102

Renuka looked at Sanyukta with shock as her daughter-in-law confirmed that she was carrying the child of her husband's brother.

"Randhir's?" Renuka asked.

She found a chair and fell on top of it, clutching her chest, as if she had just been stabbed in the heart.

"I'm so sorry. I... I loved Randhir and... and he loved me," Sanyukta cried, her heart aching. "We... we loved each other a lot b - but he was very hurt when my truth c - came out so he didn't try to stop the marriage... and I haven't even s - slept with Rehaan... this baby is R - Randhir's."

Renuka's own eyes filled with tears as she realized the severity of this situation.

"You should have told me," Renuka told her.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I really, really am... but now I am stuck. What should I do?"

"Harsh and Rehaan won't spare you if they know the truth. Harsh will keep you until you give birth then he'll finish you off," Renuka informed.

"But then Randhir's career is over too. I can't do that to him. I don't care about my life... but I can't hurt Randhir," Sanyukta said, her heart aching. "I only made love with Randhir once... just once. I never saw him again."

"Okay," Renuka said, taking a deep breath. "I know this is hard, but we have to be smart, or else there are many lives which will be ruined."

"Smart?" Sanyukta asked.

"Sleep with Rehaan. We won't tell anyone how far along you are. Next month you can reveal you're pregnant, and in the end, we'll cover it up as a premature delivery. Nobody will investigate this. They're too involved in their own politics," Renuka said. "I don't want anything to happen to Randhir either. I am disappointed, but I know how you were forced into this marriage. It isn't completely your fault. Can you do that?"

Her heart hurt, but she nodded.

"Good. After this, move on with Rehaan. I love Rehaan as much as I love Randhir. I don't want him to suffer in his married life. Give him the love of a wife," Renuka ordered. "Can you do that too?"

Sanyukta nodded again.

"For this child and for Randhir, I can do anything," she whispered painfully.

103

That night, she waited for Rehaan in her room, knowing that she was about to do the most difficult thing. What Renuka told her was the only way out. She knew her mother-in-law was not at fault for suggesting this, but the only way to save everyone would be this.

When Rehaan entered the room, he looked surprised to see Sanyukta sitting on the bed and not already lying down with her eyes closed in an attempt to avoid him again.

"Hey," he said to her.

"Hi," she squeaked, her heart pounding furiously.

"You aren't tired today?" he asked.

She stood up and walked up to him, placing her hands on his arms.

"I'm ready," she forced herself to say. "I'm ready to be yours."

The oldest Shekhawat looked shocked that Sanyukta had confessed such a thing.

"Really?" he asked her, sounding like he didn't believe it.

She nodded.

"It has to happen someday. You're right. It's better to just do it," she told him.

"Okay then," Rehaan said, and placed his hands on her cheeks, cradling her face gently, and leaned towards her to close the gap between their lips.

Later that night, Sanyukta was lying next to Rehaan, tears in her eyes, feeling shaken inside by what she had just done. He had his arm around her. Sanyukta moved it to the side and put on her clothes, before slipping out of the room, needing to escape from here. She needed some air, otherwise she would throw up again.

She tiptoed downstairs and opened the door to the backyard where there was a patio. As she sat outside and inhaled the cool night air, she heard a voice behind her and she squeezed her eyes shut.

She hadn't come out here to make this harder for herself.

"It's a nice day today, isn't it?" Randhir asked.

Sanyukta turned to look at him and stood up. She was about to ignore him and walk into the house, when he caught her arm and pulled her back.

"Let go of me," she said painfully.

"Why can't you talk to me for once instead of running away?" he asked her.

"There is nothing left to say anymore. Whatever we had is now over," Sanyukta replied, her heart aching. "And it's going to stay that way."

"So you don't love me anymore?" he asked her.

Sanyukta looked up into his eyes, and for a split second, she thought that she was about to tell him she did.

104

"No, I don't," Sanyukta said and his grip on her arm loosened and she walked back into the house, avoiding him yet again. The truth was that she was afraid that if she spoke to him, she would lose her self-control again. She didn't want to give him hopes, nor did she want herself to get any.

She was a married woman, and today she had completed her marriage. Sanyukta went upstairs and got back into bed. Rehaan wrapped his arm around her again, snuggling into her and she closed her eyes, allowing him to hold her.

She had to be his wife now.

The next month passed by quickly and finally they revealed her pregnancy to the family. Renuka told Harsh first, who sounded happy that he would have a grandchild. Sanyukta told Rehaan, who had hugged her out of happiness. Everyone was happy... but they hadn't told Randhir yet.

Sanyukta was avoiding him, so she didn't say anything. Renuka also didn't know how to tell her son that the girl he loved more than his life was pregnant with someone else's child. He wouldn't know the truth that the child was really his.

Finally, Randhir found out from Parth.

"Don't get upset but there's something you need to know," Parth informed Randhir one night, entering his older brother's room.

"What?" Randhir asked.

He was sitting on his bed, on his phone.

"Sanyukta's pregnant," Parth said quickly and caught his breath.

Randhir looked up angrily.

"What?" he hissed.

"She's pregnant. One month along," Parth said.

Randhir stood up and threw his phone on the side. Then he pushed past Parth to find out for himself if this was true.

Sanyukta was in her room, sitting on her bed and massaging her hands with lotion, when Randhir forcefully entered. She looked up, expecting it to be Rehaan, but when she saw it was Randhir, she looked shocked.

Randhir locked the door behind him and her mouth dropped open.

"Are you crazy?" she hissed. "This is not your room. If Rehaan sees you in this room with the door locked, he'll kill us both."

"He scares you?" Randhir asked, approaching her and grabbing her arms, pulling her up to her feet.

"No it's not that... it's not right," she said. "Please just leave Randhir. I'm begging you."

"You're pregnant?" he asked her.

Sanyukta's breath caught in her throat as she realized why he was here.

"Yes," she told him painfully. "Four weeks."

"Rehaan's the father then?" Randhir asked.

"Of course. Who else would it be?" she asked, avoiding his gaze.

"How could you?" he hissed. "How could you sleep with Rehaan?"

She pulled her arm away from his grip and glared at him angrily.

"He's my husband, and you're nobody to be asking me that question," she snapped. "So get out of here before I scream."

"I'm nobody to you?" he asked, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, nobody," she pressed on. "Get out!"

He grabbed her neck and she closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks.

"I still love you and here you've moved on," Randhir said sarcastically. "You're happy. You're pregnant... starting a family!"

"Yes, I am. So?" she managed to say, finding it hard to breathe. "You were with Vidhushi on the day you were supposed to save me from the marriage... you failed to save me, so now you're blaming me? If I could move on, it's all thanks to you. And - and I'm happy I have Rehaan. He's the best I ever had... and he is nice to me. Thank you for pointing me in this direction... but now I don't need you anymore."

She didn't mean a word she said, but she couldn't give him any hopes anymore. If he was willing to hate her, then she had to allow him to.

Randhir's hand around her neck loosened and she immediately felt guilty upon seeing the pain reflecting in his eyes.

105

They weren't meant for each other and Randhir needed to understand that. She didn't know how he could still have hopes after all of this. This pregnancy would destroy any remaining hope that Randhir had.

"You really are manipulative," he told her, sounding heartbroken. "You don't need me anymore? You're talking like you used me."

"I did. I used you because I didn't want to marry Rehaan... now I love Rehaan," she whispered, looking away. "I am in love with my husband and I don't need anyone else. Let me be happy."

Randhir stumbled backwards, as if her words had just been a painful blow to his chest and he couldn't keep himself standing.

"You fucking -" he started and then took a deep breath. "I hope you go through hell. I hope Rehaan puts you to your place because you deserve that only."

Before he could show her the tears that were painfully filling his eyes, he left the room and walked off to his own room. Sanyukta collapsed on the bed after he left.

"Oh Randhir, how do I tell you that every second is hell for me? But you know... once you've been living in hell for a little while, you become used to it. I've accepted my life... now please accept yours," she cried. "I know you love me and it's hard but we can't be together. We aren't meant to be."

She placed her hand on her belly and caressed it lovingly.

"It will be okay," she said to the her belly, her voice cracking. "Daddy loves you... he's just saying things he doesn't mean."

106

Randhir didn't know what happened to him. He was in his room, trying to understand what was happening. He knew she was married to Rehaan, yet the thought of her sleeping with Rehaan hadn't crossed his mind.

How could he expect any different? She was in the same room as his older brother. She was his wife. Of course she'd sleep with him.

He wiped his tears away and picked up his phone, dialing Vidhushi's number after a long time.

She picked up on the first ring as usual.

"Hello?" she said.

"Vidhushi," Randhir said, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry. I know I hurt you a lot... I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Vidhushi replied.

"I think there's something seriously wrong with me," Randhir said, hoarsely. "I wasn't on time that day and now I'm paying."

"Even if you were on time, what could you have done?" Vidhushi asked softly. "It isn't your fault."

"It's my fault. It's all my fault," he said. "I am pathetic. I'm a loser. I lost everyone to Rehaan."

"Don't say that," Vidhushi urged.

"I'm coming to see you," Randhir then said and hung up the phone before grabbing his jacket and car keys and going downstairs.

He never took the driver when he went to see Vidhushi. On the way out of the house, he bumped into Rehaan and glared at his older brother.

"What?" Rehaan asked.

"You are a fucking ass," Randhir swore. "You got your wife pregnant? It was a forced marriage and you forced yourself on her?"

"Are you crazy? She was completely willing and happy," Rehaan snapped. "Why do you care anyways?"

"I don't care if she was willing... this marriage wasn't valid," Randhir said, sounding lost.

Then he stumbled out the front door. Rehaan watched his brother go, shocked. Why was Randhir acting so weird?

107

Two weeks later, Rehaan had to go out of town for a few days on a business trip. Sanyukta had gone upstairs late, having spent longer than usual explaining some concepts to Parth in his tutoring session. Once she entered her room, she saw that it was dark... but she felt a strange presence. She turned on the light and saw Randhir there. He had been drinking, with a bottle of whiskey clutched in his hand.

"There you are," Randhir said.

Her mouth fell open with shock. Why was he doing this to himself? She walked up to him and took the bottle from his hand gently and placed it on the side.

"You shouldn't be here," Sanyukta said. "Leave."

Randhir shook his head and sat down on Rehaan's bed.

"So this is where you and him..." he started, and tears filled his eyes.

Sanyukta went to the door and locked it. Randhir showed no sign of leaving and she couldn't have anyone walk in on this. She walked back up to him and held his hand, trying to pull him up so she could push him out the door.

He was too heavy though and unwilling to stand up.

"Randhir, please," she begged. "Don't do this."

"You can be his," Randhir slurred and then looked at her, pulling his hand off, causing her to fall on top of him on the bed. "But you can't stop being mine. You were mine first and you always will be mine."

Sanyukta gasped as she realized what he was saying. She tried to get off, but he had wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.

"Randhir, you're drunk. Please, please this isn't right," she begged.

"He won't come here. We won't tell him," he murmured.

"No," she said. "No Randhir!"

"Yes," he said, and turned her over on the bed, his hands reaching up and caressing her hair.

"You've lost it. Move," she ordered, trying to push him off. "I'll scream."

"You won't scream," he told her and leaned towards her, causing her breath to catch in her throat and tears to fill her eyes.

As if it wasn't painful already, he was making it worse for her by coming to her in this condition.

"Please," she begged. "Don't do this with me."

108

Today she felt the most betrayed. Randhir only saw her as an object too. A sexual toy he could use whenever he wanted and dispose of upon his will. He was no different from the rest of the men in society... after all, he had also been brought up here. How could she expect any different?

"Stop," she begged, but her voice was weak.

She didn't have it in her to scream and expose him. Perhaps if it was someone else in his place she would have screamed loudly... but if anyone found out about Randhir, he would be ruined. As much as she despised what he was doing, she couldn't ruin him. She just didn't have it in her.

He placed his lips on her neck and sucked on it hard, her eyes filling with tears. There wasn't love in the way he was doing this to her... it was all done out of ego. His ego was broken that she could leave him for his brother, and he had just come back to show her that he could use her too.

Their clothes didn't even come off properly. He had her under her sari and she stopped struggling once he entered her. Tears filled her eyes and she closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around him. At least she could hold him now that she was left with no more options to retaliate.

He forced himself upon her... because she was a girl and she was an easy target.

After he was done, he zipped his pants back up and grabbed his bottle of whiskey.

"You deserve only that," he hissed darkly.

He was too drunk to realize what he did. He stumbled out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Sanyukta lay on her bed, like a corpse... if she wasn't carrying a child right now, maybe she would have killed herself.

His act was beyond redemption.

When the man she loved more than anything else forced himself on her, it was the most heartbreaking feeling.

Nothing could justify their togetherness now... she was a living corpse, and now she would stay that way. She wouldn't feel anymore. She would throw aside her emotions and continue to live... she was a girl, and this was what she was - a toy that men used and played around with as if she had no feelings, no hopes, no aspirations.

She was broken beyond repair and had lost herself somewhere in the night.

Would she ever be able to see daylight again?

109

Randhir woke up the next morning on the floor in his room, the empty bottle of whiskey on the ground next to him. What happened last night? He tried hard to remember... he had gone to Sanyukta's room and... oh no.

He stood up and rushed to her room. The door was still unlocked from last night. She was lying still and was staring at the ceiling, looking like a zombie. Like she wasn't living at all.

"Shit," he swore and rushed up to her, placing his hands on her face.

She looked at him and closed her eyes, expecting him to use her again. He sat her up and held her close.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry. I was drunk... I didn't know what I was doing."

"When you're drunk your true feelings come out," Sanyukta managed to say. "It's okay."

He let go of her and she was about to fall back on the bed, having no willpower left in her anymore, but he caught her and laid her down slowly.

"I'm a girl. I deserve this," she said, looking away from him. "I'm a girl who committed the biggest sin. Love."

Randhir felt helpless. He felt oppressed.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed. "Sanyukta..."

"If you are sorry, then you won't talk to me anymore. You won't look at me anymore. You won't think about me anymore," she whispered, looking up at him. "You will let me live. You won't try to kill me again."

He reached out to touch her but she sat up and got out of bed.

"It's okay. Your ego was beyond your love for me," Sanyukta stated. "You couldn't stand losing to your brother, so you came to make things even... it's okay. Just like I'm blinded by love, you're blinded by ego."

Then she walked off into the bathroom to get ready for the day to put a fake smile on her face... to hide what he had done, once again.

110

Randhir stayed away from her for the next six months of her pregnancy. He didn't talk to her or interact with her in any way. Soon, she gave birth to a baby girl and felt upset.

"I don't want her to suffer," Sanyukta told Renuka in the hospital room. "I don't want her to suffer like we did. It would be better if she died in my womb."

"Don't say that," Renuka said, holding Sanyukta's daughter. "It'll be okay."

Sanyukta started to cry and Renuka placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I hate how this world treats us women. We're a toy, forced to compromise. We have no say, nothing! Our lives are ruled by men. Why? And why can't we do anything about it?" she asked.

"She won't suffer. She will be okay," Renuka told her softly. "I promise. Just hold on for a little bit. They will treat her well. She's a girl of the family."

"Nobody treats a girl well," Sanyukta said bitterly.

She took her daughter from Renuka.

"What do you want to name her?" Renuka asked.

"Vidya," Sanyukta replied. "I want to name her Vidya."

"It's a beautiful name," Renuka said with a warm smile.

Sanyukta managed to smile back at her mother-in-law. When they took the baby back home, Rehaan held her in his arms.

"I'll shield you from the world," Rehaan muttered to his daughter. "I won't ever let you out in this society where men can attack you."

So this was where the idea came from to keep daughter's home. Men knew how they themselves behaved, so they kept daughter's confined within the four walls of the house.

Sanyukta took Vidya back in her arms and went to her room with her baby... determined to shield her daughter, but not in the way that Rehaan wanted to.

111

It was Parth who told Randhir that Sanyukta brought her baby home.

"Are you okay?" Parth asked, noticing that Randhir was sitting at his desk with his head down.

Randhir looked up at Parth. He knew that Sanyukta had gone into labour and he knew Rehaan wasn't with her. He wished he could be with her, but he knew he lost any right to support her at all. He himself had become her biggest enemy. His drunken mistake cost him his own self-respect and he had fallen in his own eyes. Six months had passed, but he could not erase the memory.

"I'm fine," Randhir said.

"It's a girl. Sanyukta brought her home... her name is Vidya," Parth said.

"She was born really fast, wasn't she?" Randhir asked.

"Yeah, premature delivery mom said," Parth replied.

"Did you see the baby?" Randhir asked.

"She's cute," Parth said with a shrug. "I got to hold her too. Sanyukta's in her room."

He had the urge to see the baby, but he knew that he had no right to go near Sanyukta or her child.

"She's also sleeping and Rehaan went out," Parth said, as if he read Randhir's mind. "The baby is in the crib."

Randhir nodded and stood up. Parth followed him out of his room and then disappeared into his own. Randhir slipped into Sanyukta's room quietly, where she was lying on her side, fast asleep. The baby had her eyes open in the crib.

As he looked at Vidya, his eyes filled with tears and he was hit with a strange sense of familiarity. He walked up to the baby and picked her up in his arms, unaware that he was holding his own daughter.

"You are cute," he murmured. "Just like your mom."

Sanyukta's eyes opened and she turned around and watched her baby's father hold her baby. Her heart ached at the sight.

112

Sanyukta sat up on her bed and watched silently as Randhir cradled his daughter in his arms. Her eyes were holding back tears. If only everything could be fine between them, then he wouldn't need to witness his niece today, but rather he would be holding his daughter.

Randhir leaned towards Vidya and kissed her forehead. Her big eyes were watching him too... as if the baby herself was engrossed in her father.

"I thought I would hate you," he admitted honestly. "But I can't. I can't hate you... you aren't at fault."

Sanyukta sniffled and Randhir turned to watch her. Tears were spilling from her eyes and Randhir couldn't help it... he walked up to her with the baby in one arm. He used his fingers to brush away the tears that fell.

She felt love in his touch after a long time and she leaned into his hand, desperately wishing she could tell him that this was his baby. But she couldn't. She was helpless.

"I'm sorry," he murmured and held the baby out for her.

She shook her head.

"You can hold her. It's okay," she whispered painfully.

"No I can't. She's your baby. I had no right to... I'm sorry," he apologized.

Sanyukta took Vidya in her arms and kissed her daughter's forehead, in the exact spot where Randhir had kissed her earlier.

"I don't want her to grow up to a society where it's difficult for her to live," she admitted. "I don't want her to suffer the fate as us girls... I want her to be free. I want her to run outside freely without fearing of danger."

Randhir reached out and caressed the small tuft of hair on the baby's head.

"I will help you," he told her. "I know it's men like me you want to protect her from... but I will help regardless."

Sanyukta nodded sadly.

"Thanks... but you don't need to worry. She's not your daughter, she's mine. I don't need any favours," she whispered. "I don't need anything."

"You need support," he told her firmly. "And Rehaan is not going to give it to you."

"You can't ever give me the support I'm seeking. You hurt me more than anyone else ever did," she told him bitterly. "I know you want to help but the biggest help you can be is by staying away from me... and Vidya."

Randhir's eyes filled with tears and he stood up, pain in his chest.

"Okay. I deserve only that," he told her, his voice cracking.

Then he walked out of the room, leaving more tears to fall from Sanyukta's eyes. She held Vidya to her chest and sobbed bitterly.

113

Sometimes the most painful times were the ones we were living in. One year passed and Vidya was growing up. Randhir watched as Sanyukta would slowly smile when she was with her daughter, as if that was the one ray of light in this dark world that she was holding on to.

Randhir felt lighter seeing Sanyukta smile. It was like she was finally coming out of the depression that she had drowned herself in. Rehaan was out of the house more than often and Randhir knew that he was seeing other women. He knew that Sanyukta was aware too, but she didn't seem to care.

One day, Sanyukta was in the living room, on her knees, trying to teach Vidya to walk when she cried, "Mummma!"

Mumma had been her first word, the only word she knew how to say. Randhir smiled as he watched the sight in front of him. He had entered the room to watch the news since the elections were happening in a month and Harsh would announce his successor in these new presidential elections.

He didn't know whether it would be him, but he had done a lot of hard work for his dad in the last year. Hopefully it paid off.

Vidya looked up and saw her uncle Randhir. He hadn't interacted with her much, but the few small interactions they had definitely built a connection in the little one's heart.

"Aaaagaaa!" Vidya said, pointing at Randhir.

Sanyukta looked up and was surprised to see Randhir standing there in the living room.

"Hi," Randhir said.

"Hi," she replied, looking down at her daughter.

Randhir walked up to them and fell to his knees beside Sanyukta. She looked shocked to see him joining her, but didn't say a word to him.

"She looks a lot like you," Randhir commented.

No, she looks like you, Sanyukta wanted to say, but instead she kept her mouth shut.

"I know you're wondering why I came here... I came to watch the news... and say hi," he said, looking ahead.

"Okay," Sanyukta said.

Vidya, who was holding Sanyukta's wrists, let go and reached out for Randhir. Randhir was about to extend his arm out to hold her, but Sanyukta grabbed his arm, stopping him. He looked at Sanyukta with surprise. Vidya would fall.

"Step back," she ordered.

Randhir nodded and moved back.

Vidya looked like she was about to lose her balance, and Randhir reached out again, but Sanyukta grabbed his hand, stopping him once more.

The one year old took a step forward, towards Randhir and Sanyukta smiled victoriously.

"Yes!" she said happily, and turned around to hug Randhir with a big grin on her face.

As soon as her arms extended though, she realized who Randhir was and dropped them to her sides.

"Sorry," she said.

Randhir smiled.

"I'm glad I could help," he said as Vidya fell towards him.

Randhir picked his daughter up in his arms and stood up. He held his hand up.

"High five!" he told her.

Vidya smacked his hand with her small one and started to giggle. Randhir kissed her on the cheek and Sanyukta just watched with a small smile on her face, unable to ignore the warm feeling in her heart as she watched the father bond with his daughter.

114

If there was something that kept him going, it was watching her smile. For the last year and a half, ever since he had committed that grave mistake, he wished he could turn it around. He saw her turn into more and more of a corpse as time passed, and it was only after the birth of her daughter that she began to recover. He would wish that he could see that beautiful smile adorn her face again in between, but he never was able to... until Vidya came into her life.

Now she was smiling often, and it warmed his heart.

He was still half-seeing Vidhushi, but they weren't intimate anymore. They saw each other as friends, and Randhir came clean to her about his feelings for Sanyukta. Vidhushi stood by him and told him that she would support him no matter what. He was grateful he had Vidhushi in his life... but Sanyukta had nobody all this time, except Vidya.

Since Rehaan wasn't home all the time and Harsh was always busy, the only constant male figures in Vidya's life were Randhir and Parth. Since Sanyukta didn't like it, he tried to keep himself away from her, but he couldn't help it around the child. His heart always wanted more. It was like he had a special connection with Vidya, and he didn't even know what it was.

That evening, Sanyukta was feeding Vidya some baby food in a high chair, when Randhir walked into the dining room. Upon seeing her uncle there, Vidya grinned widely and smacked her bowl of food. Sanyukta gasped. The bowl of food went flying across over Sanyukta's head, some liquid carrot mix falling on Sanyukta's head, wetting her hair. The rest of the food spilled on Randhir and his eyes widened.

Sanyukta saw how the orange liquid was spread over Randhir's face and she couldn't help it. She started to giggle. Upon seeing Sanyukta laugh, he smiled too, his heart filling with warmth again.

115

Randhir could barely see, because the mashed carrot meal was covering his eyes, but from the little he could see was Sanyukta's smile and that was enough for him.

Sanyukta stood up to get a napkin for him, but she tripped over some of the liquid that had spilled on the floor and fell forward, right into Randhir's arms. Randhir held her and she looked up at him, unable to take this seriously, because he looked like a pumpkin right now.

She was still laughing and Randhir was still smiling. He stood her up and she reached to the shelf to grab a napkin. Then she walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, using the napkin to wipe away the food from his eyes. Then she wiped the rest of his face, as Randhir looked at her, completely engrossed.

"Wash your face," she told him, a faint smile still on her lips.

Randhir reached up to Sanyukta's hair and gently removed some of the baby food.

"Wash your hair," he replied to her, a smile on his lips too.

"Gaaaaa!" Vidya screamed as if she was demanding some attention too.

Sanyukta turned to face her daughter, while Randhir, with a smile, walked out of the room to clean up.

When Sanyukta sat in front of Vidya again, she continued to smile, her whole body feeling jittery after the recent encounter with Randhir.

She couldn't help what she was feeling - she hadn't felt this happy in a long time.

116

That night, Rehaan came into the room and saw that Sanyukta was smiling after putting Vidya to sleep. He hadn't seen his wife so happy ever since she married him.

"You're here today?" Sanyukta asked him.

"Yeah, didn't have work," Rehaan replied.

She knew his work meant seeing other women, but it didn't bother her. She was happy being alone with Vidya. Her baby was enough to make her smile.

"Okay," Sanyukta said, and laid down in bed.

Rehaan got changed and then got in bed next to her, wrapping his arm around her.

"I know I haven't been spending much time with you lately," he said to her. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," she replied, "I know you're busy."

"You're so understanding. I'm so lucky to have you as my wife," he replied and reached up to caress her face.

Sanyukta just smiled at him. Rehaan leaned towards her and Sanyukta allowed him to get close to her, because it was her duty as his wife. She had to be ready for him whenever he wanted her. She had no consciousness of her body anymore... and she really wasn't affected when he touched her. It had been difficult the first few times, but it had only gotten easier with time.

The next day, Sanyukta was with Vidya and Renuka in the living room, when Renuka noticed the light in her daughter-in-law's eyes.

"You seem happy these days," Renuka pointed out.

Sanyukta was remembering yesterday's encounter with Randhir. How it was because of him that Vidya took her first steps, and finally the way she threw her food at her father... those moments just filled her with warmth.

"Randhir taught Vidya how to walk," Sanyukta said. "What I couldn't even do, he managed to do."

"A father always has a special connection with his child," Renuka said. "Even if he isn't aware of it."

"Sometimes I wish I could tell him that Rehaan isn't Vidya's father... and that he is," Sanyukta told Renuka, tears filling her eyes. "I always imagined a happy family with him... but I couldn't ruin his career. I couldn't do that to him."

Just then a glass of water shattered to pieces on the floor, the water spilling everywhere. Sanyukta and Renuka both looked up to see Randhir standing there, looking broken beyond repair, having heard it all.