"Coffee?" The question escaped his mouth much before he intended it to. It was the first time in his life, that he had thought about
someone else, other than him. Ideally, he could work for almost 10 hours continuously, but Sanyukta's tired eyes and droopy face was making him
feel restless!!
"Haa...why not!" She grabbed the offer instantly, her face glowing with happiness! The continuous work had taken a toll on her eyes, and they
were burning due to stress. If she would say they were burning only due to stress, it would be a mere lie, as much as she was staring
at the file, she was also staring at Randhir's perfect eyes, and alluring body. He had changed into a blue tee, and she realised t
hat he looked even more tantalizing in a tee than in a shirt. Yeah ofcourse, for her, removing his shirt would be easier that the Tee, but...
"What why not? Khud utho, kitchen main jaao aur le lo!" He replied arrogantly, breaking her chain of thoughts, his eyes sparkling with naughtiness!
"Randhir, i dont even know where the kitchen is.." The disappointment apparent in her tone, she looked at him with unhappy eyes...
"Come il take u to the kitchen.." He smiled, her disappointed face definitely made him feel bad!
"Chalo!" She jumped in excitement, and they began walking towards the kitchen...
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"Pata hai tumhe, mujhe nah chai bilkul achi nahi lagti, i drink only coffee!" Sanyukta proudly disclosed her likes and dislikes, sitting
at the counter of the kitchen, while Randhir searched for milk in the refrigerator.
"Tumhe kya acha lagta hai?" She innocently asked.
"I like peace. I hate people who talk continuously!" He stared at her angrily.
She could clearly make out he was serious, her talks were not at all being enjoyed by him. But that did not stop her from talkin further,
"Toh tum apne kaano main cotton daal k ghoomo na!" She replied, in a "as a matter of fact" tone, only to get Randhir's cold look,
which automatically shut her mouth! She quietly picked up her coffee mug, and started walking towards Randhir's room, only to halt mid way
on seeing a photo frame at the wall of the corridor.
"Yeh kaun hai Randhir?" She asked her eyes looking at the picture in excitement.
"Wait, yeh tumhaari mom hai na? U look just like her!!" She continued, her excitement reaching another level upon her discovery!
"Woh tumhaare saath nahi rehte?" Her questions seemed to have no end.
"Sanyukta Agarwal!" Randhir, who was standing right behind her all this while, violently caught her shoulder, and banged her against the wall.
He was lost in his reverie,his beautiful little world, that he had entered upon seeing the picture, but Sanyukta's questions had brought him back to reality, and he hated the guts
this girl possessed for asking him such personal questions!
His nails dug deep into her soft skin, which was exposed, thanks to the T-top she had chosen to wear today. She felt her knees go weak on
coming in contact with the anger burning in his eyes, she gulped her throat, on feeling his nails in her skin...
"I told you to stop talking, didn't i? Tumhe koi bhi baat ek baar main samajh nahi aati?" He screamed.
"Randhir...woh...main..." She was unable to undersatnd what had gotten into him all of a sudden!
"Everthing is alright bro?" A sleepy Kabir stood at the entrance of the corridor, confused at the sight in front of him. Randhir
immediately let go off Sanyukta, and stood in front of her, as though trying to conceal her from him.
"Yeah bhai...hum toh ladte rehte hai u know..." He replied, in a normal tone, leaving Sanyukta surprised. This was the second time he had
defended her in front of a third person! She wondered why he always did that! If she thought she was the only one surprised she was highly mistaken-
Randhir himself was surprised at his action. He soo badly
wanted to shout at her, and complain to his brother about Sanyukta's interference in his personal matters, but something made him stop.
He, himself was clueless regarding what.
"Randhir, yeh koi time hai ladne ka? Its 3 am!" Kabir looked irritated. He glared at Randhir, and walked back towards his room...
"M sorry Randhir..." Sanyukta whispered, but Randhir had already started walking towards his room, ignoring her apology
completely.
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"Vardhan Sir wants to see our progress, chale?" Sanyukta had been waiting patiently for Randhir to finish reading the file, but it seemed
there was no end to this activity of his. Finally, she decided to disturb him.
"Haa chalo naa.." He replied, passing her a smile, which she did not return. He had noticed her controlled behavior since morning. All
they had exchanged were formal greetings since morning, and he could clearly see her attempt to avoid any other conversation with him.
Though that was exactly what he had been craving for, all of a sudden, he was missing her brainless banter, and friendly chats!
"Mr.Agarwal ne tumhe kal raat daanta toh nahi?" He asked her, entering the lift.
"Nahi...main ne bataaya unhe ki tum mujhe ghar tak chodne aaye the.." She smiled.
"Ur looking good in indian!" He said, his eyes stuck on her beautiful smile. He had been wanting to compliment her since morning, and had
finally said it!
"Well, poore din tumne mujhe inn kapdo main dekha, aur ab raat k 8 baje compliment de rahe ho?" She suspiciously asked him, though
her heart was busy doing somersaults! She had specially taken the pain to get ready in a white chudiaar and halter neck blue kurta, just to
confirm, whether he noticed her as much as she noticed him.
"Nahi woh..." Sanyukta could not believe her eyes, did she just see Randhir nervous? The confident Randhir singh Shekawat. was short
of words??!!
"We reached!" He decalred, mentally thanking god to save him of the embarrasement!
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"This is amazing! Wow! Thoda sa improvement chahiye bass, warna yeh client toh hamara! Very soon we will be supplying vital car parts
and engines to Royal Rangers!!" Mr.Agarwal's excitement knew no bounds! The presentation he had been presented with was indeed splendid,
and he was unable to conceal his excitement!
"Yes Randhir and Sanyukta...this is good. But not the best. I want a proper ending to it...Aur bhi kuch minor faults hai..which i assume
tum dono aaj alter kardoge.." Vardhan Suryavanshi was not the kind of person who would appreciate his team's work with praises and
compliments. But one look at his face, and Sanyukta could easily tell that Vardhan was impressed.
"Randhir! Its all because of you my boy! I guess the company had got its good luck charm!" Mr.Agarwal stated with pride, patting
Randhir's shoulders, where as a hopeful Sanyukta just looked on...She was so expecting her dad to appreciate her effort too..
Randhir was hoping for the same!
Their hopes were shattered, though, when Mr. Agarwal just walked out of the cabin, saying he had important work to do.
Randhir's eyes immediately looked at Sanyukta, who had a fake smile plastered on her face. No matter what she did, her dad would
never be happy with her. The tears threatening to fall, she walked out of the cabin, and made her way to the terrace of the buliding,
for some "me" time, only to be followed by Randhir.
"He doesnt hate u, u know..." Randhir couldn't help but utter, her continuous tears piercing his heart...
She had been standing at the edge of the terrace for half an hour now, and all he saw during this while was her tears..Tears of hope,
tears of disappointment, tears of pain...
"M sure he does.." She replied, wiping away her tears, her melancholy evident...
"There is something that stops him from appreciating you Sanyukta...that is it.." He walked towards her, and stood right behind her, his
breath caressing her bare shoulder.
She shut her eyes tight on feeling his breath on her skin. Her heart began to thump fast, her breath began to become uneven..
She was feeling high all of a sudden!!
While he stood there, staring at her beautiful skin, tempted to feel it through his lips...He gently slipped her hands around her waist,
his lips brushing past her shoulder.
"Randhir!" She whispered, her head giddy heart thumping. She was very new to the feeling she was experiencing...
He immediately jerked out upon hearing his name, certain what they were doing was wrong.
"We should get goin...v have work to do...and looks like its goin to rain...so..." He walked towards the parking lot,
while Sanyukta was left standing at the terrace craving for his touch...
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Sometimes, u find comfort at the most unexpected places, and u begin to crave for that comfort...Sanyukta, too found the same in Randhir's arms, his touch, but deep down, she knew it was she who craved for him, he did not crave for her...Or did he?
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
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