Ray of Hope

Chapter 33

Randhir got ready quickly and went to Arpita's house to pick up Sanyukta from there. 

"Kya baat hai, kal raat ki date se mann nahi bhada jo subah subah phir se tapak pade!" Arpita said playfully after opening the door. 

"Ek Parth kam tha jo ab tum bhi mujhe tease kar rahi ho!" Randhir said became embarrassed. 

"Wo kya hai na naya naya pyar mein gire insan ko tease karne ka maza kuch aur hi hai!" Arpita pulled his leg. 

"Very funny!" Randhir said thus Arpita chuckled hard. 

"Sorry, I was just joking. Come in." Arpita said thus Randhir came inside. 

"Baki sab kaha hai?" Randhir asked, taking a look around as he was dying to see her face once. 

"Dadi puja ghar mein hai, dad balcony mein aur mom kitchen mein. Aur kutta, billi honge yehi kahi! Anything else?" Arpita shrugged her shoulders when Randhir rolled his eyes. 

"Tum sidha sidha baat karne ka kya logi?" Randhir asked irritatingly. 

"Sidha sidha hi toh bol rahi hu!" Arpita replied innocently. 

"Sanyukta kaha hai?" Randhir asked finally.

"Toh phir tum sidha sidha kyu nahi puchte?" Arpita asked back, thus he made a face. 

"Upor room mein hai, aabhi bula kar lati hu." Arpita said and about to go but stopped next remembering something. 

"Ek baat hai Randhir, mom ne kaal Sanyukta ke samne tumhara asli naam le liya tha." As soon as Arpita said that, Randhir panicked. 

"Kya! Mera asli naam! Kya Sanyukta ko sab kuch sach sach pata chal gaya hai?" Randhir asked and became afraid. 

"Nahi, maine kisi tarah se sambhal liya." Arpita told him everything thus Randhir's racing heart beats came to a halt. 

"Thank you very much Arpita, you are a savior." Randhir said, taking a sigh of relief. 

"You are welcome." Arpita smiled brightly. 

"Not anymore Arpita. Isse pehle Sanyukta ko sab kuch sach sach pata chal jaye hume jana chahiye." Randhir said nervously. 

"But breakfast?" Arpita asked surprisingly. 

"Kisi aur din Arpita, aaj nahi. Agar breakfast table par kisi ne kuch bol diya aur Sanyukta ko sach pata chal gaya toh phir sab kuch badbad ho jayega. Sanyukta phir mujhe kabhi maaf nahi kar payegi and I can't afford this now." Randhir said nervously. 

"I think you are right, Randhir. Kaal Sanyukta ka jo reaction tha tumhara naam sun kar, agar kisi ne kuch bol diya toh phir iss baar main bhi kuch nahi kar payungi. Better hum NGO chalte hai." Arpita said thoughtfully. 

"No it's okay, you enjoy your breakfast hum chalte hai. Tum bass Sanyukta ko bula do." Randhir said impatiently. 

"Kyu long drive mein jana hai!" Arpita didn't left a chance to tease him when Randhir rolled his eyes. 

"Stop pulling my leg Arpita." Randhir frowned dangerously. 

"Okay okay, main Sanyukta ko bula kar lati hu you just take a seat." Arpita said and left next when Randhir was standing there. 

He was waiting there when he heard the footsteps behind him, so he turned around. Sanyukta was coming down with Arpita. She was wearing a white and baby pink coloured salwar kamij and she let her hair free. For a moment he remembered their first meeting at the office when he saw her for the very first time. That time she was an independent and confident girl who took a stand for herself but today she can't take a step without other's help. He gulped hard realizing that he was the reason behind this situation.