Bonds that Bind Us

Part Four

Randhir pulled her along shielding her at times when someone from her neighborhood approached. She inhaled his masculine scent. He smelled good for possibly traveling since wee hours this morning. Wait a second why was she thinking like this. Randhir always challenged her from day one at FITE.

She snapped out of these thoughts and then she realized she had never unlocked her door before she took the plunge.

" Randhir I never unlocked the door in my room before leaving," she stammered.

He groaned.

" Silly girl! It will take them time to break the door down and that is time we could use," he hissed back at her.

They started walking again. He stopped short and wrapped her dupatta around so her face was covered except for her eyes.

" I think we are safe but for now we have to make sure no one can recognize you," he stated not looking directly at her.

She was curious about what his plan was. Her original plan was simple run back to FITE to finish her degree and then she would look for a job. She hoped her family would panic for a few days then later on accept her decision. However most of all she did not want to marry that Sameer Mittal. She had a full right to use her education and follow her dreams.

For some strange reason she felt more confident in Randhir than herself right now.

They got to the bus stand. A little boy and his mother stood nearby. He peered at Sanyukta.

" Aap kaun ho?," he innocently asked.

Sanyukta's eyes widened. She was caught of guard.

"Beta yeh aap ke liye auntie hain," Randhir stated.

"Lekin unka naam kya hai?," the boy pestered.

Randhir smiled at Sanyukta and then back at the boy.

"Farzi," he declared.

Sanyukta wanted to scream at him but they were still not far away enough to be safe.

The mother came forward and apologized for the intrusion.

" Sorry mere bete nahin aap ko aur aapki begum ko disturb kiya hai," she muttered.

"Koi baat nahin. Pyaara hai," Randhir replied ignoring the assumption that Sanyukta was his begum.

For Sanyukta this filled a strange feeling inside of her.

She was leaving behind a man and her own family because they did not understand her dreams, would she never be at happy medium where she had someone who supported her and she could live her dream as well?

Randhir grasped her hand and pulled her into the bus. He slightly shook her out of her trance.

No she told herself. She didn't need someone to back her up if she made herself strong enough to work towards her goals.

" You ok?," he asked.

She nodded.

They were fortunate to find seats. She sat down in the window seat.

After some time, she turned to face him.

"What is the plan Randhir?," she inquired.

"When we get back to campus, we will get a few sim cards, We will not call them until tomorrow," he stated.

"Kya?," she sprung up from her seat.

He pulled he back down to sit beside him.

" You will not be speaking to them at all. That voice modulation app will be used by anyone who communicates to you family and Sameer. They need to think you have been kidnapped," he stated.

Sanyukta wanted to laugh. How were they going to make a runaway attempt look like a kidnapping?

"Mr Rank One how do you suppose that is gonna happen? It is so obvious I was not kidnapped," she replied.

Randhir rolled his eyes.

"There is a reason I am always rank one and you will always rank below me Farzi," he hissed back.

"Ok fin what did you do exactly?," she asked.

" I had someone take your dupattas off the grounds and place them in laundry and I had possibly the same person break the balcony window you actually came out of," he stated.

Her jaw dropped down widely.

"Lekin kaise and kisko?

"Jiggy met me on the way to your house. He must be scared but he just texted me the job was done," he replied.

"Why would Jiggy agree. As far as I know he is scared to even question Kaustki," she exclaimed.

He grasped her dupatta and covered her mouth.

" That is my secret. Now be quiet otherwise I will have to do something else to shut you up," he threatened.

Meanwhile Jiggy scampered off the Agarwal property. He had also dropped the small vial of fake blood on the balcony.

They would hopefully believe Sanyukta was kidnapped and possibly injured.

He just hoped he would not regret helping his friend with this plan. Yes he believed girls should have their rights and such but these drastic measures scared him.

He headed back to FITE on the bus after Sanyukta and Randhir had taken.

At 7am Mrs. Agarwal approached the door of her daughter's bedroom to find it locked. She called out for her several times, then proceeded to go get the spare keys.

She began to twist the lock.

" Why has she locked the door?," she pondered.

When the door opened she gasped.

There was glass everywhere, to disprove her fears she headed into the bathroom to check. Then she started to scream when she spotted the blood leading out to the balcony.

Her daughter was gone.

Mr. Agarwal and Ankit were alarmed and rushed up to the scene. They were also stunned.

"Sanyukta ko kisne...," Mrs. Agarwal stammered.

"Nahin woh theek hogi. This blood could be someone else's," her husband insisted.

" Ankit go find your sister! What will we tell the Mittals," Sanyukta's father muttered.

His wife nudged him hard.

"All I want is my daughter to be safe. She is everything to me and should be same to you as well!," Mrs. Agarwal exclaimed.

This was the first time she had ever raised her voice in front of him. However she did not care.