"Yehi hai Surya Badal ka kahani" Anandi concluded her story as she put her niece and nephew to bed. "Babhisa, Doesn't Surya Badal reminds you of Collector Saab' Nandu asked. "Hmmm Nandu. Ab tum soa joa" Anandi smiled to herself while she tucked Nandu to sleep.
Anandi grew up listening to Surya Badal wishing her life would be as beautiful as the tales she believed in. Her happiness with Jagya was short-lived as Jagya's true shades emerged and eventually her perception on love and fairy tales faded along with heartbreaks in her life. If not for her family, she would have never made an attempt to redeem herself from her past. It was for the Singh's that she decided to move on in her life, the whole family held themselves responsible for her broken marriage with Jagya and vowed to bring back the happiness that Jagya failed to give. Anandi silently pledged to fulfill the responsibility of Jagya to the family. She promised Babusa that she would excel in her studies; she would work for the betterment of Jetsar. The day she was announced as the Sarpanch of Jetsar, she felt the whole family beaming in pride. It was something that they always wanted from Jagya, for him to serve the people of Jetsar as a doctor. Anandi was fulfilling all his family yearned to see from him, that became her ultimate goal in life but little did she know that destiny had something else stored for her in the form of Shiv Raj Sekhar. Her darkest fear took form in of her front of eyes the when the horse carrying her carriage went out of control. The situation took her off-guard and she had no control of her carriage or her life. All she could manage was to cry for help and pray for miracle which rarely happened in her life.
Her modern knight didn't come to her rescue in shining armor and black stallion but he dashed in black metallic Scorpio. He jumped onto the carriage and tried to halt the raging horse while Anandi was still trying to get a grip of herself and the situation. Midst of controlling the raging horse, he still managed to pull her to safety. Within split second, they were both thrown out of the carriage as the carriage wheels plunges into mud hole. It was when she caught the glimpse of her savior, a total stranger who endangered his life for her. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him lying meters away from her, but she sighed in relief when she saw his head turned towards her. He got up slowly and reached out for her duppata; ignoring his condition. He immediately covered the traumatized Anandi who was trying to recover from the injuries and shock. "Aap theek hai?" his voice broke her from her spell. She saw the glint of relief in his eyes when he was assured that she was not seriously injured. He offered his hand for support but she managed to get up herself. She was never used to so much of miracles in her life; she took a deep breath to recompose herself. Before she could speak, to thank him; he was already questioning her about the accident, analyzing the situation and damage. "Who the hell is he? He dashes out from nowhere, endangers his life, saves a distraught girl and pretends that it a piece of cake"
She spotted him walking towards the equally shaken horse, patting its back and whispering something into its ears. The next thing she knew, he was on the horse gesturing her to join him. He told her that this is their only option to get out the woods and Anandi reluctantly obeyed. He knew who she was just by her mere name but his identity was still anonymous for her. Their paths crossed again when stranger walked in to her function; he was no other than Shiv Raj Shekar, the first collector of Jetsar. From total strangers, they became acquaintances and eventually into a relationship but along the way a beautiful friendship blossomed between them. The more she assumptions she made about him, the more she discovered about him. His attitude, his sarcasm, his anger, his kindness, his empathy, his wisdom, his maturity, his patience, his humor, his love and the list just goes on; she is still discovering him every day.
Her mobile's vibration broke her from her train of thoughts, her lips curved into smile when she saw the name flashing on her mobile. "Anandi ji, sorry to disturb you at this hour. There are some issues with the railway project budget paper. There are conflicting details in the document that we send over email and the one that I faxed over with our acknowledgement. I'm preparing the new documents and I need your signature again, so I will send the documents over through Bheem Singh. Need you to review it again." he explained in his straight and professional tone. She sensed tense in his voice, "Theek hai collector saab" she responded but there was a tinge of disappointment in her voice since he was sending Bheem Singh over instead of him. "You are still in the office? Aapne kuch khaya?" she asked him. "Abhi nahi, there were a lot of paperwork pending on the canal and the railway project due to the swine flu outbreak. Since chothi ma is not around, I thought it will be perfect time to finish up all the work. Anyways there are always noodles to my rescue, I will be fine." he assured her. "Main kuch nahi sunne wali. I will pack dinner for both you and Bheem Singh and that is final" she cut him. "Anandi you're not getting out of your room, you are supposed to be resting. That was Lal Singh's strict order and I'm not letting you violate it at any cost" his retorted. Anandi was taken aback with his sternness and he actually called her Anandi and somehow Shiv also realized what he actually blurted out. "Anandi ji, woh mein keh raha tha... "Shiv was startled for word, something that never happens to him. "Collector saab, Lal Singh said I shouldn't get out of the house, he didn't say I shouldn't leave my room. There is no prohibition for me to go from my room to the kitchen." she replied him. "As you wish." he sighed and ended the call as he knew there was no stopping her if she sets her heart of something, one of her qualities that attracted him to her.
He wanted her to take complete rest, recover and get back to work soon. That was the main reason he refrained himself from going to the haveli for the past 3 days because he knows that she will never rest whenever he was around. Even after submerging himself with piles of paperwork, it was impossible to get her thoughts off his mind. He has gotten accustomed of working together with her; their synergy has made their toughest hurdle at work an easy leap. But deep inside, he knew that he was hopelessly love sick. Without her presence, her smile, her laughter; his day was incomplete.
She heard the knock on the door as she was packing the hot halwa that she made along with sangri ki sabzi. "Chothi bindisa..." Makkan called out to inform about her visitor. "Bheem Singh, ek minute ruko. Main abhi ayee" she replied back from the kitchen. She has packed dinner for both him and Bheem Singh, knowing that both of them were working late. She also knows that he hates to eat alone, with Bheem Singh there will be no exception when it comes to food. He will definitely convince him to eat so that he can also indulge himself with his sumptuous meal. Her legs froze when she saw him standing, leaning against frame of kitchen entrance with his arms crossed trying to maintain his straight look but his eyes told her otherwise. "So sarpanch ji, this is how you usually pack dinner?" he question her while looking at the cooking utensils in the kitchen. "Actually, I came down to pack dinner when I realized it was mater ki sabzi. Knowing how much you love mater, I decided to make sangri ki sabzi for you" she replied him. "Aur halwa?" he shot her back her. "Well since I was already making the sabzi, so why not make halwa as well. It was going to take me the same effort anyways" she justified herself. "Anyways, thanks to you and Lal Singh, I have been on house arrest by Dadisa for the past 3 days. Ab mein bilkul theek hoon Collector saab. Ab bukhar bhi nahi" she assured him. "Well that is for me to decide" he replied as his hand instantly reached out to touch her forehead to check her temperature. Although she has been accustomed with his proximity; yet her heart never failed to perform summersaults and even skipped a few beats whenever she felt his touch against her. She slowly prayed that he didn't notice but the smirk on his face gave her the answer he needed.
"Bheem singh anne wale the aur aap yahan kaise?" Anandi questioned her unexpected guest. "You're not happy to see me here?" he questioned her back pretending to be offended with her question. "Mera matlab woh nahi" Anandi felt guilty with her question. "Are meri Sarpanch ji, I was just joking. Well I knew you would be up to some of your super women stunts since everyone has gone out, so I decided to check on you myself. Anyways, I just want you to review and sign the document then get back to bed." he instructed her as they walked to the living room. Anandi reviewed the files and acknowledged it. Shiv promised to update her once she has resumed her Sarpanch duties because he didn't her to worry unnecessarily and was prepared to leave when his phone rang. "Ok Bheem Singh, you carry on. Anandi ji has packed me dinner, so I will manage with that" Shiv ended his call. "Kya hua Collector saab?" Anandi enquired with concern. "Kuch nahi, just that Bheem singh is not lucky to enjoy the dinner that you have packed. He is having his dinner out, so he wanted to know whether he should pack dinner for me as well." Shiv explained.
"If that is the case, then I shall serve your dinner here itself." Anandi told Shiv and took the dabba in her hand. "Anandi ji, that is not necessary. I will manage it at home." Shiv replied but Anandi was not in the mood to listen to his excuses. She proceeded to setting up the dining table and Shiv was unable stop her. Even his heart yearned to stay longer, so he obediently followed Sarpanch ji's order. He truly enjoyed his dinner after an arduous day and even managed to feed her mouthful as well.
Anandi felt that it was the good time to actual share what has been bothering her these few days. "Collector saab, actually I know that you have understood me better than anyone else but still I feel that I owe you an explanation." Anandi finally spoke her mind. Shiv nodded not because he needed her explanation but he knew it would free her from the burden and guilt that she has been carrying with her. "Jagya's return to Jetsar and followed by the series of incident have changed everyone's perception on him. I'm not sure whether my perception on him will ever change or will I ever be able to forgive him but I can be assured of that he is definitely my past, a memory that I don't want to walk back again. If ever a situation arises that I should forgive Jagya, I would forgive him only for the sake of the family but nothing will be forgotten. The relationship that Jagya and I once shared is nothing but broken pieces of glass now. Even if you manage to patch them together but the marks and scars can never be erased. Yet I still tolerate his presence here in the haveli only for the sake of his family. Jagya may have never been a good husband for me but he was the heir of the family and his whole family adored him. He went against his family because of his love for Gauri instead of ME and the reason his whole family disowned him is ME. The whole family has taken the blame on themselves and has vouched to bring back the happiness in my life when destiny is bound to be blamed for this. They have showered me with so much of love and affection more than my own parents. In return, I want to give back their son to them. At least, I will know that they will have their son back to fulfill his duties to his family when I move on my life with you. I have noticed that their anger has started to mellow down yet they refuse to forgive him because of me. I have seen how Dadisa cried alone for being helpless seeing her ladlsar in this condition, how Babusa has buried his love and affection and how Nandu yearns for the brother that he adores. I don't want any of my action to hurt them more. I don't know what has transpired between him and Gouri but one thing is for sure; whatever Jagya is doing is only to win back his family even if it means of hurting me. I just want to assure you that my silence is because of my love for my family and not for Jagya." Anandi finally confided in Shiv.
Shiv held her hand in his while he tilted her face to meet her gaze; her beautiful eyes were glazed with tears. It always hurts him whenever he sees pain in her eyes. "Anandi ji, my trust on you is not so fragile to be affected by trivial matters like this yet your explanations have given me the assurance that I needed. I'm happy that I have earned your trust to confide your feelings with me. My respect for you has increased even more; you still want to give happiness to someone who has stolen yours. I have no qualms of Jagya being in the haveli, his family accepting him back but just bear in mind that I will not tolerate if Jagya tries to hurt you in any way." Shiv replied Anandi and she liked his protectiveness over her. She nodded in acceptance and her lips curved into a smile. "Well you are always there to protect me like Surya Badal nah?" Anandi responded to Shiv. "Surya Badal? Now who is this guy?" Shiv questioned her. "You haven't heard of Surya Badal? It is the fairy tales that most of kids including me grew up listening to; Surya Badal and how he saves the princess from evil." Anandi explained. "You grew up believing on Surya Badal tales when I thought you grew up being inspired by stories of Jhansi Ki Rani!" Shiv expressed his surprise. "Well I did and eventually I lost my believe in them until the day you emerged in my life. You saved me in the woods, stood up against Heth Singh for me and rescued me during Jyothi's wedding fiasco. You were there for me whenever I was down emotionally. You always manage to make me smile during the most difficult time. You are no less than Surya Badal for me Collector saab." Anandi replied. It was the first time, she actually confessed how she felt about him and he couldn't help blushing. Shiv felt contended hearing the admiration for him in her voice when she spoke and the glee in her eyes. He knew the day is not far away when she will also embrace and reciprocate his love.
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