The next day went in a blur for Swara and restless for Sanskaar. Swara didn't even spare a look at his side which made Sanskaar more guilty, She didn't join them for lunch saying teachers called her nor talked with anyone as usual. Arya did every little thing he usually does to make his friend smile but surprisingly she didn't smile, Aditi pulled every tacts wantedly to have a silly fight and that too didn't succeed. Jay did nothing because he knew well about his best friend that she needs her own space and time so he managed his girlfriend and Arya.

Sanskaar too shared the same perspectives as Jay. He didn't want to pressurise her because he knew it was a very sensitive spot for Swara and even a small mistake can cause a bigger rift in them which may even lead to breaking their friendship and Sanskaar was not ready to loose his best friend.

He hoped at least she would come to the cafè and much to his disappointment she didn't appear there too. He missed her so much for the entire day even though she was near him. Sanskaar sat on his study table holding his head as he watched the white clouds scattered everywhere, hiding the twinkling stars. He couldn't help but compare the night with his own state of mind. Just like those clouds, his insides were in a chaos. A complete mess.

He wondered what Swara would be doing and how she was since she didn't come to the cafè as well. For the first time he lacked concentration in everything which he found interest before. Taking his mobile with him, Sanskaar walked out of the house after informing Asha that he wants to stroll on the lanes and clear his chaotic mind.

Taking stroll on the streets he somehow managed to reach his favorite hide out place. That place was nothing really special, moreover it was an abandoned stairs away from the lanes with a pathway and the railings since it was above the river. Seldom people discover the place and whenever Sanskaar felt to run away from everyone he would land to this place and have his own time.

But today he watched a girl sitting on the stairs with her back facing to him and watching the little kids who were playing football shouting happily and yelling at each other to pass the ball to them. Walking closer he only found the girl much familiar and it didn't take more than a second for him to realise that it was Swara.

Swara didn't want to go to her house. She didn't want to worry her Reema and she moreover felt suffocated staying in her own room. As she walked aimlessly she found the kids playing happily and somehow landed at that place and started watching how the kids were playing.

Watching them play brought a unknown smile on her face. She really wished she go back to her own childhood forgetting all the pain, chaos and the scary world. Swara didn't have a bunchful of happy stories to say when it was about her childhood but those tiny little moments she spent was something she would always cherish and keep them precious inside her for all her lifetime. She had her brother by her side, Jay was almost always with her except for the numerous classes she attended, her dad would occasionally talk to her and take her in his arms for night walks, her Sharmistha mom was though strict and harsh but at the end of the day would reward her chocolates and stuffed soft teddies if she finishes her work and at last her biological maa... would mostly stay on the bed and hospitals, sometimes she would coo her with all sweet words and sometimes she was beyond her understanding with bitter words, Swara sighed.

A sudden wind blew all her strands backward and she turned to her right with closed eyes as she felt the wind. When she opened her eyes she met the same person whom she wants to hold back but run away too. He was able to see the vulnerability behind those doe orbs and his eyes automatically turned softer. Sanskaar never wished to see his friend in pain because of him and the fact that he did wantedly made him feel bad. Swara averted her gaze from him and shifted her gaze to the other side. Knowing the reason she was looking away from him, Sanskaar sat on the stairs with her and some distance between.

Both didn't know how to start a proper conversation even though they had so much to say and let the kid's hooting sounds and the wind fill their silence. Swara fidgeted with her fingers, unsure of how to start the conversation while Sanskaar was stuck with the same situation with his eyes fixed on the sky.

"How much we all wish to become a kid again right?" Sanskaar began, looking at the kids who were now leaving the place probably back to their own houses. Swara took a glance of him to make sure that he was actually talking something random when they had a thick air surrounding them.

"There would be no stress, no pain, no worries about us, others nor the world and our only responsibility was to laugh at every little thing and run when we get fed." Sanskaar completed his words as his mind drifted back to the fond memories of his own childhood.

"As I have told you before I had a messed up childhood but it was chaotically beautiful, so beautiful that I want everything back but the thought of experiencing everything once again stops me Sanskaar." Sanskaar did notice of how her eyes turned softer as if she remembered something so precious to her and suddenly becoming distant, so quickly in a fraction of second as if everything fade into nothingness.

He gave a small nod, not having any befitting reply. He didn't want to ask more of them and let her drown more in the past.

"Swara?"

"I can't play it Sanskaar." Swara spoke with her eyes pressed down. She didn't want to experience any of those haunting things again, she wasn't ready. Swara felt lump forming in her throat and heart getting heavier with every passing minute as she spoke about the piano which was very dear to her.

"I just asked you because I heard people praise you for the way you have played recitals Swara, so that's completely fine." Sanskaar chose words very carefully because he didn't want to hurt her again.

"To be honest, Sanskaar I don't play it anymore. It's been six years and one incident had completely made me incapable of playing it like before, again." Swara shifted her gaze to the other side and left out a sigh. True, she did have the urge to play them but what was the use  when she already knew she can't play it well. Swara didn't want to take that risk and make a disaster out of his performance. Her eyes automatically teared up while she bit her lip to avoid from crying, "I can't loose you for this-- I just can't--" The lump in his throat grew more and only made it impossible to speak anymore. Swara didn't like how things were going and the thought of Sanskaar not being with her itself made her feel a hollow inside her, how was she going to accept it if that happens?.... No!

Sanskaar scooted closer her to and gently took her hands in his, "Me too." He whispered back to her and Swara turned only to met those eyes which were way more softer than she had ever seen and as if they were assuring her that he didn't want to hurt her and it hurts him too.

"We are really okay?" Sanskaar asked her with his eyes still fixed in hers, without a blink. He knew she was getting better, her breathing has become softer than before, her tensed muscles have relaxed, her eyes still had a tint of red since she had been controlling her tears for a long time but she looked tired.

"We are, always!" Swara replied back with a smile and only then Sanskaar was able to smile back at her though he had a thousands of questions popping up.

~

Asha noticed her dear grandson misplacing his books in his clothes shelf totally lost in his own world ever since he returned back home. Sanskaar likes things to be organized in a correct order and he dislikes if it was otherwise, one of the traits that came from her husband to him. When she called him to dine, he quickly came and started eating with complaining like the other times because she made eggplant curry and Sanskaar doesn't like it.

"Sanskaar?" Asha called him out and he looked at her with a questioning look.

"Have your medicines." He said bluntly and placed it on her palm and forwarded the glass of water like every other day.

"I can't have them."

"Dadi please." Sanskaar pleaded because he didn't have enough strength to please her and give her medicines. He was lost and he felt so distant after so many days even though he had everyone around him as usual, her silence affected him too much. He was not used to this as Swara was usually the bubbly one who keeps talking and makes sure he talks too. Even though they sorted out things he still felt that way.

"How will I have them? It's still night and not morning Sanskaar." Asha looked at Sanskaar who frowned. Sanskaar was confused but only when he took a glance of the tablets he realized he was giving the morning dose medicines instead of the night ones.

"Sorry!" He quickly apologized and replaced the tablets making sure it was the night dose this time. Asha gulped in quickly not wanting to weary out her already exhausted grandson.

"Sanskaar sit here." She pointed at the seat next to her and instead he sat on the floor with placed his head on her lap. Asha gently caressed his hair and waited for him to tell whatever that was making him lost.

Sanskaar had his eyes closed as he felt his dadi's fragile fingers softly caressing breaking some momentary peace in him. There were so many days he would lie down on her lap like this, somehow he found that very peace of whatever may happen he had a person waiting for him behind and hold him without questioning him but rather believe in him with blind eyes.

"Dadi" Sanskaar called her in a mere whisper and Asha leaned a little closer towards him.

"I'm listening Sanskaar, tell me." Asha spoke softly still caressing his hair. Sanskaar was still not confident about the step he took yesterday and he was not sure if he could even move further because he knew Swara wouldn't be able to bear it  and rather burst out all the feelings since she had locked within herself for years and he doesn't like to see her cry. Everything felt so confused, just like a jumbled set of a puzzle. A puzzle that Sanskaar didn't know how to solve.

"Is it right to reopen someone's sealed past which they loathe but deep inside their heart they still want it back? Can I help them get find an answer?" Sanskaar's question wasn't much clear to fill in the details but Asha was able to have a rough idea about it.

"Do you see that person's eyes lit everytime they see it despite their bitter past?" He quickly remembered of how her eyes would lit everytime she sees the piano nor hear it's melody and not to forget that pained expression along with it too. Sanskaar looked up at his grandmother and nodded in yes.

"Then go for it. But Sanskaar, remember this - Before healing someone you should be sure if you could handle any type of situation that comes in your way. You'll face hurdles after hurdles, the person whom you want to smile will be doing the exact opposite thing of what you want to see in them. They'll cry, throw fits and fight with you but at some point of time it be all worth the pain and tears. Afterall we don't get to see the beautiful dawn--"

"Without the dusk!" Sanskaar smiled as he completed the quote. It was his grandfather's favorite quote. Everytime they face problems he would simply quote those words with a smile and move on towards the light (dawn).

Sanskaar stood up on his knees and took Asha for a hug. He felt a lot much better than before, as if all his lost strength was back again in full fledge. Asha smiled at her kid and reciprocated the hug and prayed for the much needed strength and power for her grandson and the other one whom Sanskaar was willing to help to get over things.

☆  All stars are born in the dark and all darkness dies in the light ☆

Swara rejected the offer and Sanskaar is determined to help her, what is going to happen? Any Guess?

After a long time I'm satisfied with the chapter. So I'll try my best to update quite regularly from now on. Feel free to point out any of my mistakes since I   didn't do detailed proof check. Need all your love and support!

Love,
Diya❤️