After the confrontation with Vanraj, Anu rushed out to breathe in fresh air. She was choking in disgust over his talks and craved for an open space… away from that vile man to calm herself. Never in her dreams would she have thought that he would stoop this low.
It wasn’t even six months since he had magnanimously spoke about freeing her. Shedding tears and behaving like a generous man pushing her towards the new relationship with Anuj, she had seen a humane side to him, which made her believe that there still is bit of virtuousness left in him… but today he crossed all limits….
He has already damaged her past and now is trying to jeopardize her future by planting unwanted doubts in her mind regarding her impending marriage and Anuj…
As her brain was clouded with several thoughts, she was unable to think clearly and feeling breathless, she hurried from the temple venue in a mad rush. Totally careless about her surroundings, she collided against a strong muscular chest. It was him, her solace…. her home… her peace of mind… her love… everything that she yearned for in that moment…
She wished to melt in his embrace then and there but aware of the surroundings, she looked into his eyes to convey her feelings.
“Tum teekh hona,” he checked on her with utmost concern and care. His eyes told that he had witnessed her confrontation with Vanraj and anger was building up inside…
“Teekh nahi thi lekin ab teekh hoon,” she responded nodding her head.
“Anu…woh Vanraaj…,” he began in a firm voice while his fists grew tighter and jaws clenched harder.
Cutting him midway, she requested, “Anujj…Kya hum yahan mandir ke seediyon mein thodi der baith sake hai?”
Though puzzled at her request, he concurred to her with a “Hmm”. Leading the way, she sat on one side of the stairs while he joined on the opposite side.
Softly smiling, she stood up and moved across the side to get seated besides him. Pleasantly surprised at her gesture, a smile appeared on his face, dissipating all the anger.
“Yaad hai Anuj….,” she began, “pichli baar jab hum iss mandir aaye the toh kaise yahan seediyon par baith ke baat kiya tha..,” while recollecting their previous visit to temple on that stormy evening which had changed the course of her life…
“Hmm” he nodded while paying attention to her talks..
Pointing towards the opposite side, she continued, “Uss din mai uss taraf baithi thi aur aap se kaha tha ki mujhe jeevan saathi ki zaroorat nahi hai… lekin aaj mai aapke pass iss taraf baithi hoon…”
After taking a brief pause, she resumed, “uss taraf se iss taraf ka faasla chota hai lekin safar lamba tha… magar aapke saath mila toh aasan raha yeh… mai ne kabhi nahi socha tha ki mujhe aap jaisa koi milega aur aaj mai Kanhaji ko dhanywad dene ke liye hi aayi thi… ki unhone aapko mera jeevan saathi chuna.. aapse accha aur behtar jeevan saathi mere liye koi aur nahi ho sakta… aur aapko bhi Thank you…Anuj”
Overwhelmed in emotions, he interrupted “Anu… tumhe thank…”
Dismissing him, she proceeded, “Poora suniye toh… Bhale hi mera ateet accha na ho lekin mujhe yakeen hai mera kal accha hoga kyunki aap hai mere paas…. Aur mai apna bhavishya ko aur khoobsoorat banana chahti hoon.. Mai koshish karti hoon ki mai ateet mein mudd kar na dekhoon … lekin kabhi kabhi ateet mera haath pakadke peech le jaane ki koshish karta hai… jaise aaj Mishter Shah… woh kabhi bhi meri khushi bardaasht nahi kar sakte aur aaj bhi wahi kiya unhone…..”
Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Woh mere mann mein hamari shaadi ko lekar shaak ki beej bo rahe the.. keh rahe the ki shaadi ke baad har mard badalta hai, Anuj bhi badlega aur hamari shaadi nakamyaab hogi……….”
Feeling frustrated, she questioned, “Woh kyun hamesha meri khushiyon ke raste aate hai? Kyun kabhi mujhe chain se jeene nahi dete hai? Unki zindagi hai, unki patni hai, uspe dhayan de ne…… aise kaali billi ki tarah mere rasta kyun kaat the hai?” overwhelmed she pauses….
He gently places his hand on her shoulder to console… gathering strength from him, she resumed, “Mujhe pata hai aise kuch nahi hoga… hamari shaadi kamyab hogi… aur aap kabhi bhi nahi badlenge… poora bharosa hai mujhe aap pe…. Khud se bhi zyada.. aur yeh jo mishter shah ne aapko aur unko ek jaise…. woh… woh kya kehte hai angrezi mein.. ca… cam….”
“Compare,” he filled in for her..
“Haan…. Campear…woh aapko aur khud ko kaise campear kar sakte hai… yeh bahot bahot bahot bahot galat baat hai.. aap jaise sirf aap hain aur koi aap jaise bann bhi nahi sakta..” Fangirling him was something she never missed, he thought.
“Lekin ab mai ne tair kiya hai… bas.. ab bas aur nahi… shaadi tak toh uss ghar mein rahna hoga lekin hamari shaadi ke baad, mai uss ghar mein apna aana jaana ek dum kam karoongi…bachoon se milna hai toh unhe hamare ghar mein bula loongi… aur Baapuji se video call pe baat karoongi aur milne ek ya do hafte mein ek baar jaaoongi woh bhi tab jab Mishter Shah ghar pe na ho.. mai unhe dekhna hi nahi chahti.. aur agar bachoon ko aur Baapuji ko saath rahne ka mann kare toh woh hamare ghar aake kuch din ruk sakte hai na Anujjjjjj..” she trailed searching his consent.
“Of course Anu.. yeh bhi poochne ki baat hai.. bache, Baapuji sab aa sakte hai.. jitne din chahe reh sakte hai… hamara ghar unka bhi ghar hai…” he affirmed clearing any doubts she had…
“Mujhe pata hai aap ka jawab yahi hoga phir bhi aapki rai aur sehmati lena chahti thi……………”
She paused for a moment before continuing, “waise bache bade ho gaye hai phir bhi agar kabhi bhi mujhe aur Mishter Shah ko maata pita banke koi faisla lena ho toh mai phone pe hi baat karke tai karne ki koshish karoongi taaki mulaqat na karni pade..” waving her hands in a confirming manner.
“Ek aur baat…. Aap woh uss din keh rahe the ki shaadi uss ghar se karna aapko bilkul accha nahi lagta… mujhe bhi nahi pasand.. lekin Bapuji ke liye maana tha.. ab soch rahi hoon ki hum shaadi uss ghar ke bajaye woh danse akeademy mein kare toh kaise hoga.. woh bhi Baapuji ka hi jagah hai.. Bhale hi ghar na ho lekin woh unhi ki hai aur wahan pe koi purani buri yaadein bhi nahi hogi… kya hum Baapuji se baat kare Anuj” she paused again to seek his opinion.
“Brilliant idea Anu… brilliant. Mujhe manzoor hai.. hum Baapuji se baat karte hai….. aur kuch bhi plan kiya hai toh woh bhi bol do..” he urged her to continue.
“Jee.. woh jab hum shaadi ki jagah badlenge toh sabko phone karke bol denge aur jinhe nahi baata paye unke liye hum na ghar ke bahar poster likhke rakhenge ki shaadi ke nahi jagah Danse Akaedemy hai wahan aayi ye.. waise ek gali chodke hi toh hai toh koi mushkil nahi hogi kisi ko bhi…” she iterated her plan
Chuckling at her quirky idea of poster, he complimented “Wah kya baat hai.. itna sab soch liya..” while gesturing his hands in appreciation, he egged her further, “Tumhe dekhe lagta hai ki tumhe aur bhi kuch decide kiya hai…”.
On his prompting, she resumed in a affirmative tone, “Ek faisla aur bhi liya hai maine”
Acknowledging her “Accha ek aur…,” he nudged, “jo bolna hai bol do… mai sunn raha hoon”
“Aaj hamari sagaai honewali hai… aur pehle bhi hui thi.. aise bahut mauqe honge jahan ateet ki parchaai padegi aur dard bhari yaadein nikalengi… lekin mai ne yeh faisla kiya hai ki un yaadon ko sochke rone ke bajaye mai iss baat pe khush hone ki koshish karoongi ki mujhe yeh mauqa dubara mila hai jeene ko woh bhi apne pasand ke hisaab se… jaise pehle sagai ki anguthi liya tha par mere pasand ka nahi par iss baar mere pasand ki hai aur woh bhi heere ki …… jaise pehle bhi shaadi hui hai lekin dulha mere pasand ka nahi tha par iss baar mere pasand hai dulha hai aur woh bhi ek dum heere jaisa…. Jaise pehle mai ne ek ajanabee se shaadi ki iss baar mai unse shaadi karoongi jinse mujhe prem hai aur unhe bhi mujhe se pyaar hai…. Toh aise har mauqe mein uski acchaai doondh ke khush hongi aur apna bhavishya aur sundar banaaungi aap ke saath… toh aaj se aur abhi se ek nayi shuruaat… kyun Kapadiaji?” she voiced her decision.
Impressed by her thoughts, he clapped silently and expressed, “Aaj toh kamaal hi ho gaya… tum ek se behtar ek faisle liye jaa rahi ho aur mai tumhare har faisle se bahot bahot bahot khush hoon”
“Aisa mazaaq nahi banayega mera” hitting his arms slightly she voiced her displeasure.
“Mohtarmma… meri aisi himmat ki mai aapka mazaaq banao.. jee bilkul nahi… sach bataun… seriously I am happy ki tum ne tumhare liye aur hamare future ke liye itna accha socha aur faisla liya.. bahut khush hoon..” he assured her.
He continued, “Ab saari baatein ho gaya hai ya aur bhi baaki hai … waise mujhe koi jaldi nahi par hume ghar jaake Baapuji se baat bhi karni hai aur hamari sagaai bhi hai toh late nahi hona chahte… bas isliye poocha,” to check if anything more is left from her side.
Realizing the time, she chattered, “Areee…. haan.. baaton baaton mein samay nikal gaya… mujhe pata hi nahi chala…meri saari baat ho gayi hai..toh ab jaldi chalte hai,” as she hastily jumped up from her spot.
Raising up from his position, he told, “Haan.. chalte hai” while forwarding his right hand towards her which she grasped briskly.
Hand in hand, intertwining their fingers like their future, they alighted the steps of temple to mark a new beginning of their journey together with renewed decisions and great hopes.
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Hope you all reached until here and didn’t doze off in middle 😆… I know it’s heavily monologue driven and apologies if it felt boring. Do let me know your thoughts on this one.
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
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