Chapter 1:
Shiv was sitting in a state of shock. He could not believe what he just heard. Anandi has refused to marry him!
It was just a day after the Birthday party------the best day of his life. Dadisa's proposal had opened the floodgates of his heart. Yes, he has fallen in love with Anandi-------her eyes, her smile, her simplicity, her strength, her determination, her passion...Yes he loved Anandi, loved her with all his heart. He was amazed how quickly he fell for her, how he wanted to walk miles only to get a glimpse of Anandi, how he wanted to keep staring at that beautiful face, how he held to the small piece of streamer from Anandi's hair close to his heart. Dadisa's proposal had sent him into shock, and then an overriding joy. Blushingly he had said yes and came back home as the happiest man on earth. He had called up his parents in excitement, called up Ashi early in the morning to share the news. And he could not sleep all night. Holding his pillow tight he kept dreaming about Anandi-----how he would take her in his arms, kiss her lips gently, wipe her every tear, hold her forever, and occasionally fight with her too! He was truly the happiest man on earth.
Yet he was worried when he did not find Anandi in the park for jogging the next morning. His heart panicked but he convinced himself that she must have been tired after the party. "I will meet her in school today, " he said to himself. As the day progressed, he took out his jeep and went looking for her in the Sarpanch office. She was not there. He went to her school. The kids were happy to see him and wanted him to stay back. But there was no Anandi. Gulli told Anandi had not come today. His heart sank more. "Should I call her up," he thought to himself, "but what if she is also feeling too shy to talk to me now"? The thought sent him blushing, "maybe Anandi is feeling shy about the new turn our relationship is going to take, maybe I should give her a little more time". The thought calmed him down and he went back to work.
Yet at the end of the day he started panicking again. Why haven't I heard from Anandi all day? Is she alright? Has she fallen sick? Is she too busy? Is she waiting for my call? Should I call her up? But what will I say...no I should call her up, let me call her up. Shiv debated with the thought of calling her up and finally dialled her number. The phone was ringing on the other end, but there was no response. Shiv felt like going mad with anxiety.
And then dadisa had walked in, carrying the terrible news. Anandi had refused to marry him. The world came crashing in front of his eyes. Anandi has no feelings for me! Oh how she hates me now, how will I face her ever again...Shiv hoped it was just a nightmare, he would wake up and everything would be fine again. But it was indeed reality: and the reality was Anandi has rejected him!
To be continued...