'Wake up, Randhir.' A sweet female voice called. Randhir smiled in his sleep.

'Hmmm...' He replied groggily and stirred on his bed.

'Uff ho! Don't you want to go to work?' She sounded annoyed and this made Randhir's smile widened. He shook his head, his eyes still closed.

'No!' He responded and buried his face in the pillow. He heard her sigh.

'Randhir wake up, else I will throw this jug of water on you. I am not kidding.'

Randhir groaned, - 'Please, Sanyukta two more minutes.'

'No, Randhir. 3...2...On-'

Randhir woke up with a jolt. He sat up on the bed and looked around the empty room. His chest heaved as he tried steadying his breath.

Damn! He is dreaming of her again. Randhir held his forehead and pushed behind his hair. After his breath had returned to normal he fell back on the bed. Without moving his gaze from the ceiling, he picked up his phone and glanced at the time. 3 am, there is still time for work. He sighed tossing the phone beside him.

Randhir turned to other side and stared at the opposite wall until he fell asleep again.

********************************

8 am, Randhir showered and got dressed for work. He walked into the empty living room and sighed. He is used to this loneliness by now. Silently, he walked into the kitchen and poured some milk and cornflakes into a bowl and walked out with it. He opened the curtain of his tiny living room and stared front through the window for a while before turning around. He placed the bowl on the table and silently munched on his food. Except for him chewing there is complete silence, a strange stillness.

After eating Randhir washed the used bowl and placed it neatly on the rack, he wiped his palms with a tissue and walked out.

Randhir wore his black coat and flung the sling of his laptop bag around his neck and with his head lowered he walked towards the main door. Locking the door, he stuffed the keys into his trouser pants and gloomily walked towards the stairs.

Outside, he got a cab and took the ride to HT automobile company.

Randhir registered his name and walked through the corridor towards his cabin. As he passed by many of his colleagues greeted him, but he doesn't bother replying nor smiling.

'What a guy?'

'He hardly talks.'

'Arrogant fellow.'

'No, I guess he is depressed and lonely.'

His colleagues speak behind his back. Randhir is aware of his reputation but doesn't care. His boss has no complaints about his work and he too is satisfied with his job as a mechanical engineer designing cars.

Randhir switched on his laptop and got back to designing the engine he had left yesterday. Before, he started he felt nostalgic. It happens always. He reminisced his days in FITE, with all his friends and her. They used to work so hard on their dream team car and it wasn't as stressful as it is now.

Randhir worked mechanically, he continued to work even few minutes during lunch break. Then, he got up and walked into the canteen. He avoided looking around, all happy people chatting with their friends while Randhir is all alone. He is used to this by now, he had been a loner all his life. Except for a friend Karan who died, then his father with whom he isn't in talking terms anymore, and her, whom he left.

Randhir got a sandwich and walked out the Canteen and to his workstation. He got to work again.

**********************************

Randhir returned to the empty home again, he dropped his laptop bag on the sofa and sat for a while before getting up and freshening up. He changed into his night clothes. Then he cleaned his tiny studio apartment and finally, relaxed on his bed. He stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering to her. Sanyukta....

She had been trying to contact him for few months after he had left. He had seen all her messages but didn't bother replying. And, when he shifted to the US he changed his number. He still has her emails, but he has never checked any of them, not even one. Randhir knew that if he did he would melt and go back to her. Many times, he wondered what is keeping him away from her. At first, it was his ego and hurt. And now, it's guilt. Lots of guilt. Guilt for impulsively leaving her, and not giving her a chance to say her side of the story. Along with guilt, there is also a longingness, longingness to be with her again. But Randhir isn't sure if that is possible now.

Perhaps she has moved on. That's why she has stopped contacting him. Or maybe her father forced her to marry, or maybe she married on her own will. Maybe she is still unmarried and working, and probably forgot him. Or maybe she is happily married with kids or maybe she is still waiting for him.

Many thoughts always cloud Randhir's mind and make him think many times before returning. There are so many theories running in Randhir's brain about what must Sanyukta be doing, but one thing is very clear in his head that he hasn't moved on. The incident still hurts him, and he still loves Sanyukta, very much.

One more thought always makes Randhir restless and that is the thought of his friend Parth. He is the one for whom Randhir left Sanyukta, but he didn't even call anyone to inquire about him.

He couldn't, lest he has to face Sanyukta again. He is not sure if he is ready to face her.

Did Parth survive? Randhir gets very scared thinking what if he didn't. And the very thought angers him again.

How could you, Sanyukta? Not once you thought about your or Parth's life. Just for a competition you risked it all and look what happened to Parth. What if it was you instead of him.

Randhir shifted in his bed - What if it was you instead of him. Randhir shook his head and picked up his mobile phone.

'Hello! Corner House. Yes... Mr. Shekawat here. One plate noodles... Yes, my address is....'

*************************

TING TONG...

Randhir opened the door, got his order and paid the young man. The delivery boy smiled at him but Randhir simply shut the door in his face. The boy frowned and muttered grumpily before turning around and walking away.

Randhir sat at the table in the dimly lit living room and silently ate his food. As he ate, tears pooled his eyes, but he ignored them and continued to eat....

*****************************

Ah, Randhir *sad sigh* His life has turned more gloomy and lonely.

So guys, how was Randhir's POV? Drop in your thoughts *smiles*