The silver grey skies belonged to the new winter had changed into pristine as it started to shed off flake showers in soft, transparent flurries enough to add another layer of white to the coated landscapes.

Sanskaar rather looked pre-occupied with her vivid  fragments that smeared colours all over him and brought a smile he never knew of. Snow reminded him of her, them and that blissful night where togetherness was blessed in forms of the first winter fall.

To look behind, Swara felt like a sweet reverie he dare not dreamt nor let such thoughts to touch or leak into him. He seldom had time to muse for his self for every day was a rival tagged with challenges and he had to fight them all, no choice left to be choosen.

Tears desisted to fall used to get collected and trash in his thick ribcage, tides after tides for very smile he would project outside. With every bout of fresh breeze he inhaled would only be exhaled along with blazing heat waves his lungs forced to carry.

His skin had scorched enough to feel the burn, sometimes they sting along the dark blood he hid under his long sleeves. Flames inside does not extinguish but spreads through every pore and fiber to exhaust the energy he saved.

At times, he turned blind eyes for the soft warmth for they just add more fire in the blazing heat- the only reason why fond people with kind eyes made him run away, to accept such tenderness  ever again.

Sanskaar knew at the climax of the day, he would only stand with a smell covered by his cologne, but it still rot, just under the battered surface, waiting for that thin facade to decay. It scared him; to hold someone much dear for too long in a beautified illusion that he would forget his harsh reality.

But then there's Swara; who brought a large breech with every vow he took against with a mere swift of gentle breeze and calls him warm. If only she knew about the flames that sets him alight under his skin.

It frightened him if the collapsing ruins of his fragile facade he held with sweat and tears would shatter and add hefty weight upon her. Indeed, he lived a life with nothing special to point and instead baggage were dumped in ample amount.

Swara lived a complex tale hardly narrated with phobia's and nightmares to fill the shadows of past in present. Absolutely, Sanskaar had no wish to add further grief just because they shared some fleeting emotions.

Hence, he stayed adamant to not accept her nor his own heart that fought louder to embrace happiness just for once. For all the times he drew lines to not across for her, every time it was him who crossed it for her forgetting things only to be remembered later.

The opposed run made him falter steps for the numerous times for she sneeked in his thoughts or ways; stumbled by forced numbness he imposed to move away but it only made him fall in the verge of despair more than ever.

It was abrupt then, when Sanskaar at last decided to end the self torment and instead let colours he refrained to slip into his life. Even the instilled fear  that kept him away seemed less dreadful after he confessed to her.

Two and quarter days it had been, since then.

How much does his fingers ache to run back in to her flimsy locks just to leak every warmth he has to her figure that emitted only cold. To look at her hazels that speaks dialect of sweet mellow and melts to glow her eyes for him. Ah! he missed her.

Swara didn't visit the cafe and excused herself that she slept in for all the exhaustion she had been piled up with. Phone calls and text messages did keep him sane throughout the hours to pass by.

She deserved good rest, of cause and just because he missed her in no absolute away he could comprise her sleep. Thankfully, they were declared a holiday for the unexpected fall or else he could have turned insane without her in school.

There's another issue occupied in his mind for the past few days; to disclose about Swara and his feelings towards her to his grandmother. Sanskaar had never felt so anxious to convey about the happenings to her.

The hesitation felt to open up to her was new to himself for even a mere snippet he lived had never gone unsaid by him to his old lady. Guilt started to seep and slowly paced to chew his mind.

But Sanskaar's descision remained unfazed, he'd confess it to her before the day ends any how. Until then not meeting Swara was alright since next time he could invite her home and settle the equation with both of them.

Just as the door ring buzzed, Sanskaar hopped out from the couch to attend the vistor as Asha asked him to check out who it was from the kitchen. He took long strides to reach the entrance and was greeted by her, surprisingly.

Swara? here?- Sanskaar blinked his eyes at utter disbelief for he believed it was another cheesy fantasy trap brought to real sight by his mind. Grey woolen sweater with soft pink puffer jacket and a winter cap she wore did made look adorable.

"Thank you!"

"Huh?"

"To not flicker your lashes, I should either look like a ghost nor I should look pretty enough. I'll choose the latter by myself, Thank you." Swara beamed when at last Sanskaar seemed to respond her with a smile unlike the blank face with question of surprise in his eyes he held before.

"Taking revenge with my own words, I see." Sanskaar felt stupid, for he couldn't stop that bloom of a smile that rose from within to be reflected on his face with a glow. Damn! How was he supposed to stop it?

"Of cause!" Swara agreed. Indeed, it remained new in her memory- his sudden visit to her residence and followed by her flutters and butterfly sensations. It was her turn to make him feel them too.

Of cause? She said, Okay - Sanskaar mused to interpret the information. Just a while he made resolve and there she had to come to mess it all again. Will she ever know the chaos she had just caused in him?

"Sanskaar!" Again, it was her snap that brought Sanskaar back from the musings. Swara had been confused for the number of zone out he took in just seven minutes of her arrival.

"Consider me as your best friend if not for your girlfriend and let me in to your home, atleast?" Swara in his home before he could reveal about them to Asha? Okay, it wouldn't work that way, "No."

"No?" It startled her much in puzzle for the odd behaviour Sanskaar possessed ever since she came. She knew, her abrupt appearance elated him enough to bring a happy radiance but suddenly he was against it,  "Sanskaar what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing-- nothing at all. I'm totally-- fine." His words didn't convince his own self and Swara could easily detect what he hid in a blink of an eye. Nevertheless, Sanskaar managed to pull a strong cover.

"Then what's the problem?" As she enquired with a glare, Swara tried to sneek in but then Sanskaar knew her better. He towered her path as if he knew the silly trick she was about to pull.

The fault had been his for he could still didn't muster courage nor break the hesitation that piled up to break his verbals to confess. Sanskaar really had the want to acknowledge the matter to Swara but somewhere he was unsure of what she would think.

Back in the kitchen, Asha only wondered what took her dearest grandson so long to inform who came and paused the work to check all by herself. She witnessed Swara at the threshold much to her joy but instead Sanskaar seemed not to welcome her.

"Where did you loose your manners Sunny?" Busted! - Sanskaar froze by the voice directed to him with flickers of anger sparkled in them. How did he even forget the lady boss behind him who knew how to straight him up. 

"He's been weird for the past two days Swara. Ignore him and come in." Asha passed a soft glare to Sanskaar who seemed to have a frown for her statement and that puppy eyes to melt her.

Swara held back the chuckle that threatened to escape her throat for all the cute expression Sanskaar had. To annoy him, she passed a playful wink and flipped her hair and entered in with soft giggles.

Ah! He should have a poker face for whatever tatics she witfully pulled out but all he did was to just stare at her antics and wanted to smile. Smile? This girl destroyed all the plans he carefully structured and all set to put on action. Sanskaar shook his head- Indeed, he did turn out weird like his grandmother said.

With her jacket and cap hanged on the hanger, Swara settled on the couch with her pale hands rubbed together to ease away the frost cold. The temperature had dropped down so low that she rushed to arrive indoors.

"Is it too cold outside?" Asha took a quick glance of the window only to witness the snow still falling and gazed back to Swara in concern, "It is, Dadi. I could have frozen if I didn't wear a jacket."

"You should dress warm in winter." She watched Asha adjust her long sweater sleeves with such gentleness and chant words of comfort. Swara didn't know how much Sanskaar inherited from his grandfather but sure that warmth of his hailed from Asha.

And just as she mused to herself, Sanskaar placed the portable warmer beside Swara for she still looked pale from the frosty weather outside. Just as then she looked up to him with a smile enough to flutter his heart, again.

"Swara, Sunny told me about your birthday night. Is everything okay?" Memories of that night swirled in her mind as Asha queried, a little anxiousness evident in her tone.

"I actually made a decision that night and infact I came to let you both know about it." As Far as the conversation they had in the past two days, Sanskaar had no remembrance of Swara ever mention about it.

"So-- I figured what career I want, It's music." Even if that came out for at the heat of a moment, Swara always knew deep down she desired to have that path choosen. To fulfill dreams her maa left behind for her to attain.

Music? Sanskaar's eyes widened to express how astonished he was. True, Swara's interest on music and the competence she had would sure make her way to shine. But it worried him since she was just recovering from the fears that kept her away.

"Was your father okay with it?" He asked. Swara sighed instead for that again brought back the memories of the heated fight and blessed with bruised cheeks, "He wasn't. Dad was so furious and even slapped me but eventually challenged me to show an achievement."

The gasp she received for the statement only made her realise how she slipped words about the slap that she wanted to prohibit from revealing, "Before you both say anything I'm absolutely fine. Look even my cheek seem fine."

But it was a mystery, of how she woke up with hardly visible print and the swelling almost gone.

Swara came up with a rapid phrase just before the grandmother - grandson was all set to freak out, "Are you okay now?" She nodded and stole glances of Sanskaar who seem oddly quite as he excused to make coffee for them.

To convince Asha had been a big task for Swara but then she knew, the difficult task to crack and console awaited for her in the kitchen. Asha cheered Swara to persuade Sanskaar as she too noticed him upset.

With the coffee that brewed over the stove, she could sense his disappointment or anger brewing along. Swara tip toed towards Sanskaar who seemed to unsee her existence though she stood right beside him.

"Are you angry or upset with me?" No! You are not giving in for that - Sanskaar mused to his self and rather he focused more over the coffee. She distracted him for she kept staring to find his mood and it affected him.

"Does that matter to you? And I never know the exhaustion and healing meant the same." He sounded annoyed, good! Because that's how he felt and the fact that he could neither stay mad nor talk drove him crazy. Swara blinked, his tone emitted upset and far away from anger.

"I didn't want you to be worried about me. Moreover, we were just happy and I didn't want spoil the mood." Swara clung to his arm with her head tilted up to meet his straight face that softened upon hearing the reason.

"You--" His words trailed off and all his anxiousness seem to fade when he saw Swara and Sanskaar sighed. This wasn't done! he disliked how she could melt him in a fraction of seconds, "Irrespective of all, you should have told me you know."

Swara could see faint ache and concern swirl for her in his iris, just unvoiced and kept things inside. The summer draped over his fingers leaked, seeped in warm pace against her icy skin that once tinged to touch, "Sorry but I'm really fine. Trust me."

He drew in a breath, startled at her sudden movement. The slight tremor in his hand caused at thought of hurting Swara were put to rest by her soft fingers that slipped into the gaps between his in a feeble clutch to assure him.

"So we settled scores. I'll forgive you too, for annoying me in the entrance." To set their mood on a lighter basis, Swara chuckled. Her laughter grew more and more unable to contain them in her throat for he passed a stare.

Never had someone ruled his emotions in depths nor rightfully could colour serenity on him with such plain verbals and simple action as she does. "You should go, I'll bring the coffee." Sanskaar's voice hushed in calm tone as he withdrew their hands off the hold.

With a hum of a tune, Swara strode back to the hall to witness Asha engaged on a call. Asha signalled she'd be back and left to her room. So Swara decided to have a small tour by herself in the flat and observe the unnoticed details .

Pastel pink on vintage walls, mere reverie's brought to life within frames with artistry strokes hung to beautify them. Raging fire blazed in searing flames from the woods in the corner but no warmth would ever be compared to the living souls who lived.

Neither the dazzling chandeliers with chunks of pure gold in sections to emit light nor cold roomy chambers back in her mansion could ever bring such comfort as Sanskaar's home does. No wonder she loved being there.

A particular threshold paused her strikes ahead where the door ajar showed glimpse of beaming royal blue walls- It should be Sanskaar's room, Swara concluded. The only room she didn't pay even a brief visit from all the time spent.

To all the waves of curiosity that rushed to her veins in soaring ranges to look into his room were met with fluctuations of hesitation. There's no way she would get into the room, even if it was his for she did want to respect his space.

Stuck between the want to do and the want to respect, Swara hanged with her restless feet in motion of back and forth. All her action were put to rest when she found the family portrait, the one she drew for him hung.

Out of many portraits she drew, the certain frame held so much of her struggles and excitement to bring life to the picture. That small frame she worked for days contained an unfinished dream, scattered and pieces burried inside people she love.

Headless to her self, Swara stepped in with all her focus fixed upon the very frame out of other little ones that hung beside. With a stuble caress over the frame, her hazels reflected all the lively vivid colours painted.

It took a week and a day to just make the basic sketch of their faces with fine details before she could add proper strokes of hues on them. For all the structured plans she did behind, Swara was satisfied with the results despite the minute flaws.

Just then it dawned to Swara of how she trespassed to his room and just a while ago she was busy throwing fits to not go in, how stupid of her! Now that she was in, Swara took a vague glance.

Pleasant royal blue walls with minimum portraits, required furnitures- nothing more nor less well maintained and a window with white draperies on the either sides. Organised and elegant, sure it has to be Sanskaar's room.

Oh! the other frame beside had the younger version of Sanskaar on the green pastures, with rays of summer cast glow on his small figure as he possessed a goofy laughter and the shimmer in his soft black eyes held sparkles of a warm sunshine in itself.

To muse over, Sanskaar still carried the very interpretation  just suppressed and restricted for certain people. Being one among them felt like being crowned with his mellow heat and it lingered upon her all the time.

Swara seized the mug served to her gently with her gaze stuck upon the little Sanskaar, "They sure gave you a right nickname --" She paused with a muse, "Sunny." Both of them voiced out together as they met face to face with a smile.

"It was his favourite picture of mine, my grandfather's." Sanskaar's fingers brushed over the likeness of the frame that his old man used to look with a stubble grin.

"Though I don't remember, he used to narrate of how excited I was that the moment they got me out of their arms, I ran all over the fields it seems." His throat tightened as he swallowed down the memory.

Longing dripped through his words and evaporated in a slower pace from his eyes. Swara chose silence for no verbal terms could ever bring back the lost piece to his life. Instead, she held his hand and her thumb running to circular motion to calm him.

Sanskaar didn't turn to look but rather let himself feel the moment her assuring presence beside. He often mused with tints of melancholy of how he would love to introduce Swara to his grandfather, but then he does not walk on the earth anymore.

"How's the coffee?" Nevertheless, he spoke out aloud and just then Swara sipped to taste and instantly had her hazels brightened, "It's so good!"

"Chai's waiting for you back in the cafe." Sanskaar reminded casting an accusing eyes that Swara passed a repented smile with a pout, "I missed it, I know now stop making me feel guilty."

A strangled laughter escaped his throat, the snare tucked to his chest seemed to slacken a little. Sanskaar musn't knew the picture he make, his head thrown back with boyish laughter fill the vaccum and let other matters slip in ease.

"Done laughing at me?" Swara walked to the window as she masked a frown to him. The nerve of him to laugh and tease at her while she skipped the chai for which she waited ever since.

He exhaled softly after a long run to manage his laughter and eventually they seized when she walked away. Ah! She still looked pretty in his eyes, with that silly frown married to her brows and arms folded, "Sorry?" Sanskaar held his ears.

You wouldn't budge him - she repeated every time her lips fought to stretch upward and break off the act. Just as Swara shifted her gaze away from him only to be piqued her curiosity at the book placed on the study.

It did look familiar, somewhere she had handled this book- Wait! This book, "You guessed it right. It's that book." Swara's hazels flickered, all amused and just then past fragments hit her. That night, Indeed she dropped the book in anxiousness of the phobia.

He spared a minute or two for Swara to recollect the incident and took his own sweet time to recall them too. That night he broke his own vows, shooed off every fear and finally concluded to give a name to all those fleeting emotions felt; to give an answer back to hers.

"You had it. I had too much on my plate that I entirely forgot about it." She mumbled softly, "Anyways, I have not completed that sketch. You didn't take a look of it, or have you?" Swara pointed and for a reply all she got was that damned cheeky smile.

"A last sight of light before everything became unmoving and everything dimmed into utter darkness." Sanskaar recited her words from that evening, "It was me. How could you?" Even his words seemed to sound like a melting silk.

Often he had questioned himself several times for his existence and here she was, branding him as her hope; her light. It only made Sanskaar's heart swell and wonder if he deserved to be even present near such a pious soul.

"Out of all, it should be you." Swara rather pulled all his doubts to rest in a swift moment, "Only you." She assured with an answer for which she still looked for a valid reason out of plenty to justify, "We are steering away from the topic though."

"You made me curious with all that poetic description. We both share the faults for the case." He stated the fact and shrugged and in return only gained glares and a huffing Swara,

"Then you should have returned it back to me. I wanted to complete the sketch and -" look for myself if you really didn't feel for me as you claimed, She swallowed the rest of the verbals and turned away glad that she didn't them spit out.

"Angry?" Sanskaar sounded so dense to his self that he slammed a hand against his own forehead with string of curses under his breath. Think Sunny, Think! - Oh! It striked him then, a perfect way to make peace and get her back to him. He smirked.

Faced to other side of Sanskaar, Swara seemed lost in the musings where he thoughts fed fire to them. He held affection more than what a friendship does but it confused her- what would have stopped him before or if he restricted himself to do that.

Every thought rooted for she felt him stand behind her, distance drawn closer than before. Swara's gaze faltered everywhere until she looked at the mirror before them and her hazels darted to him, amused and thrilled.

The butterfly ear piece he kept against her ear did do the wonders of what he couldn't do. Sanskaar grinned thoughtfully and for all the joy that made her features glow only made him grin more and more.

"This-- I thought I lost it then." Her words shuttered in a vague whisper as Swara brushed her fingertips over the hanging delicately and turned her face sideway to look at him. Though she always carried a tiniest pixie hope that Sanskaar would have rescued indeed turned true.

Sanskaar lowered a bit to match her eye and to be faced in equal level, "You did." He admitted as fragments of the day filled his mind, "But as usual everytime you lost, I always get it back for you. As if I was meant to do it." He hushed with a smile.

Goodness gracious, did he even know how closer he was to her? Nothing was in her vision other than him and Swara couldn't help herself but let the softest hue of scarlet colour her cheeks, "Thank you."

It felt like a dream, a soft kind of fairytale dream where princess's treasured possessions disappears only to be brought back by the prince charming.

He straightened up, satisfied for the effects their proximity did- a blushing Swara was even more prettier. Oh! Sanskaar also had to caress the rim of his ears for they have turned all red as well not before handing the lost piece back.

For a minute or two silence engulfed them, to settle their respective fleeting emotions and fluttering hearts in that space as they sipped the coffee.

"Have you told dadi? about us?" Swara picked up a random topic to ease away the awkwardness that might seep if they let the silence prolong.

"I could have and if only you didn't trespass in." By now he could have managed to bring all the courage, killed the hesitation and would have confessed. If only she had not come in to ruin his plans.

"Trespass? Excuse me! I need no permission to visit my boyfriend and my pen friend's home." Now that he said she trespassed, there's ultimately no way Swara could let him point out it was her fault as she stated the power she possessed rightfully.

"Boyfriend and all huh?" Sanskaar did like to hear that word slip for him, the title that she referred to him- her boyfriend. But then he would not miss the chance to tease her to the fullest.

"Of cause. Any problem?" Swara sipped her coffee, her eyebrow arched in question to which nodded no. To call Sanskaar her boyfriend only remainded the journey they had crossed all way to stand at the moment, proudly pronounce each other with such titles.

"Sanskaar, you see I want to help you." The way her hazels gleamed spoke of mischief along with that playful tone she hid artfutl with innocence, "What are you up to?" He stared to figure out if he was right nor his perspective was wrong.

"Swara, you- don't tell me you are going to-- No! you can't." For the way his eyes grew wide in disbelief sure alerted Swara, Ah! he managed to find out. Now that she saw him close near her, Swara already had her feet active to escape from the walking threat who had plans set for her.

Right on the moment, Sanskaar clasped her elbow and held her back in his clutch, "Having fun, aren't we?" He tilted his face with a voice full of intimidation but Swara only giggled least affected by the tone, "Leave me na Sunny."

Without any budge he casually sipped his coffee till the end. "Your tricks won't work, dear girlfriend." He emphasized. "I see." Swara said sadly but her eyes full of mischief under the lashes she fluttered.

Just as Sanskaar turned to place the mug, she tickled him in way his grip would falter and Swara was quick to slip off from the hold laughing as she went, "They do work, Mr. Boyfriend." She winked and ran before he could reach out again.

"Swara you--" The remaining words evaporated in the air for he saw Asha and his little devil girlfriend beside with a victory grin, ignoring all his warning glares royally.

They settled on the couch, Swara and Sanskaar on the either opposites and Asha took the seating in the middle, "Did Sanskaar show any abnormal changes Swara?" The question was too plain that Sanskaar literally had his jaw hung down.

"Changes?" Swara shifted her gaze back to Sanskaar, giving all her efforts in holding back her giggles, "No dadi but what happened?" Despite she played along.

"He forwards himself to tell something but I don't know he keeps backing off and it's happening for the past two days. You have any idea?" Asha had been wondering what it would be.

Sanskaar sighed. True, he backed off several times on the account of confessing but always ended up with some stupid reasons. Asha tagging him weird; well it's felt reasonable.

"Ah, actually--" She dragged, her eyes darted back to Sanskaar who signed her to not tell and forth to Asha who awaited for her to complete the sentence, "If you have something then you should tell her Sanskaar."

As confusion wavered in Asha's eyes, He witnessed Swara rooting for him to not hesitate and Sanskaar looked nothing but a deer caught in headlights stuck between both the ladies.

Just as then Swara's phone rang and she excused herself not before asking him to speak out with a playful wink, "Sunny?" Asha called out for Sanskaar who seemed too lost in his musings.

This shouldn't be difficult - He chanted inwardly and often took glances of Swara who stood a little away and busy in the conversation. How stupid of him! To long for her presence beside and just a while ago it was him who told she ruined his plans.

The woman before him still pierced her gaze with curious eyes and it only made Sanskaar dread for the hesitation that drew him back. How could he hide such a beautiful moment of his life to the woman who held him in her arms and fed him with her hands for a mere trivial matter?

Asha rather shifted her seat next to Sanskaar and reached to caress his face with fondness that made his eyes flutter shut. That tender touch affected him  enough for the guilt to stir and swirl in his heart, "Dadi-- I--"

"You like her, don't you?" The way his eyes sparkled at her mention didn't go unnoticed by her practiced eyes, "How?" Asha could only smile, her dear silly boy. She held his palms that outgrew her fragile ones already.

"What stopped you from reaching to me Sanskaar?" To the question his grandmother opposed, he had no answer to reply, "Fear? that I might say something?" Like a punished kid, Sanskaar's eyes drooped down to the floor as he shook his head in disapproval.

"Or a self- punishment given because you chose to live your life other than being burnt in responsibilities." Again met with his silence, Asha knew her boy always tormented himself to the level that makes him forget he had a life to live.

"I- I just don't know dadi. It felt so odd but I couldn't keep myself away from her either, I tried so much." Sanskaar sighed heavily. All the weight he carried in his heart seemed to fade away.

"You didn't have to Sanskaar. It's alright." Asha basked all her comfort to her grandson, "You aren't furious?" It only made her chuckle for in her eyes Sanskaar still looked like a kid asking if it was okay to have candies when he was not restricted.

"Now that you have a good choice, I can't be one." Only after Asha's acceptance, Sanskaar felt him breathe in relief and no weight strikes his heart as before. He kissed her palms only to hear her bangles tinkle along her giggles.

"So you finally got me a competitor for my position?" Asha managed to pull a straight face just as Swara came after the conversation, puzzled by her words. Competitor she said?- Swara blinked

"Sanskaar?" She looked at him only to see Sanskaar graced with a wider grin and joy evident in his features. Swara couldn't be ever glad that he managed to break the ice and spoke out.

"That hurts! You can't call your pen friend a competitor dadi." Swara complained as took her seating beside Asha and wrapped her arms around dearly, "As promised you'll be first girlfriend always, no can replace the position gf." Sanskaar too hugged from the other side.

Stuck in the group hug, yet happily Asha could only laugh along with her kids contented than ever as she held both their cheeks pressed to her wrinkled ones to bless them,

"Stay happy both of you."

BONUS SEQUENCE:

(Swara's birthday night)

"Winter"- a very season Swara's face would bloom like a flower just with a mere mention for she awaits    to sneek out to reach the winter carnivals along with Jay and him to have fun, in their childhood.

Years later, the very evening though blessed her with the first fall along side came a slap and a stupid challenge to ruin it all. All his concern only fell upon was how his sister had been doing.

To end all the self inflicted torturing thoughts, Aditya derived with a solution to check up on Swara irrespective of the tainted bond they shared. Owing to remember the vow he took at the latter evening he slide into her room.

Still in her evening gown, Swara had fallen asleep as seated on the bed with the phone on her lap. He reached to her in slower pace and lowered her into the pillows gently. Phone placed on the table.

The raw faint prints over her cheek only made Aditya press his eyelids down to control the mounting temper. Not enough of the wounds he presented for her day, he had to add it physically as well.

Swara had never looked so pained as that in any recent happenings just like how she looked before in a couple of hours. Her hazels that used to carry all the kindness and smile were lost in the pool of tears and angry red.

Injustice happened to him, a numerous times that nothing affected anymore but it was not the same case to Swara. He was right there, alive with all flesh and blood but couldn't end up saving her from hurting.

His fingers along her bruised cheek in a trembled touch. The fresh marking looked raw, hurting that his heart stung in agony and tears brimmed to even think of her being a victim of such brutal act.

And the worst part was how she took them all without a single word against. Swara never opposed except for the last two times- the business engagement and now, her career. As a brother, she had always made him proud.

The debate to press the cold compress over the wound or not became endless in Aditya's mind for didn't want to wake her up from sleep. But then the swelling would rather increased if not nursed either.

After a battle, Aditya took the latter option and with caution pressed the cold compress over the would with a heavy heart. Swara stirred and hissed at the contact of cold but still doesn't wake up.

He stroked her locks absent mindedly with a number of musings, all about his sister ran in his mind. But one selective thought overpowered all- To shield Swara from anyone who thinks of harming her.

Aditya had no idea what future holds for them. If time would give chance for him to remove the strain in their bond or keep them in distance like now. But nothing would change him, from protecting Swara.

With that promise, Aditya held Swara's hand in a grip only to never let go of it again. Just like another night, no one knew about him spending an entire night awake besides his sister to nurse till dawn.

A/N: 5.8k and back with a bang! 😎