Swara and Sanskar were sitting cuddled up together on a lovely white swing which was located at a quieter area of the huge park. There was hardly anyone there and they took it as a precedence to spend their time together and nurture each other.

"Those flowers are so beautiful!" Swara pointed out in wonderment as her eyes fell on a bed of fresh and beautiful flowers at a distance from them. Sanskar's eyes followed hers and he too agreed.

"Too bad we are not allowed to pluck flowers from here, or else I would pluck one and just like it is shown in love stories, I would kneel down and propose you to be mine forever." he stated with a smile and it left Swara stunned for a while.

"What..." she struggled to formulate words as she was left in sheer surprise by his words, "N-No Sanskar, you don't have to. You already know I'm yours!"

"Yes, that you are. But I never proposed you officially."

"But you have said 'I love you' to me so many times," she exclaimed as she couldn't contain that euphoria she felt. Not every woman was fortunate enough to have her man plan to propose her this graciously!

"So?" he asked nonchalantly.

His plan left Swara to stare at him without blinking even for once. Noticing that, Sanskar found her innocence so adorable and he fell in love with her once again.

"Arey," he turned towards her and pulled her cheeks a little, "Meri pyaari si, bholi si Swara, there is something in this world called 'proposal' and I believe, any love story is incomplete without it. I thought you would know this better since you have always liked to read fairytales."

Swara smiled shaking her head and pulled his hands away from her cheeks and cupped his hands by hers, "You have already done more than enough for me, Sanskar. What matters the most is that we are together and our love for each other is far above any proposal. And having you in my life itself is the best surprise for me. It's the best thing I could have asked God for. I don't need anything else as long as I have you."

Her words rendered Sanskar speechless as she smiled lovingly at him. Her orbs spoke more than she did and he lost himself in the love her eyes beheld. Truly, this girl never failed to amaze him with her simplicity. She never dreamt or asked for anything big or extraordinary, instead she embraced with love whatever -- no matter how small or simple -- came her way. That's what made her special and stand out from others. That was his Swara! Such a girl truly deserves the world.

So, he just smiled back at her and shrugged his shoulders, "if you say so." But he promised himself he would plan something for them very soon. Of course, he would.

"Do you want to eat something?" she asked after some moments of silence, "It's afternoon. We didn't even have lunch."

He shrugged his shoulders, "We can but I don't feel that hungry. We had that medium sized bucket of popcorn and a can of cold drink back there in the theatre, and after that we had ice cream. My stomach barely has any space left now." he said and she narrowed her eyes towards him.

"As expected from you. No wonder you are so thin."

"No, I'm not!" he said in his defense. "I have maintained this by going to gym regularly."

Swara chuckled seeing his expression and Sanskar straightened himself before asking, "Are you hungry?"

"No. I was asking for you." she said truthfully and his eyes glinted.

"Really?" he asked in a slight teasing tone, but at the same time adore her for her thoughtfulness. Swara nodded her hea smiling.

Next moment, she felt the swing move a little as Sanskar used his feet to push the swing to and fro. "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed in joy.

Sanskar sensed her excitement, "You want a ride?" He asked much to her surprise.

"Why not? But..."

Before she could say anything, Sanskar got up from the swing and walked behind her.

"Sanskar, why are you getting up?" she asked looking at him, "What are you doing?"

"Just now I asked you if you want a ride. And you said yes!" he stated as a matter of a fact and gripped both chains on either sides of the swing, "So... my princess will relax and sit back on this swing and I, her prince, will push the swing so that you can enjoy the ride."

"But I want you also to sit with me..." she said immediately. Before she could say anything, Sanskar pulled the swing back and pushed it making Swara squeal.

"How was it?" he asked. Swara had a goofy smile over her face as she had always loved swinging since childhood. Seeing that smile on her face even Sanskar smiled broadly.

"I love it, Sanskar! But I want you also to-"

"You enjoy first, then I will join you again." he assured her before she could complete as he knew what she was going to say.

"Promise?"

"Promise!"

Swara sat back comfortably and Sanskar continued to push the swing and Swara lived this moment to her fullest. She couldn't explain in words the happiness she felt within her whole being. After spending a whole day with Sanskar, and now this, she was on the ninth cloud. A few moments passed by with them enjoying themselves like this. It was after eight times that Swara asked him to stop, "Okay, that's enough. Now you sit here."

"But if I sit then who will push?" he asked.

"Don't worry about it, just sit here besides me." she smiled and reached out to his hand and brought him to sit besides her.

"So... did you like it?" he asked about the ride smiling.

"I love it!" she confessed with beaming eyes. "But I'll love it even more if we sit here together. Because I want us to do all the things together." she held his hand with hers and Sanskar smiled nodding his head. Both of them then laid back comfortably smiling and Sanskar used his feet to move the swing backwards and then let go so that it moved to and fro. It wasn't just the swing moving but even their hearts danced with joy as they leaned on to each other. They made sure to enjoy these little and sweet moments and embrace them, and capture them in their hearts as lovely memories which they would remember for a lifetime!

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

After spending a long time on the swing, they opted to stroll around the park. As they walked down the park sidewalk holding hands with each other, they found themselves at utmost peace.

A few minutes passed by with them walking together. But halfway through the sidewalk, Swara seemed to be a bit preoccupied by some thoughts in her mind.

"Sanskar..."

On being called, Sanskar turned to look at her and he found her contemplating something. Sensing him staring at her with his full attention, she stopped in her place and turned towards him.

"If you don't mind, can I ask you something?"

As she asked that, he furrowed his eyebrows. Next moment, he left her hand to fold his arms across his chest. She sensed the change in his mood.

"What happened?" she stammered a bit while fiddling with her fingers. Did she offend him somehow?

"Why do you always ask for my permission before asking anything?" he asked feigning annoyance before relaxing his facial features, "Why are you always so formal? You can ask me anything, Swara."

Feeling half-relieved by his positive words and half-anxious by how he would react to her question, she took in a deep breath before speaking up...

"How do you know about Sahil?"

Though she tried to be as sensitive as possible so as to not hurt him by any way, the mention of Sahil from her all of a sudden did manage to have his smile fall. He turned his gaze away from her and towards the ground instead as he felt short for words.

"Umm... actually..."

"I'm sorry!"

He felt his hand immediately grabbed by her and he looked back at her only to see regret and hurt flashes across her tender facial features.

"No Swara, don't be." He shaked his head, "If anyone has to be sorry for bringing his topic up that day, it's me. So, I'm sorry!"

"No, Sanskar. It's not you. It's me who was pushing you away from myself, so it was normal of you to mention him. I was hurting you enough back then, and I know I have hurt you now also. I-"

"Ssh!"

He placed his palm over her mouth to stop her from saying anything wrong and she just stared at him.

"Do you know when do you hurt me the most? When you unnecessarily blame yourself for something even when you are innocent," He said in a soft voice. "That's when I'm hurt the most."

"I'm not blaming myself, Sanskar. I'm saying the truth."

"But..."

"Knowing that just few days before we confessed to each other and started our relationship, I know it's very wrong of me to ask you about Sahil like this. And I'm really sorry! I swear I have no other purpose behind asking you that. I was just kind of confused because I have never mentioned him to you before. So... how come you know about this? Did someone tell you?"

"If I tell you who told me about this, you will be surprised." he admitted truthfully and that left Swara confused.

"Really?"

"It's your mother. She told me everything." He revealed to her and it took Swara a minute to ensure what she just heard was right or just her misconception.

"What?!" Her eyes widened and she gaped at him, "Maa... Maa told you? How come?"

Sanskar folded his arms and chuckled shyly, "I think she realized what even we both couldn't realize at that time."

When he turned to look at her, she looked on with sheer surprise. Seeing her expression, he continued.

"She noticed everything what even we didn't. Whenever we talked with each other or were just there with each other. Our parents are more learned and experienced about the world than us, Swara. They know us more than we know ourselves. They sense what is going on with their children and know everything. And then... she said she trusted me," he narrated everything that happened back then and Swara listened keenly.

"She told me all that you and your family have been through," he concluded. "She loves you more than anything, Swara. And I really really respect and admire you and your mother so much."

After telling everything to her, he didn't have any idea how would she react. But to his surprise, Swara smiled as she recalled everything that happened back then. Whenever she was with Sanskar in front of her mother, when she told her yesterday about him...

"Nothing escapes her eyes," She shaked her head and looked back at him with a glint in her eyes, "And I'm so happy that she chose you before I did."

"I'm sorry for all that you have been through. You don't deserve any of that."

"You don't have to be sorry for anything. Because I feel what happened with me back then was for good. And... just think about it Sanskar, what if Sahil was still in my life? I would have never known what true love is and that who my true soulmate is. I... I would have never met you."

As soon as the words left her lips, something inside of her tear apart. The thought of not having crossed paths with Sanskar and not having him in her life filled her whole being with fear and agony. Before he entered her life, there was a hollowing emptiness. But he came and her life took a turn for the better... no, no, for the best! What if he hadn't been there? She would be left with that emptiness forever.

"You know..." she began after a deep breath, "After all that happened with Sahil, I had lost my faith in all the good things... be it love, trust or friendship. I stopped reading fairytales because I realized they weren't the reality, but just imaginations of the person who wrote them. Something very hard built around my heart. The walls around my heart became my defence mechanism so that I could block myself from feeling the pain I went through because of the two men I trusted more than anything. After that, I made a promise that I would never let anything break me again. I became emotionless towards everything I ever believed in. That was... until you came."

She paused for a while and stared at him smiling. On the other hand, Sanskar felt surprised as this was the first time she was talking openly about the tragedy that happened with her. Somewhere, in his heart he felt like that she would feel the need of a support if in case she got emotional and he was even ready to reach out to her. But looking at her right now, he saw no hint of sadness or pain while revealing the reason behind those walls built around her heart.

"The day I entered Kolkata hospital, I saw you for the first time and then something that never happened to me before happened... an unknown feeling awakened inside of me. No matter how much I wanted I was not able to ignore you for longer because I saw genuine kindness in your eyes. All you ever did for me was help me. You helped me get admission in the hospital even when you didn't know me. That rainy day, when I didn't have my umbrella, you dropped me home. On the day of our surgery, when I cut myself, you gave me first-aid. You cared for me and I felt it. Back then I was unbeknown to the fact that I was slowly developing a soft corner for you. And then Maa had that accident. Though I was distraught by her condition but it still occured to me that you stayed with me, held me in your arms when I broke down. You gave me strength so that I could hold myself together and when you assured me nothing would happen to Maa... it was not just your assurance but your promise too. And deep down I knew you meant it with your everything. It was then I realized I could trust you." She took both his hands in hers leaving Sanskar overwhelmed with whatever she said right now. She opened her mouth to continue and he was all ears for her because he wanted to hear her.

"You took care of my mother not just as a doctor but as a person in general, as a son. You kept your own grief of losing your mother aside and focused on helping my mother. It's things like these that made me realize that I would be a fool to ignore that growing feeling I had for you. After that, I stopped fighting with my heart. I let it go where it wanted and soon it started yearning for more of you. When you were not there, I used to feel an emptiness, like something very important was missing. I never told you this before but whenever you used to tease me or even flirt with me, I liked it. I loved your attention towards me. Even when you sang that song in that party we had, deep down I knew you were doing it for me. That's when I realized you have built a special place in my heart."

His smile deepened as she smiled by her own words before falling a bit as she remembered something she didn't want to.

"And that day when you were fighting with those goons..." she felt a lump at her throat as what happened that day made her shiver, "I realized seeing even a small scratch on you caused me thousand times more pain. When they hit you on your head, the thought of losing you if not taken proper care turned my world upside down. I was not able to see you hurt. In any way. And I can't bear it if I see pain in your eyes, especially if I'm the reason behind it!"

Her grip on his hands tightened and Sanskar nodded his head in a no as he disagreed with her last sentence. She was never the reason behind his pain, it were the circumstances -- and the ones none of them had control over. For a minute, both of them shared an intense eye lock with each other as she revealed each and every bit of what her heart had for him.

"That evening when you held me in your embrace," she recalled the beautiful memory that helped her accept her true love, "I realized how beautiful this love is -- that we share with each other. The path of our love brought us that far and finally, I accepted I have someone worth living for. If I have loved anyone with all my heart and soul, with every fibre of my being, it is only you Sanskar. You are my everything! My best friend, my first and my only lover. You are the one I'm meant to walk hand-in-hand with. You're the one I would give my life to!"

And that was it. She confessed all that she felt since the day she met him. Saying everything out to Sanskar right here made her feel so light and satisfied. It was like revealing a huge part of her. She left all her feelings and emotions bare open infront of him and Sanskar found himself at loss for words. He attempted to speak something but could not. He wanted to say so much, just as much as she said to him or maybe more, but couldn't bring himself to. It was like his feelings right now were all over the place and he felt that overwhelming.

"Sanskar..." she stared at him in anticipation, she got a bit worried that he wasn't saying anything, "kya hua? Kuch kaho na please."

And that was all she could say before he grabbed her towards himself, hugging her warmly and lovingly.

"Kya kahu mai Swara?" he finally spoke up, "Sab toh tumne keh diya."

She smiled emotionally and hugged him back with the same intensity as him.

"I love you, Swara! So, so damn much." he uttered with lot of effort as he had too many emotions beneath the surface.

"Jaante ho Sanskar... pyaar kya hai or pyaar nibhate kaise hai, yeh mai ne tum se sikha hai. Before you came I was just alive, my soul barely living. But with you I started to live again. To smile again. To find happiness in small things. You made me believe in love and fairytales again. You entered my life, freed me from the anguish in my heart and filled my life with colours of your love. Though in the beginning I used to stop myself from getting involved with you because of those walls built around my heart, at the end it was my heart that surrendered. It was my heart that I lost to you. It was my soul that bowed down towards your love and you became the reason I would live my life for. The moment I realized that I love you, too hard, then and there only not having you in my life became my greatest and worst fear. What if you weren't in my life? I would have never known that love is so beautiful, so pure, so innocent."

"Swara," he broke the hug and cupped her face with his palms, "what matters right now is that we are together with each other. We love each other and this love will remain forever. And nothing can tear us apart, ever."

"I know." she placed her palms over his hands on her cheeks and her eyes filled with unshed tears, "Nothing, absolutely no force in this world can tear us apart. And I promise you that from here on, I'll never ever let our love fail in front of anyone again. Our love is so strong, Sanskar and I'll make sure it stays that strong!"

"Yes Swara. As they say that falling in love is easy but staying in that love -- no matter whatever force in this world tries to ruin it -- is what matters more than anything. It's called true love when it survives all the odds and this love -- of ours - is meant to be forever!"

'Forever'!

The word of endearment by Sanskar and the truth and determination in his eyes made it crystal clear that she would always be the one for him. That too forever! This was all she wanted! For him to be hers and for her to be his for life!

"I love you, Sanskar! More than anything else. But you know... I'm still a bit surprised because I never expected that Maa knew about us. And now I understand why she wasn't so thrilled when I told her about you."

"You told her about me?" he asked, surprised.

She nodded her head in yes, "Yesterday. About us. And guess what, she was very happy."

"Of course she would be. Even your mother knows I'm awesome!" he teased and she chuckled because no matter how self-obsessed he appeared to be at times, she knew what he said was hundred percent true.

"Not that it is not true..."

"No Swara, I was just joking," He clasped his hands together and looked down, "On a serious note, I really don't know what did she see in me that she thought of telling such a sensitive truth about her daughter's life to me. She didn't even know me that much and yet she trusted me to reveal everything about her Shona."

"You're like an open book, Sanskar. And anyone who gets to know you can see how amazing you are inside out. Tumhari inn aankhon mein tumhara pyaar or tumhari sachchai, dono dikhayi deti hai." she placed her palm over his cheek and he took that hand in his and kissed it before holding it in his.

"You know... I'm really happy that our families have approved of us."

"Everyone in your family?" she asked him hinting at something.

It was then when Sanskar stopped smiling as he remembered the bitterness his Badi Maa had in her heart for Swara because of Kavita's brainwashing.

"Sanskar... how does your Badi Maa feel about us?" she asked with a serious expression expecting him to answer honestly.

Sanskar left her hand and walked a few steps away, "Let her be. She has nothing to do with us."

"But Sanskar..." she came and stood in front of him. "Is she okay with us being together? I mean..."

"I don't know. But honestly, her opinion doesn't matter anymore. If she can't care enough about me then why should I? Swara, I told in my family about us. Papa and Bade papa have wholeheartedly approved of us. About Mom, she doesn't know yet but I know even she will approve of you. What else do we need? Their approval alone is enough for us."

"And your Badi Maa?" she asked. "She has been like your mother."

"But she has behaved worse than a stepmother to me. And us. Let's not talk about her, please." he sighed.

"I'm sorry." she whispered in regret catching Sanskar's attention.

"Why are you saying sorry?"

"Because I feel like I'm responsible for this rift between you both. It's my fault that-"

"Nothing is your fault, Swara." he said firmly. "If anyone is at fault then it is her and she should be the one apologising. And I told you about my relationship with her since childhood that day only, right? Please, stop blaming yourself for something for which you are not responsible. In fact, it was my fault that I made you talk with her in the first place."

"It's not your fault, Sanskar." she said immediately. "You didn't know this will happen-"

"Even then. Anyways, let's move on from it, Swara. It is all in the past now."

Swara was about to say something, but seeing Sanskar's disapproving expression, she decided to let go for now. But she promised she would fix this soon. She promised to win Annapurna's heart and erase these differences between Sanskar and his aunt.

"Uhm... Swara." Sanskar licked his lips once before speaking, "Now that you know everything, I want you to know one more thing. I hid this from you since long."

"What?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she wondered what was it that it hid from her. "What is it?"

"Woh..." his cheek turned a light shade of pink which didn't go unnoticed by Swara, "I don't know how you will feel about this. You will probably think it's so crazy of me to even think of doing something like that. But I just..."

"Sanskar, tell me." she placed a hand around his arm urging him silently to continue.

"Umm... it is about the day when your mother was discharged." he went on nervously as he didn't know how she would react, "I didn't fall off the stairs, Swara." he admitted and Swara gaped at him in shock. He continued, "Nothing happened to me that day. I was fit and fine. What I did was just an act."

"What?!" she exclaimed. "Why would you do that?"

"Let's be honest here." he looked everywhere except her like a child who was just caught of making a mistake, "I wanted... your attention."

He exhaled the air he had been holding inside of him due to his nervousness. Swara continued to stare at him dubiously before bursting out in laughter by his confession. Seeing that intensified his embarrassment more. She kept laughing her heart out covering her mouth and he looked on with a small face.

"Stop laughing." he chided like a little kid. "You know how much it took for me to win you over? To try to know how you feel about me?"

"But for that you would do something like that?!" she said in between her giggles. "Do you even know how dramatic you were back then? If I wasn't so preoccupied back then about my feelings for you, I or anyone else would have caught your act. When someone gets hurt, even they don't cry out the way you did!"

"Look, I accept I'm not a very good actor, but anyways... what's happened has happened. Nothing can change that. I can only tell you what the truth was."

She was still laughing but seeing Sanskar's 'don't blame me' expression, she tried to get a hold of herself.

"You know, I kind of had an idea that you were acting. But I didn't know the reason at that time. And what did you say? You tried to win me over? The truth is you had already won me over, Sanskar." There was no more humor in her voice. Instead, it was the truth and her affection for him.

Sanskar smiled chuckling to himself as he remembered all the crazy things he did for her attention since day one. Swara too chuckled.

"Okay. So... now that all the 'secrets' have been revealed," she grabbed him by his arm, "I want you to do something."

"What?"

"No matter how much you say you don't feel hungry, you need to have proper lunch. See, we have spent nearly whole day out on an empty stomach and I'm not counting all the snacks we had. And it will take two to three hours for us to get back home from here and it will be evening by then. And we won't have any energy to function properly unless we get some healthy food." she said in a bit scolding tone as he knew he was a little careless when it came to eating. She continued, "Come on, let us go to the nearby restaurant. I have gone there once and I know how good the food quality is."

"Really? And what will we eat after going there?" he asked chuckling.

"How about Pav bhaji?" she suggested after thinking for a while.

"Pav bhaji?" he repeated.

"I have tasted it there and it's damn delicious! Once you taste it you will also fall in love with it. Ungliyan chaat-te reh jaoge!" she said in excitement and Sanskar smiled agreeing with her.

"Okay, then. Let's go for our Pav bhaji date." he cheered and both of them made their way towards their car.

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

At Baadi...

"Ayye Shomi!" Shobha called out to her daughter as she came in the living room. "Uff, yeh ladki bhi na. Always makes me run after her to take her medicines on time."

She stopped as she found Sharmishtha standing near the mandir of Goddess Durga.

Sharmishtha turned towards her mother, "Haan Maa?"

"Shomi?" she came to her. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just praying to Durga Maa."

"Woh toh thikh hai. But have you taken your health supplements?"

Sharmishtha didn't know what to say, "Woh-"

"I'm sure, you have not." Shobha guessed. "Come on, I will give you. You need to rest, Shomi. Though you have recovered fully now but doctor still told you not to over exert yourself."

"I know, Maa." She said with a smile on her face. Seeing that, Shobha got confused.

"Is there anything special? Why are you smiling so much? Not that I mind..."

Sharmishtha came to her mother and held her hands, "I'm smiling because I'm very happy today, Maa!"

"Really? But for what?" she asked, feeling happy to see her daughter happy like this.

"Actually, yesterday at night, I got Swara's call-"

"Shoru called?" she asked in enthusiasm. "What did she say? And how come I didn't know this?"

"You were sleeping, Maa. And I didn't want to wake you up. Anyway..."

She smiled to herself while remembering the conversation she had with her daughter.

"Now will you just keep smiling to yourself like a clown or tell me what Shoru told you?!" Shobha asked feigning exasperation.

"Maa, I haven't told you yet about this, but..." she looked into her eyes before continuing, "Our Swara has finally got someone very special in her life."

It took Shobha a while to realize what Sharmishtha actually meant. When she did, she couldn't help but look on in shock and disbelief.

"W-What?!"

Sharmishtha smiled openly and held her mother's hand affectionately.

"Our daughter is not alone anymore, Maa. She has finally got someone in her life who is ready to stand by her through all odds. Someone who truly loves her for who she is."

"W-What..." she fumbled in words as she found herself in turmoil of her emotions. "I... I can't..."

Next moment, she freed herself from Sharmishtha's hold and walked a few steps away, not able to take it because of the experience they had back then.

"No Shomi." she shaked her head to herself negatively leaving Sharmishtha startled with her reaction. "I don't feel like trusting anyone again. You know this world is too cruel for us, Shomi. How can we trust anyone so easily?"

"Maa-"

"No Shomi, abhi tu sunega!" she turned towards her daughter. "Have you forgotten what happened last time with that Sahil Sengupta? We trusted him too back then, that he would keep Shoru happy..."

Sharmishtha tried to get her mother to listen to her, "Maa-"

"And that time, that man just went away destroying our Shoru's life and then-"

"MAA!" she said in a loud voice that immediately caused her mother to become quiet. "Bas Maa, kitna bolti ho. Ab meri baat bhi sunogi? I can say it with complete faith and guarantee that Sanskar is nothing like that Sahil!" she admitted and the name caught Shobha's attention.

"Sanskar? Is that his name?"

"Yes, Maa." she smiled. "Dr Sanskar Maheshwari. He is the son of Dean of the hospital. He and Swara... well, they started off as friends first, but soon that friendship took a new turn and paved it's way to true love."

"Shomi," her mother frowned at her. "Have you met him? Like ever?"

"Not just met, I have even talked with him!" she said. "Not just once but many times. Maa, if I'm alive today and here in front of you, it's all because of Sanskar. Agar woh nahi hota na, I don't know if I would have survived the accident. He is the one who did my operation and even helped me during my recovery. He is not only a good doctor but also a genuine person. When I was in the hospital those days, he took so much care of me as if I was his mother. And not just me, he took care of Swara too. Swara was so distraught by my condition, it was Sanskar who stood by her side and looked after her. In those days, I had seen every bit of it... The way they stare at each other, the way they talk to each other, the way Sanskar looked after both of us... it was only that that made me to come to this decision -- if I have to give my daughter's hand to anyone, it would be Sanskar. I felt like he was the one for Swara and he will always be. And when I was telling him about the hardships that Swara faced in her life, I saw those unshed tears in his eyes that he was trying so hard to hide. That just showed how deeply he loves Swara. And even Swara had feelings for him. And finally, it was yesterday Swara told me that both of them confessed their love to each other and are together now."

Shobha's heart softened after hearing all that Sanskar did for her daughter and granddaughter. Finally, she calmed down a bit.

"Shomi, you know na after whatever happened with both of you, I have become very paranoid. But right now, after hearing whatever you said about him... if you say that Sanskar is the best person for Swara, he probably would be. I know your instincts are never wrong. Back then also, it was you only who knew there was something wrong about Sahil, so... But I'm telling you, whatever is happening between Swara and that boy, before this goes anymore ahead I'll meet him first! I hope he turns out to be just like what his name means."

Sharmishtha nodded her head in yes as she found her mother's concern valid. But she also knew that Sanskar was trustworthy and he would keep her daughter happy. It's one thing she didn't doubt.

"Yes, Maa. And you know you are worried because you have not met him yet. But don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital to meet him and then you will finally see it for yourself, that what Durga Maa has blessed our Swara with!"

She winded her arm around her shoulders and seeing her daughter's faith in him, Shobha also felt like giving him a chance.

At last, she smiled shaking her head that made Sharmishtha happy.

"Now hearing your talks, even I feel like meeting him once. And if your instinct is right, then I just can't wait to meet that boy, Shomi. The one who has brought happiness and light in my Shoru's life!" she finally wanted to believe him.

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

After having their lunch date together in the restaurant and spending a whole day together, they sat back in their car a bit tired and drowsy, yet they felt ecstatic remembering all the memories they created together in the park and in the theatre. For them, it was surely a day to remember.

"You were right, that pav bhaji was just amazing. I didn't even feel like I should stop!" Sanskar admitted.

"See! I told you." Swara said enthusiastically. "It's a good thing we ate something. Or else who knows..." she eyed at him mischievously with intention to pull his leg, "You might have done another act of fainting to get my attention." she chortled.

Sanskar widened his eyes gaping, "Swara! You are teasing me again!" He feigned exasperation and Swara cleared her throat suppressing her laugh, "Okay! Okay! Sorry. Ab nahi chidhaungi tumhe." she said genuinely and he smiled getting convinced. Swara adored how soft-hearted he was. He had the heart of an innocent child.

Their exchange got interrupted as Sanskar's phone vibrated because of a call.

"Sanskar, your phone is ringing." Her eyes landed on his phone that was on the dashboard. As Sanskar was driving, Swara showed him the name of the caller and he saw it was his father.

"It's papa."

Swara swiped to accept the call and held the phone near Sanskar's ear, "Hello?" he simultaneously concentrated on the driving as well as attend the call.

"Hello, Sanskar," Ramprasad answered on the other side, "Where are you?"

"I'm just on my way to the hospital. What happened, papa? Is everything okay? You? And mom?" he asked in concern.

"Actually..."

As Ram revealed the reason why he called him, Sanskar listened with a numb expression on his face. Swara also sensed something was wrong as Sanskar didn't speak anything for a long time.

"I'll be there soon." he assured Ram in a low voice. Ram declined the call and Swara kept his phone on the dashboard.

"What happened, Sanskar?" she asked in worry, "Is everything fine?"

Sanskar sighed closing his eyes as he didn't understand what to say.

"No, Swara. Everything is not fine... yet."

And he narrated all that his father told him. He shared his fear, his insecurity, his sorrow with the girl sitting besides him and he had her fullest attention as she listened to him and kept consoling him when required.

In his entire life, he hardly showed his vulnerable self to anyone, and he hardly expressed his feelings to anyone like this. But in case of Swara, it was different. She was not just 'anyone'. She was a part of him only. She was his heartbeat. His lifeline. His better-half!

And without any doubt, his 'HUMSAFAR'!

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

A/N : I know you all are waiting for tons of SwaSan scenes and there will be many in the coming chapters, but I also hope you are liking the focus on Sanskar's family which is kind of important. If you don't like something, please let me know. Any suggestions, request for any particular scene or request for any change in the ongoing storyline is most welcome.