Midnight menaces.
Sanyukta shifted in her place, sensing Randhir's absence. Her hands groped the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. He left!?
Since the past few days, she has been suffering sudden panic attacks. Hilarious, preposterous, bizarre panic attacks. Even Randhir couldn't stop from laughing at her at times. And all she could do was just sit helplessly and curse at her pregnancy hormones.
She was about to call out his name, but stopped just as a sharp light hit her eyes.
"Gosh" Sanyukta cringed her eyes and mumbled from her half asleep state "What are you up to?"
Randhir pulled out his suitcase and started throwing his shirts inside it. "Packing my bag."
Sanyukta trembled. He's leaving!? What wrong had she done now?
"Flight departs at 9:10 AM tomorrow", he spoke inattentively.
The sky fell on her head. Well, technically it didn't. But she felt like it did. He can't freaking go! Not like this, leaving her 5 weeks pregnant. Sanyukta cursed herself for all the time that she had misbehaved. He must be really hurt.
"R-Randhir, I'm sorry", helplessly, she bawled. "Please don't leave! I can't d-do this on my own! Our baby needs a father! How can you leave like this!? I mean-y-you can't just-", she stopped on receiving a puzzled look from Randhir.
Randhir's shirt dropped from his hands. He took a few more seconds staring at her face that was covered with tears and snot before he started speaking.
"For heaven's sake!" he picked his shirt up. There's an orientation on the latest project we have taken up in Hyderabad that has to be attended", he blurted out and continued packing.
Sanyukta mouthed a silent 'oh' and pushed her back against the bed post. She wiped of her tears and the sweat beads that had appeared on her forehead. How silly.
"27 companies over the country are attending the orientation- two representatives from each company. I got a call from Mr.Goyal right now", he spoke while rummaging his cupboard looking for his socks.
Sanyukta sat up. "You didn't tell me."
-"That's cause you were sleeping?"
"Sir didn't call me", she frowned with a tiny pout.
-"And that is because I already told him you'd not go."
"What!? But Randhir! This must be important. I really want to-"
"Lavanya will be accompanying me", he spoke, zipping his suitcase shut.
"WHATTT!? Randhir-" she was cut in between.
-"I don't see any problem. So yea."
"I will go", she put on a stern look.
"No, Sanyukta. You need to rest", he said, trying to calm her down.
"I'll be fine! Randhir please", she whined.
"The doctor has asked you to rest for the first trimester. It is just a matter of 3 months Sanyukta. This would be tiresome for you" he said.
"Well, office doesn't tire me", she paced towards the table where her cell phone was charging. "And I'm sure this tiny trip isn't going to be tiring as well."
She picked her cell phone.
"Who so you think you're calling?" he asked.
"Sir. I'll tell him I'll go", she said, confidently.
He paced towards her and snatched her phone away. "NO."
"But I'm waaayy better than Lavanya!? Why not?" she tried taking it back from Randhir who had raised his hands high up where she can't reach.
"Because I don't want you to go", he said.
"Of course. Why would you? You just want to take away all the credit" she narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'll not let you take away all the credit. I have put EQUAL efforts in drafting the project. And Lavanya is a junior for god's sake. She doesn't even know the fundamentals!" she blurted out.
"Isn't it a good idea to give new comers a chance?" Randhir raised his brows.
Sanyukta raised her right brow. "Waaiiit a minute. You seem pretty enthusiastic about accompanying her to the orientation, eh?"
Randhir dropped his hands on the sides of his body and rolled his eyes. "Really, now?"
"Don't act smart. I have seen your friends check her out" her eyes narrowed.
"Have you seen me, doing that?" he asked.
"How would I know? You have already deemed me stupid and feel I'm not worth attending the orientation", she said, faking emotions.
"You're not- no! That's not it", he said.
"THEN LET ME GO!" she begged.
"No", Randhir said.
"Please! I'll be a nice girl and listen to you", she whined.
"You heard me, right?" he sternly said.
"Randhir, why won't you listen to me? Its not every day that I ask for something from you, is it?" she spoke in a serious tone.
"Why do you never listen to me?" he raised his voice.
"Why aren't you letting me go!?" she pleaded.
Randhir had had enough, by that time. "Sanyukta, you heard me when I said NO."
"You have become so domineering, Randhir" she muttered.
"That is because you won't listen to me if it's the other way" he shouted this time. "I SAID NO AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE."
But he wouldn't stop there. "IT CAN'T BE YOUR WAY EVERYTIME DO YOU UNDERSTAND? YOU'RE NOT CORRECT ALL THE TIME."
Her face grimaced. Her initial silent sobs were enough to make Randhir realize that he could have been a bit more polite. But soon her sobbing gave way to wailing and whimpering, making him rush to her.
"Achha sorry", he held her by her wrist and tried to pull her closer.
She yanked her hand away and bawled, "Go away!"
Randhir smiled at her foolishness. "Sorry!" he held her wrist again and this time succeeded in pulling her closer in spite of her attempts to jerk and twist her hand away. "I'm apologizing?"
She hid her face into his chest and sobbed.
He rubbed her back. "I'm sorry", he kissed her hair.
"You're imposing yourself on me" she mumbled into his chest.
Randhir's failed attempt at suppressing his laughter just added to her sniveling.
"Won't happen again, promise" he pulled back her to look at her face which had become red by then.
"That. Freaked me out okay" she ventured, haltingly.
"Achha sorry! Stop crying already. Do I hold my ears now?" he asked.
She nodded a yes.
Randhir brought his hands up to his ears and held them. "Sorry."
She giggled, breaking the chain of sobs.
He pulled her in for a kiss and carried her to the bed. "Now sleep" he said, laying her down.
"You'll make a good daddy" she said, smiling.
"Strict one" he said, climbing up beside her.
Sanyukta looked down and placed her palm on her belly which still hadn't started swelling. "Don't worry, I'm in charge!" she spoke and looked at him before they burst into a laugh together.
She crawled into him, resting her head on his shoulder blade and planting a quick kiss on his chest.
He stroked her head and spoke. "Sanyukta?"
"Hmm?" she replied, drawing patterns on his chest with her finger.
"This doesn't mean you can go to the orientation."
Sanyukta paused from drawing patterns.
And the very next moment, Randhir felt her turn to the other side of the bed.
"Good night", she spoke, annoyed.
Randhir shrugged. "Still doesn't."
~~0~~
Next morning, Sanyukta rolled over to the other side of the bed to look at Randhir who was busy knotting his tie.
"Randhir" she muttered.
Randhir raised his bows, gesturing what?'
"Randhiiir" she muttered, this time annoyed.
"What" he spoke while running his fingers through his hair, without looking at her.
"RANDHIR" she yelled.
Randhir sighed and looked at her. "What?"
"You're leaving" she mumbled with an idiotic smile.
Randhir turned back to the mirror and wore his cologne. "Yes."
"You're leaving me here all alone" she faked. "What kind of a boyfriend leaves his pregnant girlfriend to attend some stupid orientation?"
There she goes again. Randhir rolled his eyes. "I made breakfast. Please don't dump them down the drain" he paced towards his suitcase and pulled its handle up.
Sanyukta frowned and gestured with her hands to call him.
Randhir walked up to her and gave her a kiss. "Take your supplementary pills before every meal" he pecked her cheek.
"I will", she smiled.
"And that surely doesn't mean you throw them away like you did the other day" he frowned.
"You", Sanyukta poked his chest with her finger. "keep safe distance from Lavanya", she said while fixing his tie.
"There's just one room booked at the hotel for both of us, you know", he smirked before leaving.
"Get out!" she said watching him walk out of the door and shutting it behind.
It's a good life.
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Stay blessed!
Evermore,
Sweini. :D
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
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