Sorry for any error, mistakes and inconveniences 🌹.

Chapter 26: List

Sat on the chairs, in the waiting area. Swara nervously fidgeted with her drape, while he merely watched her fight her own thoughts. She seemed composed, yet lost. Like a child, unable to find her parents after separating from them in a fair. She needed comfort, assurance and he knew that, however he was now scared, to loose her amid this. She clearly dislikes him, and if his closeness began bothering her, she might never see him again and he did not want that under any circumstances. He wasn't sure what to do, hesitant to even speak to her at this point.

"Are. . . You, okay?" He mustered courage, loosing against his refusal as he ended up asking her how she was.

She faced him after putting a pause on her chain of thoughts, "do I look okay?"

He shook his head as a response and she looked away, staring into space again. "Why would you ask then?"

He stayed quiet, and lowered his gaze and she exhaled, "what kind of people do you think they'll be?"

"Hmm?" He wasn't expecting her to speak to him, yet instantly responded as he lifted his eyes to meet her face again.

"My real family. . . What type of people do you think they will be?" She asked again, this time wording it differently and he gave it a thought.

Unable to control herself, she passed a tired sigh as her eyes began to well up. He was definitely not the person she wanted to open up to, even if he was the last person alive on earth, yet, today, right now, she is overwhelmed with too much to handle.

"I don't even know why I'm here to waste my time. . . Is it worth finding out? After this sudden confrontation with the truth, deep down I was glad to know that I wasn't Shekhar's daughter, but now the question that haunts me, that scares me, is, 'are my real parents good people?' Do they still exist, do they still remember me? Who's blood is running through my veins. . ."

He understood her point, and inhaled a deep breath, ready to console her. "I know, it must be hard to answer so many questions by yourself, when you don't know the answer to them. You would keep thinking, on loop, and still have no answers until you see it yourself. Until you feel it happening. But always know Swara, even if they aren't good people, they don't define you. You are, who you are. Don't loose yourself while trying to find them."

She faced him with glassy eyes and he nodded at her, his words gave her comfort, but in a way which released her tears. The tears she hated, were now rolling down from her eyes, in front of the person she disliked.
She was scared, to face this truth and be hurt once again, hesitating to prepare herself to accept it. Sometimes she just wished that she would just ignore and move on, without having the urge to find out who she actually is and who brought her to existence. But a part of her just pushes her towards the journey of discovering her actual roots.

"Excuse me." Swara inhaled and wiped her tears and Sanskaar turned his head, glancing at a nurse, who stopped in front of them. "Are you, Swara?" She nodded her head, glancing up at the nurse and the nurse passed her a small smile, "Hi, your request was approved."

Surprised, the two flap their eyes at her. "Really?"

"Yes, your lawyer will email us the permission paper in a while, so there isn't an issue in us sharing the details."

Swara glanced at Sanskaar, who looked at her. They had never expected this to work this fast, especially when their request was not even a priority. Before passing the details on, the hospital staff wanted to make sure it was permissible for them access these details, which is why Sandkaar suggested them to speak to Swara's lawyer, out of the blue, knowing it wasn't going to happen, yet, in a small hope, Swara did leave her lawyers number and waited.

"He really approved it?"

"Yes." The nurse replied to Sanskaar, "isn't this what you wanted?" She was confused to see their reactions, and Swara stood up.

"Yes. . ." She instantly replied and nodded her head positively, "this is. . . What I want." She added and inhaled, clenching her fist nervously. "I would like to find out, which women had still births. . ."

The nurse stared at her for a while and then nodded her head, "what year?"

Nervously, she swallowed her spit while staring at the nurse, ready to embrace herself for a new journey.

XX

Ram stepped out of the room after ensuring Sujata was asleep and resting. He surely disliked the fact that she was in a traumatic incident today, which he was unaware of and felt really sorry and guilty for not being able to help her at this crucial time, when she needed him by her side. He compelled her to take a rest without her wish, not wanting her further distressed after what had happened with her today.

While closing the door quietly, he turned and watched his brother head down the stairs, he followed and caught up with him.

"Bhaisa. . ." Durga Prasad stopped, facing Ram who stood besides him. "What happened? What are you thinking?" Ram questioned, wanting to know the reason why Durga Prasad seems lost and quiet, after hearing about the incident.

"It's Swara. . ." He trailed off, releasing a sigh as he truthfully spoke. "She isn't Shekhar's real daughter."

"Hmm." Ram hummed and shook his head. "I feel sorry for her, how low did Shekhar fall that he kidnapped another child just to have his property. . ."

Durga Prasad nodded his head as he stared in space, agreeing with Ram. "This time he committed a sin, an unforgivable one. He separated a mother from her child. . ."

"May god never forgive him for that." Ram prayed as he continued looking at his brother, "but. . . What else is troubling you Bhaisa?" He added, after observing Durga Prasad's expressions.

Durga Prasad exhaled, "who must Swara's real parents be?"

"That. . . We will find out after Swara allows herself to know. . ."

"Ram. . ." Durga Prasad couldn't keep his conclusion inside of his head, now intending to blurt out what had really been occupying his mind. "That day, when Swara was born. . . It wasn't only Sharmishta Bhabhi in the hospital. . ."

"Yes, all of us were there. . ."

Durga Prasad shook his head, "no. . . I mean. . . That day, I saw. . . Rathore there too. They had a still born child. . . What if, Swara is their child?"

"What?" Ram was surprised as he creased his forehead, "You mean. . . Rajveer Rathore?" Durga Prasad nodded his head positively.

"Does that mean, Swara could possibly be J. . . Janki's daughter?" Ram questioned sounding disheartened and Durga Prasad merely stared at Ram, who then lowered his gazes as he watched the tiles on the floor.

XX

"Here are the list of ladies that had still born births that day, but. . . Please can you email us, or send through legal papers with the signatures of the lawyers and judges that authorised this search, rather than the photo." The nurse uttered as she forwarded the paper towards Swara, with a simple request.

Swara nodded her head positively, and stared at the paper. "I'll tell the lawyer to email you the papers tomorrow." She responded and took the paper in her hand. "Thank you." She further uttered and stared at the nurse who passed her a smile.

"Thank you." She uttered and walked away, Sanskaar, who was sat next to Swara leaned in closer as his eyes scanned the names on the list.

Feeling nervous, she swallowed and slowly lowered her gazes to the paper, scanning through. Her heart began to palpate, and she exhaled, seeing merely three names on that list.

"Parvati. . ."

"Sneha. . ."

"Chittra. . ."
Sanskaar read out the three names from the list, and Swara turned her head towards him. He moved his eyes and met hers, closing his mouth after seeing her expressions.

After passing him a look, she lowered her gazes back down and flapped her eyes. 'Could one of these three be my mother?'

X

Sitting next to the nurse who had given Swara the list of names, he faced her and waited for her.

"What?" She questioned and finished clicking the mouse, taking her eyes from the computer screen.

"You didn't reveal Mrs Janki Rathore's details did you?" He asked and she scoffed, shaking her head "are you mad? I do not wish to be sued. . . Besides, it's not like she'll turn out to be their daughter."

"Wait, she's here to find her birth mother?"

The nurse nodded her head positively, "she said that. . ."

"Does that mean, she was switched in this hospital. . . Right under their noses?"

The nurse gave it a thought, "I guess. . . Or maybe her parents just separated and she wants to find out who her mother is."

"But. . ." He trailed off, deciding to say it. "Why would she ask for ladies with still births?" This had put the nurse into thoughts, who creased her forehead as she reconsidered Swara's request, before she hadn't thought much of it, but now, she is slightly concerned.

"Should we. . . Let Doctor Rathore know about this request?" She asked and he nodded his head positively, "we should."

The nurse faced in the direction Swara and Sanskaar were sat in, staring at them while thinking about this matter.

X

"I think you should rest now Swara. . . We will start the search tomorrow."

"We?" She asked and faced him, "why are you going to join me?"

"Why shouldn't I?" He answered her question with a question and she stared at him. "Why would you?"

He shrugged while curving a small smile, "I want to help. . . And repent. Maybe, if I help you in this journey, I would get your forgiveness in between. . ."

She looked away and he continued looking at her, "please let me help you."

"No. . ." She refused, "I have Kavita and Sameer to help me. You don't need to get involved."

He frowned and sighed, "please."

She stood up, glancing down at him. Despite wanting to refuse him, she didn't know why she was starting to have mixed feelings. Never has she reconsidered for the people she hates, so why does she feel like saying 'okay' to him. She exhaled, and faced away. "Whatever. . ." She trailed off and began walking away.

"Whatever?" He repeated and creased his forehead, standing up. "Does that mean yes?" He wondered and followed her, catching up to her pace.

"Is that a yes Swara?" He asked, and she ignored him, continuing to head outside in her heavy attire, starting to feel tired and exhausted.

Taking her silence as a 'yes', he smiled to himself and decreased his speed, slowly following her behind.

To Be Continued. . .

_______________

Thank you so much for supporting, encouraging and loving this story ♥️😘😘

Please vote and comment if you would like me to continue this story! ❤️😘

Lots of love to all of you! ❤️✨✨✨