IF YOU ARE WITH ME

CHAPTER 23

Kolkata..

Sanskar's Farmhouse..

Smiling Sanskar caressed the picture after hanging it on the wall, accompanying the long wooden stairs at the corner of their giant lounge with glass windows at the backside wall that gave the enchanting view of the garden outside where he spent most than usual of his time these days.

Their picture along with their son, that Uttara recently had clicked on the day of their son's naamkaran (name ceremony),he caressed it rememsinizing the moments.. Their lips pressed on the shinny forhead of their two months older son and with that his eyes travelled on other pictures hanging aside.. his family.. his mum his dad his sister.. Swara's family.. all the moments captured that day,with Sujata making tilak on their son's head,making him wear a gold chain.. and that moment when all had said altogether.. "Pratik.." And Sanskar had himself captured their picture, a laugh escaped his lips at the thought. God how crazy his and Swara's family could be he never knew before that day. So Pratik.. a name chosen by Sujata itself after arguing with her husband Ram for what felt like the whole of the time until they finalised it.. "Na Sanskar tu maari baat sunnega.. mujha kuch na pata.. aap chup rahiye.." that was Sujata's sneer when Ram tried to speak in between. "Bhaiya this is not fair.. mera bhi toh bhatija ha wo.. " and Uttara had protested against her mother too. Sanskar and Swara shared glances at eachother smiling before Sanskar sat between his mum and his dad who sat pouting their faces. "Baat ye ha k.." Sanskar started with a hope to mediate the situation, "Mom aap thora agar.."

"Sanskar.. tu apni maa ki baat ko talega.." Sujata interrupted and Sanskar gulped glancing at Swara.. God what made him to sit between his mum and his dad.. he knew it very well what he'd gotten himself into. Not finding Sujata ready to even listen out himself  Sanskar turned to face his father and quietly requested him to back away.. Ram showed exasperation at first but at last , "Achha tu kehta ha toh thek ha.. karne dou manmani apni maa ko.." And it was when Sujata jumped up from the sofa and took her Grandson from Swara's lap.

On that day everyone suggested their own names,Uttara Sharmishtha, Shekher everyone except Swara and Sanskar who stood quiet smiling and  watching their family,fighting like it was a award winning thing so they were arguing for the most compatible one. Well after all the name was finalised to be Pratik and all agreed willingly.. they had to bow down their head before Sujata.

Swara who was just passing by the stairs,moving towards the kitchen,stopped at her track to watch  her husband smiling with himself. Amusingly she clamped her arms and stood down, looking at her husband, who stood at the middle of stairs, dressed in a casual full sleeves t-shirt paired with black sweatpants. It probably wasn't Sunday but he'd taken a day off today.

Swara cleared her throat making him to drew his head towards her and she raised her brow quizzically. Now what was in her head? Thinking Sanskar smirked and exhaled before stepping down towards her keeping eye and eye with her. "Man hi man main muskurana.. aaj kal kuch zyda nh hogaya Mr Maheshwari?" She teased, "Asa muskurana ka kya matlab hota ha.. pata ha na aapko?" Swara stepped in his side closing the distance between them and looking up into his eyes. The naughtiness was laced in her tone,her eyes bored into his and yes she'd her hands placed on his chest. He chuckled.

"Hmm.. quite experienced I'm in it so.. yeah I know.." he said sliding his one arm around her waist, "Aapke pyaar main pagal hone sa pehle.. main asa hi muskuraya karta tha.." he said caressing her cheek whether so softly that she couldn't hide the hint of red that grew on her cheeks and the shine that made her eyes twinkle.

"Mr Maheshwari.. sambhal kar chaliye.. kahin ye muskrahat aapko bhari na par jaye kisi din.." she replied and blinked dramatically.. "Wo kya ha na.. aaj kal zamana buhot nazuk ha.. your one smile can be taken with some other means.." she pulled on his shirt glaring at him and he smiled at her protectiveness. He wondered why would she even say that.. she knew he only loved her but yeah man.. he had heard right about woman.. she gets more protective about her husband after having a kid but what if he takes some extra bites sometimes just for fun.. pulling his wife's leg.. it won't make any harm no? He made his mind he'd be using it against her in future yes..