CHAPTER 4
Author's Note: Hello everyone! First of all, a huge thanks to all of you for ur lovely views, it inspires me to write more and better. So, here is chapter 4.
Enjoy...and like always, do review!!😊
Sanyukta's room:
"Sanyukta, please stop crying", said a concerned Kaustuki, "U know how Randhir is. Woh kuch bhi bol deta hain, please stop crying and hurting urself because of that jerk."
"Nahi Kaustuki", Spoke Sanyukta between her sobs, "He has crossed all limits this time. Puri college ke samne meri beizzati ki...How could he...i mean how dare he accuse me of such a grave thing? Ek baar verify tak nhi kiya...he just went on and on and on...oh god..."
Fresh tears were leaking from Sanyukta's eyes as she tried in vain to regain her composure.
"Sanyukta, results will come out today and everything will be clear...please don't be sad. I am sure Vardhan sir will find out the truth.." Kaustuki tried to console her friend. But Sanyukta was beyond consolation this time..."Kya fayda Kaustuki...Insult toh kar di na usne...can he take that back now? No, he can't..."
Just then Vidushi entered their room.
"Sanyukta, tum ab bhi ro rahi ho? Arey yaar jane do na. Let it go. Yeh Randhir bakwas karna bandh nhi karega..."
"Kehna asan hain Vidushi. U are not the victim", replied Sanyukta, "I took all the blame, all the shame...i won't let it go. And the funny thing is, tum bhi toh un logo ke sath alarm check karne nhi gayi...par Randhir didn't have a problem with that..."
"What are trying to prove u silly girl?" interrupted Vidushi, "Tum kehna kya chahti ho? Ki chor mein hoon? Bolo..."
"Maine aisa kab kaha", argued Sanyukta, "I am just saying that both of us were missing, but he chose to blame everything on me...how can I be ok with that?"
"Whatever...now get dressed, announcement hone hi wala hain for results, yahan pe sade rehne se koi fayda nhi" spat Vidushi and she huffed out of the room.
"Sanyukta, what was that about? Vidushi se tum kya bol rahi thi about not being there?" enquired Kaustuki.
"Arey woh bas, when Randhir & JIggy went to check the alarm, both me and Vidushi stayed back...but Randhir ne blame mujh pe daal di..."
And she trailed off looking stunned.
"Sanyukta, where are u lost?"
"Kaustuki, oh my god! I think...i think Vidushi stole Randhir's robot...that's why she sounded defensive when i brought it up just now..."
"But u don't have any proof...if u accuse her, then what will be the difference between u and Randhir" , said Kaustuki.
"Yeah, woh toh hain", murmured Sanyukta.
Meanwhile at Randhir's room:
Randhir was attacking his punching-bag with all his might and Jignesh was watching him warily.
"YSA was so important to me...and now...everything is ruined...i will make her pay..."
Just then the announcement was made and Vardhan sir's voice echoed through the campus, "All 4 students, i repeat, all 4 students of YSA are hereby reported to meet at my office immediately."
~0~
5 minutes later at Vardhan's office:
Sanyukta, Vidushi and Jignesh had arrived but Randhir was missing.
Professor Vardhan had his eyes on his laptop as he asked, "Where is Mr. Shekhawat?"
It was Jignesh who replied, "Sir Randhir bhai said that as he is out of the competition thanks to his robot being stolen, he will not come here to hear the judgement."
"Call him right now and tell him i hadn't given him a choice when i made that annoucement. It is an order and he is to obey it", said Vardhan.
"Ye-s yes sir", stammered Jiggy.
He called Randhir and told him what the professor had asked him to say.
And then all 3 of them waited patiently for their results.
A few minutes later Randhir arrived. The first thing Sanyukta noticed about him were his blotchy eyes and screwed up face. He looked miserable and angry.
"So, since all of u are here, I will reveal ur final result", spoke Vardhan.
"2 students were the clear standouts. And one was behind them. Of course Mr. Shekhawat failed to submit his prototype, so i have received 3 instead of 4 models."
Hearing that Randhir made a face and rolled his eyes.
Sanyukta was very tensed, she despartely wanted to be in the top 2. Vidushi was smiling, she knew one of the 2 stand out models was hers. And Jignesh had a sinking feeling that the 3rd model would surely be his.
"So, depending upon ur models...placed 2nd in the final round is Miss Sanyukta Agarwal..."
"Yesss!!!", whispered an elated Sanyukta.
Randhir's face was unreadable, his fists were clenched and he wanted to leave that room right then...
"And the first rank goes to..." And prof Vardhan paused dramatically before finally saying, "Mr. Randhir Singh Shekhawat."
The room fell eerily silent. Vidushi looked like someone had hit her right across her face and Sanyukta couldn't believe her ears.
"But sir...my robot...I didn't submit anything..." muttered an utterly confused Randhir.
"No, u didn't Mr. Shekhawat, someone else submitted for u" replied Vardhan.
"Someone else? Sir, i am not following u..." spoke Randhir again.
At that, Vardhan sir turned his laptop towards them and what met their eyes left them stunned.
A hurrying Vidushi sneaking out of Randhir's room with his robot in her hands.
"What the...Vidushi?" Randhir looked at the girl with disgust in his face.
Sanyukta knew it, she had suspected it when Vidushi had gone defensive when asked about staying back. And now the proof was right before her. All the insult that she had to sustain was never meant to be directed at her. It was Vidushi's fault. She was innocent.
"Sir, I..., sir...i didn't mean to...i mean, it was wrong...sir please i am sorry...i am really sorry", stammered a horrified vidushi. She couldn't believe that she had been caught. Her msterplan failed. In all her hurry to steal the robot, she had forgotten about the CCTVs that were installed in each room.
"You will not utter a single word Vidushi. U will shut ur mouth and leave this room before i change my mind and throw u out of this college", a furious Vardhan sir told Vidushi.
And as all this unfolded before him, all Randhir could think of were the words that he had uttered the day before "I have every reason to shout. This girl has ruined my chances in YSA. Till today i had thought that you were irritating and snobbish, bur atleast you had self-respect. But today you proved me wrong. You are a cheap, manipulative bitch."
He glanced at Sanyukta, her face reflected all the hurt that she had bottled up inside her since he had yelled at her in public. She wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were focussed on Vardhan's laptop. But he didn't miss the tears that were threatening to fall. He didn't miss the subtle trembling of her lips.
"Disperse, all of you. And Randhir and Sanyukta, the final winner of YSA shall be determined by the trusties 2 days from now. Good job both of u. And Vidushi, the dean wants to meet your parents to discuss ur future in this college", spoke prof vardhan.
As soon as Vardhan was done talking, Sanyukta turned around and walked out of the room without a backward glance.
Randhir followed her and called out, "Sanyukta wait..."
"DON'T U DARE, just let me go", bellowed Sanyukta, "Bol liya tumne, jo bolna tha bol liya, ab aur kuch nhi sunna mujhe."
"Sanyukta, please calm down..." said Randhir.
"CALM DOWN? U FREAKING DON'T ASK ME TO CALM DOWN"
And the tears that she had controlled for so long, just broke through its gates and fell as Sanyukta turned around and ran away from all the people.
And as Randhir watched her retreating figure, he felt dismayed. His ego kept him from apologizing. He knew he had hurt her, he knew he was wrong. And yet his ego was too big to say sorry.
~o~
Sanyukta's room:
Sanyukta was crying.
"U were right Sanyukta, Vidushi, oh my god, I can't believe that girl"'said Kaustuki.
"Kaustuki, please thodi der k mujhe akele rehne do...I need some time alone", a tearful Sanyukta muttered.
"Sure, mein canteen ja rahi hoon. U take care ok? And please don't be sad. Now everyone knows u are not to blame."
Saying that Kaustuki hugged Sanyukta and left the room.
She was all alone and her mind drifted to the incidents that occured the day before...Randhir yelling at her, everyone watching her humiliation and then today when finally she was proven innocent.
"I don't understand", thought Sanyukta, "I am sad because i was humiliated...but a part of me feels betrayed. Why are Randhir's remarks affecting me like this? He is a moron and I know that. Then why am I feeling so low? Why does it matter what he thinks of me? Oh god! Yeh kitni ajeeb feeling hain, aisa pehle toh kabhi mahsoos nhi ki...so why now?"
And to all these questions, a confused Sanyukta Agarwal had no answer.
She decided it was pointless sitting locked up in her room. So, she went outside to clear her mind.
Randhir's room:
Her retreating figure just wasn't leaving his mind. Her eyes...those tears that fell...the way her lips trembled...the way she hung her head while he yelled at her...it just wasn't leaving his mind.
"She is just a girl. I shouldn't worry so much. Then why do I feel guilty?" he thought.
"Why couldn't i just say sorry and be over with it?"
He knew the answer to that. He was proud. He had been brought up that way. Feeling sorry was a weakness in his eyes. And Randhir Singh Shekhawat wasn't weak.
He decided a walk was what he needed most at this time. And out he went.
~o~
He was out on the grounds of FITE. A light breeze was blowing. That is when he saw her, the gentle breeze tugging at her smooth hair, making it blow softly.
She turned and her eyes met his. For a moment both were lost, neither knew what to do or what to say. All this time whenever they met, all they did was bicker.
And today, frankly they had nothing to say to each other.
As Randhir was pulled deeper into those brown orbs, he noticed them become glassy...he knew she was about to break down again. A small part of him wanted to reach out, apologize, and wipe away her tears...but...
She turned and walked away and he was left alone...and he whispered to the wind " I am so sorry Sanyukta."
-x-
Author's note: 1745 words! Wow, I have managed to impress myself with how long that turned out at the end! I know a lot of you were expecting Randhir to apologize. But I somehow can't perceive Randhir to go all soft and gooey. But trust me, he will change, I promise!
Next chapter, YSA ultimate challenge set by ...no points for guessing...Renuka Sanyal. And Randhir's 'decision'(Check that out!)
PS: Today's(20th Jan) sadda haq episode was somthing I was dreading...guess why? I wanted the final task to be an interview in my story...but that idea got used...*sob sob*
I was fearing that! Now i have to edit a few parts! Haye...
Anyway, enough gibberish!
Thanks for reading! Do review!! And for pm updates, buddy me please.
Indebted as always,
Loads of love Anuradha ❤️
Edited by federized2210 - 11 years ago
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