Post dinner, Sanskar went on terrace as per his routine. This was his 'Me Time' to think about his overall day. He took a seat on a swing staring at stars. Not more than 5 minutes had passed, he felt someone sitting besides him. He turned to see Swara.

It was surprising for Sanskar to see her at this hour. They had lately finished dinner and he was expecting his wife to be overlooking after winding up kitchen work for the day.

Earlier, he had asked her countless times to join him for his 'Me time' but she, being the ideal daughter in law, convinced or should we say lectured him that she had responsibilities towards this family.

But for the last two days, his wife was behaving weird. His wife was sticking to him ignoring, or should we say delegating her responsibilities to servants for final kitchen wrap up.

They sat together in silence.

Swara was observing twinkling stars. Whereas Sanskar was looking at her face without a blink. There was a peace on her face which calmed his heart as usual.

"It feels good to see them shining, right Sanskar?" her big doe eyes were roaming over the open sky.

"Ya, they are." His short reply.

"There is a strange bond between clouds and stars, they often play hide and seek with us. This game always brings something new for us, sometimes sun, sometimes shade." Sanskar was totally clueless about her absurd words. This was not the Swara he knew over last two years.

The Swara, he knew, used to do or talk everything in a simple, straight and easy way. She was not in the habit of talking in circles.

"But when we humans play hide and seek, it costs us trust issues." She blinked her eyes.

Sanskar felt she was trying to push back her tears.

She lowered her gaze from the stars to stare at his dark brown orbs which were scrunched in confusion.

"I have gone to meet Kavita in hospital." She announced without any hesitation.

Her words felt like someone threw icy water on him. He heaved at his place and gulped heavily. His mind cursed himself for not briefing her about his involvement in Kavita's bail out. His heart and mind began to fill with guilt.

He never wanted to hide anything from her, but he was so engrossed in his own miseries that it completely disappeared from his mind.

"I am sorry Swara... Ac...Actually." He started shivering with fear of losing her. 'What if she does not believe me? What if she takes it all wrong, and leaves me distrusting?'

Swara could feel his anxiousness. His eyes could not hide the feeling of insecurity from her.

"You did the right thing. If I was at your place maybe I would have done the same." She forwarded her hand to hold his. Swara knew she needed to assure him about their relationship.

Her simple briefe touch, over his palm, gave him surety about words.

"It's not like I wanted to hide it from you but it, just... It just slipped out of my head." He replied honestly.

"I know it." She gave a slight press on her hold over his hand.

"I saw her bail out papers in your cupboard. I checked with the lawyer and he told me about her. Then I went to meet. I accept my mistake not to talk to you first about it. Not to ask you about it instead of some other third person. But her name just triggered my investigative instinct." She bit her lower lip, rolling her eyes.

Sanskar found her cute when she did that.

"It's ok." He shook his head.

She smiled softly and continued, "I knew it, you would never hide such a big thing from me on purpose. Maybe the situation was not in our favour."

Sanskar could not reply back but gave a slight nod in agreement.

"Atleast, now I can understand one thing, that every coin has two sides. Without knowing the other side, jumping on to any conclusion pushes one into a dark hole." Swara kept her gaze on his face but he could not match his eyes with her.

'I am not going to repeat my mistakes again.' She thought, hoping Sanskar could hear her inner self.

She was apprehensive to broach the most sensitive topic among them about their own blunders, she knew, neither she nor he were ready to verbalise, convey and apologize for their share of flaw. They still needed to walk on the long path.

She gulped audibly, "Henceforth we will not hide anything from the other one, but if in future something like this happens, I want us to give benefit of doubt to the situation. Because, we both know that if something was not told, it does not mean that the thing or matter was to be kept hidden from the other one but, it just remained due to the situation."

Swara waited and observed his facial expressions which were changing for her every word from confusion to comprehending to accepting and finally to realising.

"And when the right time comes we will share and talk about it."

"What will be your definition for right time?" Sanskar asked leaving Swara in skepticism for a moment.

"Whenever we are together, that is a right time for me." Swara hoped he would reply back.

"Can we do this for us?" she pleaded when he did not voice out a single word.

"Yes, sure." He agreed with a simple nod.

His acceptance boosted her confidence to get back their old bond. They both sat down in silence.

"I need your help in filling the US Visa form." Her sentence again gave another shock to Sanskar.

"US Visa form?" he asked to confirm.

"Yes, for an interview. So if next time you have to go to the US, I can accompany you unless you don't want me to come." She tried to keep it casual.

"Ofcourse, why will I mind? You can come anytime." he replied with satisfaction, still his mind was filled with insecurities.

"What help do you need?"

"In the form there are few questions...." and there they went on with their discussion, later when they returned back to their room Sanskar opened his Mac to fill up and submit her form.

Two days later Ragini and Laksh returned from their trip and Maheshwari house started bustling with commotion.

"Swara, come. Come inside." Ragini pulled Swara inside her room after lunch.

Swara saw their room filled with their unopened bags. "You know what, I did a lot of shopping in Manali. I want to show you."

Ragini went on showing her things which she brought from Manali.

"Do you like this?" Ragini observed her sister looking at one dress material.

"Yes this is beautiful. Look at the chikankari work." Swara's eyes were still moving over the thread work.

"Yes Laksh also said the same thing." Ragini, took the piece of cloth from Swara. "If you want we can order, I have brought that shop's details. But this one Laksh bought it for me." Ragini sulked with a puppy face.

"Of Course Ragini. The wife should never give away any gift which was given by her husband." Swara replied with pressed lips but she took a mental note for herself.

"This one I got for you and this one for Uttara." Ragini showed her other two pieces of dress materials.

After dinner, like the last couple of days, Swara wanted to follow Sanskar for their 'Me time' to the terrace she was instructing servants to wrap up.

"Where are you going Swara?" Ragini asked when Swara started leaving the kitchen.

"Ragini, I am going to the terrace." Swara replied.

"Terrace? Why?"

"Just to have some 'Me time." Swara purposefully avoided mentioning Sanskar.

"But then kitchen work?" Ragini asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Nirmala Kaki and Chanda will be looked after."

"Ok, then I will also come with you. I have a lot of things to share with you." Ragini took a step towards her sister.

"No Ragini... It's Me time. My time." Swara replied in a firm tone with a smile.

Ragini shrugged her shoulders and concentrated on her work but somewhere her mind took a note of Swara's changed demeanour.  'She never said no to me till today.'

When Swara came to the terrace she heard Sanskar. "I don't think I can attend Mr. and Mrs. Raheja's anniversary party." Swara scrunched her eyebrows. She could not hear the voice from the other side. "Ok let me think and then confirm."

"Hi Sanskar." She got their coffee mugs.

"Hey thanks." They both settled down on the swing.

"Is there any party?" Again it was Swara's onus to start their conversation.

"Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Raheja's 25th anniversary party is there. Mr. Raheja is my close business associate." Sanskar explained.

He was wondering that during their Me Time, Swara never broached any topic about their family members or her parents or any new mission or anything other than them. All their talks were strictly about them, their daily activities, their work. It was 'Their Time' in a true sense.

"When is it?"

"Friday evening."

"Then why are you not going?" Swara took a sip from the cup.

"It's a family cum business kind of party. They asked for you as well... and..." he trailed off.

He knew his wife would never agree to go to such parties. Or even though she had agreed like last few times it always got cancelled at the last moment due to her spontaneous family errands or missions.

"So they invited both of us?"

"Yes... just ignore." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Why? You said they are very close to you on a business level then we should go to their party." Swara hoped this was her chance to be with Sanskar. Spending time with him was the main aim on her agenda.

Sanskar stared at her face for a couple of seconds with a wide open mouth.

"Are you ok to come with me?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I am going with my husband, why will I not be ok with it?" For a moment Swara did not understand the hidden meaning behind his question.

"Yes that's right." Sanskar replied thoughtfully. 'She is in a good mood today, there is still time for Friday. Don't know when she herself will cancel this plan.'

Swara could observe his hesitance, his face was a clear picture of uncertainty.

He did not say a word after, but engrossed in his own thoughts for the remaining time.

Friday came with in a blink. Swara came back to her room after lunch. She went towards her closet to finalise.

"Hmm this looks good." Swara talked to herself, taking out one saree.

'But do you even know what to wear for such parties?' her subconscious warned her.

Yes, it was true, Swara had never accompanied Sanskar for any business parties. She took a few selfies with different apparels and sent them to Sanskar.

It was again a moment of truth for her, earlier Sanskar used to ask her to join him for his business parties or conferences or trips but again in the race to become best in every other relationship, she kept on declining. She didn't even realize when he stopped asking her out. But today, her heart felt heavy over her own denials.

He was in a meeting when his phone beeped with back to back notifications. Her photos with the message 'What should I wear for today's party?'

'Which party?' His instant reply resulted in Swara banging her own head.

'Mr. and Mrs Raheja's anniversary party. Your business associate.' she typed rolling her eyes.

Her reply snapped him out from his own word of delusions.

'Are we still going?' his fingers typed without his realisation.

"Shit" He cursed himself for his own message.

'What does that mean? I am going to parlour for my hairdo and then I will get ready by 7. When are you returning home?'

'I will be back by 7 - 7:30.' Small smile glazed on his lips before he was pulled back in the serious discussion about the project.

Swara came back from parlour to witness her parents, grandparents along with her little brother in their living room.

"Shona" Sharmishtha came to her daughter with a bright smile.

Sharmishtha did not miss her daughter's anxious state. She knew her daughter was upset over something. Their last meeting also left her in a whirl round of perplexity.

"How are you?" Sharmishtha could not take her eyes from her daughter. She was wearing a simple yellow kurta with white palazzo. "You look different. You did something with your hair?"

"Yes, Ma I did highlights and blow dry."

"This is looking really nice on you." Ragini came forward.

Swara spent some time with her family but her eyes were moving towards her watch every minute. Ragini and Laksh's return from the Manali trip was the reason given to her by her parents for their unexpected visit. Annapurna converted the same into an impromptu plan of family dinner.

"Swara, where are you going?" Sharmishtha asked her daughter when she started leaving the living room.

"Ma, I need to get ready, I am going with Sanskar for his one of business associate's anniversary party." It was not a surprise for Maheshwari ladies, Swara had already informed them about it two days back, but Gadodia's could not suppress their bewilderment.

"Shona party? When did you start going to such Business parties?" Sharmishtha asked in disbelief.

"Yes you are right I didn't go earlier. But this one really looks very important for Sanskar."

"What will you do by going to such a business party? It will be all business discussions." This time Shekhar asked.

"Baba, I am going with my husband, isn't that enough?" Swara replied with a forced smile.

"But Shona, we are meeting after a long time. Annapurna Ji even asked us to wait for dinner. We will have good family time." Sharmishtha tried to convince her daughter.

"And what about parties? They keep on happening. You can go some other time." Shekhar declared.

"Swara please listen to Ma and Baba, see we have full gala time right now. We will have fun." Ragini put all her efforts in persuading.

"Swara, Bhai will get busy in business discussions. You will get bore over there." This time it was Laksh.

Ram was observing Swara with the hope she would join his son for party and not cancel her plans last moment. He shook his head in denial when Swara's eye met with his. His unsaid support boosted Swara's confidence.

"Annapurna Ji, you only say something to her. She will listen to you."

"Swara, please stay. See everyone is asking." Annapurna cajoled.

"Sorry Badi Ma, I wish I could. But I promised Sanskar, I will accompany him." Swara responded in a firm yet persuasive tone. 'And this time I will not break my promise.' She passes bright smile to Ram before leaving.

She left towards her room to get ready.

Sanskar returned back when he saw all Gadodia's and Maheshwari's enjoying their time in the garden. He received first hand information about their unexpected visit.

'Now for sure Swara will cancel this plan.'

He excused himself in the name of freshening up. He took the stairs while typing a message to his assistant.

'Please send a bouquet and card to Raheja's.'

Before hitting the send button, he opened his room's door and the sight in front of him took away his breath.

Swara was in front of the mirror trying to fix her earrings, dressed in black anarkali with gold jari work. He could see her reflection in the mirror. With minimal makeup, light curls on her hairs she was looking like a beauty pageant.

'Shouldn't she be in the kitchen to make family dinner for all of them?' thought crossed his mind. His hands ached to rub his eyes. 'Am I dreaming?'

"Sanskar"

She turned to him with a bright smile. "You are late? You said you will be back by 7 but it's almost 7:45 now." She smiled to herself, "But no complaints even I am late today."

After a long time he saw her puppy face and his heart started beating inside his ribcage making his presence aware to it's owner.

"I had a few meetings." He kept his laptop bag on the couch. "Everyone is downstairs." He was still calculative.

"Yes, Ma, Baba, Dadaji and Dadi came to meet Ragini and Laksh. And Badi Ma invited them for dinner."

"Why don't you freshen up? We need to leave right?"

"Are we still going?"

"Yes, ofcourse." Swara knew why he was asking her the same question multiple times. May be he was assuring his own heart.

"See Swara, it's not that important to attend the party but since everyone is at home you must be wanting to spend time with them." He knew where her happiness lies. Nothing was important than her pure smile.

"I want to spend time with you." Words were out even before her realization followed by her serene smile echoing her inner happiness.

"Give me 15 minutes. I will be ready." He rushed to the washroom.

When Sanskar's driver drove them inside the luxurious Renaissance Hotels main gate, Swara asked, "Where are we going?"

Earlier she had hoped it would be small event at host home.

"This is the party's venue."

Swara turned to look outside crowd to be precise media personnel.

"Roger, get away with this Paparazzi." She turned to look back at her husband's cold yet authoritative voice.

He did not wait for a reply before cutting the call but their way towards entrance was cleared in a few minutes.

Magnificent hotel, upscale and classy crowd, lavish decor pushed Swara in her nervous zone. She was never exposed to such an opulent culture. She felt one warm palm holding her palm. Turning to her side, it was none other than Sanskar, her husband.

"Don't worry, I am there. Stay with me." He mumbled, taking steps inside the party hall.

'Even today he knows what is going on in my mind.'

"Hello Mr. Maheshwari." One person in early 40s came towards them.

"Hello Mr. Oberoi" Sanskar shook hands with him with a crisp smile. "Meet my wife Swara."

"Mrs. Maheshwari, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Same here." Swara mumbled with a heavy heart. Such protocols, etiquettes and pleasantries were new to her.

"And congratulations for the Golden Connect Highway project." He turned his attention back to Sanskar.

"Thank you so much. Please excuse us. We need to wish the couple of the evening." with that they proceed towards Raheja couple.

"I am so thankful to you Mr. Maheshwari for bringing your wife for this party. It's the first time we all are meeting her." Mrs. Raheja admitted after a quick side hug with Swara.

Swara was stick to Sanskar, she did not know a single person present there but her husband looked familiar to most of them.

Even though they were guests for the party, Swara could not miss to feel the continuous gaze of the crowd on them. It was like they both were put under the spotlight. She saw people around her were striving hard to have one or two words with her husband.

And her husband, Sanskar Maheshwari. He was totally a different person while dealing with them.

His cold, dominating voice was depicting his true hard core businessman aura. Swara was fascinated with his brief smiles during discussions, his style of narrowing eyes trying to understand the person in front of him, the way he was nodding his head with pressed lips. This was totally a new Sanskar whom she was meeting for the first time.

Then a waiter came with a plate filled with starters. Sanskar was busy in his discussion with one of his business associates whereas his wife kept Swara busy in gossip.

Her eyes widened when Sanskar had a quick glance and took one starter.

"Sanskar, this is non-veg. Mutton Kabab." She tried to indicate him in a very low voice audible to him only.

"Yes I know." He nodded his head and took a bite.

Swara was awestruck looking at him. Her mouth was wide open.

"Paneer and Bhendi are not my first favourite." He shook his head gulping another piece of kabab.

After two years of their relationship, first time Swara got to know about her husband's favourite food. Just a thought pulled the sore string of her heart.

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