*** CHAPTER 50 ***

Nothing has ever warmed his heart as much as this moment. Even standing in the darkest corner of the cold, bone-chilling forest can in no way make his heart any less happy at this moment. The instant Sanskaar opens his eyes to find himself in the same forest where he met his brother the last time, he is engulfed in a bear-like, affectionate hug.

"Bhai?" He whispers and for the very first time, he hears his brother laugh... not just a smile, or a chuckle, but a carefree, hearty, infectious laugh; so much so that even Sanskaar cannot help but smile himself.

Sanskaar: You seem very happy today.

Shlok: Of course, I am! Finally, the two knuckleheads closest to my heart have agreed to listen to their own hearts. I have never been so happy.

Sanskaar: (smiles) Thank you so much, bhai.

Shlok: (breaks the hug and raises an eyebrow) What for? For calling you a knucklehead?

Sanskaar: (smiles shaking his head) For making me realize where my happiness lies.

Shlok: I could not have it any better, Sanskaar. You guys are the perfect match, very much like a puzzle. No other piece, no matter what will be able to fit in the way both of you do. Apparently, this is what destiny had in store for all of us.

Sanskaar nods his head in a daze but soon enough, the realization hits him hard and he takes a deep breath looking at his brother. Destiny has not been playing fair. His brother does not deserve this fate. He can see the excitement, the life blubbering in his brother's eyes, very much contrasting to the swirling, gnawing emotions in his own. For fate to play in his favor, it is not fair to have his brother face such a plight. His heart breaks every time he looks at him.

Shlok: (sighs) Do not look at me like that, Sanskaar.

Sanskaar: Like what?

Shlok: Like you feel sorry for me.

Sanskaar: It is I who I feel sorry for, bhai. I get to meet my brother but after he is... gone. Can we be any less unfortunate? And I do not even know how long we have left together. It is like...

"A month." Shlok's whisper cuts his speech short. Just two words. That is all it takes and Sanskaar's entire being goes numb. Scrunching his eyebrows, he looks at his brother opening his mouth to speak something but closing it the next instant unable to find his voice.

Sanskaar: I-I do not understand, bhai. What do you mean?

Shlok: (sighs) Sanskaar, before I tell you what I am about to do, I need you to promise me something.

Sanskaar: Promise?

Sanskaar's heart thumps crazily dreading something ominous. Something that tugs down there at his heart telling him that whatever is about to follow holds the power to change the course of events and eventually all of their lives. He gulps nervously as his brother's countenance becomes serious, a grim look swirling in his eyes. Shlok holds Sanskaar's hands, pressing them tightly as if giving him some of his own strength.

Shlok: Promise me, Sanskaar, that you will not do anything rash or anything that might endanger your life, just so that you can help me. Promise me that you will not do anything that you do not need to.

Sanskaar: (stutters) D-Do you really have to scare me like that?

Shlok: (shakes his head in denial) I am not scaring you, my dear brother. I just want you to promise me this. Will you?

Sanskaar: I do not know what I am supposed to do.

Shlok: Tsk! All you have to do is promise.

Sanskaar: (sighs and nods his head) Alright! Promise! I will not do anything that I cannot. But what do you mean by 'a month'?

Shlok: (takes a deep breath) A month is all I have, Sanskaar because a month later, it is my death anniversary. I will be sent back to the Dungeons of Obsidian after that.

Sanskaar: W-What? Why? Did you not finally make it out of that place?

Shlok: Oh, yes. I did. But only for now. If we are unable to find out my body and perform the last rites by then... I... I will be thrown back into the Dungeons of Obsidian and...

Sanskaar: And what, bhai? What happens after that?

Shlok: I-I do not know. Most possibly I will not be able to contact you ever again. That is why, I think for the best of everyone...

Sanskaar feels as if his whole breath has been mercilessly knocked out of his body and he can no longer hear Shlok's voice. He stumbles back and shakes his head not being able to register the information he has just been told. This... This is not happening! After all that they have been through, things cannot end like that. He cannot let his brother vanish into thin air just like that. He just cannot!

Sanskaar: This... How? I mean... We... I cannot let this happen, bhai. I will not let this happen.

Shlok immediately holds Sanskaar's shoulders, effectively bringing his rambling to a pause. He knows how terrified his little brother is. The raw emotions swirling in his eyes are clear evidence of the same. Sanskaar's breathing comes out in pants and his entire being trembles. Shlok instantly wraps his arms around him, caressing the back of his head whispering nothing but that 'it will all be alright' in his ear. After a few minutes, when Shlok realizes that his brother has finally calmed down a bit, it is only then that he lets him go.

Sanskaar sniffs in a feeble attempt to stop those treacherous tears from escaping his eyes and looks at his brother who seems a lot calmer than him, despite knowing that if they fail, his entire being will cease to exist in hardly a month.

Shlok: Just remember your promise, Sanskaar.

Sanskaar: (gulps) But, bhai...

Shlok: (shakes his head in denial) No, Sanskaar. You cannot do anything irrational. Just think about Maa, Papa, and Swara. You are all they have.

Sanskaar: And what about you?

Shlok: Huh?

Sanskaar: What. About. You, bhai? If I do not do anything, then no one else will be able to help you either. If I...

Shlok: I am already gone, Sanskaar. It does not...

Sanskaar: NO! No. You are not. I am not letting you go. At least, not like this. You do not deserve this, bhai. None of this.

Shlok: I... (sighs) I do not know, Sanskaar. I never called you for my rescue in the first place. It has always been for Swara. She is the one who needed you. But as we began meeting, you can say I became a little selfish. I wanted to spend some time, no matter how less, with my dear brother. I have never felt as satisfied as I am now, Sanskaar. I just...

Sanskaar: (whispers) I need you, bhai.

And that instantly renders Shlok speechless.

Sanskaar: And I... I love you. More than I can ever express. (holds Shlok's hands) Even if it was Swara who needed me, I came just because of you, because you said that she needed me. This is the least I can do for you, bhai. A chance, at least we deserve that much. And I promise I will give it my all to save you

Shlok: That is exactly what I do not want, Sanskaar. I do not want you to give it your all. I want you to stay safe, I want you to live.

Sanskaar: And so, will you. I want you to live again, bhai. I know it will not be with us, but at least my heart will be at peace that you are somewhere out there, living a life that you truly deserve.

Shlok: But... How will you manage everything on your own?

Sanskaar: (takes a deep breath) That is the thing, bhai. I am not planning on doing this alone.

Shlok can see a determination shining in his eyes and he gives a small smile nodding his head as Sanskaar realizes that he is finally waking up.

✨

Sanskaar wakes up with a jerk, his breaths come out in short pants, and he squints his eyes taking in his surroundings. His head still rests atop Swara's head, whose head in turn has been resting on his shoulder. He takes a deep breath as he realizes that he has dozed off on their ride back to Kolkata. Laksh and Ragini, along with Chaitanya, have occupied the front seats of the car, whereas he is sitting in the backseat along with his newly-wedded wife. With tears still lingering in his eyes, he holds her hand and places a chaste kiss on the top of her head.

Laksh: Looks like someone is finally awake.

He smiles looking at his brother through the rear-view mirror. At his lack of response, Ragini notices that something is amiss and she turns around to glance at him. Furrowing her eyebrows, she realizes how on tenterhooks he is, with sweat droplets marring his forehead despite the air conditioner blowing at its full force.

Ragini: Sanskaar, are you okay?

His throat has never felt so dry as it feels now. Unable to bring himself up for a reply, Sanskaar nods his head sombrely looking out of the car's window and Ragini narrows her eyes further.

Ragini: I thought I was hallucinating but looking at you right now, I am pretty sure that I did not imagine you mumbling in your dream. Was it something bad?

Sanskaar's head snaps around in her direction instantly and his eyes go wide noticing how perceptive she has become. However, was it really a bad dream? On getting no response yet again, Ragini sighs.

Ragini: So, it was indeed a bad dream.

This time it is not a question, but rather a statement, and it renders him speechless. He takes a deep breath, unable to decide what sort of dream he has just had. For sure he always feels delighted meeting his brother but this time the apprehensions of the future ahead have been gnawing at his entire being. His heart sinks deeper and deeper as a peril so grave obscures it callously.

Holding back a sob, he takes a ragged breath, and subconsciously, without even realizing it, Swara's hand tightens around his palm as if giving an unsaid assurance that she is here for him and will always be, forever and ever.

✨

It is the continuous pattering against the window that finally wakes Swara up. Opening her eyes, the first thing she realizes is that she is already in her room. Has she actually slept throughout the journey and almost the entire night? The ache all over her body is clear evidence of how exhausted she is, not only physically but mentally as well. The recent turn of events has not been quite relaxing either. Turning around she finds her husband's arm wrapped firmly around her waist as he cuddles closer to her chest very much like a baby. At that moment, he looks absolutely adorable and Swara cannot help but smile, a feeling of contentment swelling her heart up. Until she met him, she had no idea that she is capable of loving someone as much as she loves him.

Kissing the top of his head, she slowly wiggles out of his hold. Making sure that he is still asleep, she pulls the comforter up around his body and gets up from the bed. She trudges towards the window and with a deep breath, pulls it open. Almost instantly, she is greeted by a flurry of rainfall and she smiles. This rain has been a witness to a lot of precious memories she holds dear to her heart.

Smiling, she closes her eyes allowing herself to get immersed in a pool of myriad memories that make her heart thud with exhilaration. She does not even realize when a pair of hands engulf her in an embrace and her back is pulled flush against a warm chest. She gasps as Sanskaar places a sensuous kiss on her bare shoulder, sighing as he rests his head in the crook of her neck.

Sanskaar: What are you doing?

His sleep-ridden, husky voice sends shivers down her spine, his breath as if a soft caress on her skin. Swara sighs deeply as she covers his arms with her hands and snuggles closer to him.

Sanskaar: Why are you not asleep? It is 2:15 am.

Swara: Really? I did not even realize it.

Sanskaar: (chuckles) I guessed that much.

Swara tilts her head and kisses his cheek, "Why do you not go back to bed?"

Sanskaar: (lifts up his head) And what about you?

Swara: I will join you in a while. I just... It is...

Sanskaar holds her shoulders as he turns her in his arms.

Sanskaar: What is it, Swara? Is everything fine?

Swara: Yes. Yes, of course, it is. It is just... I am...

Sanskaar: You are what?

Swara: I am hungry.

Sanskaar: (chuckles) That is why the elders say, 'Do not miss a meal.'

Swara: (folds her arms across her chest and pouts) You should have woken me up.

Sanskaar: (folds his arms mimicking her) As if I did not. I tried waking you up, Swara, and actually got punched straight in the face. My poor nose!

Swara: Exact... Wait... What?

Sanskaar: (innocently) You are pretty violent when you are asleep. Do you know that?

Swara: W-What? I... I am sorry, Sanskaar. I did not mean it. I... let me have a look.

She starts apologizing profusely holding her ears but stops immediately as she notices Sanskaar's lips pulled in a tight line and his eyes watering. Her eyes narrow and soon enough a gasp escapes her lips when she realizes what he has done. Huffing, she actually whacks his head upside down, and Sanskaar yelps.

Sanskaar: Ow!! You are a violent lady. Why would you do that?

Swara: You should have thought about the consequences before you decided to prank me.

Sanskaar: I did not prank you.

Swara: Oh, yes. You did. I think I should punch you now. Give me your nose!

No sooner than she says this, she leaps at him, aiming a punch straight at his nose. Sanskaar manages to duck it effectively causing Swara to eventually land on the couch nearby. Sanskaar breaks out into a peal of full-blown laughter and Swara hoists herself up on her elbows, only to find herself spellbound yet again. His laughter is like her serenity, the peace that her heart so earnestly seeks. Be it a touch, a kiss, or something as simple as a burst of laughter, he always leaves her breathless and she fails to comprehend how is it possible to fall in love with someone over and over again. Yet, here she is falling in love with her husband all over again. Not being able to contain the emotions wrecking her heart, she holds the collar of his t-shirt pulling him down on the couch for a searing, toe-curling kiss.

Sanskaar gets caught off-guard for a moment, but instantly pulls her against him in an attempt to deepen the kiss. The moment Swara feels his lips twitch, she pulls back abruptly earning a disapproving grunt from him as he looks down at her. He leans down to kiss her again, but she tilts her head, causing his kiss to land on her cheek.

Sanskaar: (scowls) That is not fair.

Swara: That is your punishment, Mr. Maheshwari. You do not get to kiss me.

Sanskaar whines making no attempt in hiding his displeasure and Swara chuckles. Patting his cheeks, she kisses his nose and jumps away from him before he can wrap his arms around her again.

Sanskaar: Swara!! This is so not done.

Swara: No can do, my love. After all, I am hungry and I tend to get cranky when I do not get food.

Sanskaar: Now, what I am supposed to get you at this hour?

Swara pauses to think for a while and when she turns towards him again, she has a huge smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.

Swara: Maggi!!

Sanskaar: Maggi? Now? It is way past midnight, Swara.

Swara: Yes, Maggi! And you will make it.

Sanskaar: I do not believe this.

Swara: Cannot help it. Come on! This is the best time when one can have Maggi.

She urges him to follow her as she makes her way out of the room but Sanskaar stands rooted at his place.

Swara: If you want that kiss of yours, you better follow me, Mr. Husband.

She says glaring at him as she peeks back from the door and Sanskaar chuckles before following right after her.

✨

A/N

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for your good wishes and your support. I am a lot better now. To be honest, I have not been well for the last two years, but sometimes things get too out of control. I am so sorry for making you all wait so much. I know that is the very reason I have even lost many of my readers. But I cannot thank you all enough who are still standing by my side, giving me their immense support. That really means a lot to me.

This story is approaching its climax now. A couple of chapters more and then I will start working on Tu Hi Yaar Mera. I hope you enjoyed reading THH.

Happy Reading!

Love and regards,

Stella ❤️