my calls."

"I don't know Sir"

"Do I pay you for giving me this answer? Find her in next 10 minutes else you will see the worst of me."

These 10 minutes were most difficult for him. He kept on pacing in his cabin. She was becoming his live saving drug by each passing day.

"Sir, I found Mam, she is in problem."

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

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