Jay paused for a minute to make sure that Sanyukta had fallen off to sleep. Her soft snores contrasted her cheeks streaked with her dried tears. Jay took a deep breath before slipping the duvet over her inert frame.

Never before had a surge of emotions raged such a storm in his mind. He knew it was highly inappropriate for him to be in the room alone with the girl whom he had been attracted to ever since he got to know her during their college days.

Extracting Randhir's number from her phone had been a piece of cake for him. He shut the door behind him gently and taking care nobody saw him leave the room in which Sanyukta was being housed, made his way to his bedroom. 

He poured himself a malt scotch and took a generous swig, letting the smoky taste of the caramel coloured spirit from the Scottish Highlands sedate him till he no longer felt agitated by the rather recent spilling of Sanyukta's deepest secrets. 

He understood now what it was about his mysterious classmate that had drawn him so much to her. Her confidence and fortitude had been deceptive, underneath the veneer she had been unbelievably vulnerable. He found it hard to accept that she had spent so many years chasing what she perceived was her true love. But the love had remained elusive, and the man for whose sake she had thrown caution to the wind was still not showing signs of acknowledging her as his soulmate to his uppercrust world.

Jay braced himself and dialed the number he had obtained from Sanyukta's phone. It was way past midnight but the recipient answered before the third ring.

"Hello Jay!" The handsome face that stared back at him was calm. Jay did not repond immediately.

"I suppose Sanyukta is with you?" Randhir asked. It had not taken him long to put two and two together.

"Of course she is, along with a bunch of our classmates! I am getting married tomorrow and they are guests at the wedding. No, she is not in my room, as you can see for yourself! " Jay swept his phone camera across the room. He did not want to make things effortless for this man.

"Oh, ok! Congratulations, man! May I see her, have a word with her? I have been trying to reach her frantically." Randhir tried to read Jay's expression. Instinct told him this conversation was not going to be simple.

"I am afraid that's not possible right now, she is asleep in her room, rather she cried herself to sleep. I don't think you need any further explanation!" Jay sounded cold.

"I don't know what she had told you, but things have been rather complicated for the two of us. Listen Jay, please just tell me that she is ok!" Randhir did not want to sound desperate. He had heard about Jay occasionally from Sanyukta. But the concern in Jay's voice meant there was more to the story than he had expected.

"You bas***d, how the hell will she be ok when the man she imagined she has married is getting publicly engaged to some heiress chosen by his mother? Is marriage a joke to you?" Jay fumed. He wished he could land a punch on Randhir's face.

"Jay, we hardly know each other and I owe an explanation to Sanyukta, not to you! I am sorry, but you started this, so I am tempted to ask, the girl you are marrying tomorrow, are you marrying her for love or because your parents want you to?" Randhir wished Jay could see through his own dilemma.

"The only woman I would have wanted to marry is Sanyukta, but I guess you ruined it for me! And unlike you, I don't have someone in the closet pining for me! You married Sanyukta legally and you are still open to marrying another woman!" Jay hated being confrontational but that was inevitable now.

"Obviously you care about Sanyukta enough to pick a fight with me at such a time! I trust Sanyukta fully and I am hoping to entrust you with a secret. Jay, I am not marrying Sara, I am only getting engaged to her. She and I, we are in this together for strictly business reasons. It is important for our investors to believe that are families are going to be united through our marriage. Neither Sara nor I am interested in taking the next crucial step because, as you know, I already have a wife and Sara too is in a committed relationship with someone else! I am telling you this in strict confidence, and I hope that you keep the gentleman's code and not spill the beans, not even to Sanyukta." Randhir sighed audibly.

"What the hell, the girl you are getting engaged to is with another man? Why does this sound like the sham plot of some third rate daily soap?" Jay wondered if Randhir was telling the truth. It was hard to tell.

"Not another man, but rather, another woman. Sara came to terms with her sexuality after she moved to the US. She is in love with her flatmate Andy and it was easy for me to convince both of them to agree to the arrangement. Neither Sara nor I wish to marry each other, for obvious reasons. Once our investors have blessed our new joint venture we will call off the engagement! I have no reason to lie to you, Jay! Just try and convince Sanyukta that she won't have to wait much longer!" There was earnestness in Randhir's voice. Jay realised he was telling the truth.

"You better keep your word! If you betray her I'll ensure that your reputation is shot! She needs your support, particularly now! She made me promise not to disclose this to anyone, but I suppose you deserve to know. Randhir, Sanyukta is pregnant. I know that you don't know about this. She has been hiding because she does not want anyone to about her condition, lest someone connects her to you and it affects you professionally!" Jay paused. 

Randhir looked disturbed at the disclosure. It was a difficult moment.

"Jay, I really don't know what to say! Please send me your location, I must see her. Please, I had no idea!" Randhir stared at his screen. 

"No, she knew you would say that if I told you. You should not be seen together until you are ready to go public about your marriage to Sanyukta. Until then she will stay here on my estate, safe and sound. I offered her a job to manage my heritage hotel and she has agreed. It will give her a valid reason to stay on!" Jay was surprised at how easily he had let Randhir off the hook. But he had to, for Sanyukta's sake. 

"Jay, she needs proper medical attention during the pregnancy. How can I let her stay away?" Randhir was worried. He had not anticipated this new development and was unprepared to deal with it. 

"What alternative do you propose?" Jay's mind was already made. He knew Randhir did not have any choice in the matter. 

"She should be in Mumbai with my grandfather's wife. They have excellent medical care there!" Randhir suggested.

"She already considered that, but that would mean compromising with the secret of her pregnancy. Randhir, there is no better place for her right now, we'll take good care of her, I promise you that." Jay stifled a yawn.

"You are getting married tomorrow, you must sleep. We can discuss this later! Also Jay, your bride won't like having Sanyukta around, it may affect your relationship with her. Your affection for Sanyukta is not exactly hidden!" Randhir wished Jay would take the comment positively.

"All relationships are built on trust, Randhir! Sanyukta trusts me enough to remain here. My bride needs to learn to trust me, because that is the foundation of any marriage! I really need to sign off now, Randhir!" Jay checked the time.

"I'll be in touch. Please let me talk to her as soon as possible!" The news of her pregnancy brought back the memory of how affected Sanyukta had been when they had terminated a pregnancy many years ago. She had been depressed for months.

"Not before the wedding, I cannot handle any more drama, Randhir!" Jay cut the call, making his way to the bathroom. He had to catch some sleep at least. After all, he was getting married the next day. With Sanyukta's thoughts uppermost on his mind, he sank into his bed, tired in body and mind.