Chapter 8 - Conversations

Few days passed,

Morning,

Anjali comes to Nandini's room. 

After being persisted by Rajeev last night, she finally gathered guts to speak to her. Anjali looks at her mom who is reading a magazine and she is completely into it. She is missing her childhood days that she had spent with her mom and dad. Divorce has separated the couple for good but not the children. 

Nandini and Pankaj opted for divorce when they found that they are not meant for each other. Anjali was 13 years old at that time. They considered living together for Anjali's future but it just changed the situation worse between them. They finally understood they don't even have compatibility of being friends. Soon they were granted divorce from the court and Anjali's custodial rights went to Pankaj.

Post divorce, Nandini stayed at her house while Pankaj moved to another which is not so far from Nandini's house. Pankaj sent Anjali to Nandini's house once in two months and she used to stay there for weeks. 

Little Anjali hated the concept of divorce but she couldn't hate her father and mother for doing so as they are her lifeline. 

After the completion of her higher secondary education, Pankaj and Anjali moved to Canada for Anjali's medical studies. She pursued medicine there. Nandini was adamant to send her daughter to Canada and suggested for alternate options in India as she don't want to miss her girl. But Pankaj and Anjali were adamant in their decision. This led to a big fight between mother and daughter and remains rifted.

After 2 years post her studies, Pankaj has married a Canadian girl Gracy. Gracy was a celebrity photographer and loved her father immensely.

Anjali shared a very good relationship with Gracy. Soon after a year of marriage, Gracy gave birth to a son named George. 

Pankaj was overjoyed that he accomplished the mission of happy family but the joy was short lived as Pankaj, Gracy and George died in a car accident within a year of George's birth.

Anjali was heartbroken over the demise of her family. Anjali brought their dead-bodies to India as requested by Pankaj's relatives. Anjali didn't have the guts for calling Nandini so she wrote a letter for her.  Anjali was really longing for Nandini to console her but none of the family members come for the funeral. She realized that there is another reason for Nandini's anger as the reply letter comes to her.

Heartbroken Anjali, returned Canada and pursued her studies and worked hard for it. It was around that time, she met her Prince charming - Rajveer Sen in a private party. Through common friends, they were introduced.

Rajeev was attracted to Anjali at his first sight and tried to flirt with her. Anjali could just walk away thinking how blatantly he is flirting at her with derisive smile. But Anjali was also attracted towards him.

Rajveer and Anjali soon become friends. Rajveer is a successful businessman who has a wealth of crores. Despite being a son of a wealthy man with Indian roots, Rajveer independently started a company and reaped success and made it 10 times bigger than his father's company. Then, he merged his father's company with his and becomes the millionaire. He is always travelling between India and Canada for numerous times as his profession asked him to.

Despite being successful, Rajveer comes across as a humble personality with no unnecessary pride. He is very passionate about Anjali and wrote love letters for her with beautiful poems. Anjali started to develop feelings towards Rajveer gradually and starts loving him intensely. 

She proposed Rajveer on his birthday and it was the day they shared their first kiss.

Anjali becomes doctor and starts working on her profession. But she never made her profession to come between her and Rajveer just like Rajveer did. 

After two and half years of working, Anjali decided to go India. She got her job in Kolkata hospital finally.

Since Rajveer is also living in Kolkata, it becomes easy for them to meet each other.

All these thoughts flashed in her mind and she finally comes to the reality. Nothing has changed. She is yet to knock door as Nandini is into the book religiously.

Anjali knocked the door. Nandini looks at her and continues reading the book. 

"Come in, Anjali." said Nandini glancing at her book.

Anjali enters inside. She takes a chair and sits in front of Nandini. Nandini keeps her book down. Anjali holds Nandini's hands and looks into her eyes. Nandini doesn't have the guts to look into the twinkling eyes of Anjali.

Anjali - "Mom..."

Her words broke Nandini's heart. It's been 8 years... 8 long years... since she heard that word from her mouth. The last time she called her 'mom' was when she fought with her for her abroad studies.

Rishton Ka Milna Julna plays

Tears escaped from Nandini's eyes and she hugged Anjali. Both of them starts crying profusely.

Nandini - "How could you leave me all of a sudden? Didn't you think anything about your mother?"

Anjali - "Sorry mom... sorry..."

Both were still in the same position and tears still didn't stop.

Anjali - "Even you didn't try to call me or come to Canada, right? Why didn't you do that?"

Nandini - "I don't have passport to come there. I had but it was missed. Also your grandfather told that there would be a lot of complications in getting a new one so he dismissed my request."

Anjali - "But you didn't even think about me in this 8 years, right?"

Nandini - "No beta... Nothing like that. I always pray the god for well-being of you along with Rohan and Rudra. You're always my precious daughter."

Anjali - "You're  my precious mother."

Tej, Rohan and Kalyani are looking at them outside. They hid themselves so that it won't cause any ditsurbances. They too got teary-eyed seeing their emotional reunion. 

*****

Night

Anjali is in her room speaking to Rajveer over the phone.

Rajveer - "That's the best thing to celebrate, Emily. But if you haven't hesitated much, you could've got your mother much earlier."

Anjali - "Yes, I thought that convincing mom is really tough. But the reality is different. But.."

Rajveer - "Again But?"

Anjali - "She didn't speak about my conversion."

Rajveer - "Now it doesn't matter, Emily."

Anjali - "It matters when I tell her about you."

Anjali did a religious conversion from Hindu to Christian upon her father's insistence when Pankaj married Gracy. It led to convert Anjali to a Christian name Emily. Nandini was not at all happy with Anjali's decision which infuriated more to not talk to Anjali.

Rajveer - "What will you do? Will you convert back again?"

Anjali - "Yes, if she say so."

Rajveer - "Okay. But, if you're speaking about us, be careful. It is a very sensitive issue as religion comes between the relationship."

Anjali - "Yeah, Rajveer. I'll be careful. However our wedding would come much later. So we can live our lovers stage."

Rajveer - "Exactly. By the way, don't forget to come tomorrow to my house. We are going to see our new house and also to discuss some more things."

Anjali - "Yes. I remember."

*****

Next day, 

Romi and Rudra has just started their way for jogging. 

Romi - "You're running fast, man. No one believe you that you didn't practise for around one and half months."

Rohan - "Yup. But you finally managed to run faster and maintaining the pace with me. Good."

Romi - "Thankyou. My father made sure to run daily last month as I was either with you in the hospital or else watching web series. He used to run with me but he got busy with his work recently and eventually stopped it. But it become my habit. However, I won't let him sleep anyway. He will run."

Rohan - "Oh, Interesting."

Romi and Rohan run and reached the garden. Both stopped running.

Rohan - "Shall we take rest and then continue?  Kind of tiredness.."

Romi - "Yeah."

They both sit and drink some water.

Rohan - "If you don't mind, shall I ask you something?"

Romi - "Yeah, why not?"

Rohan - "Are you still surrounded by your past with Rudra?"

Romi looked at Rohan's eyes with sadness. His eyes shows his concern to know about her. 

Rohan - "I am just asking. If you don't feel like answering, let it be. We can speak about something else."

Romi - "Not like that. I can answer."

Rohan looks at Romi expecting her answer anticipatedly.

Romi - "Actually I have moved on from Rudra's past. Now for me, he is just your brother. Yeah, thinking about the past, there is a little of amount of sadness. But not pain. I feel you can understand what I am meaning."

Rohan - "Yeah, Romi. I can understand."

Romi - "Okay, you have started speaking about him anyways. How is he doing? Heard that he secured a job."

Rohan - "Yes, Romi. He secured a job in the Event Management Company. He is working really hard to gain father's trust. Baba's anger is also melting down slowly."

Romi - "I'm happy for him. This breakup made him understand the value of money and trust."

Romi felt sad. 

Rohan - "Romi, I'm sorry. We don't want to speak about him. It is bringing back the old pain."

Romi - "It's okay, Rohan. By the way, your brother gave me a letter last week... He apologized me for whatever he had done. I forgave him too. Now, he is just your brother and nothing else."

Rohan was surprised.

Romi - "Yes, he accepted that what he had for me was an infatuation and so was me. He was immature at that time while I was foolish."

Rohan - "Whatever happened is for good. This shall mark a good beginning for both of you."

Romi - "Exactly. I'm waiting for my Prince Charming."

Dil Mein Ho tum Plays

She said that looking into Rohan's eyes. Rohan feels like to ask if I could be her prince charming. He too looked into her eyes. They get involved in a passionate eye-lock until the ice-cream vendor breaks the lock.

They breaks the eye-lock with an embarrassment. The icecream vendor asked if they need icecream. Rohan refused seeing the weather while Romi decides to buy one for her. Romi buy her an Choco-bar and starts eating.

Rohan - "So there is no jogging for today, right?"

Romi laughed licking the ice-cream.

Rohan - "How could you eat in this weather? It is rainy."

Romi - "Let it be. By the way, I like to eat ice-creams in any season. We used to have a family pack ice-cream in our house when I was in my school. You know what, I used to play in my friend's house for long time in my childhood. But my mom asked me to come before 6. I won't do that. So she made a condition that she would give ice-cream only if I go to the house before 6pm. She gave a reason that I might catch cold if I eat ice-cream at late evening or night. Being naive and innocent, I made sure to reach home before 6 to eat a scoop of ice-cream."

Rohan - "You're just impossible, Romi."

Romi - "Obviously I am."

They laughed. 

*****

Anjali and Rajveer are travelling in their car.

Anjali - "When are we moving to our dream house?"

Rajveer - "Very soon. Nandini aunty must also be  present during the house-warming ceremony. In fact your whole family."

Anjali - "Kinda difficult. But yeah, we'll do."

Rajveer - "Good."

Anjali - "Today, maa fed me food with her own hands and sent me. It was so nice."

Rajveer smiled.

Rajveer- "Wished if I have such lovely parents."

Anjali keeps her hand on his hand assuring him that everything is fine. Rajveer smiled turning his eyes from the steer wheel.

Rajveer - "How is Rudra's work going on?"

Anjali - "It is going really well. He is really working hard. His boss is also satisfied with him. Day after tomorrow, he is leaving to South India. His company got a very big contract now. You know, right? Tamilnadu and even South India's biggest businessman Arjun Deepak is getting married to Bengali's fashion designer Dimple Chatterjee. Rudra got the contract to conduct their Pre-wedding events, Wedding and Reception. He is staying there for around 20 days."

Rajveer - "Wow, never expected such a improvement from Rudra. Hope he work his best. Hope he won't missing you and all."

Anjali - "Most probably no. Soumya is also going with him. Soumya and her team are going to Thanjavur (In Tamilnadu) for researching the historical monuments and artefacts. Arjun and Dimple's wedding is also happening in Thanjavur.

Rajveer - "Great."

Rajveer and Anjali finally comes to the Bungalow. It was beautifully made. Anjali and Rajveer gets inside.

Anjali - "The interior works are really good. How beautifully they worked!"

Rajveer - "Exactly. This house is a perfect dream house."

Anjali excitedly moves to the balcony. 

Rajveer follows her back. 

Anjali - "This is the best part about this house. How beautiful it is!"

The balcony was decorated with decorative plants, a few pictures of themselves with a decorative name board of "Rajveer and Anjali". Sofas and tables are arranged with Anjali's favorite author's books and Rajveer's favorite vintage wines. (Reference below)

Anjali really worked for the decoration of balcony and was so careful about the selection of each and every items. Anjali switched on the lights and the place glows.

Anjali is awestruck by its beauty.

Tum Hi Ho Tune plays

Rajveer hugs Anjali from the back and kissed her cheeks.

Rajveer - "Is it beautiful?"

Anjali - "Yes."

Rajveer - "Not more than you."

Anjali blushed.

Rajveer - "I love you, jaan."

Anjali - "Love you, Raj."

Rajveer tightened the hug and both closed their eyes. Both gets lost in their intimate position. Slowly, they comes out.

Rajveer and Anjali blushed. They see other rooms as well. 

At last, they come to the bed room.

Anjali opened the door and finds surprised to see the decorate bed and the whole room. 

Rajveer - "Today is our day, Emily."

Anjali nodded.

Rajveer - "Let us have a dance."

Rajveer switched the Bluetooth on.

Yaadon Ki Baarat plays

Rajveer and Anjali danced reminiscing their blissful memories in the past. Even their little and big fights in the past make them blush and laugh in this situation. 

Rajveer's proposal to Anjali...

Anjali's proposal to Rajveer...

Their first movie night...

Their first kiss...

Their first fight over adjustment...

Their reconciliation post the fight...

Their first horst ride...

Their Hickie...

Everything right from the past flashed into their mind.

As time changes, their thoughts too changes according to it. The memories cannot be lost that easily but can neither prevent from making memories...

To be continued.