Sweet Deals

To the Bitter End

Photo Credit: Tyler Nix / Unsplash.com

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No one can promise they'll never hurt you,

Because at one time or the other, they will.

The real promise is, if the time you spend together,

Will be worth the pain in the end

~ Quotesgram.com ~

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Annapurna Maheshwari sat aghast as Sanskaar recounted Laksh's misdeeds to her. She could not believe, rather she did not want to believe, as her inner voice was quick to rejoin. But then the fact that it was Sanskaar who was the bearer of the news coupled with Laksh's steadfast refusal to look at her that convinced her that what Sanskaar said was indeed true.

A part of her wanted to blame the girl, which she, however, quickly snuffed; maybe the girl was hasty and foolish to attempt to elope rather than talk things out with her parents, but her actions in no way diminished Laksh's role in the whole incident. Laksh had given the girl reason to hope and believe and by letting her down he had committed the worst travesty possible – omissions of character were not taken lightly in the Maheshwari household. She also had to face her guilt, for when Sanskaar had confessed his love for Kavita followed by his intention to marry her and his subsequent decision to give up his family rather than her; it had plunged their family into anger and despair. None had sided with him and on seeing Sujata's misery, Annapurna had felt glad that is was not her Laksh who was causing so much angst to the family. She had hated herself immediately for feeling what she did; but her heart had tried to calm her 'it is natural that as a mother you would feel proud of your son. It is true that you played a major role in the upbringing of Sanskaar but then nurturing cannot at all times truly override the inherent genetic nature.'

Annapurna paled as she thought of the payback Karma seemed to be planning for her. She hesitantly ventured to ask if Sanskaar knew the name of the girl. Sanskaar nodded and said, "Swara Gadodia" Annapurna blanched at hearing the name as recognition dawned on her. Karma was not going to rest with just a blow; it seemed hell bent on pulling down the very foundation on which her world rested. In a bid to see if she could make any sense, she looked at Sanskaar and asked, "And how do you know all this?"

Sanskaar gave a brief version of he had met Swara and had become friends with both her and her sister, and how in a bout of homesickness she had revealed the events which had led them to come to Mumbai and that an accidental meeting with Laksh had revealed that the person whom Swara had met as Bipul was none other than Laksh. He left out was the fact that both he and Swara were in love with each other as he just had a slight inkling that this might not be received well in the light of Lakshya involvement in the sisters' lives. Annapurna could make out that there was more to the story than what Sanskaar had revealed, but decided to let the matters rest for the time being till the issue with Laksh was sorted out.

Annapurna had heard out Sanskaar in silence, she was not sure if they knew what she did. So she falteringly asked if Sanskaar and Laksh had known about what had transpired with the family after the girls had 'disappeared' and when they shook their heads; she closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands as her mind travelled down the memory lane.

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Annapurna and Sujata slowly walked into the Baadi, they had heard about the 'disappearance' of the Gadodia girls and had come to inquire if there was any way by which they could be of some assistance. They were acquainted with the Gadodias, having met them a few times at the 'Samaj' functions or at the Marwari community functions.