CHAPTER 5
Author's Note: Heyya everyone. So, this is the final chapter guys! Enjoy!
YSA FINALE:
The d-day had arrived for Sanyukta and Randhir. The winner of YSA would be determined by one final task set by the head trusty Renuka Sanyal.
To say she was excited would be an understatement. Sanyukta Agarwal was elated. She had a chance to prove herself before her idol Renuka. And her ecstasy knew no bounds.
He was more alone than ever. He didn't know whether he wanted to be a part of this final task set by his mom. Even a few days back, Randhir Singh Shekhawat was determined to emerge as the winner of YSA, but now, with all that had happened, with him beung the reason behind a certain person's misery, he wasn't so sure about this scholarship after all. But, all being said, he was still a finalist and he would give his best.
Dean's office:
She had a charisma, a demeanour of an achiever...she was the head of the "Sanyal foundation". And she was the chief financer of the YSA. Dressed elegantly in a black suit and high stilletos, Renuka Sanyal stood with an envelop in her hand which contained the final assingment. She was flanked by the dean and prof Vardhan.They awaited the arrival of both finalists.
Sanyukta was the first to reach, excitement brimming her visage.
"Good morning ma'm...sir..", she adressed the people in the room.
"Good morning...Miss...Agarwal, am i right?" spoke Renuka.
"Yes ma'm, Sanyukta Agaarwal, mechanical engineering", replied a proud Sanyukta.
Just then the door opened again and there stood Randhir, dressed all casually. His face was unreadable, emotionless.
Renuka Sanyal looked a little longer than necessary at her 'son' and then spoke, "You must be Mr. Shekhawat...please come in."
He didn't bother to reply, knowing very well that it was all an act. She knew who he was, hell this competition had been all for him. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing that her idea had succeded. He wouln't forgive the woman who called herself his mother.
"So, now that both of u are here, let me explain the final task. It will be very simple. U both must be bright students having qualified this far. But I have a final test to take. U are each to attempt 10 questions that are enclosed within this envelop. U will get 1 hour for that. The one who gets maximum correct shall be adjuged the winner. Clear?" said Renuka.
Both Randhir and Sanyukta nodded in consent.
Renuka handed them their envelops and asked them to take a seat.
"Ok then, ur time starts now. U may begin", she said.
And they began.
1 hour later:
They were done. Randhir looked satisfied with his paper. He had given all the right answers and he knew it. Now there was no stopping him from winning YSA. Sanyukta was more or less okay with the way her test went. She was confident of 9 answers. The last question bothered her a bit. She has taken a wild guess and was hoping that her wild guess would turn out to be an intelligent one as well.
"Okay, time is up", said Renuka Sanyal, "Hand over ur papers. I will check through them and announce the winner in a few moments. U can now go back to ur hostels and wait for further instructions."
And with that both Randhir and Sanyukta left the room.
This was the first time that they came face-to-face since that day on the grounds of FITE. Randhir wanted to say something...anything. But before a single word could leave his mouth, Sanyukta Agarwal had walked away without even glancing at him.
30 minutes later:
"Ur attention students, all of u are asked to gather at the hall for the declaration of the winner of YSA. Both finalists Randhir Singh Shekhawat and Sanyukta Agarwal are asked to be there in 5 minutes", prof Vardhan's looming voice rang through the FITE campus.
"All the best Sanyukta, u will win for sure!" wished her best friends Jiggy and Kaustuki.
At the Hall:
All students were gathered and on the stage stood Renuka Sanyal, the dean, prof Vardhan and all the faculty of FITE along with the 2 finalists.
"As u all know I am here to announce the winner", spoke Renuka into the microphone.
Every face in the crowd showed excitement. Sanyukta was nervous, she was literally shaking with nervousness. Randhir was focussed. This was the moment he was eagerly awaiting ever since he found out about his mom being the head trusty of FITE.
"And the scenario before me is so interesting", continued Renuka, "The final task given was a set of 10 questions. And the irony is both contestants managed to answer all the questions correctly..."
The crowd broke into a murmur...Sanyukta's face showed disbelief and ecstasy...Sure she would to share the honor with Randhir, but atleast she didn't get beaten. She had finally won the YSA.
"I am finished talking yet", came Renuka's voice, "The last task ended in a tie. But for me there can only be one winner..."
The smile on Sanyukta's face faltered. Randhir was almost holding his breathe.
"As a solution to this snag, I have decided to consider the performance of the finalists in their previous tasks as a requisite for my final decision...and according to that there is a clear winner...Randhir Singh Shekhawat..."
~0~
The last words of Renuka Sanyal left her dismayed, broken...she had lost. She saw Randhir walk towards the stage and shake hands with Renuka and take the microphone to give the winner's speech. But her mind was blank. She had done everything right in the last task and yet came out losing. This just didn't seem fair to Sanyukta.
She was brought back to reality as Randhir's voice cut across her thoughts, "I participated in YSA to prove to someone that i am the best. And I have done that. So, I am just here to say that I won't be accepting this award." And with that he got off the dias and walked away.
Everyone was shocked and stunned to hear what Randhir had just said.
And Sanyukta couldn't believe her ears! Did Randhir Singh Shekhawat just turn down a scholarship worth rupees 5 lakhs????
And did she just get a glimpse of extreme sadness and betrayal on his face. What on Earth was going on? On the dias, Renuka ma'm looked on the edge. Her face reflected a deep would buried within the innermost cores of her heart. What was so important about Randhir that The great Renuka Sanyal looked sad instead of angry at being turned down by a mere mechanical engineering student. These questions plagued Sanyukta's mind and she decided that she had to get the answers herself.
Since Randhir had rejected his YSA award, by default it went to her. But she could see the reluctance in Renuka's eyes as the latter handed sanyukta the trophy and the cheque.
Once the ceremony was over, Sanyukta excused herself from Jiggy and Kaustuki and went in search of Randhir. She searched the entire college campus, but in vain. Randhir Singh Shekhawat was nowhere to be found. Despite all that had happened between them, Sanyukta couldn't help but feel worried about Randhir. She knew whatever issue he had with YSA and that anonymous person he spoke about, the whom he wanted to prove something to, must be huge for Randhir to take off like that suddenly.
After an hour of futile search Sanyukta decided to return to her hostel. As she was walking past the FITE park, he noticed the silhoutte of a person sitting in one of the benches. It had to be him. No one else would be out this late ina solitary place like that. She quietly walked towards him and the scene that met her eyes left her amazed. There sat Randhir, with two large empty bottles of vodka in his hand, his eyes all swollen and puffed, his face contorted. He looked high and definately reeked of alcohol and Sanyukta panicked.
"Oh my god! Randhir, kya kar rahe ho? Are u drunk?? Ho kya gya tumhe? Are u crazy?"
He looked at her with bloodshot eyes and replied in an utterly drunk state, "Will u, for the love of God, please let me be for once?"
"Not until u tell me what is wrong with u...", came her stubborn reply.
"I am perfectly fine, I just don't want to see ur ugly face, that's all", he mocked her.
"U shut ur dumbass mouth, u r drunk...and i want to know the reason why u r acting like such a loser?" Sanyukta argued.
The word 'loser' had got his attention.
"I AM NOT A LOSER", he yelled at her.
"Then why did u just turn down that brilliant 5 lakh rupees scholarship? All bacause a woman gave it to u? Do u despise successful women that much?", said Sanyukta.
And his self control left him. He pulled her by the wrist and snaked his hands around her waist, so that their faces were merely an inch apart. He spoke in a husky voice that sent shivers down her spine, "You really wanna know why i competed in this damned competition and then rejected the winners award? Here is ur answer...that woman u seem to idolize so much is someone i once thought was the best thing that could have happened to me...she was once my idol too...But guess what? She tossed me like trash..."
And with each word he spoke his grip on her tightened, his face almost touching hers, his eyes searching hers so deeply that she felt that he could see through her bare soul...and she flinched.
"Ouch...Randhir u r hurting me...calm down...please...tell me who is Renuka ma'm to u?"
"She is my freaking MOTHER", he spat, emphasizing on the last word. And with that he released her roughly, pushing her away deliberately. And she suddenly felt cold...like her safe-haven was snatched from her. Sanyukta wasn't sure what happened next, but something drew her to him. She cupped his face with her soft hands and he automatically leaned into her touch, his eyes closing as a reflex, for once revealing his vulnerable side to her. And Sanyukta knew that he was alone, his tough exterior was just a cover for his soft interior.
"Randhir, itz ok...u r ok...If u were dealing with so much, why did u keep it a secret? U should have told me...told us..."
He slowly removed her hands from his face, looked her in the eye and said, "All my life i have been a loner Sanyukta...my own mother ditched me. And i hated her guts, I hated how her business outshined me...how i was a second option for her...And then you came along and reminded me of her...a girl with ambition...And i hated ur guts too...Hatred is easy...i took the easy way out...but that day, after i humiliated u in public...i ...i don't know...i just felt...I am sorry...for that...for everything...i let my hatred get in the way and i am not proud of it..."
She couldn't beleive what he just said...did he just apologize to 'her'????
"Randhir are u ...i mean...how drunk are u?" she enquired.
"I am sober enough to know what i am saying" came his instant reply...
And she didn't know if it was his apology or his confession about his mom or the intense look that he was giving her that made her do the next thing...
She kissed him...it was Sanyukta's most spontaneous reaction to his vulnerable side. And what amazed her is that he actually didn't push her away but kissed her back...it was a quick chaste kiss...but it was sweet...
When they broke apart he was looking her like she was the only thing that mattered to him...and it made her feel giddy with happiness...she knew she had fallen for him...She, Sanyukat Agarwal, was in love with him, Randhir Singh Shekhawat...
And as he hugged her close to him, only one thought crossed his mind..."Women. They should be like her."
~0~
Author's note: All done. Thatz it...this was the last chapter. Hope u guys enjoyed reading it as much as i enjoyed penning it down!
Just one thing left to say before i sign off, SanDhir rockzzz!!!!!
Do give in ur final verdict!
And thanks so much for bearing with me so long!
Love, Anuradha.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
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