They were too early and the bazaar wasn't quiet open when Shiv and Anandi reached it. Shiv called Bheem Singh to let remind him that he was going to Gopalpura for most of the day and learnt that an inspector from the Education Ministry would be visiting Anandi's school late that afternoon. He turned to tell Anandi about it, but she was no longer beside him in the Jeep. He quickly finished his call and looked around anxiously for her - his breath catching. He released a happy sigh when he spotted her outside a closed store window peering in. His long strides quickly erased the physical distance between them. She was admiring a beautiful blue green shiffon sari and a matching emerald set.
"Kitna khoobsurat hai, na?" Anandi queried with a radiant smile as he joined her. Nihaaring her not the sari and jewelry, he replied:
"Haan bahoot khoobsurat hai - sabse alaag!"
Anandi looked away, blushing at the blatant compliment. Right then a gust of wind blew a stray dry leaf into her hair. Anandi tried to fish it out, but a piece remained. Shiv tried to direct her to it, but finally picked out the remnant himself when she could not follow his poor directions.
Jagya, who had borrowed Makhan's cycle for the day, arrived at the market just as Shiv was tucking away a stray strand of hair behind Anandi's ear. It had come loose while they were trying to dislodge the leaf.
"Aab theek hai?" Anandi questioned Shiv.
"Haan - Perfect" He replied softly making her blush once more.
Jagya ran the bike into a stationary theela and fell onto the sidewalk as he observed their interaction from the other end of the still near empty market. Fortunately, for him the store front Shiv and Anandi were standing outside of opened just than and the roar of the store shutters lifting stifled the sound of his one-sided crash.
Jagya parked the cycle across the street from the store they had entered. Stealthily, he tried to observe what they were upto through the store window. Anandi's back was to the store window, so he could not see her expressions. But, he could see the Collector's since as Shiv was facing Anandi and was much taller than her. Anandi appeared to be placing various earrings next to her ear and asking Shiv how they looked. Shiv kept nodding and smiling -completely lost in Anandi.
"Meri madaat kijiye na... Apko sab aachhee kaise lag sakte hai?" Anandi pouted in frustration as she put down yet another pair of earrings on to the counter. Hearing the annoyance in her voice, Shiv finally glanced at the three earrings she had narrowed it down to. One was very ornate, another one light and delicate looking, and the last had a modern feel. Together they both pointed at the light and delicate one and simultaneously stated:
"Mujhe yeh pasand hai Ashima ke liye!" Startled by their unanimity, they looked at each other and laughed.
"Hum yeh lenge. Woh Sari aur zehwar jo aapki window mein hai thora woh bhi dikhaye" Shiv asked the salesman as he handed him the earrings they had picked.
"Woh sari aur zehwar kiske liye, Shiv?" Anandi asked, puzzled as the salesman brought it and the emerald necklace set over to them. Shiv draped the sari on her shoulder and held up the earring next to her right ear.
"Hmmm - Aap yeh bhi pack kardijiye aur bill bana dijiye" Shiv informed the salesman as he took out his wallet and withdrew his credit card.
"Par..." Shiv laid his finger against her lips as Anandi started to object.
"Par...mein tumhare liye koi engagement gift nahi karida. Daadu aur Mahi mujhe chedenge agar unhe pata chala ki mein kitna bada dhakaan hu!" Shiv persuaded shamelessly using his family to satisfy his own desire to gift her the world.
Part 3 - To be written another day...
Cricket
Indian Mythology
