Chapter- 29

Difficult time's going on guys. Please stay at your homes and stay safe!

Please vote and comment! Motivates a lot!

Swara's POV-

All day, I was busy packing and I had a talk with Ronita. She already knew my whole story and she said that my decision is completely correct. Also, she too was planning to move back to Delhi due to some family issues.

The doorbell rang as it was 6 in the evening. I opened the door to see Aditya standing.

" Heyy." I said, stepping aside so that he could walk in.

" Are you packed?" He asked.

" Almost. Just a few things left here and there. Will be done in about an hour. You want something to eat?" I asked him.

" No, I'm good. You just finish up and then we will leave for the manor. We fly back tomorrow morning.

" I'm so afraid of showing my face to everyone there. How will I even begin to apologize to them? Hell, I have no idea how to make up to them or to you." I replied, sitting on the couch and again, tears started rolling down my cheeks.

" Swara....hey. Look at me." I heard Aditya's voice who came and sat right next to me.

I couldn't. I want him to be angry at me, to scold me, to taunt me and to confront me in the most meanest way possible but he was just being so good to me right from the first time I saw him the day before yesterday. How could he look at me and not fume in anger?

" Your calmness is just adding to my guilt. Whg are you not shouting at me?" I asked him.

" Because I really am not angry at you. That was a huge misunderstanding." He replied as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me to his chest and I snuggled.

We stayed like that for some minutes after which I pulled back.

" Swara, you have to do a lot of apologizing in Mumbai and you will have to stay strong because no one is going to just accept you with open arms. They all know what had happened that day, six years back but you will have to do a lot of convincing." He told me the truth.

" I know that Aditya and I will do whatever it takes." I said, getting up.

" Where are you going?" He asked.

" Packing what all is left. It will take me another hour to be done with everything. Also, what about my job?" I asked him.

" I've taken care of it. They have accepted your resignation." He replied and I nodded, wiping my tears away.

" Thank you. Now you can watching TV or something while I get my work done." I said.

" No, I'd rather come with you." He said, smirking and followed me to the room.

As I started pack to remain what all was left, he started shooting questions.

" Which college did you study in?" Was his first first question.

" University of West London. Both undergraduate and masters." I replied as I kept my degree in the suitcase.

" You studied business, I assume." He posed the next question.

" Yes, the one." I replied, chuckling.

Before he could ask another question, his cell phone went off. He gave me a look and then took the call.

" Hello Maa." He said, still looking at me.

Shit! Why was mumma calling him? Did she already know about me? No god, please no. I'd rather talk to her face to face now than over the phone. That would be purely awkward and disturbing to her and to me.

" I am fine maa. How are you, papa and grandpa?" He asked.

I mouthed Aditya to not tell anything about me as of yet to them. I literally begged him.

" I am coming back tomorrow maa and I have a surprise for all of you." He said, smirking at me.

Oh my god....this man is going to be the death of me. I will be more of a shock than surprise to all of them. Why is he doing this!!

Thankfully, he didn't say anything further and they hung up. Only then I could stop hallucinating.

" You almost gave me a heart attack!!" I accused him, throwing the pillow I had in my hands.

" What did I do?" He asked as if he is the most innocent man on this planet.

" This." I remarked, pointing towards his phone.

" Did I say a word?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

" Aditya, don't you dare act oblivious. I know what you were doing. You are mean!" I accused him.

He just went on to smirk, not uttering a word from his mouth as he watched me juggle to put things in the bad. The wardrobe was almost empty, just my mangalsutra was kept. I took it out and was about to put it in the bag when I felt a pair of arms snaked around my waist and hot breaths on the nape of my neck.

I gasped due to our proximity.

" You held onto this." He remarked.

" There were times I wanted to throw this away when I used to think of you being with Kritika, married and whereas I thought about how weak I was, not being able to forget you or let you go from my mind and heart." I confessed.

" Then let it go to where is rightfully belongs." He took it from my hands and turned me around to tie it around my neck.

" No Aditya, stop." I objected.

" Why?" He asked, as a speck of disappointment flared across his eyes but it was gone as soon as it came.

" Remember, we are doing this the right way? Let me seek everyone's forgiveness first." I told him.

" You are my wife Swara and everybody acknowledges that fact. As for tying this, I will wait if that's what you want." He said and I nodded.

" I was a fool, wasn't I? Leaving you and everybody behind for nothing." I was trying so hard not to think about it but every time I saw how much of a good person he is, it just reminds me of my idiocy.

" Swara, the more you think about it, the more it will hurt and forbid us both to move on from these six years. Just learn to step ahead with me without looking back. We can't change the past but we sure shot can make sure that no misunderstanding as huge as this happens between us in the future." He spoke sense.

" I don't want to think about it but it's just the guilt. It does not go away." I said, sighing.

He just pulled me to his chest, hugging me. Merely being near to him comforts me. His presence makes me feel secure and loved.

" Okay, now that you are done, let's go. We have an early morning take off." He said as I stepped back and nodded. Closing both of my suitcases, I took a last round of the house I spent the last six years.

" This was my home." I muttered to myself.

" But Mumbai is your home more than any place can be." I heard him say, he was just trying to comfort me.

He took my hand and entangled with his as we walked outside. I submitted the keys with the manager who'd give it to Ro when to empties the apartment too. She will give them to the landlord.

We reached the manor. There was so much going on in my mind that I couldn't sleep all night and just ended up binge watching The Big Bang Theory all night.

.................................

" Heyy.....wake up Swara, we are about to land soon." I heard Aditya's voice.

I opened my eyes. Oh my god! I had almost slept through the whole flight, but to my excuse the bed was very comfortable.

" Can we go to Paris before landing? I really want to see Eiffel Tower!" I almost begged him but all he did was chuckle at me while giving me an amused look.

" Swara, I know that running away is the easiest option but not the wisest. I am sure you'll be alright." He said, getting all serious.

" Fine, fine. I know that. I will face everything." I said, looking at him in the eye.

" And you'll always find me standing next to you, forever." He promised.

I hugged him tightly and we stayed there like that for a while.

This was the best feeling.

It was seven in the evening when we had hit the road. Everything was just coming back to me and magically, I still remembered the whole city, all the ways. It hadn't changed a bit. It was just the same.

" This is not the way to your place or mine." I remarked.

" No, we are going to the manor. Maa, papa and grandpa must be over for dinner. It had become like a ritual. Each Sunday, we have dinner together." He replied.

" Wait, wait, wait......you mean to say that I am going to come face to face with everyone in about the next ten minutes? Aditya, I am not prepared just as of yet. Can we please do this tomorrow? As much as it kills me not to see them today, I'd rather talk to them tomorrow." I begged.

" No Swara, you need to stop hiding now. All of them have been waiting for this day from the past six years. I cannot let them wait anymore." He said.

Deep down, I knew that somewhere he had a point. Why delay all of this? Eventually, I will have to do this, why not today, right now?

" At least let me change before meeting them?" I said, looking at him.

I was wearing a pair of shorts and a crop top for being comfortable for the journey but this was not the attire I had in mind when I wanted to meet them.

" I don't understand why but if you say so, I'll take you in from the backside and you can change in my room." He replied and I nodded, thankfully.

As promised, he did take me to his room and waited outside for me. Luckily, I had a decent pair of jeans and a tshirt with me and I changed quickly.

Swara's Look-

" Let's go." I said, coming out of the room.

" Don't worry. They all love you too much to not accept you back." He tried to ease my anxiety and fear but nothing would calm me down right now.

I just gave him a smile to let him know that I'm glad that he is with me as we descended the stairs to the hall.

" Mom." Aditya said, grabbing her attention and everybody turned and I hid behind him.

He took his arm to me and grabbed me from behind him to next to him.

I heard four gasps and the voice of one glass shattering to pieces because it fell down from mumma's hands.

" Shona." My grandpa whispered and walked to me and grabbed me in a tight hug.

" You made your old man wait for so long to finally meet you." He said and I could hear his voice quivering.

" I am so sorry grandpa. I am so sorry." Tears automatically started flowing down my eyes as I hugged him back.

" Why Shona? Why did you leave? Was your house not comforting enough for you to turn back to it to seek solace? Do you not consider us as your family?" He asked.

Before I should answer, I was interrupted.

" Don't ask anything to her papa. Who is she? I don't know her. She is a stranger." Mumma said, giving me a harsh, pointed look.

" I am really sorry mumma." I apologized again.

" You think that sorry sorts everything out? Just walk out anytime you want and walk in and say just a sorry?" Papa asked. I could see his eyes moist too.

" I know papa that no explaination can justify what I did and no sorry can fix it but please, forgive me." I begged, walking towards him.

" Who are we to forgive you Swara? Who are we? We are just the people who procreated you. That's it right? That's the only value we hold in your heart. Then why are you saying sorry?" Mumma asked harshly.

" That's no true mumma. You all mean the world to me, even more. There was not a day when I did not regret leaving all of you, not a day went by when I did not think of you. Whenever I tried to think of coming back, I just couldn't. Infact, I would never have returned ever had Aditya not found me because I run away from things, my feelings, everyone's feelings and life. I don't know what I was thinking, running away like that. I am really sorry but please, forgive me. Please." I broke down, falling on my knees.

" Swara, get up." Aditya helped held my shoulder to make me stand.

" See, I told you that no one will forgive me." I said to him

" And I was right. Can't you see it? No one is angry Swara. They are hurt." He whispered.

" Shona, nothing else matters. You are home now." Grandpa said, smiling.

" Mom, dad....please forgive me?" I went to them.

" I am glad that Aditya found you." Mumma whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

" You knew?" I asked, wiping her tears.

She nodded and pulled me for a hug. Did she forgive me? So soon?

" Mom, I am really sorry. Really, really sorry." I cried.

" It was no one's fault beta. Just destiny." She ran her fingers in my hair, soothing.

Then I went to dad.

" You don't have to apologize to me beta. I love you too much to get angry at you after seeing you in six years." He said, keeping his hand on my head.

I then went to papa. His eyes were filled with tears.

" Shona, as much as I want to stay angry at you, I can't. Beta, promise me that you will never do anything like this ever. Promise me." He asked.

" I promise papa. I promise that I will never leave you all like this ever. I love you." I said and hugged him tightly.

I lost the time when I was in his arms, forgetting all my problems for a while.

" Go to you mumma Shona." He whispered to me and I nodded, stepping back as I walked towards her.

" Mumma." I whispered but she slapped me, hard.

" Don't call me that. I don't think you understand the meaning of the word." She said, turning her back towards me, leaving me teary eyed again.

Hey guys! This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. To unlock the next one, at least 160 comments are required on this one.

I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!