Swara came out of the washroom changing out of her bridal attire and found Sanskar changed into

his simple
pyjamas and a T-shirt. They looked at each other and both gave a faint awkward smile to one another.

‘Tumhara pair ab kaisa hai?’, Sanskar asked.

‘Much better’, Swara replied. She remembered how he had carried her out of the hospital, when her leg was injured.
She smiled to herself remembering it. He had really become a true friend now. She knew he had done some
mistakes, or maybe more than mistakes in his revengeful mind, but he was guilty now. And he was truly repenting
his deeds. So she had forgiven him and accepted his friendship. While she was thinking all this, she kept her bridal
dress in her bag. Sanskar noticed it.

‘Umm… I.. I will empty one cupboard for you tomorrow’, he said indicating the two cupboards in his room. Swara
looked at him and nodded.

‘Thanks’, she said sincerely and he smiled lightly at her.

After packing her bag not understanding what else to do, she sat on the bed. Watching her lost Sanskar also went
and sat beside her.

'Sanskar?', she asked and turned to look at him.

'Hmm?', he asked back.

'Tum thik ho na?', she asked sincerely looking in his eyes. 'I mean... Itna sab kuch ho gaya, aur fir... humari yeh
shaadi! Tum thik toh ho na?', she asked. He was surprised would be an understatement. He was amazed at this girl.

'Swara tum kis mitti ki bani ho?!!', he exclaimed unbelievably. 'Itna sab ho gaya tumhare saath, tumhare baba,
tumhare apne tumse dur ho gaye, itna bada dhoka mila tumhe… un...un dhoka dene walon me main bhi ek tha,
aur… fir bhi tum mujhse pooch rahi ho ki MAIN thik hu ya nahi?!!!’, he asked stressing on the “main” a bit. ‘Swara
yeh to mujhe tumse poochna chahiye… Tum.. thik ho na?’, his eyes softened as he asked this.

Swara looked away from him and sat silent for a while. She then nodded and smiled faintly.

‘Ha.. main thik hu’, she said and looked at him. ‘Aur agar nahi bhi hu, toh ho jaungi’, she said with a smile. Sanskar
couldn’t help but admire this girl for her strength.

‘Tum ek bohot strong ladki ho Swara’, he said praising her. ‘Maine tumhare jaisi bahadur ladki kabhi nahi dekhi’,
he said and she chuckled.

‘Main utni bhi strong nahi hu Sanskar, jitna tumhe lagta hai’, she replied and lowered her eyes. ‘Toot chuki hu
main… Apne aap ko agar sambhala hai toh sirf.. apni maa aur deeda ke liye’, she said feeling defeated. Sanskar saw
her dejected face, and he didn’t know why, but he felt a pain shot through his heart.

‘Agar meri nazar se dekho toh tum sabse jyada strong ho’, he said. Swara looked up to meet his gaze. She felt
something different in his voice. But Sanskar avoided her eyes. ‘Umm… tum thak gayi hogi na, is sab jhamele me?
Coffee peeogi?’, he asked with a smile. She smiled back at him and nodded. ‘Main lekar aata hu’, he said and got
up. He started to leave the room but Swara stopped him.

‘Sanskar..’
‘Hmm..?’, he turned back to look at her. She stood up too.

‘Thanks’, Swara thanked him sincerely.

‘Kisliye?’, he asked looking into her eyes.

‘Mera sath dene ke liye, mujhe support karne ke liye... You are a true friend Sanskar', she said honestly. But he
could tell she has more to say, so he just stood there waiting for her to continue. 'Maine Lakshya se pyaar kiya tha,
par usne kabhi mujhpe vishwas nahi kiya... shayad.. shayad humare rishte me vishwas tha hi nahi, sirf pasand thi.
Baba ne bhi mujhpe bharosa nahi kiya, ab sochti hu toh lagta hai, kya unhone kabhi mujhe beti mana bhi tha?!', she
said finally voicing her pains. He didn’t know why, but it pained him to watch her so vulnerable.

'Swara tum...', he tried to say but she cut him off.

'Pichle kuch dino me maine bohot kuch khoya hai Sanskar, ab aur kuch khone ki himmat nahi hai mujhme.... I know
humari shaadi asli nahi hai sirf ek natak hai, aur aage kya hoga main nahi janti. Par main nahi chahti ki is wajah se
humari dosti me koi bhi problem ho. Main humari yeh dosti khona nahi chahti Sanskar', she voiced her fears.
Sanskar immediately held her hand in both of his.

'Swara humari dosti itni kamzor nahi hai, ki kisi bhi chhoti si baat pe toot jaye…. Tumne mujhe firse dosti ka matlab
yaad dilaya hai, apni galatiyon ka ehsaas karaya hai, agar tum nahi hoti toh shayad main aaj bhi apne past me hi
uljha rehta, aur badle ki aag me jalta rehta’, Sanskar said. ‘Tum meri sacchi dost ho Swara. Aur main wada karta hu,
chahe jo bhi ho jaye humari yeh dosti hamesha rahegi. Aur main hamesha tumhara sath dunga. I promise’, he said
assuring her. His words actually comforted her and assured her that no matter what he will always be there by her
side. This thought relaxed her and she smiled at him. He smiled back.

‘Main coffee lekar aata hu’, he said and left the room.
*******

After a few minutes Sanskar was returning to the room with two mugs of steaming hot coffee. He walked robotically
towards his room, sorry their room, as his thoughts run in a different direction. He was lost in his own disturbing
thoughts. He had for the first time seen Swara so vulnerable. He knew how she must be feeling. He understood
perfectly well, what fears might be troubling her. He had gone through these feelings himself, when his badepapa
had thrown him out of the house. Feeling of loneliness, a feeling that he had no one and that there is no one to
support him. He realized Swara must be feeling the same after whatever happened with her. But she is not alone
now, he thought. He will be there with her, and he will make sure she doesn’t feel alone.

But this was not the reason he was disturbed about. He knew he will support her and will be there for her. The
reason of his disturbance was her pain, her sadness, her helplessness. Somehow, her pain pained him too. He
couldn’t see her like this. He wanted to see her happy and peaceful. But why? Why was she affecting him so much?
Why did he agree for this fake marriage, when she asked for his help without even thinking twice?? Why can’t he
see her tears? Why is her happiness so important for him? Because she is your Friend, his mind replied back. Is this
the only reason? his heart argued back.

He came to a halt in front of his room’s door as he realized he had reached there. Yes. That is the reason. Because
she is my best friend. And I am thinking too much. He decided firmly and walked in.
‘Garma garam coffee’, he announced with a smile. and Swara smiled back at him. He felt happy because this time it
was a true smile.
They sat there on the couch together, sipping their coffee and chatting on some random, stupid and funny topics,
giving a rest to their troubled minds for a while. After about an hour they realized that it was quite late, and they
should sleep.

‘Umm… Swara, tum bed par so jao, main waha couch pe so jaunga’, Sanskar said taking his pillow and heading for
the couch. But Swara held his hand and stopped him.

‘Its ok Sanskar. Hum ek bed par so sakte hai.... I trust you’, she said looking in his eyes. She then went and lied
down on one side of the bed, pulling the duvet over herself.

Sanskar stood there for a minute, trying to process what just happened. He was surprised and amazed at how easily
she started trusting him. After whatever he did to her, he doesn’t deserve her to be so good to him! Just whenever he
thinks that he knows this girl, she surprises him by showing a new aspect of her beautiful personality! But then, that
is why Swara is so different. She can forgive and she always sees the good in people…. She trusts me. He thought
happily and vowed to himself never to break her trust. He then smiled and lied down on his side of the bed.

In the sky above, the moon shone brightly casting its beautiful silver light on the two people sleeping side by side,
not knowing of the lovely future they are gonna have with each other. Because its the new beginning for the, even if
they are unaware of it. :)