Lightening the Sky (Sloth Updates)

Chapter 13

Swara- I won't be at home from ten to three.

Sanskar furrowed his brows, he had promised Uttara he would take her out for movies in the morning. He was taking a meeting from three to five of the project supervisors, those in Mumbai were getting lazy with completing their tender. However, the remedy was ground inspection Sanskar couldn't give them a chance to be prepared for it for him to catch the faults. The meeting was to ease them, so he could visit sites without their suspicions.

Will you be at home after five-thirty?

Swara- Good morning. Yes, I will be at home.

Sanskar greeted her back, and then proceeded with his morning routine he developed over the years in Mumbai and then at his place in Kolkata. Though, living with family did bring in some exceptions, he had to be present for the morning prayer that meant no wandering around during his jogging. The breakfast was filled with lively faces if not discussions due to the eating rules of the family.

He had called out for his sister thrice with the gap of half an hour, instead of leaving for Karma to begin his work. She had been delaying him, yet he waited patiently unlike his behaviour with his employees if they failed to be on time. Fine, Sanskar wasn't as patient, pacing restlessly in the hall as Uttara inhaled the food, still his frustrated head shake could stun his employees who faced his rage for being late in resuming their work after breaks.

"Thank god, I thought you will get up only after lunch," Sanskar's comment brought him chiddings of Uttara as well as his Mom, who insisted Sanskar should also eat as much as his sister for he was turning into a pole.

Lakshya, in contrast to his name was aimless, so he joined his favourite sister indulging her in their childish banters over who everyone in the family loved more. Post his Masters in business, he was supposed to marry the Marwadi girl his family selected for him and then join the family business. Alas, he didn't have any instruction to do so now, Lakshya didn't mull over it as he was sure he wouldn't be left alone for long.

If only the wheels of his mind churned to figure a way to approach Swara, who recognised him as her sister's husband, in the manner he wished for, he might not have been as aimless. Till then, he didn't mind accompanying his cousins with whom he was spending time in years.

.

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"...Then another girl approached me, she was a junior I had tutored last year. Her name was Shreya or Riya. I will have to ask Ragini again." Once again, they were on the terrace of Gadodia house, just two of them, while Swara recounted her day Sanskar rested against the railing listening to her. Smiling, amused by the projection of all the emotions in her face.

Finally Swara paused when her gaze fell on him, "What happened?"

"Nothing," he shook his head, the beautiful smile taken over by the concern, "So, are you sure?"

She sat on the cement railing as well, "About what, Sanskar?"

"You don't want to take a break from everything for a few months. After all, you are between strangers in a strange place."

Swara furrowed her brows at his enquiry, "Why does everyone insist I should stop? I am afraid I will begin stumbling if I stop moving. And you of all people, should know why I don't want to be free."

Sanskar hummed, "Still, your family isn't wrong. There's nothing wrong in letting your body heal."

Instead of answering anything, she smiled.

"Ever since your arrival, I have been talking about myself. What about you? What did you do?"

Obliging, Sanskar went all the way back to his sister's arrival two days ago. Their conversation ended on the promise Sanskar would bring Uttara with him the next day. Apprehension enveloped Swara as she walked beside him to the threshold of Baadi, just at the edge Sanskar cleared his throat, "What happened?"