The Rebound (A Sandhir FF)

Chapter 28

Sanyukta sighed as she inhaled Randhir's heady fragrance. It had been ages since they had hugged.

"Someone might pass by," Randhir whispered as he gently withdrew from the embrace.

Sanyukta pouted angrily in response and stomped her feet.

Randhir chuckled at her child like antics and bent down to retrieve her backpack. As he was about to get up, a letter with a familiar seal caught his attention.

"How long have you known?" Randhir asked quietly as he pocketed the letter.

Sanyukta took a deep breath, buying herself some time. She had not prepared herself for such a dramatic revelation.

"About two weeks ago," Sanyukta mumbled.

"I can assume that you didn't ask me about it because you trust me greatly. But I'd be wrong, isn't it?"

"I've wanted to ask you Randhir. But I was so confused. You seemed all set to bag a job here. But on the other hand I was scared that you were going to leave me," Sanyukta finished as tiny tears pricked her eyes. It felt good to finally confide her fears in Randhir but even the thought of Randhir leaving her produced an almost physical ache deep within her heart.

"Hey, I am not going anywhere Sanyukta," Randhir said softly as he gathered her in his arms.

Sanyukta couldn't help the small smile that lit her face even as tears of relief continued to flow.

******

"But it's such a good opportunity. Why do you not want to go?" Sanyukta asked puzzled. Once the initial joy had subsided she had been pestering Randhir to know more about his secret university dreams.

"Sanyukta I am not in a position to afford it. Maybe in a couple of years when I've saved enough," Randhir shrugged as he tried to free his arm from her grasp.

"Randhir I could help you if you really want to go," Sanyukta said quietly.

"So now you are actually willing to pay me for leaving you?" Randhir chuckled as he pulled her closer.

"I am serious!" Sanyukta snapped.

"Sanyukta what I really want right now is to be here with you. Besides it wasn't even my idea to apply. Vardhan sir insisted that I apply," Randhir confessed.

"Oh," Sanyukta said puzzled. Vardhan sir had never told her to apply to Stanford and she was supposed to be his favorite student.

******

"Sanyukta look at this," Vidushi said thrusting her phone into Sanyukta's hands.

"So?" Sanyukta said as she quickly scanned the article that Vidushi wanted her to read.

"But they have the best racing tracks, the best drivers and the best safety measures and yet this happened!"

"What happened?" Randhir and Parth asked at the same time.

"Look! A driver crashed in one of the races of the ongoing motor racing championship in India," Vidushi said urgently as she handed Randhir her phone.

Randhir finally understood why Vidushi seemed so agitated by a crash in an obscure competition they had never even heard of. If professional drivers were crashing in carefully monitored competitions, he wondered how safe the dream team competition would be despite its international acclaim.

******

While Vidushi had openly voiced her fears, Randhir and Parth had exchanged worried glances knowing that nothing could be altered now. The dream team forms had been submitted and their team had received a formal approval. Now the only way their designated driver could change was if Sanyukta was declared unfit to drive by the battery of medical tests she had undergone.

The news of the crash had a somewhat different effect on Sanyukta. She was gladder than ever that she had chosen herself as the driver. Better her than Randhir or Parth. But that didn't stop her from contemplating the consequences of a possible crash.

She finally decided to make amends with her family and had rung up her mother. Though surprised by her headstrong daughter's attempt at reconciliation, Anju promised to try and convince her husband.

Once she was satisfied with her effort to win back her family, Sanyukta directed her energy to address another important matter.

******

"Sanyukta?" Randhir called as he entered her apartment. Sanyukta had called him up and told him to come as soon as possible. Struck by the urgency in her tone, Randhir had rushed to her place immediately.

"Hi," Sanyukta whispered as she hugged him from behind.

"Sanyukta what happened? Is anything wrong?" Randhir asked immediately turning around to face her.

"Nothing's wrong," Sanyukta said as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, placing a tiny kiss on his cheek.

"So this was your urgent work?" Randhir asked chuckling.

"It took me half a day to clean this apartment, cook us a dinner and dress up. So yes this was my urgent work," Sanyukta retorted playfully.

"So what do I owe this pleasure to?" Randhir asked as he caged her more securely in his arms.

"I needed to tell you something," Sanyukta began nervously.

"What?"

"I've been meaning to tell you this since a long time."

"What?"

"But I was hoping you'd say it first."

"What?"

"Randhir will you shut up and let me complete?"

"Okay sorry."

"I don't know when or how or why Randhir but I've fallen for you. You bring out the best in me. You make me feel so happy and wanted. You support me even when you don't completely agree with my decisions. You've made me realize what it means to truly love someone. I love you Randhir," Sanyukta finished.

"Say something?" she whispered fearfully when Randhir did not utter a word in response.

"I... I didn't want to interrupt in case you had anything more to say," Randhir said dazed. "I love you too Sanyukta."

"I already knew that," Sanyukta said happily as she rubbed her nose against his.

"How did you know?"

"Girls know such things intuitively," Sanyukta said as she gently kissed the corner of his lips.

"Really?" Randhir asked unconvinced.

"Looks like you have underestimated girls all your life Shekawat. Let's change that," Sanyukta whispered before pulling him in for the most memorable kiss of his life.

******

AN: - So that was Chapter 28 folks. I don't know how many of you'll noticed it but the last chapter was when Sanyukta finally realized that she loved Randhir. Let me know what you think of this chapter. Vote, comment and follow!