SHIKWA

Chapter 19

Parineeta had just finished the work. But her thoughts were struck again to that photo. She again looked at Sanskaar.

"You seem a little lost! Your mother is fine na?" Sanskaar asked

Parineeta nodded.

"Open that document again. I need one more clause out of it. "

Parineeta compiled. And again, same photograph came in front of her. She looked at the photo.

Dressed in a light blue shirt, Sanskaar was looking at a girl who was blushing hard wearing a floral tiara. Parineeta knew the girl. She could not forget those eyes. She could not forget the face. She could not forget the tears.

"What are you staring at?" Sanskaar took the laptop from her hand.

"Sir!" Parineeta was about to say something when Sanskaar glared at her.

"No personal questions parineeta!" Sanskaar said closing the laptop.

She nodded. But could not help to notice Sanskaar wiping his tears silently. Pari opened her mouth to say something but closed it again.

"You can leave now!" Sanskaar said.

Parineeta took her bag and stood up. But something was stopping her. She stood there for a while.

Sanskaar too noticed her behaviour. She was ever so professional. But the distress was visible in her eyes.

"Ask!" Sanskaar said.

"Sir! You know her?"

"Yes!"

Hitting her forehead for such a stupid question of her, Parineeta asked again, "You... "

"I was about to get married to her! Anything else?"

"Oh God!" Parineeta let out a sigh.

"You know her?" Sanskaar asked.

"She... She is my sister!"

Parineeta's reply made Sanskaar shocked. This girl, whom he had known for two years, was Swara's sister.

"Sir! I don't use my last name because I hate Jai Prakash Gadodia! But my full name is Parineeta Suraj Gadodia, elder brother of Jai prakash. My father died when I was an year old. My mother was more lika a maid in that house. I always used to dream of taking her away as soon as I complete my studies!"

"Jai prakash can Do everything!" Sanskaar said.

"Shekhar chachu offered my mother to move away with her when he got separated. But my mother did not agree. And we lived as mere servants in that house. Bade papa let me complete my studies to become a good person in eyes of society." 

Sanskaar sighed. How low a man could fall!

"Sir! If I am sitting in front of you na, that is because of Swara didi! Had she not given me courage that day na, everything would be finished! But she herself fell into the trap she wanted to save me from."

Sanskaar had many questions. Why Swara never told him about someone named Parineeta!

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Parineeta was sitting on a swing. Her mehandi was drying. In the extreme sunlight of April, sun was not burning her. The fire she had set into her dreams was more intense.

She remembered how 10 days back, CM of Rajasthan came to her house asking for hand of Sakshi, her bade papa's daughter for his son, Yuvraj! His bade papa, did not know why, said, "Our house's elder daughter should get married first!"