Posted:
Anandi and Shiv were returning to Jaitsar in Shiv's Scorpio.
Though they had been accompanied by Shiv's family till Sanchi's hostel, dadaji, Ira, Alok, and Meenu had continued onward to Udaipur after they met up with their beloved princess. With great hope, they had brought Anandi along to meet Sanchi,
Sad to say, the meeting did not go well. Sanchi could not get over the fact that her to-be s-i-l was a divorcee - a balika vadhu at that, was born and brought up in villages, and wore "eww" lehenga's and choli's. She was ashamed to be seen in her company and tried to get out of the campus as soon as possible. In her self-absorption, she did not realize how happy her Shiv bhaiyya was and how the couple kept sneaking glances at each other, as if for ratification. Sanchi uttered not a word to Anandi, bringing back all her buried feelings of inadequacy. Meenu was glad to see that she had one more soldier on her side.
The Shekhar's, being what they are, sensed all the lambent feelings and tried to hurry up proceedings. They had a quick lunch, with Anandi eating barely a bite. Ira was very upset with her daughter's behavior but didn't know how to handle it. Alok could barely control his temper. Dadaji kept making jokes in his attempt to cover things up.
By 3.30 pm, everyone had had enough and bid each other farewell. Sanchi did not even have the courtesy to say bye to Anandi. With his jaws flexing, Shiv just took Anandi's arm and led her to his car. Ira, Alok, and dadaji quickly followed and hugged Anandi and Shiv. "Please inform us when you reach home."
There was a deep and gloaming silence in the car. Shiv made a couple of attempts to talk, and then, knowing when to shut up, turned on the CD player and let some soothing music wash over them...
Anandi was again consumed by her thoughts of inadequacy and guilt. "Everyone is unhappy because of me, dadisa, bapusa, ma, and now CM and Saanchi. Should I forget about my promise to my mother and back out? Shiv might feel bad for sometime, but he is strong and will get over it. We can continue with being best friends without the burden of marriage. And I, even after loving him so deeply, am made of better things and will be able to face the world again." She is shocked at this first admission of her love for Shiv to herself. A tear escapes from the corner of her eye and she turns her head to the side to hide it.
The calming music and the emotional upheaval soon lull her into a deep sleep. Like a small child, she starts sliding down in the seat. "Anandi, are you..." Shiv turns to her, and seeing her like that brings a twisted smile to his face. His child bride is in another world. Sneaking glances at her from time to time, he realizes that she could hurt her neck. Slowing down for a moment, he puts his left hand out and gently slides her into position next to him. Wrapping his arm around her snugly and letting her head rest on his shoulder, he steers with his right hand. "This is how I have always imagined us during our drives!"
As he loses himself in the feel of her small, soft body snuggled against his, he drives on, inhaling her scent, her very spirit into his body! What untold dreams he spins... He is suddenly jolted out of his reverie by a rutted tarmac.
Feeling the jerks, Anandi's eyes snap open... "What's happened, Shiv?" As she tries to peer around, she can't. There's a huge weight pinning her shoulders in place! She looks up and finds herself almost nose to nose with Shiv. "Collector saheb! What are you doing." Nothing my love, just watching over you as you sleep..."
My love? Had Collector saheb really said that? A deep blush stained both their cheeks. "I, I have to tell you something Collector saheb... I am feeling so sorry that because of me... " Shiv draws up to the kerb, turns more fully towards her, and raises his eyebrow, all without releasing his hold on her.
"Yes, Anandi?" Without any attempt to free herself, "Collector saheb, I think we need to..." "Shush!" A big, warm index finger covers her lips, halting her in mid-flow. "Anandi, I know that you are feeling that you have caused a division in my family... But, I know them, and will soon get CM and Saanchi around to my way of thinking.
"But, Collector saheb, I am not saying our friendship will suffer. I am only saying that CM and Saanchi will not accept you making such a big sacrifice in the name of friendship."
"Bas Anandi, I have had enough of this to and fro! Can you not make out that while I do respect you and value your friendship, that is not all that I want? If there is something more than love, that is what I feel for you... I want you in every which way a man wants a woman... as a friend, as a companion... as a lover! Do I really have to tell you that I love you??"
Shell-shocked, Anandi stares into the deep brown sea in front of her and sees the truth radiating from him. Unable to fathom how her every desire is suddenly coming true, she suddenly buries her head in his shoulder. Her arms wriggle free of his embrace and creep around his neck. "Oh, Shiv, Shiv... what do you need me to tell you? I have already said you are my future and my best saathi. And I cannot imagine a life without you! I adore you, Shiv!"
Shiv slides a finger under her chin, turning her face up to his. Looking at the beauty and the glow radiating from her, he thanks whichever Gods were looking out for him and rests his forehead on hers.
Anandi opens her eyes and sneaks a quick peck on Shiv's cheek. Startled, but not one to be left behind, Shiv smiles gently and slides a quick kiss over her eyes. Unable to resist further, he marks a trail down her cheeks. Both breathing quickly, they make the first move towards sealing their future with a kiss.
Wrapped up in their ecstasy, muttering wild words of love to each other, they block out the world and the problems it might bring them tomorrow...
Forgive me, God! For I have sinned... I have made the transition from an editor to a writer.
Forgive me, friends! For I have sneaked in an OS of my own.
Love you all: Lavy, Myra, Sou, Khusi, Vedo, Uma, Aparna, Piya, Prati, Malika, Ritzi, Dixie, and so many of those who make my fantasies theirs and their fantasies mine. Cheers to the common ground we have forged.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
