The Rebound (A Sandhir FF)

Chapter 14

Sanyukta paced the bedroom restlessly. It was nearing midnight and Randhir hadn't returned home. His phone was switched off and no one knew where he was.

Sanyukta wondered if she should call Rehan. But after everything that happened today she was pretty sure that that wasn't a good idea and hence she decided to abandon it, at least for now.

Sanyukta finally sat down on the bed, tired. "Randhir," she whispered softly, hugging a pillow and burying her weary face into it. She had replayed the day's events over and over again in her mind. Rehan's baseless accusations had hurt at first but the ache had dulled since then. She couldn't help but feel a miniscule amount of relief at finally getting to know the reason why Rehan had abruptly ended their relationship. The lack of closure had tormented her for the past few days. That feeling deep down that somehow Rehan hadn't found her good enough had been torturous whenever it surfaced. Now finally she knew the real reason. It wasn't her fault after all.

She briefly puzzled over how Rehan even got the idea that Randhir liked her. No doubt that too was Ishika's doing, she had half heartedly concluded. But a nagging doubt had remained. What if Randhir really did like her? Yes he worried about her and took care of her. But wasn't that natural for a friend? He had never given her any reason to think that he considered her more than a friend. But she had wanted to ask, just in case and make sure.

A part of her told her to just ignore that Rehan had ever said anything about Randhir fancying her. But a major part of her was plain curious to know the truth.

She dialed Parth's number once again to ask if he had any information about Randhir's whereabouts. She had to talk to Randhir if she was to get some sleep.

******

"Randhir I think you should go home now. If the warden finds you here like this I am dead meat man," Parth said trying to make as less noise as possible as he cleared away the beer cans his friend had emptied.

"I can't go Parth. I'll just hide under your bed if the warden comes," Randhir whispered burying his face in his hands.

"You can't hide under my bed for the rest of the year. You have to face Sanyukta someday or the other. So you better do it now," Parth said rolling his eyes at Randhir's antics.

"You don't get it Parth. Sanyukta will kill me."

"She will do nothing of that sort. Besides if there is any one Sanyukta should be mad at it is Rehan. He is the one who accused her of having an affair with you, in case you forgot."

"But he thought so because he knew that I liked her. So it is my fault."

"Just shut up for a second. Sanyukta is calling me again. What should I tell her?" Parth said as he retrieved his phone from his pocket.

"The same as last time."

"You want me to lie again? Sanyukta must be worried about you by now."

"Just do as I say!" Randhir hissed.

"Hello Sanyukta? Randhir? Well actually I was wondering if you could pick him up. He is a little drunk you see," Parth confessed into the phone even as he expertly dodged a beer can Randhir had aimed at him in anger

*******

"Care to explain?" Sanyukta asked as soon as she unlocked the door and stepped into the living room of her apartment.

"Sanyukta I am sorry. I'll go talk to Rehan tomorrow, he will take you back and you can continue planning your wedding from where you left off." Randhir slurred clutching his head that had now started throbbing painfully.

"I wasn't talking about Rehan. I was asking you why you are so drunk. Do you know how difficult it was for Parth to sneak you out of the hostel without the warden seeing you?"

"That's why I told Parth that I'll hide under his bed. It would have been so much easier than sneaking out of the hostel at this time. But you and Parth never go for the easy solutions do you? Remember the first sum we solved together? I solved it in three steps and you took thrice as many steps to get the answer," Randhir explained patiently.

Sanyukta sighed as Randhir blabbered on. It would be no use to ask him anything now. Any sensible conversation would have to wait until the morning.

******

"What do you think you are doing?"

Sanyukta said as she entered Randhir's room with two steaming hot mugs of coffee. She had figured that Randhir would still be asleep and had hence taken her time in getting ready for the day and then making coffee for them both. But Randhir was not only fully dressed but was in the middle of packing his bags.

Randhir looked up from his nearly full suitcase at Sanyukta's words. Even though she was simply dressed in jeans and a commonplace black t-shirt, she looked devastatingly beautiful.

"Why are you packing your bags? Are you going somewhere?" Sanyukta questioned as she carefully placed the two coffee mugs on a side table.

"Hmm yes. I don't think it's such a good idea for us to be living in the same apartment Sanyukta. Look how Rehan interpreted it yesterday. I don't want people questioning your character and whispering behind your back after you have been so kind to me," Randhir said as he rolled up a pair of threadbare socks.

"I don't care what people say. And I am not doing you a favor by letting you stay here. You pay me rent and everything right? We are just two friends who share an apartment."

Randhir sighed at Sanyukta's argument. "Sanyukta I don't think we should stay together, at least for the sake of your relationship with Rehan."

"Relationship? There isn't any relationship Randhir. I am not answerable to Rehan any longer."

"But I am. Rehan is my brother."

"But we haven't done anything wrong. You haven't done anything wrong. There wasn't an iota of truth in what Rehan said yesterday," Sanyukta exclaimed frustrated.

Randhir ran his fingers through his hair and looked away from Sanyukta. Now was the moment to decide whether to reveal the truth to Sanyukta or not.

"Randhir?" Sanyukta whispered. "Rehan was wrong right? You don't like me do you?"

It took Randhir all his self control to not blurt out that Rehan had been correct. He did like her. But something about his conflicted face must have given away the truth.

"You do?" Sanyukta's voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

"Yes." Randhir said softly. He didn't want to lie to her. Hell, he couldn't even lie to himself any longer. He liked Sanyukta. And that was the plain truth.

******

AN: - Hello readers! So that was Chapter 14. Do tell me whether you liked it by voting and commenting. Add my story to your library or simply follow me to know the instant I update!