Randhir goes and sits on one of the swing.

Now that we are alone I look at him closely. His looks are not boyish anymore but manly. He is wearing a green plain shirt which is the same colour as mine with his sleeves rolled up till his elbows. He looks so handsome.

It's obvious that he is working out more because his arms look more muscular than before and his shirt fits him in all the right places. I gulp trying to divert my eyes from the V of his shirt and look at his face. He has a faint stubble on his face giving him a more rugged look.

Gone is the charming playful Randhir, this one is so intimidating and intense.

Did his heart change too? Maybe he is just so cold because I am here.

"Stop staring at me" Randhir says without even looking at me. Actually he didn't even once look at me. I go and sit on the swing beside him.

"Hi.. kaise ho tum Randhir?" I ask. He looks at me for a second and again looks away not bothering to answer me. Great!

"Tum yaha se Mumbai jaaoge?" I ask again.

"Hm" he replies. Okay 'hm' is something.

"Achha hai. Mai bhi Mumbai aane ka soch rahi thi.."

"Did I ask you?" He says rudely and that shuts me up.

This is not going to work. Like why did I even think that we will just have a small talk and I'll ask him to come home with me and he'll agree happily. This is Randhir we are talking about.

So now shift to plan B. Okay god please, for the first time I want Randhir to be in pain, but that's for his own good. Please cooperate Randhir.

"Girlfriend hai tumhaari?" I ask and this question gets him on the edge. He looks at me as if I am some kind of an idiot and gets up to leave. Perfect.

Attack!

I suddenly take my swing backwards and hit him while it moves ahead and he trips and falls when my leg hits him.

Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry.....

"What the.." he says dusting his pants.

"Oh no, I am so sorry, oh shit I didn't know you were going to get up. Shit are you hurt?" I go towards him and kneel down. He takes a deep breath and exhales loudly. He is really controlling his anger.

I get up and offer him my hand but he just gets up on his own. As expected. He starts limping a little and I hurriedly follow him till we reach the hall again.

Sister Caroline comes to us and almost everyone has left. "Thanks for choosing our institute for your donation this year sister. Me and my children will be forever grateful to you. I promise you that I will put the money to the best use. Really, thanks a lot" Randhir says. Sister gives him a warm smile.

"Sister, Mr. Randhir ko park me per me chot lag gayi meri wajah se. I think I should drop him to Mumbai. Vo akele kaise jaayenge na. I'm feeling really guilty.. meri wajah se aise hua. Sorry Mr. Randhir" I say hoping that I sound really guilty and that my acting works.

Randhir looks at me with bewilderment and shock and anger and what not. "Oh no son. Are you okay?" Sister asks him.

"Ha mai bilkul thik hu. Bass thoda girr gaya mai. Mujhe lagi bilkul nahi hai."

"Sister se jhut bol ke faayda nahi Mr. Randhir. Unse koi dard chhupta nahi. Maine khud dekha aapko kitna dard ho raha tha. Aur mai waise bhi Mumbai ja hi rahi hu na toh I'll drop you" I suggest.

"No. I won't go to Mumbai with you!" Randhir glares at me.

"But sister, how will he be able to drive. 3 ghante ka drive hai. It's very risky you know. Please inse kahiye na. I'll always be in guilt for the rest of my life agar meri wajah se kuch hua toh. God will never forgive me. Please sister aap bolo na inhe" I plead trying to not get fazed by the fierce look Randhir is throwing at me.

"Oh lord. Please beta, Sanyukta ko tumhe drop karne do. Koi dikkat nahi hai. Sanyukta is always very helpful aur vo toh waise bhi Mumbai ja hi rahi thi. And it's not safe for you to drive too. Please na mat bolo beta" sister says to Randhir.

I can see that Randhir is really trying to control his anger. He can't even deny her now that she is pleading so much and has given a huge amount to his firm. Just say yes please.

"Yes. Okay" Randhir says with gritted teeth and gives a fake smile. I internally do a victory dance and grin at him. Half of the work is done. We walk towards his car and Sister accompanies us. Now she'll just make sure that Randhir doesn't drive. She is really caring.

"Keys?" I ask lifting my hand and he grits his teeth and places them in my palm. I hug sister and get inside the car while Randhir is still outside saying his goodbye. I quickly call daadi and inform her that I'm going to Mumbai before Randhir comes inside.

After 2 minutes he sits in the car and closes the door shut with a slam. Oh no I'm so dead!

Just when we get outside the gate Randhir turns towards me. Here we go..

"You! Stop tha car. Abhi!" he says angrily.

"Nahi" I reply with determination.

"Stop the car I said" he says and leans towards me trying to control the steering wheel. The car swirls to one side and I slam the break with full force as I see a tree straight ahead of us. Shit. This is the end of my life...

I am jerked ahead and I hear Randhir's scream beside me, "Sanyukta!"

I am engulfed in his arms quickly, my face burried in his chest. My breathing gets shallow as I hear his racing heartbeat. He is holding me tightly as I am clutching his shirt.

Slowly we pull apart but don't let go. He grabs my face and brushes my hair while his hands travel down to my cheeks, shoulder and then arms, leaving a fire in its wake.

His eyes scan my body with concern searching for any injuries. His hands again come up to grab my face as he stares into my eyes and strokes my cheek with his thumb.

"I am so sorry. Tum thik ho?" he asks and my mouth goes dry at our close proximity. I just nod and he sighs.

"Tum thik ho?" I ask and my hands automatically trail up his shirt to his shoulders and just as I am about to touch his face he quickly leans on his seat, getting away from me as far as possible.

I drop my hand and silence fills the car. I am still feeling a tingling sensation on the places where his hands roamed. My breathing becomes normal and I peek at Randhir.

He has his hands fisted and his jaw clenched. He cares for me. Still cares for me.

"Why are you doing this Sanyukta?" he asks quitely.

"Kyuki tumhaare per me chot lagi hai aur.."

"Jhut" he states firmly.

"Sach bol rahi hu mai".

"Tumhara aur sach ka dur dur tak koi vaasta nahi hai" he says sourly and I look down, not wanting to meet his eyes.

"Maine tumhare saath bahot galat kiya hai, aisa samajh lo ke this is my way of offering peace. To try out a new start" I whisper.

"Wow" he chuckles humourlessly and I feel more ashamed of myself.

"It ended for good and it will never start again Sanyukta. Not even something, anything. Tumhe koi jarurat nahi hai itna karne ki. Just go home and let me go my way" he says and my heart clenches in pain hearing those words.

"Please, mujhe bhi aana hi tha Mumbai. Let me come with you. Bass 2-3 ghante ki hi toh baat hai" I persuade him.

"No" he states.

Okay so I have to trigger his ego now.

"Are you still affected so much by me that you can't even spend 3 hours being with me in a car" I smirk at him.

"Huh no way. Why will I be affected?" he frowns.

"Cool then. Lets go now" I say as I reverse the car.

"Let me drive Sanyukta" Randhir says rubbing his forehead.

"You are just wasting your time now. Chup chap baitho aur so jaao" I tell him. He leaves a exasperated sigh.

"Fine! Lets get this done and over with" he says. "Aur ha, mujhe ambience hotel jaana hai. I'm staying there. So don't take the wrong route towards my home".

"Ghar kyu nahi?" I ask even though I know the answer.

"That's none of your business" he snaps back.

He becomes silent after that.

"So do you have a girlfriend?" There. I asked it. This thing is nagging me since I first laid eyes on him.

"What?" He is shocked by my question.

"School me bhi pucha tha maine but tumne jawaab nahi diya" I remind him and he goes silent again. What the hell!

"Soo.....?" I ask again after a while and he throws a death glare at me. Ugh. He is just annoying me now. Can't he just say yes or no. Mere dimaag ko thodi shaanti toh mil jaayegi.

I turn on the radio and bol do na zara starts playing. He punches the next button and this time it's kya hua tera waada. One of my favourite songs. He changes that too. Huh.

Then the car is filled with the sad voice of Mohit Chauhan as he sings tujhe bhula diya.. great timing!

Then he changes it again muttering curses under his breath.

Bheege honth tere.. pyaasa dil mera.. Lage abr sa mujhe tann tera.... Kabhi mere saath koi raat guzaar, tujhe subah tak mai karu pyaar.. Oh oh Ohhoo..

Like seriously.. could this get any more awkward?

This time Randhir switches off the radio as I see his ears turn red. I too, squirm in my seat.

Great, just great. I wished for a smooth normal ride back to Mumbai. But no. Fate has planned to embarrass me to the fullest.

After a few minutes after yawning almost 100 times, Randhir finally falls asleep. I know he was trying his best to stay awake so that I don't take him back home but I have other plans. I hope everything goes according to the plan.

The car ride after that is silent, just filled with the steady breathing of Randhir.

At around 1.30 am, I park the car in front of Randhir's apartment. I take his wallet and cell phone and tip toe outside and rush inside the apartment. He will see that his cell phone and wallet is missing and will definitely come upstairs.

Randhir is going to be so damn angry. But thank goodness he is still asleep.

I go inside the lift and my palms start sweating. Randhir's dad again.. shit.

This is so inappropriate. I am at their door at 2 in the morning.

I take a deep breath and press the bell. Open.. no don't open.. open please.. no don't.. ughh..

After 2-3 minutes just as I am about to turn back and leave, the door opens.

"Ye bhi koi time hai.." Randhir's dad opens the door squinting his eyes, looking at me. His eyes pop open when he looks at me. He blinks. Once. Twice.

"Sanyukta?"

"Umm yes sir. Vo.. ye Randhir ka wallet aur cell phone. Vo neeche car me.. soya hai" I say and place the things in his hand. He just looks at me confusingly.

"Vo upar aayega sir. Don't worry.. thoda gussa.. nahi bahot gussa hoga.. but fir aap usko sab bataa do, fir he'll realise ke aapne aisa kyu kiya" I start blabbering and he just looks at me like I am a psycho. I guess I am.

"So umm.. I'll just leave.. um ya ok sir good night.. and please get well soon" I say giving him a small smile.

"Tumne sach me Randhir ko wapas laaya. Mere kehne pe?" He asks as I am about to leave. I just nod while he stares at me with.. sadness? No it can't be sadness. He hates me.

"Please andar aao. Thak gayi hogi na tum.." he says opening the door for me to come in.

Did he just offer a poor girl like me to come inside his house?

"No sir it's fine. I'll go" I say.

"Please come in.. please. Tumhe kuch dena hai.. please" he says and I step inside. How can I deny him when he uses three 'please's in one sentence.

I settle down on one of the couch quietly not wanting to wake Randhir's mom or Vidushi. I suddenly miss Vidushi very badly. How is my Vids now? I hope happy with Parth. She must be so angry with me.

My thoughts are interrupted when Randhir's dad gives me a glass of water. I drink it and keep the glass on the table.

"Thank you very much. Tumne Randhir ko wapas laaya, I still can't believe it. Kya tumne Randhir ko bataya?" he asks looking down. I shake my head in denial and when he looks up his eyes turn glassy.

He places a bundle of notes on the table and I get up quickly looking at him with shock. What is with this man and money!!

"Sir maine ye paiso ke liye nahi kiya" I say rubbing my forehead in frustration.

"Nahi nahi ye tumhaare liye nahi hai. Ye toh Randhir ke organisation ke liye hai. Please ek last kaam kar do. Tumhaare school ke taraf se ye paise aur add kar do. Meri taraf se toh lega nahi vo..." he says.

"Sir..." I am lost for words.

"Please Sanyukta. Mai apne bete ke liye kuch karna chahta hu. I am really proud of him. Jitna mai chahta tha usse bahot aage gaya hai Randhir. But he hates me. Even I want his institute to go to new heights" he says and forwards his hand with the money in it.

This is for a good purpose. There is no harm in taking it.

As I forward my hand to take it the door opens with a slam. It's Randhir. He glares at me with anger and then his eyes turn confused looking at his dad.

But the confusion instantly vanishes when he looks down at our hands. I am now holding the bundle of notes. He looks at me with so much anger and hatred that I feel like I am gonna faint.

"You money digger!"

____________

Cliffhanger again!!! Climax hoga ab and then the story will end. I will write a big author's note for the next chapter because we are nearing the end. I am flooded with emotions and there is so much to say. But tab tak just enjoy this chapter and tell me if you liked it. Also, happy valentine's day. You all are my valentines and I love u all!

Ps- it's my birthday tomorrow!!!