44
Before she entered Somya's room, she took a deep breath and turned to face Randhir.
"I'll go alone," she informed him.
"Sanyukta... I don't think -" he started, but she interrupted him.
"No Randhir, trust me. Let me speak with her," Sanyukta told him and then touched his cheek gently before taking another deep breath. "I need to speak with her alone."
"She's really upset - and she's like you when she's upset, she won't listen to anyone," Randhir warned.
Sanyukta crossed her arms and frowned at him.
"Randhir, then I know how to handle her if she's like me," she told him as if she were stating the obvious. "Just let me handle it."
"Fine," he finally agreed. "Go ahead. If you need anything, then just call my name."
"Don't worry Randhir," she told him, "Just let me do it."
"Alright," he said with a resigned sigh, and she turned the doorknob before stepping inside and closing the door.
Somya was sitting on a little desk, with a colouring book open. She was colouring a picture of Saraswati Ma. As soon as she heard footsteps enter her room, she looked up with surprise. Upon seeing Sanyukta, she pursed her lips, and looked back down, continuing to colour, not even acknowledging her presence.
"Hi Somya," Sanyukta said cheerfully and approached the six year old, before sitting on her knees beside her daughter, and peeking at the artwork. "That's beautiful."
She continued to ignore Sanyukta and kept on colouring.
"Are you mad at me?" Sanyukta asked her daughter, and then very cutely held her ears and said, "I'm sorry sweetheart."
Somya put her crayon down and stood up, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Sanyukta.
"I don't know you, and dad told me not to talk to strangers," she said harshly.
Sanyukta felt her heart ache when her daughter said that to her.
"Somya, your dad brought me to you," Sanyukta told her daughter softly. "I love you very much... I'm your mom Somya."
"Why did you leave me then?" Somya asked her, her hands still on her hips. "How could you love me and leave me at the same time?"
"Somya, I do love you very much and nothing is going to change that. If you want to know why I left you, then I had my reasons sweetheart. You tell me, why would a mother leave someone she loves so much? She must have had a very good reason," Sanyukta told her daughter.
"I don't believe you! Tell me what is that reason!" Somya demanded.
"I had some work to do in Canada," Sanyukta said to Somya. "I never wanted to leave you, but I had no option."
"Why did dad tell me you were dead?" Somya asked harshly. "And how come you're back?"
"Because your dad didn't think I'd come back," Sanyukta told her lovingly. "Somya, I'm back because I love you very much and I can't stay away from my daughter any longer."
"Well that's too bad because I don't even know you! I can't accept someone I don't even know as my mother!" Somya replied, irritated. "I don't know why you think you can come into my life suddenly and pretend to love me!"
"Somya I'm not pretendi-" she started, but was cut off by Somya screaming.
"Daddy!" she screamed, and Sanyukta's mouth fell open. "Please tell this woman to get out of my room!"
Sanyukta pressed her lips together tightly - Randhir spoiled her daughter too much in the last six years, but not anymore.
Sanyukta stood up enough to be at eye level with her daughter. She held her daughter's shoulders and strictly said, "Whether you like it or not Somya, I am your mother, and you have no choice in that matter. I am also coming into your life as your mother, once again whether you like it or not."
Randhir opened the door and walked in, seeing fresh tears fall out of Somya's eyes at Sanyukta's stern tone.
"Somya... why are you crying?" Randhir asked, and then looked at Sanyukta with a confused expression on his face.
"I hate her!" Somya yelled, and then started to run away from Sanyukta out of her room, but Randhir grabbed her instead.
She hugged Randhir tightly, still crying.
"I don't want her to be my mom Daddy," she cried. "She's so mean!"
"What -" Sanyukta said, surprised.
"What did you say to her Sanyukta?" Randhir asked with gritted teeth.
"Randhir don't spoil her!" Sanyukta said loudly, irritated. "You can't give her what she wants all the time because life isn't -"
"She's my daughter and I'll give her whatever she wants! Nothing matters to me more than her," he replied angrily.
Sanyukta stood up and walked to the two of them before pulling Somya away from Randhir.
"Somya listen to me closely. I'm done with being nice to you - you don't have to accept me, but I am your mother, and I will be here as your mother going forward," Sanyukta said strictly.
"Sanyukta!" Randhir warned as Somya wailed loudly, "Stop talking to her like -"
"I'll talk to my daughter however I want Randhir. She's only like this because of you! By saying yes to everything she says, not only have you spoiled her, but you've made her weak. She has to know that not everything in life is going to go her way," Sanyukta interrupted. "She's my daughter now and I'll behave how I should with her."
"What is wrong with you?" he asked through gritted teeth as Somya hugged Randhir again and continued to cry against him.
"I can't believe this - I never knew that your upbringing would do this to her," she blamed, frustrated. "I should never have left her with you. I should have taken her with me - I, like a fool, thought that you would die without her, that's why I left her with you... but no that was my mistake! Look at the consequences now."
She saw anger rise in his eyes, and Sanyukta glared back at him, this time not willing to back out.
45
"Stay here," Randhir told Somya sternly. "I need to speak to your mom."
Somya was shivering nervously, having never heard her father argue with someone like that before... she had never witnessed an argument of her parent's, because she had only ever lived with her dad.
"Don't fight please," Somya said meekly, sounding scared. "I don't want you to get hurt Daddy."
Randhir ruffled her hair as Sanyukta watched the two of them - she was so close to Randhir, she loved him a lot.
"Nothing will happen to your dad," Randhir told her. "You just colour."
Somya nodded slowly, and then walked back towards her artwork, avoiding Sanyukta's gaze.
Randhir then took Sanyukta's arm and dragged her out of the room, towards his own. Once he closed his door, he turned around and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her.
"What's wrong with you?" he yelled. "How can you speak to her in that tone?"
"She needs to be spoken to in that tone!" she replied, raising her voice. "Because she's used to getting what she wants... I saw an iPhone in her room Randhir - are you serious? She's only six!"
"I'm her dad and I can give her whatever I want!" Randhir yelled.
"You're spoiling her!" Sanyukta screamed back. "I won't let you do this to her."
"Oh yeah? And what can you do to stop me?" he said loudly,
"I will take her with me Randhir," she threatened. "Whether you're with me or not, I don't care... she's my daughter, and I'll take her with me if that's what is needed!"
"Well I'm not with you," he spat out vehemently.46
"Fine," she said, balling her hands into fists. "You don't need to support me. But Randhir, I'm not leaving her with you when all you're going to do is spoil her."
She backed away from him, and was about to head out the door when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him.
"Ouch what's wrong with you?" she yelled.
"You're going to leave me?" he asked sternly.
"I won't if you let me take care of Somya, if you don't interfere in my parenting," she told him, crossing her arms to her chest, and glaring at him.
"I'm not going to let you go anywhere near Somya anymore," he spat. "She's not your daughter. Forget it... I thought maybe I could bring you to her, but here you're after her whole life!"
"Randhir, a freaking iPhone?" she yelled. "What else have you given her? I get it she doesn't have a mom, but that doesn't mean you spoil her - and just by the way she talks, I can tell how she is used to getting everything she wants! She can't!"
"I'm her father, it's my choice!" he screamed, "You can leave if you want."
"Oh yeah? I'm not leaving. What are you going to do?" she yelled, and pushed him back hard.
He fell back a few steps and glared, as she approached him and grabbed his collar.
He grabbed her arms and pinned them to her back. Bringing his face close to hers, he said loudly, "Get out or I'll call the security."
She struggled against his hold, until finally he let go of her.
"I'm not going anywhere," she told him adamantly, then she stood up on her tiptoes, placed her hands on his shoulders and pressed her lips against his angrily. "I'm not leaving!"
Randhir tried to pull her off him at first, but she remained firm, until he finally relaxed and let her kiss him.
"This isn't going to change what's going to happen Sanyukta," he muttered against her lips, "You will have to go away whether you like it or not."
She ignored him and deepened the kiss, sliding her tongue inside his mouth to shut him up. Sanyukta didn't understand the double meaning and hidden intentions behind his words at the time.
47
Sanyukta broke the kiss after a few moments to catch her breath - after all these years, it seemed like she had lost the endurance that she used to have.
"I - I'm mad at you," she forced herself to say, and then looked up into Randhir's eyes which were sparkling.
"I forgot how cute you are when you're mad," he said with a smile.
Sanyukta blushed and buried her face into his chest as his arms wrapped around her.
"Shut up," she replied, her voice muffled into his shirt.
He chuckled and then they broke the hug.
"Maybe you're right," he agreed, "Maybe I should let you deal with her... but I can't see her hurt."
"It's what's best for her," she replied softly.
"Alright fine," Randhir then said, giving in, "You can... you can spend time with her and see if she's going to listen to you... I doubt it'll be anytime soon."
Sanyukta sighed - Randhir was so pessimistic, but she supposed that he knew their daughter more than she did. Perhaps he was just being realistic, and she immediately felt guilty once again, for not being here during the last six years.
"Randhir, if we start now, then maybe she can accept it sooner," she responded, then ran her hands down his shirt. "Anyways, I'm staying here tonight."
He looked at her with raised eyebrows, surprised by her boldness and decision. It was like she was claiming her rights on him and on this house... and he liked it. It filled him up with a sense of warmth - it was just like old times.
"Oh yeah?" he replied, surprised.
She smiled and nodded, more sure than she ever was with her decision. She wanted to stay with her husband and her daughter.
"I'm staying here now. For good," she responded firmly, "Tomorrow I'll get her ready for school and I'll make her breakfast and -"
"Hey hold up," Randhir said with a smirk, "Tomorrow will come only tomorrow, no? But, you have a husband who needs you tonight."
Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him as she blushed a deeper colour of red.
"Randhir," she moaned, as he buried his face in her neck and started to suck on the crook of her neck. "First - first we'll tell Somya what we're going to do... then we will put her to bed and then we'll think about us."
He removed his lips from her neck and then kissed her nose, happy that she was putting Somya first, even though a part of him was aching to have her.
"Let's go then," he said lightly and she smiled at him.
Sanyukta reached up and pulled his cheeks softly.
"You are so cute," she gushed and he glared at her.
"Cute?" he repeated, pretending to sound offended.
"My cutie," she responded with a smile, then hugged him again. "All mine."
He squeezed her body softly before breaking their embrace and stroking her cheek.
"You go to her room, I'm just coming," he told her, and she nodded, before opening the door and walking out.
Randhir picked up his phone and called the person he needed to speak to.
"It's hard Parth," Randhir said into the phone. "So much of me is saying not to do it. I feel like... I might... I might back out."
"You can't back out. You have to do it," the voice on the other end of the line said. "Remember who it's for. This isn't about you Randhir."
"Fine," Randhir sighed. "It'll happen... just give it some time."
"Good," the voice replied.
"I'll try and finish it as soon as possible, but it may take more time than I thought it would," he responded, "Anyways, I'll talk to you later. Thanks man. You've always been there."
Then he pressed end call and went to Somya's room to join Sanyukta in an effort to convince a stubborn Somya to accept her.
48
"I don't want you to stay," was the first thing Randhir heard his daughter say when he entered her room. "I don't want to live with a stranger!"
Somya's arms were crossed in annoyance, and she was standing up glaring at Sanyukta.
"Enough!" Sanyukta said strictly. "I'm not going to take a no for an answer. I'll see you tomorrow morning. It's bedtime for you now."
"Bedtime?" Somya asked, her mouth falling open, "But - but it's just ten!"
Randhir watched and sighed - he never imposed such rules on his daughter. He knew his daughter was responsible, and she woke up on time - early enough to even wake him up every morning. Going to bed earlier than required was unnecessary, but he decided not to interfere. He was going to let Sanyukta do what she wanted to, even though he didn't quite understand her.
"Ten is your bedtime from now on. Somya, no arguments! Get changed, brush your teeth, then go to sleep," Sanyukta commanded, and Somya's lips started to tremble.
"Daddy," Somya cried, seeing her dad by the doorway. "She's going to make my life horrible! Is she even my mom? She's like a stepmom!"
"Somya please," Randhir sighed, "Please just listen to your mom."
Somya's mouth fell open, hearing his support for her mother.
"I didn't know you would choose her over me!" Somya wailed, "Fine! I'm going to brush!"
Then she stormed into the bathroom.
"Oh gosh Randhir, this is so tiring," Sanyukta said, feeling exhausted already.
"You know Sanyukta, Somya is very responsible. She does everything she needs to do," Randhir informed.
Sanyukta walked up to him and rested a hand on his arm softly.
"I'm not saying she isn't responsible. She has no manners though Randhir... she is very spoiled, she cries when she doesn't get her way, and she just needs to learn some respect for others," Sanyukta told him coolly. "Don't worry... I know what I'm doing."
Randhir took her hand in his and squeezed it.
"I trust you," he said with a small smile finally, and she smiled back at him.
Somya coughed from behind them, and he let go of her hand immediately.
"I'm ready!" she said, and Sanyukta smiled, seeing her daughter in her pyjamas.
"Good my sweet daughter," Sanyukta said happily, and then she walked up to Somya as the six year old made a disgusted face. "Now it's time to put you to bed."
"I'm not your sweet daughter. My name is Somya," she told Sanyukta matter-of-factly, and Sanyukta lightly chuckled before caressing her cheek softly with her hand.
"I know your name Somya. After all, the name was my choice," Sanyukta said proudly, and Somya looked up at her with an irritated expression.
"My dad named me!" Somya said, in denial. "You're lying!"
"Your dad did name you, but I told him that I wanted my daughter's name to be Somya," Sanyukta said with a smile. "Now sweetheart, no more chit chat, time to put you to bed."
"Why are you here?" Somya groaned.
"I'm sorry, am I being too harsh?" Sanyukta asked, half-sarcastically.
Somya looked up, pouted her lips, and nodded.
"I'm sorry, but we can't change that right now. Maybe if you're a good girl and you listen to everything mommy tells you, then we can fix that," Sanyukta said softly, and Somya frowned.
"I knew it, you will never be nice to me! Why does Dad listen to you more than me?" Somya asked, sounding frustrated.
"This much anger isn't good late at night. It won't let you sleep. Now come on, let's put you to bed," Sanyukta said, and Somya sighed before getting into bed and hiding herself under her covers, pulling them all the way over her head so she wouldn't have to look at Sanyukta.
Sanyukta giggled. Somya was just like Randhir.
"Good night sweetheart," Sanyukta said, pulling down the covers a bit to reveal Somya's face.
"Bad night!" Somya replied back.
"I love you," Sanyukta replied with a soft smile, and kissed her forehead as Somya made a disgusted face.
"Eww," she replied.
"Somya," Sanyukta warned. "Be a good girl and go right to sleep. I'll wake you up tomorrow morning."
"No need!" Somya responded coldly. "I wake up the earliest anyways!"
"We'll see sweetheart, you're competing with your mother here... the one you got all these traits from," Sanyukta said with a chuckle, then she patted Somya's cheek, "Good night."
"Good night baby," Randhir said from the doorway as Sanyukta joined him.
"Good night daddy," Somya replied, with a loud sigh.
Then they both left her room, and closed the door softly. Randhir watched Sanyukta as she started humming to herself and made her way to his room.
"Sanyukta what is your plan?" he asked her, once he had closed the door to his room. "Why are you doing all this?"
"Because I know how to handle myself," Sanyukta said with a smirk. "If she is exactly like me, then I know how I would have to speak with her to win her over."
Randhir ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.
"If you say so," he responded, still not understanding what she meant... perhaps he would never be able to understand Sanyuka.
"I can't find any pyjamas Randhir," Sanyukta whined, going through her closet.
Randhir smirked.
"They are somewhere, but I'm not telling you where," he teased.
"Why?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Because it isn't necessary. You won't need them tonight," he told her, and then wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her close to him as she blushed and hid her face in his chest.
"You'll never change," she said, her voice muffled into his shirt.
"Because you'll always be my Sanyukta," he responded into her ear, causing her to tremble against him, "And nothing can ever change that."
49
The next morning, Sanyukta woke up at 5 AM, showered and got dressed as Randhir continued to lightly snore in their room, still fast asleep. Once she was ready, she sat next to Randhir and caressed his forehead softly.
"Wake up sleepyhead," she murmured into his ear, as her wet hair fell all over his face.
"Mmm Sanyukta let me sleep please," he grumbled. "What time is it anyways?"
"5:30," Sanyukta whispered.
"What?" he yelped. "Why are you awake so early! Sanyuktaaa come here and go to back to sleep."
Then he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her on top of him.
"Okay you sleep for a few more minutes, I have another sleepyhead to wake up," Sanyukta decided.
Randhir let go of her, turned over on the bed, and started to lightly snore again. Sanyukta kissed him on the cheek and giggled, he was so cute. Right now, she had to deal with another cute devil though.
As she went into Somya's room, she saw her daughter sleeping peacefully, looking adorable. Sanyukta sat next to her and kissed her forehead softly.
"Somya," she said softly, "Time to wake up."
Somya's eyes fluttered open and landed on Sanyukta, then she pursed her lips together, and turned over, facing away from her.
"What time is it?" she asked rudely.
"Almost six," Sanyukta told her, stroking her daughter's hair.
"I don't wake up before 6:30!" Somya said, annoyed, "And dad wakes up after 7 only!"
"Somya, every morning, you're going to wake up at six from now on, because you have one extra thing to do every morning," Sanyukta informed her.
"What?" she asked, sitting up on the bed and rubbing her eyes.
"Spending time with your mom. Now come on, let's get you ready for school," Sanyukta said softly.
The six year old groaned and got up from the bed before pointing to the closet.
"My school uniform is there. I'm going to take a shower," she decided.
"Good girl," Sanyukta said and walked up to Somya's closet as Somya went into the bathroom to take a shower.
Sanyukta took the cute little school uniform out of the closet and smiled, remembering that Somya attended the same school that she had.
As soon as Somya entered her room, wrapped in a towel, Sanyukta smiled.
"Is my uniform ready?" Somya asked and Sanyukta nodded, having ironed the uniform.
When Somya saw the uniform neatly ironed, she looked at it suspiciously.
"Did you iron it?" she asked and Sanyukta nodded.
"Put this on, I'll braid your hair after," Sanyukta told her daughter sweetly.
She sighed and took her clothes back to the bathroom. Once she came out, fully dressed, she sat on the bed, and Sanyukta sat behind her with a comb and some ribbons.
"Does your dad make your hair?" she asked Somya softly, but she shook her head.
"I do... I always just tie it into a ponytail. Dad would make it a disaster!" Somya replied.
"Do you know how to braid your hair?" Sanyukta then asked.
"Nope," Somya replied. "I've never braided it."
Sanyukta finished making two braids out of Somya's hair and Somya looked into the mirror ahead of her and smiled.
"That looks pretty!" she said excitedly.
"Doesn't it?" Sanyukta asked her. "I'll make your braids for you every morning."
When Somya processed that she would be seeing her mother every morning, she frowned.
"Nevermind," Somya said. "It isn't that nice. I'm going to go and wake up daddy!"
"You go ahead," Sanyukta chuckled. "I'll go down and get something to eat ready."
"Fine," Somya said, and exited her room to go and wake up Randhir as Sanyukta went downstairs to the kitchen, humming cheerfully.
50
"Daddy!" Somya screamed and got up on the bed, jumping up and down. "Wake up Daddy!"
"Baby few more minutes," Randhir groaned.
"No, you have to wake up! I'm ready! Even mom's ready!" Somya screamed, then bit down on her tongue, realizing what she said.
"What?" Randhir replied, his eyes opening, and looking at Somya with shock - did Somya really just call Sanyukta her mother or was he still dreaming?
"I meant that lady is ready," she replied, "But you have to get up Daddy!"
"Did mom make your hair?" Randhir asked with a smile, seeing his daughter's hair in two neat braids.
"Yes, doesn't it look pretty?" Somya asked, touching her braids.
"Very nice!" Randhir replied, grinning - Somya didn't even realize that she agreed that her mom made her hair, and it wasn't just that lady downstairs.
"Okay dad, enough!" Somya screamed, pulling the blanket off Randhir. "Get ready!"
Randhir thanked his stars that Sanyukta insisted that they get dressed last night after their love-making session.
"You go Somya, I'll be down in a bit," Randhir told her and stroked her hair lovingly.
Somya nodded as Randhir got off the bed and stretched, yawning. How did Sanyukta manage to wake up so early, even after a long night?
Once Randhir showered and got ready, he went downstairs in his suit, only to see both Somya and Sanyukta sitting next to each other on the table, and three plates of pancakes out in front of them. Randhir sat across from them and took one of the plates.
"Gopal made pancakes today?" Randhir asked eagerly.
"Mom made them!" Somya chirped, and Sanyukta smiled, loving the way her daughter called her mom, "I meant... she made them!"
"You made them?" Randhir asked, incredulously. "But why?"
"What do you mean why? I wanted to make breakfast for my family," Sanyukta told him, as if he was asking a stupid question.
"They're good!" Somya replied, stuffing a piece into her mouth. "Sooo good! Gopal uncle doesn't make food this good!"
"Somya what do you like to eat?" Sanyukta asked her daughter. "What's your favourite food?"
"Pizza!" Somya replied excitedly.
"Randhir, has she grown up eating junk?" Sanyukta inquired, glaring at Randhir, "Does she eat, rice, daal, curry?"
"No... I never gave her any of that!" Randhir insisted. "She eats healthy - salads and sandwiches and..."
"Randhir! Doesn't Gopal know how to cook Indian?" Sanyukta retorted. "My poor baby grew up never having home cooked Indian food. Okay Somya, sweetheart, when you get back from school today, mommy will have some of the best food you've ever tried!"
"Really?" Somya asked curiously. "Like what?"
"Sanyukta what's the need?" Randhir stepped in.
"Shh Randhir. Let me handle the house now," she said authoritatively. "You just do your work."
He looked down and started to eat his pancakes.
"These are good," he mumbled.
Once they finished eating, Somya and Randhir got up, ready to leave. Sanyukta bent down on her knees and straightened out Somya's skirt.
"That looks better," Sanyukta said lovingly, bringing her braids to the front of her chest.
"How about me?" Randhir asked, looking at the duo.
"Randhir, you're a grown man, you can adjust your own clothes," Sanyukta said, giggling.
"Yes daddy! You're a grown man! But your shirt is wrinkly!" Somya replied, analyzing Randhir's clothes.
Sanyukta stroked her daughter's cheeks softly before standing up and straightening out Randhir's collar, and running her hands down his shirt.
"If Somya wasn't here..." he started but Sanyukta glared at him to indicate him to shut up.
"What?" Somya asked. "What if I wasn't here?"
"Nothing sweetheart, your daddy's being weird," Sanyukta said, with a smile. "Both of you have great days."
Then she fell to her knees again and kissed Somya on the cheek.
"And me?" Randhir asked, and Sanyukta sighed.
"Randhir go to work," Sanyukta said, rolling her eyes. "Don't be such a baby."
"Why don't you just kiss daddy?" Somya asked innocently and Sanyukta blushed, feeling butterflies in her stomach.
"If you insist Somya," Sanyukta said with a sigh, pretending like it was a lot of work.
Then she stood up, brushed her fingers lightly across his cheek and then kissed him softly on the other one.
"Be good at school," Sanyukta told Somya. "I know my daughter is the best."
"Alright alright, Somya, let's go, we'll get late if this drags on," he said, and Sanyukta's mouth fell open.
"I'll see you at home later," she threatened, and Randhir smirked.
"Of course," he replied playfully, before taking Somya's hand in his and leading her out of the door.
For the first time in her life, Somya felt an ache in her heart as she was going to school. She turned around to see her mother waving - she never thought she would miss someone this much.
51
Sanyukta let the tears that she was holding back escape as her husband and daughter disappeared. She wanted to run after Somya, hug her daughter tightly and keep her against her chest forever. She missed Somya already.
Sanyukta smiled softly through her tears... perhaps this was what it meant to be a mother. When she had given birth to Somya, there was an unexplainable happiness. When she left Somya, there was a sadness that no time and no medicine could have cured. Now that she had Somya again, this time being able to care for her as a mother, she was truly feeling what motherhood meant.
What it meant was beautiful. She didn't think she could ever replicate it in something else.
She went upstairs to her and Randhir's bedroom and began to clean up - Randhir left last night's clothes and wet towel on the bed.
Some things never changed.
That was when she got a phone call. Parth.
Uh-oh. She forgot to tell Parth her plans to stay with Randhir.
"Sanyukta," Parth said as soon as she picked up the phone. "When are you planning on returning - and what about the deal?"
"Parth I'm so sorry," Sanyukta apologized. "I'm not planning on returning... my family is here... and I love them. Parth, Somya she's... she's slowly beginning to open up to me."
She felt tears fall from her eyes and she sat down on the bed, a smile on her face, her heart warming.
"And Randhir?" Parth asked curiously.
"He... he loves me so much Parth," Sanyukta gushed. "It's like the last six years have been erased. It's like, everything is perfect now."
"I'm happy for you if you're happy," he finally replied. "I'll get the driver to bring your stuff to you."
"No it's okay. I'll come maybe today or tomorrow and I'll pack my own things. I'll call boss in Canada and... and I'll let him know my plans too," Sanyukta told Parth with a sigh.
"Okay I'll see you later then," Parth said and he hung up the phone.
Sanyukta fell backwards on the bed and nervously began to think about what her boss's reaction would be.
In his office, Randhir got a call from Parth.
"Randhir, she's very happy," Parth said into the phone. "Are you even doing what we planned?"
"I can't Parth... I can't hurt her like that. I've hurt her too many times already. To hell with this plan," Randhir told Parth.
"What? Randhir? How can you back out now? Do you seriously think she'll be happy with you in the long run?" Parth asked him.
"Parth I know... I know our initial plan was for me to hurt her so she doesn't get her hopes up and doesn't break down in my love again later on. I didn't trust myself, so I wanted to keep her away. I wanted her to keep Somya with her, because I wanted to give her all of my happiness," Randhir confessed, "But I know my Sanyukta... and now I realize, that the amount of happiness that she has with me, she will never have being away from me."
"Randhir," Parth replied, angrily. "You know if you hurt Sanyukta this time, nobody will be worse than me. I still don't like that she's coming back to you."
"In some way, maybe I still don't like that she loves someone like me. But what can I do? I love her too much, and if she loves me, I can't stop her. I can't force her to be far from me!" Randhir replied.
"And what about me?" Parth asked, breathing into the phone angrily. "The promise you made to me?"
"Sorry Parth, but I can't hurt her to keep my promise to you," Randhir told Parth. "I realized late, but she's not a toy...if she wants to stay with me, who am I to tell her not to? I can't do this to her... I can't lose her again. Sorry."
He had promised Parth, that he would hurt Sanyukta so bad, that she would go straight to Parth with Somya. He promised Parth, that he would leave Sanyukta, so that Parth could be with her. Randhir didn't trust himself to not hurt Sanyukta again. He wanted to break her heart so she wouldn't even think of returning to him, but now he had fallen weak. He couldn't let his Sanyukta leave him. He loved her too much.
"Sanyukta was right. You aren't a man of your word," Parth spat into the phone before hanging up.
Randhir covered his face in his hands and let his face fall on top of his desk. He wasn't sure whether what he was doing was really right or wrong, but he knew one thing - Sanyukta's happiness was with him and Somya. He couldn't snatch her happiness from her again.
52
When Randhir got home with Somya that evening, they could smell a very pleasant aroma. Randhir became nostalgic - the smell reminded Randhir of the dishes that Sanyukta used to make six years ago.
Sanyukta smiled as she saw Somya and Randhir come in, her heart filling with warmth.
"My babies are here," Sanyukta said excitedly and walked up to them, before falling to her knees and engulfing Somya in a tight hug.
She felt her insides fill with happiness as Somya relaxed against Sanyukta. She hadn't hugged her mother back, but she was relaxing, and it was like she was enjoying the hug.
"So partial," Randhir commented.
Sanyukta let go of Somya and stood back up, glaring at Randhir.
"Both of you go upstairs and change," she ordered.
"But - but I didn't get my hug!" Randhir spluttered. "Why is there so much bias between your babies."
"I'll come upstairs and show you," she threatened before turning to her daughter. "Somya sweetheart, get dressed and then come down so I can give you something to eat."
"Okay," Somya said cutely and ran upstairs.
Randhir took Sanyukta's hand and started to drag her upstairs to their bedroom, but she tried to pull her hand away.
"Hey, you have to show me don't you?" Randhir said with a smirk, and she bit down on her lip, feeling a blush creep on her cheeks. "Come show me now Farzi."
"Don't call me that!" Sanyukta hissed. "I never want to hear you call me that in front of Somya."
"Then come upstairs with me," he offered, smirking.
"Fine, but let go of my hand - what will Somya think if she sees?" Sanyukta asked him.
Randhir let go of her hand and Sanyukta followed him into their bedroom as he closed the door. Then he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly, his nose pressed against her neck, inhaling her scent.
"I smell like curry!" she groaned. "What are you doing?"
"You smell sexy to me," he whispered, softly kissing her neck.
"Randhir," she moaned. "Let go... Somya will be down soon."
"Your tone doesn't make it sound like you want me to let go," he smirked against her neck.
Finally he let go of her and kissed her forehead.
"I'm going down... poor Somya might be downstairs alone if I don't go," Sanyukta told him, and she turned around to leave but he grabbed her hand.
"She's six... not a baby," Randhir said. "And Sanyukta, I have to tell you something."
"Something serious?" Sanyukta asked impatiently.
"Yes," he said, walking up to her and bringing her hand to his lips, before planting a soft kiss on it.
"What?" she asked.
"I love you... very much. Nothing anybody says can change that. Not even me. Remember that," Randhir said seriously, leaving Sanyukta confused.
"I know," she said with a smile, and touched his cheek lightly. "I know you love me."
"I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I'm so sorry for hurting you so much."
Sanyukta cupped his cheeks with her hands and brought her lips to meet his, kissing him softly.
That was when the door flew open and Somya walked in.
53
"Ewww!" Somya squealed, and Sanyukta and Randhir both jumped away from each other, feeling embarrassed.
"Somya!" Randhir said as Sanyukta looked down, blushing. "Knock next time!"
"Lock the door next time!" Somya retorted. "Ewww! I need to wash my eyes! Gross!"
"You didn't lock the door?" Sanyukta asked Randhir with shock.
Randhir groaned - he was so used to spending the last six years alone, that the idea of locking his door was foreign.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Somya," Sanyukta said, dropping to her knees and cupping her daughter's cheeks in her hands, "What you saw is not gross."
"It is! In the movies when a boy and a girl kiss on the lips it is so disgusting! In school when we watch movies, the teachers tell us to cover our eyes!" Somya replied. "It's worse when it's your parent's! Eww!"
"Parent's?" Sanyukta repeated, a smile forming on her lips, as Somya said it in the plural. "But Somya, kissing is just a form of love, that's all -"
"That doesn't mean you can go kiss everyone!" Randhir interrupted.
"Randhir!" Sanyukta said strictly. "I'm talking to my daughter!"
"Okay fine you talk," Randhir grumbled.
"But why on the lips? It can be on the cheeks!" Somya replied.
"Because when two people are married, like your dad and I, they are allowed to kiss on the lips," Sanyukta told Somya with a smile. "It's not gross. But you're right, your dad and I should have locked the door."
"Okay," Somya said suspiciously. "Fine! I went down but nobody was there so I came up to find you."
"Come, we'll go down now," Sanyukta said and took Somya's small hand in hers. "Randhir, change and come down."
Randhir nodded, not in the right state of mind to say anything witty to that.
Sanyukta lead Somya downstairs, as the two of them continued to feel embarrassed by what Somya had just witnessed.
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