"Well.. I have to admit it. This Sanskar is not as lame as I thought him to be."

Swara had the thought in her mind and she left out a deep sigh as Sanskar finally dropped her home. Right now, Sanskar was dropping her at the doorstep of Baadi supporting an umbrella above her head so that she did not get wet. Swara entered the Baadi and Sanskar stood outside looking at her.

Sanskar : You sure you can go, right?

Swara rolled her eyes upwards in disbelief. It's not like the rain would crush down the entire Baadi and make her drench.

Swara : What do you think you're asking?

Sanskar (in his defense) : Oh! Don't mind. I just cared...

Swara : (assured him) Don't worry. I am almost here.

She curved her lips towards him giving a very slight smile and Sanskar seemed surprised. "Thank you, Dr. Sanskar..."

"Aahh.. Look. I won't mind if you call me just 'Sanskar'! Really!" Sanskar chuckled and shrugged his shoulders and a part of him hoped that she agreed. Swara should not be so formal with him, well! Swara nodded her head.

Swara (shrugged) : Okay. Fine.

"Okay, fine? That means she agreed!" Sanskar smiled thinking to himself and giving the last smile to Swara, he turned around to leave and Swara looked at his departing figure...

"Maybe Swara, you have been thinking wrong about him. He seems like a gentleman and is not that irritating as you thought him to be."

Okay, Swara admitted that her point of views regarding people often changed. But this time, her conclusion was clear...

Well, she should not forget he had helped her so many times! She smiled.

♡♡♡♡♡~~~♡♡♡♡♡

"Dida... Kyu jaa rahi ho aap!!! Kuch time baad jaati?"

Swara pouted and hugged Shobha tightly and Sharmishtha smiled. Her Dida was all set with her luggage lying against the wall and she was all dressed up in her Bengali saree.

Dida : Shoru, you know na I want the best for my family. And by my family I mean you and your mother! (Swara pouted as Shobha broke the hug) Benaras jaa rahi hoon mannat maangne... (cupped Swara's face) I'll be back after a few days. It's just a matter of three weeks only na!

Sharmishtha : And Shona don't worry about me.

"Lekin Maa.. won't you feel alone? I mean... The house would be so empty all of a sudden na?" Swara turned around and said to Sharmishtha. She again looked at her Dida.

Swara : Or Dida.. Apni Shoru ko chhod kar jaa rahi ho aap woh bhi all of a sudden! Not fair!

Shobha : Yeh lo.. (frowned) You are talking as if I am going forever. (chuckled) Phone par baatein toh hoti rahegi na Shoru. So, don't worry.

Swara (hugged her smiling) : Bye Dida! I miss you. Jaldi aana because your Shomi and Swara will miss you!

Dida (chirped) : Of course. I will be back for you guys.

They broke the hug and then Sharmishtha went and hugged her mother. "Dhyan rakhna Maa. And yes call me once you reach the railway station."

Dida : Yes, I will. (broke the hug)

Swara (worriedly) : But Dida... Don't you think it's raining very heavily? Aapko aaj hi kyu jaana tha!

Dida : Because Shoru our ticket was booked for today's train only. That's why I had to leave today only.

Shomi (smiled) : It's okay Maa. But just call me once you reach there.

Swara : Yes! And take care of yourself!

Dida : Yes, I will!

And with Shobha's statement, the three of them shared a group hug together with those lovely smiles on their faces!

~*~*~*~*~*~*

It had been only two days ever since Sanskar had helped Swara to get home and he had offered her a lift despite those heavy rains and everything in the Kolkata College & Hospital was in it's usual swing.

All the fresh interns and the ones who were already in the hospital had busied themselves in their weekly clinical practises and curing their patients under their seniors' supervision.

And as usual, our Sanskar did not let go off a chance to cross his paths with Swara.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sanskar was having a check around the pediatric department to ensure that every intern was on his duty. He passed the patient beds giving a thumps up to each and every intern curing their patients and he kept on walking. Hey, today's day was pretty good for him! Maybe the daily gym thing was doing so good to him and it refreshed him for the day.

Sanskar : Woah.. that's great!

As he walked across the tables, his feet immediately stopped dead in it's own place as he heard a voice... and his heart skipped a beat.

The voice seemed so sweet and familiar to him all of a sudden... And in no time he realised who was the owner of this voice. He turned towards a random table where he saw Swara, dealing so easily with a little kid by her charm. She was chirping in her sweet voice and here Sanskar kept on staring at her in daze...

"And then... The fairy godmother said that why should the girl named Tina be in pain? Right?!"

"Right didi! So, then what happened?" Swara's patient looked on interested. There was a wide smile on her face. This doctor didi just cured her wounds by her charming technique of curing people. Sanskar narrowed his eyes at her still smiling to hear what she would say further.

Swara (let out chirping sound) : Oh! (huskily) And then... (smiled) The fairy godmother finally.. finally.. used her magic! You know what magic? (imitating) She said that this wound must be healed right now! And for this... she was going to use a magical power which would cure the wound on Tina's feet! So, wanna know what she did?

Tina nodded her head eagerly. And Sanskar looked on interested too.

Swara (imitating fairy godmother's voice) : Aabra ka dabra... (waved her hands over her patient's knee) Let this wound be healed and let princess Tina feel no pain!

And saying this Swara broke her face into a broad smile and Tina too laughed out. Swara smiled and sighed... finally! A few minutes ago she was crying because of the deep wound on her feet. So here she was... finally successful in making her laugh, swaying away her tears!

Tina's eyes gleamed as Swara caressed her wound so smoothly as if her little mistake might break her soul again... Swara smiled sharing an adoring eyelock with her patient and here Sanskar smiled looking at Swara.

This girl was so sweet and pure at heart that it had started making him weak on his knees. Who would say that the girl who always showed him anger could actually be such a sweetheart... And here he had got to wonder that why Swara wasn't the same with everyone else... including him too.

Was it because, for her, work was her first priority or was it something else?

His questions were going unanswered... Grip! What's wrong with him? Why was he thinking so deeply about a girl? It wasn't like she gave him as much attention as he gave to her! So why should he worry?

But... maybe a part of him did. God.. this girl was doing something to him! He was never like this before. Why did her ignorance leave a tinge of hurt in his heart? Of course, he wanted her to look at him! Acknowledge him. And not just as a senior but... as a friend too. As someone she could count on.

His trail of thoughts were broken as soon as Swara's voice travelled in his ears...

"Okay, now promise me princess that you won't cry. You will be a good girl till I apply the cotton and bandage on your wound. Okay?" Swara chirped and Tina nodded her head into a smile.

Swara got up from the chair composing herself and Sanskar noticed all this. Swara was going towards a random table to grab some cotton and Sanskar was about to pick up the cotton to help Swara. And Swara, in her sub conscious mind, had her hand over... Sanskar's hand!

OMG!

Both of them had tried to pick the cotton at the same time at their sub conscious state. Swara was shocked... she looked up only to see Sanskar right in front of her and Sanskar looked on taken aback... Did both of them really expect this coming?

Swara left out a gasp and retorted her hand back and Sanskar did the same in his daze. Swara had no words right now... Her eyes weren't able to meet his. Couldn't for once things be in her favor? Her eyes travelled at Sanskar who was equally looking on with shock at her...

Swara : Woh.. I had to..

But soon Sanskar composed herself and smiled swaying his hand towards the cotton on the table...

Sanskar : There you go.

He said like a gentleman and Swara looked everywhere but him trying to analyze if he was okay with their hands coming sub consciously in contact with each other.

Swara : Ugh.. woh.. mai.. I am sorry..

Sanskar : Ssh! Don't apologise. It's okay! Here you go.

He gave a smile to her and walked across her going to do his own work. Why did her palm seem like electrocuting his entire self! He felt like a shiver had just run down his spine at that time when their palms came into each other's contact and after a moment their eyes too...

And same was with Swara too. Her heart was thumping like never before at just the feel of his palm against her. She did not expect this coming!

~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was another new day at the hospital and a lovely morning...

Swara and Anushka sat down on their seats as Sanskar was standing facing the interns room, digging into some files and papers in his hands and going through each and every page. Swara frowned looking at Sanskar first and then at some other random direction. Why on earth did this guy have his smile plastered on his face every time even when not required?!

On one hand, most of the girls in the room got quite affected by Sanskar's contagious smile, and on the other hand, Swara so wished to wipe that smile off from his face.

Because he wouldn't affect her in any way! Swara wasn't an easy girl to be convinced, anyway.

The entire class's attention went towards Sanskar who was in front of them as Sanskar had shut the file. He let out a sigh.

Sanskar : (pressed his words) So.. my dear interns and friends! (smiled) Today's day is going to be quite interesting for everyone. Want to know why?

A certain girl named Isha stood up...

Isha : Why Dr. Sanskar?

Sanskar : Well... It's because, I think all of you are now capable enough of performing a surgery!

The entire class gasped in shock and surprise. Swara's head snapped at him. Sanskar chuckled to himself, no wonder he expected this reaction from these freshers in front of him.

Sanskar : Yes guys, don't be so surprised! (smiled) Our hospital is up to surgeries of those people who are in need of it. So, that's a free offer which has been permitted by the head of our hospital. For the next three days there are going to be patients who will be coming here after taking an appointment, for their surgeries. The surgeries can be cardiac, neuro, whatever but each and every doctor has to prepare for whatever will come in their way. You guys have to be mentally prepared for such surgeries, too. Because in emergency you may be called in to perform any.. any kind of surgery. Be it heart or brain or some other, you will have no idea what will come on your way. So.. (sighed smiling) This is going to be a good practice for beginners like you guys and benefit to those people who need it. Don't worry, you will be under our supervision in the OT. (giggled) Of course you won't be doing it alone.

"Our first surgery... That's going to be a good experience Swara! Haina?" Anushka whispered to Swara happily, while Swara chose to just nod her head in response. Inside, she had a bad feeling about all this.

Did Sanskar again looked at her while pressing the word 'alone'?

She was damned... For sure.

Flashes of that day when Sanskar gave her a lift to a house were clear in her mind. Ever since that day, she had been having a different perspective about Sanskar. She herself did not know what kind of point of view she should have for him because she knew that he would himself change her perspective about him every time by his flirtatious and charming behavior.

Aahhh! This was damn annoying! Why was everything in this world so difficult?

"Alright guys. Now, I want you all to have an attention to the list of names I am reading out. I will say an interns' name and will also say the doctor under whose supervision you will be performing your surgery. So... here you go..."

The entire class looked excited and nervous at the same time. God knew which kind of surgery were they going to perform today!

Sanskar had begun announcing the names and each intern answered by raising his hand up.

Sanskar : Yes.. (looking into a paper in his hands and smiled professionally) You are going to perform a heart surgery so make sure you mentally prepare yourself for that.

"Okay Dr. Sanskar!" Said a guy sitting down on his bench. Sanskar announced the next name.

Sanskar : Dr. Shruti.. (looked at the girl) Your clinical practice analyzations tell me that you're more interested in geriacs field. So you have to consult Dr. Vaidya to know more about your today's activities.

Dr. Shruti : (smiled) Okay. Thank you.

And this way, Sanskar continued allotting duties to the interns and Swara looked somewhere else, trying her best not to let her eyes meet Sanskar's whereas Anushka chuckled.

Sanskar : Dr. Anushka!

Anushka was taken aback, her smile vanished. God.. did he catch her chuckling in the class? Swara looked like she was seeing a ghost.

Anushka (got up) : Ugh.. yes Dr. Sanskar?

"Well, since your interest lies in cardiology..." Sanskar's next words made Anushka glad and Swara rolled her eyes. "We have decided to appoint you for a very big surgery. The surgery is based on heart transplant, and for this Dr. Rajat Sareen will be assisting you."

Swara raised an eyebrow at her and Anushka nodded her head. Sanskar smiled and read the next name on the list... "Dr. Swara!"

Swara snapped her head towards Sanskar. Great. It was her turn now.

Sanskar (cleared his throat) : Ahm ahm.. well Dr. Swara.. I have been checking your clinical practices for a while and thus I came to the conclusion which says..

Swara scrunched her eyebrows and Sanskar smirked.

Sanskar : You have been hired for a brain surgery today and the onw under whose supervision you're going to be is... me!

Swara (gasped in shock) : WHAT?!

Sanskar narrowed his eyes at her. Swara pulled on an angry expression. If looks could kill...

Sanskar (shrugged) : What what? I can repeat if you want...

"No need for that! I got it!" Swara snapped at Sanskar shocking him and herself too, watching the level of her tone. But what could she do? He would always get on her nerves like this.

Sanskar gave her an extra sweet smile and Swara felt like punching his face.

"Beta Swara.. Bas surgery hone de pehle. Fir bataungi ki yaha asli sher kaun hai. Just don't ruin your first surgery because of him." Swara convinced her mind hard and for the rest of the class, she chose to look through Sanskar.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sanskar was walking across the corridor smiling all to himself like a total idiot, to be honest... Moments of Swara's each and every different shade flashed across his eyes... This girl was sure driving him crazy.

How could a person have so many different layers altogether?

The one layer which only Sanskar knew... her childishness which was visible whenever she treated little patients. She stopped into his own place remembering those moments...

The other layer was her anger... which she always vented on him. And looking at her, he could easily conclude that she did not even know how to get angry. A light smile appeared on his face...

And on the farthermost side... Her eyes! There was something so captivating about her eyes that no matter how hard Sanskar tried, he couldn't control himself from looking at those large black orbs which spoke much more than she herself did. There was so much into them...

He was himself unaware of his inner turmoil which was messing with his heart and brain but now he felt like as the days were passing, he was finally able to look through her... Look through those deep black orbs...

As he was lost into his own world, he felt a snap of fingers in front of his eyes and he was completely taken aback. "Ugh.. han?!" All he managed to blurt out. His eyebrows involuntarily raised upwards and turned towards the person standing in front of him... Rajat!

Rajat : What's wrong with you yaar? Kab se bula raha hoon tujhe! Which world you are in?

Sanskar (completely confused) : Ahh.. woh.. mai.. (shaked his head) Nothing!

Rajat (folded his arms) : Okay. Now tell me the truth.

Sanskar looked at him in disbelief.

Sanskar : Which truth?

Rajat : The truth about 'whatever' is going on between you and Swara.

Just at the mention of Swara's name, Sanskar's heart skipped a beat and his head snapped at him in shock.

Sanskar (chuckled) : What? Between me and Swara? It's nothing Rajat! Nothing.

Rajat : Sanskar, let me tell you that this is the umpteenth time I have caught you daydreaming in between your work!

What?! Really? Well, his best buddy did have a fault. He could always catch his weird behavior.

Rajat (playfully) : So are you going to spill the beans? Look man.. (pulled on a shocked face) I mean.. you were never like this. I mean.. (nonchantly) So possessive about a girl!

Sanskar : (sang) Rajat...

Rajat : No no. You know what, I am really shocked to see this side of you.

Sanskar : (smiled) I don't know. It's just that.. I feel like pulling something that could make her draw her attention towards me. In this or that or any other way.

Rajat (frowned) : But Sanskar.. you possibly don't know that she..

"I don't know, Rajat. I just don't." Sanskar smiled as Swara's thoughts lingered into his mind and Rajat was watching him interested. He was visibly shocked.

Sanskar : I don't know why but she has really made me feel something! And I myself don't know how. She seems very different from others Rajat! Trust me.. apart from her professionalism, there is something else about her which is so intriguing! (smiled sighing) Kuch toh baat hai Swara mein. And.. those eyes.. (remembered Swara's eyes whenever he saw her closely) They are possibly killing me. Her eyes are holding so many emotions altogether that every time I try to look into her eyes, I can never figure out what are in those eyes... I don't know why there's so much into them!

Rajat : (cried happily) Sanskar.. Man, seriously!!! A girl has taken your heart that too when it's only been a few days that you've met each other! What do you think you're doing?

Sanskar : (sighed) Okay Rajat, just think this way! (logically) See, if she finds me so annoying, then she must better ignore me right? But NO! (snapped at him) She doesn't. In fact, she tries her best to get back at me and that too.. with so much of enthusiasm maybe! It feels like, my presence affects her! See if I really annoy her, she could have ignored me. But she doesn't Rajat. Do you understand what does that mean? It means that... She acknowledges me around her! But even then she acts as if I don't exist. (scrunched his eyebrows) She is the first girl who does not get affected by my looks or charm or whatever.

Rajat : Oh my god.. No. No. (closed his ears crying making Sanskar laugh) This can't be my friend. No way. My friend was never so filmy.

Sanskar shut his eyes in regret. Definitely, his buddy was a spoilsport at understanding these things.

Sanskar : Rajat, (sighed) All I want to say is, I just want to know Swara. You know what.. (in confusion) Whenever in case we come in front of each other, she walks away and pretends as if I don't exist. In fact I don't even affect her nor she gets affected by my looks or anything! And that is making me feel.. you know.. a bit..

Rajat : She's like that only, Sanskar. She doesn't have time to acknowledge anything or anyone.

Sanskar (looked at him confused) : What do you mean?

Rajat : No. (shrugged his shoulders) Actually.. Anushka has also told me something which I might possibly not believe but.. All I have heard is that Swara isn't much interested in many things, other than her doctor career and all.

Sanskar : I know Rajat and I have seen it.. maybe. (smiled) But all I know is, I just want to know her. And I want her to acknowledge me, too. She's really different from others. I have never seen someone so pure. She is extremely dedicated towards her work and that explains her purity.

He remembered when he was watching Swara please her patient by her charm and couldn't just stop smiling...

Rajat (looked at him in surprise) : Sanskar, man.. You're actually smitten! I can't really believe this, you know. This time it isn't a girl attracted towards you, but Sanskar Maheshwari looks attracted towards a girl!

Sanskar : (chuckled) Stop it Rajat... You know that I am not very much into all this. I am a doctor and my main duty lies in treating my people. I haven't planned on giving a thought about those things, as of now. (rolled his eyes chuckling) Heck, I guess I am too young for all this too. Come on, a twenty five year old doctor has lot of things on his plate! (shrugged) But I'm definitely waiting for the right time. Let's see what will happen.

Rajat : Wow... Your talks are making me feel like something has shook you away already.

Sanskar : (composed himself) Now shall we get going?! We have other things to do now. Can we put a full stop to this topic? I chose to discuss about it afterwards. Why were we even talking?

Rajat : (interrupted) O Mr! Correction. Not me, it was you talking and expressing out your nascent feelings.

Sanskar : What?! Nascent feelings?!

Rajat : Yes. Feelings which are not even born yet, but they are about too.

Sanskar : Tsk! (rolled his eyes) Rajat. I suggest you to stop it.

Sanskar chuckled and began walking and Rajat followed him like a lost puppy.

Rajat : Sanskar, give it a thought dude! You are smitten!!! Don't let go off this chance.

Sanskar (still in his flow) : Later! Work first, Rajat.

Dr. Sanskar Maheshwari was back to his form!

But what if our adorable doctor was really feeling something for our Swara?

No one could imagine how the things could turn out to be! Let's see what his 'nascent' feelings grew up to be!

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Precap : Swara's first surgery... with Sanskar!

What do you think guys? Is something going to brew up between Sanskar and Swara? Is Sanskar attracted towards Swara? What do you think might be Swara's past?

Guys... Many of you asked me about Swara's past and I am going to reveal it in further chapters very soon. 😉 And the revelation is going to be an emotional phase... You'll get to know everything as I am slowly unravelling Swara's past in further chapters.

That's pretty much to it... Waiting for your valuable responses on this chapter... ❤