Anandi, Shiv and Marriage(SS)Prt 26-Pg 31(May 13) - Page 20

Chapter - 26

When there was no response from her Shiv got more worried. He was worried that if something went wrong now, when everything was going well between them then, the friendship, the happy and carefree Anandi, her comfort with him will all go away. He asked again concern etched in his tone, "Did I do something wrong? You can tell me. I ..."

She felt bad for not answering. She could sense that he was worried. But she didn't know what to say. She still didn't understand the reason for her doing what she did. Also she didn't know what to tell him.

Out of the blue she suddenly muttered, "Did you wash your hair?"

Now he was more confused. Unable to understand what his hair has to do with her mood he nodded his head in affirmation and repeated his question, "What? Yes, Did I do something wrong?"

With a straight face, she replied, "Yes."

He just stood there unable to understand what she meant. Looking at his face with same straight look she said, "I didn't expect this from you Collector sab. I thought you are well educated. Don't they teach you about do's and don'ts?"

Losing his patience, he asked, "Teach about what?"

Anandi enjoying his reaction said, "That it is a bad idea to wash hair when you have temperature." She chuckled.

"What?", was the only thing that came from his mouth. He was puzzled and revealed at the same time.

Anandi bursted into laughter unable to hold it in any longer. All the tension which was pulling him down few seconds back disappeared as he watched her laughing and he couldn't help but join her.

Suddenly stopping she looked at him questioningly and said, "Did you dry your hair?"

"Ya, I did."

"But I can see its still wet. That was what I was looking at earlier." 'Yes, that is what I was looking at. that his hair is wet and it needs to be dry. Nothing to be embarrassed about it Anandi.'

"That will dry off in few minutes. I am tired of rubbing it with towel."

"That is not a good idea. You might catch cold or the temperature might come back. Wait" Saying that she grabbed the towel and gestured him to sit on the chair. Unable to predict what she was going to do he sat down. Walking behind him she laid towel on his head and started drying his hair. Taken aback by her actions, Shiv sat still like a statue. His heart started racing faster than a ferrari.

Suddenly he heard her say as she touched his hair with her hand, "It looks better. We don't want collector of Jaitsar to be sick again now, do we."

"You scared me to bits few seconds ago and now... Thank you.", he said with sincerity

"I scared you? Why? What did I do to make you feel scared?", she asked surprised.

"Yes, because I felt you were angry with me and you would..", he stopped realizing what he was about to blurt out.

"Why did you stop? I want to know. I would what?"

"Nothing. I was just afraid."

"Afraid? This is not like you, Collector sab. You always speak your mind. What happened now? Tell me. "

He thought, "She is right. I always speak my mind then when did I become like this? I know she don't feel the same for me like I do for her. Then what more is there for me to lose. What am I so scared to lose?" 'Her friendship. HER', his subconscious cleared his question.

Anandi asked again, "Tell me. Do I scare you? Are you afraid of me?"

"No. I didn't mean like that."

"Then"

"I meant.. I meant that I was scared of losing."

"Losing... Losing what?"

"You. Your friendship. Recently you had been through so much. You just started to smile and to be happy. I want you to be like that. I want you to be happy. I am afraid that if I say or do something you don't like you might go back to being sad. Afraid that I will lose you as my friend, that you will walk away from me. You and your friendship mean a lot to me." There now she knows his insecurities.

She was dumbstruck when she heard him speak. She didn't know what to say, what to feel from all this. Shiv waited expectantly for her to say something. He was happy that she was still standing behind him when he spoke his heart out but now the silence was killing him. He wanted to look at her, study her face for clues to what she was thinking. Just few seconds back she was taking care of him and he was very happy but now that happiness seems to have long gone. Trying to fix the situation he said, "I didn't mean to make you sad. I am really.."

Anandi knew what he was going to say next. She said before he completed, "Sorry." taking Shiv by surprise. "You have nothing to say sorry for. I am sorry. I didn't know I made you feel that way. But now that I know, I want to clear it with you. I am happy being your friend Collector sab. Whatever you or I might say to each other, we will still be friends and I will always be there for you. Please don't hide such things from me. I really value your friendship and I am happy we became friends."

"Me too. I am happy to be your friend. I am sorry for everything. Can I tell you something?"

"Yes."

"Even I want you to be open about everything. I mean, tell me if I made you angry or if you didn't like something I did. Also I want you to share your problems with me. I want you to remember I will always be here for you."

"Ok, I will try to be open. I will remember to come to you when there is a problem."

Shiv let out a smile and said in a casual tone, "Now that feels good. Looks like my hair is dry now. Thank you again. Are you leaving for school now?"

Surprised by the sudden change in topic she answered, "Yes, I will be leaving now. I came here to call you for breakfast. I requested Dadisa to let you eat with everyone and after a little persuasion she agreed. You wanted company right? I will be leaving now. Don't forget to take your medicines after you eat."

"Dadisa agreed? Thats great. Staying in this room all of yesterday was killing me. Thank you, Anandiji"

"Let me confirm to you that Dadisa only agreed for you to get out from this room but not from this house. She feels if you rest today also then you will gain your energy back. Got it.", She said like a teacher warning her student.

"I thought of going to office for few hours. But that seems impossible now. I will ask Bheem Singh to come over later. I appreciate the freedom. I got it, I will be a good boy, teacherji.", he said with a pout just like a child throwing a tantrum.

Anandi smiled at him and he smiled back. Taking her leave she left.

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Happy reading. Waiting to know your thoughts on this chapter.