Swara Rathore was a timid and a reserve girl, belonging to an orthodox Marwadi family. As a girl, she has suffered a lot and her mother not being with her made it more difficult. Her elders were way too protective for her and her father was the only one whom she could trust blindly. She was an introvert or rather she was forced to be one..

She was already 18 by the time she completed her school. Her grandfather, the head of the family and the ruler of everyone's life, wanted to marry her off as soon as possible. He was always against sending her to the college.
"What is the need for her to study more? All she has to do is look after her husband's household once she gets married. And considering our family reputation and property, I could even get her a prince." Her grandfather would say.

But his father always believed in educating her and making her independent. On his ample requests, her grandfather unwillingly agreed to send her to the college.
She was only allowed to cross the boundaries of the haveli with her elder brother. She was restricted to walk out alone. Her life was nothing less than miserable.

Swara's POV ~
I was in my college canteen when the announcement for the intercollegiate dance competition was made. I loved dancing. But the sad part was that Dada sa hukam (Grandpa) would never allow me for all this. I somehow gulped down my ambitions and went to bring myself a coffee. As I turned to get up from my chair, I bumped into someone. A boy.

"I am so sorry." He said.
"No .. It's okay. It was my mistake as well." Saying so, I moved from there.

But bad luck struck me again when the same guy, I ran into in the canteen, was made to sit near me. And I was even given the responsibility to teach him well as he had joined the college lately. Sanskar Maheshwari. But how could I even talk to a boy? What if my family comes to know about all this? They would bury me alive...

I decided not to tell anyone and continue teaching him in the college hours. I don't know why, but somehow my inner being didn't allow me to refuse him to teach.
Soon we became friends. Best friends. We were sitting in the college garden when something happened that should have never happened.

"Swara.." He called out.
"Hmm.."
"Swaraaaa..."
"What..?"
I was completing my manuals and this guy was at his best to irritate me.
"I love you..!"

I stared at him blankly and it seemed as if my eyes would pop out of its sockets anytime soon. My world started revolving and my head spun at a fast pace.

"Have you gone.." I was blank. I sat there numb and with a dull face.

"What? I said I love you. Come on..! Don't you feel the need to answer me back? I think you should."

I got up from there and walked out of the place, or rather ran away. But who knew that I was running from my own destiny. The only thoughts in my mind were of Sanskar. He didn't understand my situation. He would never. His family, unlike mine was very much friendly and believed in complete freedom and equality, irrespective of gender. And my family, they would shoot him right now if they come to about his confession. I was in my bed struggling with the thoughts that were overpowering my wit. I ended being a prey to viral fever.

For days together, I was not sent to college. And then it was during these days, that I realized how much I miss him. Hours seemed years and days seemed decades. I was getting desperate to meet him. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him. And I did. I was now going to live my life as per my norms.

But bad luck never left my side. My family came to know about our relationship and everything came to an end there itself. They locked me up in my room and even beat up Sanskar.

"See.. See with your eyes what your daughter has done to our reputation. Go give her some more freedom. Make her independent and get her married to that guy." Dada sa hukam remarked sarcastically.

"But Bapu sa hukam (dad), he is a nice guy and his family is also very good." My papa defended.

"Shut up..! It's an evil. How can you even think of getting your daughter married in the other caste? What will our society think of us? They will completely outcaste us. No no.. I can't let this happen. I can't bear such insults for my family. None of them should even know about all this."

"But.."

"I will kill her. If she cannot respect our rules and regulations, she has no right to live."

"No.. Please don't do that. She is my only daughter and your granddaughter. Please. I cannot live without her. She is my life. I promise you, she won't even step out of that room."

"Don't show me those tears. I am not that weak. If your daughter can stoop so low to go against the rules of our society, it's better for her to die."

He banged the door of Swara's room with a gun in his hands, but she was nowhere to be found. She eloped with her life and her love, Sanskar.

~•~•~

"Sanskar, I cannot even imagine my life without you. Why did this had to happen with us? Why this bloody society has all the right to control our lives and our desires? I cannot tolerate this, Sanskar. Not anymore. This is too much..!"

"I can understand, Swara. Its difficult for me to even think of being alive without you. But what can we do? When society doesn't understands our love, let them be. It won't alter my feelings for you, never. I loved you and will continue to up till infinity. Hope they will have no problem with we being together after death... I will meet you. My love, in my next life. And we'll unite then .. For sure..! I love you, Swara.. I love you.."

"I love you too, Sanskar. And do not forget to keep smiling. You know I like you that way..."

And with this, they jumped off the cliff, hand in hand and smiling at each other... Hoping to complete their love story in the following life.

That day, the world lost two of its jewels. Their death was a shock to everyone. Swara's Dad was still repenting for the loss of her beloved daughter. She was the sole reason of his living and after her death, he was nothing less than a living corpse...

A/N:
So guys this was my first story on wattpad.
More than a love story, it was an effort to make everyone realize how the caste system is prevailing in our society. Even after so much is done to curb the system, yet it remains a social taboo. And its we youngsters, who have to make our elders realize that the rigid caste system is morbid and has a dark future ahead.

This one was a real story of one of my friend's cousin.
Hope you liked it.
Thanks for giving your precious time to this story.

Love❤
Shalom ..!