Sanyukta didn't know if it would make much difference but she knew she had to spend some time away from home. It was taking a tremendous toll on her conscience to pretend before her mother that everything was going well in her life and her marriage. She managed to convince Anju that she had left the Shekhawat mansion uneventfully. It helped that nobody from the family called her mother to say otherwise, not even Harsh Shekhawat who naturally did not want Anju to worry.

Her last meeting with Randhir had made Sanyukta feel restless and guilty. While talking to him she had sounded as practical as can be but within herself she was going to pieces, especially when he had hinted that there could possibly be a "them"! The more she thought the more the idea appealed to her. However she continued to oscillate between her heart and her mind, the latter reminding her that she had a valid reason to marry Vishad, that flushing Randhir out of her orbit was the need of the hour. But the next moment she would begin to toy with the possibility of getting back together with the man she could not stop loving no matter how hard she tried.

"Ma, I am going over to school to meet everyone. Do you want to join me?" She asked Anju.

"No Sanyu, you go ahead, I went there a couple of days ago and even had lunch with my old colleagues. Make sure to return before it gets too dark. Meanwhile I think I will take a nap." Anju helped her daughter choose an appropriate dress. After all Sanyukta had gotten married recently and she had to look the part. Anju did her hair and even made her put on some accessories. 

"You look so pretty when you take some effort to dress up. You should do so more often, Sanyu! And remember to buy some sweets for them on your way!" Anju offered her some money but Sanyukta declined. 

"Ma, I work too, remember?" Sanyukta grabbed her hand bag and phone and stepped out. She walked the short distance of her lane and then hailed a three wheeler, directing the driver to the shop she wanted to pick up the sweets from.

It was ironic that she was taking sweets after her marriage to Vishad to the one place where the roots of her feelings for Randhir lay. Randhir and Parth were her seniors in school. Everyone knew that Randhir was a genius. Both the brothers were avid footballers and even played in the school band. They were admired by the staff and students equally and teenage girls were crazy about them, especially for Randhir because he was any girl's dream come true.

Sanyukta did not know why she had opted to visit her school of all places she could possibly. It was the quickest place she could recall that her mother would not mind her visiting alone. Not that Sanyukta was particularly fond of her school. For as long as she could remember the girls she studied with always kept their distance from her, either because she was a teacher's daughter and they did not trust her enough to confide into her or simply because they found her a bit weird. Besides that she was always making trouble or walking into it. Anju often acted as a cushion shielding her from serious impediments and chastising her every now and then for stepping out of line.

It was not a very large community, most folks had seen each other grow up. The grapevine was adequately strong and there were not too many secrets. The news of Sanyukta's marriage to Vishad had come as a surprise because it had followed quickly in the wake of the union of the renowned love birds Parth and Vidushi. Renuka's resentment for Sanyukta and her mother was well known. But people who attended Sanyukta's and Vishad's wedding reception found no sign of malice from her and were doubly surprised. Nobody outside the family sensed any friction between Randhir and Sanyukta-Vishad because it had been well disguised by the presence of Nicole, the pretty exhibit on Randhir's arm. Word had gotten around like wildfire that Renuka and Harsh Shekhawat's older son had finally found a potential bride. Sanyukta's matter was swept onto the back burner while there were enthusiastic discussions about Randhir's romance with Nicole and the cementing of bonds between two influential business families. 

As Sanyukta walked through the broad corridors she noticed a sea of unfamiliar faces. She did not know any of the current students nor the new  faculty members. But the old support staff recognised her as Anju's daughter and received her affectionately. She offered them sweets and then made her way to the staff room where she found many of her old teachers. She greeted them warmly and they indulged her, reminiscing and introducing her to the newer teachers. 

"Did you know this one was as unpredictable as the novice Maria from the musical The Sound of Music? The mischief she mongered!" A visibly older Mrs Correa shared anecdotes with her colleagues who smiled politely and listened patiently until the bell rang and it was time for them to disperse.

"Why does it sound like there is cacophony going on in the music room?" Sanyukta asked Mrs Correa as she walked with her down the corridor. The music room was on a higher floor and Sanyukta decided to take a look as soon as she bid goodbye to her teachers. 

Her steps traversed the distance to the room where she spotted a gaggle of fans listening keenly to a bunch of amateur musicians who were playing the Guns N'Roses song Sweet Child o'Mine. Unwittingly drawn to the performance Sanyukta elbowed her way through the gathering. Being distracted by the music the young boys surrounding her did not pay much attention to her. Like most Goans music was something they connected to naturally.

Sanyukta found herself a spot in a comfortable corner and her eyes took in the scenario on the stage. The lead guitarist was performing his grandiose solo and the crowd went crazy in response. Sanyukta scanned the stage to notice the bass guitarist and the lead singer and gasped to notice Randhir on the drums. He gave no signs of having spotted her and although Sanyukta wanted to melt away into the crowd and make good her escape she stayed, taking in every word of the lyrics.

Sweet Child o'Mine by Guns N'Roses

She's got a smile it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cryOh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet love of mineShe's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me byOh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet love of mineOh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet love of mineOh, oh, oh, oh
Sweet child o' mine
Oh,
Sweet love of mineWhere do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Oh, oh
Where do we go?

Suddenly, as if on cue, Randhir spotted her and looked straight into her eyes. Her first instinct was flight but she returned his gaze and simply stood there, as if immobilised by his magnetism. Was he the same man who had prioritised his family business and spent years away from home and from her? Was he the one for whom she had waited all these years but had voluntarily relinquished her right on him? What were his eyes trying to tell her? Were they challenging her to throw caution to the wind or were they reminding her that despite the feelings that had once stirred within them he was still going to walk away into the sunset with someone else? Because he felt snubbed by the girl he had taken for granted? Sanyukta continued to stare at him until he turned his attention back to the music. His fingers deftly played the beat as if they had practised the art for years. The lead singer finished off after the familiar refrain.

Oh,
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Oh, (sweet child)
Where do we go now?

 There was a huge applause as the band finished playing the song. Sanyukta chose that very moment to beat the retreat. There was no point in her lingering there. She made her way out safely and was about to descend the stairs when someone grabbed her and dragged her into a hidden alcove. Needless to say it was Randhir, and he pinned her against the wall behind her.

"Why are you always running away from me? Don't you know we were destined to find each other? Why else would you wander into the school today?" He asked, his gaze burning a hole right through her soul.

"'Let go Randhir, please, someone may see us here and misunderstand!" She tried to sound calm.

"Misunderstand? Why should they? We are family now, remember? Maybe I address you as Bhabhi before everyone because that's what you are!" He stood dangerously close to her and her heart started to beat faster than a set of bellows.

"Please Randhir, you are either drunk or have smoked up! Just let me go!" She pleaded.

"I am playing the drums in a rock band, I am expected to be high! Maybe you can join me! Come on, let's share a joint, or maybe something sweeter!" His pupils were dark and his expression menacing. Suddenly Sanyukta felt fear as well as a ripple of excitement course through her. Her brain urged her to run away as far as possible but his gaze hypnotized her and she stood rooted, her breathing as awry as her senses. This is wrong, her mind issued a warning.

"Please Randhir, let me go!" She whined.

"How can I let go when I am not even holding on yet? Maybe I should grab you first and then you can ask me to let you go!" He persisted.

"Don't forget about Nicole!" She cautioned him. His eyes turned darker and Sanyukta shivered like a leaf on a windy day. Where was this going? She tried to get away but he blocked her.

"Tell me why you followed me here!" He asked.

"I did not! I didn't know you were in school. Just coincidence, I guess!" She pursed her lips in defence only to find him just a breath away from them.