As she dropped by to meet her Vidhushi hugged a visibly moved Sanyukta. Vidhushi knew she would be feeling homesick and miserable having to be away from her mother. To lighten up her mood she offered her a chance to meet Randhir, telling her all about the corporate bash her parents had organised. She was not surprised when Sanyukta declined, she had already sworn her to secrecy so as not reveal to her whereabouts to anyone, not even to Randhir.

Sanyukta could not run the risk of her irate brother or father finding her and dragging her back home and forcing her into marrying someone, even if it meant alienating herself from them forever. She could not bear to live a life of subjugation with somebody to whom she would be a mere possession. She wanted to be independent, make her own choices both in professional and personal life without someone else telling her what to do.

The morning after the event Randhir went to see his parents and sister off at the airport. His little sister who was all grown up now would be studying in the best school for fashion technology in New Delhi while he would be here in Mumbai until he graduated from IITB, along with his buddy Parth. He gave her a warm, brotherly squeeze as he said goodbye, asking her to watch herself.

He smiled to see how she had cleverly draped her neck with her stole; concealing evidence of a torrid night spent with Parth. He knew it because he had been in the adjoining hotel room, while his parents were on another floor. She had waited a long time for the moment, until she had reached the age of consent. She had shared this with her brother asking for his permission, he simply asked her to be discrete and insisted that they use protection. Their noisy sojourn had kept him awake for hours until they succumbed to exhaustion and slumbered in each other's arms. It cannot get better than the union of two people in love. Vidushi and Parth had beaten him to it, he thought wryly, lying wide awake.

Not that he had lacked the opportunity, ever since he was in his early teens he had been pursued eagerly. Of course he had fooled around a bit, but had always pulled away before the clothes came off. At school Ishika had made it her mission to engage him in a relationship. He put up with her because their families knew each other and he saw an advantage in using her to fend off other girls. But he was always cautious, never once giving her any wrong ideas. He recalled how the innocent Sanyukta who had a childhood crush on him had been distressed to see him being kissed by Ishika, and he had walked away without comforting her lest he give her any false hope.

The IITB campus had nothing much, given its adverse gender ratio. But everywhere else there were girls who would offer themselves on a platter vying with each other to conquer him. There were times when he was sorely tempted with the many offers. With his looks, charm and money they were drawn to him like moths to a flame. Last night every single non-related girl present at the party had tried hard to end up in his bed. He knew these girls were so bold they stocked up enough protection in their designer clutches to last them all night. He also knew that Renuka would turn a blind eye to random indiscretions; she did not expect him to stifle his urges until he was married, all she cared about was for him to remember that complications meant bad press. That was bad for business and she would not tolerate that. The safest bet for him was to maintain status quo. He politely fielded the offers of casual companionship; he was yet to meet the one who he found impossible to resist.

In any case his distraction last night had been a mere voice, it had beckoned him to be a part of a harmony, the veil carefully drawn hiding its wearer from scrutiny. Indeed in a sea of temptingly flaunted dare to bare femininity the only one to have intrigued him was the persona that stood out with her complete modesty. He had to find more about her, he did not know why but the urge was so strong it would not let him sleep that night.