Swara followed Sanskar as usual after their dinner for 'Me time'. They sat on the swing, but for the first time Sanskar was seeing his wife engulfed in her own thoughts. Till today, she was the one who always initiated different topics of discussion between them which were strictly about them. He always used to get amazed when she never broached any topic about their families or their siblings but just about them, their routine, their likes and dislikes... it was her way to know more about each other.

"I know you are upset over Ma and Baba's decision on Badi, and they did not consult you before finalising everything?" He finally spoke out.

"Not really Sanskar... but.." She trailed off.

"Then?" He saw tears welling up again in her big doe eyes.

"Badi has Dida's memories... I will miss her..." She looked down mumbling.

Sanskar remembered Swara's pain when Dida took her last breath on the hospital bed. He was there with her that night, but due to the ongoing chaos he could not console her, enveloping her in his secured embrace. He had hoped her father or sister would take care of her but alas their concentration was on the instructions given by Parvati Gadodia about last rituals and society visiting them to pass their condolences.

"Sanskar, please take care of Shoru. I know she is at fault this time but please... Please forgive her and try to mend your relationship. It's in your hands to save your marriage. Don't abandon her." Even today, Dida's words rang in his ears.

"These people are taking advantage of her pure heart. She doesn't understand how she had screwed up her own life for these selfish people. These people will surely crush her heart when they fulfil their motives."

"I don't have any hopes from Shomi as well. To save her household and Auysh's betterment, she is and will keep on supporting Shekhar. And Shekhar blindly trusts his mother and loves his only daughter Ragini. He will never take a stand for Shoru."

"She is lifeless without you. My weak heart could not see her swollen eyes every morning. I am battling with my death for her only... because I know she will break down by my departure when she doesn't have you by her side."

Sanskar remembered Dida's last words when he had gone to meet her. She was the only one who loved Swara unconditionally apart from him.

He raised hand and wrapped it around her shoulder. "Dida is over there." he pointed at the bright star.

"Look, she is looking at you. And she must be scolding you looking at your big tear drops. She will always keep on staring at you so you need to be happy."

"Swara, Dida always wanted to see you happy. She was the only one... who loved you unconditionally." He blurted out the truth without even realising.

But Swara's wide eyeballs made him realise about his own words. He fumbled, "It's not like... Even.. Ma and Baba...Ragini... all love you a lot."

She did not say a word but her heart sensed, his words were holding the truth of her life.

'Dida & Sanskar... these two only loved me without any expectation. They both were always my support system, no matter what happens in my life.' She kept her head on his shoulder.

"When I have you and your love by my side... I don't want anything else." She held his hand and kissed his knuckles.

He kissed her hair. "Always."

"But when they will de... demolish Badi?" She asked after a long time.

"Swara, it takes a long time. It's not like one day you finalise the deal and next day you bulldoze the structure for redevelopment. One needs to obtain a number of permissions and licences. It takes rounds of government and municipality scrutiny to get go ahead with the plan."

"So we will have some time?" She asked, raising her head.

"Ofcourse, I don't think they will demolish Badi before at least 6 months." Sanskar knew the nitty gritties of business.

"Really?" Sudden happiness bloomed over her face, which spread relief over his heart.

It was afternoon when after lunch Swara came to Sujata, "Mom, I want to go to Badi. Can I go?" This was her way to initiate some communication with her mother-in-law.

Sujata was also not much on talking terms with her daughter in law, she was maintaining her distance but Swara's everyday's efforts used to jeopardise her plans.

"Hmm" Sujata hummed without looking at Swara.

"Do you need anything from outside?" One more try from Swara.

"No." Again a monosyllable from Sujata.

"I will return in an hour or two." This time Swara crossed her fingers.

"Ok." but her hopes died when there was again one word reply from Sujata.  She was concentrating on her book.

Swara turned with a heavy heart when Sujata asked absentmindedly, "But there is no driver at home."

Annapurna had gone to meet her cousin whereas Ragini had gone to pick up Mishka from school and Uttara had gone out for her friend's birthday party preparations.

It was after almost two months of trying that Swara heard her mother in law talking an entire sentence.

"No worries Mom, I can drive now by myself." In her happiness she blurted out.

"But every morning you and Sanskar go out for your driving lessons?" This time Sujata raised her eyebrows.

"Act... Mom... me and.. San... I..." Swara tried to find answers.

"It's ok. Come home soon." Sujata bit her lower lip looking at the flushed face of Swara. She turned her eyes back to the book.

Swara took it as an opportunity and left from there but today she was delighted with recent small talk.

She parked her car and entered Badi while messaging Sanskar, 'I drove to Badi, if possible come here. I can drive both of us back home.'

'Did you reach safely?' His reply was instant even though he was in a meeting. It was for the first time Swara had driven a car without him.

'Yes, just stepping inside.'

'I will come once I am done with my meeting. See you soon.'

'I will be waiting for you.'

She went straight towards Dida's house but was halted hearing a voice from her back.

"Swara, you here?" It was Parvati.

"Hi Dadi." Swara turned reluctantly. "Yes, I came to spend some time in Dida's house."

Sharmishtha came outside when she saw her daughter and mother in law talking.

"Shona, when did you come?"

"Just now Ma." Swara gave a fake smile as she felt pang in her heart remembering her mother's silence over Badi's reconstruction.

"Come... come inside. See Ragu is also there." Sharmishtha forcefully pulled her inside Gadodia house where she saw Ragini, her father and grandfather along with Ayush.

"Ragini you had gone to pick up Mishka right?" Swara remembered her talks with Sujata.

"Yes, but I told the driver to drop me here and then take her home." Ragini replied.

"But ..." Swara wanted to confront her sister but she dropped the idea, thinking not to meddle in her sister's life.

Sharmishta and the rest of the other Gadodia family forced her and Swara had to spend some time with them unwillingly.

"Shona, you must have got to know about Badi's reconstruction." Sharmishtha asked carefully, she felt guilty not to discuss it with her daughter.

"Yes Ma... Ragini and Laksh announced it a couple of days back." Swara was playing with Ayush.

"I wanted to discuss with you but Ragu said let everything get finalised first. We were not sure if everyone would agree or not, especially your Dadaji and Dadi. But I am happy they agreed as it involved Ragini and Laksh's betterment." Sharmishtha gave her side of explanations.

"It's ok Ma... You don't have to explain anything to me." Swara replied unenthusiastically.

"But Shekhar found out that as per the latest will of Ma, she put you and me both as owners of her house." her mother's calculative voice earned everybit of Swara's attention.

"Because of this, your signatures are also needed for agreement. Shekhar said, within two or three days papers will be ready for everyone to sign. I will inform you once I know exactly."

Swara could not move her eyes from her mother's face whereas Sharmishtha could not stare back in her daughter's impassive glare.

Her daughter's frigid behaviour ploughed the seed of apprehension in Sharmishtha's mind.

"You will sign papers, will you?" She asked sceptically.

Swara was still silent.

"Shona, it's about Ragini and Laksh. Laksh is trying his best to build his career. He is working so hard. He and Ragini are looking forward to this project. You and Sanskar are already settled financially. Sanskar is very successful; he is independent; but you know, with Laksh and Ragini, they are required to depend on the elders of your house for the same." Sharmishtha recited the same words of her mother in law.

"You are right Ma. I will sign papers whenever you will say." Swara replied pungently, she could not suppress her annoyance from her voice but her mother could not see as her mind was relaxed but one pair of an eye looked at her astonishingly.

"Swara?" Sanskar was standing at the doorstep.

"Sanskar" She smiled brightly. He had gone to Dida's house but seeing it locked, he guessed his wife would be in her other house so he stepped inside to check.

"You came so early." Along with Sanskar even Sharmishtha could observe a change of her tone. She dragged Sanskar out of the room.

"Yes, my meeting got finished."

"I was waiting for you only." Without even sparing one glance to her mother or her father's family who were in the living area, Swara held Sanskar's hand and took him out towards Dida's house. She knew he would not be comfortable with them due to his past experiences.

"What was it, Sharmishtha? Your daughter did not even say bid bye to us properly." Parvati scrunched her nose.

"Did she say yes to sign the agreement papers?" Shekhar asked from the other side.

But Sharmishtha was blown away with recent exchanges with her daughter.

Both spent some time in Dida's house before leaving for their home.

"Sanskar, I have decided to sign the papers." Swara cleared, after informing him about mother daughter talks.

"It's your choice. You know I will always support you." He kept his eyes on the road while driving back.

"You are right. It's my choice not to get blamed by them or others that because of us, they couldn't succeed. I just want to maintain distance and not meddle in other's life."

"Swara, you don't have to change yourself. This is not you. You have an innate tendency to help others and..."

"I want to help us, Sanskar. While helping, supporting others, forgiving and ignoring their mistakes caused them to take us for granted forever. I don't know what will happen in future but for now I am happy with this reserved and distant approach." Hearing her words, Sanskar stopped the car abruptly.

"What are you saying, Swara?" He asked in bewilderment. "Are you sure?"

"I have never been so sure about it except when I married you." She smiled honestly.

"Swara, for me nothing matters other than your happiness." He caressed her cheek.

"My happiness lies in you." She put her hand on his staring in his eyes.

Days started passing in blurr. Swara signed an agreement without any question or any further discussion which came as a blow for Sujata. The moment Laksh announced the Badi Reconstruction project, she was under the impression that her daughter in law would be on 'Badi Bachao Mission'. She had asked about it to Sanskar a few times, he replied the same what Swara had confessed to him but Sujata could not believe it.

Annapurna had asked everyone to assemble at the living room post dinner, she wanted to discuss something and announcement was made by her during dinner.

All Maheshwari family members assembled including Swara and Sanskar, they both decided to postpone their 'Me Time.'

Ragini came with a tray filled with rasmalai, she served it to all.

"I wanted to discuss something." Annapurna initiated a conversation breaking praising session of rest family members for Ragini over her culinary skills.

"As we all know Badi is getting demolished soon, Shekhar ji is looking for temporary residence but as of now they could not find anything as per their requirements. They need something on the ground floor for Kakisa and Kakasa's convenience and near to Shekharji's shop. This is delaying Badi's demolition process, so to help Laksh and his partners I invited them to stay at our house till the time they find any residence." Annapurna broke the news without taking a breath.

Laksh had managed to convince his mother to become a lawyer for him in front of his family. Ragini had acted as his helping hand for the brainwashing session. Both were aware Annpurna had a commanding voice in their household matters.

It took two minutes for everyone to mentally process Annapurna's words.

"But it takes a long time to complete all the procedures?" Swara voiced out shifting her perplexed eyes between Laksh and Sanskar.

"Yes you are right Swara but since my friend's father is in politics we got all the permissions much more early than expected." Laksh replied enthusiastically. "So we are going ahead with demolition within a week or two."

Sanskar narrowed his eyes with scepticism. 'There has to be some glitch.'

Till today, he had received information from Roger that Laksh company has filed an application for all licences and permissions. His business mind could not grasp the recent grant of permissions in such a short period of time.

"Are you sure Laksh? Did you check everything?" Durgaprasad asked strictly and continued in a requested tone, "Sanskar, can you please check if everything is in order or not?" He had to declare as his nephew did not show any interest in his brother's business affairs till today.

'Why me Bade Papa?' Sanskar was in dilemma.

"Bhai would be so busy in his Golden Connect Project Papa. Don't worry, I have checked everything." Laksh replied on behalf of Sanskar.

'Thanks Laksh' Sanskar gave one quick smile to his cousin. He shifted his palm to hold Swara's he knew with recent revelation his wife would be upset.

"Sujata, I hope it is ok with you with the Gadodia family's stay over here for sometime." Annapurna asked, being aware about objections Sujata had developed with the Gadodia family over the past.

"You have already decided on Jiji. Being the elder of the house you will always decide about the family's betterment." Sujata responded with a fake smile but her eyes were filled with annoyance.

Sujata had observed changes in her daughter in law over the last couple of months. But, she was guaranteed, the arrival of her chaotic Maayaka would lead to disturbance for her son's married life.

"It took me a long time to convince them, but finally they agreed looking at Laksh & Ragini's betterment. Within a day or two they would be coming here." Annapurna informed, leaving a deep breath of relaxation.

Swara felt dejected one more time, she was on visit to Badi every alternate day to cherish her childhood memories, she had to come face to face with one or all or Gadodia's but none of them spoke about the arrangements they were making for their temporary stay even when she offered help.

'So they wanted to hide it from me? They did not want me to get involved in their matters.' just a thought depressed her.

Whereas for Sanskar, his heart grappled with the thought that he won't have undivided attention from his wife for upcoming days as her responsibilities as daughter in law would be increasing with guest arrival.

"Are you ok Swara?" He asked the moment they were back to their room.

"Yes Sanskar." She smiled, she had decided not to impact their relationship, their time for people who did not trust her enough to share their matters.

"Let's sleep. I am so sleepy now." She cribbed like a little girl.

"Come I will make you sleep." He shifted her hair strand back to her ear.

Within two days, the entire Gadodia clan shifted to Maheshwari house. It was their first morning when Parvati was moving towards the house temple when she saw Swara following Sanskar.

"Swara, where are you going?"

"She is going with Sanskar for her driving lessons." Sujata interrupted from behind.

Swara bit her lower lip on Sujata's forward defensive reply. Sanskar saw her antics.

"Mom knows, I can drive properly now." She mumbled audible to only Sanskar who shook head knowing about new developments between two most important ladies of his life.

"Driving lessons? Shona from when you started picking interest in it?" Sharmishtha asked, joining her mother in law.

"Why can't I develop interest in driving Ma? It's better that I am becoming independent." Swara defended raising eyebrows from Sujata and Sanskar both.

"But Chori, it's morning time, a good daughter in law should be doing puja, arati and then cooking for her family, taking care of elders, this is your responsibility. Look at Laddoo, she is a perfect marwari daughter in law." Parvati did not leave a single chance to pass witty remarks.

"You are absolutely right Dadi, Ragini is the perfect daughter in law and wife one would wish for as she has your upbringing. And I believe Badi Ma and Mom are really happy to have her in this household. But, I will prefer to be myself first then becoming perfect for any other one." Swara's nonchalant yet cheeky reply brought Sanskar's and Sujata's eyeballs out of their sockets.

"Mom, me and Sanskar are leaving. We will come soon." Swara continued, she pressed her lips to suppress her laughter looking at Sujata's dumbfounded face. Not only Sujata but Parvati and Sharmishtha could not believe on their hearing ability.

"What was that?" Sanskar asked the moment he saw her sitting in the driver's seat.

"Precaution is better than cure. Safety comes first Mr. Maheshwari. Fasten your seatbelt." he thought she ignored but remembering her words he understood the double meaning behind them.

Both returned back after their morning sneak out, Swara did join all Maheshwari ladies along with Gadodia ladies for breakfast preparation. But the moment the clock struck 8 am, she left behind two confused eye pairs, one of her mother and other grandmother.

"If you can't do it then why do you even try it?" Swara asked, standing at the doorstep.

Her husband was struggling with his tie.

"Swara you here?" Today, it was least expected for Sanskar to get any help from Swara during his routine to get ready for office.

"What should I do then? My poor husband can crack a billion dollar deal but can't make a knot for his tie. Hey Durga Ma, you can only help me now." Swara was a total drama queen.

Their room echoed with a round of laughter.

He was on cloud nine when she kept their routine which was least expected for him. But another part of his heart was engulfed with a thought that she was taking too much on herself to repair or mend their relationship.

"Swara, please don't stress yourself. I know... I understand you are trying to rebuild our bond as earlier but my love you don't have to exert it. I, being your husband, understand your responsibilities towards this house and your parents. For me, I don't want you to neglect it." He pulled her near his chest just before leaving for his office.

"I am not neglecting them, Sanskar. I am just setting my own priorities. And for me, you are my life. I always knew that you were my precious possession. It's just that I took you and our marriage for granted all the time." Tears started welling up in her big doe eyes. It was for the first time she had vocalised about their past.

"I don't want to repeat my blunders again." She lowered her head. "I am sorry. I am sorry for everything."

"I am sorry too.  And WE will not repeat our mistakes again." He corrected her honestly. "I promise."

Swara nodded her head with a smiley yet teary face.

He pulled her in his embrace. She clutched his suit jacket burying herself in her safe abode.

"I love you Sanskar." She confessed those three words which his ears were dying to hear.

"I love you too, Swara."  He replied those three words which meant a world to her.

************************************************
Thanks for loving this story. Let me know how you found this chapter in the form of your votes and comments.

Please feel free to share this story in your message board as a suggestive read if you think that they will enjoy this roller coaster ride.

Love
AngelTweet