Sanskar went back without any word.

Swara kept on staring at his back.

He was silent over their dinner as well engrossed in his thoughts.

"How is it Sanskar?"

"Hmm?"

"Lasagna? I tried it first time."

"Oh this is amazing."

'Shit! She made it for me and I am acting like a jerk.' He shook his head.

"No you are not." She pressed her lips.

"Sorry?"

"Ahh nothing" she nodded her head in denial.

Swara initiated some casual topic for discussion to bring back his cheering mood.

"Sanskar its been 15 days, I have applied for Ma and Papa's visa. Still no news." She diverted topic of their discussion.

"It takes time Swara. And as it is, Xmas holidays are going on so most of people will be on vacations."

"Ohh yes. Also, there is no news from Roger for any apartment. How many days I can stay here?" She observed his facial expressions.

"Why are you worrying about it? You can stay here as much as you want" he could not match his eyes with her narrowed ones.

'Do you want me to stay here Sanskar?'

'Why she always talk about leaving me alone?' he started playing with food.

'How can I stay here Sanskar? Do I have any right to stay here?' She blinked her eyelashes to push back tears.

Swara changed their topic of discussion. In her bubbly talks he forgot about his recent pain.

It was new year's eve, Swara was getting ready when Sanskar knocked on the room door.

"Are you ready Swara?"

"Just 2 minutes Sanskar"

"Ok. Come down. I am downstairs."

Swara came down to living room but it was dark.

"Sanskar"

"Sanskar where are you?" She was not able to see him.

"Sanskar you know I am scared of darkness."

She felt one palm closing her eyes from back. His feathery touch passed shudders down her spine.

"Sanskar" she barely mumbled his name.

"Shh. Just trust me and walk along."

She nodded her head but her heart was running with jet speed.

They walked few steps and then Sanskar removed his hand.

"Open you eyes Frozen." He whispered in her ears.

His hot breath over her neck gave goosebumps to her stomach.

She opened her eyes to see big Xmas tree of white colour decorated with red and green ornaments. Whole living room area was decorated with candle lights.

"This is so beautiful"

"Not more than you" his voice from back made her turn.

She turned to look at him. He was dressed in black formal shirt with jeans paired with off-white semi formal jacket.

When she turned he couldn't take off his eyes from her serene face. She was dressed in simple yellow coloured Kurti and red leggings.

"So ready for new years party?" He broke their eye lock raising his palm in front of her.

"Not bad Mr. Maheshwari" she slid her hand in his. "Sanskar you decorated this?" She pointed towards tree.

"Yes" he nodded after long thought.

"And who made this food? You?" She widened her eyes after overlooking at dinner table which was flooded with variety of dishes.

"Why are you asking so many questions? Why can't you just enjoy with me?" He replied sheepishly.

Swara pressed her lips to suppress her chuckle looking at his grumpy face. 'How can I forget he is a Hitler who only knows how to pass orders!'

"Come let's enjoy the party" She slid her hand on his arm with grin.

They had dinner together talking casual things and then had decided to watch movie waiting till the clock hit 12 to celebrate and welcome new year.

"Sanskar, I want to watch Frozen." She pointed at TV which was showing Netflix playlist.

He passed glare at her.

"Ok. Ok any movie which you want" She was in her teasing mood for today.

He played Frozen 2 movie settling beside her.

Swara was awestruck but grinned inwardly.

'Why Sanskar? Why you always care for my choices?'

'Why you always prioritize my wishes?' Her eyes were glued on his face.

"Will you dance with me?" He turned raising his palm. When movie started to play song ,'For the first time in forever.'

Unknowingly, she intertwined their palms.

Sanskar pulled her, wrapping his one arm around her waist.

She kept her other hand on his shoulder.

"Well, I must say you are a good learner" he appreciated.

"Well, this is my second dance with my so called dance teacher." She played along.

Her words adorned his lips with his signature smile.

Swara lost herself in his dark brown eyes making slow steps with him. He was drowned in her big doe eyes.

She could not match with his intense gaze. She bowed her head blushing profusely.

He shifted her hair strand behind her ear giving new sensation to her entire body. He caressed her cheeks with back of his fingers. She closed her eyes feeling his touch.

"You are beautiful Swara." Today, his eyes were not moving away from her face.

He took a step to reduce any distance between them. He cupped her face in his both palms.

"Open your eyes Swara. I want to see myself in your pious eyes."

Swara's nostrils were filled with his manly cologne. She slowly opened her eyes to see him just a few inches away from her.

"Your eyes. They fascinate me. They are as beautiful as morning dew. They are reflection of your pure heart. I always want to see myself in them. " He could not control but planted a peck on her eyelids one by one.

Feeling his lips over her skin, she took deep breath fisting his jacket.

He moved back to see her cherry red face.

Swara opened her eyes not feeling his moment. His gaze went on her shivering lips. She gulped with anticipation but closed her eyes surrendering her soul to him.

Sanskar crashed his lips with her's encircling her in his secured embrace. He kept it slow, giving time for her to respond.

He kept on nibbling her lips where as she was stilled. His proximity, his scent, his touch compelled her to respond in their kiss.

She move her palm from his shoulder to his back of neck to caress his jet-black thick hairs. Touch of her delicate fingers over his nape increased his passion for her. He deepened their kiss by pushing his tongue inside her mouth. 

Swara willingly gave him access standing on his feet to match with his height. Her ardent response resulted in passionate kiss. Dire need to air broke their kiss. His forehead was touching her's.

Sanskar opened his eyes after some moment to catch her sight. She was still wrapped in his embrace panting heavily with closed eyes.

He raised and planted one kiss on her forehead.

"Just stay with me always" he mumbled against her skin.

His voice broke her reverie. She opened her eyes to see in his passion filled ones.

"Happy New Year" he once again kissed her forehead.

She stared at his face blankly. She was still encircled in his arms.

"Sanskar?"

"Will you not wish me?" He had serene smile on his face.

In a moment Swara saw desperation in his eyes.

"Ha...Happy... Happy New Year" she bowed her head to hide her excessive blushing face.

'What was that? We just shared ... shared a ... a ... kiss.' She gulped at her own thought. Now, her heart started beating with marathon speed.

'Hey Kanhaji what is happening?'

'This is right or wrong?'

'But why I don't feel it is wrong?'

'Why this felt as right?'

'I never allowed Nikhil to cross his limits even though, I thought, I was in love with him but with Sanskar?'

'Why did I feel blessed in that one moment?'

She raised her eyes to look in his.

"I am not sorry for what happened just now." His eyes showed his true feelings.

"Good Night Sanskar" she turned to leave finding excuse.

"Yes. Good Night"

Night passed by but Swara could not sleep. Thoughts about their recent proximity and his words kept her awake.

'Sanskar what is in your heart?'

Same was the condition of Sanskar. He kept on switching his sides for entire night.

'What happened in that one moment? I just want to keep her close with me always. Forever.' 

Next day, Sanskar came to kitchen where Swara was preparing their breakfast.

"Good Morning" he whispered in her ears from back.

"Sanskar you scared me" she flinched at his voice while turning towards his side.

"When I am there do you need to worry about anything?" He took a step caging her between his arms and kitchen platform.

She nodded her head in denial but his closeness were enriching her cheeks.

"I am hungry." He took apple from kitchen platform and left shaking his head looking his effect on her.

'Was he teasing me?' She narrowed her eyes.

Soon it became their routine. Teasings, their closeness, his flirting was increasing her confusion about their relation.

It was weekday, Swara was working in office when her phone beeped with email notification.

"Hey Kanhaji, thank you thank you so much"

She saw Visa confirmation for her parents.

It was night when Sanskar was standing at kitchen doorstep. She was jumping with happiness while talking with her parents. Her cheerful voice brought smile on his face.

She was unaware about his presence. She cut her call and dialed Roger's number.

"Roger did you find any apartment? My parents will be here with in two weeks. I am just booking their tickets. I have to shift."

Sanskar took a step towards her to grab phone.

"Sanskar..?"

"There is not need for it." His replied in stern voice without giving any further chance to Roger.

He cut the call keeping his cold eyes on Swara.

"Why are you in hurry to leave this home?"

"Sanskar my parents will be here in a week or two."

"So?" his casual reply left her dumbfounded.

"What do you mean? Where am I going to make them live?" She stared in his eyes straight. "Here?"

"You don't need to worry about it. I am there. They can stay in one of the apartment of this building which I own."

"What does it mean by 'They'?" She crossed her arms.

"Meaning is clear Swara. I don't want any arguments." he looked everywhere.

"No it is not clear for me. Can you please explain?"

"Fine. Your parents can stay in any of apartment just close to this one so you can go and visit them regularly." He and his ordering nature.

"Visit them regularly? What does it mean?" She raised her eyebrows. "I am going to stay with them."

"No. You are not. You are going to stay here only with me. You can go and meet them whenever you want. I will not stop you but you are not going to leave this house. This is final." He cleared with rigidity. He turned to leave.

"Why Sanskar?" She held his arm and turned him to face her.

"Because I say so."

"With which right you are ordering me this?" He jerked on her straightforward question.

He tried to find his answers.

"I am ready to stay here but give me one answer with which right I can stay here?"

Her question made him tongue tied.

"What am I going to answer to my parents when they will question me why I am staying here?

"With whom am I staying?"

"Why am I staying with you?"

"Who am I to you Sanskar?"

"Who are you to me Sanskar?"

He looked everywhere but not at her.

"Are you my friend?"

"My boss?"

"Or my husband?"

"Or soon to be my ex-husband?"

Sanskar turned to her in swift moment with dumbfound state.

"Its just two weeks Sanskar for our contract to end." She gulped heavily to push back her tears.

Recent realization hit him hard.

"What do you think I don't know? I know Sanskar. You are purposefully delaying the date when we both need to sign contract end papers." He looked at her in bewilderment.

He ruffled his hairs in frustration. It was the situation from which he was running away.

"I know it. You don't need to remind me. And I don't want to talk about it."

"Hmm. But Mr. Maheshwari, because you don't want to talk about it, that does not mean it is over."

She kept on looking at his silence.

"Sanskar, what am I supposed to understand? Do you understand what does it mean? It means that we are delaying signing our DIVORCE Papers" her heart was crushed with the thought of breaking their on paper relationship.

"Why are you bringing this now?" His heart filled with insecurity.

"Because I need to know Sanskar. I don't need to tell you what is going on between us? What is all that?"

He turned to leave to escape from her questions.

"Is it just a physical attraction?" she hit the sore strings of his heart.

"Swara" He turned holding her shoulder.

"How can you say this? You know I do care for you. You are so precious for me. More than my own life. I can't even think about you like this."

"So what it is Sanskar? Those close moments, teasings? that day we... we shared kiss."

He, himself did not know the answers.

"You want give this marriage a chance?" she voiced out the question which was haunting her from last two weeks.

His grip over her shoulders loosened immediately. He tightly closed his eyes taking deep breath.

"You know I don't believe in marriage. It's bullshit."

"Then why are you delaying our Divorce signing date? Let's get this finished." tears started rolling over her cheeks.

"Because I am not going to let you go away from me." he stared in her eyes with determination. He left leaving her alone.

'What do you want Sanskar?' she thought helplessly not understanding his own contradictory stand.

Next day, Sanskar left early for office. Both drowned themselves in their work to avoid battle between their heart and mind.

'I am leaving' He saw her message but concentrated on his meeting.

She came out of office building and was walking towards TTC station.

"Hi Swara"

She halted in tracks when she heard most unexpected voice from her back.

She turned, "Nikhil"

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

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