Cloaked Intentions

Chapter 4

Durga Prasad held Laksh by his shoulders.

 "You don't understand! If he finds out it will be dangerous. Don't you understand how risky this is? You have to leave," he said firmly. 

Worry was seeping through every word Durga Prasad had said; even as he shook Laksh to put some sense into him.

"Please don't ask me to leave. I promise I will be safe. Please let me do this. Please!" Laksh pleaded

"If something happens to you..." Durga Prasad uttered, looking at Laksh

"Nothing will happen. I will be careful," Laksh promised

Durga Prasad sighed. He looked at Laksh quietly for a minute. "You promise me that you will be careful?" he asked quietly

"I promise," Laksh assured

"If I see you take even the slightest amount of risk, I will pull you out from there and send you away," Durga Prasad said firmly. 

Laksh nodded solemnly. 

"Fine," Durga Prasad said letting go of his shoulder reluctantly.

***

Laksh had come back in time for dinner. 

The expression Swara had thrown him, during dinner, made it clear to him that she was planning to visit his room in the night. 

He gave her a discrete nod letting her know he would wait for her.

Close to midnight, there was a knock on his door. 

He quickly opened it to have the bundle of energy that was Swara, hug him tightly. He had barely been able to close the door to avoid anyone seeing them in this state.

"We did it!" she exclaimed happily, once she pulled out of the hug

Laksh shook his head. "I see you are happy finally. The things I do for you Swara," he said.

They walked over and sat on his bed 

"So now are you going to let your father know about us? I have solved one problem for you"

Her face fell at this. "I cannot. Not yet"

Laksh sighed. "Swara," he said pulling her face towards him so that she was looking into his eyes. "Can you please tell me what is going on here? Are you really serious about us?" he asked

"Laksh! How can you even think that I am not serious about us?" Swara asked him surprised

"What am I supposed to think when you aren't even willing to let your father know about us?" Laksh reasoned

"Laksh, it is not as simple as that," Swara tried to explain

"Why not?" Laksh countered

"Because my Baba has someone in his mind for me and it isn't as easy to dissuade him of that," Swara sighed

"What do you mean he has someone else in mind? Has your marriage already been fixed? Why did you never mention this to me before?" Laksh asked pulling his hand away from her.

Swara held his hand. "He hasn't. Nothing is fixed. He just wishes for it"

"Who is this person?" Laksh asked still not looking at her

Swara sighed. "My childhood friend, Sanskar."

Laksh's stance became a bit rigid.

Swara tried to explain, "He hasn't even been around. Neither I nor Baba has met, seen or heard from him in years or even heard of him."