It's Laksh!

CHAPTER: 21

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Swara.

I came out of the room so that the couples could have some private moments. I saw Sanskar making a call. He was talking to Aman over the phone. I sighed that, he was talking business even from the hospital too. And then, reality hit me harder. He was the great Sanskar Maheshwari. I giggled at my own thoughts. And I gained Sanskar's attention, because of those giggles. He looked at me by raising an eyebrow. I went and sat on the chair paying no heed to his looks. Take it, Mr Maheshwari!

My hands were itching to call Sahil. He really needs to know everything about Aryan and Arpita. But alas! That husband hulk of mine has crashed my phone into 30 million pieces. How sad about my new iPhone. I seriously don't understand him. Why the hell he threw my phone? Such a jerk.

Suddenly I saw a courier boy coming into the floor. He was holding a packet. He came to me and hand overed the packet. I stood there confused. What if, it was some bomb? What if, it was a cracker? I can't risk my life.

"You can take it. It's a mobile phone." I heard Sanskar yelling from the corner of the veranda. The courier boy smiled at me and went away.

I opened the packet to see a brand new iPhone. It was exactly like mine. My eyes twinkled like a 3000-volt bulb. I kept it in my purse.

"You can at least thank me, Mrs Maheshwari," Sanskar said to me. I looked at him annoyed.

"Okay, I will thank you. But first, you need to apologise for your mistake. You have thrown my phone into the floor without any reason." I said with a smirk.

"You know what? nothing! You are good for nothing." Sanskar muttered and went away from me.

"Thanks for the compliment," I shouted looking at his retreating figure. Huh! Attitude freak!

After some times, I bought lunch for everyone from the canteen. Sanskar was attending a video conference from the VIP room. Aryan's parents were there in his room. Even though I wasn't too much into the canteen foods, now I didn't have any other way to fill our tummies.

"Now, enough of melodramas. Let's eat something. And yes, this food won't be tasting as good as my handmade one. And so, tonight I will be bringing a bundle of dishes from home. So that Aryan won't fall ill anymore." I said showing my muscles to everyone. They laughed at my gesture.

"Really! But I must say, your culinary skills are amazing. I bet, Sanskar will be running behind you as he is a foodie." It was Aryan's father, Mr Vishwa Singhania spoke. Yes, I know that Sanskar is a foodie. But he never liked my dishes. I sighed.

I saw Sanskar getting inside the room. I looked at him and we shared an eye lock. And it got broken due to the coughing up sound of Aryan's mother, Ranjini Singhania. I looked away embarrassed.

I served everyone. Aryan and Arpita were happy together. I felt satisfied by seeing them like that. They deserved it. They have suffered so much even though everything was because of misunderstandings.

It was evening. Aunty resisted me for making the dinner. But after so many emotional blackmail, she agreed. I and Sanskar went to Maheshwari mansion so that I can prepare something for the dinner and bring it to the hospital.

Badipapa and papa were out of town for a business meeting. So Mom and Badi maa went to visit Mom's house for a week. Also, Uttara was on her college trip. I prepared the dishes alone. Sanskar took a small nap at that time. When the dishes were almost ready, I went to his room to wake him up.

"Mr Maheshwari, could I get the honour to see you awake?" I don't know why, but my inner conscience said that he wasn't sleeping.

"Why can't you at least leave me at peace while taking a nap." See, he wasn't sleeping. Otherwise, he won't have answered my question like this.

"Because you weren't sleeping at all!" I stated. He rolled his eyes and went to the washroom. I descended the stairs and packed the dishes. I saw, Sanskar ascending the stairs while typing something on his phone. His aura was so fascinating. He was looking like a Greek God! Oh my poor adrenaline.

I asked him to wait for 20 minutes, so I can change the dress and pack our clothes too, as we were planning to stay in the hospital itself. He agreed without making any scene. I was amused by that. Both of us drove to the hospital.

"Hey, lovebirds..." Sanskar yelled and banged the door of Aryan's room. I was seeing this carefree Sanskar after so many years. He wasn't like those rich spoiled casinos, but a sweet simple boy. And that's what attracted Swara Gadodia to the hell. His world was Aryan. Even though he was a little introvert, he wasn't an expectation in buzz. Just like me, even he was extraordinarily famous in his college.

After our marriage, on our first night, his behaviour has shocked me to the core. The Sanskar I knew was so sweet. But on our first night and after that, I victimised some other Sanskar. But everything he did was for Aryan. Or I could say for his revenge. I can never justify his actions. He could have talked to me solved everything. But he took a drastic step by tieing the knot with me. He will be punished for that. But, just like the way how I have feelings towards him, does he have something to me? Ahhhh, Swara! What the hell are you even thinking! He is Sanskar Maheshwari. He isn't like those cheesy boys who fall for your charms. Understand that!

"Look, what I have made." I started to take everything out of the packet.

"Swara, wait. Don't be in so much hurry. Aryan have some medicines to take before having the food. Let's dine together after that." Arpita said on which I nodded.

After sometimes, all of us had our food together after a long time. Sanskar was behaving like the person whom I have fallen in love with. He was cracking the jokes and reminiscing the college days. I smiled looking at him.

"Arpita, do you remember the date when you went to Aryan for telling him about your pregnancy." Okay, I took my words back. Such a moment spoiler he was. All of a sudden Sanskar asked it. I could see Aryan's and Arpita's face getting dull.

"Can't you shut your mouth up!" I whispered to Sanskar. And as a response, he rolled his eyes at me. Jerk!

"It was 12th of July." Arpita chocked. But Aryan was silent. He was looking at Sanskar with a suspicious glare.

"Let's play something!" I said to cool the situation. Aryan agreed as soon as I said that. After that, we played online ludo. I swear, it was so funny.

"Okay, it's enough for today. Swara, Sanskar, you both can use VIP room allotted by the hospital. I will be sleeping on the couch." Arpita announced. Both of us went to the VIP room with a nod.

"Why did you asked about the date?" I was so confused. Sanskar who have typing something on the phone, paused his action looking at me.

"We are going to our college, tomorrow evening." He stated and walked away. Huh? Why?

"But-" he can't take any decision in haste. What if, that cause problem to Aryan and Arpita?

"We are going to check the CCTV footage of that day." Oops...how could I even forget about the camera's installed in our college.

"What about Aryan and Arpita?" I asked him all of a sudden.

"You are not informing anything to them. I can't risk their lives. I hope everything is clean to Mrs Maheshwari." He declared and continued typing something on his mobile. There comes the jerkish Maheshwari! How rude of him.

"And also, you shouldn't inform Sahil about anything, okay! We can't trust anyone. What if, he became the culprit?" Really!!

"Stop it, Mr Maheshwari. Maybe you don't trust everyone. But for me, he is my brother. And I trust him for that reason. You should look at your ex-girlfriend, mister!" I stated and walked away. How mean of him. He can't simply point at Sahil and say that he could be the culprit! I hate his guts.

The day passed. Everything went smoothly. Arpita was looking after Aryan like a kid. Sanskar was in the hospital only. Both of us have gone to prepare lunch for everyone as in the morning uncle and aunty came with breakfast. We had fun together. Time passed quickly and it was evening.

I and Sanskar reached our college after biding a bye to Aryan and Arpita. They have asked us where we were going, multiple times. Sanskar said that there was an important meeting going and he needs my help.

We went to the main office inside the technical block of the college. Our administrator was present there. He gave us a warm welcome. I think Sanskar has already said about our visit to him. He directed us to the main IT block. I was so amused to see that. Even though I was a bright computer science student, I really got an opportunity to get inside the IT block.

"Sir, here are the footages you asked for." A boy showed us some footage from his computer. Sanskar and I started to look into it.

We saw, almost every footage. But nothing suspicious was spotted. But suddenly it caught my attention. There wasn't footage of canteen section.

"Where is the footage of canteen section?" I asked suspiciously. I saw Sanskar looking for it.

"Wait, let me check once again." The boy said and started to look again.

"It's missing." The boy announced after some time. I knew it.

"What do you mean by missing? How could you be so careless!" Sanskar started to come to the poor fellow.

"It's okay...its almost 2-3 years, right! Maybe it was deleted when the camera was given for innovation." I tried to make Sanskar cool.

"We will be taking leave, sir," Sanskar said and I followed him after smiling to the administrator.

We got into the car. Sanskar was so angry. I was driving the car like car rider. I was shouting his name. At last, he stopped the car at an isolated place.

"Are you mad!" I asked with anger.

"Please, get out of my way!" He said and started to move from me.

"What's wrong with you, Sanskar!" I lost me every toleration. Why can't he be a little bit sensitive?

"Don't you know? The only evidence we have was that CCTV footage. Aryan isn't even remembering anything on that day. Then how can we reach the bloody culprit, dammit!" Sanskar shouted at me. I shivered at his tone.

"Just listen to me, Sanskar. I have a-" I started to say. I tried to hold his hands.

"Just fuck off!" He jerked my hand. That's it! I gave a tight slap to him. Why can't he at least listen to me? He can judge me after listening to me, right!

"Stop behaving like a psycho! For god's sake, I'm an ethical hacker. I can hack the footage which was deleted by any person!" I yelled angrily. Even I know to slap. Even I know to get angry! But what I got from Sanskar was shocking. He smiled like an idiot! Oh my! So, he would smile, if I slap?

"Where's the place?" Sanskar asked me after getting inside the car.

"I will direct you," I stated and got inside the car.

We reached my secret penthouse. It was the only place, where I found solace. I used to come to my penthouse, whenever I felt dejected and sad. Also, my systems and important documents were inside my penthouse only. I took the keys from my purse. We entered my penthouse. From Sanskar's expression, I could say that he was impressed with the interior designs.

"That's the guest room. You can take rest there." I said pointing towards the guest room. Sanskar nodded and went.

I went to the kitchen. There was coffee powder. I made black coffee without sugar. I used to come here very rarely. So there wasn't any kitchen stuff. And the coffee powder was bought by me the day before my marriage. I took two mugs and filled the steamy black coffee in it.

I went to the guest room. But he wasn't there. I dialled his number. I heard the ringing of the phone from upstairs. I sighed and ascended the stairs following the ring. I saw Sanskar sitting in my study room. I offered him coffee. He took it without resisting.

I switched my system on. I entered the password and login to it. By clicking the tool of Kali Linux, I got the platform for hacking. After entering the modem of CCTV, I got the deleted footage. I opened it. Both of us were looking at the footage keenly.

We saw Aryan talking to someone. The person's face wasn't visible as the camera was positioned behind him. We saw Aryan taking some medicines and drinking the water. That footage was over. The next one near the college library showed the conversation between Aryan and Arpita. I was flabbergasted to hear Aryan.

I turned and looked at Sanskar. Even his expressions were the same as mine. We stood silent for a moment.

"Still, the face of the person isn't visible." I heard Sanskar uttering. I felt sad. We have tried the maximum to get the footage. And now, the person's face wasn't visible. We cross-checked every footage so that we could get a view of the person. But the person completely disappeared after the canteen section.

"Sanskar, who it can be?" I asked him. I wasn't able to remember anyone with the same attire in our college.

"It's Laksh..." I saw a devastated Arpita leaning towards Aryan for the help. How come they are here? Wait, what!! Laksh?

"How can you be so sure?" Sanskar asked Arpita controlling his anger.

"I have been living with him for almost 2 years. I can't mistake him with any other person. It's him. The bracelet the person in the footage is the biggest proof for that. It was his mother's gift. Still, he is wearing it." Arpita busted out.

"But, there would be many persons with the same bracelets, Arpita," I said. I really don't want Laksh to become the foe. He has done so much for Arpita. I can't see her broken.

"Yes, there might be. But do you really think, there would be someone with the same dressing style?" She asked me with a broken voice.

I remained silent. So it was Laksh. But why?

"Arpita, why would Laksh try to do something like this with us?" Aryan asked her.

"I don't know. I haven't even thought about him before you mentioned him. I clearly remember, he has helped me to abort the child. He even gave me the shelter when I went to London. He helped me in designing my own career. I thought, he was my brother from another mother. But I was wrong. He was the actual traitor. He had been enjoying my miseries from my behind." Arpita said and fell unconscious.

Aryan held and brought her to my room. I looked at Sanskar, who stood silent. Aryan called the doctor. I went to Sanskar.

"Why did he do such a sin?" I asked him. But he didn't reply to me.

"I don't know, maybe he had feelings towards Arpita!" Sanskar said looking at the wall.

"Then he would have confessed it, right? Why would he even kill an unborn child?" I pointed.

The doctor came and examined Arpita. He said that she fell because of stress and anxiety. I saw a shattered Aryan sitting next to her. I went to him.

"Aryan..." I called his name out. He hugged me tightly. He was crying like a baby. I controlled myself and tried to console him.

"I'm sorry, Swara. I have misjudged you. I failed as your brother. Please forgive me. Never in my dreams, I thought that Laksh was behind everything. I should have trusted you and Arpita. But I was lost in my miseries and loss. I should have talked about and solved everything. Then, that bastard wouldn't be able to play his dirty game." Aryan apologised to me. I wiped my tears and smiled.

"I know, Aryan. It's okay, I know you. You weren't at fault. Yes, you didn't trust us. Because you became an alcoholic addict. You didn't trust us, because you weren't able to handle yourself. It's okay. I have always thought that there was a fifth person in our story. And it turned out to be Laksh. Please, stay strong. Arpita needs us." I tried to console him.

I saw Sanskar looking at me with amusement. I wasn't like him. I don't take revenge. I forgive everyone as we are humans and we are supposed to make mistakes. Here, Aryan wasn't really at fault. A person at his condition would have done the same. Even if, he has loved Arpita very much, there was a limit. And at the most unexpected time, he failed as a lover too. But now, everything is over. I wish they could move and start a new life.

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How's it?

Finally, the villain is out. Some of you have guessed Laksh as the foe. I'm so happy that, you guys are reading the story with concentration. Now, some questions are remaining like,

=> Was Laksh is the only culprit? If yes, then who did manipulated Sanskar's person secret agency on which he judged Swara wrong?

=> How did Laksh persuade Aryan?

=> Now, What would be Sanskar's response?

=> What will be Arpita's reaction when she wakes up?

=> What Swara is gonna do with Laksh? Will she forgive him too just as she did with Aryan? Or we could see a Swara Gadodia again?

So, think about it!! Till then, stay tuned.

Words count- 3060

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