Chapter 3:
A long and exhausting week had passed with her husband's tantrums and hurtful inflicting words. No matter what Swara did to help him, to reach out to him, Sanskaar Maheshwari would only push her back. On top of that, Ragini never left a chance to insult her or Uttara. Swara feels suffocated and restless. Suffocated from being in this hell hole and restless from the worry over her sister...
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The ringing of her cell phone alerts her and takes her out of her thoughts. Wiping away her tears, Swara looks over at the dresser and sees her cell phone flashing. She gets up from the bed and walks over to get it.
Swara: (soft) Hello?
There is a numbing silence on the other line, which confuses her.
Swara: Hello? (curiously)
Again no one speaks, but she can hear a faint breathing...a familiar one. Swara's heart leaps with relief as she realizes who it can be.
Swara: (whispers) Priya?--- Priya is it you?
She can hear her sister hold back her tears, which causes tears to rebuild in her own eyes. Swara goes over to the door and closes it. She rushes off to the far side of the room and continues to talk in a low voice.
Swara: Priya, Priya, I know it is you. Oh Priya, where are you?!
Her heart begins to ache terribly as she hears Priya sniffle and cry on the other side.
Priya: Oh Di...(breathes out) I'm so sorry...so, so terribly sorry. This is all my fault...If I didn't do this, then you and Mr. Maheshwari-----
Swara: (soothingly) Nahi, Priya...this isn't any of your fault...
Priya: But Di, because of me you had to marry Mr. Maheshwari! He must be angry--- no furious! And I know that he must be making your life miserable!
Swara becomes confused as to how her sister learned of her and Sanskaar's marriage, but then she realizes that their marriage is the hottest news lately and is discussed everywhere. Priya must have seen it somewhere in the newspaper or on television.
Swara: (unconvincing tone) Priya...it-it isn't like that at all...me and Uttara are fine...really.
Priya: (crying) You are lying to me... Please don't try to comfort me, Didi. I'm a horrible person. You should hate me, yell at me, not comfort me!
She does. Swara did hate her sister, hate her for leaving her into the mess she created, hate her for running away without telling her, and hate her for leaving her with a terribly enraged and revenge seeking Sanskaar Maheshwari... Swara wanted so much to yell at her instead of trying to soothe her. But Priya is her sister, and no matter what silly mistakes she makes, she will continue to love her...no mater what.
Swara: (changing the topic) ...Tum kaise ho? ...tum kahan ho?
Priya: Di--- hum----
"Kiske saath baath kar rahi ho, Swara?", a familiar deadly voice says from behind.
Swara freezes and almost drops the phone. Her breathing stops and her heart seems to stop functioning. Clutching hard onto her cell phone, Swara slowly turns around and faces Sanskaar, who stands in the middle of the doorway, peering at her with his intense looking eyes. He looks impressively attractive dressed in all black from head to toe and his hair wet from a shower. Sanskaar Maheshwari is a panther on the verge to kill...Swara's heart races.
Swara: (stammers) J-Ji...woh main---
Priya: Di, kya hua? A-aap kiske saath baath kar rahi ho?
Swara doesn't respond. She doesn't dare to, instead her eyes stay focused on Sanskaar, who has a threatening expression on his face. He strides over to her side, continuing to stare her down, making her feel like a mouse in front of his built form.
Sanskaar: Maine tumse kuch poocha hai, Swara...who is on the phone? (his voice sharp, authoritative) s
Swara slightly trembles and removes the phone away from her ear. Quickly she cuts the call. Sanskaar sees this and continues to gaze at her with his molten chocolate dangerous eyes.
Swara: Ji...No one...I was just talking with a friend----she-she was just saying goodbye.
Sanskaar: (cuts in, raises an eyebrow) Friend?...I had no clue that you had friends here in Mumbai, Mrs. Maheshwari...
She flushes, which amuses him.
Swara: From the office---
Sanskaar: Office! Really? (fake enthusiasm) Who?
Swara: (shakes her head) I'm not sure if you'll know her---
Sanskaar: (casually) You're right. I do have a lot of employees and no time to remember them all.
There is a short silence that passes through them which Swara breaks by asking in a shaky voice, "Did you need anything?".
Sanskaar: (snaps, grouchy) Hmm. Your brother came to me---telling me to let you come back to the office.
Swara's face brightens on hearing this even though he had said it in a not so pleased tone. She had been missing the office and her work terribly. It was awful sitting in the Mansion with nothing to do except to cry over her unlucky fate.
Sanskaar: (staring her down) And here I am seeing that you must be missing your work by your calls to your office friends.
She lowers her head down and fiddles with her cell phone. A strong feeling of guilt rushes inside of her, making her feel awful and lower than before. Swara hated to lie...especially to Sanskaar Maheshwari, a man whom she respects so much. Before speaking again, he stares at her for a silent moment, making her uncomfortable under his focused gaze.
Sanskaar: Start today or whenever. I personally don't care. All I want you to do is to make sure that I don't see your face at the office. It's the only place where I get peace now a days and now that you're going to be there----- (sneers)
Sanskaar stares at her up and down, shakes his head with disgust , and turns around ready to leave the room, but halts in his steps as he hears Swara's phone go off. If Swara was scared before, she is absolutely terrified now. She watches him face her once again with a curious piercing look. His eyes fall onto her cell phone in her hand. Everything inside of her abruptly stops and Swara suddenly finds it difficult to breathe.
He notices her not making any attempt to pick up the phone, which fills him with even more curiosity.
Sanskaar: When your cell phone is ringing, it means someone is calling you, Swara. (sarcastic, hard tone)
Swara flinches, but doesn't dare to take the call. She knew who it was...and was afraid of what will happen next.
Swara: (stammers, blurts out) S-s-someone will not stop calling me and -and has been pestering me all day... it's the same number ...
Another lie. Oh God did Swara hate herself more than ever...She tries her best to hide her fear, but Sanskaar can clearly read her panic-stricken face...He walks on back over to her, building more fear into her. Sanskaar reaches his hand out to her...
Sanskaar: Give it to me...
The phone stops ringing... Swara lets out a small sigh of relief.
Swara: ...it's stopped.
After a short few seconds, her phone begins to ring obnoxiously again. The color from her face drains and Sanskaar continues to look grim. He doesn't remove his hand. Now his guess has been confirmed. By noting Swara's apprehension and refusing to pick up the phone before him, Sanskaar Maheshwari knows it must be Priya, his darling ex-fiance.
Sanskaar: Mujhe dedo, Swara... let me see who is harassing my wife. (sarcastic tone, demanding)
Again she flinches. With a lot of force and unwillingness, Swara puts her phone into his hand. She switches her gaze over to the floor, not able to meet his eyes, and prays with all her heart that Priya will not speak...
He answers the call with impatience and barks, "Hello?". Sanskaar hears a startled gasp from the other line. He slowly smirks with pleasure on being right.
Sanskaar: (teasingly) Hello?
Priya: ...
Sanskaar: Hello?--- Hello?
Sanskaar casts a look at his wife before walking casually over to the other side of the room, digging his free hand into his pocket.
Sanskaar: (lets out a tired sigh) Priya...Priya...Priya...
Swara's eyes pop out and her body becomes stiff. She looks up in a flash and stares at Sanskaar with astonishment. She closes her eyes with defeat. They were doomed... Sanskaar Maheshwari would probably now figure out where Priya is and will not spare her... her and Veer. Panicking by the thought, Swara rushes over to her husband's side. Sanskaar stops her with holding a hand and giving her a silencing look.
Sanskaar: Don't trouble my poor wife...she is already hassled as it is...the least you can do for her is let her be...
Priya: (breathes out in a rush) Mr. Maheshwari, please! Don't do anythingn to Swara Didi and Uttara! I am your culprit! Punish me! Not my Didi and little sister, please! (pleads)
Sanskaar laughs as this is the most hilarious thing he's ever heard. His bitter laughter worries Swara.
Sanskaar: Hear yourself, Priya! Begging to me! How pathetic! (nasty)
Priya: (whimpers) ...Mr. Maheshwari...
Sanskaar: (in a nonchalant tone) How are you by the way? More than a week has passed by and there is no news of you or of that lover boy of yours! --- Wait, wait, pardon me, your husband now, isn't it? You two must have eloped and married by now, haven't you?
Priya: (silent)
Sanskaar: Well Congratulations and may your marriage be a success!
Priya: Mr. Maheshwari-- Didi---
Sanskaar: Oh! Your Didi? If you'd really like to know, your sister is perfectly fine with me. Happy in fact. You know----
Sanskaar turns and looks at Swara's weeping face. He continues to smirk and look at her up and down. Swara burns up under his roaming eyes.
Sanskaar: We both have gotten married ourselves...
Priya: Ji, main janti hoon...
Sanskaar: Oh you know? Oh of course---- it is the most recently discussed topic nowadays, you must have seen it on TV or read it somewhere in the newspaper.
Priya:...
Sanskaar:...Well?--- No congratulations or well wishes for us both? Are you not happy for your sister and brother-in-law, Priya? (emphasizes brother-in-law)
He hears her cry which fills him with great pleasure.
Sanskaar: (nastily) Would you like to hear how happy your sister is, Priya? Really she is so ecstatic.
Before Priya can even speak, Sanskaar hands the phone over to Swara and proceeds to smile at her in an evil way. Swara looks at him with her tearing eyes.
Sanskaar: Go on, Swara, talk to your sister...tell her how you feel about our marriage... tell her how happy you are.
Gulping, Swara hesitantly takes her phone back and slowly places it next to her ear. Sanskaar watches her with great interest.
Sanskaar: Tell her...(forceful tone)
Swara: (shakes)...I--I am happy...(sobs) very happy...
Priya: (cries) Oh Didi! I-----
Sanskaar snatches the phone back away from her, startling Swara.
Priya: I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! I shouldn't have run away! Otherwise you wouldn't be in this mess!
Sanskaar: (harsh tone) Interesting that you've realized your mistake, Saali-Ji.
Priya: (startled) Mr. Maheshwari, don't punish my sisters, I beg you. They shouldn't have to go through pain for what I have done.
Sanskaar: Oh but they do, Priya, they do.
Priya: ---w-what do you mean?
Sanskaar: (his voice raging) Priya Gadodia, you cunning-two-timing-b*tch, you had accepted my proposal and promised to be by my side throughout the rest of my life--- I did not force you to accept--- I had given you the option--- You could have easily had said no and all of this wouldn't have happened--- but no, you agreed to marry me, played with my emotions, went behind my back and romanced with another man--- on our wedding day you left me only a single sentence explaining that you cannot marry me and left my life without my knowledge---- left me behind to be humiliated on being ditched at the altar--- disgraced in front of the whole damn society!
Priya: ...(speechless)
Sanskaar: ...You have left, Priya...I don't know where you are...nor do I care anymore. But I know that I can't reach you which makes it impossible for me to make your life a living hell after what you have put me through---- but your sister here, my wife, makes it possible for me...
Swara shakes.
Priya: (cries) Please...
Sanskaar: and I know that when I give her pain...I will be giving you pain, Priya Gadodia... I will be giving you pain...
Priya: Mr. Maheshwari, don't do this! You can't do this!
Sanskaar: (spits) Watch me...
Sanskaar cuts the call and hands it over to Swara. There is a piercing silence...
Sanskaar: (deadly tone) I am sure by now this "someone" will stop calling you now...she will not harass you anymore...
Swara continues to weep in front of him, feeling absolutely helpless. Seeing her not making any attempt of taking her cell phone back from him, Sanskaar throws it onto her bed and before slamming the door shut behind him, he says in a hard tone, "Make sure you come to the office on time...".
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Thank you,
Shreetha..
Dear Shreetha,
That was an absolutely spine chilling update, I do not justify Sanskaar's behaviour but he is understandable, everyone's reactions - Priya is terrified and Swara is petrified, Sanskaar out to hurt Swara knowing he would hurt Priya but not realising that in the end he would be hurting himself.Wonder what he would do when he learns that Ragini is the mastermind behind this whole fiasco?Lovely update.love,Nyna
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