Sandhir OS: With You, Forever

With You, Forever

"Kaustuki Kaustuki Kaustu" Sanyukta entered her hostel room screaming in delight. She ran and hugged her best friend.

"What happened Sanyu? An hour before you were so depressed so what happened all of a sudden?" Kaustuki asked as she hugged her back.

Sanyukta broke the hug and said "You wont will believe what just happened. Sameer has decided not to call of our wedding even after knowing about me doing mechanical engineering."

Kaustuki was puzzled, "So what's so good about this? Dont tell me that you are willing to marry him."

Sanyukta smiled at her confused look and said "You are not getting it Kaustu. Of course i am not ready to marry him. But i am happy that even after finding out the truth that i am doing engineering and not arts he hasn't cancelled the engagement. This is for my family for dad. If my marriage would have been called off then he would have to face a lot of insult in the society. All because of me.. And i would never want that. And anyways Sameer is going to Dubai now for quite some time so i have some time before engagement and all that. Will think of something by then." Sanyukta winked.

"You are too good Sanyukta. But i am kind of surprised that your fiance isn't angry at you." Kaustuki spoke as both the girls sat down on the bed.

"Actually even i am. Initially when i told him the truth he was very angry. He even threatened me that he will destroy my family's name in the society. I had tried to make him understand but he had left in anger. But after some time he came back. He apologised for his behaviour and even agreed to let me do my engineering till our marriage." Sanyukta spoke as she recalled all that had happened in the last 2 hours.

How she had decided to tell Sameer the truth. How she had called him up and revealed everything to him. And in the end Sameer had agreed for the good and she felt relieved. How he had told her that he respected the fact that she had taken the courage to tell him the truth and that he wasn't angry anymore.

"Kaustuki Lets go to the canteen. I am very hungry."

"You go Sanyukta. I have to meet Jiggy. Will join you after sometime."

"Ok." Sanyukta smiled as she took her bag and left for the canteen.

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Sanyukta entered the cafeteria and ordered herself a cup of coffee. She looked around for a table to sit on when she saw Parth sitting alone on a table. She took her coffee and went up to him.

"I have some news." She said as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

"I already know. Sameer isn't calling off the wedding. Right?" he said.

"How do you know? Hold on..Did you convince Sameer about it?" Sanyukta asked him.

"Randhir did." She heard him reply.Sanyukta was shocked. Randhir. Had she heard him right??

"Dont look at me like that. I am saying the truth. Randhir is the one who convinced Sameer not to call off this marriage." Parth spoke.

FLASHBACK

1 hour back

Classroom

Sanyukta showed her student identification card of FITE to Sameer. Sameer realised she wasn't joking. He grabbed the id card from her hand.

"How dare you lie to me Sanyukta. You will pay for this. Not just you. But your family as well. Now you wait and watch what i will do to you." Sameer spoke as he pushed Sanyukta out of the way and went out of the classroom.

"Sameer Sameer please stop." Sanyukta broke down. She sat on the floor. Just then Parth entered.

"Sanyukta. Shit. What happened? Where is Sameer?" he asked as he tried to make her stand."He left. He is very angry on me. Everything is over." Sanyukta spoke between her sobs."Nothing is over. Wait i will go and talk to him." Parth tried to console her."Its no use Parth. No use." Sanyukta replied as she broke down again.

Outside FITE campus..

Sameer was furious. He couldnt believe that Sanyukta had lied about such a big thing. He wanted to straight away call her parents but then changed his mind.

"I will go to her house and speak to them face to face. They will pay the price of messing up with Sameer Mittal. Oh god..where is the driver now?" he thought as he was pacing in front of the college gate. He realised he still had Sanyukta's id card in his hand. He threw it on the ground in anger.

"Arree sabh ji. Aap yahan kaise?" someone tapped his shoulder.

He turned around to see Randhir standing in front of him.

"Tu yahan kya kar raha hai. Tere garage to yahan se bahut door hai. Toh fir yahan kaise?" sameer asked him.

"Arree voh saab ji. Main toh yahan kaam se aya tha. Par aap yahan kaise? Bhabhi ji bhi ayi hai kyan?" Randhir said.

"Uska naam mat le. Aur voh koi bhabhi ji bahbhi ji nahi hai." Sameer got angry at him.

Randhir gave him a confused look and said" Lagat hai aap ke bich jhagdha ho gaya hai. Par aise jhagre hote rehte hain. Isse apke bich mein dooriyan nahi aani." Sameer interrupted him" Samajh nahi aata kya. Mujhe baat nahi karni.."

"Acha thik hai saab ji.. Nahi karte. Arre lagta hai aap ka koi card gir gaya hai." Randhir said as he bent down to pick up Sanyukta's id card.

"Arree yeh toh bhabhi ji hain. Par yeh toh engineering college ka hai. Par aap ne toh bataya that ki voh kuch Arts yah aisa kuch padh rahin hai.."

"Kyunki mjhe bhi yahi lagta tha. Par nahi voh toh engineering kar rahi hai. Voh bhi mechanical engineering. Jhut bola usne muhhse." Sameer spoke in anger.

"Aise kaise itni bai baat chupayi. Par mujhe pata hai aap bahut intelligent ho. Apne hi pata laga liya hoga." Randhir told him.

"Arre nahi. Maine us par trust kiya. Isliye aisa kabhi socha bhi nahi. Ayr rahi baat pata chalne kit oh usne mujhe khud yahan bulakar sachai ke bare mein confess kar diya." Sameer replied.

"Tab toh achi baat hai. Unhone khud apni galti sudhari. Koi aur ladki hoti toh dark e mare kabhi aise nahi karti. Isse pata chalta hai ki voh kitni achi hai. Mujhe lagta hai apko unhe maaf kar dena chahiye. Vaise bhi thode dino kit oh baat hai. Shadi ke baad kya farak padega ki unhone arts kia ya engineering. Rehna toh ghar par hi hai.

Aur jab main apko unke ghar le kar gaya that oh maine dekha that ki kitne bade ghar ki ladki hai. Sochye agar apka unse rishta hua toh apko kitna fayda hoga. Aur agar rishta tuta toh badnami toh thodi aap ki bhi hogi." Randhir said as he kept his hand on Sameer's shoulder.

He saw that Sameer was thinking deep about what he had said. He decided to take more advantage and added "Mujhe pata hai. Apka dil bahut bada hai. Aap unhe maaf kar denge."

"Shayad tum sahi keh rahe ho. Han usne gallti ki chupa kar par akhir usne khud hi sach bataya. Aur vaise bhi abhi jo padhna hai padhe. Shadi ke baad use koi farak nahi padega." He said as he turned back and started walking towards the college.

"Aree sabh yeh card toh lete jayiye." Randhir handed the card back to Sameer.

"Thanks yaar. Lagta hai tu mere aur Sanyu ke liye liye lucky charm hai. Jab bhi tu aas paas hota hai hum bhi sath ho jate hain.."Sameer said as he turned back to the college.

Sanyu.Samething pricked inside him as he heard him call her that. "I am doing this just for myself. I want that farzii out of my sight as soon as possible. I want my peace of mind back."He had seen how sanyukta had tried to explain to Sameer. He couldn't let this marriage get cancelled. He wanted Sanyukta out of his sight as soon as possible and this marriage was the only way for that to happen. He knew Sanyukta had started affecting him in a way that no one had ever done. And he dint like it. No on could affect him. He thought as he entered the college unaware of the fact that someone had heard the entire conversation that had taken place between him and Sameer.

Parth stood their dumbfolded. He had heard every single word that had been exchanged between the two. He couldn't understand why Randhir had done this. And then it struck him. "Yes of course."he said shaking his head.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Sanyukta was dumbfolded. She couldn't figure out the reason behind Randhir's actions.

"Why the hell would he do that?" she looked at Parth.

"Come on Sanyukta. He wants you out of this college. And for that this marriage is the perfect opportunity. He wouldn't miss this golden chance." Parth replied.

"Yes of course. For a moment i thought he was upto some good this time. But he is Randhir. But for a change his actions are doing me some good. Saving my family from all that embaressment. " Sanyukta said as she gulped down her coffee." Come on its time for our class." She said as she grabbed her bag.

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2 hours later..

The class ended. It was the last class for the day. Everyone decided to go to the cafeteria to grab something. But Sanyukta's mind was distracted.

Randhir had missed the class. This was the first time she had seen him do that. She knew he was very focussed over his studies and never bunked classes. Then why hadnt he come..she thought. She had planned to talk to him about Sameer and thank him as unintentionally but he did save her from all the embaressment.

"Sanyukta lets go." Kaustuki's voice got her out of her thoughts.

"You go Kaustuki. I have to go to the library. Exams are in 15 days" she said as she waved her goodbye.

Their final exams were going to be held in 15 days and she had to score good in them. She was glad this Sameer drama was over. Now she could completely focus on her studies.

She went to the library. She got the required books and went to sit at the farthest corner table. As she approached that table she saw someone sitting there with his back turned towards her.

Randhir. She went and sat on the chair opposite to his and slammed her boks hard on the table to get his attention. Randhir dint even notice her there. Sanyukta felt strange that he hadnt even looked up from his book. As if he hadnt even realised her presence there.

"So Randhir. I heard that you were the one who convinced Sameer today to not cancel the marriage. Well thanks for that. And this thank you is because unintentinaly your actions have helped me out. Only because of you..."and she stopped.

Randhir had slammed his book shut and had raised his head so that they were facing each other. She was shocked to see his condition.

His eyes were all red and swollen. As if he had been crying a lot.She could see the impressions of dried tears on his face.

"Not now Sanyukta.' He said as he took his books and walked awsy from there. His voice sounded hollow.

"What's wrong with him." Sanyukta wondered.

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1 WEEK LATER..

It was 8 in the evening. Sanyukta was alone in her room. She tried to concentrate and study but her mind kept wandering somewhere else.

It had been a week since she had talked to him. Those two words exchanged in the library had been their last conversation.

He hadnt attended a single class the entire week. She rarely saw him even outside the classrooms. He even missed all the lab sessions. She had to work all alone. She kind of missed their fights. She missed his teasing. His comments.

Since the last 3 nights she hadnt been able to sleep properly. His absence made her restless. She tried to convince herself that he was just tensed because of the upcoming exams and was bunking classes to study. But she knew inside that this wasn't the truth. She knew that he was a genius and wasn't scared of exams. And there was no way he would cry over them.

She knew it was something else.

"Sanyukta just stop thinking about him. Its his life. Why are you stressing over it. Just concentrate on the exams." She said as she got engaged in her books again.

"Oh shit my notebook is with Parth." She called up Parth.

"Hann sanyukta bolo." He said.

"Parth voh meri notebook thumhare paas thi. I wanted that back." She replied.

"Sanyukta one of my friends from CITE has met with an accident. I have come to meet him. I will come back tomorrow afternoon. Do one thing tell Jiggy to give you the notebook. Its kept on the table. Ok Sanyukta i have to go now. Sorry. Bye" saying so Parth hung up.

Sanyukta knew Jiggy wasn't in his room. He and Kaustuki had gone out to get some extra books which weren't available in the library.

She knew calling up Randhir would be a bad idea.

"Ab toh boys hostel khud hi jana padega."

Sanyukta somehow managed to sneak inside the boy's hostel and into the room. The room was empty.

"Ab inme se Parth ki table kaunsi hai mijhe kya bhuth bathayega." She thought as she started search for her notebook. To her good luck she found it on the very first table where she started her search.

"Ok notebook mil gayi. Now lets get out of here before anyone comes." She was about to leave when something caught her eye.

There on the exteme right table there was a photograph. She came near the table The books kept on it had the name Randhir written over them.

She picked up the photograph. It showed a small cute boy nearly 2-3 years old. He was sitting on a woman's lap and a man was just beside him. Randhir and his parents..

She knew all three af them. Randhir ofcourse. The woman was Randhir's mom Mrs Renuka Sanyal.And the man was his dad. She and his dad hadnt had a good first meeting. Infact it had been pretty bad.

As she was keeping the photograph back in place she saw a crumpled up piece of paper lying there. She carefully opened the paper and tied to read it. What she read shocked her till her insides..

Randhir beta..

Maine tumhe kafi baar phone aaur message kiya yeh kehte hue ki mujhe tumse ek jaruri baat karni hai. Par tumne kabhi meri baat nah suni. Issliye yeh letter likh rahin huin.

Beta main aur timhare papa pichle 12 saal se sath reh rahenein ki koshish kar rahein hain. Maine bahut koshishe ki taki humare bich sab thik ho jaye. Lekin ab mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ki main aur thumhare papa sath nahi reh sakte. Issliye humne decide kiya hai ki hum divorce le lein..

Beta mujhe pata hai ki yeh thumhare liye bahut mushkil hai. Mere liye bhi kuch kam nahi hai.

Mujhe pata hai ki bachpan se hi tumhe mujhse bahut shikayat rahi hai. Maine hamesha tumse jyada apne kaam par dhyan diya. Tumhare sath jab honi chahiye thi tab main vahan nahi thi. Aur iss baat ka muhhe hameshe affsos rahega. Par ab mein promise karti huin ki main hamesha tumhare sath rahungi.Beta mujhe tumhari jarurat hai..

Ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena..

-tumhari maa

The paper fell down from Sanyukta's hand. She hant even realised when had she started crying. She couldn't believe what she had just read. Randhir's parents were getting divorced.

Now she knew the reason behind Randhir's behaviour. Now she knew the reasons behind all his actions..

She kept the photograph and letter back. She wipe her tears and left the room. She started to search for Randhir all around the campus. It was 11 at night now. 3 hours had passed but she couldn't locate him anywhere. She was getting scared now. What if he did something to himself..No no Sanyukta think positive. She had searched all the places she knew except one. Hope he is there." Was all she could think as she ran towards the terrace.

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Randhir stood there watching the entire campus from there. His hands were tightly holding onto the railing as if he would fall if he left. He couldn't think anything clearly now. He felt betrayed, cheated. He wanted someone with whom he could share his pain He wanted someone on whose shoulder he could cry on. But he had never had such a person in his life. All his life he had experienced loneliness. Everyone used to leave him in the end. He was alone. No one to care about him, worry for him. No one..

He had always been hoping against hope that just by some miracle his parents would stay together. He had never had the happy family but atleast his parents weren't living separately. But what now?? They were getting divorced. There was no living together left. His dream that one day all of them would be together with their differences sorted out had been broken.

Tears rolled down his face as he broke down.

Sanyukta reached the terrace and the sight pained her much more than she had expected. Randhir sat there his knees pulled close to his chest, his face in his palms. He was crying badly.

This wasn't the Rabdhir she knew. This wasn't her mortal enemy. The one who never gave up. The one who challenged her at each and every step. The one whose actions inspired her to do better.

The boy in front of her was someone tatally different.Here was a boy who ha never experienced his mother's love. Someone who had been lonely all his life. He was a boy who was craving for love. Who was craving for a happy family. Who was craving for his parents to get back together.

Before she knew she was sitting next to him. She lightly caressed his hairs. He looked up and she saw the tiny bit of surprise in his eyes. But more than the surprise there was pain, anger and his craving for love which was clearly visible in his eyes.

She wiped off his tears with her fingers and took his hands in hers.

"Sanyukta i .." he said as he tried to get up. "Sshhh." She quietened him."I know everything Randhir."

Fresh tears rolled down his eyes. She couldn't bear it anymore and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. He tried to resist first bt she held him tight. She wanted to share his pain. She couldnt leave him alone like that. Slowly he gave in. He had never experienced this. He kept his head on her shoulder and cried his heart out. He cried and cried till he could cry no more. Not for a moment did they let go of each other. He liked the warmth of her embrace. Finally after what seemed like eternity they finally broke the hug.

She took his face in her hands and wiped away all the tears. They both got up.

"Thanks a lot Sanyukta for being there. No one has ever been with me and .."Randhir said when she interrupted him.

She took his hand in hers and squeezed it lightly. "Randhir no one might have ever been there for you before. But now, someone will always be there with you, for now and forever".

So that's it..

Looking forward to your likes and comments.

Thanks a lot for reading..😊😊

Love

Anuradha