Sanyukta just jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly and chirping many thankyou-s.

Randhir was taken aback by the sudden attack. His hands automatically went to her waist to balance themselves. He was really hesitant to hold her but looking at her happiness he wrapped his arms around her.

A current passed through their spines as they were moulded in each other's arms ever so perfectly as if designed for each other.

Sanyukta felt a strange kind of relief in his embrace. It felt so good, she just closed her eyes and snuggled closer. At her this action randhir finally lost himself and hugged her as tight as possible.

They stood in that position for like 5 minutes before coming back from their own different world.

Their hold on each other loosened and they parted slowly. As soon as they stood apart, they were already missing the warmth of each other and regretted letting it go.

Now they knew how they both get such peaceful sleep at night.

They looked here and there awkwardly unable to match eyes and words not coming out.

After a short while randhir looked up and found her looking down with a slight pink hue on her cheeks. She looked so beautiful at the moment, not like the always-ready-to-charge sanyukta but like a girl who just shared a moment with her husband.

Feeling no movement from his side she looked up and saw him looking at her intently. This resulted in an eye latch, but this time a prolonged one.

"Hum thoda rest kar lete hain." She chirped slowly looking away after a while.

"Arree sanyukta tumne bataya nhi ki tumhe tohfa kese laga?" He asked again to change the situation.

"Bhot acha" she smiled brightly.

"Waise hume laga nhi tha ki out of all people tum humare liye yeh karoge." She spoke out.

"Kyu nhi aakhir dosti ki hai nibhani toh padegi." He joked.

"Chii.. Koi aur bekar filmy line nhi mili." She rolled her eyes.

"Hadd hai tumko toh bas har chiz mei humari kami hi dikhti hai." He twisted his lips.

"Arree nhi aisi baat nhi hai. Ab hum kya kare har chiz toh ignore nhi kar sakte naa." She smirked.

"Huh hume nhi baat karni tumse." He looked away.

"Acha baba sorry hum mazak kar rhe the." She said cutely which was enough to melt him.

"Oh my god SANYUKTA ne hume sorry bola. Hum kitne lucky hain. Yeh pal toh itihaas mei swarn aksharo mei likha jayega." He teased her faking shock.😱😱

"Tum dono bhaiyo ko naa actor hona chahiye tha kuch zyada hi nautanki karte ho. Aur haan lucky toh tum ho hi." She winked at him going away.

He kept looked her retreating figure with a huge smile and laughed remembering her words.
____________________________________

It was already late night, the family had a hearty dinner with harsh confirming that sanyukta would be joining tomorrow itself.

Post dinner sanyukta came to the room. She was feeling nostalgic, her biggest dream will be fulfilled tomorrow. How strange it was that her life took a 360° turn in just two weeks.

She was fixed with her rival, they got married, they fought, she got a best friend in her brother in law, she taught a lesson to the other one, befriended her husband and finally this.

It has been a heck of a roller coaster ride. She looked around the room which has been a home for her for 1 week now.

Her eyes landed on the portrait she had seen on her first day. She had completely forgotten about it. She again observed it, the woman was very beautiful, specially her eyes they were so deep. These eyes reminded her of randhir.

She was busy in her thoughts when randhir entered the room and found her staring at his mom.

"Woh humari maa hain." He spoke pulling her out of her zone.

"Kya.. Yeh kya bol rhe hai aap?" She was actually very shocked and confused.

"Yeh humari aur Aryan ki asli maa hai. Humare pitaji ki pehli biwi, Vandana Shekhawat." He cleared her confusion.

She then remembered Aryan's words that day he said for rehan "Humara saga bhai nhi hai woh sautela hai. Pitaji aur unki dusri biwi ka beta."
(refer to ch 15)
Now things were a bit clear for her but only a little bit.

"Lekin..." Words didn't leave her mouth as she was too confused- which question to ask first?

Randhir understood her confusion and made her sit on the bed holding her hand. Don't know why today he felt like sharing his insides with someone.

"Hum sirf 8 saal ke the aur Aryan 4 saal ka. Renuka sanyal maa ki friend thi, woh divorcée thi aur unka 5 saal ka beta tha, rehan. Maa ne unki divorce mei madad ki aur unko apne ghar pe rakh liya. Rehan kabhi humse shang se baat bhi nhi karta tha lekin uski maa humse bhot pyar karti thi.
Phir ek din achanak se khabar aayi ki maa ka accident hogya... Woh... woh... Hume..." He choked.

Words didn't come out. His eyes were raining as he was finally letting out something he didn't even told Aryan.

Sanyukta didn't realise when her eyes became moist and she made him rest his head on her lap and caressed his hair. She patted his back, waiting for him to continue.

"Unke jaane ke sirf 10 din baad pitaji ne humse bola ki woh renuka se shadi kar rhe hain taaki hume maa ka pyaar mile. Humne kuch nhi bola kyuki jate wakt maa ne humse promise liya tha ki hum pitaji ki koi baat nhi taalenge.
Lekin pata nhi kya hua shadi hone ke baad se hi woh renuka humare saath aisa behave karne lagi jaise hum koi criminal ho. Pitaji ke saamne aise behave karegi jaise pata nhi humse kitna pyaar karti ho aur waise jab woh naa ho toh tab hume maarti bhi thi aur humesha rehan ko favor karti thi. Hume uss wakt bas apni maa chahiye thi lekin woh nhi thi naa wahan. Pitaji bhi humari koi baat nhi sunte the unhe yehi lagta tha ki hum jhoot bolte hai." He was crying profusely by now.

Sanyukta could see the vulnerable kid behind this rough facade. She could feel the 8 year old still there craving for love. She could see that he just wanted someone to embrace him and tell him that everything is alright.

That is what she did, she clasped him in her arms tightly and chirped sweet nothings in his ears.

After a while she couldn't here the sobs anymore. She looked up from the hug to see randhir sleeping peacefully in her arms, with dried tear marks on his cheeks.

He looked so innocent while sleeping, so pure. At that moment sanyukta just wished to kill renuka and rehan with her bare hands and bring back his mother.

She covered themselves with the quilt and slept in that position only.
_________________________________

The short moment😍🙈

Randhir's past😭😭

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