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Anandi and Shiv were in deep sleep. They had overslept. The bright sunlight entered their room to wake them up from their sweet sleep. Anandi woke up with a sweet smile. She saw that this morning again she was way away from her side of the bed. OH NO she did it again. She called herself names like gheli(mad), ghadedi(female donkey), bewakoof(dumbo). She was worried about Shiv and his feelings. Her back was towards Shiv. She tried to get up but was unable to do so. Shiv's arm was wrapped around her waist. His strong hold had held her captive close to him. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she felt protected. She liked his captive/protective hold. She felt safe and comfortable and also like she was home where she belonged. It was a purely innocent hold and he had done it in his sleep. Shiv had rolled to his side in sleep and put his arm around her thinking it was a pillow.She tried to get up without waking him up. He strengthened his hold as she wiggled in his arms. She was now feeling shy and also scared that Shiv might feel guilty after waking up. She slowly stroked on his forearm. "C S please uth jaiye, mujhe uthna hai." "Mmm bas paach minute aur." She told him, "Theek hai aap paanch minute aur so lijiye par mujhe toh uthne dijiye. Aapne mujhe pakda hai please uthne dijiye. Mujhe der ho rahi hai."
There was a knock on the door. "Shiv, AnandiBahu uth jaao." Anandi jerked Shiv's arm and got up in a jhatka hearing the addition of 'bahu' to her name. She leaped a bit far from Shiv to avoid awkwardness. He too woke up as if his bedroom had been the epicentre of an earthquake. "Kya hua?" Shiv was still disoriented as he was in half sleep. "Kuch nahi hua Anandi bahu uthne mein late ho gayi." Anandi said in her scared bahu voice. The knock on the door was heard again. She was about to get off the bed and run towards the door. Shiv held her hand and stopped her from opening the door. He lifted his hand and used his thumb and rubbed her sindoor so it would smudge. "Ye aap kya kar rahe hain aur kyun?" "Shh main jo kar raha hoon wo sahi hai." She did not understand why he did so because seeing her smudged sindoor people would think that they had made love. It was not required according to her because C M and Mummyji know about them. He made her understand that he did it because other auntyji's were also at their door with C M and Ira.
Anandi was getting off the bed but saw that her dupatta was missing. She looked for it and found it off the bed. She wraps her dupatta loosely on her body and covers her head. She goes and opens the door. Shiv goes back to sleep. She was told to get ready and come down to do the choolaah poojan ceremony. She was asked to get Shiv up and ready. She closes the door. She saw Shiv in deep sleep. She told her self not to unpin her dupatta as she removed it in her sleep. She did not want any accidents happening which would make Shiv feel uncomfortable and also would remind him of his longing to love her which would torture him. She went upto Shiv and hesitantly touched his upperarm to wake him up. "C S please uth jaiye CM ne kaha hai jaldi se tayyar hone ke liye." "Aap naha kar tayyar ho jaiye tab tak main sota hoon. Main abhi jagkar kya karoonga?" "Theek hai par jaise hi main naha ke nikloongi aap nahane jayenge phir koi bahana nahi." "HMM." After around 45 minutes Anandi came out smelling flowery fresh. She went up to Shiv and woke him up again. "Aap make up wake up karke baal waal banake aur hann 1/2 kilo ke jewelry pehenkar tayyar ho jaiye. Mera kya hai main toh bas paanch minute mein tayyar ho jaaoonga. Aap ko abhi bhi aur 45 minutes lagenge na?" Shiv replied in his husky sexy sleepy voice with a pleading smile.
His smile got to her. She let him sleep some more. She removed her saree and draped it properly again as Shiv was sleeping. She undid the towel from her hair to dry it. She saw through the mirror of the dresser that Shiv was smiling in his sleep. She did not have the heart to wake him up but she had to. She got an idea to wake him up. She smiled at herself and bit her lower lip mischievously. She had a playful thought. She went up to him and held her dripping hair over his face. A few drops fell on his face and he wiped it up mumbling that the leaky roof needed to be repaired. She giggled on seeing him so fussy about waking up in his vacation days. Is he the same C S she knew of in Jaitsar. The man who never skipped his exercise routine and the man who was never late. She was seeing another side of him. He must be like this in the C H before going on about his daily routine. She was now really in a mood to drag him off the bed and push him under the cold shower if only it was physically possible for her. Why the need of physical strength when her mind could work wonders?
She came and sat on her side of the bed. She made his messy hair with her hands. "C S aap sach mein abhi nahi utehenge?" "NO." "Sure?" He said her line "Sure nahi hota toh kehta nahi." "Chalo acchha hai. Promise na aap abhi nahi uthenge?" "Haan baba sure pakka lock bhi kar dijiye mera jawaab." "Great mera kaam aasaan ho gaya." She sounded too excited for the determined woman/ wife/best friend who had been trying to get him up for about an hour. He sensed some mischief. She went and sat in front of the dresser and started brushing her hair. She saw his face through the mirror. He was still not getting up even though he was curious about her changed behavior. He had one eye opened and was admiring her. He saw that his best friend, his wife, his Anandiji was the most amazing and the most beautiful woman in the entire world. He always had found her very beautiful but he fell for her qualities before he fell for her looks. She did not notice him admiring her. It was his most important mission whenever she was not seeing. She continued to tease him, "Shukar hai bhagwaan ka Nahi nahi shukar hai C S ka ki aaj ki choolah poojan rasam mein mujhe kuch naya banane milega. Sab ko pata toh chale ki mujhe halwe ke alaawa aur bhi kuch banana aata hai. Sab kitne kush honge na aur meri tareef bhi bahut hogi. C S agar jage hote toh halwa banati. Par wo toh sona chahte hain. Aur agar aaj daddu ke kehne par halwa banaaya toh bhi aadha kilo toh kum hi banana padega. Chalo aaj kam mehnat lagegi. Mere bichaare ek laute ladle devarjee kitne udaas ho gaye the uss din ki unhe maal pooye aur rabdi nahi mili. Ek kaam karti hoon devarjee ke liye aaj toh maal pooye aur rabdi bana hi deti hoon. Ye sahi hai main kuch naya bana loongi sab meri tareef karenge aur devarjee ka mann bhi reh jaayega. Anandi tu bhi na sasuraal ke naam se darr rahi thi dekh hua na faayda. Toh ye baat pakki aaj halwa nahi banega."
"Halwa! Mujhe mera halwa chahiye. Anandiji aap aisa kaise keh sakti hain ki aap halwa nahi banayengi." Shiv woke up in a flash on hearing about halwa not been made. Shiv looked like a small kid who was denied his favorite flavor of ice cream. Anandi smiled on seeing the grown man in front of her who still had a small child in him. Anandi was clearly gonna have fun with him. She came and stood in front of him. "Mujhe yakeen nahi hota C S ki aap halwe ka naam sunkar itni tezi se uth gaye. Main bechaari aapko na jaane kab se uthane ki koshish kar rahi hoon aur aap jage toh bhi halwe ki laalach mein. Aapko meri fikar hi nahi hai. Aapne yeh nahi socha ki mujhe na jaane sab kya sunayenge agar main aapke bina neeche gayi par nahi aapko toh bas halwa dikhta hai." She made a bechaari bahu face. The very same face when Shiv saw became very worried about her. "Anandiji aap please aisa mat kahiye wo main jaldi se tayyar ho jaata hoon." He runs towards the washroom. He returns briefly "Anandiji ab toh aap halwa banayengi na?" He went for a quick shower after asking her about his favorite. Anandi laughed at her bechaara pati who did not even get that she was teasing him. She was happy that even her fake tears bothered him so much. She felt ashamed of using his love for her to tease him and to get him to do what she wanted.
After about half an hour Anandi was ready. She was waiting for Shiv. She cleared the bed and straightened the bed sheet. "Ma CM ." She heard Shiv call out of the washroom. "C S Kya hua?" She knocked on the washroom door. "Kuch nahi Anandiji aap ma ya C M ko bula dijiye please jaldi." "Par hua kya koi problem hai?" "Koi problem nahi hai bas aap ma ya C M ko bula dijiye. Kitni behes karti hain aap." "Maine kahaan behes ki. Main toh sifr pooch rahi hoon ki koi problem hai toh main haelp kar sakti hoon toh kar deti hoon." "Koi problem nahi hai Superwoman. Bas aap ma ya C M ko bula dene ka kasht karegngi?" Shiv opens the washroom door a bit to tell her to do as he asked and Anandi turns away. She sees his towel which she had removed for him was left on the sofa chair. She gets it that he wanted his towel. She suppresses her laugh. "C S bas 10 minute wait kijiye na please mujhe tayyar hona baaki hai main aise bahar nahi ja sakti aur mummyji aur C M ko chillake bhi toh nahi bula sakti na. Aaj main bahut acchhe se tayyar hona chahti hoon. Sasuraal mein aaj mera pehla din hai. Aapko pata hai na ki First impression is the last impression. Aur mujhe choolah poojan karke halwa banana hai aaj. Aap apna wada jo nibha rahe hain jaldi se tayyar hone ka. Toh aapko inaam bhi toh milna chahiye na." "10 minute? 10 minute mein toh meri kulfi jam jaayegi phir sab aapka halwa nahi meri jami hui kulfi khaayenge." He mumbles under his breath and just shuts the door. "C S main mummyji ya C M ko bula ke laati hoon." "Thank you and thank God."
The very next moment there is a knock on the washroom door. He opens it and sticks his head out. "Aap?" "Jee main." She hands him his towel. He takes it and shuts the door. She can't help but laugh out loud. He wanted to have a fair chance to tease her and so he came out just in his towel instead of his robe. He remembered her previous reaction to seeing him in his towel. His body was still wet. Anandi sees him in his towel. She feels shy. She can't meet his eyes. "Main neeche jaati hoon. Aap tayyar hokar aaj jaaiye." She had laid out his clothes. He holds her hand. "Aise kaise aap mere bina neeche jaayengi? Sab kya sochenge Anandiji? Aap rukiye na main 10 minute mein tayyar ho jaata hoon." Shiv saw her feel shy and did not let the chance to tease her go by easily. Anandi had switched on the AC. Shiv's plan backfires as he starts to feel chilly. He runs back to the washroom. She had to hand him his clothes. After some time he comes back dressed. Anandi had a smile on her face teasing him. Shiv realized once more that his gaon ki gori was not so innocent. He gets ready and to accompany Anandi downstairs.
"Sorry C S." "Sorry kyun?" "Wo aapko jagaane ke liye maine jhoota moota natak kiya ki main halwa nahi banaaoongi aur phir wo bechaari bahu waala darr." "Anandiji aapko kya laga mujhe nahi pata ki aap natak kar rahi thi. Maine aapki muskaan dekhi thi mirror mein." "He was looking at me. He was admiring me. Why is he punishing himself? Am I really worth going through this torture? OH he loves me so much. Why is God punishing him? Why is he not my first love? How and when will I accept him wholly? Will he be able to endure this torture this wait? What if I take too long? Will I lose him? Will he hate me? Will he fall out of love with me? NO one thing I am sure of I will not let him go. I will not lose him. I will not lose him not to anyone and certainly not to my wreck of a past." She stood there staring at Shiv. He was looking at her. She felt as if he were looking at her soul.
She quickly turns away. They move out of the room. Shiv had noticed that she was really sorry about using his feelings. She was now thinking of ways to show him how sorry she was and would ask for his forgiveness. He needed to make her feel normal as they were going to face the family. He did not want anyone to interrogate her. As they were going downstairs Shiv decided to have fun with her. He put his arm around her shoulders. She jumps at his action. "Kya kar rahe hain aap C S?" "Kya hua ab apne best friend ke kandhe par haath bhi nahi rakh sakta? Main apne sabhi doston ke kandhe par aise hi haath rakhta hoon." "Best friend main aapki kamre mein hoon ya hum jab akele ho tab, yahaan sabke ssamne main aapki patni aur iss parivaar ki bahu hoon." She pats his hand away when they reach the main hall. "Tsk Tsk Tsk bechaari Anandibahu." Shiv passes a comment and gives her his to die for half smile.
Daddu sees them come. He was very happy to see his pota bahu and his jawaan. He was getting bored with his company. They were his own age but how boring were they. They were the ones who liked to go to the temple and prilgrimage while he was still young at heart. "Anandi beta aaj toh methe mein jo tumhaari marzi ho wahi banana samjhi." He looked at Shiv as he knew she would want to make halwa for him and he must have insisted her to do so with his smile which got to everyone right from his childhood. Anandi is taken to the kitchen to do her choolaah poojan. Here only the women accompany her. Anandi does the pooja in a more traditional way that the elders show her. The middle aged women leave the kitchen. Now only Ira, Meenu, Anandi and a couple of olders woman remain in the kitchen. Anandi was tested. Ira and Meenu were told not to help her. They tell her to make chaawal ki kheer for 15 people. She had to make one bowl per person no less no more. Anandi looks at Ira and Meenu asking them if C S liked kheer. They smile and give her a yes nod. She had to do everything from scratch. They leave her all alone in the kitchen. The kitchen was not an unfamiliar domain for her but she was scared. She was about to cry out of nervousness but she remembered Shiv's words that she was not alone and he was there with her always. She touched her heart pendant and took a deep breath. "Shiv tu keh raha tha na ki tune kai dino se exercise nahi ki ja tu exercise kar ke aa." Ira told him. "Par ma maine kab kaha?" "Shiv meetha khane se pehle ja thodi EXERCISE kar le. Garden mein chakkar laga. Bahut meetha khaane laga hai. Arre ja na." Ira signed him to go to the kitchen through the garden. She knew Anandi needed him.
Anandi was in the kitchen. She had begun her preparation of the kheer. She measured each and every ingredient. The window of the kitchen opened and Shiv entered through the window. She turned and saw him and almost screamed but he covered her mouth. He whispered that he would remove his hand from her mouth if she promised not to scream. He let go of her when she nodded in promise. "Aap yahaan kya kar rahe hain?" "Main aapka confidence boost karne aaya hoon. Ye kya aapko kheer banana ko kaha? Pata nahi sabko mujhse kya problem hai?". "C S rehene dijiye ye sab drama. Mummyji ne mujhse kaha hai ki aap kheer bhi bahut pasand karte hain. Ye kaisi zid ki roz halwa hi chahiye. Koi chote bacche hain aap?" "OH very good. Meri billi mujhi se meow. Maine aakar aapka confidence boost kiya aur aap mujhe apna teacherji ka avatar dikhar rahi hain? Buloon aapki saas ki paltan ko?" "OK OK sorry baba. Ab mujhe apna kaam karne dijiye." "Chaliye main aapki kuch help kar deta hoon." He picked the plate with the rice to pick out the stones but he was throwing the rice on the floor and keeping the stones in the plate. She took it away from him and told him to leave or stand quietly till she was not done. Her confidence had boosted a 100% with his presence. Her eyes again became moist. He raised his eyebrows and asked why the sudden tears. "Thank you C S aap yahaan mere liye aaye. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki koi mere liye aisa bhi kar sakta hai. Wo bhi aap jaisa insaan. Mera matlab aise sabse chhupke khidki se mera hausla badhane aana." He wanted to help her as he could not stand there doing nothing and watch her sweat over the flame. She gave him dry fruits to chop. He started munching on them. She gave him a strict warning. He then behaved himself and helped her. He even let out a fake "ouch!" which brought her straight to his aid. They make the kheer together. She had made 16 bowls instead of 15.
She took the tray out to the living area. "Mummyji C S kahan hai? Garam kheer hai abhi kha lenge toh acchha hoga." She smiled at Ira knowing that she was the one to send C S to her. Shiv came from the main door. He had just sprinkled some water on his face as if he were perspiring after the run. The older guests saw that she had made an extra bowl. She told them that she had made the 1st bowl to offer to God and the remaining were for the members of the family. She had passed in her test as she did not only listen to the elders of the family and did what they asked but also followed the tradtion without being told about it. She offered the first bowl to God and lighted a diya. They all bless her. Shiv was very proud of Anandi and was happy to hear her praises. The guest leave after the breakfast. Now only the Shekhar's and Ashi remained in Kesarbuag.
Edited by chahat11 - 12 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
