155

Randhir was in his room fuming. What was wrong with her? How could she say such senseless and such ridiculous things? There was no way that she could mean it... but the last message she sent him just pissed him off.

He felt like barging into her room right now, but he wasn't ready to give away that he was Akshay.

Then a thought struck his mind. Could it be possible that she was testing him to see if he was Akshay? No... surely she couldn't go to such lengths.

Randhir signed off and threw his phone on the bed with a frustrated sigh. She really had lost it.

He got in bed and tried to ignore the thoughts of her having feelings for Akshay and not him, but they continued to cloud him and weren't letting him go. How could she feel for or say those things to someone else? That wasn't right.

Sanyukta was waiting in her room after Akshay signed off. She frowned. Randhir still hadn't barged in. Had she made an error in judgement? If she had, then poor Akshay probably felt so awkward. She ought to clarify that she was joking... but what if Randhir was just hiding himself so he wouldn't come out and disclose his identity?

Soon they both fell asleep. When Randhir woke up that morning, he went out. He didn't want to stay in that house because he couldn't handle facing Sanyukta.

He went to the shopping mall, the first place he could think of to go. Perhaps he ought to go back to Canada. Yes, he decided that he would return. He had no reason to stay back. His intention of avoiding Sanyukta was firm... and right now he was angry at her anyways for even letting the thought of another man enter her mind.

At the mall, he was walking around, when he thought he saw someone familiar.

Randhir moved closer and squinted his eyes.

His mouth fell open when he saw that it was Harsh Shekhawat.

What was his father doing in India?

156

Randhir started to run after Harsh, but his father disappeared into the crowd. No. He couldn't disappear. It couldn't have been a trick of the eye. His father was in India and Randhir had to find him... he was not going to spare that man.

He searched everywhere, ran to the corners of the mall, expecting to find Harsh, but he couldn't see him anywhere. In fact, it was like his eyes had been lying to him.

Could it really be an illusion?

Randhir just shook his head and decided to go home. It was dinner time by the time he got home.

Sanyukta and Anju were in the kitchen cooking. As soon as Randhir entered, Sanyukta walked up to him with flour on her hands... it was like she was making roti.

"What's wrong with you?" she snapped. "Why are you avoiding me?"

Randhir just ignored her and disappeared into his room. He was going to ignore her. There was no way he would talk to her after what she did last night.

Unfortunately, he was forced to stay back in India now, because no matter how much he told himself he should hate Sanyukta, he couldn't. He had to protect her, because his father was here and he didn't trust his father one bit. Even if seeing him had been a trick of the mind, Randhir did not want to take that chance.

157

That night, Sanyukta was fuming. Randhir had locked himself in his room. He told Anju he would sleep early. Why was he sleeping early? Why was he avoiding her? Had she scared him last night? Was she being too bold? Did he get offended? No... he should tolerate her regardless of how bold or annoying she was being. It was his job!

She was pacing back and forth in her room until she couldn't take it anymore and she started to bang on his door. He ignored her.

"Open the damn door!" she yelled.

He ignored her again.

"I'm still going to come in," she threatened.

She took out her pin and unlocked his door. It was dark and she saw that he was sleeping. Liar. He was not sleeping. He couldn't be sleeping.

Sanyukta went to the bed and pulled the blanket off.

Her mouth fell open when she saw that Randhir wasn't there, but he had placed a bunch of pillows under the quilt.

"Where are you Randhir?" she gasped. "It's past midnight."

158

Randhir was out at the police station, trying to explain to them that his father was a criminal and he was in India.

"His name is Harsh Shekhawat," Randhir told them. "I can tell you everything about him. He raped a girl in Canada -"

"Then the Canada police will take care of it. We can't do anything," the police officer there said. "It was not done in India."

Randhir pressed his lips firmly together with irritation.

"Fine," Randhir said, "But at least charge him for this. He murdered my mother."

"How long ago?" the police asked.

"Twenty two years ago," Randhir explained.

"Do you take us as officers who pass time? There is a statute of limitation. We don't investigate such old cases. If they're that old, they've been closed, and we won't be reopening. Just go home and forget about it," the officer said, brushing him away.

"Look, he murdered my mother!" Randhir said angrily. "He beat me and my friend as children. He raped a girl! He's a monster. He deserves to be put behind bars!"

"If you find out he killed someone recently in India, come back," the officer said. "Otherwise go home. Your wife might worry you're off with another girl."

Randhir just stood up angrily and stepped out of the police station. Seriously, the laws were very corrupt.

As soon as he got back home, he saw that Sanyukta was walking out of the house, shivering.

Randhir ran up to her and grabbed her arms.

"What's wrong with you?" he yelled. "You can't be alone out so late at night!"

Sanyukta looked up at him with disbelief.

159

Sanyukta glared at him with irritation. For one, he was ignoring her all day. For another, he was out at night, pretending to be asleep and sneaking out like he was committing a crime. And what made it worse was that he was acting like he had authority over her when he was distancing himself from her... did he not think she could take care of herself?

"You don't need to tell me what to do," she snapped. "I don't take orders from people who ignore me."

"Go inside," Randhir ordered.

Sanyukta stood firmly on the ground and folded her arms.

Randhir grabbed her arm and pulled her inside with him.

"Don't go outside without me again," he warned. "If you do, then you're going to get it."

"Why wouldn't I?" she snapped. "Why're you being so possessive all of a sudden? And why are you ignoring me?"

"I don't have to justify myself to you," he snapped back. "You'll get hurt if you go outside, and it isn't by me."

Tears filled her eyes and she balled her hands into fists.

"I've been trying to make this work!" she yelled. "But if you are going to keep on insulting me, then I won't tolerate it. You can go to hell!"

Then she turned around and locked herself in her room.

"Yeah right," Randhir muttered under her breath. "All you've been doing is flirting with Akshay behind my back."

Randhir then went to his own room and locked himself in it.

Sanyukta was angry. He was acting like he had rights on her when he was ignoring her. What was his problem? Randhir on the other hand was angry as well. She was acting desperate for Akshay and here she was pretending like she cared about him.

"Two faced," she muttered under his breath.

A nagging voice in his mind asked him, why don't you go back to Canada and forget about her?

"Because I care about her more than I care about what she does," Randhir muttered in response to himself.

The next week passed with the two of them ignoring each other, deciding that it would be better for them to stay away from each other... but with each day that passed, both of them were becoming restless, unable to take the cold treatment towards each other.

At once, one night, they both logged in as Akshay and Aahana respectively, somewhere deep down, both of them knowing who the other one was.

Akshay: I miss you

Aahana: I miss you too

Sanyukta then heard Randhir's door open and she snuck towards her own door as she messaged him.

Aahana: What are you doing?

Akshay: Getting juice

Sanyukta opened her door quietly and slipped out of her room as he went to the kitchen. She snuck behind him and looking over his shoulder, she saw their conversation. She noticed that he was Akshay, who was messaging Aahana.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed victoriously.

Randhir turned his phone off and turned to glare at her.

"What?" he asked.

Sanyukta grinned cheekily at him and did not reply, disappearing back into her own bedroom, pretending like she did not know. After all, if this was what it was going to take to keep Randhir talking to her, then so be it.

160

Sanyukta knew he was Akshay and now Randhir was sure of it. The way she snuck up to him just now and screamed that she knew it, before innocently saying nothing when he asked confirmed it for him.

Randhir pretended to be clueless that she knew.

Sanyukta on the other hand was in her room, and she knew that Randhir knew that she knew he was Akshay, yet she was pretending to be clueless.

This was the only way they could keep in touch with each other when they didn't want to accept one another.

Aahana: How is the juice?

Akshay: Good

Aahana: I'm jealous you know, I want you to drink me like that juice

Randhir's eyes widened. What was she doing now? The moment she figured out that he was Akshay, was she going to leave no stone unturned to seduce him? The earlier flirts, he was sure of now, were done to find out whether he was Akshay. Now that she was sure, she would go all out.

Akshay: Very funny

Aahana: I'm not joking

Akshay: Why are you so horny?

Aahana: Haven't you heard that a newly-wed couple cannot keep their hands off each other? I feel something like that except I'm not newly-wed

Akshay: You're wed?

Aahana: I married you

Akshay: How?

Aahana: In my heart

Sanyukta was sitting up on her bed, her heart pounding faster than she could imagine. Her plan was to seduce Randhir into accepting her, and she knew he would only let her get somewhat close to him through Akshay, because he was behaving clueless right now.

She could be adamant as Sanyukta to Randhir, but she wanted to maintain a distance because he had hurt her ego as Sanyukta. As Aahana, she was willing to be more laid back.

Akshay: Is your period done?

Aahana: Yeah it's been done for a few days now

Akshay: Ok... you should sleep

Sanyukta sighed loudly. He was absolutely hopeless. Even behind the mask of Akshay he wouldn't open up now. She had to say something that would make him go crazy.

Aahana: How would you like my warm, wet mouth to be wrapped around your rock hard dick?

Randhir's eyes widened in his room. This girl was seriously going to kill him.

Akshay: I'm logging off

Aahana: Don't even dare... or I'll make it worse for you, and you know what I will do

Randhir groaned loudly. He knew very well what she would do. She would use her hairpin to get into his room and wouldn't let go of him... it was better for him to be seduced this way, at least there was a distance between them.

How long would this distance last though if their conversation was so heated?

161

Note: Sexual situations in chat form

Randhir gave up. There was no winning this game. He had to choose either between satisfying Sanyukta virtually or in real life. He decided to go with virtually, because that meant they wouldn't need to interact in person.

Akshay: Ok fine.

Aahana: You're acting like this chat is so painful for you, when we both know you will be enjoying yourself. Just relax and chat with me.

Akshay: Why does it need to be so x-rated?

Aahana: My choice.

Akshay: Ok.

Aahana: Okay so imagine I'm in front of you right now, what would you like me to do to you?

Akshay: Nothing.

Aahana: Don't ruin it okay?

Akshay: You want me to lie?

Aahana: FINE I'll tell you what I want you to do to me. I want you to kiss me so hungrily that you lose your senses. I want to feel your lips on mine, your tongue in my mouth, your body pressed against mine. I want to feel your hardness against my navel which shows how much you desire me. I want to feel your hands running down my back, and I want you to start taking off my clothes.

Randhir started to breathe heavily in his room. The way Sanyukta described that made it seem more real than it should.

Shit.

She really was going to kill him.

Akshay: I'm sliding up your shirt. Imagine the cool air on your body.

Aahana: I don't need to imagine. I'm taking off my clothes.

Randhir leaned back on his pillow and looked up at the ceiling, trying to erase the picture of Sanyukta removing her clothes.

Akshay: Okay, then take off your shirt. Imagine it's me who is taking it off. Are you wearing a bra?

Aahana: Nope

Akshay: Then imagine that I'm sucking on and licking your breasts. Imagine my tongue on your nipples, my hands gripping your waist

Sanyukta couldn't control her quick breathing. This chat was building up a lot of desire within her.

Aahana: I hate the word imagine, but I guess that's all I have... damn, your mouth on me feels so good. Move lower please.

Randhir couldn't help but smile.

Akshay: My mouth is moving down your body, I pause to suck on your navel, before moving even lower towards your pants.

Aahana: Don't bother removing them, I've already taken them off.

Akshay: Let me remove your panties then

Aahana: Removed those too

Sanyukta was naked right now, lying in bed, in the room across from him, and he was having a hard time controlling himself. Why was this so hard?

Akshay: Okay, I've moved my mouth down between your thighs and I slowly lick my way upwards

Aahana: I'm touching myself, oh... fuck

Randhir squeezed his eyes shut, his own desire throbbing right now. What he wouldn't do right now to have her here with him.

Akshay: I'm licking your wetness, my tongue is sliding deep into you. You're so tasty.

Aahana: Fuck I wish I could feel your stubble against me down there... Oh fuck

Akshay: How badly do you want me right now?

Aahana: So badly. Take off your clothes and let me suck your dick.

Akshay: I've taken off my clothes, but I'm not letting you suck my dick. I'm holding you down, ready to pound inside you hard. Should I enter you?

Aahana: Is that a question? Come inside me now

Akshay: I am holding your hips down and pushing into you.

Aahana: Fuck

Akshay: I am starting to thrust in and out. Do you like it?

Aahana: Go harder

Akshay: I'm pounding into you as hard as I could

Aahana: Fuck fuck fuck

Akshay: I'm deeeep inside you, how much deeper do you want me to go?

Aahana: Fuck deeper

Akshay: Will you cum?

Aahana: Fuck yes, you cum too

Akshay: Where do you want me to cum? Do you want to feel the hot cum inside your body or somewhere else?

Aahana: Will you cum in my mouth?

Akshay: You want me to cum in your mouth?

Aahana: My mouth is opening, my tongue sliding out, I want you. I'm so hungry for you.

Akshay: Fuck... I wish you were here.

Aahana: Me too

Sanyukta, who was red and burning with desire, then exited messenger and opened her texting screen, finding Randhir's name.

Sanyukta: Come to my room. Now.

Randhir got up, his eyes widening. Without a second thought, he slid on his boxers and jeans and went to her room shirtless. As soon as he opened the door, he noticed that she wasn't wearing any clothes, but she had hidden herself under her covers, sitting up on the bed.

He locked the door behind him and got into the bed beside her before smacking his lips against hers hungrily. She grabbed the back of his neck, kissing him back with just as much hunger and equal desire.

162

Note: Sexual situations

Sanyukta was already moaning as he was kissing her on the lips. The blanket fell off her body, exposing her naked chest. Randhir broke their feverish kiss and started to kiss her on the neck hungrily. Her hands held his head as her own head fell back to give him better access to her neck.

"Randhir," she moaned and he held her breasts gently, caressing them, as he continued to suck on the base of her neck.

The way she moaned his name had always been a turn on for him, and he was already so turned on that he was losing control over himself.

Sanyukta pulled on his jeans.

"Why are you wearing that?" she asked him.

Randhir let go of her and took off whatever clothing he had on. Then he got in bed next to her and pushed her down.

Sanyukta shook her head and looked at him with so much desire that it was doing crazy things to him. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable, so beautiful, that he just wanted to have her right now.

"Lie back," she ordered.

"What?" he gasped.

"Lie back," she repeated.

Randhir was hypnotized by the way she looked right now, so he did as he was told. He lay back on the bed and Sanyukta climbed over him.

She kissed him on the lips hungrily, ravishing the feel of his lips on hers, using her tongue to tease him slowly. Then she broke the kiss and started to kiss her way down his neck. Randhir felt lost as she kissed her way down his body. She paused to suck on his nipples and she pulled on them softly with her teeth causing him to groan.

Then she moved further down. Randhir's eyes squeezed shut as she planted wet kisses down his stomach to her destination. Sitting up, she held his desire in her hand gently.

"It's so hard," she gushed. "Oh shit... it just got harder."

Randhir tried to take steady breaths, but he couldn't. The innocence in her voice was more sexy than anything else. It was only turning him on more.

"Sanyukta," he groaned, opening his eyes. "Of course it'll get harder if you talk like that."

She blushed and stroked him gently, looking up into his eyes.

"Does that feel good?" she asked.

"Of course," he murmured.

Then he sat up on the bed and leaned against the pillow. Sanyukta sat next to him and touched him again.

"How do you touch yourself?" she asked him softly.

Randhir wrapped his hand around hers and pressed on it to make the grip a little more firm. Then he started to move it up and down.

"Like this," he whispered, feeling an intense amount of pleasure.

Sanyukta looked into his eyes breathlessly.

"I like how this feels. From now on, if you ever want to touch yourself, you let me do it," she told him.

Randhir looked at her like she was crazy. She licked her lips slowly, wetting them and took a deep breath before lowering her mouth over his desire.

"Sanyukta," he groaned. "Are you sure? You don't have to."

"Yes," she whispered, her warm breath on the tip of his erection. "I want to."

Her heart pounding quickly, she kissed the tip softly then looked up into his eyes. Randhir grabbed her head and tried to control his breathing.

She slid her tongue out and licked the tip before sliding her tongue down his shaft.

"Oh... fuck," he groaned.

Then she placed his entire erection in her mouth and moved her head down, taking him deep in her throat.

She started to gag and cough as her eyes filled with tears.

"Crazy girl," he told her, grabbing her head and trying to pull her off him. "Don't hurt yourself."

Only he knew how good it felt to be deep down in Sanyukta's mouth, but he didn't want that pleasure at the expense of her pain.

She didn't listen to him though and tried to push his desire further into her mouth, tears falling from her eyes. Randhir stroked her hair lovingly and he gasped loudly.

"Sanyukta if you continue this, I'm going to cum," he whispered breathlessly.

She pulled her mouth off him and licked her lips, savouring his taste.

"Cum then," she whispered back with a devious smile.

"I want you to cum too," he replied, stroking her cheek.

"How badly?" she asked him, sitting up on top of his lap.

"Very badly," he whispered. "I want you to be dripping wet."

Sanyukta began to breathe even more heavily.

"I already am," she replied softly.

He reached down, using his fingers to rub her desire gently, and he felt that she really was wet. Regardless though, he pushed her down on the bed and moved his head in between her legs, and sucked on her soft spot, his stubble grazing over her sensitive area.

"Don't," she moaned, already shaking. "Randhir, I'm going to cum right now."

"I want you to cum in my mouth," he told her huskily.

Sanyukta stroked his hair lovingly as she felt the orgasm hit her hard.

"I love the taste," he said, still licking her. "Do this for me more often."

"I want to taste you," she then said, pushing his head off her. "I want to taste you when you orgasm."

"Are you crazy?" he asked her.

"Yes," she replied.

Randhir then turned around and sat back against the bed. She closed her mouth over his desire once again and he took deep breaths as she started to suck on him.

"You like this?" he asked her.

She looked up into his eyes and nodded. Then she pushed as far down as she could, taking his entire length in her mouth. She gagged a bit, but she kept him there. As Randhir felt the warmth of her mouth, he started to tremble. Sanyukta reached up and grabbed his hands, holding on to them tightly as tears filled her eyes.

"Stop it," Randhir told her. "You're choking."

She shook her head and pressed against him further. Randhir groaned. She really was going to be the death of him.

He removed his hand from hers and caressed her hair as she pressed her lips against him with more intensity.

"Sanyukta," he moaned and squeezed his eyes shut. "Don't do this."

She shook her head again, defying him.

"I'm going to cum, move," he warned.

She shook her head again.

Randhir grabbed her head and pressed her harder against him, finally releasing into her mouth, as an intense orgasm hit him too.

Sanyukta's eyes widened and she blushed. Finally after she slid her mouth off him, she swallowed.

"Wow," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "That made me feel a lot closer to you."

Randhir was sweating, trying to take deep breaths to control the erratic beating of his heart, but it was near impossible. She sat up on his lap and rested her head against his chest, hugging him tightly.

"Why would you want to do that to yourself?" he asked her softly.

"I love you and I love it when you feel pleasure. Plus, I want to love you in every way. I want to feel you in every way. I want to taste you in every way... I want to be as close to you as possible," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I just love you so much."

Randhir caressed her hair, still leaning against the pillow with her on top of his lap.

"I love you too," he finally admitted.

"I know," she whispered in response, her tears falling down on his skin.

163

Randhir and Sanyukta fell asleep, holding on to each other tightly. It was only a few hours later, in the middle of the night when Sanyukta woke up and smiled with a glow on her face. She lifted her head and looked at Randhir.

He was snoring lightly, and Sanyukta couldn't help but lean over him and kiss his lips softly. He opened his eyes and pulled her naked body down on top of his.

"Sleep," he whispered and closed his eyes again.

"Do we have to sleep?" she asked him playfully.

"What do you mean?" he asked groggily, still tired.

She leaned into his ear and whispered, "I want to feel my husband inside me."

Randhir turned her over on the bed and kissed her lips hungrily, her words having woken him up. She grabbed the back of his neck and responded to his kiss just as hungrily.

As he started to plant kisses down her neck, she sighed happily.

"It finally feels like we're actually married," she told him with a smile.

"Yeah," he murmured in agreement.

After they made love, they fell asleep again, both of them sweating profusely.

They woke up to a knock on the door and Sanyukta gasped.

"Sanyu?" Anju called. "Is Randhir inside with you? He isn't in his room."

"M - mom," Sanyukta gasped, sitting up in bed and pinching Randhir to wake him up. "Y - yes, he is. I'm coming, one second!"

She quickly slipped her clothes on and threw Randhir's clothes at him. He didn't have a shirt though.

"We're screwed," Sanyukta said fearfully.

"It'll be fine. Your mom's cool," Randhir said.

Sanyukta took a deep breath and opened the door. Regardless of how cool her mother was, it was still embarrassing for any daughter to be caught in this position.

As soon as Anju saw Randhir shirtless, she stepped inside.

"This can't continue," she told Randhir and Sanyukta firmly.

Sanyukta gulped and looked down at the ground.

"Sorry mom," Sanyukta apologized.

"You two have to get married properly now," Anju demanded. "Only then will I let you stay in the same room from today."

"What?" Randhir gasped.

"Really?" Sanyukta asked, a smile on her lips. "Like a real ceremony?"

Anju smiled at her daughter and nodded.

"Yes," Anju said. "I want both of you to get married properly, and I want it to be done soon."

164

Sanyukta was smiling widely, happy to finally be getting married to Randhir in a way the world would accept. Randhir on the other hand, was sitting on the bed, looking lost.

Anju noticed this and sat next to him, placing her hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

"You have your mother's blood in you as well," Anju told him softly. "I would say that it's the most dominant part of you. I'll speak to the astrologer and get a date fixed."

Randhir smiled at Anju, trying to control the guilt in his heart for being his father's son.

Sanyukta's smile then dropped.

"But mom, what about dad?" she asked. "We're going to have an official ceremony without him?"

"I thought about it a lot Sanyu. I want to include him, but we don't know when he will wake up. On top of that, he won't agree. It's better to do it now," Anju explained. "It may seem cruel that we're doing it when he doesn't have a say, but my children's happiness means more to me than anything."

"Okay, well we're married anyways. This just makes it official," Sanyukta said with a shrug.

"I'll call the astrologer over now. You guys shower then come out," Anju told them.

Both Randhir and Sanyukta nodded.

As soon as Anju left, Sanyukta locked the door behind her again and walked up to Randhir.

Instead of sitting beside him, she sat on his lap facing him and cupped his cheeks lovingly.

"So we will officially share one room soon," she whispered.

"No. This marriage shouldn't happen," he said firmly.

"We're already married you fool," Sanyukta snapped. "Stop acting like I'm being an overly clingy girlfriend. This marriage is just for formality."

"It's better to just separate," Randhir replied, looking into her eyes.

"I'll see how you separate from me," she snapped. "After last night, you have guts to talk like that."

Randhir took her hand in his and caressed it gently.

"Will you go on a date with me tonight?" he asked her softly.

She looked at him like he was planning something fishy. He just said he didn't want to marry her, and now he was asking her out on a date?

"Why?" she asked suspiciously. "If you have plans to push me away, don't even think about it. I won't fall for it."

Randhir chuckled.

"You know me well. But no, I genuinely am asking you out on a date," he told her.

"Okay," Sanyukta then said with a smile. "We can go on a date."

"Be ready at seven then," Randhir said. "Now will you get off? I need to shower."

She shook her head and pressed her lips against his instead, catching him by surprise. He kissed her back passionately and pulled her closer to him. This feeling wasn't letting him rest... it was hard to listen to his mind when all he wanted to do was get closer to her.

Perhaps love was when your mind finally lost.

165

After speaking with the Astrologer, the marriage was fixed for the following week. Sanyukta then left to go to work, and Randhir stayed back with Anju.

"I'm worried I'll hurt her because I was raised by my dad," Randhir confessed to Anju, as they were drinking tea in the living room.

"I have full faith in you and so does Sanyu," Anju told him. "You don't need to worry. Forget about the past. Just live your future with Sanyu, and I know the two of you will be happy."

Randhir smiled and nodded, trying to feel the confidence that they had for him, but it was hard for him to feel.

At work, Sanyukta avoided Aryan as usual. Ever since the night that they went to the pub, she had been avoiding him. Finally, that day, Aryan confronted her.

"What is this Sanyukta?" Aryan asked during lunchtime in the cafeteria. "I know maybe I crossed my limits by asking you to kiss me, but does that mean our friendship went down the drain? Why do you ignore me?"

Sanyukta looked up at him and bit down on her lip, trying to think of the nicest way to tell him to stay away. Then she took a deep breath. It wasn't completely his fault. He didn't know why she reacted that way, or why she shivered that day. He didn't know what trauma she faced.

"I guess I should tell you," she told him softly. "After all, you are right. We are friends... Aryan, the truth is that I reacted that way because I got raped... and any kind of touch from a man scares me now... it's just Randhir's that doesn't."

Aryan looked at her with shock.

"Rape?" he gasped. "You're serious?"

She nodded and looked down, trying to ignore the memories that were coming to the forefront right now.

"Yeah... anyways, I'm going to go. Please give me some time," Sanyukta told him and then got up and walked away from him.

She didn't realize what she just did by telling this secret to Aryan.

166

After work, Sanyukta went home and got ready for her date with Randhir. She wore a short black dress, curled her hair and did her makeup in an effort to look sexy.

When she came out of her room, Randhir looked her up and down and seemed to be blown away.

"Wow," he said and Sanyukta looked down, blushing.

She followed Randhir out to the living room, where Anju was sitting watching a daily soap.

"Sanyu you're going out like that?" Anju asked, sounding shocked. "Don't wear that out!"

"Mom Randhir's here. I'll be fine," Sanyukta said with a wide smile.

Anju took a deep breath and turned back to her TV, unable to say anything more to her stubborn daughter.

"I'll take care of her," Randhir said and Sanyukta took his hand in hers.

"I trust you Randhir," Anju then said, turning back to look at them. "Don't stay out too late... and make sure when you come back, you sleep separately."

"Yes mom," Sanyukta said, nearly rolling her eyes because she was sure that wasn't going to happen.

Finally, once they managed to get out of the house, Randhir took Sanyukta's car keys and began to drive to the location he had booked.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.

"You'll see," he told her with a smile.

After about half an hour, he pulled into a field. In the middle of a field was a canopy with a table and two chairs. On top of the table, there was a dish that was covered, and two plates. There were also two wine glasses and a large bottle of red wine.

Sanyukta looked up at him and smiled widely.

"You organized all this?" she asked him, sounding blown away.

"Why? I can't?" he asked her with a smile.

She took his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," she told him happily.

Randhir lead her over to the table and pulled back her seat for her. She sat down as he made his way across from her and sat down too.

He opened the cover of the dish, revealing hakka style noodles.

"I ordered this from the best hotel," he told her. "You'll really like it."

Sanyukta grinned as he served her. Then he poured wine in both of their glasses and held his glass up. She clinked her glass against his and sighed happily.

"I really appreciate this," she told him, truly meaning it.

Then her phone began to ring and she frowned as she saw it was Aryan.

"Why's Aryan calling me?" she asked out loud.

"Ignore him," Randhir said.

"Wait... I feel like I should answer," she said, and then held the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Sanyukta where are you?" Aryan asked her.

"I'm out right now by the field behind the big mall, but why?" she asked.

"I need to see you," Aryan told her sounding urgent.

"No. I'm busy," Sanyukta told him firmly. "I'll see you tomorrow at work."

"Okay fine. I'll see you tomorrow then," Aryan responded, and hung up.

"He's so annoying," Sanyukta told Randhir.

"Why was he bothering you?" Randhir asked.

"I don't know," Sanyukta admitted. "But forget it. Let's eat."

They finished eating their food and then Randhir took his cell phone and played a romantic song.

He got down on his knee in front of her and held his hand out for her.

"Will you dance with me?" he asked her softly.

Sanyukta took his hand right away and stood up. Randhir lead the way to the grass, just outside the canopy and took her in his arms, swaying slowly to the music with her.

She rested her head on his chest and smiled happily, feeling relaxed in his arms. This was perfect.

Even if she were to die like this, she would die happily, because there could be no feeling more beautiful than dying in the arms of the one she loved endlessly.

Neither of them noticed a dark figure lurking in the shadows behind them.

167

After a few minutes, they stopped dancing and Randhir went back under the canopy to turn off the music on his phone. Sanyukta started to shiver outside, as it was getting chilly. It was already dark outside and she was getting a strange feeling.

She heard leaves shuffling in the distance and she turned around quickly, but saw nobody. Her heart started to beat faster as sweat formed on the palms of her hands, and she began to feel nervous.

"Randhir," she called out fearfully. "Come back."

"Coming," he said, and walked back up to her.

She was facing the other direction, and when he dropped down on one knee, she hadn't even noticed him.

"Sanyukta," he said from the ground beside her.

Sanyukta turned around and her eyes widened as she saw that he was holding out his arm, holding a beautiful diamond ring in between his thumb and index finger.

"I know we've already gotten married, but I never proposed to you properly. If we are getting married the right way, then we should have a right proposal as well. Sanyukta, will you marry me?" he asked her softly, his eyes filling with tears.

Sanyukta couldn't control the tears that had fallen from her eyes.

She nodded, her breath catching in her throat and held her hand out for him to slip the ring on. He took her hand in his gently and slid the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand.

He brought his lips down to the back of her hand and kissed it softly.

"Thank you for giving me a chance," he said against her hand, then he pressed his face against it, his tears falling on it. "I love you a lot."

Sanyukta fell on her knees in front of him too and held his hand in both of hers.

"I love you too," she whispered. "Thank you for the proposal. It's the most beautiful proposal Randhir."

She let go of his hands, and with both of them still on their knees on the grass, she leaned forward and hugged him tightly, her head resting on his shoulder.

All of a sudden, Randhir felt dizzy. He held on to Sanyukta more tightly.

"Are you okay?" she asked him.

"I just feel very dizzy," he whispered. "I don't know what happened."

"Randhir?" she asked, but he had fallen unconscious against her shoulder. "Wake up, Randhir!"

She rubbed his back, trying to wake him up, but he was already breathing deeply and it was hard to lift his heavy body. She glanced up at the table where her phone was.

"What happened to you Randhir?" she whispered.

Sanyukta heard footsteps then approach her from behind and her eyes widened. She held on to Randhir more tightly and turned her head.

When she saw who it was, her eyes widened with shock.

She didn't have a chance to react because as soon as she saw them, they used a large rod to hit the back of her head, making her fall unconscious too.

Sanyukta fell forward, pushing Randhir's body back on the ground, with her body covering his.

The person who had hit her then placed their phone to their ear and said, "It's done. I put a sleeping pill in Randhir's wine glass earlier, and I've just hit Sanyukta on the head. They're both unconscious. You can come and take them now."

168

Aryan was still in his office, working overtime. He wanted to talk to Sanyukta because someone had come in looking for her earlier that day, but had missed her by a few minutes.

They asked him to give them a call if he found out where she would be that evening as they had come specially from Canada to see her. Aryan recognized them, so he didn't think it was dangerous. Yet, he thought he ought to let her know.

When Sanyukta had given him the address, he called the person who came in earlier and told them. They claimed they already knew and hung up.

Aryan just shrugged and went back to doing his work.

In the field, Harsh Shekhawat appeared after he was called there.

"Help me," he told his accomplice. "You know how Randhir has torn his relationship with me because of this girl. We have to get her out of his life."

"I know... but let's not hurt her?" his accomplice asked. "I mean, we can surely do this without hurting her."

"You leave it to me," Harsh said seriously to his accomplice. "Help me drag her to the car."

They both respectively took Randhir and Sanyukta to a rented car and placed them in the backseat. Sanyukta and Randhir fell against each other in the back, and his accomplice got in the front seat of the car with him.

"Uncle, don't you think it's too much?" his accomplice asked. "I mean I came here to India because you asked me to come here, and I know Randhir likes her, but why did we have to make them unconscious? Couldn't you just talk to them consciously?"

"You don't know this girl," Harsh told his accomplice. "She lied to Randhir that I raped her so Randhir broke all ties with me. I need to speak with my son."

"What?" his accomplice gasped. "Why would she lie?"

"I don't know. I guess she didn't like that Randhir put me first above her," Harsh explained as he pulled into a hotel. "Anyways, here we are. You can go back to your hotel now and don't tell anyone a thing."

"Yes, okay Harsh Uncle," Sanaya Jha said. "Just try not to hurt them... even if she lied, it's not right to hurt her."

"Don't worry. Whatever happens will happen for the best," Harsh told Sanaya. "And I've only always considered you my daughter-in-law. Once I convince Randhir to stop being manipulated by this girl, I will have him come back to you."

"As you say Harsh Uncle," Sanaya said and then got out of the car.

After Sanaya disappeared into her hotel, Harsh drove away towards his old, deserted house. Nobody would come here looking for them... after all, this house was long forgotten.

He took Sanyukta inside the house first and placed her in the room where he had mercilessly killed Renuka. Then he came out for Randhir, who was still unconscious.

"Sorry son. I am not going to hurt you, but you have to watch her die today, so you know never to go against your father again," Harsh said with a dark smile.

Harsh then took Randhir inside the deserted house and used a rope to tie him up on a heavy chair against the wall.

He then pulled Sanyukta's hair and threw her on the ground in front of Randhir and waited for his son to regain consciousness.

169

Sanaya was in her hotel room, pacing back and forth. Something really wasn't feeling right... but she didn't know what else she could do. Harsh Uncle had always treated her like a daughter and pampered her... he could never be wrong. When he asked her to make Sanyukta unconscious, she had done so because she couldn't disobey him, as hard as it was for her.

"No. Harsh Uncle can't be wrong. He won't hurt anyone," Sanaya said to herself, in an attempt to calm herself down.

She still didn't feel right.

As a last resort, she called the only person she knew. Aryan. She had gone to the office earlier today to know about Sanyukta's whereabouts.

"Hello?" he answered on the other end of the line.

"Aryan, it's Sanaya. I'm scared," Sanaya said. "Sanyukta and Randhir are with Harsh uncle, Randhir's father."

"So?" Aryan asked, sounding confused. "What's wrong?"

"Something doesn't feel right," Sanaya urged. "Can you meet me? I don't know where they could have gone but I think we should find them."

"What?" Aryan asked. "Where are you?"

Sanaya gave him the address to her hotel and Aryan said he'd be there right away.

Back at the old Shekhawat residence, Randhir had a dream.

"My lovely son, I'm here for you," Renuka, his mom was saying. "Don't ever be afraid... don't think I can ever let you down."

"Mom," he whispered back to her. "Where are you mom?"

"Inside you. I will always be here. This world may seem cruel, but don't get so lost in the cruelty that you forget that there is more to this world that you cannot see," Renuka whispered to him in his dream. "You will always be taken care of, always be watched over. Even if you feel you are alone, you never were. If you ever need me, you call me and I will be there."

"Like a God?" Randhir asked. "I will pray to you like I would pray to God?"

"God can be anything Randhir. It can be an idol, a book, a person, a thing... whatever you connect to, whatever brings you most direct focus, that is your God," Renuka said. "But one thing - you cannot leave your God for the world...no matter what your God may do, you have to have full faith and know your God is trying to show you something."

"I once considered Dad my God," Randhir replied. "But I lost faith in him."

"Because your faith in him was not stronger than your faith in yourself. We trust ourselves the most in this world Randhir. If you can trust someone more than you trust yourself, it makes you vulnerable," Renuka answered. "It's not wrong to pray... but if you pray to God without knowing what God is, where do you think you will manifest your prayer when you don't even have the basic belief? That's why you find one and you connect with them... you put full faith in them, no matter what. If you pray to the thing you connect to most, your prayer will be fulfilled... but you have to believe it."

"I believe you Mom," Randhir answered.

"Good sweetheart. Remember, this world is an illusion. Don't get so lost in your own emotions that you forget this fundamental truth. God can act through anyone... an act of God can be an act done by your worst enemy," Renuka whispered. "Now son, open your eyes... it's time for you to witness what is in front of you."

Randhir opened his eyes slowly, finally regaining consciousness. He saw that Sanyukta was also opening her eyes in front of him and Harsh was looking at him with a deadly grin on his face.

"Ah so you two have finally woken up," Harsh said, his voice eerily quiet. "I guess it's time for the fun to begin."

170

Randhir was tied up to the chair and the room was dark. He could barely see as there was no light in the room. Had Harsh Shekhawat not spoken up, he wouldn't have realized there was anyone else in the room.

"D - dad?" Randhir gasped. "Why am I tied here? What's happening?"

Sanyukta was shivering when she opened her eyes. It was cold and what made it more cold was Harsh Shekhawat's eerie voice. She felt a sense of comfort though, when she heard Randhir's voice, but when he said he was tied, her heart started to beat much faster again.

She was lying face down on the ground and her body was hurting from being thrown around. The back of her head was still throbbing after Sanaya hit her with a wooden stick to knock her out.

Lifting her head slightly, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

She heard a figure by the dresser. Looking towards the figure, she noticed him light up a matchstick. The flame illuminated his face, confirming that it indeed was Harsh Shekhawat.

Sanyukta started to tremble with fear as soon as she saw him. He lit a candle and left it on top of the dresser. That small flame was enough to light up the room enough for Sanyukta to see that Randhir was tied up to a chair against the wall. It was enough for Randhir to see that Sanyukta was on the ground in front of him. It was also enough for both of them to see Harsh Shekhawat's rugged face.

She tried to get up but Harsh ran over to her and grabbed her hair again, pushing her back down on the ground.

"Leave me!" she screamed.

"D - Dad, leave her," Randhir said, struggling in his chair, trying to break free from the hold of the rope.

"I didn't bring the two of you here to leave you," Harsh Shekhawat said, "I brought you here son to witness her death today. You need to know that your father will never do something that's bad for you... you need to have faith in your father, and most importantly Randhir, you can't ever disobey him, otherwise the consequences will be severe."

Harsh let go of Sanyukta and went over to the dresser, where he had kept a sharp knife. He leaned back against it and Sanyukta fearfully sat up on the ground.

She noticed that she had just been lying on blood stains. The same ones she saw when she came here with Randhir. They probably had been Renuka Aunty's. This was probably the room where Renuka Aunty died.

"W - why do you hate me so much?" Sanyukta managed to say, her teeth chattering.

She tried to get up, but her body fell back down. She was too weak.

"You manipulated my son away from me," Harsh said simply. "Even when you were young, he would stick with you, and now when you are older, he is also sticking with you."

Harsh was calmly polishing his knife by the dresser and Randhir was still struggling in the chair.

"Okay dad. You want me to beg? I'll beg. Please don't do anything to her. I'm sorry for not trusting you. I'm sorry for leaving you. Please let her go," Randhir begged. "Please dad. Please!"

"Why are you begging for this girl?" Harsh asked, now slowly inching towards Sanyukta with the knife in his hand. "Yes, she has good looks. Is that why? I can find you better looking girls Randhir."

"Don't you understand love?" Randhir screamed. "Dad, I love her!"

Harsh fell to his knees and pulled on Sanyukta's hair to turn her around, so she was lying on her back. Then he slid his palm down her cheek.

"Of course I understand love son. I loved your mother... but she was only a traitor. I can't let this girl hurt you like your mother hurt me. I have to finish her off," Harsh said, his tone cold.

Then he turned to look at Randhir.

"You want to enjoy her, don't you?" he asked his son. "We can finish her off together once you get a chance with her."

Randhir felt like throwing up when his father spoke to him like that.

"H - he doesn't need a chance with me!" Sanyukta yelled. "He has all of me already. I'm his and only his! Even if you kill me today Harsh Shekhawat, I will never stop being his!"

"Ah look, so it looks like this little slut has already captured you. It seems like you already got your enjoyment with her. No problem, we will both enjoy and then we will finish her off. What say son?" Harsh asked.

Tears poured from Randhir's eyes and Harsh held the knife to Sanyukta's throat.

"Or would you like me to just finish her off right away?" Harsh asked Randhir, looking up at his son. "It's your choice."

171

Sanyukta was trembling fearfully under the knife that Harsh was holding to her throat, ready to slit it any moment. Randhir was shaking with fear on the chair, trying to calm down enough to think of a way to stop his dad.

"Randhir, just let him kill me," she cried. "D - don't try and buy time. Let me go with some dignity!"

Tears fell from Randhir's eyes and he struggled against the hold of the ropes again, the rough material burning his skin.

All of a sudden, he remembered his mother's soothing words from the dream. That dream had been nothing short of real for him.

Faith.

He had to have faith.

Who did he love more than the world right now? It was Sanyukta. Who did he want to trust more than he trusted himself? It was Sanyukta. He connected to Sanyukta the most in this world. Sure, she may not be perfect... but for him, she was God. If Sanyukta was his God, then he had to have faith in her. He had to have unimaginable faith. He had to believe that everything would be okay after all.

His mom coming into his dream earlier to teach him this had been an act done by God. It was nothing short of divine.

She had also said "an act of God can be an act done by your worst enemy"... if his father hadn't brought him and Sanyukta here, would he have ever been able to hear his mother's voice again? If he wasn't under such pressure, would he ever be able to feel this miracle?

Diamonds only formed under immense pressure. Although the process might have been traumatizing and heartbreaking, the inevitable end brought you out like a diamond.

Randhir looked at his father, who still had a snide smile on his face, who was still holding the knife to Sanyukta's throat. The difference was this time, he wasn't letting his emotions cloud him. The difference was that Randhir now had clarity and he knew what he had to do.

Thank you mom, or God, or whatever you are... thank you so much for this, he thought to himself.

"Dad you're right. You have raised me for twenty six years, I wouldn't be here without you. How can I forget what you have done for me?" Randhir asked. "You took my burden on your shoulders, and especially after mom's death, being a single parent wasn't an easy task... how could I forget this?"

Harsh looked at him with surprise, like he hadn't been expecting this sudden change of heart by his son.

"I don't love Sanyukta. She was just a time pass. She played hard to get, so that's why I was pulled towards her," Randhir continued. "I was going to get rid of her anyways after I was done with her. I wasn't going to kill her, but I was going to push her away... but if you say you want to get rid of her now, who am I to say no? I respect you the most in this world Dad. Let's enjoy her... but I want to enjoy her first. I want to get what I have been waiting for. She has fallen in my love trap, but I've never been able to make her mine. I want all of my desires satisfied. Will you give your son this pleasure?"

Harsh looked completely blown away, but he was so shocked, that he wasn't even able to register that this could be a plan by Randhir.

"Son, I don't know if you mean what you're saying... but you don't look sad at all... not anymore," Harsh told him.

Then he let go of a shivering Sanyukta, still holding the knife in his hands. He walked up to Randhir and started to untie his ropes.

"You can enjoy her to your hearts content, but remember Randhir, if you are playing with me, this is the end of it for you too," Harsh warned. "I will not spare you, nor will I spare her. Bring her straight to me when you are done. If you want, I will even give you the pleasure of killing her."

Harsh finished untying the ropes, now holding the knife against Randhir's throat.

Randhir slowly stood up and walked to Sanyukta with Harsh behind him, holding the knife against his throat.

"I don't think you're playing with me. You were always emotional like your mother. You can't hide your feelings so well," Harsh told him. "I will wait outside for you to finish... don't take too long. I will come back in ten minutes to check."

Randhir fell to his knees on the ground in front of a shivering Sanyukta and she looked up at him fearfully. He held her cheek firmly and leaned forward to kiss her.

"Don't waste your time," Harsh warned as Randhir's lips brushed over hers softly.

As soon as he saw that Randhir had bent down and wasn't in any position to attack, Harsh walked backwards and out of the room. Once his father left, Randhir reached under her and hugged her tightly.

Sanyukta hugged him back, still shivering fearfully.

"It'll be okay," he whispered in her ear. "Just follow my lead."

172

Aryan and Sanaya were driving aimlessly, not sure where they should be going.

"Are you sure they're unsafe?" Aryan asked Sanaya.

"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling," Sanaya said. "Harsh uncle has been nothing but nice to me, but the way he spoke about Sanyukta, I saw something in his eyes, like anger or hatred... at first I thought I was imagining, but now I'm having doubts."

"What else did he say? C'mon Sanaya, he must have said something that gives a hint," Aryan probed further.

"I don't know," Sanaya said, "All I know is he said that Sanyukta lied to Randhir she was raped by him and separated father and son."

"By Randhir's dad?" Aryan gasped loudly.

Sanaya nodded slowly, tears in her eyes.

"It's hard to say because I can't imagine him doing anything like that, but I don't know..." she mumbled.

"I don't think she's lying Sanaya. Sanyukta wouldn't lie like that and... she really was raped. Even when I used to hold her wrist, she would get nervous. We need to go to her house and find her mom," Aryan decided. "She might know Harsh Shekhawat best... she would know where they went."

"Oh yeah... we followed Randhir and Sanyukta from her house to that field," Sanaya said, sounding guilty.

Aryan just ignored her and sped towards Sanyukta's house, deciding that right now what was most important was to find her.

Inside the deserted house of the Shekhawat's, Randhir broke his embrace with Sanyukta and cupped her face lovingly, before placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Can you walk?" he whispered.

"I - I think so," she replied softly.

Randhir helped her stand up but she fell against him. She still felt dizzy.

"I won't let anything happen to you. You trust me right?" he asked her quietly.

"More than I trust myself," she replied, and this time she meant it.

When Randhir was talking to her father and taking his side with so much confidence, she didn't have a doubt in her mind that he was pretending... she knew that whatever he was doing, was for the best. Now, she was even willing to say, if he left her here and ran away, it would be because he loved her... she could never hate him, not anymore.

"We can't go from the front because dad's there. The window to this room is boarded up from the outside, so we won't be able to escape that way either... the only way is to draw his attention somewhere else," Randhir said, and then he looked like he was in deep thought. "Our cellphones aren't even here with us."

"Randhir, you know when I was passed out, I had a kind of vision or dream... your mom was talking to me and she was saying she would come to my rescue," Sanyukta whispered. "I think she's here in this house."

"What?" Randhir asked, sounding confused.

"I mean, I don't know... her presence is here. Not like a ghost... I can't explain it. I think she'll really save us," Sanyukta said sincerely.

"If I didn't have a similar dream before I woke up, I would say you have lost it," he told her lightly. "But she told me that an act of God can be an act done by anybody... which means it can be through us, through my dad, or through someone or something else."

All of a sudden they heard thunder and it started to rain heavily outside.

Sanyukta hugged him tightly, burying her face in his neck, inhaling the scent of his sweat.

"It'll be okay," he murmured, rubbing her back gently. "She's watching over us. This is her house. She won't watch her children get hurt here. I have a plan."

He broke the hug and placed his lips over her ear, whispering the plan to her. She looked up at him with wide eyes.

"It's dangerous," she told him.

"We can do it," he said, and he squeezed her hand tightly.

"We will do it," she replied and she squeezed his hand back, a smile now on her lips.

173

After Aryan and Sanaya explained the situation to Anju, Anju had a shocked expression on her face. Anju then took a deep breath and nodded, indicated that she knew where they would be.

"I know Harsh. He would tend to make it symbolic. Most likely, they went to his old house," Anju told the two of them.

"Let's go!" Sanaya said to Aryan.

Anju got up and started to follow them but Aryan stopped her.

"Aunty, we'll go and bring them back safely," Aryan urged. "You stay here and rest."

"No," Anju responded stubbornly. "I'm coming too."

Aryan sighed defeatedly and ran out of the house after Sanaya, with Anju running after him.

At the Shekhawat mansion, Randhir and Sanyukta stood behind the door. When Harsh opened the door, the plan would be that Randhir would grab his arms and throw the knife away from his hands before holding him down to the ground. Then they would run out of there.

Finally after a few minutes, Harsh knocked on the door.

"I hope you're done son. I'm getting sleepy," Harsh said.

Randhir just kept quiet and Harsh opened the door. As per their plan, Randhir grabbed Harsh's arm, to knock the knife out, but Harsh's grip on it was too strong. Instead Harsh pushed Randhir backwards.

Randhir balanced himself in such a way so that he fell back, pushing Sanyukta down on the ground with him. Falling face first, on top of Sanyukta, he shielded her body with his.

"This was too good to be true. Surely my son couldn't have had a change of heart over night," Harsh said, shaking his head. "It's a pity that I will have to hurt you Randhir, because any spilled blood of mine is blood that has gone to waste."

Sanyukta was shivering below him.

"Focus," he whispered in her ear and she stopped trembling, allowing herself to feel the warmth of his body on hers.

This warmth was comforting.

"Will you get off her or do you want her to watch you die?" Harsh asked coldly.

Randhir slowly got off Sanyukta, before standing up straight. Then he grabbed Harsh's collar, trying to push him down on the ground. The knife sliced through his arm, causing him to feel an immense amount of pain, but Randhir kept his cool. He could feel the wet blood soaking his shirt and he wasn't successful in pushing Harsh backwards.

His mom had said this world was an illusion. What was being shown, was only to teach him. Even this pain had a purpose, a lesson, a meaning. Even if he lost today, it would teach him something valuable.

"Sorry Randhir," Harsh said, pushing Randhir down on the ground again. "I really didn't want to hurt you. Believe me."

Sanyukta managed to shakily get up and she charged at Harsh Shekhawat. Harsh who was focused on Randhir, hadn't noticed Sanyukta run up to him from behind him and push him forward. The knife fell out of his hands and Randhir grabbed it immediately as Harsh fell face first on the ground.

He was about to get up, but Sanyukta sat on his back, pressing her hands on his shoulders, to keep him down on the ground.

"You killed mom here," Randhir told him. "But mom is protecting us. We are her children. You think blood is all? Blood isn't everything. Mom accepted Sanyukta as her own daughter. Anju Aunty accepted me as her own son."

"It's all fake!" Harsh sneered.

"No dad, it's not fake. I don't know why you don't understand this. I know your thoughts lead you to do horrendous things. You were a victim of your mind... you weren't able to realize that your mind used you, and now you are here, with nothing. You lost your wife, your son, your life," Randhir told his dad. "I don't have room in my heart to hate you dad. Not because you're my father, but because my heart has been filled with love. It's too busy loving to hate anyone. For that, I can't hurt you... but I know you will be taken care of."

They heard the front door burst open and Aryan, Sanaya, and Anju ran into the house, with a few police officers behind them. They had called the police as soon as they saw that the house had been broken into.

Harsh looked up at Anju and smirked.

"Ah, Anju, we meet again," he said coldly, seemingly unperturbed by the appearance of police officers. "How could I forget the relationship we once shared."

Sanyukta, who was still sitting on top of Harsh's back, exchanged a look of confusion with Randhir.

174

The police officers pointed their gun at Harsh, and Sanyukta slowly got off his back and ran towards Randhir, whose arm was still bleeding heavily.

"Come on Anju, tell them about your relationship with me," Harsh said snidely. "Why won't you speak up? Let them know your true colours."

Anju took a deep breath and tears filled her eyes.

"Which person doesn't have a past?" she asked him, her voice cracking. "It doesn't matter what our relationship was. Right now, you just stay away from both Randhir and Sanyukta. They are both my children."

"Too ashamed to say it?" Harsh asked with a sly smile as the officers were busy handcuffing him and pulling him up to his feet. "Let me say it for you then. I won't go without dragging you down with me today Anju."

"Mom what's going on?" Sanyukta asked, sounding confused.

"Dear, your mother and father would get into fights at home," Harsh told Sanyukta, who cringed as he called her dear. "One night, your mom came to find her dear friend Renuka, but Renuka wasn't home. I was home."

"Harsh stop speaking!" Anju screamed. "It doesn't matter. The past is the past!"

"I'm not going without exposing you today," Harsh said coldly. "Sanyukta dear, you can only guess what happened next."

"It was a moment of weakness," Anju sobbed. "It was years before they were born. I regretted it right away - it was only one time."

Randhir looked at Anju with shock, then back at Sanyukta. Sanyukta looked shocked too.

"You cheated on dad?" she gasped.

"Sanyu, it was one time. I wasn't in my senses. I needed comforting, and only he was there... I didn't know at that time how disgusting he would be. He used to be nice," Anju whispered, tears falling from her eyes.

"Ah Sanaya," Harsh then said loudly, noticing his ideal daughter-in-law behind Anju. "You came back after all. Didn't I tell you to stay in the hotel?"

"I didn't know you were like this," Sanaya whispered. "I didn't know how full of lies you are. I didn't know how horrible you are. I trusted you... but now my trust is broken."

Sanaya then started to cry and Randhir instinctively reached out to hold her, but Aryan got to her first.

"It'll be okay," Aryan told her, as Sanaya's head fell on his shoulder.

Sanyukta rested her own head on Randhir's shoulder as the police dragged Harsh Shekhawat out. Randhir pulled away from Sanyukta and walked up to Anju.

"Randhir, your arm is bleeding," Anju said, holding Randhir's hand.

Randhir just looked at her blankly.

"I know I've fallen in your eyes," she whispered.

"Mom, you've forgiven me for something I never deserved forgiveness for. If a mother could forgive her child, why can't a child a child forgive their mother?" he replied softly. "I don't have any resentment towards you. You're my mom, and you always will be, no matter what you may have done in the past. Everyone makes mistakes, but it won't change that I love you... and I trust you."

Anju started to cry uncontrollably, and Randhir wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

Sanyukta walked up to the two of them as well, looking away from her mom, unable to meet her eyes.

"Randhir, we should get you to a hospital," Sanyukta said. "There's too much blood."

"I'll be fine," he replied.

Sanyukta glared at him.

"Stop being too much of a hero and let's go," she snapped.

Anju broke the hug and looked at Sanyukta, who was already walking away.

"Sanyu?" Anju called.

Sanyukta ignored her and walked towards the entrance of the house. Randhir looked at Anju apologetically and followed Sanyukta out.

175

Randhir followed Sanyukta into the pouring rain outside. Sanaya ran up to the two of them.

"It's raining outside. Aryan is just getting Anju Aunty and coming. We will take you," Sanaya told them.

"I'm not going if my mom is in the same car," Sanyukta replied stubbornly.

"Sanyukta, being this angry isn't good," Randhir told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She's your mom."

Sanyukta held back tears as Aryan walked out with Anju. He opened the passenger door for Anju and Anju got in.

Sanyukta glared at the car angrily.

"Please come inside?" Randhir asked her softly. "For me?"

"Fine," she whispered. "Just for you."

Sanaya got into the back first, and Randhir followed her in, sitting in the middle. Sanyukta sat on the other side of Randhir.

In the car, Sanaya explained the whole story of how they found them.

"I'm sorry," Sanaya then said. "If I knew his intentions were this bad, I would have never agreed."

"It's fine," Randhir replied. "He manipulated you. It wasn't your fault."

"Yeah," Sanyukta agreed. "Don't worry about it Sanaya."

Once Aryan pulled into the hospital, Anju got out too. When she saw Sanyukta's piercing eyes glare at her, she said, "I'm going to visit your father."

Sanyukta just took Randhir's hand and took him further inside the hospital, away from her mom.

Aryan parked the car and then went into the hospital with Sanaya.

"You didn't have to come in," Sanyukta said to the two of them when they approached them.

"I know. We just wanted to support you," Aryan explained. "And Sanaya has something she wants to say. She wasn't sure if she should have said it earlier in front of Anju."

"Tell him in a few minutes. We'll get his arm bandaged and then we'll come out," Sanyukta said. "He's lost too much blood already."

Sanaya nodded and Sanyukta took Randhir inside the room, where a doctor was waiting to tend to his wounds. After his arm was bandaged, the doctor stepped outside to go to another room. Randhir was still setting on the hospital bed. He was about to stand up, when Sanyukta stepped in between his legs.

She cupped his face in her hands and kissed his lips softly.

"Sanyukta you want to do this here?" he asked her incredulously.

"I just wanted to kiss you," she replied, tears in her eyes. "I truly thought that at one moment, I would have lost you. I never thought I would be able to feel you like this again. I never thought I would be able to hold you, to be close to you, to - to talk to you."

Randhir reached up and wiped the tears that had fallen from her eyes.

"I won't ever leave you. I'm always here," he told her firmly. "We'll go home and talk."

She nodded and followed Randhir out of the room into the waiting area where Sanaya and Aryan were still waiting.

"I just wanted to tell you that your boss Nirmaan called me and told me if you wouldn't respond to his calls by the end of the week, he'd fire you," Sanaya told him right away. "Nirmaan said it's too much... you can't do this."

"I'll talk to him," Randhir answered. "Thanks Sanaya."

"W - what about the stuff in our apartment in Canada? All your stuff? What do you want me to do with it?" Sanaya asked him.

"I'll tell you," Randhir told her. "Right now, Sanyukta is really tired. I have to get her home."

Sanaya nodded and smiled at Sanyukta.

"He loves you a lot," Sanaya pointed out.

Sanyukta smiled back at Sanaya and held Randhir's hand more tightly.

"I know," Sanyukta replied with a happy smile.

"Should we drop you?" Aryan asked.

"No," Randhir responded. "Wait for Anju Aunty and bring her home. We'll get home on our own."

Aryan nodded and Randhir started to walk away with Sanyukta. As they were walking out, Sanyukta rested her head on Randhir's shoulder, happy to have found such a loving life partner.

176

At home, they went to Randhir's room, and he sat down on his bed. Sanyukta was going through his wardrobe, trying to find clothes for him to change into.

Finally finding nightclothes, she walked back up to him on the bed and stood between his legs. Placing his clothes on the bed next to him, she started to unbutton his shirt, looking into his eyes the whole time.

It was only when his gaze shifted to her lips, that her heart started to beat much more quickly and she placed her lips over his, kissing him passionately. He pulled her down on his lap, his shirt half-unbuttoned, and responded to her kiss with just as much need.

Sanyukta automatically moved her hands to his belt and quickly unbuckled it as Randhir started to kiss her ear.

"You're so sexy," he whispered into her ear, turning her on even more. "I want you so badly."

Her hands brushed over his crotch and his hands slid up her legs, pulling her closer to him. As she shivered with desire against him, he began to kiss her neck.

On the other side of town, Anju was sitting next to Kishore's bedside at the hospital.

"Sanyu hates me," she was saying, her face pressed against her husband's arm. "It was almost thirty years ago that this happened. I'm a different person now. I made a big mistake."

She sniffled.

"We already had an arranged marriage so things were difficult for us, but that night I just couldn't take how you were yelling at me, so I went to find our friend Renuka," she whispered. "She wasn't home. Harsh was home. I told him what happened, and he was our friend too then. I was crying and he hugged me... I told him that I didn't think you loved me. I was so vulnerable... so emotionally weak at the time. Maybe he took advantage of that, but it was equally my fault. I didn't even push him away. I regretted it right away. That was the one and only time. I never was able to look at him properly after that."

Anju lifted her head and looked at her husband's sleeping figure.

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry," she whispered to him. "I was a mess... I was different. I was immature. I made a bad mistake... maybe you won't be able to forgive me for this, but after thirty years, a past I thought I had left behind is coming back to haunt us... I really hope it doesn't break us. I love you Kishore. I know back then it was hard to accept because we just got into an arranged marriage, but I slowly fell in love with you, and now I really love you... I can't lose you... I really can't."

Anju then cried some more, and placed her head on his chest, until she fell asleep in the hospital room.

At home, Sanyukta was lying on top of Randhir, after they made love. She was massaging his bandaged arm lovingly.

"I know you're upset with your mom, but Sanyukta it happened so long ago," Randhir pointed out. "We weren't even born. She isn't even the same person now."

"My image of my mom was perfect. I thought she was perfect," Sanyukta confessed. "I never expected her to do this."

"We've made mistakes too Sanyukta," he told her. "Why are you forgiving me when I left you, when I embarrassed you, when I sent your father into a coma? Why can't you forgive your mom, but you can forgive me?"

Sanyukta sat up on the bed and glared at him, before breathing sharply.

"You're right," she snapped, then she angrily stormed out of the room, leaving Randhir lying there alone.