Swara raised her head to look at the peaceful face of sleeping Sanskar.

"Swara, I had accepted this marriage. I value it. Believe me. I respect you and love you a lot. But..."  He gulped audibly.

'I need some time.'

'I don't want to disrespect you by taking our relation to next level, when there is little bit of insecurity in my heart about this marriage.' He caressed her cheeks with his thumb staring in her eyes.

'I know with time and your love, I will be fine. But give me some time... please some time.'

Swara stared at his teary eyes.

Her respect for him grew multiple times.

"I know you need time. And we have all our life together. Now, there isn't any one year contract. This is lifetime contract my dear husband." She voiced out his thoughts as usual.

"I still don't understand how can you read my mind." He rolled his eyes.

"That's a top secret" she winked at him before going to washroom for change.

Swara knew whatever happened in his life in last few hours had shaken him from core. He needed to sort out his messed up mind.

She promised herself to be his strength as always.

"I love you Sanskar" she mumbled against his jawline remembering words he spoke to her just a few hours later on their official wedding night.

She snuggled in his arms before calling off the beautiful day which she had lost hope would ever come in her life.

Next day, Sanskar woke up to have the most beautiful sight in front of his eyes.

Swara was sleeping cuddling him with small smile glistering on her lips.

In this one year, he had seen her sleeping figure innumerable times.

Initially, he used to observe her tear marks, which later changed to anxiousness on her pale face, later it replaced with cute frown.

Recently, her cute frown was changed into small smile but today, he saw peace, satisfaction, relaxation on her brightly shining face.

"Good Morning my love" he kissed her temples.

"I want to sleep Sanskar" she snuggled more.

He chuckled and tried to get up.

"Don't be so early bird Sanskar. Do you want me to get up?" She whined.

"No Frozen, you can sleep. I will..."

"Without you how will I be able to sleep?" Her eyes were still closed.

"Don't make that pout you sleepy head" he kissed her forehead pulling her back in his embrace settling besides her.

Later, Swara was getting ready in his dressing room. She opened the sindoor dani to fill her maang. Her lips stretched in bright smile. She wore mangalsutra before kissing it's Dimond pendant unaware of intense gaze from her newly wedded husband.

"Are you going to wear this everyday?" He came closer to her caressing her forehead near her hairline.

"Yes, this will tell all your girls following club that you belongs to me. And only me." He chuckled at her possessiveness.

"You don't need to be insecure when you know you have wrapped me around you little finger."

"This is your colour Sanskar. Colour of love. I loved to be coloured in your colour for my entire life. This is my abode. My identity. My existence."

Her soft yet honest voice rang all bells of his heart increasing his trust over this lifetime bond and reducing his insecurity to some extent.

He pulled her on his chest to kiss her forehead near her sindoor.

Later, in the evening they were going back to city. Her parents along with Julia had already left to make preparations for her Grihpravesh.

"I am here Sanskar" he heard her from Granny's room.

He stepped inside, she was standing infront of the photo of three. Where Granny was in middle and these two were standing at her each side. This was the picture taken on their Tobermorry village visit.

"Swara" He pulled her in his side embrace looking at her tears.

"You only tell me that Granny is always with us then..."

"I am thanking her Sanskar. She was the one who advised me to let my heart flow the way it wants." Her eyes were fixed on Granny's smiling face.

"Thank you Granny. Thank you so much."

'Thank you Granny for blackmailing me to get married else I would not have been able to meet Swara.' One tear dropped from his eyes.

"We will come next weekend Granny." Swara waved her hand at Granny's smiling face.

It's been one month to their marriage, Anurag and Reva were relieved looking at their daughter's happiness.

"Swara, I had a word with Dr. Andrew. I have taken appointment for Aunty for her knee pain. I will message you details." Sanskar had seen his MIL feeling knee pain over last few weeks.

"But Sanskar I took Ma to near by walk in clinic. They said it's normal for her age though they suggested physio sessions." She was cleaning kitchen counter.

"Dr. Andrew is the best in this field. You are taking Aunty there. And that's final." he and his dominating nature can never change.

'Hitler is back' she bit her lower lip.

"Why don't you take her with you?"

Sanskar searched for answer.

"Ok send me details. I will accompany Ma." He released his breath hearing her.

"You go and sleep I have few calls to make. I will be in study." He moved to attend his late night meetings.

But there was one pair of eyes filled with tears.

"Mrs. Sanskar Maheshwari, you are tired. Time to sleep." Swara switched off the lights but was startled looking at her mother.

"Ma, do you need anything? You should have call me."

"Shona, remember that day you had said, 'My expectations are simple at least I feel they are simple. If he wants me to take care of his family, support him for his dream, be his strength in difficult times the 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?' Do you remember it?"

Swara nodded remembering her talks with her mother post her father's surgery.

"And I had said, in reality it hardly works." Reva shook her head with chuckle.

"But in your case it is working flawlessly."

"Ma"

"I will not lie to you Shona, we were skeptical about Sanskar knowing how he forced you for contract marriage. Knowing he was not ready to accept your marriage. But over the days, I can see you are his world."

Swara blushed at her mother's statement.

"The moment he comes down every morning, his eyes starts to look for you. And when he don't see you, there comes a cute frown."

Both mother and daughter laughed imagining his facial expressions.

"But one thing, always pinched my heart. Sanskar have not accepted us as his family. He is still formal with us. He calls us as Uncle and Aunty."

This was the only one thing used make them worried, Sanskar's reserved, formal approach towards them. Their daughter was his world but he was still not himself when ever his was front of them.

"Ma, you know"

"I know. I know Shona but he does everything for us. He respects us a lot. I can feel it. He cares for us though he does not show it. But then why he...?

"Ma... You know what had happened with him. He has worst memories associated with 'Ma' and 'Papa' word. He is still insecure when it comes to relations. Over the days he has started building trust. Give him some time. May be, one day, he will call you as Ma."

"Hmm"

"And even if he did not call you as Ma, will that change anything? He will still keep on respecting you, care for you, love you both."

"I will wait till that day."

Two weeks later, Anurag and Reva left for India, Swara cried in Sanskar's arms. He consoled her saying that since their residency has been applied, they can visit their daughter on regular basis or stay with them for longer time.

"May I come in Sir" it was 10:30 and Swara knocked on his cabin for their regular update meeting.

"Yes please Mrs. Maheshwari"

He gave her glare. She pressed her lips to suppress her chuckle looking at his grumpy face.

"Do you want me to remind you that you are my wife? You don't need to knock." He came near her.

"Sanskar we are in office." She opened her Mac.

He stared at her for few moments.

"Ok, then you have to obey all my orders since I am your boss." he narrowed his eyes.

'Hey my Kanhaji tell me one day when he did not pass any order? And I had disobey hum?' She bit her inner cheek.

"Kiss me" he pulled her on his chest wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Sanskar leave me. We are in office."

"Where I am your boss, MRS. MAHESHWARI." His gaze was fixed on his lips.

"You know what there is one forum to complain about sexual harrassment in office. And I have great experience to lodge a complain over there." She wrapped her hands around his neck.

"Ohh is that so.... But I have not even started harassing you Mrs. Maheshwari. Do you want me to officially give it a kick start? Don't worry we have bedroom over there." He lifted her in bridal style.

"Sanskar leave me."

"That's what I cannot do" he laughed loudly looking at her struggle.

"I love you Sanskar" She raised her self to peck his lips.

"I love you to my Frozen" He touched his forehead with hers.

It was official announcement of Amanera project completion of phase -1, everyone was thrilled with its success. They were all looking forward for next phase. Small celebration was arranged in office meeting room which Swara and Sanskar attended.

"Soon we will have Amanera Phase -2 coming up. Brittany, we need dedicated Design head who can be a part of board of directors." One member board proposed.

"Yes we suggest Mrs. Maheshwari's name." Another suggestion.

"Yes after all she is Mrs.Sanskar Maheshwari, with this she has to be on the board panel." One more.

Swara gulped with back to back suggestions from board members. She was standing besides Sanskar.

"She will be perfect for this director position."

"No" Sanskar replied in firm voice.

"Swara needs more experience. Being Mrs. Sanskar Maheshwari is not her qualification to be on board. I want her to achieve it with her merit and hard-work." He turned to look in her eyes with small smile.

Sanskar's statement shut off all the suggestions going around in one go.

"Thank you Sanskar" Swara back hugged him once they were alone in his cabin.

"Come on Swara, I know one day you will be in that position by your own. You don't need my name for achieving success. I want to be part of your success not a reason."

"That's why I love you my Olaf" she pecked his cheeks.

"Will you come with me on dinner date?"

She nodded with bright smile.

They were at CN tower 360 Restaurant. Swara looked everywhere but there was no one.

"Sanskar, I think food served here in this restaurant is not good" she whispered.

"Swara this is the best restaurant in Toronto."

"But then why this is empty?"

"Because I booked the entire restaurant. I don't want any disturbance." He was still glancing at menu.

"Are you crazy?" Her eyes popped out.

"I am crazy for you Frozen."

"Do you know much it will cost?"

"For your information, your husband can buy this restaurant... that too ... by paying it in cash."

"You should not waste money" she rolled her eyes.

He stared at her wide open eyes drilling holes in table.

"Come let's go" he got up from his chair.

"Now where?" He did not say a word but held her hand and took her out.

"Ummm this is so yummy" Swara was licking her lips enjoying her fish and chips.

They were on the lake front at one small family owned restaurant.

Sanskar smiled at her.

He kissed her on her lips. "Now it tastes better."

"We are outside. Somebody will see us." She looked here and there. People around them were looking at in adoration.

"I don't care. You my wife. My breath."

She smiled with blush concentrating back on her food.

One pair of eyes were looking at them with teary eyes. He was Nikhil.

'Nikhil grass is always greener on the other side' He remembered her words.

He was the one who served them food in that small family owned restaurant. His heart was thumping inside his ribcage while going towards their table, anticipating their reactions but Swara and Sanskar both were lost in their world to even notice him.

Today, Nikhil understood her words, for his one dream he destroyed his beautiful life. Sanskar made sure he did not get any white collar job. He was trying hard to earn and save money to go back India.

For Siddhant, he was imprisoned with life time punishment of course along with high degree of torchers from police as ordered by Mighty Sanskar Maheshwari.

Ryan was caged for 8 years on account if Swara's kidnapping. Roger was still digging out his crimes from past to increase his punishment.

Serena, lost her job and due to her bad reputation in job market, she was rejected from every company she applied for. Her savings were ending and she was on the search of new bed partner who can bear her expenses.

After dinner, Nikhil watched Swara and Sanskar leaving from the restaurant holding each other.

After long drive, at mid night they came back to their home. Swara opened door and stepped inside.

"I trust this marriage Frozen."

Sanskar's words halted her in her tracks when they were entering inside their home.

"Marriage is a beautiful phase of anyone's life. It makes me happy with realization that I am walking on that path with you. They say, Marriage stands the test of times when both you and your spouse work towards making things better. It's a team work. A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuses to give up on each other. Learning to accept each other's flaws and living, loving, respecting, caring for their soulmate, that makes Marriages are so special."

Swara felt tears one her cheeks looking at his honesty filled eyes.

"I know we are married for two times. Married from last one year and three months. But still today I am asking you.... Will you with marry me in every life I get?"

He went on his knees raising his hand.

She nodded her head shedding happy tears.

"I am all yours in my each life."

Sanskar wiped her eyes kissing her forehead.

He lifted her in bridal style to move inside their room to write a new chapter of their love story.
****************************************
Epilogue part -2 coming soon

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