Chapter 7
The ring of his mobile brought out Randhir from his trance...he did not remember for how long he had been sitting in this car reminiscing his past, his memories with Sanyukta , he wanted to close his eyes and drift back to those long gone days...he felt his head was bursting, he needed to sleep, he needed a break...he looked at his mobile and saw the ringing has stopped leaving a missed call...he checked the mobile there was 15 missed calls, he reluctantly looked at the call list which showed that it was Jiggy who was calling...He called him back...in one ring Jiggy had received his call...
"Where the hell are you Randhir? We have a very important meeting today remember...its a very important deal...everyone is waiting for you...and you have disappeared, no one has a clue where you are...i had even called up Sanyukta to ask about you..." Jiggy said
"What? You called up Sanyukta? Why the hell did you do that?" flared up Randhir, ignoring everything else that Jiggy mentioned...
"Please cool down Randhir...I had no other choice...the meeting was about to start and you were not there...and the last I saw was you going after Sanyukta when she left your party...Kaustuki and me both tried to reach you and Sanyukta yesterday...but could not get through to you...may be there was a network problem...and when you did not show up in the morning also...I got worried..." Jiggy replied trying to sound calm... " Now please Randhir...come to the office...I cannot keep them waiting anymore"
"Cancel the meeting" replied Randhir curtly...
"Randhir...you know how important this meeting is...we won't be able to postpone it anymore...and if we get this deal our company will reach that position which we had dreamed of..." Jiggy said sounding desperate, he could not understand what happened to Randhir suddenly that he is even ready to throw away his dream...this deal meant everything to him a few days back and now he is behaving as if it did not matter anything...it shocked him.
" Jiggy, please don't argue...just do whatever you want..." saying that Randhir cut the call...and switched off the mobile...
He closed his eyes and leaned back on his car's seat...and sat there quietly...
***
Feeling worried about Randhir and the company's future, Jiggy headed back to the conference room...after trying to convince for a long time, he finally managed to get the meeting postponed for next week...heaving a sigh of relief he decided to call Kaustuki...he was not only worried about Randhir, but also Sanyukta...when he had called up Sanyukta, she had also sounded very disturbed, and when he had mentioned Randhir's name she had tried to avoid the conversation...something had happened between them yesterday, he was almost sure of it...but whatever it was , it was not good...he felt restless ...
As Randhir entered his office, he decided that he would first meet Jiggy, before going to his cabin, for now that he has composed himself, he felt guilty about leaving Jiggy in lurch with that meeting...he barged into Jiggy's cabin without even knocking...his sudden entrance startled Jiggy and Kaustuki , who seemed to be engrossed in some deep discussion...as soon as they saw Randhir standing at the door, they stopped their discussion, and fumbled around in confusion...Kaustuki broke the awkward environment and said..
"Err..i was just leaving ...have an appointment...hello Randhir..."
Randhir muttered a , "hi" to her and entered the cabin, a bit embarrassed ...
As Kaustuki left the room, Randhir cleared his throat and looked at Jiggy guiltily...
Jiggy looked back at him exasperatedly and said "Where the hell were you Randhir? And what the hell is up with Sanyukta? you both are behaving weirdly...neither giving proper answers...please explain...for I cannot keep postponing meetings for you..."
Randhir sat down on a chair infront of Jiggy, and sighed... " I am sorry Jiggy, for throwing you into such a terribly awkward situation..i cannot share where I was ...i am alright now...and from now on you wont have to cancel or re-schedule meetings...and another thing...don't ever mention Sanyukta's name to me anymore..i am done..."
"But Randhir?..." Said Jiggy looking concerned he, he came towards him and put a hand on his shoulder gently... " I thought, after yesterday...things would be better between two..."
"After.. yesterday? What happened yesterday?" Randhir asked sounding grave
"You went after her...i thought you were with her all night...since you never returned back..."
"Jiggy nothing happened between us...and nothing can ever happen between us..." Randhir replied bitterly ,those same painful words that Sanyukta had told him..."we are over" he added after a pause...
" I am sorry Randhir..." Jiggy sighed...it was then he noticed how pale and haggard Randhir was looking... " Randhir, please take a off today, go and take some rest...you look terrible..." Jiggy said softly..
" I cant Jiggy...i cant rest...i wont be able to..." Randhir trailed off, he rubbed his forehead, as that familiar throbbing returned ...
Jiggy looked at the broken condition of his friend , and felt a pang in his heart...he could not bear to see his strong , brilliant , genius of a friend spiralling down into depression... "I will ask for some coffee for you, you will feel better" ...saying that he ordered a coffee over his office extension...
"Jiggy ...what were you and Kaustuki discussing?" Randhir suddenly said as he sipped his coffee...
The question startled Jiggy, " Err...nothing important...umm...just discussing about our marriage.." he replied avoiding Randhir's gaze...he was never really good at lying and lying to Randhir was even more difficult..
"Hmm...alright...fine if you don't want to discuss...there is no need to lie..." Randhir said curtly...he got up, kept the empty cup down and briskly left the room...
Jiggy smacked on his head...cursed himself and went back to take out his phone to call Kaustuki...
***
Randhir sat idle at his desk and played about with his mobile...his mind was a jumble of thoughts...thoughts that he would like to put an end to but could not...absentmindedly he checked his call list...and suddenly his eyes fell on the three missed calls of the person, who seemed to occupy his mind as always...Sanyukta...he quickly checked the time, and he saw that it was almost the same time when Jiggy had called him...he also noticed that there was a message from her...he opened the message...and saw that she has written " Where are you Randhir? Jiggy called...please call him up"...he frowned looking at the message and debated a little whether he should reply back something...he wrote " In office now...already spoke to Jiggy...no need to bother"...he kept his phone on the table and took up a file trying to concentrate on their company's upcoming projects...
A knock on the door broke his concentration...he cleared his throat and shouted a "come in"...he had again buried himself in file when he heard a deep voice saying... "Randhir...I hope I have not disturbed you..."
Randhir glanced up and in his surprise his file slipped from his hand ...he stood up in a hurry seeing the person in front of him... " Sir, ...you...I mean..Sir...how are you...please sit down sir..i never expected you to come here...I ...err.."
To see his mentor, his guide, standing in front of him after 2 years , was nothing less of a shock to Randhir...Prof.Vardhan ,was the only person in this world for whom Randhir felt respect from his heart...he was like a father to him...each time Randhir had found himself in trouble, or in desperate need of help, he knew he could turn to Prof.Vardhan...h'e had not only guided Randhir and mentored him in his college studies, and projects but in every phase of Randhir's life he had made it sure to protect him , to support him like a father...it was after Randhir and Sanyukta had got married that Prof.Vardhan had moved away to USA on some research project...and slowly because of their busy life , Randhir somehow lost contact with him...seeing him after all these years, made Randhir feel tongue tied ...he was still hesitating as to how to continue...when Prof.Vardhan broke the silence... " Randhir, relax...i just came to Delhi yesterday...i am in the final stage of my research and thought that maybe I should take a break for a few days...so here I am on a break of 3 months...I am looking forward to meeting all my students now..."
"I'll order some tea for you Sir..." Said Randhir and picked up the phone to order...
"Ah , that will be lovely Randhir..." Vardhan smiled..
"Randhir...nice organization you have set up...i must say I am impressed...I read all about this company on various newspapers, magazines and off course your website...you have certainly made me proud..." Vardhan continued
"Thank you sir...it really means a lot to me to hear this from you..." Randhir said
"Randhir...err...where is Sanyukta?...is she here?" Vardhan said
Randhir looked away from him...it was then he realised that Vardhan knew nothing about his and Sanyukta's break up...their issues...their problems...like him, Sanyukta was also Vardhan's other favourite student...Randhir had no clue how to break this news to him...
Seeing Randhir's hesitation Vardhan looked at him in concern... " Is everything fine Randhir...I hope nothing is wrong with Sanyukta..." he said softly
"No..no...she is fine...its just..." Randhir sighed ... "Its just that...we are together no more...we have filed for divorce" he continued, he felt his voice shaking...
The shock that Vardhan felt was evident from his face...he sighed as he heard this news...then very gently he said " Randhir...I don't know what went wrong between you two...neither will I ask you to share...for I know you will when you feel it's the right time...but I just want to tell you something...never give up...relationships are a beautiful thing...marriage is also a beautiful relationship...off course there will be problems...we all have problems...may be some problems are so huge that we think that we can never find a way to solve it...but remember there is always a way...and never lose hope on that..."
"I..." Randhir faltered, he did not know how to go on ...something stuck in his throat...a part of him wanted to blurt out everything to Prof. Vardhan , for he was the only person whom Randhir knew would understand his emotions...his view...but another part stopped him...he could not make himself recollect those painful events and share it with anyone... "Thank you...for coming" was all that came out from his mouth...
Vardhan nodded his head, he understood Randhir was going through a turmoil and that sometimes it was best to leave it to the person to fight with their inner demons...he patted Randhir's shoulder and said , " I will see you around...will just go and meet my other students...if you ever feel that you want to talk to me...you know I will always be there..." he smiled at Randhir and left the cabin...
Randhir sighed and leaned back on his chair... It had been a weird day for him...first his fight with Sanyukta...then his emotional breakdown...and now Prof. Vardhan's arrival...suddenly he felt light...just the mere presence of his mentor, his guide, beside him, somehow had helped in relieving the burden that he was carrying in his heart for so long...suddenly he realized this was just what he was missing...a father figure, a guide, who will be there just for him and support him, advice him...
***
Sanyukta sighed as she read Randhir's message, her eyes fixed on the part "no need to bother"...how she wished she could do that...but every time she tried...she failed...today when Jiggy had called her up and asked about Randhir's whereabouts, she became worried sick...she had felt that may be their fight has led Randhir to do something self destructive...she feared his temper, his rage...and part of her felt guilty for pushing him off the edge...she was thinking of going and searching for Randhir when she received his message...She was debating whether to call him or not when she heard a knock on her cabin door...
She said " Come in"...and it knocked her breath out when she saw the person standing in front of her...it was Parth...Parth Kashyap...her friend from FITE...he was a very good friend of hers...after Randhir and Kaustuki, he was her best friend...the equation she shared with him was very different from the one she shared with either Kaustuki or Randhir...he was a kind of guy with whom you can share anything and everything, even your silliest thoughts...he will not speak much, but will listen patiently and then give you sound advice...this was the very reason why Sanyukta was more open to him than to anyone else...for she knew he will never judge her...unfortunately Randhir never hit it off really well with Parth...it was not like he disliked Parth, but Sanyukta always felt that Randhir was a bit jealous of him...jealous of the bond he shared with Sanyukta...Sanyukta knew Randhir felt very possessive towards her and she could understand his insecurities...if it had not been a known fact that Parth had a soft corner for their other friend Vidushi kumar , Sanyukta was sure Randhir would have asked him to stay clear of her...
"Parth...what a pleasant surprise ...when did you return from Bangalore?..and for how long will you stay? "...Sanyukta exclaimed...
"Yesterday night...I am here for a business conference...but have planned to extend my leave for three months...need a break you see" smiled Parth, as he took his seat infront of her..."its so good to see you...I missed all of you so much..."
"I missed you too..." Sanyukta said... "where is Vidushi? Has she also come?"
"I don't know" Parth replied quietly
"What do you mean...you don't know"...Sanyukta asked curiously..
"Actually, we have broken up..." Parth said hesitating a bit...
" Come on...you are kidding...this is not true...I mean...why would she...I mean anyone want to break up with you?" Sanyukta replied disbelievingly
"Sanyukta...i guess we were not compatible with each other...you know she always had this selfish streak ...I just could not take her weird demands...her attitude...her self-centeredness...so it was better that we put an end to this relationship than making it even more bitter..." Parth said shaking his head
"I suppose you are right" said Sanyukta softly
Parth noticed that she had a far off look in her eyes... " so now tell me what happened between you and Randhir? Why did you two decide to end it?"
Sanyukta looked at him in surprise and said " how did u know?"
"Umm...I met Yoyo today in the morning...he told me everything...also the break up party..." Parth said looking uncomfortable..
"As you said...it was not working out...sometimes love is not enough I guess to make a relationship work..." Sighed Sanyukta sadly
"So I guess we are in the same boat..." said Parth...he laughed lightly trying to lighten up the atmosphere...
"Anyway leave it...you have come after such a long time...lets go out and go somewhere, where we can sit and relax, and catch up on everything..."
***
Ummm...I know neither I have revealed the mystery about Sandhir's child nor there is any Sandhir moment in this part...sorry if you are all disappointed with this part.....I am sorry for updating so late ...I guess most of you have even forgotten abt the FF 😆...promise will update sooner from now on 😳...please read and leave your comments 😳
Edited by Wrackspurt - 10 years ago
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