Recap: Sahil suggests Randhir and Sanyukta about the idea of handcuffs and asks them to ponder and decide. Both agree eventually but then disagree on the privilege of doing their work.
The evening came in and Randhir and Sanyukta's hustle bustle, running from one room to another came to an end. It was finally time to eat, they descended the stairs down as lunch was being served. Parth and Vidhushi looked at Sanyukta and Randhir suspiciously with their hands handcuffed, while Sahil gave his victory smile.
"You guys are still alive...Wow" Sahil mocked.
"What do you mean...? and why are they handcuffed ?" Vidhushi asked in confusion.
"Look at them, whole day handcuffed ...I was scared one would eat the other, though I didn't know which one, cause you both had fair chances... but the fact is that you both are very much alive..." Sahil added, amused with the situation.
"As for why they are handcuffed, well they need to understand what is team work, they to understand each other inside out !" he explained her.
At his words, every pair of eyes turned to Sahil, ...inside out ?
"What ?" he asked confused, then it stuck him...
"Nooo, not that way ! ...You guys have a dirty mind !" Sahil said defending himself.
"Very funny...Sahil... you know for a guy...you act like a little bitch" Sanyukta took a dig at him, while his smile vanished and Randhir's smirk appeared.
The whole day Randhir had been cursing Sahil for his idea, having to bear the obnoxious spoiled brat had drained him out. He will surely get back at him some other time, he noted in a corner of his mind.
Approachaing the table, they settled themselves next to each other... not that they had a choice obviously ! Both tried to grab different items at the same time, only to be pulled back by the handcuffs, their joined hands clashing. Randhir glared at Sanyukta while she looked back with a questioning gaze, Why isn't he familiar with the concept of 'ladies first' she thought. She sighed. If she wanted to eat any time soon, she had to look past his lack of manners, and let him go first, for this time she will let it pass, but only because her stomach was urging her to be fed !
"Go ahead" came her calm reply, while his expressions changed from irritated to lost. What ? no arguments ?! he wondered. How every time she managed to make him feel that way, when he was surely expecting her to taunt him.
"Change of thoughts?" Randhir cocked his brows, still not believing that she had given in so easily.
"I don't have any more power to argue " she spoke rolling her eyes, "Plus I can't fight with an empty stomach, so please go ahead" she gestured him dismissingly. He was pleasantly surprised by her act, she could actually be nice when she wanted to... ok nice was a big word, but still it was a significant improvement.
He In turn, looked at the bowl she was about to grab and served her first. Sanyukta looked at him in daze, her eyes widening, she certainly did not expected that.
"That's a change as well" she simply remarked. Eventhough the image of him serving her was a little odd, he nearly seemed human, the key word being "nearly" as she very well knew the character, ...and he was far from human !
"Simple enough. If the other person is not mean, I can be nice too" he told her with a small smirk.
They ate in silence, the understanding slowly dawning. He awaited for her to grab the bowl she wanted and in return, she loosened her hand so that his right hand could feed him properly. Unconsciously they installed a rhythm, taking turn to grab things and glancing at each other from time to time, they were effectively starting to understand each other ! Few minutes later Parth finished up his plate and went away followed by Vidhushi. Sahil took a dig yet again noticing the synchronization in them.
"Good going guys..." he remarked before leaving. Rest of the day passed without much drama. Just the same old arguments here and there !
***
As the late night hours arrived the ultimate and very much dreaded question hovered up, whose room were they going to sleep in ?!
...Why they had to sleep handcuffed was still a mystery to Sanyukta though, but Sahil had said something about spending most of their time together and the benefits of it... she had not really paid attention back then, thus she had not put much of a fight... but know she regretted it. And thinking about it, she could not understand what benefits they could get sleeping handcuffed, it's not like could communicate in their dreams... no she saw absolutely no benefits ...apart may be from her accidently kicking the devil in his sleep and doing some permanent damage, now that would beneficial ! ...On finding no valid reason, sanyukta started doubting Sahil intentions, he was enjoying the whole thing way too much, she suspected he was doing it for his own personal entertainment ! She sighed.
She brought her book down from her sight and looked at him. He was engrossed in a football match next to her on the couch, eyes fixed on the screen, remote in hand and legs crossed over the small table in front of them. Her eyes rested on his legs...he had strong and well defined legs she thought. ...What the hell Sanyukta, stop staring at the devil's legs, that's creepy she scolded herself. Her gaze returned at his face, waiting for him to look at her to discuss the matter at hand : where they will sleep ?! He understood her gaze and naughtily smirked. She looked in confusion at his sudden reaction... suspicious.
"Mine or yours?" he said highly amused by the situation. He won't let pass such a golden opportunity to irritate her ! Sanyukta lowered her glasses, rolling her eyes. She wondered what was cooking up in his mind now.
"What about you go to yours and I go to mine ?!" she retorted back, knowing very well that it was not possible, but she couldn't just let him have the last word, duh !
"Sorry no can do love" he said entangling their handcuffed hands together. "Tonight it's just you and me" he said bringing her hand to his mouth, kissing it gently. Sanyukta was taken aback by this sudden gesture. It was weird...It was so gentle so delicate yet so intense. It left her all tingly. She didn't think the brute was capable of awaking such emotions in her... She composed herself, this was exactly what he wanted, she was not going to get weak in front of his sweat words and actions... she was not going to let him seduce her ! She detached her hand from his.
"Dream on, I already told you, am off limits to you" she told him haughtily.
She internally debated before taking a decision, weighting the pros and cons of each solutions. His bed was surely more cozy and comfortable but she couldn't just let him have the upper hand by answering 'yours' can she? NO, definitely no ! . But on the other hand.. there was the comfort of his large and plushy bed... so...comfort or ego she asked herself. Her internal debate made him restless. He was getting impatient, he wanted some sort of reaction from her...He twitched his fingers before her to confirm if she didn't freeze.
She shrugged her thoughts away, settling for comfort. "Yours" came her soft reply, nearly audible. Moving swiftly in front of him, she walked towards his room without giving him time to reply.
"Looks like someone's excited" came his voice from behind.
Randhir came in behind her and shut the door, she turned and said "Leave it open"
"Nervous?" came his smirking retort. He was enjoying it way more than he should. Her uneasiness was entertaining.
Irritated and tired she was in no mood for his games, "Just leave the damn door open..." she yelled at him, "...is that really difficult to understand" she added frustrated, walking near the bed's edge.
Randhir sensing her sour mood dropped the matter, instead he started unbuttoning his shirt ignoring her mood swings. His gesture made Sanyukta glare at him.
"And what do you think you are doing ?"
"Is it a habit of yours, asking obvious question ? or are you just stupid" he retorted, he was done being civil.
Sanyukta didn't reply she kept throwing dagger at him with her eyes. He was previously enjoying her irritation but when she snapped at him, it didn't settle well with him. Nobody talked to him like that. He had to remind her who she was dealing with.
"Am removing my shirt, this is how I sleep, deal with it" he informed her coldly.
"What ?!" she exclaimed.
"I said..." started Randhir only to be cut by Sanyukta.
"When a woman says "what ?" it does not mean she didn't hear you, it's means she is giving a chance to change what you said" she explained him the very (il)logical ( depending on the point of view of course...) women's way of saying things !
Sanyuka gasped, the nerve of this man uuggh !!! "It's already bad enough that we have to share a room...No ways... I'm not sleeping next to a naked pervert" she glared at him warning him to undo his action.
"I don't care what you want and what you don't, you don't have the choice, deal with it !" he said fed up.
"And Please change your definition of naked...that might help you sleep" he added blankly.
"Oh I am sorry I didn't realize that you were an expert on my life, how I should act and live it, please continue... while I take notes" she said rolling her eyes at his little advice.
"And Put the damn shirt back on !" she told him sternly.
"Ok Listen here girlie, I have enough of your tantrums, don't forget who your are dealing with... just shut up and sleep." He warned her glaring at her.
"Put the damn shirt back !" she yelled pointing a finger at him.
"Don't act as if you haven't seen shirtless men before" he said irritated with her virgin Mary's behavior.
"What does that mean...?" she looked at him dumbfound.
"Come on! Sanyukta...Falcon with that less logics is a shame... I mean Tara surely wasn't handed over to you by stork" Randhir said proving his point
Yet again she drifted to her thoughts, Tara... her sweet little daughter. Then her thoughts went to her best friend Arpita... the horricfic life scarring incident she witnessed 2 years ago... but it was definatly not the time to think about the past... she had a more pressing matter at hand.
"But...I haven't..." she blabbered slightly audible to which Randhir's eyes widened, she was seriously in need of psychiatrist.
"Take on side of the bed and shut your trap" he spoke snapping his fingers before her, breaking her trance.
"No it's okay I will take the floor..." she suggested.
It's not that she was shy of men but his proximity to her did things even she wasn't sure of. She was nervous with him close to her. Things were surely different between them. Especially after those kisses they shared, sharing a bed was a big deal... to her at least. While she was busy with herself he awaited or rather anticipated her next move.
"Are you guilty of sharing bed with another man than your husband?" he asked breaking her trance. Curiosity winning over. In all the days she had spent with them, she had never mentioned her husband, not even once, that was weird.
"I'm not married" came out her rapid retort...she face-palmed herself internally for replying without thinking. Great keep opening your pages miss. open-book. Idiot. Reveal all your secrets yourself... stupid !
His was surely surprised by her now. She mumbled talked to herself and what more, he couldn't help but ask the question "You had a daughter out of wedlock?" It was no common thing.
"That, I believe, is my personal matter...right?" she snapped back calming herself slowly, "And you are no one to judge me" she retorted aggressively. "Look at yourself, at what you are, before judging others" she added degust dripping from her words.
That did it.
In one swift movement Randhir had pushed her on the bed and was hovering over her.
Sanyukta eyes widened in shock at the sudden assault, gaping at him with awe mixed with horror... pink supple lips of hers parted, trembling in fear.
Randhir eyes held pure fury, he was burning her with the intensity of his gaze... anger... frustration... lust... sadness... ? so much emotion passed in his eyes at that moment. Sanyukta was rooted by the scene in front of her. She had awaken the beast in him, a shiver ran down her spine.
His hand gripped her jaw tightly. "Such big words come out of this little mouth of yours..." he said calmly, the calmness in his voice contrasting with the tornado of emotions displayed in his eyes.
"I told you...time and again... not wake the beast inside me...why you never listen..." he said, the dangerous tranquility in his tone sent an eerie feeling through her spine.
"Now bear the consequence" he declared.
He tightly held her hands with one of his, above her head. She wriggled trying to get out of his hold, but with no luck. His other hand slid around her back and moved down, caressing her back, until he found her hips, he held her hips tightly pressed against him, letting her feel the hard length of his body against hers.
He decreased the remaining distance between them, rubbing his lips in her ears... nibbling it, teasing her. A gasped escaped her mouth. She doubled her effort to set herself free from his grip. But his hold on her was to powerful for her, she was helpless and totally at his mercy. He placed soft light kisses as he went downward, pushing his face in her bare nape, rubbing his lips on her delicate skin, feeling her pulse accelerating. He loved to see his effect on her.
Confusion and desired rose as the same time, Sanyukta's body reacted to his attention. She didn't know what to do. Her heartbeat accelerated, she chewed her bottom lip to keep herself from moaning in contentment.
Seeing his effect on her, Randhir felt it was the right time to proceed with the next step of his plan. And without prior warning his lips crashed on hers, kissing her with fervor. He rolled his tongue in her mouth breaking her barriers...taking the taste of her saliva, sending her in the world of insanity. He dominated her totally, robbing her of any control, sense and propriety. He was attacking her mouth with such a ferocity, it was driving her crazy with want, and just like that... all rational thought fled out of the window... as unknown to herself she started kissing him back.
She kissed him insanely, taking as much as she could...until she felt short of breath and released him.
Randhir chuckled darkly, he had her exactly where he wanted her to be... "Seems like there is no big difference between us after all...for you to be kissing a lowlife gangster like me...so passionately" he said wickedly, breaking her trance. He always hated the way she thought so high of herself while degrading others. ...He had showed her the mirror, now they were even !
The words resonated in her mind, they felt like a slap on her face. He was right. She who always claimed to be out of his league, she who always criticized him for his wicked ways, she who always took pride in being who she was... had put all her principles aside and kissed him shamelessly. Her eyes welled up at the realization. He had played her and shown her the mirror, ...and accepting the situation was not easy !
He abruptly left her.
Sanyukta quickly drew her pillows to her side adjusting herself, she turned away from him and lied down thinking about what had happened just moments ago...any will to fight gone, as right now she could blame no one than herself...a lone tear escaped her eye as she slowly drifted into slumber.
***
Morning rushed in, waking Sanyukta earlier than Randhir, she noticed her hand along with his resting over her waist, Randhir was spooning her in his embrace. Close, in his proximity... yet again. The funny fact was that no matter how much they run from each other they always ended nearer than ever before...She adjusted herself softly facing him, looking so calm in his sleep almost like an infant. She admired his features, his hair ruffled falling over his forehead, a small nose, slight stubble and his lips...Looking at his lips, yesterday's events came rushing in her mind, she instantly detached herself from him. She was not going give him another reason to taunt her. He had done enough damage yesterday, no more, she decided.
***
The first thing Randhir found on opening his eyes was her confused face. So close. He stared at her and she looked back trying to figure out if he was really awake or just her imagination. The sight did look cute with her waking next to him in the morning. Lost in his thoughts, he leaned in placing a small kiss on her lips, breaking her thoughts. He could not help but have one more taste of her, yesterday's make out session had made him even more addicted.
"What the hell was that for?" she spoke mad. The previous night's insult still fresh in her mind.
"Good morning kiss..." he simply said. He was not one to justify his actions.
"Don't ever do that again ! And stay away from me !" she warned him.
"Don't touch me !" she added.
"Just don't come near me !!!" she told him with cinvictions, she was determined to stay away from him, he had given her a reality check yesterday... She did a mistake once but she was not going to repeat it !
"Whatever" he said dismissing her and suddenly got up, pulling her with him as well, due to their attached hands..
"A little warning next time before you pull would be nice" she said rolling her eyes and rubbing her wrist. But then corrected herself "Oh sorry, I shouldn't expect nice from you, sorry my mistake" she said very calmly, she may looked calm from outside but in her head she had punched him like three or four times already !
Randhir ignored her and moved towards the bathroom, Sanyukta held back firmly. He turned around to look at her, she glared back.
"Argh!... Not again... no way am going in there with you" she groaned.
"Even I'm not interested in that..." Randhir retorted back stopping her dead in her tracks.
"We will remove the handcuff for now..." he added
"Yeah...Mr. smart pants...But in case you don't remember you fed the keys to the garden bushes" she spoke sarcastically.
Randhir pulled her next to drawer and withdraws his gun, "Ohh look ! your old friend... how can I forget the old Mr. Gangster way of handling things" she sighed.
"...And stop pulling me here and there like a doll" she said frowning.
He fired...Ah Freedom, sweet little freedom how I missed you !
***
Tara was playing with her toys when Karan came next to her on couch holding his coffee.
"Sweetie! what are you building?" he asked his baby playing with blocks.
"It's my doll's house dad" she told him fondly, returning back to her task.
"Dad...where's mommy? It's been so many days...mommy doesn't like Tara?" she asked innocently.
Karan pulled his daughter over his lap keeping away his mug, "Baby Muma must be busy naa"
"But dad...I wanna talk to mommy" she pleaded, with her big light brown eyes. How one could refuse such an adorable sight... He sighed. One should learn manipulation from children, no one can beat them on that field !
"Sure baby we will...once she gets free from her work... but not now" Karan told his daughter pecking her forehead.
"Dady...I need to go...my doll needs a house..." Tara told her father, going back to play.
When his daughter was concerned about the lack of roof over her doll's head, Karan was concerned about Sanyukta's disappearance, it has been 2 days. She never did that, hopefully she wasn't in much trouble. He remembered the way she was kidnapped not so long ago, Deciding on calling her later to check, he resumed his work.