With a resigned sigh, Sanyukta flopped down on the mattress that served as a makeshift bed. She couldn't even begin to fathom the problems that kept piling on her. First her hostel issues, followed by Vikram and Rajveer's challenge, and now, Randhir's homelessness. Huffing in frustration, she pulled out her notes and began to revise.
Barely 20 minutes into managing to crack the answer to a rather hard question, Sanyukta heard a faint knock on her door. Remembering the incident with Shaurya the night before, her nostrils flared with anger as she grabbed a can and walked over to the door of her room, carefully undoing the lock.
The moment she opened the door, she hit the unsuspecting intruder on the head with the can, who retaliated by holding her by the wrist. Startled by the momentary shock, Sanyukta let out a squeal, only to have the intruder clamp his hand on her mouth.
"Do you wanna get us kicked out from this society, Sanyukta?" asked Randhir, as he stepped into the light.
A horrified Sanyukta stared at Randhir in shock, before pushing him and his bags in her room. Casting a cursory glance to ensure that no one caught Randhir sneaking into her room, she shut the door and bolted it.
Turning back to face Randhir, she was shocked to see him nonchalantly checking her room out, as if he were about to rent it himself.
"Randhir, are you out of your mind? How did you even get here?!" asked Sanyukta in horror, as Randhir removed his knapsack and laid it on the ground beside his other bag.
Smiling widely at Sanyukta, he replied, "I climbed the wall, obviously! What'd you think?"
"You climbed the wall? What if someone'd seen you? What if you got hurt? Randhir, what am I going to do with you!" cried Sanyukta exasperatedly, as she sat down on her mattress, looking up at Randhir.
"Chill. No one saw me, and I didn't hurt myself. And what would I have done Sanyukta, I had nowhere to go! You tell me, would you rather have me sleeping on the railway station?" asked Randhir, sarcastically. He added, "I could leave now, if you have so much of an issue. I could camp out somewhere, I guess?", as he picked up his knapsack.
Sanyukta stood up in a rush, holding his hand. Casting an angry look, she went to her wardrobe and pulled out a spare sheet and laid it on the ground, next to the mattress, and walked in towards the kitchen.
Randhir smiled to himself as he remembered how he purposely got into a fight to be able to stay with Sanyukta. He knew that under normal circumstances, Sanyukta would have kicked him out of her room, but given the situation, she was letting him stay.
Sanyukta came out of the kitchen, a glass of water in her hand. Wordlessly handing it over to Randhir, she dragged his bag and knapsack to the corner of the room and grabbed her bottle of water. She turned over to glare at Randhir, as she picked up her notes and sat down on the sheet that she'd laid out on the floor, and began to study.
This lasted for about 30 seconds, as she felt Randhir hug her from behind, resting his forehead on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry Sanyukta. You know I can't control my anger, right? And that douche was saying shit about you! How could I have shut up?" said Randhir softly, as he tried to placate a very angry Sanyukta.
Shrugging him off her, she turned, replying angrily, "Randhir, why can't you control your temper! You can't keep wanting to beat up people who annoy you! I won't always be around you to calm you down, why don't you understand that?"
On listening to her words, Randhir's facial expressions changed instantly. He moved away from her, and laid down on the mattress. He should've known this was coming. After all, when had anyone stayed with him forever?
"You're right Sanyukta. You'll leave me one day. I can't keep doing this. Fine. I'll leave in a while." said Randhir, as he turned to face the makeshift bedside table Sanyukta'd made for herself.
Mentally slapping herself for her choice of words, she moved over to the mattress, and placing a hand on Randhir's back, she said, "Randhir, I am not going anywhere. I love you, why would I leave you? But we can't always be together, right? We'll be working in different places, we'll be living separately, so how will I be there all the time?"
Randhir turned back in a flash, and hugged Sanyukta. The sheer force and intensity of the hug pushed Sanyukta back on the mattress, so Randhir was now laying on top of her, hugging her with all his might.
"I can't do this Sanyukta. I need you around me all the time, and you know that." whispered Randhir, as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Sanyukta smiled, and rubbed his back soothingly, in an attempt to calm him down. She felt his breath slow down, and placed a soft kiss in his hair.
"But we aren't joined at the hip, naa? And chalo, tonight you'll stay with me. What about tomorrow? Where'll you find accommodation now? Why are you so reckless, Randhir?" asked Sanyukta softly.
"Because I love you. And I can't hear anyone say shit about you, and neither can I see you stressed." mumbled Randhir, as he held Sanyukta tighter to itself, if it was humanly possible.
A lone tear slipped from the corner of Sanyukta's eyes, as she revelled in Randhir's love for her. Sure, they had a truckload of problems to face, but in his arms, she just knew that everything would be alright soon.
Getting no response from Sanyukta, he pulled away from her, only to find her eyes moist. He cupped her face in his hand, and asked frantically, "Why are you crying? If you want me to leave now, I'll leave. Don't cry, please. I can't see you cry!"
Sanyukta let out a watery chuckle as she caressed his face. "Randhir," she said, "No one's ever loved me as much as you. It just gets very overwhelming at times. I love you, so so much Randhir. You have no idea."
Kissing the tear that escaped the corner of her eyes, Randhir stared deep into Sanyukta's eyes. There was this strange fear he could see in her eyes, and he knew it was because of all the stress she'd been going through lately. He wanted nothing more than to see her eyes sparkle, just like they always did when she was around machines, or trying to compete with him in a task.
"I love you Sanyukta." said Randhir softly, as he pressed his lips to hers.
This wasn't the first time they were kissing, but it definitely was the first time they were doing it out of pure love for one another. The first time they kissed, it was to put the other person down, while the second time was in a moment of pain and desperation. This time, however, it was just the two of them, and their immense love for one another.
After what seemed like eternity, the two pulled away from one another. A rather embarrassed Sanyukta straightened her tshirt, while Randhir reached out and put on his shirt, that had landed on the floor sometime during their heated make-out session. A visibly red Sanyukta moved to the sheet on the floor, and laid down on it, only to have Randhir lift her up.
"Let me down!" squealed Sanyukta, as he glared at her, effectively shutting her up.
"You're not sleeping on the floor. I'm crashing your place, so I'll sleep on the floor. You can take the mattress, like always." said Randhir, finality evident in his tone, as he placed her on the mattress.
Knowing that she had no say in the matter anymore, she turned and picked up her pillow and held it out to him. "Fine," she said, "at least take the pillow? I don't want your neck to get twisted overnight."
Randhir grinned at her, as he took the pillow from her and laid it down on the sheet. Lying down on it himself, he turned to face Sanyukta, who was already staring at him sleepily.
"Sleep. You've got to go teach tomorrow." whispered Randhir, as Sanyukta smiled at him. Her eyes fluttered, and soon sleep overtook her, as Randhir continued to stare at his love in awe.
Reaching out to grasp her hand in his own, Randhir let sleep befall him. The last thing he remembered, was Sanyukta's fingers squeezing his own, as they intertwined in his.
Anupamaa
Cricket
