Price: A Memoir

Hi Randhir, its' Sanyukta!

"Oh shit this handwriting is of Sanyukta. Oh no. How can I be so stupid? How can I miss this? My favourite coloured Sherwani, that bouquet of my favourite flowers and moreover that tattoo on her hand. RK were the initials of Sanyukta's parents' name. Oh my goodness. How did I create such a blunder? Only she can know me so well. Such a master plan. Shit." Randhir sat down on the bed with a thud. Before he could sulk more his phone started ringing. Without looking on the screen he picked up the call and before he could say anything he heard that laughter. The laughter that once took his breath away. The laughter which used to mesmerise him.

"Didn't I tell you Mr Shekhawat you can't catch me till I want you to catch me? By the way you took long to recognise me. I thought you would recognise me on seeing the sherwani itself. But no worries. Now that I am back I will make sure you will remember me every moment of your life." Said Sanyukta over the phone.

"Sanyukta is that you?" Randhir asked still dazzled.

"You are still in shock Mr Shekhawat. Don't worry many more are yet to come." Sanyukta said her voice full of sarcasm.

"Sanyukta what are you trying to do? And why? You know I have completely destroyed you. Moreover you can't sneak in through the tight security of the Shekhawat mansion. Then why are you even trying? Today is my marriage. And I will marry Ishika only. And nobody can sabotage that. Do you get that?" Randhir yelled over the phone.

"Oh come on Mr Shekhawat. Now you are acting like a child who is sacred from inside and gives meaningless threats just to show how brave he is. I know you for more than a year now. If I can save a criminal from the clutches of the law then what will your security do to me? If I can break into your house and apply turmeric on you then think what can I do at marriage. Think Mr Shekhawat think what if the brides got swapped. What if Ishika got kidnapped right before the wedding? What if? You see life is full of what ifs." Sanyukta said and Randhir could feel a smirk creeping up her face.

"Sanyukta don't even think to harm Ishika. I couldn't save Shanaya but if anything happens to Ishika then I will tear you into pieces. I am telling you. I will throw you inside the prison." Randhir said seething in anger.

"Oh my my. Such anger for Ishika Ahuja. I like it. You will tear me into pieces. Great. But what about my soul that you tore into so many pieces that I can never be the same Sanyukta again. What about the heart that you broke that still hurts. Never mind. We have an entire life to talk about that. And prison. You must be joking Mr Shekhawat. Do you really think I am such a weak player? You messed with me because I had let you do so. No one can break Sanyukta until she wants to be broken. So better stop daydreaming. And about the prison. Forget about telling the police anything let alone sending me to prison. Because if you do so your brother will lose his love. Sejal." Sanyukta said.

"Sejal? How do you know her? And what did you do to her?" Randhir yelled on the phone.

"Nothing. Right now she is my guest. But if police comes to your place then she won't be my guest anymore. And dare you say anything to anyone. Orelse Sanyukta Agarwal never misses her shot."

"Sanyukta you won't do something like that. Hello hello............"

But the line went dead. Randhir's head started reeling. His throat went dry. He knew Sanyukta was capable of doing anything. She never gives any empty threats. He can't let his marriage get sabotaged. Never ever.

"Robert come to my room fast." Randhir shouted on the intercom.

After sometime when Robert came, Randhir said "Robert listen to me very carefully. Tighten the security of the mansion. No one should be able to go out or come in inside the mansion without a thorough security check. By no one I mean no one. Not even a servant or a maid. And I will send you a photo. If you find this girl anywhere near the mansion you will inform me immediately. And 2 bodyguards should always be present with Ishika. Not for once will anyone leave her alone. Do you get that?" Randhir said.

"Yes sir." Robert said.

Later that day when Randhir was seated in the garden for the Haldi ceremony his eyes were searching for that one person constantly but he knew that Sanyukta was too clever. Her wits was something which was always beyond Randhir's understanding. If she wants something then she there is no way anyone can stop it. This was the reason he was surprised when Sanyukta didn't come searching for him after he left.

After the ceremony when he wanted to meet Ishika to ask her to be extra careful no one allowed him to do so as a couple is not allowed to meet before marriage. After getting freshened up when he again tried to call Ishika he was interrupted by his mom.

Renuka- Randhir may I come in beta?

Randhir- From when did you start asking permission from me?

Renuka- Beta are you still angry on us?

Randhir- Mom I am not the one who is angry on you. One fine morning both you and dad decided to stop talking to me just because I decided to marry a girl of my choice.

Renuka- But beta she was not the one and we could feel it. So we were against that marriage. But your father is very happy that you are getting married to Ishika. She is a nice girl and within a short period of time she has won the hearts of all. She is perfect for you.

Randhir- Thank you mom. Do you have anything else to say? Or can I just complete my office work in peace?

Renuka- Ok beta complete your office work but I have come to give you Maasi's gift. She was unable to come from India due to visa problems so she has sent you the gift. Please check it and inform her how is it.

After that Renuka went out leaving Randhir alone. He again tried calling Ishika but to no avail. He decided to tell her in the evening and also bodyguards were there for her safety. So he started his work. After sometime his phone rang with a new number and he grew alert.

Randhir- H.. hello.

The other person- Kya hua puttar ji? Itne ghabraye hue kyu lag rahe ho? Shaadi se pehele hi gala such gaya aapka?

(What happened son? Why are so nervous? Are you Afraid of this marriage?)

Randhir- Maasi maa is that you?

Maasi- Manhoos maare hazar. Han ji han ye hum hi hain.

(Yes its' me my son.)

Randhir- But Maasi maa why did you call from another number? Apke number ko kya hua?

(But Maasi maa why did you call from another number? What happened to your number?)

Maasi- Are puttar ji puchiye mat. Ye jo humara nokar hain naa ussi ne mera phone kahin kho diya. Issiliye puttar. But chodo wo saari baate. Ye batao tumne mera gift khola ki nahi?

(My son don't ask me that. Our servant lost my phone somewhere so I had to take a new sim.But leave all those talks. Did you open my gift or not?)

Randhir- Yes maasi maa I am doing that only.

As soon as Randhir opened the gift he found a beautiful perfume bottle in it. It was his favourite perfume. He sprayed some on his hand and smelled it. It smelled a little odd but he didn't want to hurt his Maasi so he told her it was nice. After he kept the phone he again started doing his work. But suddenly he felt a headache and everything started going black infront of him. He tried to reach the door but before that he collapsed on the ground. The last thing he knew before his eyes closed was that someone was trying to open the window of his room and then everything went black.