SWASAN – MR MAHESHWARI AND I
Heyy, It’s Anjali back with the next chapter!!!
Thnxx for comments and to my silent readers….
THIS IS A SUPER LONG CHAPTER!!!! HAVE FUN!!!
https://www.tellyupdates.com/swasan-mr-maheshwari-chapter-62/
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Swasan pregnancy – Samar is born
CHAPTER 63
6 MONTHS LATER
Swara : Come on baby, Tell Mumma… Mum…ma…mum…ma… My sweety pie! Tell na Samar. Mumma!
Sanskaar entered the bedroom, but stopped at the doorway as he saw his two most favourite people playing with each other. In the few short months that Sanskaar had known Samar, He was shocked at how Samar had entered his heart.
Every cry, Every toy, Every tantrum and every smile of his was etched into his heart. Three months ago, When Samar had severe stomach ache, Sanskaar had lost an entire week’s of sleep. He had wondered at that time if it would be the same way every time Samar fell ill. Or if he hurt himself. And if they had more children, How it would feel.
He looked at Swara now. She was such a natural mother. His lips softened to a smile as he looked at her disheveled appearance. She was wearing a T-shirt that he had bought for her which said BEST MOM EVER. She loved that shirt and wore it every 3 days. He saw her smile and laugh as Samar gabbled off in baby talk.
Sanskaar felt proud. Though he was only 6 months old, Samar was very smart. He had learnt to turn over and crawl by the time he was 4 months old. Soon after, he learnt how to high-five and give a fist pump, not to mention peek-a-boo. Yes, his son was very smart.
It only made the latest challenge more interesting. Just 4 days ago, he had challenged Swara by telling that Samar would tell papa first before Mumma. Swara had gladly accepted the challenge and seemed like she was in full preparation for it.
Swara’s voice caught him off-guard.
Swara (smiling at Sanskaar) : Do you think you’ll ever just come inside? Everyday you come and stand there at the door looking at the two of us. Why?
Sanskaar (smiling sheepishly) : I don’t mean to do that on purpose. (setting his briefcase down and walking towards the baby and Swara) I come inside all set to go in but then there you are, my love and my son, having fun together. You make such a perfect picture that I feel bad to come and disturb you.
Swara laughed and got off the bed. She placed two pillows on either side of Samar to protect him and then walked towards Sanskaar. She accepted his kiss on the cheek, then began removing his tie.
Swara (softly, tugging on the tie) : You know, Mr Maheshwari, the scene you see everyday isn’t a perfect picture. Do you want to know why? Because you are not there.
Sanskaar (placing his arms on Swara’s shoulders) : Because I am not there?
Swara (nodding) : Without Sanskaar, Swara isn’t complete. We are Mr Maheshwari and I… How can baby and I be complete without you? Sanskaar should be there, Papa should be there… Only then are we perfect.
Sanskaar (softly) : You know… I think there was a reason we were supposed to not like each other when we first met. I think there was a reason we struggled so much to finally be together.
Swara (placing her head on his chest) : Really? Why’s that?
Sanskaar : Maybe if we had found each other easily, we wouldn’t have paid much attention to every moment, every second that we are together and apart. We wouldn’t value our relationship so much.
Swara (sighing contentedly) : I love you Sanskaar.
Sanskaar (smiling and cradling his wife’s face) : I love you too, my Shona!
She brought him a glass of water as he changed into house clothes and played with Samar.
Sanskaar : Vaise, Swara… You are cheating.
Swara (surprised) : Me? How?
Sanskaar : You are teaching your son to tell Mumma? That’s cheating.
Swara (laughing) : How is it cheating?
Sanskaar : You get to spend the whole day with him all day every day. I don’t. If you teach him the full day, obviously he’ll tell Mumma first. Cheater cock! Jao.. I don’t want to talk to you.
He pouted as Swara watched him amused. He was surprised when she hugged him instead of retorting to his comment.
Swara (sadly) : My maternity leave ends tomorrow. How am I supposed to leave my baby here and go for work? I’ve never left him for a long time. (looking at Sanskaar’s face with anxiety) I’m scared. I don’t want to go.
Sanskaar (hugging her tightly) : Don’t worry. It’ll be hard. But I know my Swara. She’s very sensible and strong. She will go to work day after and once she comes back, will be with Samar. Samar won’t feel bad. He knows his Mumma has to work. He’ll be a good boy. Isn’t that right, My brave boy?
Samar (smiling) : Goo…..
Swara and Sanskaar laughed. Sanskaar picked him up from the bed.
Sanskaar : That’s right… Good boy.. That’s what you are. Good boy Samar. My strong son.
Swara smiled. She mouthed ” I LOVE YOU ” to him and he stared at her with a delighted grin. Samar, growing tired of being ignored by his parents let out a loud wail and then began babbling.
Samar : Goo gaa.. glooo kala… eeeeee
Swara laughed. She looked at Sanskaar and they nodded.
Swara and Sanskaar (each kissing one of Samar’s cheeks) : We love you, Samar.
Samar smiled, let out a loud cackle and clapped his hands.
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A MONTH LATER
Swara (rolling her eyes) : Laksh! Calm down. She’ll be here soon.
Laksh (glaring at her) : What do you mean calm down? Her flight was supposed to land three hours ago. Which it did… It does not take three hours to come home.
Sakshi (eating some biscuits that Adarsh was forcing her to eat) : Laksh! Sit down. You’ll give me my morning sickness in the afternoon. God, Swara…How on Earth did you survive 9 months? Morning sickness is so annoying.
Swara looked at Samar who was in Uttara’s arms sleeping.
Swara (fondly) : It’s such a magical time. Just enjoy it Sakshi.
Laksh (abruptly) : Swara! Call her again.
Swara (hiding a smile) : Sure.. Wait.
She dialled Saanvi’s number but only got a switched off message. She frowned. Though it was funny and delightful to see Laksh so worried for Saanvi, it still had been three hours since she landed. Where was she?
Laksh frowned. Where was Saanvi? How could she make him worry like this? Didn’t she know how worried he’d be?
He thought back to three months ago when she had knocked on the door to his room.
*****
Saanvi : Laksh! Can I enter?
Laksh : Sure Saanvi! Come in. Do you have to tell me something?
Saanvi (walking in hesitantly) : Umm.. Yes. I just came to tell bye.
Laksh (surprised) : Bye? Why? Are you going somewhere?
Saanvi (nodding) : I’ve stayed here more than a year. It’s not really right. Papa is alone at home. I think I should go to him.
Laksh : But why… suddenly? Why do you want to go?
Saanvi (smiling) : I told you na.. Papa is alone and he’s missing me. Don’t worry… I’ll come back in some time.
Laksh : A week or so?
Saanvi : I’m not quite sure. Why don’t I tell you later?
He nodded reluctantly. Saanvi turned to go outside, but then looked back at him.
Saanvi : I’ll miss you a lot. Bye Laksh.
Laksh (sadly) : I’ll miss you too. Come back soon.
*****
Laksh thought of that conversation now. Saanvi had left him for three whole months. She had left for Mumbai and Laksh was stunned at how much he missed her.
He missed her witty repartee, her help with his editing. He missed the way she scolded him for being such a dramaqueen everytime. He missed his outings to the park only because Saanvi dragged him there. A few months ago, When he wanted to propose to her, He had had no idea what she meant to him. But today, he was scared at how much she meant to him.
She hadn’t done anything. She was normal as always. Helping the mothers a little, doing the editing, talking with Swara. But somehow, She had slowly grown closer to Laksh. He thought of them as friends, but he knew that the fear about where she was now was not due to mere friendship.
Saanvi had entered into his life like a whirlpool with her confession and all, yet she had mellowed down so much that she put aside her own feelings and became friends with him, not asking for anything else.
Laksh (thinking) : I need Saanvi in my life. Where are you?
Swara : Laksh!
Laksh looked at Swara blankly.
Laksh : Yes?
Swara : Why do you care if Saanvi is here or not?
Laksh stiffened. He looked around but Swara had been quiet enough so that only he heard the question.
Laksh : Because she’s my friend.
Swara (laughing) : For an author who writes about romance in his mysteries, you’re pretty clueless.
Laksh (scowling) : I’m not. I…
Saanvi (entering the house with many bags) : Hello Swara! Hey Sakshi, Adarsh, Uttara, my darling Samar…. (looking at Laksh) Hey!
Laksh (dazed) : Hey!
Laksh looked at Saanvi with a sort of longing in his eyes. He had not seen her face to face for three months and now.. Seeing her now made him feel warm all over and light. He frowned as he saw how late she was.
Laksh (demanding) : WHERE WERE YOU?
Saanvi (surprised) : I’m sorry?
Laksh : Your flight landed three hours ago. Where were you all this while? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED WE ALL WERE?
His last outburst woke up Samar who began crying. Swara took him in her arms and watched the conversation as she rocked him back to sleep.
Saanvi (exasperated) : I just got a bit side tracked. Why are you so angry with me?
LAksh : Angry? Who’s angry? Now being concerned for someone is called being angry. Great!
Saanvi : Laksh! That’s enough. None of the others are snapping at me. Only you are.
Laksh : Well, YOU DIDN’T LEAVE THEM THE WAY YOU DID ME!
Saanvi stood stunned. Whatever she had expected Laksh to tell, That wasn’t it.
Saanvi (quietly) : What do you mean?
Laksh : 3 MONTHS? YOU GO FOR 3 WHOLE MONTHS AND YOU SPOKE TO EVERYONE HERE EXCEPT FOR ME… HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL? DON’T YOU CARE?
Saanvi : CARE? WHY DO YOU CARE LAKSH? WHY DO YOU CARE IF I’M LATE? WHY DO YOU CARE THAT I NEVER SPOKE TO YOU IN THESE MONTHS? WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WANTED TO, EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERY SINGLE DAY? WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT ME?
Laksh : Why do I care about you? BECAUSE I FREAKING LOVE YOU..
The others who were watching this exchange smiled happily. Finally, After almost 2 years, Saanvi was getting her wish.
Swara : YESSSS! (Samar waked up again and Swara murmurs softly) Oh shit…. Sorry beta! Go to sleep.. Go to sleep.
Saanvi (with tears in her eyes) : Don’t make jokes like this. It’s really cruel.
Laksh : Joke? This is not a joke, Saanvi. I didn’t realise it until I said it. But I do.. I do love you. I don’t know when I started.. I don’t know how it started. But I do love you.
Saanvi : And Ragini?
Laksh : I did love her. A part of me mat never stop. But that part is so insignificant compared to the rest of my which wants you. I will not compare between the two of you, but what I felt for her is not what i feel for you. I need you.. I need you like I never needed anyone else. I want you the way no one can ever want you. I love you Saanvi, I swear.
Sanvi : O, Swear not by the moon, that inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
Laksh (with a soft smile) : Romeo and Juliet! Alright, Tell me what I should swear by?
Saanvi (walking towards Laksh) : Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the God of my idolatry,and i’ll believe you.
Laksh (disbelievingly) : You believe me?
Saanvi (nodded with tears in her eyes) : I do. I can see the look I’ve been waiting to see for such a long time in your eyes. I can see the tenderness, the… I love you so much Laksh!
Laksh (throwing his arms around her) : I love you too Saanvi. I love you too.
Sanskaar came from his study, papers in his hand. Seeing everyone watching Laksh and Saanvi together, he grew puzzled.
Sanskaar : What’s going on?
Swara (looking at her husband happily) : Baby, I do believe we’re about to have another wedding.
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5 YEARS LATER
Samar : Papa! Papa! Story.. Story!
Sanskaar ( smiling at his son who was tugging his hand) : Samar! Wait beta.. I have a little work. Why don’t you ask Mumma?
Samar : Mumma’s sleeping. She’s very tired because of Sahir.
Sanskaar sighed. Their second son Sahir was born only a month ago and they were learning that though raising one son was tough, raising two was even harder.
Though everyone helped take care of one another, the younger crowd were too many. Samar, Sahir, Adarsh and Sakshi’s daughter Antara, Ragini and Karan’s son Rishi and Laksh and Saanvi’s daughter Avni… All of them were born within successive years and now, the Maheshwari parivaar was bigger than ever.
Samar : Papa… Papa!
Sanskaar (keeping his papers on the table and picking up Samar) : Haan beta! Come.. I’ll tell you a story. Where’s everyone else?
Samar (shaking his head) : They didn’t want to listen.
Sanskaar (laughing) : Okay then… Let’s have some Papa-beta time.
Keeping Samar on his lap, Sanskaar opened his mouth to tell his story. But Samar interrupted him before he could open his mouth.
Samar : Papa! Today I asked Mumma to give 100 Rs to Shyamu Kaka.
Sanskaar (surprised) : Our gardener? Why?
Samar : I wanted to give him Sahir and the hundred rupees. Sahir’s no fun. He doesn’t even play with me. He’s too small.
Sanskaar smiled at his son.
Sanskaar : Do you know you were just as small before? You were as small as baby Sahir.
Samar (shaking his head) : No. I’m a big strong boy. I’m the eldest.
Sanskaar : That’s right. You are the eldest. You are a big strong boy. Which is why you’re supposed to be extra careful with your decisions. You need to think about your younger siblings : Antara, Avni, Rishi and Sahir.
Samar : Huh?
Sanskaar laughed.
Sanskaar : When I was small like you, My Bade papa told me a story. Do you want to hear it?
Samar : YES! Story! Yayyy….
Sanskaar : There was a father who had 4 children. The children kept fighting with each other and never played together.
Samar (horrified) : They never played?
Sanskaar (nodding) : They never played. Only fought and fought and fought. Their papa was very tired of this. So he went and brought 10 sticks which he tied together.
Samar (fascinated) : Then?
Sanskaar : He gave this bundle to the eldest child and asked him to break it. The eldest one tried. He bent it this way, then that way. Ugghhh..Come on, He cried out. Finally, he told no, he couldn’t do it and gave it to the next one. What do you think, Could he do it?
Samar (shouting) : NO!
Sanskaar : Exactly. He couldn’t do it. Nor could the third child or fourth. Everyone lost. Then their Papa took off the string that kept the sticks together. Now he handed each of them one stick and told them to break it. This time all the children managed to.
Samar : That’s good na?
Sanskaar (shaking his head) : Even they were very happy that they managed to break it. But their Papa told them… When the sticks were together, not one of you managed to cause them harm. They were strong and united. But once they became separate, they broke easily. Remember, the same can apply to you children. Stay together, grow together, play together, respect one another. The eldest show your younger siblings what is right and wrong. Be generous and devoted to them but at the same time, make sure they don’t go into the wrong hands. The younger kids, respect your elders. Believe that they know everything and will always protect you. The children heard their father’s words and became united.
Sanskaar frowned a little. Had he touched too serious a topic for a 5 year old? Would Samar even understand? Samar had always been a perceptive young kid, full of questions and really really smart. But maybe this was too much?
Samar (seriously) : Papa?
Sanskaar : Haan?
Samar : I will always take care of my sisters and brothers. Antu, Avni, Rishi and Sahir. I will always protect them. I am the eldest. I will be friends with them always. Then one day, I’ll tell my babies this story just like Bade Papa told you.
Sanskaar (hugging Samar) : Sounds like a plan, Champ!! I’m so proud of you. Now, Come on. It’s time for bed. Come on.
He sat in the chair as he rocked his son back to sleep. Once Samar fell asleep, Swara entered.
Swara (softly) : That was a beautiful story.
Sanskaar : You heard that? I thought you were sleeping.
Swara : I was. But then Samar never came to bed, so I came to check. (ruffling her sleeping son’s hair) You never told me this story.
Sanskaar : why didn’t you come inside?
Swara (smiling) : It was a father-son moment. I couldn’t come in between this.
Sanskaar : Every moment needs you. I need you. Bade papa was and will always be my inspiration. But you are my strength.
Swara (kissing him softly) : And you, mine.
Sanskaar : 6 years and counting…. Here’s to forever, Mrs Maheshwari!
Swara : We will be together forever and more. As as long it’s Mr Maheshwari and I….
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PRECAP : EPILOGUE 1
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I’m not really sure how to end this ff…. it means so much to me.
MMAI began simple enough, but soon grew into something that’s close to my heart. I’ve spent almost an entire year on this story and will miss writing it terribly.
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It’s not just the story… Each and every character meant soo much to me. The Laksh’s love story was never part of my plan.. it was purely an impulsive move at that time.. But I got to write a character like Saanvi for that… There’s just too much to tell about this story and i have no idea how to thank you all…
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i will save my thanksgiving speech for the epilogues…
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BUT I DO HAVE A REQUEST… PLEASE SILENT READERS, IF YOU GUYS ARE STILL THERE, PLEASE DO ME A FAVOUR AND COMMENT YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENT IN MMAI…. JUST A REQUEST FOR THIS LAST CHAPTER…
AND MY REGULAR COMMENTERS, PLEASE COMMENT YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENT IN MMAI AS WELL….
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THANK YOU EVERYONE… THANK YOU FOR BEARING MMAI AND ME..
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