Zinda Rehti Hain Unki Mohabbatein - A SwaSan Story

Part 1

Mumbai

After their midnight birthday celebrations, the elders went off to sleep. Shekhar Gadodia and Sharmishta Gadodia in their own apartment, where as Lakshya's parents, Ramprasad Gupta and Sujata Gupta went off to the adjacent apartment.

The Gadodias and Guptas have been neighbours for over twenty years, and this was the main reason for the strong bond of friendship, they shared with each other.

When they became neighbours, Swara and Lakshya were small kids, both were two years old. Swara and Lakshya were of the same age and their birthdays fell on consecutive dates, Lakshya's being one day older than her.

Sharmishta gave birth to Ragini, two years later. Swara and Lakshya, both of whom were four year olds then, had delightedly taken care of Ragini, ever since.

Lakshya and Swara had been best friends since they met each other, and they shared a very special bond. Their character traits were really similar to each other, mostly due to their consecutive birthdays. Swara and Lakshya had always been in the same class, while they were in school. And they even joined the same course at college, only because they enjoyed each other's company.

Each and every person in their apartment complex, school and college, appreciated and secretly envied the special bond of friendship these two shared.

Even Ragini felt left out during those moments when all the three were together. Ragini had her own set of friends, since she was younger to them. But still, she too envied the relationship between Swara and Lakshya.

Now, after the elders went away, Ragini and Lakshya sat down on Swara's bed.

Ra:(excitedly) Swara, did you like our surprise..?

Swara looked at both of them and pouted sadly.

Sw: Nooo...It wasn't great..!

La: (feeling irritated) Liar..!!

Ra: (shocked) Really, Swara..??

Sw: (slowly)I mean to say..It wasn't great..(grins widely)Ha ha..But superb, awesome, fantastic..!!

Ra: (smiles) Swaraaa..you are such a drama queen..! (hugs her tightly)

La: You know what, Swara..(chomping on his cake piece) I had selected the cake for you..Red velvet pastry..I know you just love them the most, now-a-days..(winks and offers her a bite)

Sw: I know..(takes a bite and then smiles naughtily) And yesterday night, for your birthday, who selected that Black currant pastry cake..? I did..!! Because I knew that it has become your favourite right now..And last year, I chose Black forest pastry for you..Remember..I knew you loved it then..

La:(excitedly) Of course..And yours was Chocolate pastry..Which I had selected especially for you..!

Sw: (smiles wide) Hmm..You always know about my favourites, Lakshya..You are the best..!

Ragini's eyes darted to and fro between them, like she was watching a tennis match, as they talked with each other.

Ra: (helplessly shouts) Oh God..Even I am here..And don't you people forget that I also did so much to make your birthdays special, ok..!!

Swara and Lakshya looked at Ragini with shocked faces and the next instant, both of them started to laugh seeing Ragini's face.

Ra: Well..now you guys make fun of me..!(looks away feeling irritated)

Swara and Lakshya went to her either sides and put their arms around Ragini's shoulders affectionately.

La&Sw: (happily)You are our princess, Ragini..!