Chapter 3

Mother's love-The cravat ion

"There stood she glancing at me, and as I moved closer I knew the hope in me was building back"

-Priyanka. Alamanda

Part-3:

Sanyukta's p.o.v:

The wind was fresh and cool as it hit against my face, I just love the feel of it, I let myself absorb it to the fullest and smile, though the climate was blissful, though the evening skies were blue and beautiful, and though I could feel the drops of rain starting to hit me, I knew the reason behind my smile forming was the person in front of me,

I look at his face and this time carefully, so that he wouldn't catch me doing that again.

Today Randhir's mood was all good, he seems calmer and peaceful, but it looks like he is trying to concentrate on riding,

Oh so, am not the only one controlling then,

"ahem ahem" randhir sets his voice, as if to interrupt my thoughts, and right then I know he caught me again,

I look away and pretend to stare at the passing roads, I know there's one thing I couldn't quite conceal, my reddened cheeks,

"give it up already sanyukta!" he chuckles as he pushes his shoulder so as to shake my face that lies there, "you and I both know what you were staring at" he cackles as he speaks,

"its not my fault if your face is blocking my sight" I gawk pretending anger,

"right? Haha" he laughs again and places a hand on my thigh, I push it away,

"you just skipped a left" I yell managing to divert the topic,

"oh"

I lean back and pull my mobile from my purse and check the time,

"wow, we reached early than I thought,

"my bike riding skills you know" randhir speaks, his face glowing in self-esteem,

"ya that's why you almost rode into a lorry" I mock at him and raise a brow,

"take a right from here and then the first left" I direct him, and ditch the topic,

As the gate opens I notice that the lawn was clean and beautiful with lingering rain drops from earlier, though it was summer, I could see beautiful flowers hanging on the bushes, and there is my favorite deck chair moving along with the wind and its chimes sing in my ear,

I get down from the bike and inhale the beauty into me, my lips turn into a kid like smug then I turn to randhir who was just as absorbed in the beauty as me,

Aww-

I look up at the bungalow and notice there weren't much lights in the house, it looked empty, that's different, the house looked empty and silent,

"fragrant, and colorful collection there pal !" randhir exclaims interrupting my thoughts,

I turn to look at him smiling at me, I smile back as I step towards him and hold his hand, it was rather warm,

"thanks for the ride, I really wanted to meet mom" I speak honestly smiling my best smile, but he continues to stare as if I wasn't getting something,

"what?" I ask,

"well yea your right about meeting your mom"

"umm ?" I look at him skeptically waiting for him to continue,

"am coming too" he finally spits looking away, as if he's not buying a no,

"ah? What made you come up with this, no way" I utter in shock, but he still doesn't look at me, instead he parks his bike and sets his hair into a gentle-manly look and waits for my reaction,

"why not?" he finally speaks, his face pale yet obstinate.

"because I never brought home a guy"

"or because you are worried I might spoil your day"

"that's ridiculous"

"then let me in" he shoots in reflex, "please..." he says this time softly as he squeezes his temples,

"you sure- ?, I mean..." I look at him rather in sympathy,

He hesitates for a moment, and then walks towards me and holds my hands, clutching them,

"see, am not surely sure, but I don't know why, I have a feeling I should do this," he speaks staring into my eyes,

Unlike the pain, they had something else in them, something I wanted to rub away right then,

I pull my hand and hold his cheek bone that was covered in slight beard,

"but...ok wait"

I hit dial my mother's number and wait for her answer, I knew this was supposed to be a surprise but this sudden urgency in me could do anything possible for randhir, I doubt why though,

hello beta' the voice came,

"mom, umm...dad and Ankit at home?"

No, they had to attend some meeting, they may return tomorrow night probably, why?'

"am here actually, umm..." I explain softly,

what, oh thank god I was missing you so much princess' she rejoices but why are you calling, since when did you have to call before you enter your own house?' she jolts,

I have to search for an answer and soon, but when it's my mother, she could detect the best of the best lies,

sanyu, what are you up with beta?' she sings and sighs,

"a friend of mine wanted to visit too, actually, uh... he..." I hesitate, "he...helped me reach here"

he?' she shot in confusion,

"ya, but mom I can explain, actually...the matter is..."

you don't have to, I trust you and you can come' she speaks softly but there was an edge of anger, or maybe I was thinking too much like always,

bring him' she confirmed when I did not respond, and cuts the call,

I heaved a long sigh of relief and bit my lips while I look at him, his eyes studying me eagerly and yet worriedly,

I could laugh at the tension building up in him but I just smiled, I seriously could laugh though, it was cute,

"is that a ok?" he yells like a child who finally got his chocolate,

I nod helplessly at his innocence as we walk to the door,

I can't help but think why randhir was so excited to meet my mother, well, he was never comfortable with the family things and now he wants to come, maybe he wanted to give a try once out of all his commotion,

I reach the door and hold it open, and there she was beaming in happiness, she wears a simple cotton saree and her hair collected into a messy bun.

I run to her embrace and dig inside her heart, relief washes through me, there was no tension, no more struggle, at least not when my mother is here, I crush more into her as she lays a kiss on my fore-head,

"sanyu" she calls,

I look up and follow her gaze towards randhir, her face turning into a warm smile, not the one with love, the one Indians give to their guests,

I feel my heart fall by the minute, the pain creeping back in,

"mum, this is...randhir" I explain,

Randhir just stares at us, as if he were interrupting an important meeting, his features turning nervous and edgy,

"mum be nice, he's got a painful family past, please" I squeeze her hand as I whisper into her ears,

Her eyes instantly turn into sympathy as she tries to digest my words and this time her look for randhir is different, she walks to him and pats his shoulder,

Randhir instantly relaxes under her touch and smiles, "hello auntyji, sorry that I came her uninvited" he explains honestly "I just felt like..."

"don't worry, it's okay" she assures and pats again "thanks for bringing sanyu here"

"speaking of which" I jump between them, "happy Mother's day mum" I sing as mom pulls me to peck intimately, "thanks beta"

"don't forget the gifts" randhir sings along with a pleasant smug as he hands me them,

"that's so considerate of you beta" mom encourages him,

"happy Mother's day again" he formally wishes as he bends to touch her feet, mom happily blesses him and thanks him,

I can see that he needed this, mom love thing, he craves for it, maybe he wanted to have hope, I will let that happen, and then why again I did not know,

"now fresh up and lets dine" mom sparkles in exhilaration as she wags us both,

"sure" we both answer together,

I walk him to my room and then to the wash, he doesn't fail to notice my room all the way, and ventures to pass a comment now and then, not that I blow up on him though, it just seems different, all of this.

He in my room, he in my house, he meeting my mom, and he dropping me here, but something in me spoke that I did not care any of this; something in me says all that matters is him. And for the record I never find myself so desperately trying to elate someone, maybe he mattered to me, maybe I could do anything for him, maybe...

Maybe... I love him.

I petrify at the entrance while he steps into the wash after shooting one long look at me, he knows I have been through something too, after he met mom he seems much relaxed than ever, he was usually a fuss about everything, but I know, today was a day off for him, from the entire hullabaloo.

I watch him as he steps outside, his face drenched in water, every bit of droplet shining aimlessly on his god-like face, and his lips twitch into a warm smile as he catches me stare again.

I know right?

He steps forward and what shocks me is the next, he abruptly falls into me hugging tight, his hands hold my lower back as he hugs me tighter, I know I cannot succumb, I cannot hide it anymore, I brush his drenched hair softly as he sighs.

"I am here for you", I whisper so low for him to hear,

"thanks" he answers and continues "don't give up on me ever, please"

"never" I assure,

He pulls back to look at me and pecks at my cheeks, close to my lips, though he stares at my lips,

"I...I... love you...", I say as I close my eyes and as he closes the distance between us and crushes his lips into mine, electrifying my body, radiating it into endless heat, my being floats and alternately thumps so hard, he tries to pull back but I kiss back and push my tongue into his mouth, only making my body more warm.

"I love you too" he answers.

Author's note: so yea, I know I am posting like after a long time, and mother's day is long gone, and this story is surely a mother based one, but I wanted to show the support sanyukta can give randhir, because that's adorable,
more to come,
review please.