Together Forever

Chapter 67: Dreams

Swara had the leading seat towards the laptop. Sanskaar, right behind and Asha stood a bit tensed.

"There we are." They were just a step behind to view if he was selected in the entrance exam, "On a count of three, okay?"

She announced. Sanskaar had a stiff composure from the amount of pressure. Good lord! He had to crack in. It was the first step to seal his goals of becoming a prosecutor.

Not that he was not confident. Yet, the fears of what if's had quite a nice hold on him. I would pass- Sanskaar repeated in his mind, eyes stressfully closed as Swara started her count.

Three, two-- and Swara paused. Well, she already clicked the enter option to the student login of the college website. Her hazels etched to the screen as her internal chants of prayers took a pause.

"Why are you--" She cranked her head to be greeted with Sanskaar's frown and alerted shoulders. Without a moment of delay, Swara had her arms thrown around his neck.

Sanskaar's eyes looked beyond her shoulder frame, direct on the screen. He was visibly frozen. All the raised thumps of his heart found the exact time to skip a beat.

"Congratulations." It was Swara's warm voice that poured against his ears, made him come to reality. This--- everything felt like a dream.

A long dream that was now a reality

Reality.

He was aware of Asha's happy squeals and her rush to the kitchen to fetch something sweet. Swara in his arms had withdrawn, her hands reaching out for his cold ones.

"Snap out of your anxiety my handsome boyfriend. We are safe." She assured. Oddly, it was she who gave him warmth, not him. Yet it felt nice.

Asha returned with a bowl of sweet rice pudding (kheer)  Not sweeter than her smile though. She fed Sanskaar a spoon full with misty eyes.

He embraced his dearest lady and mumbled some nonsense chatters to make her smile. Which she did very soon. Sanskaar stared at the picture frame. His grandfather's.

Are you happy? - He had the urge to ask. His grandfather and him dotted this dream, this goal together. Now that he took a stable step forward to reach the goal, he was not there to witness.

Times as these make Sanskaar miss him more, think of those what if's scenarios. Finally his gaze landed at the painted family portrait. 

His grandfather shall not reside in the form of the human body. But would always be around them. Watching them. Sanskaar smiled.

And then he looked at Swara. Beams of joy that she could not control, spilled through her lips and sparkled in her eyes. Sanskaar held out a hand.

She had told him for numerous times of what a warm family he had. Of how the grandmother - son everytime managed to pull her heart strings.

But today, Sanskaar wanted her to know. She was already a part of the family she adored. She was his family alongside his grandparents and he grinned.

Because she knew.

As now her hand laid upon his. Willingly. Sanskaar recalled Asha's words - being selfish. It would be worth it to give it a try.

To be selfish. For him. For her.

~

"Right on time! Sanskaar, let's escape before your girlfriend gets us dead just by walking." Jay whispered into Sanskaar's ears.

Sanskaar sighed. An hour down since they accompanied Swara for her sudden shopping spree. Bestest part? She picked nothing from those three stores they visited and came for another.