The Rebound (A Sandhir FF)

Chapter 1

"Sanyukta that is your fourth glass of beer. I think you need to go home now," Randhir mumbled shaking his head. He tried to wrench the glass from Sanyukta's grip but she did not oblige and instead emptied the glass in one go. "I love beer," Sanyukta declared wiping her mouth and grinning at Randhir.

"Since when?" Randhir asked waving away the glass the bartender offered him. At least one of them had to be sober and Sanyukta was anything but sober. "Since your brother broke up with me. Rehan never let me have any. He thought that having beer was very unladylike," Sanyukta giggled.

Randhir wondered if he should call up Rehan. Sanyukta was drinking like there was no tomorrow. He knew all her pretence of happiness was going to fall apart very soon. A breakdown was coming and he wasn't sure that he wanted to be around when that happened. Sighing he looked away from Sanyukta only for his glance to land on the newest couple in town- Rehan and Ishika. It had taken Rehan just twenty four hours to find himself a new girl if you could call Ishika that. Ishika had been Rehan's on and off girlfriend before Rehan had started dating Sanyukta. Rehan had been friends with Ishika even after he started dating Sanyukta and Sanyukta had never thought to object.

"Did he break up with you because of Ishika?" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"What? What do you...?" Sanyukta halted mid sentence. Even in the semi darkness of the club she could recognize Rehan's expensive leather jacket and that was definitely Ishika with him. No one but her would wear clothes that short, Sanyukta thought with distaste.

"Sanyukta are you okay? I'm sorry," Randhir whispered putting an arm around her. But Sanyukta wasn't listening. Her gaze was stuck on Rehan who was now whispering something to Ishika. Ishika gave Rehan a flirtatious smile and pulled Rehan to the dance floor. Sanyukta looked down defeated. Tears blurred her vision as she thought about what she had just witnessed. Rehan had already moved on and here she was getting drunk like a loser.

"Sanyukta I think we should leave," Randhir whispered. Sanyukta looked tortured. He didn't even want to imagine her state if she had to witness Rehan and Ishika getting cozy.

"No," Sanyukta declared blinking away her tears. "We are not going anywhere. Come," she said dragging Randhir towards Rehan.

"Wait. Sanyukta you are not in your senses. Where are you taking me?" Randhir asked as they walked past Rehan and Ishika.

"I heard you dance really well," Sanyukta whispered pulling Randhir closer and swaying to the slow romantic tune that was playing.

"Sanyukta are you fine? Why the hell are you smiling?" Randhir exclaimed. Sanyukta had been crying a minute ago and now she was passing him smiles and asking him to dance with her. She is definitely bipolar Randhir thought, resisting her attempt to place his hand on her waist.

"Don't think. Just dance," Sanyukta whispered putting her arms around his neck and closing her eyes. Randhir sighed and put his arms around her petite waist, pulling her closer. Sanyukta opened her eyes, startled at the sudden proximity.

"What? You were the one who wanted to dance," Randhir smirked. Sanyukta smiled at him and looked sideways only to meet Rehan's gaze. He gave her a glare and looked away. Sanyukta almost laughed at his behavior. Rehan was the one who broke up with her. He was the one who walked in looking all happy with Ishika and now he was passing her glares and looking all angry.

"Sanyukta you aren't dancing." Randhir's voice brought her out of her reverie. She tore her gaze away from Rehan and looked at Randhir. He was trying hard to lead her through the motions of dance so that they wouldn't look stupid standing stationary on the dance floor.

"Sorry," she muttered trying to match her steps with his. "You know Ishika is probably just a rebound for Rehan," Randhir said trying to reassure Sanyukta.

"You mean he is just using her to get over me?"

"Yes. Though I am sure he is not the only one doing the using here."

"What do you mean?" Sanyukta asked surprised.

"To understand what I mean you probably would need to look at Rehan's credit card bill at the end of this month."

"You mean she is using him for his money?"

"Yeah and the status that goes with it," Randhir finished.

Sanyukta mulled over what Randhir said as she redirected her gaze towards Rehan. Rehan and Ishika had stopped dancing. Sanyukta looked puzzled as Rehan looked at her and gave her a slight smirk before turning to once again look at Ishika. Sanyukta's confusion quickly turned to anger as she saw Rehan pressing his lips to Ishika's. Ishika initially caught by surprise quickly recovered to respond to Rehan's kiss.

Randhir dragged Sanyukta outside the nightclub. He had been afraid of what had just happened ever since Rehan had walked in with Sanyukta. He turned to look at Sanyukta only to be met with her empty expression. There wasn't shock or anger on her face anymore, just a broken kind of expression. Randhir engulfed her in a hug. "I am sorry you had to see that," he murmured.

Sanyukta felt overwhelmed as Randhir hugged her. She felt herself calm down as she inhaled his cologne. It was her favorite brand not the expensive limited edition one Rehan insisted on wearing. "Randhir?" Sanyukta murmured as she pulled away from the hug.

"Yes Sanyukta?"

Sanyukta moved away from his embrace only to put her arms around his neck. "I might be in need of a rebound too," she whispered into his ears before pressing her lips to his.