Together Forever

Chapter 60: New Blooms

Aditya devoured the tea in sips, an eye over the rim of his cup which took a good glimpse of his room.

"Aditya, slow down." Reema cautioned. The served beverage was still hot and the young man hardly cared for it.

"I'm in a rush maasi." He made an excuse, "Going to office?" Aditya's cup rattled as he placed it on its saucer, "No, I got to submit certain details in the mail and I misplaced the file somewhere."

"Was it black leather?" Reema had a vague recollection of a certain file she came across the earlier morning. "Yes, the very one." He agreed.

"Earlier, I found it in the wine house." A memory flashed only then, Ah! Last night the wine house turned out to be his work place, "I did leave it there. Thank you." He handed over the tea set to her.

"You overworked and slept there, again?" Concern laced her words. Though he stopped by the residence, Aditya took adobe in the Wine house and rather came up only to appease his requirements.

"Burdens only deepen wounds, they don't heal Adi." He did subject himself to such self torment and the guilty heart does not allow him to rest either. Aditya pressed his eyes down.

Reema's hand cradled to his face, "Speak to her." She observed the hesitation he carried when he tried to reach out for Swara but ultimately gave up, "I'll do." Aditya said.

"We got carried away too far. Continue your work." Reema gave a gentle pat over his shoulder. Both left the room, with Reema back to Kitchen and Aditya strode to Wine house.

Three and half weeks it had been since the fateful night which brought silence to the residence from then on. On the exterior surface, Swara seemed to recover from worsening health.

Shekhar rather feigned ignorance and hushed around. Their fight had been on hold and they either brought it to talk upon. With each passing time, it felt like a ticking bomb.

Oddly, the stillness present reflected the same as the aftermath of the destructive storm. Alongside it left behind damages; scars for many and stabs for few. Aditya sighed.

Rich tunes of harmonious piano's music greeted the very moment he stepped in. Music? Oh! Swara must be there - with a muse, Aditya took light steps ahead. Fragments rushed through him.

Back in his memory- seated before the grand instrument, little Swara with her big doe hazels focused and tiny hands placed with accuracy, played tunes. Giggles filled the house every time she got it right.

A fond fragment it was. Aditya stood by the shelf and took a clear view. Swara before him, stood tall with grown fingers running on the piano ivories and another hand handled the music sheets.

Same doe hazels focused as she governed the raise and fall of the tune. A sloppy grin appeared on his lips. To watch Swara evolve despite thunder and thorns only to bloom so bright made him happy.

"You play well now." Startled at the sudden voice directed towards her, Swara looked at him. Good gracious! Too much indulgence  turned her blind towards the surroundings.

Her brother... For the remaining days, silence ruled over them. Their eyes would clash but neither of them were ready to spill words contained. She tried but--- "Thank you," was all she could say.

"You got the piano shifted here?" As he struck a casual conversation, Aditya strolled to the couch. The eye contact weighed upon him and the other reason was the file; he must have left it here.

"My practice sessions might disturb you'll. So I got it shifted here in the morning." She answered. Swara placed the papers down and took her mug to sip the hot chocolate with short glances behind her.