Ray of Hope

Chapter 26

"Sanyukta are you fine?" Arpita asked her as they came to a room.

"Haan main thik hu." Sanyukta replied slowly when shivering due to cold. Arpita opened the cupboard and bring some clothes quickly.

"Yeh lo kapde, jake change kar lo." Arpita handed her a skirt and top.

"Arpita ji aashram mein yeh kapde!" Sanyukta said hesitatingly.

"Sanyukta saree nehi hain mere pass aur waise vi hum picnic par aaye hain so chill. Aab jaldi se change karlo main bahar hu." Arpita said and came out from the room.

On the other hand Randhir came with Parth in an another room.

"Tu keya pagal hain, jab teherna nehi aata toh phir pool mein kuda kyu? Aagar tujhe kuch ho jata toh?" Parth asked worriedly.

"Aur aagar Sanyukta ko kuch ho jata toh?" Randhir asked when Parth get numb.

"Toh phir tune keya ukhar liya kud kar, aakhir maine hi bachaya na toh phir rukna tha na tab tak!" Parth replied next.

"Keya karu uss waqt kuch sujha nehi. Sanyukta ko pani mein helpless dekha toh mujhse raha nehi geya, aur..."

"Aur main chala geya suicide karne!" Parth said mockingly.

"Aagar tujhe kuch ho jata na toh phir jaan le leta main teri." Parth said angrily when Randhir smiled.

"Aab change karne ke liye kuch de de yaar otherwise thand se hi marr jayunga main toh!" Randhir said playfully thus Parth's eyes became soften.

"Ruk." He said and bring a pair of shirt and pant.

"But Sanyukta pani mein giri kaise?" Parth asked to Randhir as he came out from the washroom after changing his clothes.

"Exactly main vi yehi soch raha hu! Wo pool ke pass keya kar rahi thi and the thing is kisine dekha kaise nehi!" Randhir said confusingly.

"Aab isska answer toh Sanyukta hi de sakti hain." Parth said thoughtfully.

"Then usse hi puchhte hain, let's go." Randhir said and both came out from the room.

"Sanyukta tum pool mein giri kaise?" Arpita asked when helped her to drying her hairs.

"Wo main Parth ko dhundte dhundte waha par geyi aur gir geyi." Sanyukta said slowly.

"Tumhe aaisa risk nehi lena chahiye tha aagar kuch ho jata toh! Koi kaam tha toh Parth ko bula leti." Arpita said when Sanyukta kept mum.

"Waise tumhe koi kaam tha Parth se?" Arpita asked curiously.

"Nehi wo bass kuch puchna tha Parth se." Sanyukta replied.

"Keya baat hain Sanyukta you can tell me." Arpita said with care.

"Wo-wo actually wo main yeh puchna chahati thi Arpita ji ke keya aap dono ki shaadi postponed ho geyi hain?" Sanyukta asked hesitatingly when Arpita became surprised.

"Tumse kisne kaha yeh sab?" Arpita asked surprisingly.

"Arpita ji keya yeh baat saach hain?" Sanyukta asked again avoiding her question.

"Haan saach hain." Arpita replied slowly.

"But why? Main Parth ko already bol chuki hu ke jo kuch vi huya hain uss mein unnki koi galti nehi thi phir vi wo aapne aapko guilty kyu maan rahe hain?" Sanyukta asked worriedly.

"Kyu ki main guilty hu Sanyukta." Parth said standing at the threshold and came inside with Randhir.

"Maine galti ki hain Sanyukta jisski saza tumhe mill rahi hain. Aur tumhari zindegi badbad karne ke baad mujhe koi haq nehi hain ke main aapni zindegi aabad karu." Parth said in a gloomy voice when Randhir lowered his lashes in guilt.