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Randhir and Sanyukta were both sitting at the bar in the cafeteria. They had been having a very heated argument, fortunately no one else was around to eavesdrop. Eventually they had both gotten tired of venting their anger on one another and were sitting in silence. Sanyukta's head was exploding. This was the fifth time in three weeks that they had had this argument becuase both of them were so indecisive. "Look Randhir-" Sanyukta was cut off mid-sentence by Sanaya and Aryan who always seemed to appear out of thin air at the wrong time. Aryan grabbed Sanyukta by the arm and in turn Sanaya grabbed Randhir by the arm and the two were hauled off by their "better halves" but not without giving each other a meaningful look. It was one of those looks that were reminiscent of college days. That I-don't-want-to-go-anywhere-without-you look. Unfortunately or fortunately given their current situation the two of them didn't really have a choice. one can't really say that they were victim's of circumstance because they were both partially responsible for their situations.
Aryan took Sanyukta into the computer lab to show her the new program he was working on. She was looking at the screen, she was physically there but her mind was elsewhere. When she actually thought about it, it was her fault that things had gotten this serious between her and Aryan. It was almost at the stage where he officially considered himself her boyfriend and by some means it just didn't feel right to Sanyukta. After he had confessed his feelings for her at the wedding Sanyukta was taken aback. She hadn't even realized that Aryan had seen her that way. But then again she had also started liking him a little. He was nice, kind, fought for what he believed in. He always respected her regardless of the situation and more than anything else he had become her support system. Someone she could rely on in her times of need and someone who had her best interests at heart. Someone who always put her before themselves. She had given in to Aryan despite knowing Randhir had said that he still loves her. She had decided that if he wasn't going to act that way and just say it to hurt her then she wasn't going to let him satisfy his ego with her pain. She had gotten closer to Aryan than she had been as his friend but her feelings for Randhir only let her get so close. Despite everything that he says and does she still loves him as well... But perhaps with time it would have faded had that day not happened. "Sanyu... Sanyu!" Aryan yelled. Sanyukta looked at him apologetically and dropped her head on the desk sighing.
Sanaya had pretty much the same agenda as Aryan and dragged Randhir to one of the labs to talk to him. She was excitedly telling him about a new concoction she had made with some new herbs but like Sanyukta, Randhir wasn't all their either. He had mentally kicked himself for arguing with Sanyukta again about the same thing. As usual he had been telling her it was her fault even though he knew he was also partially responsible. Perhaps that was a defense mechanism because he knew all to well he couldn't handle guilt very well. He couldn't believe it himself when he had told Sanyukta that he still loves her. Up until then he had been in denial and refused to accept that those feeling still existed but the truth always has it's ways of surfacing. He had just said it to her and made no effort to prove anything because he himself wasn't ready to accept it, and besides that... Sanaya had also dropped an 'I love you' bomb on him. He had a vague idea that Sanaya felt that way. They were best friends and it was bound to happen eventually. After all that was how he ended up falling so in love with Sanyukta that he can find no way out. He had also started developing feelings for Sanaya, she was the one that stood by him when he was in a dark place but he liked her. He couldn't say he loved her. For obvious reasons. Sanyukta had also started distancing herself from him more than she usually did, almost as if she was making an effort to stay away from him and he had noticed her growing a lot closer to Aryan then they had been before. So when Sanaya instigated a relationship Randhir agreed. They might as well have been dating anyway. Maybe it would have stayed that way, maybe he could've grown to love Sanaya if only that night hadn't happened. "Shekhu???? Shekhu! Where are you lost?" Sanaya yelled. Randhir looked at her slightly shocked and dropped his head in his hands. What was going to happen now?
As they had been doing everyday for the past two weeks, Randhir and Sanyukta managed to escape from the company of Sanaya and Aryan during Earth Hours and meet in a secluded area on the grounds where nobody could spot them. It had become almost something of a ritual for them. Randhir would always reach first and have the fire ready so by the time Sanyukta got there she was already smiling and happy. She'd always race straight for him and he'd always have his arms open. In a way it was them making up for all the memories and time they had lost in the two years they had been away from each other. It was almost as if there love for each other had magnified in these two weeks. They just sat there in that moment, in each other's arms at peace with the world. At peace with each other. If not always at least just for then... when they had nothing else to worry about, no one else to worry about. It was just them in their own world. They were so lost in their world, in each other that hadn't even noticed the shadows creeping towards them. Randhir was leaning in to kiss Sanyukta when he heard glass shatter.
Two weeks ago Randhir and Sanyukta had been forced to work together on the design for the rover and both were as annoyed and irritated with each other as they had been before the wedding. Sanyukta had noticed Randhir's closeness with Sanaya and likewise Randhir had also noticed Sanyu's growing closeness with Aryan. As much as it angered them they weren't going to say anything. Sanyukta because part of her still didn't want to believe that Randhir had been telling the truth when he said he still loves her and Randhir because Sanyukta hadn't even said anything at all. They managed to get through the design session with gritted teeth and not pulling each other's hair out. However great minds think alike and unknown to the other they both had decided that they were going to return in the evening to complete the design when they would have peace and be alone. To their disbelief both of them showed up frustrated that the other was also there. "You couldn't find any other time to finish the design that you had to come here now?" Sanyukta said very irritated. "Excuse me, Miss Agarwal. This research centre isn't your father's factory where you can come and go at anytime and no one else will be there. We all work here!" Randhir said annoyed. They continued arguing that way for at least half an hour and were disturbed by Earth Hours when the lights went out. Then again this was Randhir and Sanyukta and no electricity wasn't about to stop them. "You need to stop your habbit of blaming me for everything that goes wrong Randhir!" Sanyukta yelled, "it's not always my fault every time!" Randhir grabbed her by the arm clearly furious, "You mean like Parth going into a coma because you were so desperate to win the dream team competition!" Sanyukta saw red. This was going to be the last time he accused her of killing Parth. Sanyukta dug her nails into Randhir's arm and pried it off her. "Enough Randhir Singh Shekhawat. I did not try to kill my best friend! Parth pressed the button! I wasn't going to risk both our lives just top win a competition! I'm not that selfish or shallow despite what you might think!" Sanyukta was now in tears. She had enough of his hurling accusations and hatred, "I had also chosen you as the driver but because of your ego and arrogance Ranawat Sir told me not to!" She fell to her knees. Randhir was shaken. He had never expected Sanyukta to explode like that. He had no idea that she had been holding all of that in. And he was showering all his hatred on her without even giving it a second thought. He felt nauseous. How could have been such a monster?! She had never justified herself or defended herself whenever he had said anything. Randhir dropped down beside Sanyukta, "I'm sorry Sanyu. I had no idea. I-" Sanyukta held up her hand. "Just don't Randhir." They both sort of felt a relief wash over them. They had let everything out... All their jealousy, hatred and pent up feelings. Sanyukta pulled herself up off the ground and was heading for the door. "Sanyukta Aggarwal, I love you," Randhir said calmly. Sanyukta froze and spun around so fast she didn't feel the table leg that knocked her down, but before she knew it Randhir's arms were around her. Keeping her safe. "Are you okay?", he asked looking at her leg and silently cursing the table. Sanyukta tried to stand up and walk but perhaps she hit her leg too hard. She shook her head and Randhor picked her up in his arms. Randhir knew nobody would be inside so he took Sanyu to his room and laid her down on the bed to rest. He covered her and and was about to leave when she pulled him back down next to her. "What about Sanaya?" she asked softly. "The same as you and Aryan... I know you don't love him. But a part of you likes him, the same way I like Sanaya. None of that matters if you're there Sanyukta. None of it. I can forget all of it," he replied. Sanyukta pulled Randhir closer and crushed her lips on his. "I love you too," she whispered. And that was the last either of them spoke that night... They just got caught up in each other and one thing led to another. There was no turning back for them now. They had become one and now, they would face everything together. So here they were two weeks later about to face their biggest problem yet.
Stunned both of them looked towards where the sound had come from. There in front of them stood Sanaya. Blood dripping from her hand, and behind her... Aryan.
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I hope you guys liked it... I might be dropping a few of these once in a while. 😊🤗