Originally posted by: .FireBolt.
Yeah.. I am going to update both my stories honey..!!!
Originally posted by: MusicAddict
Yayyy!! Can't wait for it..!!
You made me happiest!! Update soon!
As in noww...!! Cause the wait is intolerable!!
P.S. Do you remember what you wanted to ask?
Chapter 5:
Sanskaar pleasantly gets the delegates seated and smiles generously at their comments about his home. Ragini appears in a burnt orange sari, looking wicked with her hair let out loose, make up done to perfection, her lips blood red, and mischief glistening in her eyes. She greets the guests politely and makes small talk. Soon 8 o'clock strikes and Ragini announces for Dinner.
Sanskaar: (raises an eyebrow) Ragini, where is Shambu?
He quietly asks her as the delegates are seated at the long dining table by a replacement butler.
Ragini: I have him the day off, Bhaiya.
Sanskaar: You what? Why?
Ragini: (shrugs her shoulders) I felt that he deserved it after working for so long...
Sanskaar: (huffs) You give him a damn day off on the day he's needed the most...do you ever use your brain, Ragini?
Ragini: Bhaiya...please do not lose your temper...everything is fine. Swara Bhabhi has got everything under control...(smiles wickedly)
Sanskaar stares at her, puzzled
Sanskaar: What do you mean?
Ragini: Why, Bhaiya, did you not know?--- Your wife is the one who prepared tonight's dinner...
His whole face expression changes into bewilderment, shock, and finally to anger. He opens his mouth to retort and yell at his sister for allowing this, but is interrupted by Mr. Blackwell. "Mr. Maheshwari...what are you doing standing there? Come and join us too. You don't need permission to sit down in your own home". All the other men laugh with Mr. Blackwell. Sanskaar smiles meekly, glares at Ragini, and sits down at the front of the table. Ragini sits besides him. Another man, Mr. Gibson, lets out a sound of delight.
Mr. G: Mr. Maheshwari...the food smells fantastic!
Before Sanskaar can even say anything, Ragini speaks up.
Ragini: Well of course it does, Mr. Gibson...My sister-in-law, meaning my brother's wife has prepared it especially for you all...
"How sweet of her", Ms. Capets exclaims.
Sanskaar continues to sit in his chair, grim and fuming with anger.
"Mr. Maheshwari, I do not see your wife anywhere...will she not be joining us for dinner?", one of the delegates questions him. Startled, Sanskaar looks up at him. He opens his mouth to reply in a "No", but is cut off by a strong determined voice from a far, "Yes I will be accompanying you all in Dinner...".
Sanskaar looks behind him and see Swara standing not so away, nearby the staircase, just coming off the last step. She walks towards them slowly, yet in an elegant style... She looks breathtakingly beautiful in a flashy lemon yellow sari, a diamond necklace paired along with diamond earrings, her wrists adorned with her red wedding bangles, a bright smile on her face, and her hair shiny and straight...Sanskaar is momentarily stunned by her appearance...but anger floods back into him. What the bloody hell is she doing here? Is all that races through his mind.
Swara finally approaches the dining table and seats herself down in the last empty seat, on the other side of Sanskaar.
Swara: I am the Hostess after all...
Swara casts a look at Ragini when she says this and sees her sister-in-law scowl. Sanskaar stares her down with his molten chocolate eyes, but Swara avoids him and looks at the guests instead.
Swara: I'm sorry for taking so long...
The delegates forgive her with their pleasant smiles. "It is quite alright, Mrs. Maheshwari...we have heard that you have made Dinner tonight...", Mr. Gibson says with a fond smile.
Ragini seems to become excited once again and says in an eager voice, "Dinner! Of course!--- Peter, please begin to serve everyone." Obediently Peter listens, other servants come out and begin to lift the covered dishes. Most of the delegates eye the food and look at one another awkwardly. Sanskaar's blood boils after his shock passes by. Ragini doesn't bother to hide her evil smile. Swara sits quietly in her seat, still avoiding her husband's murder looking eyes.
"Uh...Mr. Maheshwari...what is this?", one of the men questions.
Taking his eyes off of his unaffected wife, Sanskaar stares at his guests, baffled. The servants continue to place food into each one of their plates. A few of the delegates have already began to dig in.
Sanskaar: I am very sorry--- I don't know what my wife was thinking. This wasn't what ------
Mr. Blackwell: Your wife was thinking with a brilliant mind! This food is delicious!
Swara relieved, smiles wonderfully at Mr. Blackwell. Sanskaar looks stunned and startled. He convinces himself that he has heard Mr. Blackwell wrong.
Sanskaar: I'm sorry?-- What did you say?
"It's wonderful, Mrs. Maheshwari! I've never tasted anything this good in my life!", another man exclaims. Swara thanks him with a ginger smile.
Sanskaar proceeds to look bemused and completely thrown off. What just happened?...
The rest also begin to eat their served food and let out pleased sounds.
"This is great..."
"Absolutely terrific"
"What do you call this, Mrs. Maheshwari" , one man asks, pointing to one of the dishes.
Swara: (smiles) Palak Paneer...
"It's my favourite so far...", he says with a happy grin. "Mine also", another man says. Swara looks over at Ragini's, who happens to sit across from her, and hides a smile from Ragini's defeated looking face. Her eyes switch over to Sanskaar, and is startled to see him staring at her so intensely...his eyes puzzled...yet amazed at the same time. She flushes and looks down at her dinner plate.
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Dinner went by smoothly and was a success. Swara's dinner pleased the delegates a lot and they hassled her with numerous of questions about the exquisite food she cooked and some even begged for recipes. She laughed, talked, and mingled with the delegates for a little awhile, until they had to leave. Sanskaar was still left speechless... he didn't say much, said a few things here and there, greeted farewells to the guests, but his attention was mostly lost...as if he were wondering in his thoughts.
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He tilts his head back, closes his eyes, digs his hands into his pant pockets, and lets himself be soaked in the cold shivering rain. Sanskaar enjoys the feel of the rain hitting him hard against his face, drenching his clothes, wetting his hair, droplets rolling down his face, and lets himself relax underneath the pouring water. He hopes and wishes that the rain will wash away his troubles, heartaches, agony and calm him...soothe him...give him comfort.
More than three weeks have gone by... and the feeling of hurt and betrayal inside of him is still fresh...his wounds are still open... Would this feeling ever go away? Will the pain in him ever fade?...Will he ever learn to move on?... Will he proceed to be lonely and miserable...cold and dark inside?... God...he is miserable...so depressed...so alone...no support at all...none whatsoever...
He was so dazed and caught up in his thoughts and emotions that he did not even realize that he was no longer getting soaked under the hard rain, but instead was protected against it... until he heard a loud crashing in the sky, alerting him and causing him to stand right up.
Sanskaar looks around, shaken a bit, and notices a red umbrella hovering over his head...Turning slowly to his right, Sanskaar's eyes land on Swara, standing right next to him, smiling faintly and politely at him, holding the umbrella over him, shielding him away from the thudding droplets. She hadn't changed yet, she is still dressed in the same lemon sari she wore for Dinner... Sanskaar's breath is taken away on the sight of her...
Swara: (soothingly) Mr. Maheshwari...what are you doing out here? You will fall ill from the rain...
Sanskaar continues to stare at her with a dazed look on his face.
Swara: (smiles) Come inside.
For a moment he is happy and relieved on seeing her... her comforting voice touches him...her smile reaches out to him, easing him...her eyes hold sincerity in them, which he can clearly see and relaxes him...he was just about to return the smile until he sees Priya's image appear before him in her...smirking at him... her eyes full of tease...her face glowing with satisfaction at his helpless state...laughing insanely with pleasure at his defeat...shaking her head at him...
Rage floods back into him. Sanskaar blinks his eyes and sees Priya's gleaming face vanish and replaced with Swara's light smiling one...however, the anger inside of him is still there.
Sanskaar stares at her for a good long moment before doing something that frightens her. He thrusts the umbrella out of her hands, knocking it down. Swara lets out a small gasp. The rain hurriedly engulfs her...drenching her quickly.
Swara: Mr. Maheshwari?
Sanskaar: Why are you always after me? Do you have nothing else better to do other than to come and laugh at my state?
Swara opens her mouth to protest, but Sanskaar silences her.
Sanskaar: Don't you think that you and your sister have hurt me enough? Are you not satisfied quite yet that you had to come here and personally see how I am?
She looks the other way. Her eyes widen quickly as she feels a tight grip on her arm and is roughly shaken by Sanskaar.
Sanskaar: Take a good look at me, Swara! A really close look! Are you happy with what you see?!
Swara unwillingly stares into his face and shudders with what she sees...a broken man. Her eyes well up with tears. Sanskaar shakes her once again, making her squint in pain.
Sanskaar: Are you?!
Of course not! I understand! Your hate, your anger, your hurt, all of it! You deserve to feel this way! You do!...I'm here to help...to take your pain away... she wanted to scream to him, yet, she remains mum.
He pushes her arm away with disgust and sneers at her.
Sanskaar: Why am I even asking you a question that I already know the answer to...of course it makes you happy...it makes you bloody ecstatic with joy, doesn't it, Swara?
Swara gazes at him with her watering eyes, expressing so many things to him...her concern for him...her worry...care...and sorrow. Sanskaar refrains from looking into them any longer and turns away from her.
Sanskaar: Do me a favor and get lost. I don't want to see your face. (biting tone)
A few moments later he hears the French doors close behind him and knows that she has left the garden...
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Thank you,
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