A Hatke Sandhir Story-
My love for you is inexplicable. Even though I don't show it, I will be behind you forever, always.
Chapter 1
"Oh my god! Professor Vardhan is going to make us work like ants! I just know it. He's going to take us some place, drop a bomb, and tell us to clean it up." Vidushi was complaining the whole way to the girl's hostel.
Ten minutes ago, Professor Vardhan had called his newly decided Dream Team in his office. There, he had given the team time to pack as they were going on their first assignment. They didn't know where and how long. Professor Vardhan had said that he was going to let them know as soon as they get to the location of the first task.
"Oh, come on Vidushi!" Sanyukta exclaimed. "It can't be that bad. Professor Vardhan knows what he is doing. And with us being his Dream Team... we should at least expect some international level work."
Vidushi rolled her eyes and stormed into the room.
"Don't listen to her Sanyukta! All she knows is how to complain and make worse of situations." Kaustuki whispered to Sanyukta before they entered the room.
After packing, the whole Dream Team- Sahil, Vidushi, Jiggy, Kaustuki, Randhir, and Sanyukta- met in the main lobby, waiting for Vardhan's instructions.
"Some people don't even deserve being in the Dream Team. I don't know why Vardhan Sir is letting those farzis be in such a prestigious team. They don't deserve it." Randhir was speaking to Sahil; however, they all knew that his comments were directed to Sanyukta. He raised his voice as usual and gave the same smirk that had always provoked Sanyukta in starting a fight.
Sanyukta turned to him. Her nose flared up, eyes enlarged, she lifted her finger pointing to him, and was about to tell him to back off when Vardhan Sir interrupted.
"You farzi engineers. Well, I can't say that now. You all are my dream team. Here are blindfolds. Wear it once you get in the bus. Don't try to act smart. I will know if you haven't worn them. You will not know where you will be taken. I will meet you all there. So my dream team? Are you ready for your task?" VardhanSir asked knowing the answer.
"Yes." They all said in unison.
"Ready than we will ever be." Sanyukta and Randhir said at the same time. Shocked, they both looked at each other and held their eye contact.
Sanyukta couldn't understand this Randhir Singh Shikawat. He claimed to be better than everyone else but at the end, they always reacted the same when it came to work. They wanted the best and to be the best. The way he stared at her... blankly. She couldn't tell what was going on in his mind. A part of her wanted to just tear his ego and shred it and feed it to the rats. And a part of her admired his work ethic and determination/persistence of being the best. It honestly was a confused feeling.
That Sanyukta only wants to but in everything. That's all she knows how to do. Watch how she takes my credit. She says she hates me, but she wants to copy everything like the way I do. Randhir thought in his head. As he started out to stare at her in rage, that rage transformed into something inexplicable. Randhir knew all the obstacles Sanyukta had faced to get into FITE. And the obstacles still increased even when getting into the Dream Team. Her fighting spirit was something that he liked, and at the same time...abhorred. He wanted to break it, but he physically couldn't. He stood there dumbfounded that how could a girl be able to still fight despite everything.
"Interesting...Very interesting," VardhanSir interrupted and gave a little smirk. Thereafter, Sanyukta and Randhir awkwardly lost eye-contact and paid attention to what he had to say after.
"Wear the blindfolds on the bus. I will see you all there. And one more thing, I will not tolerate failure. I know I already told you this." With saying that, he left. He knew that this group will do well. He had the best students- Sanyukta and Randhir- passion and brilliance. They were going to be his star players and their feuds would play according to his plan.
On the bus, there were only eight seats. Sahil and Vidushi sat together. Jiggy and Kaustauki were to sit together. Sanyukta was going to sit near the bus driver when Randhir pulled her out and sat where she intended to.
"Oye MCP. That was my seat. Move." Sanyukta demanded.
Randhir gave a 100 watt fake smile just to annoy her. "Too bad Sanyukta. This is my seat. It doesn't say your name, does it?" He pretended to look for her name around his seat and resumed. "No, no it doesn't. Because if it did, I wouldn't even bother sitting here. So you can go a few seats back and sit. This is where I am going to sit. Bye."
Sanyukta stood there for a second, thinking of a way to make him move when all of a sudden Yoyo came on the bus.
"ELLOJI!" Yoyo greeted everyone and especially waved to Kaustauki.
"Yoyo? What you doing here?" Vidushi asked. "You're not on the team."
Yoyo shook his head and smiled. "Oh yes! I am on the team. I am Vardhansir's assistant you see. He was asking me repeatedly to where I just couldn't say no. You know how everybody loves me, ji."
Just then, Vardhan came in the bus. Everybody sat up straight and was attentive. "Well guys. I forgot to tell you. Yoyo is going to be my assistant. But he is going to be riding with ya'll. Anyways, see you then. And I am telling you one last time. Blindfolds!" And with that, he left.
"Excuse me ji." Yoyo pushed his way through the isle making Sanyukta fall on Randhir and sat down where the other seat was.
Randhir, whose head was uncomfortably resting on the window caught Sanyukta by her waist. To avoid hearing and seeing another one of their cat fights, everyone put on their blindfolds and used their own headphones, so they didn't notice their proximity. Sanyukta's hair was over Randhir's face. He could smell her fruitful shampoo. He inhaled it and strangely... he liked it. Sanyukta's head was snugged between his neck and collar, so she could smell his distinct cologne. They each could hear their own heartbeats pounding faster. Their closeness was becoming relaxing and uncomfortable at the same time. As Sanyukta was getting up, her earrings were stuck on Randhir's shirt making her instantly come close to him again. He hissed. With one hand still on her waist, his other hand motioned her to stop. She obeyed as her conscience was gnawing her deep down. After untangling her earring, he put his hand back on her waist and helped her up. They didn't speak to each other.
Sanyukta started to go sit next to Yoyo, but when he saw that he occupied both seats with his legs, she had no choice to go back and sit next to Randhir.
"Farzi! What are you doing? Why are you sitting here?"
"Oye MCP! Mujhe koi shok nahi hai tumhari saath bethene keliye. I had to because Yoyo put his legs up in the other seat back there."
"So what? So if I had kept my legs up, you wouldn't have came here?"
"No, MCP. I think you forgot. I have already done that. Remember last year. You were sleeping on the bench and I sat on your legs. Yeah. What makes you think that I wouldn't do that again?"
Flashbacks of that incident appeared in both of their heads.
Breaking apart of their reverie, Randhir resumed. "Han toh, why didn't you not go sit on Yoyo's legs?"
That question made Sanyukta feel weird. Why didn't she not sit on Yoyo? (Sanyukta didn't understand why she could only sit on and argue with Randhir. It was the relationship they had built.) Not knowing the answer...Sanyukta kept mum.
Randhir wanted to know the answer to his question. On the sight of Sanyukta's silence, he tried to imagine her sitting on Yoyo's legs. No, instead Yoyo would have misunderstood her. And that wouldn't have been good. Randhir thought. He didn't like the thought of her being so close with anyone else. It just wasn't right. He was glad that she didn't do that with other guys. It made him feel special. He smirked and looked ahead. What. Wait. What am I thinking? I am smiling for that Sanyukta. What is wrong with me? And with his confusion, he snapped back into reality.
By this time, the bus driver finished all the formalities that he had to do before going to the Dream team location and started to drive. Sanyukta and Randhir both put on their blindfolds and was ready for the competition.
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For the six hours that it took to go to the Dream Team location, Sanyukta and Randhir felt stranded. They couldn't study. They couldn't look outside. They couldn't play on their phones. They couldn't do anything. Eventually, sleep lingered around their already-closed eyes, and they fell asleep.
After coming to an extreme halt, Sanyukta and Randhir found themselves supporting each other during their sleep. Sanyukta's head was on Randhir's shoulder with Randhir's head on Sanyukta's head, and her arm was intertwined with his forearm ending with them holding hands. Immediately, Sanyukta released her arm and head. Even though their blindfolds still were still on, they could picture themselves and felt awkward.
"Suno Kids." The bus driver said. "We are here. You may take off your blindfolds."
One by one, all the kids got off the bus and were left there.
"Ughh. Yuck! Where are we?" Vidushi complained.
All around them was a village. The villagers were looking at the students wondering why they were there.
"I don't understand why Vardhansir would bring us here for competition." Kaustuki said.
Sanyukta observed her surroundings. The saw the filth in the village but also the simpleness of their lives. She felt a connection with these people."Neither do I know. But whatever reason it is, Vardhansir will never give us a task without any important reason behind it."
Randhir who was listening to their conversation silently agreed to what Sanyukta said for the first time. His quietness confused Sanyukta who thought he might create another fight with what she said.
A group of the village kids that were running to see what the matter was saw the FITE group and ran back to tell what happened.
"Listen... Listen...Listen!" They ran back to a small cottage that had a large porch and were yelling from the top of their lungs. (The villagers don't know Eng...so read in the Hindi Village Accent!) On the porch was a rocking chair and someone was sitting there.
"Kitne admi the?" A chubby person asked as they were rocking themselves back and forth, slapping a wooden stick in their hand.
"There were seven. Young people from the city. They looked like the same age as you." The kids said in unison.
"Ohhh. Ab toh maaza aayega." And with that...the person got up and went inside the cottage.
Hey Ya'll! I really hope you liked it... 😃
Oh and just a side note... Nobody in the village knows English. Even though I wrote in English, it just so that my non-hindi...non-gujarati...non-punjabi friends can read it. 😆 I need you all to keep that in mind because that plays a huge part later on. Thanks!...
I am extremely excited and nervous *dashes from tomatoes and onions*... 😲
Post your opinions fast and like it too... otherwise the second update is going to be posted pretty late. I am planning on posting once every week. But depending on the demand (which means ya'll have to write your opinions), I will change it if needed.😛
Get ready for the rollercoaster because you all will love it (well, I hope ya'll will)!😊
Edited by kri1 - 11 years ago
Ganesh Kartikeya
Shiv Shakti
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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