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It has been a tiring day was the first thought that invaded her mind as she glanced down at the puffy bed. It was inviting her to join in. Living in the India's only Space research centre was not the easy job, the theory she studied back when in the ninth standard according to Charles Darwin, only the fittest gets to survive was applied here. It was the competition going on to select the best leading astronaut and she had to win it, not for fame but for her father. She promised her father that she will win this competition and make him proud.

Tomorrow there was a important task for her. As per some knowledge she heard that tomorrow they were going to be locked over in the ice chamber. Only the fittest will survive and win the task and she was sure she will be the one. Though deep down she also wished for Randhir to win. Randhir. His name was constantly twirling around her brain which infuriated her. She was bound to hate just like he does but she could not. Her will, her heart told the opposite. She sighed and then looked back at click on the wall and sighed. It was last eleven and her rooms yes were already asleep and here she was thinking about hating him.

Walking up to the bed she let the sleep invade her with the last thought of trying to hate him. The loud ringing of the alarm made her groan in bed and her sleep broke. She yawned a little and then got up to see the time. She quickly hoped out of the bed as her roomates were no where in sight. So much for being friends she thought.

After getting dressed up and making sure she had a jacket along on her she walked upto the medical room. She spotted him sitting over smirking at her direction. She observed him closely. He was still handsome her brain yelled. She tried to calm it down. His face was pure but inside he was devil, evil trying to make her life hell. She wondered what made him hate her. She never did any bad thing to him expect crushing his ego by rejecting him as a driver. Pushing aside those thoughts she looked up and saw that other two members of the team were also present. Now the task was in between five members then it will be four she thought.

"Good morning Sanyukta" Sumit her friend greeted her. He was a happy going guy.

She smiled at him and wished back. She had no intention of scowling like Randhir was doing sitting on the chair like some king.

She heard the footsteps behind her and turned her back to see Nirman, her mentor walking upto them. She tried to spread her groan at his cold masked face, he never smiled in his life she thought.

"Hello guys I hope you all get qualified for the task"

"Huh Doctor is everyone done?" He asked once doctor stepped out of the room.

"Except Sanyukta Aggarwal and Randhir Shekawat"

Randhir flinched a little hearing her full name. Oh how much he wanted her to be his better half. He married her, yeah they were still married but did not want to accept it. Egos.
***

" Sanyukta Aggarwal you are not fit for the task so you're disqualified" Nirman said proudly. He was happy that the girl he loathed most is finally out of his view for some time. She was strong headed, intelligent and even better than Randhir. He knew that but still he cannot accept a girl who almost ruined his plans many times.

"But sir..There might be some sort of problem. Sir please I want to do the task" she pleaded him. She wanted to win this task but here she was not even allowed to do the task. So much unfair for her. When did life play fair with her she thought bitterly.

"No arguments Sanyukta you're disqualified" he announced hiding a smirk and going out of the medical room. She was angry. She stood up and rushed to her room. Tears spilled from her eyes out of frustration. Why was god do cruel to her? Only her she thought. First she had problem to pursue engineering and now this. Why were everyone hell bent on breaking her? First Randhir and now this.

She looked over at her mother's photo and the immediate determination to do the task filled her. She walked over to her mentors cabin. She had to confront him today, it's now or never.

Seeing that the door was open she just knocked once and entered inside without waiting for his permission.

"Ahh Miss Aggarwal so why do I owe such a pleasure of meeting you?"

"Sir you're being unfair to me. I am capable of participating in the task and you know it very well. I can prove you that I am capable of doing this task"

"Well Sanyukta I believe in your medical reports and trust me I have no intention of keeping you away from the task rather your reports state otherwise" he managed to say.

After lot of arguing over and all he challenged her to go in the room and stay for an hour. She happily agreed to this and went to take the challenge.

"I hope this may make you learn of your capabilities" Nirman said once they were inside the chamber. She did not think about answering him back but just looked around the room. He left the chamber after setting the temperature.

"Excuse me sir the ministry is here for the meeting" Mrs Subramanyam said once she was inside Nirmans cabin. He closed his laptop that was featuring the footage of her in that chamber.

Aryan was looking for Sanyukta. It had been an hour he was searching for her, he had not met her since morning as he had some work to process. So now as he came to know from Sumit that Sanyukta was disqualified for the task he was hell bent on finding her. He knew that she would have been very upset and angry. Lingering around the cafe for once more he walked towards the hallways.

Randhir observed Aryan. He dislikes this boy, reason was obvious because he was friend of Sanyukta. Friend. He knew that he did not want to name them further. He hated her and so do him. But what surprised him was Sanyukta was nowhere near her so called friend. Yeah whenever he saw Aryan she would be there beside him. He decided to approach him.

"What a pleasant sight to see you alone. Where is Sanyukta?" Randhir taunted him as Aryan was calling her number continuously.

"Randhir I hope Sanyukta is none of your business" Aryan gritted his teeth. He was surely not fond of Sanyukta's ex boyfriend.

"I was just wondering why are you all alone. It's not that daily I see you without Sanyukta" Rage and jealousy coursed through him. She still controlled his feelings and that thought irked him. She was like a drug, he hated it but was addicted.

"Hah. Have you seen Sanyukta Aggarwal somewhere?" Aryan asked to the passerby ignoring the curious glances of Randhir.

Randhir then could figure out why was Aryan pacing around and clutching his phone. He was worried too. He knew that she will not give up easily. She was hard headed and determined and stubborn too. So much for knowing her for four years he thought. Without sparing a glance at Aryan he walked to Nirman cabin.

He frowned upon finding it empty. He walked towards the direction of the ice chamber and bang there she was lying on the floor helplessly. His heart tugged looking at her in this state. He tried to open the door and banged on it to call her but she was unconscious. He punched the code hastily like his life depended on him and then opened the door and ran inside.

"Sanyukta..Sanyukra please wake up" he patted her cheeks as he took her fragile cold body in his arms. He did not knew he was crying by now. He checked her pulse and it was beating so he sighed but her unconscious state was not easing him. He remembered all their memories of being together. His marriage with her. His wife she is. Without a thought he carried her bridal style and rushed towards the medical room.

"Doctor..Is anybody here?" He shouted on finding the room empty. He walked upto the bed and laid her down. She was looking pale with her blue lips and cold hands. He tucked her hair behind and placed a quick kiss on her lips and moved across the room to find the doctor.

After finding nobody in the room he quickly ran to his room and took the heater and some warm blankets. He rushed back and plugged the heater and placed closed to her. She was now covered by heaps of blankets. He rushed to get her some warm coffee. After placing the coffee on the table beside her bed he looked for the fresh cloth.

Upon finding the cloth, he rubbed against her arm and her bare feet to male them warm, she was moving so that was good sign. He sat beside her and took her in his arms by resting her head on his shoulder. He was angry at himself and then at her. How could she do this? Risking her life just to prove him wrong. Not first time he thought after remembering college incidents.

He made her to sip the coffee. She hungrily drank it and snuggled closer to him fir his body warmth. She placed her hand on his chest and rested her head into crook of his neck. He sighed. After so long he was feeling a solace, kind of relief having her in his arms, close to him. He took her palm and rubbed with his to provide her more warmth.

After some time she fluttered open her eyes and squinted to adjust to the bright glaring rays of the sun. She was feeling too much of warmth and she looked over her to see him looking at her. Realising of her sudden position she sat upright and looked around the room. She had no idea how she ended up here so she looked over at him and he was frowning. She saw around , there she saw the heater, coffee cup and she herself was covered with tons of blankets.

"Why I am here Randhir?" She asked him. It was like Ana from FSOG was asking Christian after she woke up in a hotel bed in nothing but a shirt.

"You fainted in the ice chamber Sanyukta. Why the hell were you there?" He asked not able to control, his anger. She distanced herself that triggered it.

"I..uh..I...You brought me here" she asked looking striaght into his eyes. She did not know but her stomach had butterflies. Some strange feelings evoked in her. Hidden deep two years ago.

"Uh..Yes I was passing by and I saw you there" he lied. He could see her face harden at that. He felt like kicking himself for acting so rude to her. He cleared his throat at her intense stare.

"You still care" she uttered before she could stop herself. He snapped his head at her and she herself looked startled.

"I never stopped" he said standing up from the bed. She was surprised to hear his confession.

"It was true right, what we had two years ago." Sanyukta asked in a small voice. She was sounding like Allie from the film Notebook. He pondered over her words. The memories of all their years together flashed through him.

He took the heater from the desk and walked towards the door, she stared at the retreating figure, he turned back " It was true Sanyukta" he smiled sadly and walked leaving her heart in pain.

******

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~ Sanjana