"Sanskaar where are you taking us to?" Arya questioned for the fifth time in the last ten minutes while Sanskaar turned deaf ears to all the questions thrown towards him and gave a stare which screamed, 'wait for it' despite his silence.

"That's a violin case, right?" Swara pointed the case he was carrying with him. She was sure it contained violin inside and Sanskaar had a sly smile when he heard Swara, he hopes that she would like the surprise.

"Are you taking us to any concerts?" Aditi guessed for another time. And if it was then she was already sure she would enjoy it to the fullest since she always had soft corners for classical instruments music.

The only person who didn't bombarded Sanskaar with questions was Jay. He knew Sanskaar wouldn't have asked them to tag along with him if it wasn't important to him. But that doesn't mean he wasn't curious to know where they were leading to as the streets they were walking by was a familiar one.

And when Sanskaar stopped infront of the Richard Auditorium, Jay quickly past a worried glance at Swara who was already looking at the building with a blank expression.

"I'm going to perform today and you guys will be my cheer ups." Sanskaar grinned happily as he broke the surprise to them.

"Of course we will." Aditi beamed while Arya shook his hands with Sanskaar wishing him luck and all started walking in except Jay and Swara.

Six years! It has been six years ever since she entered this auditorium. Memories after memories flashed in front of her eyes like a film while she stood still in utter confusion,
Will she be able to step inside?

"Swara, we'll leave if you aren't okay." Jay was all concerned and worried about his best friend. He knew the auditorium which they were standing by played a major role in her life and it would definitely bring back one of those memories which pushed her down once.

"It's now or never!" Swara whispered to herself with her hands fisted by her sides. She didn't want to dodge and run away like she did before...not anymore! She wanted to face it or at least give it a try.

Sanskaar who was busy walking inside and chatting with Aditi and Arya, paused when he saw Swara and Jay missing. He looked around to see both of them standing in front of the auditorium.

"Uff! Swara, Jay come." Sanskaar held Swara's wrist and dragged her inside along with Jay, unaware of the inner battle Swara was facing.

As they walked through the hallway, She found many familiar faces who was already staring at her and it didn't take time for Swara to realize that they recognized her.

When they entered inside the auditorium, Swara scanned the entire place and her eyes stuck at the main stage which had golden lights fixed making the stage  glow with the grand piano standing with all it's beauty and a microphone inches away from it. She pressed her eyelids down as she felt her past slowly starting to haunt her. Swara fisted her palms tightly trying to get rid of the demons which had started to conquer her inch by inch...

"Should I make a confession?"

She opened her eyes and to see Sanskaar who was looking at her while others have already taken their seats.

"I know how to play violin and I'm going to play." Sanskaar informed her with a pleasant smile. His grandfather had taught him so many things and one of them was violin. His grandfather had a great liking for violin that he used to attend local concerts and the melody of the instrument made Sanskaar to learn it from him, "I'm sure you like music so I brought you here and thought of giving you a surprise. Don't worry I'm not the best but I'm good at it and..." He paused his rant when saw her say nothing.

"You okay?" Sanskaar asked. He expected her to beam at the information or at least wish him luck but she was silent... awfully silent.

"Yeah, it's just headache." Swara managed to utter those words and looked everywhere except him. She didn't lie because she did feel her head slowly starting to ache.

"Should I get you medicines?" He asked worriedly and Swara nodded in no trying her best to give a smile to him, assuring him she was okay.

"You'll get late, go now." She said despite the protest Sanskaar did. He didn't want to leave her but at the same time he didn't have enough time to sit back with her or get her medicines. Swara had to assure him so many times that she would stay and he had to leave. With no other option, Sanskaar left after handing over his phone to her since it was not allowed to have it on the stage and

"Swara, you'd take care okay? I'll come back soon." Sanskaar was much worried about her because she didn't look well and her eyes were already a little red. With half hearted he left her and went to the back stage not before letting her know that he would come to her the very moment he finishes his performance.

Swara sat on her seat and had her eyes closed for the entire time being. She had no strength to watch people play those instruments which she had played before... It reminded only about her younger version.

Announcements were made and Sanskaar happens to be the first participant to play. Sanskaar with his accompanist entered the stage quite nervous since it's has been few months he had played the violin and participated in competitions. Of course he had his practice sessions with his accompanist who was his grandfather's friend and he helped him a lot throughout the practice.

Sanskaar stood by the microphone while his accompanist sat on the piano stool and placed his fingers on the piano, all ready to play. Sanskaar half turned his head and gave a short nod indicating him that he was ready.

And the moment she heard the piano's sound, everything went on blur. Swara took a sharp deep breathe in as she felt a cold shiver running down to her spine. It was nostalgia at the same time uneasiness settling down her heart, She felt an urge to touch those ivory keys of the piano but at the same time she didn't want to go near it too. Stuck between her own complications, Swara sighed heavily.

She had been away from listening to any of these instruments in particular and hearing it at the moment, she felt a hurricane of emotions hitting her heart. She didn't know how to describe the emotions she felt because she herself wasn't sure of what they were.

Jay was sick worried as he saw his bestfriend who was trying to adapt to the situation by herself. After entering the auditorium Swara hadn't uttered even a single word nor faced him. Thankfully he got her the last seat and him next to her. He softly held her fisted hands and looked at her. Swara looked at Jay and gave a sly smile. 

Making sure he had placed the violin in the perfect position, he placed the bow on the strings. Inhaling a quick breathe, he closed his eyes and started playing the instrument with ease. He was no more tensed and his entire concentration was on the violin and the music it created.

It didn't take much time for Swara to realise that piece they were playing was Liszt liebestraum No.3 Love's Dream. She had learnt so many classics and have played them numerous times, it was still fresh in her mind and in fact unknowing to herself her fingers which were fisted were already moving on her lap according to the rhythm while a part of her was urging to play that piece by herself on the grand piano.

Pin drop silence was observed by the audience as the sounds of instruments touched their heart with the ever soothing music. Sanskaar shook his head a bit when he realized he got a note wrong but continued playing since he didn't want to spoil the upcoming ones.

Jay witnessed every action minute reactions from Swara. She was tensed up even before the show started, she jerked a little when she heard the piano being played and at the moment she looked serene. Her eyebrows weren't knitted together anymore nor the gloomy face she had before, instead she looked very calm and a subtle smile that would be hardly noticable by others while her eyes sparkled. Jay couldn't help himself but smile fondly seeing his best friend because she held the same expression she usually does when she hears the music of the piano and then he knew, his best friend was back for real!

Aditi who was sitting beside Jay saw him staring at Swara instead of looking at the stage and not enjoying the music. She nudged his arm which made Jay to look at her, Aditi mouthed "what?" by raising her eyebrows to which he nodded in no but still grinning. Aditi hit his head playfully and smiled while Arya was busy taking snaps and short videos of Sanskaar in his mobile to show him later.

And when the duet ended, Sanskaar had his eyes opened and mentally sighed as he finished it better than he expected. His accompanist joined him and took a bow in front of all. The pin drop silence was broken until Arya clapped his hands first followed by other and it became a thunderous applause. Sanskaar had a ghost of a smile seeing everyone's appreciation and judges looked quite impressed too. Later, he went back to the backstage.

Swara felt much more relived after hearing the music to which her heart agreed while mind opposed. But still she felt uneasiness seeping through because as much as she loved music, she made sure not to get into again and now going back to them was not as much as comforting now.

"Mm.. Jay I want to leave." Jay quickly nodded in approval as he understood why she wanted to leave. He quickly asked Aditi and Arya if they were coming with them. Aditi disagreed as she didn't want to leave in the middle and Arya too wanted to stay back.

Her chain of thoughts broke when she felt Sanskaar's mobile vibrating on her lap. When she took the mobile in her hand, it happened to be his grandmother. Swara attended the call and covered her mouth as the next participant has already started the play.

Asha expected her grandson to pick up the call and give her an earful since she was about to ask him if she could go to market by herself as they were out of stock of basic ingredients and also ask him about his performance but instead she was surprised hearing Swara's squeal on the other side.

Asha was much elated hearing Swara's voice and had instantly forgotten about the reason she called and started talking about how their days were going in their respective lives. Only with the mention of Sanskaar, Asha remembered the purpose she had called for and shook her head in disbelief, this girl was sure a magic as her grandson told.

Swara excused herself signing to the others that she was going to handover the mobile to Sanskaar and inform him about them leaving. She started moving out despite the protest Jay did that he also wanted to come with her to which she denied.

Swara started moving towards the corridor that eventually led to the backstage and by then Asha had already disconnected the call since something came up. Pacing over the corridors, Swara had her eyes stuck on the floor and not having any eye contact as she didn't want to have any commotion. She saw few whispering among themselves with their eyes stuck on her but choosing to ignore, she continued walking in search of Sanskaar.

On the other hand, Sanskaar placed his violin in his case and was all set to go to the auditorium and join his friends and mainly to have a check of how Swara was doing, unaware of the fact that Swara was already coming in search of him beforehand.

As soon as she saw Sanskaar, Swara walked towards him. Hearing footsteps approaching him he turned only to see Swara walking towards him with a smile.

"Sanskaar--"

"You okay? How's your headache?" He interrupted even before she could say anything. Even though he was present over the stage, a part of him was urging to know how she was going. Concern was all over written on his face and Swara couldn't help but smile more.

"I'm doing better but I think I should leave before it worse again." Swara reasoned and Sanskaar nodded his head agreeing to her.

"By the way how was my performance? You liked it?" He questioned with excitement written all over his face waiting to hear a genuine review from his best friend.

"It was really good except a place where you went a note wrong but overall you did it well." Swara appreciated while Sanskaar was quite amused by the way she pointed out his mistake.

"Anyways I'm leaving now with Jay, Arya and Aditi are staying back. By the way your gf called you." Swara informed as she handed over his phone to him.

"Fine! Come I'll drop you." Sanskaar said.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure you are asked to stay back stage until you get the results. So you stay, I'll leave. I'll call you when I reach home, bye!" Swara quickly retorted back and already started walking towards the exit. Sanskaar was quite amused and confused thinking of how she already knew the rules, he was sure he hadn't mentioned about it to her too. But even before he could ask her how she knew, she had already started to leave. 

Swara started coming down the stairs and when she was about to set her foot on the last step, she paused when she heard unfamiliar feminine voice call her full name.

"Swara Gagodia!"

She turned around only to face the one who called her.

☆ In the end
     It was nothing
     But a memory for all

    But for she
    They were ghosts
    Trying to burn her alive
    With those deceased memories,
    Painful friction of bitter
    remembrance ☆

And the ride starts now!

I managed to write this and I'm not sure if it's upto mark. I'm still not out of my hiatus nor my personal problems have been cleared and I'm just trying to distract myself.

My dear readers, I need all of your support so that I could atleast find some peace being here. I'm really feeling low these days and I hope you guys understand it so please comment and vote, express your views on the stories you read. I'm not just saying because it's my book but I'm saying this in general. Even your single and vote and comment can lift up someone's dull day into a brighter one.

Love,
Diya❤️