A few hours later which felt like centuries to Sanyukta the doctors came out.

"The bullet was exactly at the point where the heart is located, but I must say Mrs.Shekhawat your husband is quite lucky, he was heart towards the right side instead of the usual left side” The doctor informed and left.

Sanyukta took a glance of Randhir from outside his ward. Her eyes gleamed with tears and her heart felt grateful to the lord.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sanyukta went inside, she looked Randhir carefully, absorbing his features in her mind.

Slowly she sat next to Randhir who slept peacefully. Sanyukta caressed his cheek, touching his stubble.

“Randhir! Argh, stop piercing your beard on my cheek. Go shave!” Sanyukta exclaimed.

“That's called stubble, like it” Randhir smirked.

“No, stay away!” Sanyukta exclaimed.

“Can't stay away from Sanyukta Aggarwal” Randhir pecked her lips quickly.

“Randhir look maid is there in the kitchen, behave yourself!” Sanyukta exclaimed.

“Do the rest of the cleaning tomorrow. It's evening already your kids must be waiting” Randhir spoke out to the maid, making her leave early.

“Randhir what's on your mind...huh, now help me out in these designs, remember we are in Bengaluru to do work” Sanyukta handed a pile of files to Randhir.

“All work and no play makes Randhir a dull boy” Randhir smirked.

“Randhir…but files” Sanyukta spoke out, but he landed his lips telling his urgency to make love.

Sanyukta started melting like ice, loving the passionate kiss.

He slowly wrote 'I love you' on her bare back, giving her goosebumps. Bit by bit both again became one making her feel special again.

“Madam, let patient take rest” the nurse brought back Sanyukta to present time.

Sanyukta nodded her head in response.
The nurse left the room,Sanyukta glanced at the sleeping figure of Randhir one more time. She placed a beautiful warm kiss on his forehead before leaving the room.

Sanyukta wiped off the tears as she came out. She took a long breath to settle all the hay wire emotions or should I say her love for Randhir.

“Madam we should leave now” Sanyukta spoke out to Sarita.

All safely reached Dehradun.Sanyukta again came to her empty apartment and her heart sank somewhere in her chest.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Months passed like days, October came running a marathon from its fellow months, the new batch of Class 12 soon became familiar to Sanyukta.

“Good Morning Ma'am” the class sang in a chorus as Sanyukta entered the class.

“Good Morning everyone, sit down” Sanyukta spoke out.

She finished the lecture and came to the staff room for lunch.

She opened her metal tiffin box, filled with her favorite snack like an eager child, she opened her mouth to eat, but she got glares from other teachers.

Sanyukta looked at them carefully, teachers were wearing dazzling bangles, heena on their hands and make up on their hands. Then it hit her instantly, the day she hated the most had arrived.

Quickly, she made her way to a clean and airy cabin,Sarita Devi sat on her table reading some books.

“Hello,Madam How you are doing?” Sanyukta spoke out to start a conversation.

“I guess we met yesterday,Sanyukta.Sit down” Sarita spoke out with a bright grin.

“Madam can I…" Sanyukta stuttered.

“Of course you can have lunch with me” Sarita Devi read Sanyukta's mind.

“Thank you” Sanyukta spoke out, sharing her tiffin with Sarita.

“So, what's going on?” Sarita spoke out.

“Nothing, just trying to complete class syllabus on time” Sanyukta replied.

“What about your love life?” Sarita Devi came straight to the point like a breaking news reporter.

“Ma'am I told you, I am happy alone” Sanyukta lied.

“Oh really, are you? Actually, I can see it on your face clearly” Sarita Devi spoke with sarcasm.

“Ma'am, it's better to live alone. When you know that you will only get hurt and pain in return” Sanyukta reasoned.

“Listen, relations are like puzzles. We need to keep everything joined just like puzzle pieces ignoring flaws and shortcoming of each other” Sarita Devi explained Sanyukta.

“If we need to keep something joined then it means it's already broken” Sanyukta stated blankly.

Sarita Devi remained quiet then she spoke out,” My husband died when I was just 25,with 2 kids I have lived my entire life alone. Initially after Arvind's death this day was daunting to me because it remained me of him, each year this day I used to wish to see him again. Sanyukta fate snatched him from me, I was helpless, but you are lucky Randhir miraculously got saved. Don't do something which will give you lifetime regret because your love is 'one of the once in a lifetime kind of love'.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The long wait on the terrace eventually yields a glimpse of the moon, shining in the dark sky. There is a sense of achievement as an electrifying wave of enthusiasm engulfs everyone breaking the fast. Pictures of the moon are shared on social media amid phone calls to exchange greetings and blessings. Yes, it's the day celebrated as Karvachauth in Hinduism.

Wives keep this fast affectionately and devotedly. The festival entitles a wife the extra edge to win and rule over her husband’s heart.

For Sanyukta it's daunting day as each second of this auspicious day make her remember Randhir whom she wants to forget.

Sanyukta closed the windows to avoid views of her neighbors celebrating this festivity.

She then thought to clean dishes, she scrubbed the plate as if killing her demons inside.

The plate slipped from her hands shattered into pieces, she tried to pick them quickly getting a cut in her delicate finger. Blood oozed from the cut.

“Sanyukta what did you do! Show me the cut, I could have helped you in chopping” Randhir spoke out worriedly, sucking blood from her cut.

“Randhir Singh Shekhawat do you know how to do chopping?”Sanyukta mocked Randhir.

“When I can make machines, then veggies are a cakewalk for me” Randhir spoke out.

He tossed a tomato in air, and he tried to catch it with pointed end of knife, but he missed it and the tomato got smashed on the floor

“Randhir Singh Shekhawat, make machines, I will make dinner” Sanyukta chuckled.

“Make my night wonderful” Randhir teased Sanyukta.

“You creep!” Sanyukta threw another tomato on his face.

The tomato exactly hit Randhir's face, making Sanyukta laugh uncontrollably.

“Sanyukta wait, get ready for my sweet revenge” Randhir challenged.

He chased Sanyukta, then he placed his hand on her waist to make her turn and face him.

“Now laugh, Mrs Shekhawat” Randhir smirked.

He brought his lips closer to her navel, fanning off air on the stomach, releasing a thousand butterflies inside her.

Sanyukta closed her eyes anticipating a sensual moment, her breath hitched in excitement.

Randhir slowly ran his fingers on her belly, making her flutter. Sanyukta shuddered under this sweet torture waiting for the special moment.

Randhir placed his finger inside her navel, making circles on it, teasing her more.

“Randhir...” a moan escaped her mouth.

Sanyukta smiled looking at her state, he then started tickling her stomach, Sanyukta started laughing like a maniac.

From a state of ecstasy to a state of humor,Sanyukta struggled to keep herself straight. She fell on the floor laughing.Randhir picked her up, they slept cuddling in each other's arms.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A meowing cat brought Sanyukta back to reality. She looked at the stray cat sitting in the kitchen window.

Sanyukta cleaned her wounded finger, placing a bandage. She then quickly fed milk to the hungry cat.

The cat meowed more, probably thanking Sanyukta for feeding her.

Sanyukta thought to sleep, but his thoughts didn't let her sleep for long. She got up to check some exam papers to distract herself. The clock  showed 3 in the morning when sleep took over making Sanyukta sleep on the study table of her room.