So I'm back with another Sadda Haq fan fiction. You'll find the all the parts, as I update, on page 1 itself, just for your convenience and to keep up with the flow. This fiction is NOT completely original, let me tell you. I simply copied the basic incident from the popular american sitcom One Tree Hill because I used to be OBSESSED with the show back when they aired it on Star World. They are running the old seasons again on Star World, so you might just want to catch up with the really cool show. I am obsessed with Sadda Haq now a days so I thought why not club in few instance from 2 of my favorite TV shows. This fiction is not edited and is random. Like, VERY random. Even more random than Shah Rukh Khan suddenly transforming into a bomb squad activist from a mere waiter or whatever in Jab Tak Hain Jaan, well never mind thats our very own bollywood and no matter how random it is, us Indians just can't survive without bollywood. Okay. Enough of shit you've had from me. Here I start:
And, I'm really fast with updates. So let me be a bitch this time? ;)
Love, Rini.
She was startled. 'Did he just say that?'
Love.
I have received all your jootahs and chappals. And I'm sorry for such a tiny update, the previous one.
She lay there on the hospital bed, 4 hours after the operation and still unconscious.
'Kuchh kaise nahin yaad?' Exam mein pass kaise hoti hain?'
With that, a lone tear escaped her eye.
"Wo watchman ko pata nahin tha night study ke baarein mein. Unhone main switch off kar diye they,. Maine hostel se dekha college ki lights off ho gyi issi liye khud hi chala aya." Randhir heard Parth speak, standing at the door.
'Aur kar bhi kya sakta hain', Randhir thought to himself. 'Khud ki love story kya aadhuri reh gyi, aa gya sala mere walein mein kabab mein haddi ban ke.' 'Wait. What? Randhir ye kya soch raha hain. Pagal hain kya?'
Randhir still stood there supporting Sanyukta."Chalo isko medical room tak chhodd detey hain", Parth came up to help Randhir carry her but Randhir snatched away her body like a insecure little kid who is jealous of his younger brother. "Main utha raha hun naa?" he retorted.
He placed her on the bed and both of them walked out of the room as the nurse shut the door. Sanyukta was back in her senses but too tired to open her eyes. She could hear the conversation between the two boys outside.
-"Kya chakkar hain?"
-"Kya matlab?"
-"Kya chal kya raha hain ye?"
-"Haan..main bhi wahin soch raha tha..kitni garmi hain...ye Delhi ki weather ko pata nahin kya ho gya."
-"Abhi naatak karega?"
-"Tu kabse khada tha wahan?"
-"Jab se tumlog canteen mein ladna start kiye tab se."
-"WHAAA-"
-"Wo main bas wahin se guzar raha tha. Phir tumlog ki baatein sunai di. Eavesdrop karne ka koi dhanda nahin tha. Phirr abhi ye. Kya hain?"
-"Manners ghar pe rakh ke aya hain? Kya hoga? Kuchh nahin hua. Just the usual, tumhari -best girl friend ever- apni chhoti si dimaag mein zyada zorr laga rahi thi. Maine bas usse ye bola ki wo apni akal thikane pe rakhe."
-"Aur ye sabb bolne ke baad bhi aaj lab mein itni close proximity mein tum dono...achha mujhe toh ye samajh nahin aa raha ki F.I.T.E rank 1 MUJHSE jealous kaise ho sakta hain?"
-"Main koi jealous nahin hun."
-"Just, extra information, hum sirf dostt hain."
-"Of course hum SIRF dostt hain. Dude. I'm not gay. Stop hitting on me."
-"Main hum dono ki nahi balki mere aur Sanyukta ke baarein mein bol raha tha. Sab kuchh tere baare mein nahin hota."
-"Whatever."
-"Tu isko bata kyun nahin deta?"
-"Kya?"
-"Tu theatre join karle. Naatak ache se karna ata hain tere ko."
-"I told her. Okay? I told her but she is stupid and she didn't realize. Or hear. I don't know."
-"Do you want me to talk to her?"
-"Agar iss baarein mein usko kuchh bhi bola naa toh dekhlena."
The nurse opened the door and their conversation came to an abrupt end. "She had a nervous break-down. She'll be alright by tomorrow morning. I think it is better if she stays here tonight."
Sanyukta lay there on the bed thinking about it all over again.
'Why all that intolerable mischief, if he loves me?'
'Because he is Randhir and things always work the other way round in his case.'
And so she made up her mind, her decision made.
'I'll save all that drama and let it be. I don't want things to get uncomfortable again.'
That was it. She let those words coming from him settle down deep in her heart. Deep enough, that it won't come up easily. Deep enough, that it would be safe inside her heart, because she did not want to lose any of it. She wanted to treasure them.
And that's how the loved each other- in secret, between the shadows and soul. Never letting each other know, never letting each other fall. Sanyukta always knew that Randhir, being the kind of person that he is, will always BE an MCP but then, she could count on him.
And Randhir? Well, he had live with the confusion in his mind. He had to deal with mind talks like:
'Has she really forgotten everything?'
'She must have recollected something at least, in all this time.'
'How can she just blow it all away?'
'Isn't that what you had wished for?'
'Do you expect her to love you back?'
'The night of the shoot-out, when the health squad took over her body, was she trying to cling to you?'
'Stop hallucinating.'
You know, it is always -one in pain, the other in gain-.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------The last semester exams of their final college year were over and the campus-ing was also done with. All the students were packing their stuff as they'd be moving out of the hostel, taking steps to their new life.
Randhir and Parth were almost done with their packing.
"Sunn. Main ye sabb bahar rakh ke aata hun. Tu mere cupboard se saare certificates leke aa jana", Parth told Randhir.Randhir collected all the papers and was about to shut the cupboard, just when his eyes fell upon what looked like an old ID card.
He took it out and saw the pictured. A kid. He took time to recognize but finally did. It was Parth's ID card. But what shocked him were the details.
NAME: PARTH OBEROI.
CLASS: IV SECTION: A
SCHOOL: ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT.
ACADEMIC SESSION: 2002-03.
"This is unbelievable", he heard himself say.
I used the same quotation because I think its pretty apt. :|
Okay sorry to disappoint you. I had planned to reveal Parth's identity in this one but then it got too long! Next walein mein pakka. Do comment and let me know how this was. Okay? :)
PART 7:
No SanDhir moments here. Parth reveals his identity. Also, you'll find Vidushi-Parth stuff going on.
The girls had packed their stuff and so they came down to the lobby, hiding and listening to the inane conversation between Randhir and Parth.
"Kuchh dhund raha hain?", Randhir asked a distressed Parth.
"Han ek important cheez nahi mil raha."
"Kya?", as if he did not know.
-"Arre wo-tu chaabi deh ek baar."
-"Kyun?"
-"Check karke aa jaaun ek baar."
-"Pehle apna naam bata."
-"Kya matlab?"
-"Naam kya hain?"
-"PARTH. PARTH NAAM HAIN. Ab dega?"
-"Pura naam."
-"Tu mere saath itne dinon se rehte aya hain..abhi tak mera purra naam nahin pata?"
-"Life mein pehli baar jisko maine apna dostt mana, pehli baar aisa lag raha hain ki usse main janta hi nahin."
-"PARTH KASHYAP. Ab de chaabi."
Randhir flung the ID card at him. Parth caught it, and that caught his breath.
-"Agar tu Parth KASHYAP hain, toh ye kaun hain?"
A moment of silence and then Parth spoke, "Mera naam Parth Oberoi hain."
The girls hissed a "What!" in unison.
"Main Niharika Oberoi ka beta hun", he spoke again. "Niharika Oberoi aur Vardhan Suryavanshi ka beta."
"Kya bak raha hain", came from a mesmerized Randhir. "Tu Vardhan sir ka beta hain?"
"Unhe toh ye bhi nahin pata ki unka ek 21 year old beta bhi hain. Vardhan sir ne mom se break up kar liye they. Unhe ekbaar ye batane ka mauka bhi nahin diya ki she was pregnant. Uske baad unhone mujhe akele hi bada kiya. Padaya likhaya, till I reached the age of 10", he revealed in defeat.
"Phir ye Kashyap ka kya chakkar hain?" Randhir asked.
"Jab main 10 saal ka tha tab mom ne Abhijit Kashyap naam ka kissi aadmi se shaadi kar liye, jinhe main apni saari zindagi 'Papa' maantey aya hun. Atleast, jab tak wo zinda they. Mere C.I.T.E join karne ke baad ek saal mein hi ek car accident mein unki de-"
-"Dude Im so sorry. Mujhe pata nahi thha."
"Its okay. Mujhe hi bata dena chaiye thha. Mujhe toh C.I.T.E se engineering karna hi nahin tha. Kyun ki mujhe pata tha Vardhan sir F.I.T.E ka mein professor hain. Mujhe engineering toh yahin se karna tha."
-"Aur tumhara mom?" Vidushi suddenly emerged out of their hide-out. "SHIT", she bit her tongue. Wrong time. The other girls came out as well.
"Tumlog yahan kyun ho?" Randhir shouted.
"Wo hum toh-"
"It's okay. Excuses dene ki zarurat nahin hain. Tum sabb mere dostt ho. Tum sabb ko pata hona chahiye."
"You're unbelievable. Tumne mujhse ye sabb chhupaya? After all this while? Am I not trustworthy enough?" Vidushi spoke in disbelief. Vidushi and Parth have been dating for the past few months now.
"Vidushi-", he was about to apologize. But Vidushi stormed out of the scene before that.
Parth took his steps to follow her but Randhir pulled him back. Parth knew why and hence spoke, "Mom Udaypur mein kissi archaeological survey group key saath ruined architectures leyke kaam kar rhai hain."
"Lekin-", Sanyukta was about to ask something.
"Aur han. Wo definitely zinda hain", Parth answered her unasked question.
An idea played over Randhir's mind. He asked him, "Tera ghar Udaypur mein hain? Maine sunnah hain jagah bohot achhi hain?"
"Han wo toh hain", Parth smiled, still clueless.
"Sanyukta realized where it headed and so she said, "Bachpan se sapna hain mera Udaypur jaane ka. I wish main wahan tour pey jaa paati."
"Toh Parth hain na? Tumhari sapne sachh karne key liye?" Randhir said.
"Whoa guys-", Parth wanted to speak.
"College bhi khatam ho gya. Chalo iss break mein we'll go to Udaipur", Sanyukta said.
"Aur kyun ki ye humari college ki last trip hoga, Vardhan sir bhi humaare saath chalenge",Randhir continued.
"Now I see where this is going." Parth face palmed. "Tumlog ki puchh-taachh ho gyi hain toh main ab jaa sakta hun?" He headed towards Vidushi.
"Vidushi. I'm sorry", he said.
-"Go away."
-"Kaan pakdu?"
-"I don't want to talk to you. Why would you hide stuff from me? I thought you trusted me, Parth. Hell, trust is very much expected in any case where two people are in a relationship."
-"Vidushi-"
-"It seems to be all lies. This won't do , Parth. We can't go on like this."
-"I HAD ISSUES ALRIGHT? AND I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH KEEPING THINGS TO MYSELF."
-"Then I'm afraid I can't put myself up with you."
-------
After 2 hours of nagging, the finally got Vardhan sir to join them.
That night back in girl's hostel, Sanyukta was trying to convince Vidushi not to cancel the trip.
"Chalo naa. Don't be such a spoil-sport yaa", Sanyukta said.
"Mujhe nahin jaana. Especially uske ghar toh kabhi nahin", Vidushi replied, logging into her e-mail ID.
"Chhodo naa use Sanyukta. Ye toh humesha sey hi aisi hain", Kaustuki said, packing her stuff. "Tum apna pac-"
"EEEH. Sanyukta I got my acceptance letter!!!", Vishudhi shrieked. "I GOT A JOB!" She hugged Sanyukta.
"Oh my god congratulations Vidushi!", Kaustuki hugged her too.
"Congratulations", Sanyukta said. "See? Everything is fine. Abhi packing karro. Tickets bokk ho chukey hain. Kal subhah 10 baajey ki train hain."
In the morning, everyone waited for the train to arrive at the station. Thanks to Vardhan sir, because of his too much disciplined nature, they were an hour early.
Parth got up from his seat in the waiting room and walked out.
"Kaha jaa raha han?", Randhir asked, looking up from the newspaper.
"Bas 10 minute mein aya", and he headed towards the jewellery shop near the station.
That was Part 7 for you. Do comment and let me know how it was. Oh! And lets see if you can guess why he visits the jewellery store. :)
PART 8:
The train journey was dull and boring; everyone busy checking their e-mailbox every now and then.
Vidushi had received her acceptance letter, but then her mind was jammed with whatever happened the day before. She walked out of the compartment and stood near the door, the wind in her hair.
"Galti toh sabse hoti hain, naa?", she heard his -still so boyish- voice.
"Toh main kya karru? Yahan se kood jaaun?", she retorted back.
"Aarrey. Achha dehkho. Galti maine kiya? Toh saza toh mujhe milni chahiye, hain naa?", he said softly.
Vidushi looked at him with narrow eyes.
He took out the box from his pocket. "Dekho main abhi khudd tumhe offer kar raha hun. Ladko key liye isse bada aur koi saza ho hi nahin sakta. Ab tumm ye sunheri mauka haat se matt jaane do. Would you mind being Mrs. Vidushi Oberoi?"
Vidushi somehow controlled all her emotions and said, "Mujhey toh ye samajh nahin aa raha ki tumhe thappad lagau yaa kiss karru."
-"Abhi key liye ek haan' ya naa' kaafi hoga."
"I'd love to", and she hugged her. He hugged her back and placed the ring on her finger. They shared a quick kiss and went back inside.
Vidushi sat back on her seat and showed the ring on her finger to Sanyukta.
"HE PROPOSED TO YOU?", she shrieked out loud enough for Kaustuki to hear.
"Sshhh. Yea", Vidushi giggled.
"Aww. I'm so happy for you!", Kaustuki said.
"Thanks a lot guys! Thanks you so much for convincing me to accompany you for the trip", she said.
Vardhan spent his time thinking of Udaipur. He thought how it actually looks like.
Is the place really beautiful? Or did it just sound beautiful to me because Niharika used to speak about them so beautifully?'
Vardhan regretted parting with her. It took him too much time to realize what he had when she was his. But little did he know about fate's mischief?
His residence was in the outskirts. Rather, it was Niharika's ancestral house. A huge fort, which stood beautifully was a symbol of never-dying power that the family held, as the dull locality around seemed mystified only because of the magic it spread. Niharika's family is the descendant of a powerful king under whom, once upon a time this province of Udaipur, namely Gulab Bagh was ruled.
"Bhaiya, Gulab Bagh fort chaloge?", Parth asked a bullock-cart driver.
"You stay there?", Vardhan asked, shocked.
"Yes, sir", he replied.
"Bees rupiya lenge", the driver replied.
Throughout the journey Vardhan kept on thinking,
Niharika bhi toh yahin raha karti thi?'
Maybe the government took over the fort after the last heir of the family died, aur abhi yahan Parth aur uska family rehta hain. Waise bhi wo bata raha tha his mother works for some archaeological survey group.'
They reached the place in around 15 minutes.
"Kya gharr hain!", Vidushi was awestruck.
"Kuchh hi dinon mein tumhara hi ghar banne wala hain", Sanyukta taunted her.
Vidushi did an eye roll and glanced at Parth who glanced back at her with a smile.
Arrey wah. Ye toh handsome key saath saath risch bhi hain! Khush ho jaa Vidushi..Sanyukta sahi kehti hain. Kuchh hi dinon mein toh ghar mera hi hoga', she thought to herself. Vidushi had changed a lot for good, but then not entirely. Few traits, like this one still prevailed in her character.
"Arrey, Parth beta! Andar aao". Care taker Hari kaka welcomed them in.
Parth bent down and touched his feet. "Kaise ho Hari kaka?"
"Hum toh thik hain".
"Ye sabb mere dostt hain", Parth flung his bag on the sofa. "Aur ye humaarey professor. Waise, maa kahin dikh nahi rahi hain?"
"Malkin toh abbhi abhi nikli hain koi kaamse. Aaplog kamre mein jaao. Main saamaan bhejwata hun."
The boys took a separate room and the girls took another. Vardhan took a room by himself and Parth went to his own room. A change took over Parth. He suddenly transformed into a immature little kid from his matured and understanding being.
"Guys. Main bata raha hun. This is a very bad idea", Parth told his friends.
"Itni door taka a gaye hain. Abhi back off matt kar yar", Randhir replied.
They did a lot of planning and plotting, but who knew, they'd never require any of that?
All of them were tired from the day's journey and it was very dark by 7. They had their dinner and dozed off.
Around 11 PM, the latch of the door downstairs made sound. Someone entered. The sound woke Vardhan up. He was thirsty so he went down to get some water. He poured himself a glass and was halfway drinking it when he spotted a middle aged womanly figure staring at him. A name escaped his lips.
Padke comment karo aur batao Part 8 kaisa tha. It is short and boring but I'll try to make it lamba better next walein mein.SanDhir stuff coming up next part mein. :D
PART 9
(Inspired by A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini) :
:"...Woh jo ruki si chaah baaki hain."
"Niharika?"
The figure paced towards him.
"Stop haunting me Niharika", Vardhan spoke with his eyes shut. "Jaa chuki ho tum and I have finally started to accept that. I'm trying my best to live without you. Bar bar aise mere saamne aake mujhe aur weak matt karro."
The intensity of the situation was snapped by the sound of her palm hitting her forehead.
"Vardhan main zinda hun aur sach mein tumhhare samne khada hun", she said gritting her teeth.
Darkness seemed to engulf everything present. Her words; her face; the moon light that created a tremendous beautiful cyclorama behind her. Slowly, everything seemed to give in to darkness. He tried to make his mind up, what is he supposed to say?
-"Why?"
-"Vardhan, its been 21 years that we've parted our ways. You can't expect me to answer your doubts just by looking at you, anymore."
-"Why this traitorous behavior, Niharika?"
Niharika smiled. "I behaved in a traitorous manner? You abandoned me when I needed you the most. And you say I behaved traitorously. Well, I think you very much deserved it, to compensate for what you have done."
-"Main confused tha. I had a career to make back then. I thought you understood."
-"And I? Did you listen to me? Did you pay heed to me at least once?"
-"Even if I had listened to it, I think that'd have been something I'd regret later. I can see, you have married and have a 21 year old son. It was stupid of me, that I clung to your memories and spent my life in misery."
-"Parth is YOUR son, Vardhan."
Vardhan's well-organized life fell apart like a pack of cards. He took time collecting himself.
"Did you, for once, listen to what I had to say back then? You were too busy with yourself, Vardhan. Aur aayi baat shaadi ki, han maine shaadi karli. Kyun ki mere liye uss waqt akele mein ek bachhe ko bada karna aasaan nahin tha."
Parth, who was observing the event from the upper foot of the staircase, could feel his cheeks wet.
-"Parth is my son?" he emphasized on my'.
Niharika was in tears. They stood in front of each other, lacking words. For the first time, silence wasn't enough.
"Your husband and you..you live here?", Vardhan hesitated but finally asked.
-"He's dead."
-"Oh. I'm sorry."
-"Sorry? Don't be. I don't want your pity, Vardhan. Spare me that."
-"Pity you? I love you just as I used to. Till date. How can I pity you, Niharika?"
-"You won't mature, will you? Grow up, already .You're 42 for god's sake."
Vardhan smiled.
"Chaaye piyoge?", she asked him. And they spend the rest of the night chatting over innumerable cups of tea, reminiscing old memories. They never got tires. Dawn broke, and they still had so much to say. At around 4 in the morning, Sanyukta awoke up and awakened the other girls.
"Plan yaad hain na?", she asked.
"Uski koi zarurath nahin hain", Parth said, leaning against the door.
"Kya matlab?"
"Nichey dekho."
They reached the hallway and peeped down, only to find Vardhan and Niharika sitting at the table, laughing away at each other's words.
"Kaise?", Sanyukta was smiling.
Parth ran his finger across his forehead. Fate.
-"Did you ever think of..umm..re-marrying?"
-"Sheesh, Vardhan. I'm 39. I'm not marrying you now if your mind is taking you there."
-"Oh."
-"But I don't mind spending the rest of my life with you."
"Parth abhi right time hain. Make your entry", Sanyukta whispered.
"Nahin. Bhakk", Parth said.
"Go, go, go." She pushed him down.
Parth went down four steps and turned back to walk up when he heard his mom call out,
"Arrey Parth beta? Nichey aao. Tumse toh baat hi nahi hui meri."
Parth squeezed his eyes. Shit. Life turns awkward in 5 4 3 2..' he counted as he climbed down. Shoot.'
"Good morning, Parth", Vardhan held the morning newspaper up.
"Good morning sir..I mean..umm..Maa bohot bhuk lagi hain kuchh khaaney ko do naa", he tried to change the topic.
Niharika got up and walked towards the kitchen. While passing by Vardhan she whispered, "Don't make this awkward."
"So. Did you get a call yet?", Vardhan asked him.
"Nahin. Abhi tak toh nahin." Parth fidgeted with the table cloth.
-"You never told me."
"Vardhan!" Niharika called out from the kitchen. "What I said!"
A silence followed.
"I'll just check my mailbox", Parth took his cell phone out.
And there was not one, but two MNCs presenting their acceptance letters. He shot up. "MAA! Maa, I got a job!" he ran to his mom. "2 jobs rather."
"That's great news", Niharika tousled his hair.
Vardhan's lips curled into a smile. He was a new kind of happy.
"I got a job, Papa", he hugged Vardhan.
Vardhan's eyes were teary. Papa'. He replayed the word so many times already.
Parth realized what he had just said out of excitement but he was re-assured by the warmth he felt when his Papa' hugged him back.
-----
Randhir leaned onto the railing of the balcony with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. His best friend just got engaged a while back and he could feel both sorry and happy for him, at the same time.
'Saala, family re-unite karne aaya thha. Ab baithke khud ka family start kar raha hain', he thought to himself and staired at the star-grazed sky. 'Weird world.'
A ringing sound of 'payal' got him back. The sound slowly neared him and stopped suddenly. Randhir dropped his head and smirked.
"Tum cigarette kabse peeney lage?" She stepped beside him and leaned on to the railing.
"Its sexy", he said with his signature suave voice.
"You think its sexy", she argued.
"Girls think its sexy", he taunted.
- "Yea. Stupid girls with no brains do."
-"You know it."
-"I know what?"
"That I only have eyes for you", he finally looked at her and caught her blushing. Her cheeks were rosy and she felt them hot. She felt her inside swoon and the ground beneath her feet shift. She smiled at herself, and her condition made him laugh.
"Blush kar rahi ho?" he playfully asked.
"Nahin." she promptly lied.
"You look swell", he dropped a compliment and she stared at him.
'Did MCP just compliment?'
"Thank you", her humble reply.
They were caught in the situation, alone. Just Randhir, Sanyukta and a void between them of all the bottled up emotions from the past 3 years. The feelings that got vented as a result of all the opportunities the missed to express themselves; all the times the escaped from giving into each other. But today, they were caught. Captured in the moment. All the suppressed feelings threatened both of them to burst out.
The awkward silence, disrupted with ringing sounds of her'payal', as she shifted her legs, was finally broken by her. "Nichey nahin jana?"
-"Kyun?"
-"Sabb log nichey hain."
-"Toh?"
-"Humein bhi nichey hi hona chahiye?"
"Kyun? Tumhe nichey jaana hain?" He knew she did not want to. Of course she did not want to go down. This was heaven on earth for her.
Sanyukta wasn't prepared for this. She stammered meaningless words and tried to structure a sentence, but her attempts had to be given up as he leaned in to kiss her, and the kiss turned more passionate with every attack. The cigarette smell mixed with the tantalizing smell of Old Spice after shave got her dizzy. She could not guess if her inside revolved or was her surrounding revolving. The feel of his strong lips felt so familiar to her. Just like it was few years back. Only, then the passion was missing. They carried the kiss inside the room and his hands worked on her choli, followed by the drawstrings of her ghagra. Rajasthan was a hot place, and the situation made it even hotter for them. Caught in the frenzy, she moaned out in pleasure and pain as she felt the first pang of pain down below. It was such a harmless thing, an act of love. The carpet reddened with spots of her blood. No one would ever know.
Author's note on Page 19!
Kaisa tha? Sorry for the chhotu+late update. :( Comment kariyo. Okay? :D Ek aur baat. Please koi mujhe 14th aur 15th April ka episodes dekh ke batayega kya hua? In details. :P
Because I'll be out of town and would miss Sadda Haq. :/ Thanks!
PART 10
Get ready for having your hearts broken! :P Thodi si ghisii piti hain. Phir bhi! Share your views. This one is really short. Had to link up the events naa, issi liye. :D
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year.
Running over the same old ground-
What have we found?
Same old fears.
Wish you were here."
"Vidushi! Achhe sey honeymoon manana! Aur humein bhul matt jana", Sanyukta shouted back from the running train at Vidushi and Parth who came to see them off. Vidushi shed a tear and said, "I'll miss you people so much!"
It was time to part. Sanyukta, Kaustuki, Randhir and Jiggy were returning back to Delhi. They were sad, of course, their college life just ended and they were yet to step in to the real world all on their own.
Randhir had received SO many orders already and he knew where to go. Norfolk motor group, Norwich. He knew it at once. He had dreamt of working there since Vardhan had spoken about the company. Everyone hugged and congratulated him when he let them know. And she? She just said, "All the very best in life, Randhir", and smiled.
Throughout the train journey, he kept on trying to convince Jignesh to join at the same place since Jignesh too had received an order from the same company.
-"Kya yaar. Tu itna bada mauka haath se jaane dey raha hain?"
-"Lekin Randhir bhai. Mujhe toh Kaustuki key saath kaam karna hain naa."
Kaustuki cut in. "It is okay Jiggy. This is an once in a lifetime opportunity. Aisa mauka bar bar nahin aata. And I'd be the happiest if you join there. And trust me, long distance relationships can do magic. Aur main toh yahin Dehli mein hi rahungi naa? I'll be just a click away."
Jignesh smiled at her. "Toh tum ICML hi join karogi?"
"Why not Eicher? That'd be better right?" Randhir asked her.
Kaustuki indulged herself in the conversation. And Sanyukta just sat back and stared. Her e-mail box flooded with acceptance calls. But she was scared to open any of the mails. Her time of life was over. Her parents promised they'd let her graduate and they kept their promise. Now, it is her turn to keep her word. She will get married after she gets back home. She will, without any further nuisance, she knew. Because, what was the point anymore? She scolded herself for Randhir being the root of it. Randhir wasn't going to stay back. And she never expected him to.
'It never started. And what has no starting, cannot have an ending.'
Lulled by the rhythm of steel wheels on the track, she shut her eyes close and ignoring the bright sunlight, she gave into a sleep.
Randhir wondered what happened to her.
'Not a word after that night?'
'She didn't even ask me when I am joining.'
'Does she think I used her?'
'No. I did not. She knows. Over the years, she knew it all. I never had to tell her anything. I don't think I have to tell her now.'
'Should I stay back for her?'
'But this job is SO much more important. And as much as I know her, she will take care of herself.'
His chain of thoughts was broken by Jignesh. "Randhir bhai, I think I'll join with you."
He hugged him and patted his back. He was happy that he'd have one of his friends around.
"Suniye aap please dekhiye mithayiyan aa gaye hain ya nahin.", Sanyukta's mother took a break from entertaining the guests and whispered to her husband.
"Anju sabb thik hain. Tum tension matt lo. Main phir bhi ek bar dekh leta hun", he left.
The day was here. Finally. Finally, she'll be married off.
"Sanyukta, baarat aaney hi wali hain. Jaldi se niche aa jao."
She heard someone scream at her while running across the corridor. She? She sat there in front of the mirror. Her body clad in her red 'shaadi ke jodde'. No doubt, she looked beautiful. Her hands reddened with mehendi and the Kohl made her eyes look alluring. She did her best to not let them smear her face. For, it was not easy for her to control the threatening tears. As she had promised, she did not create any nuisance. Maybe, she could have escaped this marriage. Not maybe. She can, she knows. She knows she can get herself out of this marriage with a bit of scene creation. But she did not. She had no reason for that. And yet again, she scolded herself for letting Randhir be at the root of it. What had he done to her? She has never been the person who would let any other be factor for her decisions to depend on.
'No Sanyukta. You cannot cry today. Not TODAY. Isn't this the most important day of your life?'
So she smiled. She smiled and brought up the bottle of acid to her lips. She has had her time. And that day, indeed was her most important one.
'I wonder how she is. Did she get married already? I don't think she'd let that happen to herself. Do I reside in her thoughts? Does she think of me? I think of her every day. I wish I was with her.'
Picture abhi bhi baaki hain mere dostt! :D
Comment please? :*
PART 11:
This part goes to Zoya(arshifan2012) and Shradhha(Shradhhask), the two friends that I've made on IF. Thanks a lot for your comments, guys. Love you so much. <3 And don't forget to pray for SanDhir. :*
Even before she let the acid make its way through her lips, she felt a sour taste rising up at the back of her throat. She brought the bottle backed to the table and rushed towards her washroom and puked. The corner of her eyes turned wet and she felt breathless. All her attempts of not letting the Kohl smear her face resulted fruitless.
She splashed water on her face. She had sensed something was going on. Something was going on inside her. The fullness of her breasts, sudden dizziness and occasional puking- amidst all she had missed a cycle. A part of Randhir was still with her. How can she destroy that? She returned back to the dressing table and threw the bottle away.
"Kaustuki?" she called out for her best friend."Meri make up phir se kardogi please?"
"Are you sure, you're doing this, Sanyu?" Kaustuki brushed her cheeks with some make up.
"I don't have an option", she looked at herself in the mirror. "Not anymore."
Sanyukta was taken down to the hall where the ceremony would take place. Did I tell you that a part of her was begging to see Randhir breaking through the main door and taking her away? Oh, how she wished he would! But then, she'd already had her share of her dreams fulfilled. This would've been too much of asking.
Sameer put the mangalsutra around her neck. The Sanskrit slokes filled her mind but all she could think of was Randhir. Where was he then, when she needed him the most? History had repeated itself.
Sameer applied the vermillion on her head. Finally, she was his. Or at least, that is what he thought.
The next morning, the marriage registrar came. Sanyukta was, then, legally Sanyukta Malhotra, wife of Sameer Malhotra. But in her mind, she was Randhir's. She died to see him again, but there weren't any hope. He did not even know she got married. He wasn't to blame, actually. It was her who did not inform him. It was her who disconnected the line every time he called. It was her who pulled herself away every time. Because she feared, what if he says he doesn't care? She had closed the door to her heart on his face. Always. But secretly, rather, unknowingly, she had already given him the key.
At night, Sameer came inside their bedroom and shut the door. Sanyukta sunk in her seat. She was uncomfortable. She rubbed her toes and fiddled with her bed sheet.
"Hey, don't worry. I won't even touch you until you are ready", he smiled at her.
Sanyukta looked at him with surprised eyes. "Thank you for being so thoughtful."
Sameer took his seat on the sofa. "So tell me about yourself?"
Sanyukta looked at him. "Umm..I have just completed my MA...umm...around 15 days back-"
"I know you have a b-tech degree in mechanical engineering. Come on, now!" Sameer smirked.
Sanyukta's jaw dropped. "How did you even?"
-"I am your husband. And don't you think I should know every possible detail about you?"
-"Yea. But this was not supposed to be let out!"
-"I don't have any issues with that, really."
-"You don't?"
-"Why would I?"
-"Oh."
There was this silence for a long time which made Sanyukta feel very awkward. Am I really this poor at recognizing people?'
-"So, how was your college life?"
"Enjoyed and learnt throughout", she smiled.
"And, tell me about your friends?" Sameer got up and walked towards her bed.
"Yea friends toh hain bohot saa-" she stopped on seeing him near her.
"Chill karro. Pillow lene jaa raha tha", he assured.
She smiled and continued. "Bohaut saare. You met Kaustuki and Jiggy today, didn't you? Then there are Path and Vidushi. They couldn't come. Actually, Vidushi is expecting. And the journey would've been too tiresome. Aur-", she stopped.
Sameer was lying on the sofa with his eyes shut. He opened and looked at her as she had stopped mid sentence. "Aur?"
"Bas. Aur koi dost nahin hain", she lied and shrugged.
"Hmm", he shut his eyes back. "So what have you planned?"
"Matlab?" she sounded confused.
"You have an entire b-tech degree from the country's one of the most prestigious colleges. Don't tell me you haven't planned anything?"
-"I am not supposed to work."
"But why?" he sat up at once.
Sanyukta was awestruck now. "Family conditions? I am not allowed to-"
"Who says?" he crossed his arms. "I don't have any problem if you work, seriously. And my opinion is all that matters."
-"So you think I should work?"
"If you want to", he leaned back and shrugged.
Sanyukta smiled.
"I am really tired. Can we sleep now?" he asked.
She nodded and turned out the night lamp.
Sanyukta lay down. She was wrong. She was living with a misconception. This man, Sameer-he deserved respect. He is an ideal gentleman. Sanyukta wanted to respect him. But instead, all she felt for him was pity; and she was guilt-struck, of course. She cursed herself. She wished she hadn't had to play this game with him. She thought to herself:
'See what you've done to me, Randhir.'
'This man, he respects me. Unlike you. You are such an MCP. You know that? '
'I'm ashamed of myself, ashamed that I have to deceive him. All because of you. How much more shallow do you want me to get?'
But you know what? I had loved you. And I still do. Every bit of me loves you. Be it, you're an MCP which is highly regressive. This, I will do for you Randhir. I'll have to play this game of treachery with Sameer.'
The next morning, Sanyukta woke up and prepared tea for herself and Sameer. She placed his cup on the table and sat with her laptop open, finally checking her mails and trying to narrow down her options.
"Hey, I think you should join Admach Auto", Sameer stood behind her chair.
-"Hm?"
"Yea. I read an article about it."
-"I see. They're offering me to join as a consultant."
"Cool." He sipped his tea. "Chaaye achhi banati ho tum."
"Thank you", she replied.
Her days went well, in her new house. Sameer was a busy man. He was genuine at his work and was very responsible. She had joined her new job and she loved working at that place.
One night, Sameer entered their bedroom and said, "Sanyukta, don't you think its tome you start behaving like a wife?"
Sanyukta looked at him.
"I mean, I said I'd wait but have I not provided you enough space?", he came closer to her.
"Sameer I-", she stopped as he kissed her lips. He kissed her with full force and made her lie down on the bed. "Sameer. I can't-", she croaked. But she had to. For Randhir. For his baby. She knew she could endure this, after all she had been through.
Sameer pounded on Sanyukta. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, the fan which went round and round. A lone tear escaped her eye. Sameer continued thrusting into her, kissing her neck. It was hurting her. He wasn't gentle. He was not gentle at all, like Randhir was. Randhir would've never hurt her. She stared without blinking. Sameer had his right over her to do what he was doing. 'After all, men are hormone driven animals.'
Next morning, she woke up as early as possible and slit her thumb. She pressed it on the bed sheet and allowed it to bleed for a while. No one would ever know.
Keep praying for SanDhir, fellas! Also, comment and let me know how this is. <3
PART 12:
I'm really sorry for being so late!
Sanyukta stood under the shower and let the water trickle down her body, draining away the feeling of another man's touch on her body from her senses. She shut her eyes and focused. She hated Sameeer's rough touch. Sameer raped her body and she had to let him do it. She hated his feeling. She was hurt.
Sanyukta knew she'd forget the physical pain in some time but what about the scar that wounded her deeply in the deepest chore of her body? Her heart? She hated Randhir for letting her do this to herself.
'This is your fault, Randhir.'
"Sameer? I'm having your child", she lied one morning.
-"WHAT? Really? Hey, that's great news! I love you", he hugged her.
She smiled. She just smiled. 'Well played, Sanyukta', she could hear Randhir's voice in her head. No, it was not that easy to break Sanyukta down. "You too," she said and completed the sentence in her mind,'Randhir.' A certain sense of victory interlaced with guilt engulfed her.
About 8 months later, Sanyukta almost gave up while giving birth to a healthy baby boy. 'Seriously, Randhir. You never miss a chance to destroy me.' The kid was cheerful like his mother and had his father's jet black eyes.
She named him Aarav and Sameer liked the name. Sameer seemed to like everything about her, no matter how conflicting her propositions seemed to him. To him, Sanyukta was like fresh dew drops on the tips of grass blades. Sanyukta was a young and beautiful 21 year old lady to his 28 year old hard and rough self. She was the bright and cheerful orange to his dull and mundane grey. He'd always readily agree with everything she said. Everything, or that is what he thought.
Little Aarav was growing up really fast. He was a quick learner and he picked up things fast. He had a sharp brain and was very clever, like Randhir. He even looked like Randhir. Those big black eyes, unlike Sameer's narrow light ones, had great depth of intelligence and charm.
"Sanyukta, what is the color of your mother's eyes?" Sameer asked her one night.
"Umm...brown", she said without thinking. "Why do you ask?"
"I was just thinking, you see, you have honey colored eyes and I have brown ones. Wonder how, Arav got those big black ones. Your mother has brown eyes, you say. He possibly didn't inherit them from her." There was a hint of suspicion in his tone.
"Kya?" Sanyukta was not at all prepared for this. "Sameer, tum thaak gaye hogey. So jao. Good night."
5 years passed by with light year speed and Aarav was growing up fast. In these growing years, Sanyukta would tell Aarav stories. Stories, of how Arav doesn't belong to Sameer. How beautiful and genuine his real father would have been towards his family, unlike Sameer for whom, his work is everything. At times Sanyukta would sit and wonder if Randhir would've been the same as him; if she is picturing it all wrong to Aarav about Randhir being genuine towards his family if it were like that, since Randhir never turned around for another time. If he would've, maybe today they would've been leading a completely different life. But the very next moment she would scold herself. She was the one who pushed him away, who kept him oblivious from all the events had been happening. Who was to blame? Every night Sanyukta would come to his room and tell him how beautiful his real father is. How his eyes flashed, how his words felt. Aarav would turn into a dazed listener. His mind registered everything she said. Who knew his sharp memory would turn out to be the epicentre of a catastrophe?
Yes, Aarav was indeed growing up fast. And so was the suspicion in Sameer's mind. He wondered how Aarav inherited absolutely nothing from him. Worse, he wasn't even comfortable with Sameer. In the beginning, Sameer wouldn't bother much. But slowly, the oid between them increased and there was almost nil bonding between them.
So one night, Sameer went to Aarav's room. Aarav peeped out his pouty little face from the blanket.
"Aarav beta, aapko papa key saath kal ghumne jaana hain?" Sameer took his seat.
Aarav nodded his headed in negate.
"Aapko papa se koi shikayat hain?" Sameer asked.
Aarav stared at him with a pout.
"Kya baat hain beta? Aap papa se share kar sakte ho", Sameer came closer to him and patted his cheeks.
"Aap mere papa nahin ho", Aarav mumbled.
That was it. His suspicion turned out to be correct.
"Sacchi?" Sameer faked animation.
Aarav nodded. If only he knew what he just committed.
"Lekin aapko kisne bataya ye baat?" Sameer tried his best to control his temper. After all, he did not want to take it out on Aarav. What is his fault? He is just a child.' He thought to himself. Over everything, he loved this kid.
Aarav went back to staring with a pout.
"Main kissi se kucch nahin kahunga, promise", he hated lying but that was the only thing left.
"Mamma kehti hain, aap mere papa nahin ho.."
A/N!: That is all for Part 12. Sorry for the late+chhotu update. Was going through some serious trouble! :/
Waise, am I the only one or is it so that ye CV people have scheduled Thurday to be the -HeartBreak- day for SanDhir shippers? I mean, ye toh routine ho gya yaar! Last Thursday that hug and this Thursday ye sabb. Ye toh ajeeb had hain yaar. :/
PART 13:
An unsent mail:
If only you knew how much I miss you. I wish I could wish to be with you again, but that is too much of asking. And I'm undeserving of that, for I have abandoned you which I shouldn't have done. I've already had my share of punishment. I hope you're still the strong and focused person I knew 4 years back. Its just 4 years, you're still your same old fresh and beautiful self, aren't you? Not that I have changed much, though I had started growing a goatee but thanks to you, now that my mother lives with me, she made me snip it off.
Did I just digress? Sorry.
Yea, I hope you're still the strong and focused person you used to be. I hope you haven't let yourself get into trouble. I have already had my share of punishment, as I said, staying away from you. That'd be too much for me to take if you get into trouble. Now, that I really can't do anything to help, being approximately 6594 kilometers away from you, if you're still living in Delhi.
You were always right, I am a coward. I never had the courage to confess. I always feared, what will happen to the bubble reputation I carry if I let my walls come down today? This valour is just a cover for my cowardice. And this mail is just going to serve as another proof for that fact, for I still haven't managed to gather the courage to hit the send' button. Probably, I would never. This mail isn't reaching you that I can assure. If only, I had the faith to believe in myself. Then, I would have told you how much I loved you. I would have said it to you when you weren't out of your senses. I wouldn't have feared so much.
Yours apologetically,
Randhir.
Sameer stormed into their bedroom and slapped her hard.
"Sameer!" she shouted back.
He jerked her hard enough for a shoulder dislocation. "You think I'm stupid, you cheap woman?"
Sanyukta couldn't register what ever was going on.
"You think I'll never know, and you would let some other man's child grow in my house, in my unknowing?" He tightened his grip around her arms.
"SAMEER WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?" Sanyukta ventured haltingly. Because she already knew what he said. 'This day wasn't far away, Sanyukta. Where did you go wrong?'
"Oh, shut up. I know it. I suspected it from the very beginning that I'm not Aarav's biological father. How stupid of me that I had let you live the life you wanted. You don't deserve to be treated the way I have treated you, you filthy woman!" he was outraged.
Sanyukta was crying. That was all she could do. No, there was no scope of apologizing. For what would she apologize? The game of treachery that she had played with him, what would contemplate for that?
Sameer pushed her on the bed and came up on her.
"NO! Sameer, don't. Don't do this, I beg!" she croaked.
But he had already pounced on her. He ripped of her kurti and undid the drawstrings of her Patiyala, harshly. Sanyukta tried her best to free herself but Sameer was too strong. She had never seen this side of him. His patience had a limit too, she thought. After all, what she had done was no less painful to him than what he was doing to her right then. The pain was excruciating. The bed-sheet blackened with her tears which washed off the kohl from her eyes. "Sameer stop please. Don't insult me like this."
Sameer spoke with every thrust, "You.Filthy.Woman.I.Don't.Want.You.And.Your.Son.Inside.My.House.Tomorrow.Morning.We're.Getting.A.Divorce.Do.You.Understand?"
Sanyukta was too weak to speak. She lost her sense after the Sameer slapped her again, which made her lip corner bleed and left her swallowing blood every time she drank water.
As she regained her sense, she realized it was 4 in the morning. She took a shower and started packing her clothes. Come on, already. You don't just expect some one like Sanyukta to spend her time whining over what is lost, do you?
'Its okay. You can do this. You gotta move on. Not that you don't have a job. You salary is enough to support a comfortable lifestyle for 2 people.' She kept on planning what she should do next, as she packed all her and Aarav's belongings right when she noticed a letter on the side table.
Sanyukta,
I'm sorry. I'm sorry I never understood you. It's a failure on my part, as a husband. No. Not just as a husband but also as a human being. I should have never tied you up in this bond called marriage, where you never had your consent. I tried my best to serve as a good husband, but you must have had your reasons. I apologize for insulting you, for thinking low and vulnerable of your gender. Of, misunderstanding you. I don't even expect you, in my most random imagination, to accept my apology. This is just to let you know, that I feel guilty.
Sameer.
Sanyukta smiled out of sadness. She did not want to think of it. She wanted to avoid the mess of a myriad of feelings- guilt, sorrow, failure. She folded the letter and kept it in her purse and made her way to Aarav's room. On her way, she took a quick glance at the mirror and observed the deep cut at the corner of her lips. 'This will take really long to heal.'
"Mamma, hum itni subhah subhah kaha jaa rahe hain?" Aarav rubbed his eyes as Sanyukta dragged him towards the lift of their new building.
"Nayi ghar mein", she replied.
"Kyun?" he asked.
"Offo Aarav! Kitne sawal karteh ho?" she scolded. "Chup chap raho naa do minute."
"Mamma, aap mujhe neend se utha ke ke ghasit te ghasit te pata nahin kaha lekey jaa raho ho, aapko kaise laga ki main sawal nahin karunga?"
"Aarav, tum mere bete ho yaa main tumhaari beti? And for god's sake, you are 6 years old. Start behaving like one!" she pressed the lift button to her 2nd floor 3BHK apartment which was a gift to her from her parent's on her wedding. How ironic, now that her marriage has come to an end, she is need of this place.
"Main Randhir Singh Shekhawat ka beta hun", Aarav would say with full pride. So what, if he was just 6? He already knew he was a child prodigy. At this age, he knew most of everything that a 6 year old should not be knowing. He was proud of himself, like his father. Moreover, since he had heard almost everything about him from his mother, Randhir's name often served as an excuse for the mischiefs he sometimes did, for his mother would always let it go on hearing his name.
"Agar yahin akal kal raatko thikaane par late, toh itni subhah subhah tumhe neend se uthake nahin leke aati", she unlocked the door.
"Aapko toh iss baat ki khushi honi chahiye ki maine naam nahin bataya, ki main kiska beta hun", Aarav quickly switched all the switches on. "Aaj main school nahin jaunga."
"Mela laga hain kya yahan, jo tum school nahin jaoge?" she scolded.
"Mamma, please", he whined. After all, he was a kid.
"Fine."
Another year passed by with Sanyukta trying her best to manage everything up. Being a single mother was tough. She was happy to have Kaustuki around at her workplace. She had quit her old job and joined ICML, where the salary was much higher as she had denied to accept her share of Sameer's property after their divorce. Kaustuki had evolved into a very focused person after she had started working. She hardly had time for herself. But at the end of the day, she would always manage to save some time for Jiggy, with whom she shared a long distance relationship. Every night, she would have to deal with a jittery Jiggy who very well knew why she was never free when it was night time at Norwich, but still would create an unnecessary drama because he is our very own Jiggy.
The mother-son bond had increased a lot over the months. Aarav would at times behave exactly like Randhir, scolding Sanyukta. Sanyukta would scold him back by saying "Apni maa se aise baat karteh hain?" though she enjoyed his reprimands. Aarav became her best friend and they would share every little secret with each other.
"Achha, suno. Main nikalti hun. Aarav ko school se pick up karni hain", he flung her cabin keys at Kaustuki. "Mera cabin lock karke keys submit kar dena please?"
"Aarav! Apni class mate key baarein mein aisa bolteh hain?" she scolded, taking his school bag from his back while walking back to their building.
"Arre mamma. Usse toh ye bhi nahin pata ki long divison method se HCF kaise nikaalte hain", he said like a know-it-all. Hell, he was a know-it-all!
"Sabko sab kuchh pata nahin hota! Usse bhi aisa kuchh pata hoga jo tum nahin jaante", she spoke as she headed towards the building help-desk where she had to lodge a complaint over the smashed window glass.
"Mujhey likhna hain! Aap jaake darwaza kholo!" Aarav pushed her away.
She did not doubt his capability. She let him do it and took the stairs.
She was on the second last landing when she heard a voice with a hint of an accent.
"Jiggy, check karna ek baar. Address galat diya hain k-"
She was standing at the foot of the last flight of stairs to her floor from where she saw a young man in his mid twenties, clad in blue denims and a casual white shirt staring down at her, standing at the other end of the hallway, trying to disconnect the call he was on.
Sanyukta dropped Aarav's school bag there and slowly climbed up the stairs. Her pace increased and then she was running before finally she found herself crushed against his body, his arms tightly around her and her face streaming with tears. The familiar smell of Old Spice aftershave filled her nostrils. Finally.
: "Yun to solah saavan aaye gaye-
Gaur nahi kiya humne,
Bheega man ka aangan is martaba,
Kya jaane kya kiya tumne."
Listen to ManMarziyan while reading, maybe? :)
Itna lamba thik hain naa? :D Comments thoko! :*
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