Friday came with in a blink. Swara came back to her room after lunch. She went towards her closet to finalise. 
"Hmm this looks good." Swara talked to herself, taking out one saree.
'But do you even know what to wear for such parties?' her subconscious warned her. 
Yes, it was true, Swara had never accompanied Sanskar for any business parties. She took a few selfies with different apparels and sent them to Sanskar. 
It was again a moment of truth for her, earlier Sanskar used to ask her to join him for his business parties or conferences or trips but again in the race to become best in every other relationship, she kept on declining. She didn't even realize when he stopped asking her out. But today, her heart felt heavy over her own denials.
He was in a meeting when his phone beeped with back to back notifications. Her photos with the message 'What should I wear for today's party?'
'Which party?' His instant reply resulted in Swara banging her own head.
'Mr. and Mrs Raheja's anniversary party. Your business associate.' she typed rolling her eyes.
Her reply snapped him out from his own word of delusions.
'Are we still going?' his fingers typed without his realisation. 
"Shit" He cursed himself for his own message.
'What does that mean? I am going to parlour for my hairdo and then I will get ready by 7. When are you returning home?' 
'I will be back by 7 - 7:30.' Small smile glazed on his lips before he was pulled back in the serious discussion about the project.
Swara came back from parlour to witness her parents, grandparents along with her little brother in their living room.
"Shona" Sharmishtha came to her daughter with a bright smile.
Sharmishtha did not miss her daughter's anxious state. She knew her daughter was upset over something. Their last meeting also left her in a whirl round of perplexity.
"How are you?" Sharmishtha could not take her eyes from her daughter. She was wearing a simple yellow kurta with white palazzo. "You look different. You did something with your hair?" 
"Yes, Ma I did highlights and blow dry."
"This is looking really nice on you." Ragini came forward.
Swara spent some time with her family but her eyes were moving towards her watch every minute. Ragini and Laksh's return from the Manali trip was the reason given to her by her parents for their unexpected visit. Annapurna converted the same into an impromptu plan of family dinner. 
"Swara, where are you going?" Sharmishtha asked her daughter when she started leaving the living room.
"Ma, I need to get ready, I am going with Sanskar for his one of business associate's anniversary party." It was not a surprise for Maheshwari ladies, Swara had already informed them about it two days back, but Gadodia's could not suppress their bewilderment.
"Shona party? When did you start going to such Business parties?" Sharmishtha asked in disbelief.
"Yes you are right I didn't go earlier. But this one really looks very important for Sanskar." 
"What will you do by going to such a business party? It will be all business discussions." This time Shekhar asked.
"Baba, I am going with my husband, isn't that enough?" Swara replied with a forced smile.