"Badi Ma, he has some very important meetings." She gulped and brought a fake smile to her face to cover up "He said he will come soon." She could not match her eyes with their curious eyes. 
Swara mentally thanked the ladies of her house not to stretch the topic, but she could feel Sujata's eagle eye which distress her.
Swara observed the kitchen it was flooding with all Laksh's favourite dishes.
"Badi Ma, can I cook Moong Dal ka Halwa?" Swara knew her husband's love for this dish.
"Beta, just tell me what do you want? I will make it." 
"Badi Ma please." She requested with puppy eyes.
"Ok. Go ahead." 
"You are making Moong Daal ka Halwa for him, but he is not there for lunch." Sujata mentioned slowly not audible to anyone helping Swara with preparation.
"But he will come for dinner." It was more like a question than a statement.
"Are you sure?" Sujata challenged keeping her eyes on Swara's baffled face.
"He generally comes home at around 7, 7-30." She tried to convince herself.
Sujata left a humorous chuckle.
"That was 6 months back. A lot of things have changed in these last 6 months." Sujata gave her a reality check. She left, leaving Swara drowned in her thoughts.
'I hope he will come home on time today.' She silently prayed.
Lunch went smoothly but Swara missed Sanskar's presence. She felt incomplete when chair beside her on the dining table was empty. 
After lunch Gadodia family was bidding bye to Maheshwari's.
"Shona, at least today Sanskar should have stayed at home." Sharmishtha had observed gloominess on her daughter's face. Mother and daughter got a few moments away from their families.
"It's ok Ma. It was a very important meeting otherwise he would not have left." 
"I hope everything will be fine between you two." Sharmishtha wished, caressing her hairs.
Swara passed a smile with a blink of assurance.
"Shomi let's go." Shekhar came towards them.
"Swara, take care." He pulled Swara in a fatherly hug.
It was later afternoon, when the entire Maheshwari family settled down after long day. 
"Laksh, Ragini do you really want to adopt Mishka? Have you both discussed about it? Adopting a child is a huge responsibility, there is no backing out from it. So think about it." Durgaprasad warned his son.
"Yes Papa, we are sure. Yes, it will be new and challenging for me and Ragini but we will give our best." Laksh replied and Ragini nodded her head in his support.
"Ok then ask our lawyer to make adoption papers ready." His father suggested.
"Laksh, whatever happened 6 months back was not acceptable. You cannot make impulsive decisions. You have to think about your family, Ragini. Do you know how much she had suffered?" Annapurna needed to take out her anguish.
"I am sorry Ma." Laksh kneeled down in front of his mother.
"Just sorry? Do you think all your mistakes will be forgiven with just a simple apology?" tears started rolling over his mother's cheeks.
"I had already lost my elder son, you did not even think about me for a moment." Annapurna cried her heart out remembering Adarsh.
Everyone stayed silent.