Sanyukta was moving towards the college gate when Randhir called her from behind. She didn't want to talk to him anymore, so she started walking briskly towards the cab but Randhir caught up with her pace and held her wrist and pulled her back....

Randhir: Chashmish please listen to me.....

Sanyukta(struggling to free herself): Leave my hand Mr. Shekhawat.....I don't want to talk to you

Randhir: Chashmish please.....I agree I have done a grave mistake but.....why are you punishing yourself....when it is completely my fault...?

Sanyukta(freeing her wrist): Wrong Mr. Shekhawat..... "Mistake is something which is done unintentionally" but what you have done was completely intentional.....you have hurt me for your own motives.....and as far as punishing myself is concerned.....then I deserve punishment because it was me who was foolish enough to trust a person like you. Today I am hurt because I trusted a person like you....so I deserve punishment.

Saying this Sanyukta sat in the cab and zoomed away where as Randhir kept standing there drowning in his own guilt. After completing the shoot for the day, he left for his hotel. He had lost his appetite to eat dinner, so he straight away went to his room. He tried to sleep but again and again those visuals of Sanyukta being hurt, struggling for catching her breath and endangering her life came in front of his eyes. Her tears.....the immense hurt and agony that came out while she was eating those chillies was not letting him sleep.

Randhir(in mind): What have I done....? I can't loose you Chashmish.....I can't. You will have to forgive me.

Sunday, 8 AM

Although it was Sunday but the Sadda Haq team had to shoot even today as they had only 2 more weeks of shooting left in Delhi and so they had to work overtime and as well as on Sunday to finish a certain amount of shooting in these 2 weeks. On the other hand, all the teaching faculty and students Union of the college also had to come on Sunday as there was a College Fest coming up and everyone had to prepare for it and all the events that had to be organised as a part of it. Sanyukta came to the staff room as she had to prepare and plan the events that will be organized by the Psychology Department for the College Fest. But as she entered the staff room, she saw a bouquet of Orchids on her table and a card stuck to it. She took out the card and read it... "I am really sorry Chashmish....Please Forgive me...." Reading the card she immediately threw that bouquet and card in the dustbin and sat on her table and started working whereas Randhir sighed seeing her throwing away the bouquet given by him.

Randhir(in mind): I know Chashmish.....you will not forgive me easily but I am also stubborn. You will have to accept the flowers given by me as well as my apology.

Randhir then came up with Plan B......Randhir himself came to the staff room with a spot boy carrying about a hundred roses.....

Randhir(loudly): Good Morning everyone.....I know I am disturbing you all but this is important. On behalf of the whole Sadda Haq team I want to thank you guys for coordinating and cooperating with us.We have been able to shoot in Delhi and have shot such beautiful scenes in the college, this all has been possible because of the efforts of all the faculty members of this college. So these roses are a small gesture to say Thank You to all of you

He came and gave the first rose to the dean of the college and then he started distributing to everyone. At last he came to Sanyukta and gave her the roses.....

Randhir(handing her the roses): A special thank you to our coordinator....Ms. Sanyukta Aggarwal

Since everyone was standing in the staff room, so Sanyukta couldn't deny taking those roses from him. She knew he had intentionally created this situation.....but she was also Sanyukta Aggarwal. She took the Roses and held them tightly from its stem and then shrieked a little.

Sanyukta(clutching the stem of rose bunch tightly): Ouch....

Randhir saw that a little blood came out from Sanyukta's hands. He immediately took the roses from her hands and started checking it......

Randhir(Checking her hand): Are you Ok Chash...Sanyukta? How did this happen? I am so sorry

Sanyukta(snatching her hand from his hold): It's Ok Mr. Shekhawat....I am fine

Randhir: But your hand.....

Sanyukta(tauntingly): It's alright....you know what Mr. Shekhawat we often tend to forget that the stem of roses have thorns. (With a hidden meaning and looking straight in his eyes) We are sometimes so lost in the beauty of these red roses that we forget to see the "thorns" stuck on it and when that thorn pierces the skin of our hand then we realize....all this beauty is superficial.....just for satisfying our eyes but..... It is the pain which is real. Isn't it? I don't think so that beauty of this rose is worth the pain given by its thorns.

Randhir was just looking in her eyes as he had no answers to her queries and he had nothing to say in front of her agony.

Sanyukta(changing the topic): Let it be Mr. Shekhawat. Sometimes I go a little too deep in things which really don't matter.(Taunting him) Maybe that's the little problem that I have....Anyway.....Thanks a lot for the lovely flowers.

Saying this Sanyukta went out of the staff room and Randhir kept standing there with his flowers kept on the table. Whole day Randhir tried to talk to her but Sanyukta kept ignoring him.Her ignorance was hurting him more than her words. He was shooting but both his heart and mind were stuck on Sanyukta.The way she was hurting herself for his mistakes was too hard for him to digest. It was lunch time and he had got only a 20 minute break before the next scene.He was really missing Sanyukta. He was about to take a morsel of food in his mouth when he thought....

Randhir(in mind): Did Chashmish have her lunch?......I should go and check

He went and stood outside the staff room and peeped through the door. There he saw Sanyukta having her lunch absolutely alone and silent. It was like he was seeing the Sanyukta whom he saw on the first day of college.....Serious, lost in her own world, closed up in her shell and above all lonely as always. He felt really bad seeing her all alone and surrounded by her shell of loneliness.By the time he returned to the set, his lunch time was over and he began preparing for the next scene.

On the other side in Class Room,

Sanyukta: So guys, our College Fest "Symphony" is starting from tomorrow and the Psychology Department has to organize one event.This year's theme is "Celebrating Womanhood" so come up with some ideas guys.....

Rohit: Mam we can arrange a street play competition....with themes surrounding womanhood.

Sanyukta: That's a good idea Rohit.....but at the same time.....it is something very common. In fact the Hindi department of our college is already organizing a street play event, so we can't organize that. Come up with something more interesting....and innovative

Anjali: Mam how about a dance Competition?

Sanyukta: Again Anjali.....this event is already being organised by the English Department.

Naina: Mam how about we organize a documentary making competition.....

Sanyukta: That is something innovative.....

Rohit: Mam but Documentary would only require the students to make something and playing it on a projector, there won't be a live competition where they would be enjoying you know....only judging will take place.

Sanyukta: You have a point Rohit....

Sanyukta was thinking hard when an idea struck her....

Sanyukta(excitedly): Guys....I have an awesome idea....it will combine all your ideas as well. Let's organize a "Fashion Show". In this Fashion show we will keep 8-10 themes which will contain "Stages Of a Woman's Life" starting from infant to the stages of becoming an adult, becoming a professional woman, or portraying a housewife, then the institution of marriage and motherhood. In all these stages women face a lot of problems and issues like starting from the first stage there is an issue of female infanticide and foeticide, growing up they have to fight for their right to education and then their right to work. At the same stage if a woman is a housewife then she has to fight for her self respect and say in family decision. In institution of marriage....we can include issues of domestic violence and at the stage of motherhood we can include issue of "Right of woman on her own body". In this way people can show a background story through a documentary and they can walk up the stage dressed up as different woman characters. They can also have an option to enact their story if they are not comfortable with a documentary. We can also have a question and answer round which will make it more interesting.So guys what do you think?

Students: That's an awesome idea mam.....but who will judge it?

Sanyukta: That I will leave on you guys and not more than 3 judges and one judge will have to be from our department to represent this event. Now come on start preparing for everything. We have only 2 days.....

Students: Ok mam...

After that Sanyukta left the students to divide the work amongst them.

Rohit: I will take up the responsibility of sending invites to other colleges and posting about our event on Social media and I will get our event registered in the college office today.

Anjali: Ok I will prepare a team of our department to participate in the event and I will also arrange the necessary props and the projector for showcasing the documentary.....

Pooja: Then I will prepare invitation for the judges but who will be the 3 judges?

Rohit: See we have to invite the dean of our college...Dr. Sharma as one of the judges. One judge from our department also has to be there to represent our department

Naina: Let's invite Sanyukta Mam as one of the judges...after all it's her idea and anyway she is the HOD of our department and since she is young as well ....I think she will be the perfect judge for this event.

Anjali: Yeah....Naina is right. Sanyukta mam is perfect but who will be the third judge.

Rohit: Hey let's invite Randhir Shekhawat as the third judge.....

Anjali: But how can we include him in our event?

Rohit: Why not? Come on yaar....he's a celebrity and anyway we had to have one male judge. Moreover he is an actor, so who can judge students enacting a scene better than him. Moreover it's a fashion show.....he knows all about this the most as he is working in this field professionally. Above all he being a judge in our event is an excellent promotion of our college as well as department as no department or college has ever had a celebrity judging their event. I think he will be perfect. It will help our department to win "Event of the Year" Award.

Pooja: You are right Rohit but will he agree to judge our event?....I mean he is so busy in shooting all the time.I have heard that they sometimes shoot even overnight. Do you think he will have time to judge our event?

Rohit: Let's hope for the best guys. We don't know if he will agree or not but we can at least try right?

Naina: But Sanyukta mam will ask about the other 2 judges when we will invite her.....What will we do then?

Rohit: Let's keep Randhir sir as a surprise ....so when Sanyukta mam will ask us we will say that the third judge is a surprise. If he will agree then that will be great and even if he does not agree.....we wouldn't have to promise or commit something without results.

Anjali: That's perfect.....So lets start with the invitations only.....Rohit you send out invitations to the colleges while we will prepare invitation for judges and we will go to invite Randhir sir together....

Rohit: yeah that will be perfect.........

Naina: Let's go guys....!

After that they sent out invitations to other colleges and prepared beautiful invitation cards for the judges. They first went to dean's office to invite her

Dr. Sharma(looking at the invitation card): As always the Psychology Department comes up with the most innovative events and this invitation card is lovely. I'll definitely join the event as a judge.

Students: Thanks a lot mam....your presence will make the event all the more graceful.

After that they went to the staff room to invite Sanyukta.

Sanyukta: So guys....all set for the event? Do you need my help?

Students: Mam preparations are on full swing but we do need a favor from you....that is that you have to represent our department in the judging panel.

Sanyukta: Me? Guys I am honored that you thought that I could judge the event but you should invite Rahul sir as a judge.....he will be a better judge and anyway I am stuck up with coordinating the shoot of the show as well.

Students: Mam please.....our whole department wants you to represent us....not only because you are the HOD but because we all feel that it is only you who can truly represent our department....please mam for us....?

Sanyukta: Ok Ok guys....I will judge....ok? Who are the other 2 judges?

Students: Mam we have invited Dr. Sharma and you and.....

Sanyukta: Who is the 3rd judge?

Students: Mam that is a surprise....

Sanyukta: What surprise? You can tell me....come on

Students(pleading): Mam please......

Sanyukta: Ok but make sure that everything is done on time.

Students: Ok Mam.

After that the students went to the shooting area but there were spot boys and assistant directors standing there.

Anjali: How will we enter in the shooting area? They won't even let any student to meet him after that Simran fiasco happened.....

Rohit: Leave that on me

They went together in a group....

Assistant Director: Where are you guys going? You clearly know that no students are allowed in the shooting area....

Randhir was near to that area and saw some students trying to enter the set. He thought they must have come for an autograph or something and so he was about to go when the next words he heard froze him.

Rohit: But we are from Psychology Department and "Sanyukta" mam told us to meet Randhir sir.

Hearing Sanyukta's name, Randhir decided to meet those students.

Randhir: Umm Ajay(AD), let them come in....

After that the students were allowed to enter and Randhir took them to his green room.

Randhir: So tell me....what can I do for you guys?

Rohit: Ummm Thanks a lot for letting us enter sir. Actually we are here to invite you for an event organized by our Department for our college Fest. It's a "Fashion Show cum Enactment Event" and the theme is "Celebrating Womanhood". Sir since this is an enactment and Fashion event we thought that there could not be a better judge for this event other than you since you are working in this field professionally.

Randhir: Guys I am honored that you think of me as an appropriate person to judge this event but honestly, I have a very tight shooting schedule, so I don't really have the time for this event.

Rohit: Sir please don't say "no"....To be honest you are so famous amongst everyone of us, especially girls (jokingly) if you won't come their hearts would break......well on a serious note its about the reputation of the whole Psychology Department, especially Sanyukta mam's reputation. She has put in a lot of efforts in this event and it's all her idea.Even she is one of the judges in our event. Please sir, don't deny, it's just a matter of 3-4 Hours.

Hearing Sanyukta's name, Randhir couldn't stop himself .....

Randhir: Ok, if you are insisting so much then I will come.

Students(excitedly): Thanks a lot sir!!!!!

Randhir: Ok chill guys.....shooting is going on here.

After that all left but Rohit stood there.....

Rohit: Sir, I have one more little request

Randhir: Say....

Rohit: Sir Can you please give a 3-4 minute dance performance for the closing ceremony.Please sir?

Randhir(thinking something): Ok done but I have a condition.

Rohit: What sir?

Randhir: I will tell that to you on the day of the event.

Rohit: Ok Sir.....

After that Rohit went away happily and Randhir started reading his script. After sometime, he heard a knock on the door.....

Randhir(reading his script): Come in.....

Sanyukta(entering and keeping his shirt on the couch): Here's your white shirt for the next scene Mr. Shekhawat.....(handing him a bundle) and this is your script for the scenes that you have to shoot tomorrow.

Saying this Sanyukta was about to go out when Randhir tried to stop her

Randhir: Sanyukta listen to me.....

Sanyukta ignored him and opened the door but Randhir in order to stop her immediately closed the door but in this process Sanyukta's fingers got stuck in the door and she shouted in pain.

Sanyukta(In pain ): Ouch!!!!

Randhir(blowing air on her fingers): I am so sooo sorry Sanyukta.....I am really sorry....I didn't mean to.....

Sanyukta(freeing her hand): Why are you saying sorry Mr. Shekhawat? Hurting me has become your habit and one of your favorite hobbies nowadays. First you hurt me and then you try to heal my pain but the person who only knows to give wounds can never heal them. By the way, if you don't mind can I ask you something?..... Why are you even apologizing to me....? (Chuckling sarcastically) I mean that "friendship" drama was just to win the bet which you won.....So why are you apologizing to me? Have you made another bet....and you thought who would be a better "Pawn" than that dumb innocent Chashmish? Can you "Honestly" answer these questions of mine for once......not that I expect you to be honest; it's just a request after all it's really tough for expert liers like you to speak the truth you know? It must be really hard no....because whenever you open your mouth ....only a lie pops out every time....Isn't it?

Randhir was really hurt when Sanyukta taunted him like that. He really wanted his friend back.

Sanyukta(taunting ): Tell me......What's the next bet or is it the next stage for the same bet? After breaking my trust, what is next that you want to enjoy? (Remembering Sameer's words).....After friendship, was the plan to trap me in your fake love and "sleep" with me?.....Now you want to snatch my dignity and self respect from me?

Randhir(angrily): You are "crossing the line" Sanyukta.....

Sanyukta: No....I am not crossing any line....rather I am "Drawing a Line"....a Line between You and Me and you better not try to cross this line......because you are a bloody "nobody" to me now.

MY POV

"Relationships" are just like thread.....a thread which often has the power to behold even the heaviest of jewels and metals but the irony is that sometimes a single "knot" is enough to break it into 2 parts. Relationships are just like that.....once the knot of misunderstanding, betrayal and shattered trust appears in the thread, it becomes very easy to break it.There was a time when Sanyukta trusted Randhir more than herself.....she stood up with him when no one else did but once Randhir broke that deep trust....it formed a knot of misunderstandings between them. Sometimes we fail to understand that something what we might take as a joke or a harmless prank can turn out to be a big deal of trust for others. Jokes should be limited to a line where it does not break someones heart....but Randhir did cross that line.....however, he never had any evil intention to hurt her. It's true he lied to her, but was Sanyukta correct in putting a "question mark on his character" just because he "lied" to her? Is Sanyukta right in judging Randhir based on his so called friend's words? When everyone stood against him, at that time she didn't believe that he could do something like this but today when he had hurt her by breaking her trust, Is she right in being judgmental about him? It's all about "perspective" as to how we see it. Many of you might say that Sanyukta is right; many of you may believe that she's wrong in judging him....but what I believe is that mostly it is not the person but the "circumstances" which are wrong.May be if Randhir would have himself told the truth to Sanyukta then maybe....maybe she would have trusted him but the "way" she actually got to know the truth has somewhere blinded her understanding of right and wrong as well. I know I went a little too deep but this is the "reality" of life. Most of us are always ready to point out other's fault and mistakes but in doing this they forget that they themselves can make mistakes as well....

It was a long update again.....around 3650 words. Thanks a lot for the lovely response on previous update guys. I am really happy that you all are liking my story. Please continue supporting and motivating me through your votes and comments. I would love to know what you think of my story. Have a great day and stay safe!!!!!