Unmasked - A Swasan Story

7 # Few Secrets

Hello All,

Back with an update as promised. Here come few secrets your way. Yet to catch up on comments from the last chapter. Apologies for the delay.

Happy Reading. Do let me know your thoughts.

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Ragini Gadodia - Only daughter of Ram and Janaki Gadodia. Ram, A named attorney, his clientele included whos who of the business arena in Kolkata. Ragini and Swara first met as kids in neighborhood park as Sharmistha and Janaki. And stuck chord immediately. Swara had always been a shy and timid kid as opposed to Ragini, an extrovert.

Janaki always wondered how Sharmistha would put up with Parvati. Her attitude towards Sharmistha was no secret. Upon asking Sharmistha would just smile and say, " I chose to love. Maybe one day, Maa would love me too and accept me." This very nature of Sharmistha is what Janaki admired most. Ever giving and loving. She loved Swara no less and of course her bond with Ragini. Often They both would be referred as 'Swaragini' by the duo.

Sharmistha always treated Jaanki as her sibling, one she never had. Their bond was a sore eye for Parvati but she couldn't do a thing about it.

Over casual chat one of the evenings as they watched Swara and Ragini play around.

"I know even in my absence I don't have to worry about Swara. You will be there for her, always."Sharmistha said, her eyes fixed on kids

"Why are you saying so Shomi ?" Janaki asked alarmed.

"You never know what happens tomorrow. " Sharmistha answered with a blank stare. Looking at Janaki's horrified expression. "Offo, Bas aise hi Keh Diya ...aur tum,"Sharmistha laughed out.

"Please never ever say such things. "Janaki clearly disapproved " I will be there for Swara anytime and I know you will do same for Ragini ...but please..."

"Ok, Nahi Kahungi.Promise."

Janaki felt a strange restlessness that night. She also had a tough time sleeping. Like the fate would have it, Sharmistha fell victim to an epidemic and passed away, a personal huge loss for Janaki.

"Did she know? Did she have a premonition?" Plagued with questions for few weeks and Janaki slowly coped up with tragedy. It was Janaki who tended Swara when Sekhar slipped into a trauma post his wife 's death. The idea of Sekhar's second marriage didn't sit well with Janaki but that was out of her league to intervene. She held same apprehensions as of Sekhar about Sumitra.

Though Sumitra proved to be a nice one, Janaki couldn't accept her in place of Sharmistha, hence they never bonded. She found Sumitra's nature pretentious, too good to be true. It was feeling from within.

Sumitra soon had apprehensions about Swara spending more time in Gadodia house. It would only imply badly on her. Hence Swara's time with Ragini was cut short. But post, Sekhar's death things changed. In Sumitra's absence, Swara spent more time with Gadodia Family. It was on Ragini's insistence Swara applied to the same college and could make it to merit list. It gave them more time together as well as music classes. Ragini was more inclined towards classical, Swara towards western. And Ragini was one person whom Swara turned to any time, absolutely sure she would be there for her. One year elder to Swara, Ragini played a role of sister cum best friend for Swara. Post her graduation, Ragini joined MBA and they would hang out in evenings mostly at Ragini's place.

A very well settled family Gadodia house stood as a reflection for the same. But the favorite place of Swara was the open terrace with little garden and swing. That evening, after a call from Ragini, she rushed to Gadodia house. At least that would set her mood right. 'Janaki maasi' as usual, had been her sweetest. Few minutes, Ragini was quick to guess Swara was upset, It wasn't tough for her to make out why? Swara shared snippets