Entangled Hearts (Swaragini FF)

Chapter 4

Sanskar pulled back from the kiss and looked at Swara. Swara opened her eyes and looked intently at him for a second before her eyes widened. She gasped and pulled out of his embrace. Scrambling to put in some distance between them. Sanskar tried to hold her, console her, but she moved away from his touch as if burned, before her eyes welled up and she ran away from there. Sanskar was left there, watching her until she could no longer be seen.

He sank into the sand, his head in his hands. What had he just done? He had betrayed the brother he cared for so much, he had cheated on his girlfriend, and he had effectively kissed someone who he was soon going to be in a very pious relationship with, a relationship that made his recent actions quite impermissible. But then why did it feel so right holding Swara in his arms. Why did it feel so right kissing her?

He wasn't sure how long he sat there. It was really dark when he finally got up and slowly made his way back home. His mind still plagued by the multitude of emotions, feelings and thoughts blowing through it. The house was quiet when he entered. The family had fortunately not gone searching for him, probably assuming he must have gone out with Kavita. It helped him with the alone time he needed. He wouldn't have been able to face anyone right then. As he reached the second floor landing, his feet took him in front of Swara's room. He stood there for a second, before he backed away and entered his room.

Early next morning he was in Panjim. Kavita's maasi stayed there. He had asked her to meet him at the Coffee café day outlet by the ferry point. He was already waiting for her there when she arrived.

"Why did you want to meet me here?" Kavita said with a smile, adding "Have you planned anything special"

Sanskar didn't respond, just asked her what she wanted and placed their orders.

"What is it Sanskar?" Kavita asked looking at his serious expression.

"Do you remember what you told me when you said we should get married?" Sanskar asked her, after the waiter got their coffees. Kavita nodded apprehensively "You said we had been good friends for years. We had been dating for some time know. We knew each other well enough that we could spend our entire lifetime together and be happy." He said looking at her. She nodded again "Is that enough?" he asked her

"What are you trying get at Sanskar?" Kavita said quietly, worried about where this was going.

"Is it enough that you can spend your life with the other person? Marriage is sacred. It is for life. Shouldn't it be about two people being bound together, who cannot live without each other?" Sanskar asked her

"I don't understand. What are you saying?" Kavita asked softly

"Kavita, we are two people who can live with each other. Are we also two people who cannot live without each other? Am I someone who you cannot live without?" Sanskar asked, leaning a bit forward

"I miss you when we don't talk to each other" Kavita said as means of explaining

"You can also miss someone who has become a habit. We talk to each on specific days and times, it is part of our routine, but do you feel an ache when you don't talk to me?" Sanskar asked

"I don't know. I never evaluated it" Kavita said quietly

'Then don't we owe it to ourselves to find out" Sanskar said, making his point

"Why this all of sudden? What has changed in a day?" Kavita asked him

"If not now when? Our families are thinking of our Roka tomorrow" Sanskar said. There was more that was prompting these questions in his head, but when he didn't have the answers to those questions himself, what was he supposed to say to Kavita.