The Rebound (A Sandhir FF)

Chapter 33

Sanyukta smiled as she looked at her reflection. She had to admit that Vidushi had great taste in clothes. The lehenga she was wearing did great justice to her figure, hugging her at all the right places. She carefully applied mascara, not wanting to overdo her makeup or mess it up. She wasn't as experienced as Vidushi in these matters and if her calculation was correct she had approximately fifteen minutes to get ready, check on Parth and Vidushi and go downstairs to welcome the handful of guests who had been invited to the sangeet.

Sanyukta finger combed her hair and hastily braided it, not wanting to deal with the hassles of keeping her hair open. She had never gotten around to getting it cut despite her resolve to do so.

As she struggled to put on her earrings, she wondered for the thousandth time. She wondered how different everything would have been if Randhir hadn't left.

Vidushi would not have needed to spend half a day trying to coax Sanyukta into trying out half a dozen outfits. Randhir would have known in a heartbeat which outfit would suit her best. Parth would not have had to convince his cousin to dance with her in the sangeet. Randhir would not have let her dance with anyone besides himself. And he would have been standing next to her now, helping her as she dressed, whispering sweet nothings and telling her how beautiful she looked.

For a brief second Sanyukta could almost feel his presence and then like always reality broke her heart once again.

*****

"Hey, handsome," Sanyukta called out as she walked into Parth's room.

Parth grinned as he set his hair. "If you are trying to flirt with me, let me warn you that my fiancée is very feisty."

"You aren't even married and you are already scared of your wife to be. Poor dear," Sanyukta said in mock sympathy.

"Says the girl who preferred to hide in the changing room for half an hour rather than try out the outfits my fiancée had picked for her," Parth retorted.

"I wasn't hiding. Those dresses were outrageous for a cocktail party," Sanyukta said rolling her eyes and handing him a gift box.

"What's this now?" Parth asked.

"Open it and see," Sanyukta whispered.

Parth gingerly unwrapped the box to find a delicate brooch enclosed in a jewel box.

"It is beautiful Sanyukta," Parth murmured.

Sanyukta took the brooch from him and pinned it to his sherwani.

"It is my present to you for marrying my annoying friend. Now I can finally live in peace," Sanyukta said casually, trying hard to hide the vestiges of sadness that were threatening to engulf her once again. Just a few more days and she would have to get used to living alone.

"You are not getting rid of us that easily Sanyukta. We were wondering if you'd like to come stay with us after our marriage," Parth said as he took her hand in his.

"Not happening," Sanyukta said quietly, withdrawing her hand from his. "I don't want to gatecrash your honeymoon," she said with a wink before walking away to check on Vidushi.

******

"You look stunning," Parth's cousin, Arjun whispered as they swayed to yet another romantic song that was playing.

Sanyukta gritted her teeth in annoyance before composing herself and muttering a thank you.

They had finished the customary dance they had rehearsed for and had joined the others on the dance floor. Sanyukta had been reluctant to do so but she had been unsure about how to refuse Arjun without offending him.

But now she couldn't help but regret her decision. Arjun's flirting had grown increasingly obvious and painfully desperate as the evening progressed.

Sanyukta's heartbeat quickened as she felt Arjun gently caress her back. There was no mistaking his intentions now. She resisted the urge to push him away for the only reason that she did not want to create a scene.

"Arjun," Parth said as he gently but firmly extracted Sanyukta from his arms.

"Mind if I steal my best friend for a while?"

"Of course not," Arjun said smiling sheepishly.

"Thanks for rescuing me," Sanyukta whispered as Parth twirled her around.

"Why were you dancing with him when you clearly didn't want to?" Parth asked stiffly.

"I didn't want to create a scene Parth," Sanyukta said, her eyes downcast.

They drifted into comfortable silence as they danced to a medley of yesteryear romantic numbers.

"What is it?" Sanyukta asked as she sensed Parth scrutinizing her closely.

"You still miss him, don't you?" Parth asked quietly.

"Every minute," Sanyukta said as the song ended to general applause.

"And I don't know how to do without. I just need you now," someone continued to sing long after the song had stopped playing.

*****

Sanyukta sighed as she watched the last of Parth's cousins walk out of the sangeet venue. She wearily made her way to the drinks counter and poured herself a generous measure of lemonade. The evening had been an exhausting one.

"So did you like Parth's cousin?" Vidushi asked settling beside Sanyukta.

"Which one?" Sanyukta asked nonchalantly.

"The one you danced with silly!"

"He was fine I suppose," Sanyukta answered wearily.

"Just fine ? You guys looked cute together."

"Vidushi drop it will you," Parth said quietly as he gestured Sanyukta to pour him a glass of lemonade.

"Drop what?"

"Trying to set Sanyukta up with every random person on this earth," Parth said quietly as Sanyukta passed him a grateful smile.

"I just want her to have some fun," Vidushi retorted.

"I don't think we need to depend on men to have fun," Sanyukta said after a moment's silence.

"Cheers to that," Parth said as he gave Sanyukta a side hug.

"Shall we leave then?" Sanyukta asked as she drained her glass and got up.

"No," Parth said quickly making both Vidushi and Sanyukta stare at him.

"What are we waiting for?" Vidushi asked, confused.

"It is not a question of what, it is more a question of who," Parth muttered.

"Well then who are we waiting for?" Sanyukta asked.

"That would be me," a familiar voice said making Sanyukta's heart flutter.

******

AN: - Hey folks! That was Chapter 33. Love it? Hate it? Let me know :) Vote, comment and follow!