Chapter 3

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The accident had hurt Sanyukta's ankle. She was slightly limping as she walked towards her bike which was parked outside the police station. She saw the dent and murmured some cuss words to Vardaan. She put the keys into the slot, but her bike did not start. She tried again and again, but no use. She thought of leaving her bike there for tonight, and decided to bring a mechanic tomorrow. She walked towards the main road. Meanwhile, Vardaan was watching all this. He saw her limping and his rational mind felt a bit bad. He knew, that she was limping because of his mistake. He started thinking...

"Should I give her a lift?"

"Hell no!! She has caused me so much trouble...how can i even think of helping her...she is no bechaari..."

He saw Sanyukta get into the an autorickshaw...and she was gone!

Vardaan in his thoughts..."Chalo, she is gone..even i should leave quicky". The whole incident had such an effect on Vardaan, that he drove at a maximum speed of 40. 😆 He never dared to cross it.

Once home, she was being blasted by questions..."Arey itne der kaha lag gayi, kya hua, tum aise kyu chal rahi ho, scooty kaha hai? etc etc" she narrated the whole incident. Her mother looked at her wound on her ankle, it was grave...but Sanyukta was brave enough to brush it off. Her only worry was, that she would not be able to do her riyaas till her wound heals. She thought, "I will never forgive and forget you mister!" Thinking everything about the incident, she couldn't deny one thing...that yes,he was handsome..not those cutie pinky type heroes on television, but broad shoulders, chiseled jawline, piercing looks that his eyes gave and not to forget that manly voice. "What are you thinking Sanyukta, she immediately shrugged herself... have you gone insane!! He has caused you so much trouble...looking at her wound...see, he has come in the way of your kathak!" "Focus Sanyu...focus..now that you won't be able to dance..just study for the entrance test...Ankit bhai, is really very serious about this bet...so if you want to win, STUDY!!"

Vardaan reached home very late. Niharika's father was worried. After exchanging pleasantries, Vardaan offered to cook. He cooked Niharika's favorite dishes. There was everything about Niharika in this place, he thought. At the dinner table:

Niharika's father: (Smilingly) Saare chutki (Niharika's pet name) ke favorite dishes...

Vardaan: Haa...woh hoti toh ab tak sab kuch khatam kar deti...Dishes ko dining table tak aane bhi nai deti...kitchen se hi sab kuch uske pet mein hota...She is such a big foodie!

Niharika's father: "WAS"..."She WAS a big foodie!"

Vardaan's face saddened. He stopped eating.

He excused himself...saying he was too tired and went to sleep. While going to the guest room, he passed by Niharika's room..he went inside her room...It was just like Niharika had left it...a proper place for every item...photos on the wall...which included some of his well..her study table...books neatly segregated love story fictions, science novels, non fiction books, the curtains, colors of which which matched the bedsheets..her wardrobe...clothes folded neatly, some sarees hanging from hangers...he picked up a saree which he had gifted her on her last birthday...tears dropped one by one..he sat on a bean bag..crying silently...His eyes had become heavy due to crying and he slept holding NIharika' saree..

It was 6 AM..birds were chirping outside...Winds blew through the curtains...as Vardaan forgot to close the windows. It was cold in Delhi...In spite of it, Vardaan was sweating profusely...he was dreaming, about Niharika..in the hospital, his white shirt had become red, the doctor's words, Niharika's father crying, him passing out..then the last evening's incident, the 2 children in front of his bike, the girl, big round balck eyes, her eyelashes, her red lips...his face had now become serene...for the first time after Niharika's death, he now was sleeping peacefully and smiling too.

He woke up late at 8:30 AM. "I cannot believe I was dreaming about her...that brat!! Vardaan...i think you have lost your mind! " He spent some quality time with Niharika's father...and set out for FIM that evening...He had a big task in hand now...Set the most difficult paper for FIM entrance test.

Days passed by, the day for FIM entrance test arrived. Sanyukta's mother fed her both children curd as that is a gesture of good luck. The question paper arrived at Sanyukta's table, and she attempted it, to her fullest capability. Though, she admits that, the paper was very difficult...while attempting the paper she thought, "Kis khoosat ne yeh paper set kiya hai...zaroor students use kuch khaas pasand nai karte honge...sadist kahi ka!!"

She finished her paper...but she had very little hopes of clearing it. Now,both Sanyukta and her brother had a big task of waiting for the results. The results date had arrived, the results were uploaded online...of who had got admission.and who did not clear the test. Sanyukta even forgot about the date of the result. It was her brother who reminded her. She had misplaced her hall ticket as well, and she could not remember her roll no. Lucky, her brother had kept his hall ticket safely, and Sanyukta was sitting behind him, so her roll no was one added to her brother's roll no. Her brother, first checked his result...he was heart broken...he did not clear the test. Sanyukta felt bad seeing her brother's condition. She entered her number then, "Congratulations, you are selected at FIM" was the message displayed on the screen. She was dumbfounded.

Sanyukta: "How the hell is this possible!!"

Brother: "Congratulations sister, now FIM would have students who don't even have an aspiration for it."

Sanyukta: "Come on bhai...u know what my answer is...I am not going to take admission."

Sanyukta'sa father was listening to this conversation.

Sanyukta's father: Are you out of your mind Sanyukta! There are lakhs of students out there, who dream of getting into FIM, and you took this entrance test, just for a bet. And now that you are selected, you want opt out of it. You are wasting one seat. There could have been somebody more deserving, had you not applied for the test in the first place.

There was an argument between Sanyukta and her father. Her father decided that she will take admission into FIM and study hard as well. He said, "Beta, yeh kathak toh zindagi bhar chalta rahega...par ek baar opportunity haath se gai, toh kabhi dobara nai aaegi"

She finally, agreed to her father only on the condition, that she will pursue kathak as well. Her father also agreed. With that, they began with the documentation process for the admission.

Sanyukta came to FIM to pay her 1st year fees..."I cannot believe that I am standing here". She

was spell bounded looking at the magnificent campus. She walking looking at the tall structure, when Prof Vardaan walked past her colliding with her shoulders. She turned back to give him a hearing, but he was gone. She could only see some retreating body frame. "How rude she thought!". She paid her fees, and went back to Delhi to start her packing. her new life was going to begin. She was feeling everything but, excited and happy.

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I am done guys. This part has not turned up that good as I thought it will. I am not happy at all. I promise next part will be interesting.