CHANCES AT LOVE #ShotContest
It was still dawn when I stepped out of the cab and walked towards the entry gate of the Delhi airport. The early morning February air was pleasant and cold. I was travelling to Bengaluru to attend a college friend's wedding. It has been four years since we graduated from the same college. This wedding was also going to be a reunion of our batch-mates. But what I didn't know was that the reunion would begin much ahead if time; right in the queue in front of the airline counters.
I was almost sure it was HER.... Same height! Same long hair! Same complexion! Curiosity had my eyes glued to her. And then about 60 odd seconds later, when she turned, she proved me right. My ex-girlfriend stood two places ahead of me in that queue. We had never met after that college farewell.
That farewell... that one night.... which changed everything. My one mistake and everything was over. It would have been a biggest lie if I say I don't regret that night. Sometimes the things does not turn out as the way they are meant to be.
Lost in my thoughts, when I looked up I saw her gone from the spot and the announcement being made for my flight. For a momemt I thought of returning back home, so that the marriage could be completed without any sort of drama or tension but then I thought of Parth and how he had literally threatened me to come. Immedietly I picked up my bags and went in, hoping this trip turns out well without any mess.
Getting in the plane I settled on my business class seat, and then I looked around at my co-passengers, and maybe looking for Her. Hoping to ride with Her, at the same time trying to avoid Her but she was no where to be seen. I sighed, I should have known she will go for economy class, thats more of her comfort style. Realising that the air ride is going to be just about me and my thoughts, I laid back in my seat getting in a comfortable position but deep inside I knew this rode is going to be far from comfortable.
------Skip the plane ride-----
Finally I stepped down the land, coming out of the airport, so far I haven't seen Her again, it was as if she vanished after I saw Her. I wonder if she had seen me and decided to cancel the trip to Bengaluru? Well there was only one way to find out and that was to continue with my trip. Taking my luggage I hauled a cab and gave him the required address.
After a journey of two and a half hours, I reached the bungalow where the wedding was planned. Yes! Parth and Vidushi had rented out a bungalow so that all the friends and family could stay together and enjoy. Well looks like their idea of enjoyment is going to turn out as a nightmare for me. "Stop it Randhir !" I scolded myself, "Its not like you and Her are staying together."
After self-repreminding, I entered the place to be greeted by the Bridegroom himself.
Parth-"hey Randhir ! Hpw are you? Long time yaar... looks like someone has build a great body." He said and hugged me.
"Leave all that Parth and tell me why you did not informed me that She was also going to be here?" I said as I pulled out of the hug.
Parth-"well I told you all our batch-mates are going to be here." He said stuffing his hands in his pocket, something he does when he is lieing or hiding something or he is nervous.
"You know you are a very poor lier." I said folding my hands and bringing them near my chest.
Parth let out a huge sigh and said, "look Randhir you know both she and Vidushi have been room-mates for four years if college and have been great friends too. So there was no way I could not invite her to my wedding. You need to understand, I know whatever happened that night should not have happened but just for us, please behave atleast for the wedding." The pleading look in his eyes had made me all in.
Our conversation was cut short by the sound of car coming to hault. We turned around to see Vidushi and another girl coming out of the car. Another girl, one whom my eyes where searching from the airport, one who stole my heart back all those years ago, only to never return it back.
"Sanyukta" and with those words Parth went forward abd greeted her with a hug and she smiled into that hug.
The smile which can enlighten the world. Slowly Her eyes looked around and stopped at me. Those same hazel orbs in which I could look for houds straight, but something was amiss. They looked pale and like they were hiding something, maybe it was grief, sorrow and love?
SANYUKTA'S P.O.V.
As soon as the car screeched to a stop, I knew I had no option other than to face him, but I didn't thought that the moment will arrive so soon.
Seeing him at the Delhi airport brought back all those beautiful memories of the time we spent together. He had the same jawline, those brown eyes and he was sporting a stuble look, which made him hotter. His body was more built, maybe he was spending good time at the gym. But one look at his face and all those memories of the dreadful college farewell came rushing back. The look told me he had already seen me, hence I hid myself from his eyes.
Getting in the plane I looked around just to make sure he was not sharing the seat with me, but one look and I was relaxed. There was no doubt he was on the same plane as I had seen him the boarding line, but I should have known he would go for business class. I got to my seat and relaxed or atleast pretended to be relaxed, considering the fact that he was in the same flight as me, he was so near me, I couldn't help but feel a but restless.
Once comfortable, I pondered over the thought when Vidushi called me informing of her wedding. She and Parth had began dating in the last year of our college and was considered to be fooling around with each other, but after the college things turned out to be pretty serious between them and now here they are about to tie knots with each other. People had assumed me and Randhir will be the first to get married to each other, considering we were both madly in love with each other and I had already left my family as they opposed of our relation, but things never go as they are planned. Vidushi had warned me that He is invited in the wedding and that was pretty understandable as he and Parth were best of friends. Despite knowing about his presence in the wedding I still agreed to come, as it was my bestie's wedding and somewhere the want to see him was also present though I will mever admit it to anyone.
I had literally hid from him outside the airport, and only came out after he had left in the cab. Though it meant making Vidushi wait for good fifteen minutes and hearing a good scolding for it but as long as I was away from him, nothing mattered.
But now there was no escape, looking into his eyes I could see the depth of regret and sorrow it held along with some amount of Love? I should get away before I start imagining things.
"Show me my room Vids" I said. Getting my hint Vidushi took me away from there in the opposite direction.
RANDHIR'S P.O.V.
Watching he leaving from the room, it felt same as all those years back when I did nothing to stop her. I knew I never stopped loving her, but after looking at her today I realised that in all these years, my love for her has not diminished but has only increased with every passing second. Now I knew I want her back, hell I NEED her back in my life.
"Vo actually girls are staying in that part of the mansion" Parth said laughing nervously inorder to make me feel better.
"Come I will show you your room" he said picking up my luggage.
Getting to my room I decided to ask the best man for some information on what had changed in all these years.
"Parth, has... has.. she married?"
He knew whom I was talking about.
"Look Randhir I don't think..." I cut him off in middle, "just answer me Parth please. You know I need her. She is the only thing that keeps me same and going after Maa and Dad's death."
With a deep sigh he replied, "no she has not. Whenever we asked her she said she is busy in her career but I guess the reason was something else." He said looking deep in my eyes.
"Look Randhir sometimes its not about love, its about time. Sometimes two people fall apart to realize how much they need to be together. Maybe sometimes love needs a second chance because it was never ready the first time around. No matter what you decide just remember I am here, with you." And with that he left the room giving me all the time to think about his words.
------skip time at a function in evening------
Everyone were dressed together for the sangeet cum reunion ceremony. I was wearing a black jaipuri sherwani, and had styled up my hair. Talking with all the batch-mates after so long had made me realize how much I missed them.
Soon the light was dimmed and there came Vidushi, all studded in a dark blue and peacock green lehanga and jewellary, but my eyes were set on the angel walking down beside Vidushi, clad in cream lehanga, minimal make-up and jewellary looking simple yet stunning as ever. They came down and Vidshi took her sit near Parth. The whole environment was warm, everybody were chatting abd having fun.
Suddenly Yoyo came with up with glasses full of alchohol.
Yoyo-"as you all know it is the evening of sangeet ceremony of Parth paaji and Vidushi Parjai ji and also our reunion so lets have some fun. Here you all go." And he went about offering drinks to everyone and soon he approached me.
"Here you go Randhir Paaji. This is for you."
I smiled slightly lookibg at the glass in his hand, "thanks but no Yoyo."
Yoyo-"arrey but you are our drinker paaji."
I smiled again but with a tinch of saddness, "I was a drinker Yoyo. Sometimes you don't learn unless you fall yourself. Growing up, looking at my Dad also did not made me realise how sinful this thing is, but one night is all it took to make me learn my lesson of my life. But that lesson costed me everything in my life. So now I don't drink." As I looked up I my eyes locked with those hazel ones.
"Randhir enough, you had enough for the night."
"Relax Sanyukta, its all about fun tonight."
"Ome more tging Randhir, I think you should go to foreign to complete your higher studies."
"But what about you?" Asked him.
"I will live somehow. Its for our future, you need to go."
"Then you also come with me."
"I can't Randhir, not if even I want to." Sanyukta knew Randhir could easily support both of their education finances but being the independant girl she is, she did not wanted to become dependent on Randhir monetarily.
"We will discuss this later." And with that he went away.
Sanyukta knew there is no use of arguement, tonight Randhir is nit going to stop. There was only this habit in Randhir that she never liked. Though he was an occassional drinker, but he was also a heavy drinker. She had pledged to make Randhur quit drinking permanently after their wedding.
The night was coming to an end as only their friend group was sitting and having a bournefire, when a car stopped near their spot.
Everyone looked at the direction of the car, and came out Mr. Agarwal with Sameer, Sanyukta's ex-fiancee. Looking at them everyone stood up and Randhir got closer to Sanyukta, as if protecting her from her dather and ex-fiancee.
"Papa?" Sanyukta stepped forward.
"Time to go home Sanyu?" Said Kishorw Agarwal.
"Home? What are you talking about? I left you all the day you rejected our relationship" Asked a confused yet determined Sanyukta, interwining her hands with those if Randhir's. Randhir also held a strong grip.
"Enough of lies Sanyukta. We lived our part of deal now its your turn."
"Deal?" Queried Randhir.
"Yes deal, which Sanyukta made stating that if we let her complete her studies, she will marry Sameer after her graduation."
Hearing this everyone were shocked. Randhir turned to Sanyukta, looking at her flabgasterred, "they are lieing Randhir. Trust me." She pleaded.
Sameer-"she knew you will create another fiasco like the one you created in our engagement ceremony, hence she decided play foul. Why do you think she is pestering you to go to foreign? Of course so she could marry me peacefully and move away ftom Delhi." He smirked. To sat Sanyukta was angry and ahicket seeing and hearing the coy her father and Sameer were playing will be an understatement. She denied all the blames, pleaded Randhir to believe her but Randhir's drunken state prevented him from thinking anything sane as anger got the best of him. He did something he never expected, he slapped Sanyukta and blamed her of cheating.
That was the last straw for Sanyukta. Not being able to believe what Randhir did, she waved a final goodbye to Randhir and went away. But not with Kishore or Sameer, but on her own, making her own life, taking her own stand. That night Randhir did nothing to stop her, and that was the night which blowed away everything they had build over past four years.
Yoyo slowly withdrawed his hand. Randhir saw Sanyukta leaving the hall, this time he did not waste any minute and rushed after her.
Rushing out he found her standing near the fountain in middle of the garden. Not knowing what to do, he silently went and stood behind her.
"Why?" Came her voice.
"How?" He questioned back surprised.
She let out a humourless laugh, "I know everytime you are near me, even at the crowded place like airport." She said looking straight in his eyes. He knew she had seen him and avoided all along.
"You never answered me why Randhir?"
"Maybe because I love you mire than I loved you then. More so because I am no longer that egoistic, always used to victory RSS, but now a man who has lost his love, who has been defeated in his life." He replied back looking in her eyes, she immedietly turned around.
"I regret that night every single day Sanyukta, I regret not believing you, but please understand I was heavily drunk and my mind was clouded with my insecurities and trust issues. Anger did not get the best of me, the alchohol did. I am sorry Sanyukta" he said bowing down in shame.
Randhir Singh Shekhawat bowed infront of someone. Sanyukta looked intently at his face, his eyes could never lie, they showed how much he loves her, how much regret and sorrow they hold, how they long for love and affection, which she can provide. That was the moment she knew her Randhir had matured, he was truelly sorry and that was the moment she forgave him. She knew that night it was not her Randhir, but tomight the man standing infront of her was her Randhir.
That night the moon did not shine, but tonight was covered with moonlight, and the stars shinng bright. She slowly hugged him, after a second Randhir too hugged her back.
"You know they say sometimes it is not that two people are not right for each other, but the timing is not right for them. Maybe that was not our time, but I am sure this is. Those moons and stars can be prove for th world but for me your eyes prove this time we are meant forever." Amd with that both of them leaned forward to seal the deal with a loving kiss.
"Second chances are not given to make things right, but are given to prove it could be better even after we fall."
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Challenge completed Farah_tahmed Saddahaqcontests
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