FF: After the rejection--new chapter uploaded! - Page 9

Chapter 9:

Anandi dragged Jagya by his arm out into the school compound. "How dare you come over to my school? And what exactly are you doing in Jetsar?" Anandi asked angrily.

"I should be asking you questions Anandi not you, what were you doing with that man? Flirting with the collector, have you got no shame? Don't you remember you are Singh family's beendni? And how shameless is the collector laying his hands on someone else's wife" Jagya said with an authoritative tone.

"I was not doing anything with him, and even if I was doing anything, why should I explain it to you? I have nothing to do with you anymore, and it's better you interfere in mine too. And don't you dare say anything about collector sahib" Anandi burst out with anger

"Oho, ulta chor kotwal ko dante!! Wait till I expose your raas leela in front of all the family members. They must be living in an illusion how ideal and perfect a bahu you are! And here you smear mud on their name" fumed Jagya.

Anandi lost her temper completely, " just shut up Jagya, what do you know about me and Shiv? And you are talking about the family members, well they are the ones who want me to marry Shiv…"

Anandi suddenly stopped midway. She felt uncomfortable to share her personal affairs with Jagya. She really didn't want Jagya to know what has happened between Shiv and her---it's their personal matter, and Jagya is no more than an outsider. Anandi suddenly became quiet as both of them drove home to the haveli.

Jagya's mind was in a whirlwind. So they fixed her marriage with Shiv and didn't even consult me! He felt angry at the thought of Anandi marrying someone else—Anandi was his wife, no matter what he did, he had faith that Anandi will never be able to let any other man near her. That's what he respected about Anandi, and that's how a model woman should be. He was pretty upset at the new developments. However, more than Anandi, his concern was about his property rights. What will happen if the collector marries Anandi? Will bapusa transfer all the property on his name? What if my family disowns me legally and makes the collector the sole beneficiary of the property? Jagya's blood boiled to think of an outsider snatching what was rightfully his. He had to stop this alliance at any cost. But first he had to make peace with his family and get control over his hospital, and then he could plan the next step.

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When they reached the haveli, the whole family was dumbfounded to see Jagya walking in. Nobody greeted him, nobody even acknowledged his presence; they were more concerned about Anandi's fast. Anandi assured that the fast is over and dadisa offered to feed her with her own hands. Dadisa cast a stern glance at Jagya and ordered Makhan to serve him food. The rest of the family went inside the dining hall, leaving Jagya alone in the living space waiting for his food.

Dadisa had heaped Anandi's plate with all her favorites but as soon as she attempted to feed Anandi, Anandi suddenly remembered Shiv's fast. She grew restless and told dadisa she will be back soon.

"Kya hua chhori? Why are you leaving your food? Aren't you hungry?" asked a confused dadisa.

"Dadisa woh main abhi ayee"

"Par bata toh sahi kya hua"

Finally Anandi confessed that Shiv had secretly fasted with her too, and she just felt like making sure whether Shiv had eaten something too. Dadisa smiled to herself seeing Anandi's restlessness and let her go. She could not stop smiling to herself and thanked her devi maa.

Anandi passed across the hallway to get her phone from her room when she glanced at Jagya eating on the sofa. He was greedily gulping down the food, least bothered about whether others have eaten or not. Somehow the sight turned Anandi off and she sped away to her room. Anandi called Bheem Singh up and asked him if Shiv had taken food. Bheem Singh assured her that Sir is back to his office and he will be serving him lunch very soon. "And Bheem Singh ji," Anandi said with hesitation, "Please don't tell collector sahib that I had called." Bheem Singh promised he won't tell, and content, Anandi went back to eat.

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Shiv was sitting in his office thinking about his encounter with Anandi and Jagya. He still felt his anger for the man who had ruined Anandi's life, but the scene of Anandi walking away with him holding his hand made him restless. Does that mean Anandi is still in love with her husband? Is he here to patch up with her? Will the divorce be cancelled now? Shiv started sweating with anxiety. His mind was constantly revolving around the moment when he held her face so close… the thought of Anandi getting back to her husband made him sick in the stomach. He was also starting to feel a little dizzy from the fasting; so he decided to take off for the day. Just then Bheem Singh entered with his lunch and asked him to eat.

"Mujhe bhookh nahi hai Bheem Singh, main ghar ja raha hoon".

"But sir you have not eaten anything from yesterday, you will fall sick…." Bheem Singh could not complete his sentence as Shiv walked out without paying any attention to his words.

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Things were getting heated up in the haveli. Jagya had apologized in front of the whole family, especially to Anandi, and declared how sorry he was. He cried holding dadisa's legs firmly, kneeled down in front of Anandi and put his head on Bhairon's feet. He blamed himself for all his mistakes, for abusing Anandi, for lying so shamelessly, for denying his own roots, for shattering the dreams of his family, for hurting them so much.

"I have been burning in this fire day and night. Trust me I have no peace, I cannot sleep at night, god has punished me severely, and he is going to punish me even more if I do not apologize to you all", said a howling Jagya. His incessant gestures of apology and repentance had moved the Singh family to some love and pity. Anandi had tears in her eyes---she thanked god that Jagya is finally reformed and the family will finally get back their son. No, never in her wildest dreams did she want Jagya back as her husband, but she wanted this loving family to have their son back. She declared that she will move away from the haveli if the family is ready to accept Jagya back.

Dadisa had tears in her eyes too---finally her ladesar had realized his mistake and was ready to apologize, to his realize the worth of his roots, his own village. No she would never accept Gauri as the bahu of the haveli, that would be injustice to Anandi, but as long as they realize what they have done, she wanted them to stay happy in Mumbai. She felt a gush of emotion rushing into her heart, she hugged a crying Jagya and told him that she has forgiven him. Patting his back, she asked Jagya to go back to Mumbai and live a happy life with Gauri—their blessings are with them. Only, she could not allow him or Gauri to stay in the haveli as long as Anandi was there. But she will be in touch.

Jagya's crying suddenly stopped hearing dadisa's words. He did not expect dadisa to tell him to go back to Mumbai only with her blessings!! He quickly grabbed dadisa's feet and said "No dadisa, I don't want to go back. I will stay with you all, if you have forgiven me why don't you let me stay with you all. I want to stay here, I want to take responsibility of my hospital---I had once rejected it, now I must take care of it"

Bhairon started laughing sarcastically hearing Jagya talk. "Oho, so this is why you performed so much drama about apology. I should have known you can never repent. You just wanted the hospital back" Bhairon said bitterly. "No Bapusa trust me. I have really come back to you all. I cannot stay with that evil, manipulative woman. She is selfish to the core, she does not care about me, she is haughty, arrogant, buri chaal chalan wali…."

As Jagya kept badmouthing Gauri in front of everyone, Anandi felt a wave of disgust rising in her. How could a husband speak so ill about his wife in his wife's absence!! Didn't he claim to love her with a true heart, how could he insult her so badly now! No matter what Gauri has done, listening to Jagya badmouthing Gauri in order to prove himself innocent seemed disgusting to Anandi. She remembered the numerous times Jagya had verbally abused her in a similar way and now seeing him insult Gauri in this manner made Anandi shrink with disgust. "Jagya has not changed a bit," Anandi thought sadly.