The Rebound (A Sandhir FF)

Chapter 22

"Who wants more popcorn?" Sanyukta asked as she got up from the couch and stretched her arms. Randhir had spontaneously decided to invite Parth and Vidushi to spend the weekend with them. After chatting awhile they had settled down to watch a movie.

"Me," Vidushi and Randhir screamed in unison not taking their eyes off the screen. They were pretty alike especially when it came to movie choices, Sanyukta observed as she walked towards the kitchen. Parth joined her a second later.

"Hey," Sanyukta said surprised as she tried to figure out where she had stocked the packets of popcorn.

"I thought I'll help," Parth smiled shrugging.

"I am fine Parth. Despite what you've heard from Randhir, I can manage to make a bowl of popcorn without needing help," Sanyukta chuckled as she placed a bag of popcorn in the microwave oven.

"So you and Randhir, huh?" Parth asked as he poured himself a glass of water.

"Yes me and Randhir," Sanyukta said with an easy smile. "Don't tell me you didn't see this coming. Randhir told me that you knew what he felt for me way before he had confessed to me."

"Yes, I did. But that's because I am way too perceptive," Parth shrugged.

"Wish I was as perceptive," Sanyukta sighed as she settled on the kitchen platform.

Parth joined her on the platform, wondering how to convey his fears to Sanyukta. He opened his mouth several times trying to state his point of view diplomatically. But he couldn't find words appropriate enough. Both Sanyukta and Randhir were his friends. He didn't want to ruin the happiness they had so recently found by voicing his baseless fears. And so they sat in silence waiting for the popcorn to get ready.

Parth looked down at his feet wondering whether he had any right to say anything when he noticed something he had never paid much attention to before. Sanyukta's feet were tiny compared to his. He remembered reading about girls with small feet being lucky. Sanyukta was living proof of the age old superstition.

Born into a rich family that doted on her, she had lived a life of privilege as the only daughter of the Agarwal household and more recently as the girlfriend of Rehan who belonged to one of the oldest and most powerful business families in the country. She was rich, beautiful and intelligent.

Parth had always known that they- he, Randhir and Vidushi did not fit into Sanyukta's world. But strangely enough, Sanyukta had always managed to fit into their worlds.

Sanyukta watched Parth in silence for several moments. It was clear to her that he wanted to say something but was unsure about how to start the conversation.

"Parth?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you have anything to say to me?"

"No. Yes!" Parth muttered.

Sanyukta raised her eyebrow and waited for him to continue.

"Sanyukta don't get me wrong. I just wanted to make sure," Parth said nervously.

"What?" Sanyukta asked confused.

"Are you sure about Randhir? I mean you really do like him right?" Parth asked watching her face carefully.

"Of course I like him," Sanyukta said frowning. She simply didn't understand where this was coming from.

"I just don't want to see Randhir hurt."

"And why do you think he's going to be hurt?"

"Sanyukta it is not wrong to seek comfort elsewhere when you've had your heart broken. But I don't think Randhir only wants to be your rebound." Parth said patiently.

"What do you mean?" Sanyukta asked trying hard to keep the anger out of her voice. How dare Parth suggest that Randhir was a mere rebound when he was so much more than that!

"I don't know how much he has told you Sanyukta. But Randhir is crazy about you. He's liked you longer than two years. And you know what it's called when a person's heart unwaveringly craves someone for that long?" Parth asked as he looked straight into Sanyukta's eyes.

"What?" Sanyukta asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

"It's called love."

******

"Sanyukta are you sure you are ok?" Randhir asked as he watched Sanyukta with concern. She had been unusually quiet the entire day. And now that Parth and Vidushi had finally left he had decided to broach the subject after much hesitation.

"I am fine Randhir," Sanyukta said passing him a reassuring smile.

"Ok," Randhir smiled though he wasn't entirely convinced. He had never seen Sanyukta in such a contemplative mood before.

"I think I'll call it a night then. I am really tired," Randhir said as he lovingly pecked Sanyukta's cheek and whispered a good night.

"Yeah because watching three action movies back to back while lazing on the couch and munching popcorn is so tiring," Sanyukta taunted as she ruffled his hair and kissed him good night.

"I am too sleepy to retort to your sarcasm, so I'll get back to you tomorrow," Randhir said yawning as he walked to his room.

Sanyukta laughed as she watched him go. The smile on her face gradually faded away as the gravity of Parth's words once again engulfed her thoughts. Parth's worry had finally started making sense to her. He was afraid that Randhir liked her way more than she liked him. In fact Parth had gone ahead and stated that Randhir might be in love with her.

Strangely enough, Parth's declaration hadn't scared her, probably because she herself had unconsciously surmised Randhir's love for her.

What scared her was Parth's parting question.

"Can you return his love?"

******

Sanyukta cursed as she heard her phone ring. She was in the middle of taking a shower and her phone had been ringing incessantly for the past few minutes.

"Randhir can you please get that call for me," Sanyukta called out as she washed away the shampoo at express speed.

"It's your mom Sanyukta," Randhir's voice came just as she was hastily knotting her bathrobe.

Sanyukta smiled happily as she stepped out of the bathroom. It had been ages since she had spoken to her mom.

"The phone just stopped ringing," Randhir smiled as he held out her mobile.

"I'll just call her back," Sanyukta said as she walked towards the window. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and Sanyukta soaked in the warm sunshine happily as she waited for her mom to answer her call.

Sanyukta's smile widened as she felt Randhir's hands wrap themselves around her waist and as her mom greeted her with a cheery good morning, she couldn't help but feel that she had been blessed with all the love in the world.

******

AN: - So that was Chapter 22 folks! It took me a while to write! Don't forget to vote, comment and follow :)