123

Randhir caressed her hair as she poured her heart out to him, lying on his lap. She hadn't admitted all of this to even herself in the last two years. She let Rehaan use her body for his sexual satisfaction because that was what was expected from her as a wife.

"I always l - let him and t - trust me I'm n - not complaining," she sobbed. "It's okay. H - he can use me. It - it just hurts."

Then she sat up on the bed and Randhir reached out to wipe her tears away. As he was removing his hands from her cheeks, she grabbed one of them and held it in between both of hers.

"H - he sees other women b - but I d - don't mind," Sanyukta told him, her voice hoarse. "I j - just h - hate that he c - comes home, lies to me, and then wants me to pretend e - everything is okay and have sex with him."

Randhir's heart broke upon hearing about how Rehaan treated Sanyukta. He didn't expect his brother to treat her any better, but somewhere deep down he always believed that Sanyukta deserved this... but nobody deserved it. Now, upon hearing her confession, he knew Sanyukta definitely did not deserve it.

She threw her arms around him and sobbed into his neck. Randhir rubbed her back soothingly, wishing he could do more for her.

"I always pretend like I'm happy s - so he doesn't think that I'm not interested," she confessed. "He's nice to me. I have n - nothing against him... but it hurts that he doesn't sit down and talk to me. He just wants sex."

"Do you want to make this marriage work?" Randhir asked her.

Sanyukta nodded tearfully.

"I really want to make this marriage work," she confessed. "I really want to be able to love him properly... but all I ask for in return is love."

Randhir broke the hug and wiped away her tears.

"Can you trust me?" he asked her softly.

She looked up at him and hesitated for a moment before she nodded.

"Then leave it to me," he told her.

Sanyukta just wrapped her arms around him, feeling very safe in his arms. Randhir held her close to him and closed his eyes.

Even if it killed him to see Sanyukta close to his older brother, he was willing to do whatever it took to bring a smile to her face. After all, he had also been a reason behind her lost smile.

124

Later that day, Randhir caught Rehaan by the doorway. His older brother was about to head outside.

"Going out?" Randhir asked.

"Yeah, to see another girl," Rehaan replied with a smirk. "You haven't been able to get any for quite some time eh?"

"Your wife is at home thinking about you, and you're going out to fuck another girl?" Randhir snapped.

"Why do you care all of a sudden?" Rehaan asked raising his eyebrows. "You know that I've been doing this, and anyways, I've got Sanyukta wrapped around my finger."

"She loves you," Randhir said.

Rehaan looked at Randhir with shock, then he concealed his expression.

"How would you know that?" Rehaan asked.

"She was telling me as I was wrapping a bandage on her foot. She wishes you would spend more time with her... talking to her," Randhir said.

"Oh," Rehaan said, and Randhir thought that he saw a flicker of guilt on his brother's face. "Well... if you talk to her again, tell her I'll be with her tonight."

Randhir just sighed.

"Of course, because it's absolutely important to see this girl," Randhir told him.

"I'm not seeing her anymore. I'm getting a gift for my wife," Rehaan replied, and then walked out of the house.

Randhir smiled as Rehaan walked out. Sanyukta was going to be in for a surprise today.

125

When Rehaan got home that evening, he found Sanyukta in their room, playing with Vidya. He closed the door behind him, holding an elegant looking shopping bag in his hand.

"Hi," Sanyukta said, looking up at her husband.

"Hi," Rehaan replied, smiling.

Her eyes travelled to the bag and she stood up, holding Vidya. Rehaan walked up to the duo and kissed his daughter on the cheek.

"Hi princess," he said to his daughter, and then kissed Sanyukta on the cheek too.

Sanyukta was shocked by this sudden affection. He never simply kissed her on the cheek unless he expected something more.

"I got something for you," Rehaan told her.

Sanyukta put Vidya down in her crib and turned to look at Rehaan.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Close your eyes," he said.

Sanyukta closed her eyes and all of a sudden, she felt his cold fingers on her neck, as if he was tying a necklace on her. The necklace felt heavy against her collarbone.

Finally, she opened her eyes and went to the mirror, eyeing the expensive looking diamond necklace that Rehaan had bought for her.

"It's beautiful. Thank you," Sanyukta said.

"Did you eat already?" Rehaan asked her.

Sanyukta shook her head.

"Let's have dinner together then," he suggested.

Sanyukta looked at him with shock.

"Together?" she asked.

He never had dinner together with her.

"We'll go out," he suggested.

"But Vidya?" Sanyukta asked.

"Mom will take care of him," Rehaan said. "We won't be gone for long."

Sanyukta nodded.

"Okay," she squeaked. "But why?"

"It's been two years since we've been married, but I still don't know what your favourite colour is," he confessed. "I don't know what you like, nor do I know your hobbies. I want to get to know you. It's never too late, right?"

Sanyukta smiled at him.

"No. It isn't too late," she replied softly. "I'll get ready."

With a smile on her face, she got ready for the dinner date, feeling touched that her husband was opening up to her. She didn't know what Randhir did, but she was very grateful to him for it.

126

Renuka brought Vidya to Randhir's room, and told him that Sanyukta and Rehaan had gone out to a restaurant to have dinner. Randhir smiled and took Vidya from his mom, because he wanted to play with his daughter some more.

Renuka left him with his daughter. Randhir kissed Vidya's forehead and continued to smile, admiring his daughter's features. She looked exactly like her mom.

"You will be exactly like your mom," he said to her. "Intelligent, determined... you won't stop for anything."

Then he chuckled as he remembered how Sanyukta would persevere to the end.

"I know I'm Randhir uncle for you, and it'll stay that way, but I will try to be your daddy whenever I can," he murmured to her and kissed Vidya on the cheek. "I love you... I really do."

His eyes filled with tears and he held Vidya to his chest. She grabbed his shirt and pressed her mouth to Randhir's cheek, kissing him.

Randhir's eyes widened. Had Sanyukta already taught their daughter to kiss? He smiled nonetheless. He was going to savour these moments with his daughter for as long as he lived.

127

After Sanyukta and Rehaan came back from dinner, Renuka told them that Randhir was playing with Vidya in his room. Sanyukta told Rehaan that she'd bring her, but Rehaan shook his head, saying that Randhir could take care of her for a little while longer. Rehaan really wanted to watch a movie with her.

Sanyukta smiled.

"I'll ask him to watch over her tonight. Is it okay?" she asked Rehaan.

"It might be a burden," Rehaan said.

"It's fine. He really connects with her. I'll be back," she told Rehaan.

Rehaan nodded and held her hand before she was about to leave.

"I'm waiting for you," he told her, his eyes twinkling.

Slightly blushing, she removed her hand from his and went to see Randhir. She entered his room, and left the door slightly ajar to avoid any suspicion.

She saw that the lights were on but Randhir was sleeping on the bed and Vidya was sleeping on top of Randhir's chest. Randhir was snoring and Vidya was breathing deeply, fast asleep.

Sanyukta smiled, her heart fluttering at the sight in front of her. She slowly walked up to them and caressed her daughter's hair before reaching up and touching Randhir's head gently.

Randhir opened his eyes. Sanyukta sat on the bed next to him and whispered, "Do you want to keep Vidya with you tonight?"

"I can?" Randhir asked, sounding shocked.

Sanyukta nodded.

"You can," she replied with a smile.

"How was your date?" Randhir asked.

"It was nice. He got me this necklace and he took me out to a fancy restaurant... but I was really touched because he was actually listening to me," Sanyukta admitted. "We got to know each other... for the first time, I saw hope in our marriage. Now we'll watch a movie together."

Randhir took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"I'm happy for you," he told her.

"I'm so happy," she replied, her eyes stinging with tears. "Thank you."

Randhir smiled at her as she stood up. While he watched her leave, he felt something stronger than the ache in his heart. He thought it would kill him to watch her go to Rehaan, but really, this made him feel the most alive.

Bringing a smile to the face of the one you loved was certainly a very liberating feeling, and he didn't regret his decision for a moment.

128

The next morning, Sanyukta woke up first and smiled, remembering how much her husband made her feel loved last night for the first time. He wasn't as bad as she bitterly thought about him. Perhaps he wasn't aware about how she felt, and after finding out how she truly felt, he decided to make her feel better. After all, he must have some sort of soft spot for her if he was willing to do all this for her.

She got out of bed and got ready, a glow on her face. Then she left her room to see if Vidya was awake.

As soon as she went to Randhir's room though, she heard her daughter crying from inside. She entered the room immediately and saw that Randhir was standing up, rocking her, trying to calm her down.

Upon seeing her mom enter, Vidya extended her arms and continued to sob. Sanyukta closed the door behind her and approached the duo, taking Vidya from Randhir.

"I didn't know what to do," he said defensively.

"It's okay. Sometimes she just wants me," Sanyukta replied, holding her daughter to her and caressing the back of her head gently.

Vidya stopped crying and placed her head on Sanyukta's shoulder. Randhir noticed how Sanyukta was glowing and smiling.

"You look happy," he pointed out, his heart feeling light.

"I am," she said happily. "Rehaan was so nice to me. I didn't feel like an object last night."

Randhir smiled at her. Sanyukta then started to walk towards the door to leave the room, but Vidya started crying and threw her head back, clearly wanting Randhir now.

"Here," Sanyukta said, walking back to him and passing Vidya.

Randhir held her in his arms and she stopped crying. Sanyukta once again tried to walk out, this time alone, but Vidya started crying again, causing Sanyukta to walk back to them.

It seemed like their daughter wanted both of them together.

129

Sanyukta took Vidya back in her arms, deciding that she needed to walk out because she couldn't be in Randhir's room for too long. As she got to the doorway though and had just opened it slightly, through her tears, Vidya cried, "Apapaaa!"

Sanyukta gasped and stopped what she was doing, turning back around.

"Paapaaaa," Vidya then wailed, reaching out for Randhir.

Vidya just said the word Papa not to Rehaan, but to Randhir. Sanyukta's eyes filled with tears and she started to sob too. She walked up to Randhir and passed Vidya to him before collapsing in a seated position on his bed, trying to control her emotions.

Randhir had tears in his eyes as he held Vidya. Vidya placed her head on Randhir's shoulder and continued to cry, "Papaaa."

Randhir nodded, and through his tears, he said, "Yes, I am your papa."

"Papa?" Sanyukta asked, as if she was in doubt that she had just heard that. "She's calling you papa?"

She didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

"She knows you're her dad," Sanyukta said, and then broke down into sobs. "She knows."

Randhir kissed Vidya's cheek.

Vidya kept on crying, "Papa papa papa."

It was like she didn't want to leave him.

130

She wiped her tears, and stood up, taking Vidya from Randhir gently, but the baby started to cry harder yelling 'Papa'. Randhir looked at Sanyukta painfully as she took her away from him.

"Sanyukta," Randhir said. "I don't know why..."

"I know. I tried to train her to say Papa by pointing to Rehaan, but it seems like her heart knows who her real dad is," Sanyukta said.

"She kissed me yesterday," Randhir told her.

"She kissed you?" Sanyukta asked, shocked.

"Yes... on my cheek," Randhir said with a smile.

"She hasn't even kissed me!" Sanyukta said.

"You haven't taught her?" Randhir asked, sounding stunned.

She shook her head.

"No," she admitted.

"Then how did she know how to kiss me?" Randhir asked.

"I don't know," Sanyukta replied, completely blown away. "But it seems like she has developed a strong connection with you. Anyways, I should go before anyone suspects anything."

Randhir nodded and watched her leave, shocked that Vidya kissed him for the first time, spontaneously learning it... a daughter truly did have a special connection with her father.

131

Vidya continued to cry "Papa" the whole day. Sanyukta tried to calm her down, but it was to no avail. She sobbed for her "Papa". Rehaan heard her cries and tried to pick her up, but despite him holding her, she still yelled "Papa" as if her dad was someone else.

"Why isn't she stopping?" Rehaan asked Sanyukta.

She looked guilty.

"I don't know," she lied.

Rehaan handed Vidya back to Sanyukta and kissed her forehead.

"I'm going to go to the office now. Elections are in less than a month and this is dad's last term running. There's still a lot to prepare. I'll see you later," Rehaan said and Sanyukta nodded with a smile.

He was about to head out, when he stopped by the doorway and said, "Oh Sanyukta... I want you to know that I'll spend all my free time with you now."

She watched him with shock, but felt touched.

"Thanks," she told him.

"You're welcome," he said, smiling at her, and then disappeared.

After Rehaan left, she looked at Vidya and kissed her daughter on the cheek.

"Your turn," she told her. "Kiss me."

Vidya just looked up at her and started to cry again.

"Why can she kiss Randhir but not me?" Sanyukta asked herself with a pout.

132

Sanyukta didn't see Randhir or Rehaan much for the next few days, because they were busy helping Harsh with elections. Nevertheless, Rehaan lived up to his promise to spend time with her. Sanyukta kept on trying to get a kiss out of Vidya, but it seemed like her daughter was stubbornly refusing.

"I'm not your enemy," Sanyukta said with a pout one evening in the dining room, to her daughter.

She had just picked Vidya from her highchair after feeding her dinner, and had asked for a kiss again, which she didn't get. Randhir then walked into the dining room.

"Hi," he said, and walked up to Vidya, patting her back gently.

"Hi," Sanyukta replied, smiling at Randhir. "How are the preparations for the elections going?"

"Really well. Dad is being secretive about who will be successor, but... there's a good chance it could be me," Randhir confessed.

"Why do you think so?" Sanyukta asked curiously.

"He's hinting it," Randhir informed.

"Oh," Sanyukta said with a polite smile.

Vidya then smiled and threw her arms at her father. Randhir took her in his arms and Vidya placed her lips on Randhir's cheek, giving him a kiss.

Sanyukta's mouth fell open.

133

With a frustrated expression on her face, Sanyukta glared at the father-daughter duo.

"She doesn't kiss me!" Sanyukta said, sounding annoyed. "She only kisses you!"

"A girl is most attached to her daddy, right?" Randhir asked Vidya with a smile.

Vidya gleefully started to giggle and Sanyukta crossed her arms together, pouting.

"I'm her mom!" Sanyukta whined.

"Okay fine. Vidya, baby, you'll give your mommy a kiss won't you?" Randhir asked his daughter.

Vidya was still giggling. Randhir held Vidya up to place her lips on Sanyukta's cheek.

"Give her a kiss. Come on baby," Randhir said.

Sanyukta continued to stand there with her arms crossed.

"Vidya, you won't listen to Papa?" Randhir asked as Vidya just kept her lips still.

Finally, Vidya kissed Sanyukta's cheek and Sanyukta's eyes lit up.

"She kissed me!" Sanyukta gushed happily.

She turned around to face Randhir and threw her arms around him, with Vidya in between them.

"I'm so happy!" Sanyukta said.

Vidya wrapped an arm around Sanyukta, and the other one around Randhir, balancing in between them and pulling the two of them closer... and the one year old smiled too.

"Mummmaaa papaaa," Vidya squeaked happily. "Papaaa mummmaa."

It was almost as if she knew more about what was going on.

134

The next three weeks passed in the blink of an eye and the day of elections was finally approaching. The night before the elections, Rehaan was pacing back and forth in the room frantically, looking nervous.

Sanyukta placed her hand on his shoulder.

"It's going to be okay," she pacified. "Don't worry."

"I need to be successor," Rehaan said. "I devoted my whole life for this."

Sanyukta wished she could say, 'I did too, but I didn't get the chance... and I survived' but instead she kept her mouth closed.

"Worrying about it tonight will not help for tomorrow. Just keep calm," she told him softly.

"Okay," Rehaan said and placed his hand on top of Sanyukta's. "Thanks for being with me."

"Of course. I'm always going to be here with you," she said with a smile.

The last few weeks had almost been like a fairytale. Rehaan had been home every night, treating her like a princess. He didn't expect anything from her and worked on giving her what she wanted, instead of fulfilling his own desires.

"You'll come with me tomorrow right?" Rehaan asked. "I mean you're my wife. You're expected to be there with me... but I know your dad will be there too."

"Yeah... that's why I'm a little worried... but I should face him. It's been two years since I've spoken to him," Sanyukta admitted. "And... I want to see my mom again. I'll come with you."

Rehaan smiled gratefully at her.

"Thanks, your presence will calm me down," he told her.

The next day, the whole Shekhawat family attended the elections together in a van. Harsh advised Sanyukta to leave Vidya with the babysitter but she pleaded to take her along... she wanted to introduce her parents to their granddaughter. Vidhushi was also attending with her father on Randhir's request. Her father didn't want to bring her, but because Randhir insisted, he was bringing her.

He needed some moral support too.

Vidya started crying "Papaaa" in the car and Rehaan took Vidya from Sanyukta. When Vidya didn't stop crying "Papaa", Sanyukta took her daughter back.

Randhir then reached forward from the back and Sanyukta passed Vidya to him.

Her sobs immediately stopped and Rehaan looked at his brother with surprise.

"What did you do to stop her from crying?" Rehaan asked Randhir.

"I don't know," Randhir said. "I guess she likes me."

Vidya then kissed his cheek and giggled, and Randhir smiled at his daughter too.

135

As soon as they got the venue for the elections, Sanyukta sat next to Rehaan, with Vidya sitting on her lap. Randhir found Vidhushi and they sat together. Renuka sat in the front with Harsh. Sanyukta noticed her family enter - her dad, her mom, and Ankit. Her eyes filled with tears upon seeing her family after so long.

Anju's eyes found her and she looked relieved to see her daughter well. Upon seeing the baby on Sanyukta's lap, a smile reached her lips, as if she figured out that this was her granddaughter. Tears pouring down her cheeks, Sanyukta nodded affirmatively, confirming her mother's doubt.

The three of them took their seats together at the front. Kishore was also supposed to announce his successor at this event.

Kishore went up to the podium to give his speech first on behalf of his political party, the Chakra's. After a list of promises for the country's well-being, he announced Ankit as his successor, just as expected.

Harsh then took his spot at the podium and smiled at everyone.

"Hello. I won't make this long. As you all know, I have been serving as this nation's president for over eight years. This coming term will be my last one if I am re-elected," Harsh said. "The country of Mrityunjaya has a lot we still need to work on. Unfortunately, change does not take place overnight, but with the coming term, I can guarantee that our country will go through massive changes in these fields... healthcare, education, and even women rights."

Sanyukta gasped.

Did he mean it?

Never in the history of political speeches for this nation had anyone addressed the issue of women rights.

"We want to make this nation safe for the women of our country. We want our women to lead. We don't want them to stay at home as homemakers against their will. Women are very powerful... and men are threatened by them. If a woman is capable - and mind you, many are - then we want them to help grow this nation," Harsh said.

Randhir sat in his seat, smiling, remembering his conversation with his father last night. He had gone to his father's office to speak with him about the election... and his father seemed to take his words seriously.

"I am sure you have all heard on the news that the daughter of the leader of The Chakra's is married into our house, to my oldest son Rehaan. We don't want our women to turn out like her - a girl with dreams, to be married off in the end with all her dreams crushed. I have not seem someone more capable than her, even amongst my sons," Harsh said loudly. "The leader of the Chakra's may not have views like us, but these are our views and we are firm by it... and I will now announce my successor."

Sanyukta's eyes filled with tears. Rehaan grabbed her hand from beside her, squeezing it nervously.

"My successor will be Sanyukta Shekhawat, my son Rehaan's wife," Harsh said. "Because we stand true to our vows. The Padma's do not back out. If Sanyukta remains capable at the end of my term, she will take over. Sanyukta, please come to the stage."

Rehaan's hand left hers and he turned to look at Sanyukta with shock. Sanyukta herself was shocked. The whole audience was shocked.

Never in history had there been a female President. The whole country would be revolutionized.

Randhir smiled from his seat, truly believing that the most deserving candidate won.

136

Sanyukta got up, shaking, wondering if she was dreaming. She held Vidya against her as she walked to the front, passing Randhir on the way. He gave her a supportive smile as she walked by him, but she was too shocked to react. The cameras in the hall took many pictures, as she walked with her one year old in her arms.

She reached the stage. Vidya kept her head on her shoulder. Harsh smiled at her and she wondered what brought about this change of heart in her father-in-law. He hardly ever spoke to her, and the times he had, he hadn't exactly shown affection.

"This is Sanyukta," Harsh said, sounding proud. "My daughter-in-law."

Sanyukta looked ahead at the crowd and saw her father, who looked like he was burning. Was it anger or jealousy? She couldn't tell. Her mom had a smile on her face, as if her prayers had been answered.

"Sanyukta, would you like to say anything?" Harsh asked her.

She was going to say no, but she caught Randhir's eye and he looked like he wanted her to. She took the microphone from her father-in-law, with tears in her eyes.

"This is a huge surprise for me. I really wasn't expecting this... as a girl. I expected to become successor for my own father at one point in time, but now I'm glad that I hadn't been chosen there... this party deserves it all," Sanyukta announced. "I'm not saying this because the president is my father-in-law. I'm saying this because for the first time ever, women rights has been addressed. For the first time in our history, politicians have treated women like people. Yes, we have rights - we can drive, we can vote, we can go out... but the stigma surrounding women has always been bigger than our rights. Even though we're legally entitled, it's like we have no entitlement... and I'm glad that the Padma's are seeking change. I am really proud. I'm just so thankful for this opportunity... in fact, it's a blessing for me. I always dreamed, but I could never become. Thank you."

Harsh placed his hand on Sanyukta's back and smiled warmly at her.

Vidya held Sanyukta's hair and smiled widely as if she was proud too.

Suddenly, a man from the audience stood up and yelled, "Bullshit! A woman cannot be President!"

Then all of a sudden, she saw a shoe being hurled at her and her eyes widened. She turned her back to the audience, holding Vidya against her protectively.

There was suddenly an uproar. After a few seconds, she felt warm hands on her shoulders, as Randhir's body acted as a shield for her.

He grabbed the microphone from Sanyukta's hand and turned around, facing the audience.

"Before you point a finger at a woman, remember who brought you into this world!" Randhir yelled into the microphone. "If you cannot worship the womb that brought you here, then you have no right to even speak. Without your mother, you wouldn't even have your tongue to hurl insults!"

Sanyukta turned around, and faced Randhir with a warm feeling in her heart.

He was here for her, just as he promised.