152

Six months later, Sanyukta was in the kitchen, with Vidya standing on the ground beside her, holding onto the cloth of her sari. She was making a home remedy for Rehaan because he had the flu. After she was done, she carried the remedy, along with Vidya back upstairs to the bedroom.

She placed Vidya on the floor to stand as Sanyukta held the back of Rehaan's head gently, holding the spoon to his mouth. Rehaan took a sip of it and groggily placed his head in Sanyukta's lap.

"I know everything hurts," Sanyukta said. "But just bear it for a couple of days... you'll get better."

"You know I love you right?" he asked her, closing his eyes.

"I know," she replied smiling, and caressed his hair.

Rehaan took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it.

In the last six months, Rehaan hadn't treated her as anything less than a queen. He truly felt guilty for raising his hand on her, calling it a moment of weakness, and Sanyukta forgave him, truly believing that everyone deserved another chance... she also had a moment of weakness when she slept with Randhir after marriage. Randhir also had a moment of weakness when he forced himself on her. There were many moments of weaknesses, and you couldn't be strong during every phase of your life... some phases shook you, and because she understood this, she was able to give him a second chance without any bitter feelings in the way.

Sanyukta slowly finished feeding him the medication and got off the bed, picking Vidya up in her arms again and leaving the room.

"How is he?" Randhir asked, approaching her in the hallway.

"Better," Sanyukta said with a smile.

They shared a platonic relationship in the last six months - still great friends, but maintained a distance from each other, keeping their limits in mind.

Randhir hadn't seen Sanyukta as happy as she had been in the last six months in a long time. Rehaan treated her nicely, as he should have been for the last few years, and Sanyukta also was very accepting of him.

Vidya reached out to be held by Randhir. Randhir took his daughter in his arms and kissed her forehead.

"My baby," Randhir said happily, touching Vidya's chin.

Vidya smiled and excitedly said, "Papaaa!"

Although everything seemed normal now, these next few days were going to bring about greater heartbreak as secrets that had been well buried, came out into the open.

153

Sanyukta was with Randhir and Vidya in the living room a few days later, giggling about her cute antics, when all of a sudden she felt a strange sensation and rushed to the bathroom to throw up.

Randhir watched her go, feeling worried for her. She came back, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and falling on the couch next to Randhir again.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, sounding concerned.

"I think I'm pregnant," she told Randhir nervously.

Randhir looked at her with shock and tears filled her eyes as she touched her belly gently.

"I need to find out," she told him, sounding scared.

"It's a good thing if you are, isn't it?" Randhir asked her. "Vidya will have a sibling."

"Yes I guess," she admitted.

"You can ask mom to take you to the doctor," Randhir told her.

Sanyukta nodded. She would do that.

After she went to the hospital the next day with Renuka, the doctor confirmed that she was six weeks pregnant. Renuka hugged Sanyukta, happy that she would get another grandchild.

Sanyukta smiled, happy at the feeling of being a mother again. When Sanyukta got home, the first person she told was Randhir.

"How are you going to tell Rehaan?" Randhir asked her.

"I don't know... I don't even know if he wanted a child. We weren't trying," she admitted nervously.

"I think he'll be happy," Randhir told her.

"Me too," Sanyukta said with a smile, trying to think positively.

Vidya then walked up to them in the kitchen where they had been talking, and Randhir picked the little girl up in his arms.

"Hi princess," Randhir said, kissing her cheek.

"Papaaa," Vidya said, giggling and Sanyukta smiled.

"Daddy's princess, are you hungry?" Sanyukta teased her daughter.

Vidya turned to look at Sanyukta and pouted, before turning back to Randhir.

"She ignored me?" Sanyukta gasped.

"She only loves her daddy, isn't it?" Randhir teased. "Don't you love daddy more than mommy?"

Vidya shook her head and said, "Mumma!"

Sanyukta grinned victoriously.

"See, she knows she loves mommy more," Sanyukta laughed. "Even if her daddy is the great Randhir Singh Shekhawat."

All of a sudden, a glass of water fell on the floor at the doorway, breaking to a thousand tiny shards. They turned around immediately, noticing Rehaan standing there, looking livid.

"Rehaan," Sanyukta said, "It's not -"

"Is Vidya Randhir's daughter?" Rehaan asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Rehaan, listen to me," Sanyukta said, walking up to him and grabbing his arm.

"Is she Randhir's daughter or not?" Rehaan asked, sounding angry. "Yes or no?"

"You're ill Rehaan. You need to rest," Sanyukta said. "You know she's your daughter."

"So when you said her daddy is Randhir, what did you mean?" Rehaan asked her, sounding furious.

Tears filled her eyes and she couldn't hide it anymore, because she had no way to answer his question other than by confessing the truth.

"Yes. She is Randhir's daughter," Sanyukta admitted painfully. "Vidya is Randhir's daughter."

The mixture of pain, anger, and frustration was clearly visible in Rehaan's eyes, and Sanyukta tried to hold his hand to pacify him, but he pushed her backwards, making her stumble against the shards of glass, causing her feet to bleed.

Rehaan walked off, without sparing her a single glance.

Sanyukta tried to hold in her tears, but failed to do so. She grabbed the wall, in a desperate attempt to hold herself up, not caring about the fact that her feet bled. Randhir walked up to her with Vidya in his arms and stepped over the shards of glass.

He also didn't notice that he bled too, when it came to healing her.

154

Randhir placed his free hand on Sanyukta's shoulder reassuringly but she looked up at him tearfully. It was like she wanted to hug him to have her pain eased, but she couldn't bring herself to. She pushed past him and ran upstairs to find Rehaan, to tell him the truth about how helpless she had been... although she knew that she was going to be insulted a lot. She deserved it.

Inside the bedroom, Rehaan was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, as if he was coming to terms with what happened. Her bleeding feet left footprints on the floor, but she didn't care. She sat on the bed next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He shook it off.

"Go away," he said and removed his face from his hands, glaring at her.

"I know what I did was wrong. It was very wrong. And you don't have to forgive me... let me tell you everything," Sanyukta begged. "At least give me a chance to explain... please."

"What is there left to explain?" he asked her angrily.

"I loved Randhir before we got married. Rehaan, I really loved him... and he loved me too. We didn't tell anyone because once Randhir found out who I was, he cut me out from his life too. He didn't want me, and he didn't try to stop my marriage with you. I married you, but my heart was still with Randhir... that's why I couldn't get intimate with you," Sanyukta told him truthfully. "When I found out I was pregnant, I did sleep with you because I'm a mother Rehaan. I didn't do this to betray you, but to save my daughter. Do you know how rash it would be if I had given birth to a child that was not yours?"

"I know," Rehaan said darkly. "And now you've trapped me in your love, so you think it's not going to be bad on you?"

"Truthfully, Randhir was my first love... before marriage and after we got married, but Rehaan I slowly got close to you and I accepted you. I do love you, because I care for you. I'm married to you. This is a special bond. Nothing can replace it," Sanyukta told him seriously. "I mean it. Please... please don't get hurt yourself over this."

"You can take your special bond crap and use it on Randhir, because I'm not going to get manipulated. I can't believe this crap has been going on while you've been married to me," Rehaan snarled.

"I promise it was one night," Sanyukta whispered, tears pouring down her cheeks. "It was done out of love... and it brought Vidya here. We haven't done anything like that after."

"You fooled me!" Rehaan yelled.

"I was wrong, but I was also helpless. I didn't want to fool you... I just wanted to protect Vidya," Sanyukta sobbed. "Please, I'm begging you, please let's forget about this."

"Go away Sanyukta," Rehaan yelled darkly.

"No," she said, her voice cracking. "If you want to hurt me, then you can hurt me... but I'm not going away. I'm not... and Rehaan, I'm... I'm pregnant."

"How do I know the baby is mine?" Rehaan snarled.

"I'm telling you. I haven't been with Randhir since that day. Please Rehaan, please believe me," Sanyukta begged.

"I'm going to tell dad," Rehaan said loudly, standing up. "After he's back from his business trip next week, I'll tell him."

"No!" Sanyukta gasped. "Do you know what your dad will do?"

"I don't care," Rehaan said. "You can't manipulate me. Yes, I love you, but I'm not going to get swayed by you."

"He'll kill us," Sanyukta whispered, her voice cracking. "He'll kill me..."

Sanyukta knew that Harsh would kill her... but Randhir would automatically die. He had linked his breaths with her.

"I don't want you in this room anymore, nor do I want that bastard child here," he said darkly.

Sanyukta gasped loudly.

"She's not a bastard child!" Sanyukta said, her voice cracking.

"She is. That's what she is. Illegitimate. And you are a whore. An unfaithful whore," Rehaan yelled.

"Okay, insult us all you want, but you love me right? You can't do this if you love me," Sanyukta begged. "I'm wrong. I'm very wrong. Punish me. But don't punish her... don't tell your dad. Please. It isn't her fault."

Rehaan glared at her and grabbed her arm, pushing her backwards on the bed.

"You want to be punished?" he asked her darkly.

She nodded.

"I'll take any punishment as long as you don't hurt her," Sanyukta told him.

Rehaan sneered and stood up. Sanyukta sat up on the bed, looking at him expectantly. He took off his belt and raised it over his head.

"Rehaan what the hell!" she screamed, but he already hit her side hard with it.

She wrapped her arms around her belly protectively.

"I'm pregnant!" she screamed, tears in her eyes.

"I don't care if that second bastard child dies in your womb!" Rehaan yelled back at her. "I'm not falling for your manipulative and cheap tricks. Not anymore. Dad was right from the beginning - girls like you need to be tamed. You need to be kept under control, otherwise you'll manipulate us... no wonder dad chose you as President, you can manipulate a whole nation!"

Sanyukta's eyes welled up with tears.

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

"You deserve only this," he said angrily, and she could see that deep inside him, although he held anger and vengeance, he was hurt...he was very hurt, and in an attempt to defend himself, he was lashing out on her.

He whipped her again with the belt and she turned her back to him, so she could protect her baby.

"It's your baby," she whimpered. "I swear."

"I don't fucking care anymore!" Rehaan swore, whipping her back hard with the belt again. "You deserve worse than this."

After he was done, Sanyukta felt her back bleed painfully, and the blood dripped down her sari, joining the blood on her feet. She managed to stumble out of her room... and she fell forward by Randhir's feet at the top of the staircase, before she lost her consciousness.

"I will kill you Rehaan," Randhir said angrily, as tears stung his eyes upon seeing Sanyukta's condition. "I swear I will kill you for this."

155

Randhir took Sanyukta to his room and called the doctor. By the time the doctor got there, he had cleaned her up and dressed her up in his clothes. The doctor confirmed that the child was safe and advised her to take rest. The wounds would take time to heal.

After the doctor left, Sanyukta sobbed.

"It's my fault. It's all my fault," she cried. "But I can't regret it for even a moment... I can't regret what gave me Vidya."

Randhir reached over and wiped her tears away, but she shook her head.

"Don't touch me. I have to convince Rehaan or he'll tell your dad," Sanyukta said, sounding scared. "I can't let him tell dad. What will happen then?"

"He won't tell dad," Randhir said firmly. "I'm still here right? I won't let him tell dad. You don't take stress. You can't be stressed out. You're pregnant."

Sanyukta nodded slowly, trying to come to terms with what was happening.

"Maybe if I speak to him one more time he'll understand," Sanyukta said, looking at Randhir like she was in a shock.

"He'll never understand and I'm going to kill him for what he did to you," Randhir told her darkly.

"No! Don't - please, he's just hurt," Sanyukta defended. "It was my fault... if it wasn't for me, then we would still be happy. Yes, he shouldn't have hit me, but he doesn't know how else to take out his anger."

"Shut up. Do you know how many girls he's slept with after marriage?" Randhir asked. "He can't use his double standards on you. I'm going to go and give him a piece of my mind... and if he touches you again, then I won't think twice before finishing him off, and that is my promise to you Sanyukta."

Sanyukta gasped and reached out to grab Randhir's arm to stop him, but he had already stormed out of the room to confront Rehaan.

Both of the brothers were soon going to face a battle, that the universe was also going to take part in.

Would this clash between the two brothers ultimately lead to an untimely demise?

156

Randhir stormed into Rehaan's room and grabbed his older brother's collar, shaking him hard, as his own body shook with anger.

"This is how you treat women?" Randhir bellowed. "This is how you treat your wife? You monster! You think you can show power by abusing her? And you claim to love her! Wow what love!"

"You don't need to defend your lover or whoever the fuck she is," Rehaan screamed back.

Randhir threw a punch at Rehaan, not caring anymore about who got hurt. He wanted his brother to die for what he did to Sanyukta.

"She never deserved you! She never deserved either of us!" Randhir screamed. "But you know what, you... you are cruel!"

"You slept with my wife!" Rehaan screamed.

"And many other wives have slept with you!" Randhir screamed back. "You can't have double standards - she slept with me ONCE, but you have slept with so many women, so many times after your marriage!"

"I don't want to talk about this. She deceived me. She is a fucking cheat!" Rehaan bellowed.

"I'll fucking kill you!" Randhir yelled and he punched Rehaan hard in the stomach.

If Rehaan didn't have a flu right now, perhaps he could be stronger. He tried to hit Randhir back, but Randhir kept on dodging his punches.

"I know you're going to die. Your fate can't be that good after what you've done with her," Randhir yelled. "You're going to regret this. And your death is going to be the sweetest satisfaction for me."

Rehaan then started to cough and Randhir stopped hitting him, as he watched his brother stand weakly, blood dripping from his nose. He left his brother to fall on the floor, coughing, alone.

After he went back to his room, Sanyukta looked at him expectantly.

"Is he okay?" she asked.

"No. And I hope he dies," Randhir said sourly. "If he doesn't die, then I don't know what'll stop me from killing him with my bare hands."

Then he wrapped his arms around Sanyukta, pulling her close to him in a hug. She didn't return his hug... she couldn't be unfaithful again.

"Don't hug me," she murmured.

Randhir let go of her and just walked out of the room, away from her. She truly blamed herself for her condition right now - the consequence of her mistake had made an empowered woman weak... but Randhir needed to make sure that she found her strength again.

157

That night, Rehaan couldn't stand it. He got out of his bed and left the room, walking out the front door. He got in his car and started to drive aimlessly, trying to sort out his thoughts, trying to figure out what he was doing and what he wanted. He hated what his wife did to him, but he couldn't deny that he loved her, and it truly killed him inside to hurt her.

His mind just told him he had to gain control over his life, over his relationship. His mind ruled his heart. That was perhaps his greatest mistake.

As he drove, he started to sob. The daughter that he loved ever since Sanyukta was pregnant was not his own. His own wife that he had fallen in love with, always loved his younger brother.

He always had been in competition with Randhir, but today he lost completely. Randhir had his wife first, and by the way that she spoke about him, Rehaan knew, that Randhir still had her. Her heart was still with him. She might have tried hard to make it sound like she moved on and loved him, but he knew, he just knew that she loved Randhir only.

"Why me?" Rehaan asked, sobbing, as he drove. "Why did this have to happen to me? Why did I have to do this to you Sanyukta? I just want to cut off my hands for hurting you."

Then he slammed on the accelerator hard, trying to take out his frustration.

"I fucking hate this life!" he screamed. "My own daughter isn't mine! My wife isn't meant for me... I don't even want to to live."

Perhaps it was his illness talking or his depression, but both were the same.

"I'm sorry Sanyukta. I'm so sorry," Rehaan cried through his blazing fever.

It was like many prayers got answered today, as his car finally went speeding into a tree, and Rehaan died on the spot. His death had been an untimely accident.

Sanyukta prayed not too long ago, that she didn't have to be in Rehaan's arms anymore.

Her prayer was fulfilled.

Randhir prayed that his brother would die.

His prayer was fulfilled.

Vidhushi prayed for Randhir to get everything he wished for.

Her prayer was fulfilled.

Rehaan prayed to die.

His prayer was fulfilled.

Many prayers were answered together, but nobody promised that prayers would be answered as soon as they were asked for.

Now the answer to the same prayers, would work as a curse in the lives of many involved.

"Be careful what you wish for... because it just might come true..."

158

Sanyukta was sitting on Randhir's bed that night. Randhir had taken Vidya to the guest room and he was staying there. She didn't know where Rehaan was. He hadn't come looking for her. She had tears in her eyes because she knew she disappointed her husband badly.

She stood up slowly, her whole body aching with pain and left the room. She stumbled towards her own room to see if Rehaan was awake. Sanyukta knew that Randhir would be upset with her for standing up... but she had to make her husband understand.

Just as she got to the room, she felt Randhir's hand on her wrist and she turned around to glare at him. He picked her up in his arms and walked with her back to his room, lying her down on the bed.

"Didn't the doctor say you need rest?" he asked her.

"Rehaan," Sanyukta mumbled. "I need to see him."

"He's not home," Randhir said.

"He isn't?" Sanyukta asked, her eyes filling with tears. "He has the flu... he should be resting. Let me call him."

"Sanyukta, you need to rest too," Randhir said, sounding exasperated.

"He can't just go out like this in the middle of the night," Sanyukta argued. "I... I love him... he can't leave me and go."

Randhir looked at her with shock at her confession - she had never confessed that she loved Rehaan before, not to him at least.

"You love him?" Randhir asked softly.

"I love him a lot... I - I know our marriage was based on compromise, but I don't know how I fell in love with him," Sanyukta confessed. "I really do love him... now I just need to make him understand so he isn't upset with me."

Randhir placed his hand on Sanyukta's cheek gently, causing her to look up at him.

"Don't touch -" she started, but Randhir brought the index finger of his free hand to her mouth and pressed it to her lips.

"I'll talk to him. I'll make him understand," Randhir told her. "Okay?"

Sanyukta nodded and her shoulders relaxed.

"Thanks," she said, as Randhir let go of her.

Randhir smiled at her and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Where could Rehaan have gone?

159

The next morning, Randhir found out about his brother's death first from him mom. He fell backwards and caught the wall, his whole body shaking. His mom was sobbing uncontrollably in front of him.

"This is a joke right?" Randhir asked. "A cruel, sick, twisted joke?"

"I wish it was," Renuka said, tears falling down her cheeks. "We're starting his last rites in two hours...we need to tell Sanyukta."

"Sanyukta... oh God," Randhir said, his own eyes filling with tears. "She just confessed she loves him. I don't even think she admitted it to herself before last night, and... oh..."

He left Renuka there and went upstairs to see that Sanyukta was sleeping on his bed.

"How do I tell you that the one you've fallen in love with isn't here anymore?" Randhir said to himself out loud.

He was still hoping that this was a painful dream that he would wake up from.

Sanyukta stirred in her sleep in the room.

"Rehaan," she mumbled, as she woke up, having had a painful nightmare about him just now.

She spent the last two and a half years with Rehaan. It was only in these last six months, that she truly understood what moving on meant. She truly figured out what it meant to accept another... and last night, when she was threatened to be separated from him, she realized just how deeply she felt.

She didn't want her marriage to end. She didn't want Rehaan to leave her. She cared about him a lot... and wasn't that what love was? It was care.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Randhir at the doorway, looking lost.

"Randhir," Sanyukta said, sitting up.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her, and sat next to her on the bed.

"I had a bad dream that Rehaan left me forever," Sanyukta whispered, tears filling her eyes.

"Sanyukta, what I'm going to tell you will hurt you... please don't be upset," Randhir said softly to her.

Sanyukta looked at him with a confused expression on her face.

He took her hand in his and held it gently.

"Rehaan... he got into an accident last night and he... he passed away," Randhir said quickly.

Randhir watched as her expression turned from one of confusion to one of shock.

"You're lying," she said to him. "Stop lying to me."

"I'm not," Randhir whispered.

"You wanted him dead so you're lying!" she screamed. "He can't be dead... he can't go while hating me!"

Then she broke down into tears.

"You're lying," she whispered, sobbing.

160

Sanyukta started to sob uncontrollably, her whole body shaking. This couldn't be true. Randhir was lying. He had to be. Randhir wrapped his arms around her and hugged her, but she pushed him back and stood up, needing to see that this was true with her own eyes.

She stumbled down the stairs, with Randhir following her, watching over her to make sure she didn't fall.

Sanyukta stumbled to the large room by the front doors and there he was, lying lifeless on the ground. She ran over to him and fell to her knees, reaching out with her shaking hands and holding his face, trying to wake him up.

"You're mad at me, that's why this is happening right?" Sanyukta asked, her voice cracking. "I promise I won't give you a chance to be mad again."

Renuka and Parth were seated there, with tears their eyes. Randhir came into the room after her and everyone just watched her as she shook Rehaan.

"I will let you hit me again if you want... just please wake up," Sanyukta begged. "I swear, I don't want you to die. I will do whatever you want."

When he didn't respond, she placed her head on his chest and hugged his body.

"You can't go. You're going to be a father... you can't leave... at least say you forgive me," she cried. "I know I was wrong... please Rehaan, please wake up... please."

Randhir walked up to Sanyukta and gently held her shoulders.

"Go away!" she screamed. "Just go away! I - I love you Rehaan. I might not have said it enough... I'm sorry... but I mean it. I love you!"

Randhir, with tears in his eyes, managed to pull Sanyukta off, but she pushed Randhir back again and ran back to Rehaan, falling to her knees again and holding his face.

"Wake up," she begged. "If not for me, for your baby. Wake up, please. I'll leave everything... just wake up."

Sanyukta then fell by his chest again, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Wake up..." she whispered, but she had also given up hope now.

Renuka gave Randhir a look that said to let her be, and Randhir nodded, going upstairs, trying hard not to cry.

He hadn't really wanted his brother dead either.

161

Perhaps a mother's prayer was one that was fulfilled the fastest, because Sanyukta prayed that Harsh shouldn't find out the truth about Vidya... and the universe fulfilled it on the same day. Now, Harsh wouldn't know, because Rehaan had passed away.

She managed to go back upstairs to get changed for the last rites. She took off her mangalsutra painfully from her neck. Now, she was a widow... she couldn't wear this anymore.

When she came back down, her eyes were swollen. Randhir was also there, wearing white like the others. Harsh arrived an hour later, prematurely ending his business trip.

Sanyukta just stared at Rehaan's body for the last time as the rituals were being completed. She wouldn't be able to look at him again.

At one point, she broke down into tears, but Renuka placed her hand on her shoulder, comforting her. The two women then leaned on each other, giving each other silent support.

The men then walked off with the body for the cremation and the women just sat there, numb, like they were in shock.

Finally, after the men came back inside, Sanyukta stood up, wiping her tears.

"Sanyukta," Harsh called out, making her stop in her tracks. "We need to make some decisions now."

"Dad, not now," Randhir urged.

"The sooner we do it the better," Harsh argued. "We have to face the truth. Rehaan is no more, but his widow is here in this house."

Sanyukta felt her breaths become snatched away as she was referred to as a widow.

"The media is going to say a lot of things... so I'm saying this for her own dignity," Harsh commented. "The more we run away, the harder it will be."

Parth walked up to Sanyukta and placed his hand on Sanyukta's shoulder comfortingly.

"We've announced you as my successor. It's already difficult for the world to accept a woman as President, but it'll be more difficult for them to accept a widow," Harsh said. "It's a cruel truth... but widows are seen to have even less value than women here."

"Then I won't be your successor anymore," Sanyukta whispered painfully.

"I can't have the media go crazy on this," Harsh said sternly.

"What do you mean?" Renuka asked, stepping up.

"She has a two choices - one is to go back home and be with her father Kishore Agarwal... if she's accepted back. Two, she can stay here and raise her children, but then that will make our party look bad... Sanyukta, if you're a widow, nobody will vote for you in the next elections, and we're going to be hurled insults at now," Harsh said.

"So you do want me to step out," Sanyukta whispered. "I will. It's okay."

"She won't step out," Randhir said firmly, stepping in.

"We have no other choice Randhir. She's Rehaan's widow. Nobody will accept our party if we continue to promote her as our successor," Harsh argued.

"Unless she gets re-married," Renuka said, her eyes wide.

"What?" Harsh asked.

"Yes. Let's get her re-married to Randhir," Renuka said right away. "That way, there won't be a problem with her honour and it'll be more accepted."

"No," Randhir said firmly, upon noticing Sanyukta's grave expression. "Nobody is going to decide anything about her life anymore. She has the choice to live it how she wants."

Then Randhir stormed upstairs, leaving Sanyukta there to fall to the ground again, tears flowing down her cheeks.

She always wanted to marry Randhir, but not in this way.

162

That evening, Parth entered Sanyukta's room and sat next to her on her bed, holding her shoulder to comfort her. Sanyukta just rested her head on his shoulder and allowed him to hug her, her heart aching, unable to get over what just happened.

"Everything was so sudden," Parth said, tears in his eyes. "I don't want you to suffer anymore. You've suffered enough."

"I don't know what to do Parth," Sanyukta replied, tears stinging her eyes. "If I have to give up successor, it's fine... but I don't want to ruin anymore lives."

"Wasn't being successor your biggest dream?" Parth asked softly.

"Yes, it was... then being a good wife to Rehaan was. Dreams change with time," Sanyukta replied.

Parth broke the hug and wiped Sanyukta's tears away.

"Did you love Randhir?" Parth asked her. "Actually?"

"I loved him more than my life," Sanyukta answered honestly. "Then I had to compromise for Rehaan... and I chose my marriage over my love. I still would choose marriage over love."

"So you don't love Randhir anymore?" Parth asked. "I know this is very sudden... I just want to know how you feel Sanyukta."

"It's hard to stop loving someone. Randhir holds a special place in my heart because he was my first love, and now he's a good friend. Rehaan though... I made myself love him," Sanyukta confessed. "I had to force myself first, but then I started to care for him and grew attached... and I do love him. How do you not love someone you've been living with for three years?"

"It's like you fake it till you make it," Parth commented grimly.

Sanyukta nodded.

"Exactly," she said softly.

"What do you want to do now?" Parth asked.

"I don't know," Sanyukta answered honestly. "I just need time to think... I don't want to be forced to marry Randhir. Yes, we loved each other, but that doesn't mean we should get married now. Our love is in the past, and it isn't easy for me to get over Rehaan."

"What about successor?" Parth asked.

"I really wanted it... but perhaps it wasn't meant for me," she said sadly.

"So you'll let the position leave your hands? The whole benefit of the country Sanyukta? I know it's upsetting... I'm upset too, but I know that there can't be a better President than you, so for the sake of the country, maybe it's worth making some sacrifices to lead," Parth commented. "But you know... I will stand by you no matter what, and if you want to talk, I am always here."

Parth then walked out of the room, his words ringing in her ears.

163

The next day, Randhir entered her room. Sanyukta was sitting on her bed with her knees pulled up to her chest, trying to fathom what was happening, and what she was supposed to do. She didn't know what her fate held, but she knew that she didn't want anyone else to be hurt because of her.

He sat on the bed in front of her.

"Hey," Randhir said. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she said softly, looking down.

"I came to tell you not to take mom's words seriously," Randhir said to her. "I don't expect anything from you."

"I know," she said, still looking down. "It's really difficult. Is it right for me to move on after Rehaan suffering this fate?"

"Why should you have to suffer because others have? It doesn't take two sufferings to make someone whole," Randhir explained. "You deserve to be happy... whether that means you move on, or if it means you stay with Rehaan's memories."

"Parth told me that I would make the best President," Sanyukta said, looking up at Randhir. "He said I shouldn't let that opportunity slip... not for my sake, but for the sake of the nation."

"He's right," Randhir agreed. "You would make the best President."

"Do you think it's worth making another sacrifice to lead?" she asked him.

"I know one thing Sanyukta... I want you to be happy. I know that being President will make you very happy. I also know that you've reached a point in your life where you aren't scared to face anything," Randhir said. "I want to say you should live for yourself, but perhaps you can only live for yourself when you live for the country."

Sanyukta's eyes filled with tears and she nodded.

"I know what you're saying... it just feels wrong to leave Rehaan behind and move on," Sanyukta replied. "He really is special for me."

"I know, and I know you love him," Randhir told her.

"You know, I love him just like I would love a friend," Sanyukta said. "Maybe like the way you love Vidhushi... it's just that we accepted each other and we were happy, but it's not the same way I loved you. I just said those things that night out of shock."

"I know," Randhir told her.

"You understand me better than anyone else," Sanyukta said. "I wish it didn't feel so wrong to move past Rehaan... but I can't help it. It just does. He suffered, how can we be happy, when we were the reason for his suffering?"

"Maybe punishing yourself isn't the option. Maybe we should let the universe punish us," Randhir explained. "Only it knows what we deserve."

"I just feel bad," she whispered.

"I know, and I feel bad too," Randhir said to her. "I'll bring Vidya soon... she's with Parth. Take care."

Sanyukta nodded again as he went out of the room, and she stayed seated, contemplating his words.

164

One week passed since Rehaan's death and Harsh came into Sanyuka's room. She looked up at her father-in-law... they hadn't had a proper one on one conversation ever since before her marriage to Rehaan.

Harsh closed the door and sat on the bed next to her, looking her directly in the eyes.

"Sanyukta, I'll tell you something. Use what I'm telling you as an aid to make your decision. When I was young, I had a mother but not a father," Harsh admitted. "When my father was around, he wouldn't work because he was an alcoholic... so he would stay at home and beat my mother... and me. This Shekhawat name, it only started because of my mother."

Sanyukta's eyes filled with tears - she hadn't expected Harsh to go through this, or even openly admit any of this to her.

"My mom tried to go out and earn money for our family, but because she is a woman, nobody would give her a decent job... she was very qualified and well-educated, yet nobody gave her a chance. That made me mad, and I swore to my mom that I would get this whole country for her one day," Harsh continued. "My father died of liver cancer and my mother started to... she started to work as a prostitute... this is one of the reasons why I don't treat women like your father does... because I know how powerful my mother had to have been to go through that."

Harsh's eyes filled with tears when he told her this and Sanyukta felt her heart break for her father-in-law.

"Dad you don't have to -" she started.

"No, there's a reason I'm telling you this. I want you to know, that growing up without my father was difficult. We are here to support you, but I was really young when he died. I used to ask my mom where's daddy, when everyone used to bring their father to school... and my mom kept on telling me I didn't have one. It made me grow up too fast for my age. You are more than capable to raise your children on your own. Nobody knows your capabilities more than me... the few times you worked for us before marriage, you helped me a lot more efficiently than my sons had," Harsh told her. "I'm saying this for the sake of my grandchildren... let them get a mother and a father's love. I don't want your children to have to face any emotional consequences of not having a father. In the growing stages, a child needs the love of both parents, otherwise the child will develop way too quickly for his or her own good."

Harsh then stood up and placed a hand on Sanyukta's shoulder reassuringly as she watched him with shock.

"I'm not trying to pressure you... I'm just telling you what happened with me, and I don't want it to happen to my grandchildren. Life isn't fair. I know you loved Rehaan, but it's okay to move on," Harsh said. "I know you may not love Randhir, but at one point you didn't even love Rehaan. Loving someone can come with time. In my opinion, for the sake of your children's childhood, you should get married... to preserve their innocence for as long as you could."

Sanyukta sniffled.

"I know it's hard, but don't punish yourself for anything... if you're being given a chance to live again, it's not wrong. Let me know by tomorrow what you decide," Harsh told her.

Sanyukta nodded.

Harsh then left the room, leaving her to think about what he told her.