Hello Everyone!!! So, here’s the third chapter of TAL!!!
Read the A/N at the end!
Not proof read. Ignore grammatical errors and typos!
Link to Chapter 2: https://www.tellyupdates.com/swasan-authors-love-chapter-2-ashu/
THE AUTHOR’S LOVE!!!
Chapter 3 ~The official first meet
SWARA’S P.O.V.
At around 12.30 in the afternoon, I and Ragini, were already on our way to meet her boyfriend, and his best friend. Ragini drove us to this famous Italian restaurant in the town, where they decided to meet.
We made our way, inside, and the place was calm, not way too crowded. The place was dimly lit, and had a pleasant ambience, with light music, playing in the background. I looked around the place, searching for two guys, who looked like they were waiting for some guests. I saw a guy in navy blue shirt, waving his hand at us. I wondered if he was Laksh.
Ragini noticed him, and waved her hand back. She made her way towards their table, and pulled me along with her. The moment we reached near the table, the guy in blue got up from his chair, and hugged Ragini.
“Laksh, this is Shona, I mean Swara.” She introduced me, and he gave me a polite smile, “Hello, I’m Laksh Maheshwari.”
“Hello,” I greeted him, a little awkwardly.
“Ragini, this is…” Laksh started to say, pointing to the young man, in a white tee with black blazer, beside him. The guy seemed rather familiar, the dark brown eyes, and rather charming smile, “….Sanskaar Kapoor, my best friend.”
He greeted Ragini, “It’s nice to finally meet the girl, who has tied this idiot down.” Ragini blushed, and smiled at him and replied, “Likewise.” Laksh narrowed his eyes at his best friend.
He turned towards me, “Hello, Miss Swara, Remember me?” I tried to figure out where I had seen him, but I couldn’t remember.
“You know each other?” Laksh asked us, and Ragini looked equally surprised.
“Oh no! We just bumped into each other at the mall the other day.” Sanskaar answered. Aha, now I recollect the same dark brown eyes, and the smile.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” I started to say, when he cut me off, “It’s completely fine.” He shrugged it off, and gave me another one of his smiles.
“Let’s get seated, and we can talk.” Laksh suggested.
We seated ourselves, when a waiter approached us. We ordered our food, and continued talking. We had a formal talk for some time, knowing about each other. I learnt that Sanskaar and Laksh, were best buddies, since their college days, and were more like brothers than friends. Just like me and Ragini, were more like sisters than friends.
I also learnt that both the guys handle their family businesses, and they looked pretty much dedicated towards work. The two of them seemed genuine while talking. After the formal talks, we had, Sanskaar called out to Ragini.
“Ragini, what did you ever see in this idiot, to love him?” Sanskaar asked Ragini. Ragini laughed at his question, while Laksh glared at his friend.
“The fact that he makes me laugh, like no one else does.” She answered without a second thought. Laksh gave a winning smile to Sanskaar, and placed a kiss on Ragini’s hand.
“Really, Bro? I never thought you are so romantic!” Sanskaar stated with raised eyebrows.
“Shut up, Sanskaar!” Laksh complained. I had a feeling I was going to like these two guys. The funny banter between the two was something I was really enjoying. The waiter approached us with our food, and served us. We continued our talk, while we ate.
“Ragini, What would you do, if you get to meet your favourite author, one day?” Laksh asked Ragini, looking at Sanskaar from the corner of his eyes. Sanskaar frowned, hearing the question.
“You mean, Varun Kapoor?” Ragini asked, with eyes as wide as Golf balls. Uh-Oh, not again, please! I rolled my eyes, annoyed. Why is the whole world against me? Why do I hear his name everywhere?
“Yes, Of course darling.” Laksh smirked, and before Ragini could speak, Laksh yelped, “Ouch!” Laksh gave Sanskaar a annoyed look, who was smiling back at him.
“Laksh, are you okay?” Ragini asked him. Laksh spoke gritting his teeth, “I’m fine. It’s nothing! You continue.”
“One hug, Laksh! Just one hug from him, and I’ll never ask for anything in my life.” Ragini started dreaming, while I rolled my eyes.
“But why Ragini? I mean…” Sanskaar started, but Ragini cut him off, “Why? Are you being serious Sanskaar? He’s such a good writer, and you know his craze among girls? His books…” Ragini started blabbering. I mentally cursed Laksh for bringing out this topic.
Laksh seemed to be enjoying, listening to his girlfriend blabbering about some other guy. Isn’t he jealous? Sanskaar stared at Ragini in disbelief.
“Aren’t you jealous, Laksh?” I asked him, while he laughed.
“May be I was a little, in the beginning. But I’m getting used to it already. Besides, this is what every girl talks about nowadays. Am I right, Swara?” He answered.
“You are asking the wrong person, Laksh.” Ragini rolled her eyes, while Laksh looked confused, “I don’t understand!”
“Okay, Swara hates talking about Varun Kapoor!” Ragini let out a sigh. And the reactions from the guys were unbelievable. Sanskaar almost spit out the water he was drinking, and started coughing. Meanwhile, Laksh stared at me wide eyed, and jaw dropped. He exchanged glances among the three of us.
“I think I didn’t hear you right Ragini. Come again.” Laksh couldn’t believe his ears, while Ragini laughed.
“I don’t like talking about him or his books. Why are you guys over reacting?” I sighed, while Laksh laughed out loud. What was wrong with this guy?
***
SANSKAAR’S P.O.V.
This guy, Laksh! I’ll kill him after we go home. I asked him not to talk about, well, me! Why did he have to ask Ragini about what she’d do, if she meets me? I didn’t like talking about this fandom thing, and I didn’t show much of interest anyway.
“Okay, Swara hates talking about Varun Kapoor.” I heard Ragini say. What? I almost spit out the water I was drinking, while Laksh’s jaw dropped. I thought I heard it wrong, until Swara confirmed it again, “I don’t like talking about him or his books. Why are u guys over reacting?”
Did she just say that? Laksh laughed out loud, and looked at me. This was the first time I’ve ever heard a girl say she didn’t like me or my books. Okay, no one knows the real me, but the mails I’ve been getting, and the reports I’ve read on internet at least showed that they like the books and have a special interest in knowing me.
This girl was different. Okay, there is a chance that there are some people, who didn’t like my books, but this was the first time, I’ve ever heard someone say it out aloud. All that I heard till date was how well I write. This was pretty much a surprise to me.
“I thought, there was no one who hated Varun Kapoor or his books. You are the first girl I heard it from.” Laksh said, laughing, and occasionally glancing at me. This idiot is enjoying this way too much. He better stop laughing, or I’m going to kill him.
“Laksh, I told you about Swara. She hates the basic concept of love.” Ragini replied, making Swara embarrassed.
Unbelievable! She didn’t seem like the girl who didn’t believe in love. She was bubbly and cheerful.
“Yes, I remember.” Laksh said thinking, and Ragini continued, “So, she hates all the romance novels. Even if that’s the only genre available on earth to read, she’d choose not to read it.”
“But, why?” I couldn’t help but ask her the reason. Swara looked at me before replying, “May be because, they are too unrealistic to believe.”
“I didn’t get you!” I looked at her confused.
“The books you read only show the happily ever after stuff, but real life is not a fairytale. You have adjustments, heartbreaks, and arguments in reality. No book ever shows the after effects of falling in love.” She answered. I couldn’t say she was wrong. I agree with her, after having had a similar situation in my life. That was one reason, I never write about just the fairytale of life.
“May be you are right. But, why don’t you like Varun Kapoor?” I asked curiously. If she has ever read that books, she’d find that there is all about the adjustments and heartbreaks in life, infact with an open end to the book.
“It’s not that I don’t like him or his books. I’m just tired of hearing his name all around me. Why are girls crazy about him?” She said annoyed.
I never thought I’d hear something like this. I turned to look at Laksh, who was sitting by my side, and trying to hide his smile. I’ll kill him if he didn’t stop smiling like an idiot.
“But did you ever read his books?” I asked her, I felt like knowing more about her.
“I don’t read that genre!” She replied.
“But they are not…” I started to say, but she cut me off, “I’m not interested.” She replied straight to the point.
“Swara, I’ve one more question.” I told her, and she looked at me unsure of what I wanted to ask. She nodded, asking me to continue.
“How come you are okay with Ragini’s love? I mean, how did you let her love Laksh?” I asked her, while Laksh kicked my foot underneath the table. I smirked at him.
“Sanskaar, do you intend to break my relation, the very next day I proposed my love?” He muttered softly, but enough for me to hear.
“Who said I’m okay? I can’t help but have faith in the trust she has on her love.” She smiled, looking at Ragini. Ragini mouthed a ‘Thank you’ to Swara, and Swara nodded.
‘She is different’ I thought. As much as this girl, has no faith in love, she has faith in her friend’s trust. Hell, she even came to meet Laksh, just for her friend.
“Ragini? I think I forgot my bag in the car. Can you please get it?” Swara said, once we were done eating.
“But, you don’t need to pay. So, why the bag?” Laksh asked her, while she blinked for a moment.
“But, I need my phone.” She pleaded Ragini, with the cutest face, ever possible on earth. Forget Ragini, no one can ever deny such a cute and pleading face.
“Okay, fine! Stop making that puppy face!” Ragini huffed and got up, while Swara gleamed with happiness.
Swara waited for a moment, for Ragini to leave, before speaking again, “Look Laksh! I’ve something really important to talk to you.” Her voice was serious, and Laksh flinched at the tone she used. I can’t say I was expecting something sweet either. I knew she had something serious to talk.
Laksh nodded, asking her to continue, whatever she wanted to say, while I chose to remain silent. “Laksh, I don’t know how much you love Ragini. But, she is the sweetest girl I know. Please don’t ever break her heart. She trusts you so much, that it will leave her shattered, if you will ever hurt her.” She requested, her voice a little soft, and her eyes held so many emotions.
I stared at her, while she tried to compose herself. I immediately knew why she sent Ragini to get her phone. Swara wanted to talk to Laksh, without Ragini being present there. She was concerned about her best friend.
“Trust me, Swara. I’ve got a gem in the form of Ragini. I’ll do anything to keep her happy. I can never hurt her.” Laksh assured her, while Swara nodded. I never thought Laksh would act so mature, and would love someone like he loves Ragini.
“As I already said, I don’t believe in love. I’ve only seen relationships falling apart, and I don’t want my best friend to ever face that situation” She said, looking at Laksh, with a silent request to keep her friend happy. I guess, she has seen the worst phases in a relationship, and is afraid of facing that situation.
“I promise I’ll never hurt her.” Laksh promised. Swara smiled at Laksh, and thanked him.
“If I ever get to see tears in her eyes, because of you, You will see the worst side of me. Remember, I’ve my eyes set on you. Always!! Hurt her, and I’ll hunt you down wherever you hide, and kill you!” She warned him, with a serious edge in her voice.
Laksh gulped at her warning. I was scared too! This girl is feisty, for sure; she has the capability to do anything she wished to. A minute ago, she was requesting, and now she was threatening. I laughed, imagining Laksh’s situation.
“What are you guys talking about?” Ragini asked, approaching us. Swara’s threatening glare immediately changed to a smile, when she heard Ragini, and Laksh heaved a sigh of relief when he saw her. I guess, he was mentally thanking her, for arriving at the right time.
“Oh nothing, Ragini! Laksh was just telling how much he loves you, am I right, Laksh?” She looked at Laksh, and gave him a sweet and innocent smile.
“Um… y..yes!! I was telling her how much I love you.” Laksh agreed with Swara, while I tried to hold back my laughter. Ragini smiled, having no idea of what happened here when she was away.
“Shona, shall we leave?” Ragini asked, and Swara nodded. We left the restaurant, and walked to the parking lot. Ragini asked Swara, to go and get seated in the car, and she’d be there in a minute.
Swara left the place, and Ragini turned to Laksh, “She warned you, didn’t she?” Ragini smiled, pointing to Swara’s retreating form.
“How did you know? You heard us?” Laksh asked her, while she laughed and shook her head. “Or, some kind of telepathy?” I asked, frowning. Ragini nodded in a no.
“I know her. Don’t mind her, but she has gone through a lot. And that is the reason she is too overprotective, when it comes to me.” Ragini answered, with pride.
Laksh nodded, and Ragini hugged him, encircling her arms around his neck. “I’ll never break my promise to Swara.” Laksh whispered, and holding her close.
Just by looking at Laksh now, I can say that he was pretty serious about Ragini. I was impressed with Swara’s love for Ragini. What Swara has gone through, I don’t know, but one thing was for sure, that it did leave a great impact on her life. It left her shattered, and healing her wasn’t easy.
***
A/N:
So guys, how was this chapter? Swasan’s first meet! I know there’s not much of Swasan, but I hope you enjoyed this. Please let me know.
So, first, I’ve a request from you people. Please tell me how many of you are liking this story. Because honestly, I’m not satisfied with the response I’m getting. I don’t even know if you are reading this story. The lesser the response, the more time it takes to update the next chapter. I’m not blackmailing if that is what you are thinking, because I’m losing the interest in writing. But since I’ve started it, I’ll continue this. You don’t need to give lengthy comments, and criticism is most welcome. You are welcome to give suggestions as well. It takes hours for me to write a chapter, and all that I need is for you to say how the chapter is. I’m sorry if I sounded rude, but I’m being honest with you. Silent readers, please comment(if I have any)
Second, I’ll start uploading this story in Wattpad soon. Anyone who are interested to follow me, can do so. I hope you guys support me on Wattpad as well.
My ID: Star_in_the_Making
Thank you!
Love,
Ashu