CHAPTER 5
Sanyukta stared outside the window. Everything seemed so tiny from there and Sanyu loved it. Of course, it had to seem because the plane was flying at a great height now. Yes, she was in a flight and her destination was DELHI.
The city that had snatched away everything from her, which had turned her life into a living hell, which had given her a lot of pain, where she decided to never go again in her whole life, was her destination.
FLASHBACK
Suddenly Sanyukta's phone started ringing. "Mrs. Iyer" calling displayed on the screen. She picked up the call.
"Hello, Ma'am"
".,.,,."
"Delhi?"
"..."
"No, no Ma'am, it's impossible. How can I go to Delhi?"
"..."
"Plz Ma'am, try to understand...I..."
"..."
"I know I'm like your daughter but, Ma'am ..."
"..."
"Yes...B...But..."
"..."
"Ok..."
"..."
"What? Tonight?"
"..."
"Yeah...So meet you tomorrow at Delhi"
Cut. The call ended. Sanyukta sighed and sat on her bed silently, holding her head. The call gave her a big shock. She never planned to go back to Delhi again in her life. Nevertheless, her fate betrayed her. She had to go now and had no option to avoid it.
Mrs. Iyer was her boss' wife. She had a son living in Bangalore. She loved Sanyukta a lot from the day she met her and Sanyu saw a motherly figure in her. She had helped her a lot to settle things when she was new in Shimla. Therefore, she respected her a lot.
Today she called her to invite her for her only son's marriage, which was being held in Delhi. She wanted her to attend the marriage as their family member. So she asked her to reach Delhi tomorrow, 2 weeks before the marriage and Sanyu, even after trying hard, couldn't refuse the lady who loved her so much.
So she had a flight tonight to Delhi.
END OF FLASHBACK
Sanyukta didn't order anything to eat at night. She was too nervous, too overpowered by emotions to even gulp down a single morsel of food. She was going in the old city after 3 long years. How were her parents, Vardhaan sir, Kaustuki, Jiggy, Renuka Mom? Did they still remember her? Did they still have any feelings left for her other than hatred? What if she came across them? Moreover, what if she came across her Randhir? But then she corrected herself. No, she couldn't come across him bcuz he couldn't be there. Yes, he could never be in Delhi. He should be in New York now, enjoying his life. Bcuz the last time...
Her trail of thoughts was disrupted as her eyes fell on a couple sitting in the seat adjacent to her. They were young, probably newly married, going for honeymoon. The girl's head was resting on the boy's shoulder, her one arm wrapped around the boy's one hand and the boy was holding her protectively around her waist. A sweet dreamy smile was lingering on their lips.
Seeing them, a faint smile also crept into Sanyu's lips as she remembered the plane journey when she went to Maldives with Randhir for their honeymoon. A lone tear escaped through her eye as she drifted into his memories, rather their memories.
FLASHBACK
"Argghh... Rd, it has been 1 hour that you are sitting by the window," Sanyukta almost yelled on Randhir who was sitting beside her. They were in the flight to Maldives for their honeymoon.
Hearing her scream, an airhostess came and said "Plz Ma'am, don't shout here. Other passengers will face difficulty".
Sanyu was going to say something but Rd said before her.
"Yeah, of course. I'll take care of that", replied Rd smiling.
"Thank you, Sir", said the airhostess and passed him a big smile before walking away.
When Rd turned to Sanyu, there she was with cocked eyebrows, staring at him.
"What?" asked Rd suppressing his laughter.
"Flirting in front of me?"
"Why not? She is so damn hot. Isn't she?" said Rd smirking at an angry Sanyukta.
"Really? Toh usike sath jao na..."
"Kaha jau?''
"Honeymoon."
"Really??" laughed Rd.
Sanyukta hit him in his arms.
"You know you have changed a lot after marriage," complained Sanyu.
"Possible. Every man changes, you know. Anyways what were you saying?"
"Oh... ha...I want to seat by the window now''.
"Impossible. I love this view."
"So? I also love it."
"I'm not going to get up. But if you want you can sit here,'' he smirked and gestured to his lap.
"Haw...Kitne besharam ho gaye ho tum...Randhir, utho naaa..."
"Nope..."
"Uff...Rd, we are going to our honeymoon and look at you..."
"Pata hai mujhe...Ab kya demo dekhaogi,eh?" Rd winked at her and grinned.
"Chhee...Ok I'm going..."
"Where? Out of the plane? But let me remind you we are now at a height of..."
"You are so mean," said Sanyu cutting him in the middle.
"But where will you go sweetheart?"
Sanyu got up from her seat and eyed the whole area. Suddenly she saw that an old man was sitting some seats behind them alone.
Sanyu went up to him.
"Uncle, may I sit here?"
The old man saw Sanyukta from top to bottom and then smiling widely replied.
"Of course, of course..."
"So sweet of you," replied Sanyu and smirked at Randhir who was looking at her confused.
'Ji, mai Sanyukta Shekhawat. Waise aap akele ho?"
"Haan, haan, I'm alone..."
"If you don't mind, can I sit there by the window," said Sanyu, with a sweet smile.
"Ji?" replied the man confused.
Rd could hear everything. He got up and was going to go there, when a fat old woman appeared from Sanyu's behind. She was looking angry.
"Aap kya ji? Is umar me? Aur aap akele ho?" asked the lady angrily to the man.
"Arey madhvi? Tum aagayi?'' came the old man's feeble reply.
"Kyu? Socha tha , mai inhanse kud jaungi jo nehi aayungi?"
"Nahi, mai to baas..."
"Kya baas ha?"
Sanyukta understood that she made a wrong no. She looked at Rd who was smirking at her.
Suddenly an airhostess came.
"What are you all doing standing? Plz get back to your seats."
Sanyukta sheepishly came back to her seat. She saw that Rd was seating at the corner seat. She smiled and sat down at the window seat. She looked at Rd, only to find that he was smirking at her.
"What?" she whispered.
"Laga diya na is umar me dono ke beech jhagda. They are still on," replied Rd.
And they burst out laughing.
END OF FLASHBACK
Sanyukta started laughing as she remembered everything. Then she suddenly realized where she was. She looked around and saw everyone staring at her. She mumbled a sorry and shifted her gaze to the window.
Life is so cruel, Randhir. At times, it gives you the best things and then snatches it away like it was never yours.
A tear escaped Sanyukta's eyes, which she immediately wiped.
A call came through the speaker.
"The flight is going to land in an hour."
Chapter- 6A
Sanyukta was standing in her room's balcony, in the early morning. It was her fourth day in Delhi. She was staying in the house of Mr. Iyer where she was warmly welcomed by Mrs. Iyer. Mrs. Iyer's son, Aditya was a very lovable boy. He was two years younger than Sanyu. The bride's name was Sulagna Bhatiya, the only daughter of Mr. Ashish and Mrs. Kangana Bhatiya. Both bride and groom were madly in love with each other.
It has been 4 days in Delhi, but Sanyukta hadn't stepped out of the house for once also. Aditya had requested her many times to go with him and his friends for a movie or lunch. But her answer had always been a "no".
She was afraid. Yes, she was scared of this city, which had made her a beggar, years back. She still hadn't been able to gather the broken pieces of her heart. How would she go through another heartbreak, which was for sure if she met any of her loved ones? Therefore, she decided to stay back at home only till she was in Delhi.
She was brought out of her trance as the door of her room slammed open. She turned and saw that it was Aditya. He was sitting on her bed, panting. And he was clutching a packet in his hand.
"Kya hua?" asked Sanyukta reaching her bed.
"Nee..edd to..o..talk...", he said gasping for air.
"At first, have some water, Adi," and she handed him a glass of water.
Adi gulped the water in one go and started his unfortunate story.
"Woh...woh...Sanyukta di, Sulu is coming tmrw..."
"Really? Sulagna is coming tmrw. That's great. Finally, I'll be able to meet the girl who stole your heart," she said, smiling.
"Par mai nehi mil paunga...", and he made a crying face.
"Kyun? What happened?"
"Mom told that we can meet only for rituals and they along with their relatives will be staying in the outhouse and my friends and relatives here in our house," complained Adi.
"Tch...Tch...if mom had told what can be done?"
"Many things can be done. Just need some help..."
"My help? How?"
"That I'll tell you later. Now just say you are in na?" Adi egged on.
"But Adi rules are rules no?"
"But di think about me plz," he said making a puppy face.
"Adi, but..."
"Nothing is going to happen di. Haven't you broken rules before di? Plz di...Plz...Plz for me."
.
"Hmm. Lemme think," Sanyu said, thoughtfully.
"Thanks di..." and he hugged Sanyu and started to leave.
He was almost at the door when he suddenly shouted.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you...Mom has send you some sarees to wear in the rituals. They are on the bed in that brown packet."
Sanyu also shouted back an ok.
Sanyukta opened the packet and saw that there were some gorgeous looking chiffon and net sarees. She smiled as her eyes fell on a note attached to a saree.
It read...
"My Dear Sanyukta beta, these are a few gifts from me. I'll be glad if you wear them in the marriage ceremonies.
Love Mrs. Iyer"
Sanyukta sometimes really felt glad that she had Mrs. Iyer in her life who loved her like her own mother.
She ran her hands on the sarees and couldn't help but smile. But suddenly her got fixed on a beautiful black saree and a mischievous smile crept into her lips as some old memories flooded her mind.
She clutched the saree and brought it close to her chest, hugging it. She came to the window side and began to speak to herself.