SanDhir FF: Espresso Love (Ch.39 P.111 Dec.02) - Page 81

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PART THIRTY SEVEN - RED AND RIPE

Tears of joy ran down my face as I kissed Riaan and hugged him tight. It had been a long journey; an ugly battle had to be fought. But it was all worth it because I knew he was now safe from Sameer.

"Maaa," his tiny voice strained out, clearly feeling suffocated by how hard I was hugging him. I laughed and cried at the same time, "I'm so sorry baby. I love you so much!"

"I love you too, but can we go home nowww?"

"Of course sweetie. Go with your uncle and aunt, and I will join you at home after meeting everyone okay?"

He nodded and grabbed Ankit's hand. But before leaving, he kissed my cheek and wiped the tears that were freely running down my cheek.

I hugged Ankit and Avni, after which they left and I headed towards Parth and Vidushi. In the meanwhile, I kept looking around to figure out where Randhir was... It was strange that he was nowhere to be found. I had so many things to tell him... How thankful I was for his presence, for what he did, for his support.

But before I could think any further, I was taken into a bone-crushing hug by Parth. And as soon as I had some time (or rather, some space) to breathe, Vidushi hugged me even tighter.

"I told you everything will work out Sanyu!" Parth exclaimed, a huge smile on his face. For once, it was a smile I was able to equally reproduce.

"Thank you so much Parth. And Vidushi. Both of you! It's been such a tough time, and I don't know how I'd have gotten through it if I didn't have you guys by my side!"

Vidushi side-hugged me, "What are friends for, right?"

"By the way, have you seen Randhir? He was here a while ago, but I haven't seen him ever since the verdict was announced."

While Parth looked around with me, Vidushi had an unmistakably grim expression on her face.

"He left just a while ago."

"What?" He left? Why? When? Why didn't he stay back?

"Yea, I think he had to be somewhere," she said, trying to sound confident, yet the shake in her voice clearly accusing her of lying.

"It's because of what Sameer's lawyer said, isn't it?"

I knew that was the only reason Randhir would leave. That too, at such a crucial point in my life. The way our relationship was loosely discussed in the trial angered me, and so I could only imagine just how enraged he must have been as well.

"It's okay, I'll see him tonight at dinner I guess. I'm going to..." but before I could continue, I saw Randhir peeking through the doors. I left Parth and Vidushi in the middle of the conversation and ran towards him, another stream of tears making their way down my face as I crashed into him and hugged him hard.

"Where did you go?" I almost yelled at him.

"I figured I'd take the one last chance to escape from you," he replied with a smirk, but his glossy eyes betraying his otherwise playful tone.

"Not in a million years Randhir. I'm never letting you go now!"

"As if I'd ever do that in a million years Farzi!"

--

I thought everything through and mentally prepared myself for what I was about to do. And so, getting down on one knee, I finally gathered the courage to ask her the question that would change our lives forever - for the better though, that much I knew.

"Ms. Sanyukta Agarwal, will you and Riaan Agarwal be kind enough to accept me as another constant in your lives? Will you both help make me feel complete? Will you spend your lives with me?" I asked earnestly. The shakiness in my voice was probably audible, but I couldn't contain all the emotions I felt any longer.

"I know we've both had our own share of obstacles, but what I've realized is that I no longer have the strength to overcome any more without you by my side. I need you Sanyukta. I need you with me every step of the way. I want to wake up with you beside me every morning. I want to be the husband that you deserve, and the father that Riaan deserves. I want to complete you both as much as you both would complete me."

In my little rant, I forgot this was supposed to be a proposal. Instead of keeping it short and simple, I decided to really tell her what she meant to me.

"I never thought we could be together again. After you came back, I was angry. I was angry and I was hurt. But even then, I knew I had always loved you even when you left me. I knew that even after the betrayal I felt, you were the one for me. I was angry when I found out about Riaan, you know that. But I look at him now and I want to protect him. I want to protect both of you Sanyukta. You are my world, and I can't live without you. I love you so much!" I took a deep breath and finally asked her, "Ms. Sanyukta Agarwal, will you do the honour of making me the happiest person alive by marrying me?"

--

I was now kneeling right across him, his face in my hands. Truthfully speaking, it would be impossible to convey the happiness I felt at this moment. "You have always been my world Randhir. Yes I will marry you!!" I almost cried out as I accepted his proposal. He put the ring on my finger and we kissed, our love pouring through in every moment that followed. "I love you so much Randhir! Thank you for completing us!"

I was lost in the moment, until I felt another set of hands - though, oddly tiny - embracing us from the side.

Turning myself to face the owner of these hands, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Riaan.

"Is RD going to be my daddy?" he asked, flashing his toothless smile. I nodded, as he hugged Randhir. "I like him!!" he exclaimed as his tiny arms wrapped tightly around Randhir's neck.

More tears made their way down my face as I took in the sight before me.

Ankit and Avni then joined Riaan, along with Parth and Vidushi, as they congratulated us.

Everyone eventually left, leaving Randhir and me alone in the courtroom.

"I always knew our story was quite atypical, but a proposal in a courtroom? How apt?" I laughed, as I took his hand in mine while we walked out.

"Can I ask you a question?" to which he nodded; "Why did you leave? You left in the middle and after the trial? And why didn't you tell me about the employment offer?"

--

"As for the offer, I didn't tell you because I knew you'd try to talk me out of it. But I couldn't not do anything for the love of my life," I said as I kissed the back of her hand. "I couldn't help you much Sanyukta, but I could do this at least. Plus we both know that it was only a matter of time before you got this position on your own merits! So it's hardly anything extraordinary."

She smiled at my explanation - I knew she would probably not have approved, and so I figured it'd be easier to do it and just apologize after.

"And as for why I left... I guess the way they were trying to question your character - bringing in our relationship as dirty laundry to air in the court - angered me. I needed to take a break before I..."

She jumped in, "Before you punched that stupid arrogant smirk off his face?"

I laughed, "Precisely that."

We now settled on a bench that faced the garden by the courthouse, and I continued on with my explanation. "He then met me in the break, at which time he tried to instigate me. He went on talking about whether we were back together even after knowing that Riaan was his son. He went as far as saying that you used our past relationship to get that position. I knew he was not worth the time or the attention, but the reason I left was to think things through. But you know Sanyu, that's when I realized that I don't think of him when I see Riaan... I see you. I see your strength and your courage and your resilience. And so I backed off and left after the trial. Not because his words got to me, but rather because they helped me realized what I wanted out of life, out of us! I went home to bring the ring my mom had given to me the last time she met me."

She knew that Sanyukta was back in my life, and I guess she knew that Sanyu and I would end up merging our paths together. For a relationship that had begun in almost a volatile manner, my mother and I had sure come a long way.

"I couldn't wait any longer or waste any more time. All I knew at that point was that we deserve to be happy! You, me, and Riaan - we all do."

She looked at me silently and kissed me again, this one as gentle as it could be. Her one kiss spoke volumes, as the time for our new beginning was finally here.