The Rivals (Rewriting)

Shot-36

"The dinner was delicious... I had a great time..Good night Father..." Sanyukta beamed while wiping the corner of her lips with a tissue. They were seated in the hall after dinner, talking. Sanyukta noticed, Randhir had been behaving strange since the time she entered. He looked so worried. She had felt a strange turbulence in her stomach when he plunged to hug her. Her heart was now getting habituated to his protectiveness towards her but she also feared, thinking about the same. What if it was just a play of adolescent attraction? They were in the most intense stage of their teens and these type of attractions were common for them to feel towards the opposite sex. What if she fell for the most anticipated feeling called love and break her heart at such a young age? How would she cope up with the situation then? What if Randhir was just pretending? Her mind called out for gravest of the possibilities which her heart didn't approve.

She moved her gaze towards her left and saw Randhir looking at her in a daze. He wasn't even blinking his eyes. Sanyukta coughed to gain his attention and he looked away, feeling embarrassed for gawking like an owl at her all these time. He was so screwed! Why oh why was the girl playing havoc with his senses?

"Sir.. I guess it's pretty late... We should be off by now.." Dhruv exclaimed suddenly while Sanaya gobbled up her sleepy yawn. Vidushi and Parth were busy glancing at each other on regular intervals. While Randhir, Sanyukta, Aryan and Tanya were listening intently to whatever Father adviced them about the championship.

"Oh Good Lord! It's already that much of night! I didn't even realise! It's spooky how time flies!" Father bellowed laughing while others exchanged expressions of relief.

"Spooky..." Randhir and Sanyukta huffed simultaneously in a daze and jolted their eyes up at each other surprisingly.

Aryan was still sulking over the evening banter with Randhir and upon seeing Sanyukta, his mind started weaving crooked plans to trick them, this time together, for all the insults he had to bear for them.

"Goodnight Father..." Sanyukta bid their head teacher and turned her heels towards the college gate when she saw Randhir's frame leaning by a sizzling red sports car and Dhruv beside him from a distance. They were talking and Sanaya found it to be the best option to crawl inside her car and get a good 'car-sleepover'. Aryan and Tanya were already off, needless to say, in their separate cars while Parth was standing by his bike, waiting for Vidushi as she was busy over a phone call. She almost found it next to impossible, not to ogle lustfully towards the freaking lustrous car which was shining in the moonlight and against it stood the boy who had been playing havoc with her senses. She saw Dhruv walking upto her with a heart melting smile as she neared them.

"Sanyukta.. I can't thank you enough for the favor.. You guys saved us..." He advanced his hand towards her as she stood in front of them. She looked over his shoulders towards Randhir who had a smile pasted on his lips. He was still leaning onto the car with his arms folded across his chest when he shrugged his shoulders as she questioned him with her eyes about Dhruv. And then she remembered. She actually did a favor to him. Oh well! Or Randhir did.

"I know you two will manage it well. You are one of the exceptionally awesome swimmer of St Louis in anyway.." Saying that, Dhruv winked at her and looked back at Randhir.

"No.. It was all his plan..." Sanyukta voiced out suddenly.

"Your friend cares for you so much. I was just helping... I just hope we get through it, though you would have done the best.. Still we'll try to keep it upto your mark.." She smiled at him while shaking hands with Dhruv.

"You'll do even better than me.." He beamed while Sanyukta nodded her head to and fro.

"Dhruvvvvvvvv......" Their conversation was interrupted by Sanaya who seemed rather annoyed as she screamed at Dhruv.