Swara nodded her head smiling, but her smile did not reach her eyes. Sanskar was observing his wife from the day they had returned back from their short vacation. She had turned gloomy. 
"Come here." He pulled her, enveloping her in his embrace, "You know right, we can come back here anytime you want. You just need to say it and next moment we will be here." Even he was reluctant to come back to their native home. 
But for him her wish was always a command. 
Along with her, his parents, his sister all were back home waiting for them to return. Being an obedient son, he was well aware about his responsibilities towards his ageing parents.
"Can we come here every 6 months?" She asked, holding his suit jacket.
"Deal. Every 6 months." He pecked her lips sealing his promise.
"And that too for 1... no no ... 2 months." She cribbed like a little grumpy girl.
"As you say."
After Sanskar left for his office, Swara took a round of their home.  In two days, they were going to come back to India... back to their routine life.
But this one and half month of vacation had helped them to find their lost bondings. She was reminiscing about the time she and Sanskar had spent inside this home when he phone started ringing. It was from her mother in law.
"Mom, don't worry, just send driver Kaka to the airport for pick up. Flight will land at midnight. I don't want you and Dad to stay awake for the night." Swara spoke over a call after some casual talks.
"Mom... Mom, are you there?" She asked when she did not receive any response from the other side.
"Ha... ha Swara, I am listening." Sujata replied, stammering.
"Mom, what happened? Are you ok?" Swara asked from the other side.
"Nothing beta. You and Sanskar, just come home soon." Sujata tried to bring out a cheering voice from her vocal cords which she failed and her daughter in law caught it.
"Mom, I am sure something has happened... please, please tell me." Swara stressed.
"Jiji told me yesterday that... that Ragini... Ragini is pregnant." Sujata finally blurted out leaving a deep breath.
"Wait what? Is Ragini pregnant?" It was a question. "Really? That's such an amazing news. Wow!! I am so happy for them. Wow" Swara was certainly happy for her step sister which reflected in her gleeful smile.
"Hmm... we all are happy for her." Sujata could not suppress her grief from her voice.
"Mom, are you not happy?" Swara asked instantly.
"No Swara, I am happy. I am really happy but...." Sujata trailed off.
"Mom, did you expect us to..." Swara thought her mother in law was expecting similar good news from them.
"No Swara. No. Please don't misunderstand me. It's just. Ragini is in her third month. Jiji was aware about this from a month but she only informed me yesterday." Sujata was sulked.
"Mom, leave it please. It's ok. Please don't mind." Swara kept on convincing her mother in law for a long time.
"By the way Mom, I got a new collection of Dior's lipsticks but I don't use these but now that I bought them I am thinking of giving them to Suman Maasi. What do you think? She will like them na?" Swara teased after a long convincing session. 
"Hey no way... I love those lipsticks. Dare you give them to Suman. She doesn't even know how to put them in." Sujata was back with her chirpy nature. 
Two days later both returned back to India, Maheshwari house. Noticeable changes raised Swara and Sanskar's eyebrows looking at their family members. When before almost one and half month they had left their home, relations between their family members were strained but after their return it looked like most of the differences were overcomed, and everyone were cordial with each other, though not lovey dovey as in the past.