Entangled Hearts (Swaragini FF)

Chapter 2

Late night found Sanskar heading to the beach for a quick swim. He knew he was tired beyond measure, but he loved going in for a quick dip every night he was there, and he held off his sleep for a while to do it that night as well.

When he walked out of the water, towards the house, he found Swara there standing alone staring at the water. He nodded at her, before going over to the bench, close to the gate, to pick up the towel he had left there. He patted himself dry, before pulling the towel around his neck and deciding to talk to her.

"Cannot sleep?" he asked her softly as he walked over to where she was standing. She just shook her head, but didn't say anything. He was wondering if he should leave her alone, when she spoke softly

"Have you done it before?" she said staring at the sea for a minute before turning to him "Scuba diving. Have you done it before?"

He nodded "Quite a few times. It is really beautiful down there. A different world altogether. Is this your first time?" he asked, she nodded "Are you scared? Look if you think it is too much, you don't need to do it?" he said sensing her apprehension.

"No it is alright. I want to try it" she said, but it felt half hearted to him

"If your heart isn't in it. Don't force yourself to do something you aren't comfortable with" he told her softly.

"No. Its okay. I want to"

When people are usually scared, they have one of the two reactions. Either they are hoping to be given that opportunity, through repeated request/openings, to back out of what they don't want to do or they want to use it as challenge to overcome their fears. Sanskar realized, Swara fell in the third category. She wanted that opportunity to get out but was forcing herself to take it as a challenge even though she didn't want to.

"It wont be bad. Laksh and I will watch out for you" he said finally.

He was about to turn and leave her to her thoughts, when she spoke again "Does swimming in the sea help with the diving?" It was genuine curiosity from her this time.

"Not really. You don't need to know how to swim to dive underwater. At least not for what we are planning" Sanskar told her "You don't know how to swim?" he asked, though he felt he could sense the answer already

"I can swim in the pool a bit. I went for the diving lesson today. But I cannot swim in the sea. I have never had to even back home in Kolkata"

"Don't worry. It wont hold you back tomorrow. You will be fine" Sanskar assured her "Do you want to swim in the sea?" he asked her as an after thought

"Not really. I haven't been into sea water much or around beaches even" Swara told him honestly

"Never?" he asked surprised. She shook her head, "Well you can go into the water now. It is fun"

"I don't know how to swim in the sea" she told him again

"You don't need to swim. You can walk in just to feel it on your feet" Sanskar told her. She looked at him wistfully. He sensed she wanted some company to try it out but was apprehensive about asking him. "Come on. We can do it now. I will go in with you"

"You don't need to" She said, her expression clearly telling him she was hoping he would brush aside her objection

"Come on" he said, taking a few steps toward the water, turning back waiting for her to join him.

She hesitated a bit before slowly following him towards the waves. "Now what?" she asked, standing at the edge of the water

He rolled his eyes at her "Now we go in" he said stating the obvious. Seeing her nervousness, he added "We go in only to the level you are comfortable. I will let you take the lead"