It was early evening, and she was standing on the terrace of Haveli. Her body was pressed against the whitewashed parapet wall overlooking the faraway vegetation. With her elbows close to her body, her forearms were stretched out in front of her resting on the top of the wall... As she watched , Anandi couldn't stop the waves of memories from flooding her thoughts.
It was hard to believe that not even a full day had elapsed since Shiv declared infront of both the families., that he cannot marry her. It seemed like a lifetime ago...somebody else's life. Tears started to fill her eyes as she started to think of what her heart had endured. The pain had been so indescribable, and she could still feel its effects on her .
She quickly pushed those memories back and tried to put up the walls around them to detach herself as she had all morning and afternoon. She had thought of asking Lal singh if he could possibly sedate her, as she knew that particular experience would help to motivate her in the looming battles to come.
The breeze shifted, and now carried a scent with it: a scent she'd smelled all these months ...a scent that was utterly and completely his.
So when Shiv came to stand with her at the wall, she wasn't surprised by his presence but instead by the fact that he had chosen to stand directly behind her instead of beside her. She'd assumed that he'd come to offer her comfort in the form of his arms. But how could he do that standing behind her?
Of course, that question was quickly answered when his hands came to rest on the edge of the wall, near her elbows but not quite touching.
She realized that he was embracing her, but without actually touching her. Shiv's long arms and her petite frame allowed him to engulf her within the confines of his arms and body even though he was able to keep a good four inches or so between them. However, that didn't stop his body heat from reaching out to her like a gentle touch.
Anandi had expected this to be another one of those times where their shared moment was spent in nearly complete silence, so she startled a little when he spoke with his voice so near her left ear.
"Aap theek tho hai'?"
She only tensed slightly then took a quick deep breath and gave the answer that she'd dispensed so many times.. It had become merely a subconscious response.
"Main Theek hoon."... She brought her arms up to cross in front of her chest in an attempt to hold in the anguish that wanted to escape.
His exasperated breath ruffled her hair a bit, but it was then that she felt his thumbs lightly rubbing along the sides of her elbows.
"Anandijee...Aap mere benefit ke liye pretend karne ki zaroorath nahi..." His voice was so soft that it was like a light breeze upon her weary soul.
They stood in silence for several seconds, but when Anandi didn't offer any more insight on how she was feeling, Shiv nearly chided,... "main ee andaja laga saktha hoon'...apko kaise lag raha hoga''...
Anandi bit her lip to hold back a sob as a single tear slipped down her cheek. She swallowed hard the lump that had formed in her throat. She inhaled deeply and started to open her mouth to speak but was cut off by Shiv before she could. His voice had returned to its soothing softness.
"Aap un ladkiyon me se ek hai...jinme bahut taakath hai'...aur aapne is baath ko in chand ghanto mein ek aur baar prove kiya...So., aap pls stubborn banke., mujh se ee baath math chupayiye ki ab aap bahut thees main hai aur bahut dar rahi hai''...
Tears were filling her eyes in earnest now, and she knew that she couldn't respond without her anguish flowing through her words.
Even though he'd shown a great deal of maturity these last few months, Anandi was reluctant to admit to Shiv .,what she had endured and how it had affected her. She didn't want his emotions to dictate his actions the next time they came face to face with Jagdish. Even more, she could already tell from the changes in his tone that his emotions were already in turmoil. She loved him too much to upset him more with her recollection of what had happened and how it affected her.
Therefore, she decided to remain silent.
However, she leaned back slightly so that her back came into just a slight contact with Shiv's front and her shoulders were barely pressing into his chest. She just needed the soothing touch she'd grown accustomed to the past few months and hoped that her silence wouldn't give him the wrong impression or make him angry.
Apparently it did neither.
Tears were flowing freely down Anandi's cheeks now, but she resisted the urge to wipe them away, because she would have disturbed Shiv's hold on her arms if she did.
When he spoke next, his voice was filled with raw emotion.
"Humne jitney bhi wakht saath me bitayee...this is the most frightened I've been...main aapko kho detha thaa...!!.Anandijee...!"
Shiv's arms came around her so quickly that she didn't have time to react; His hold on her was crushing with the agony on her already pained soul.
He dropped his arms so quickly that Anandi thought it was like she had just burst into flames and he was trying his damn best not to get burnt.
But Anandi wasn't ready for the comfort of his arms to be gone just yet, so she quickly spun around, threw her arms around his waist, and pulled him to her. Shiv's arms immediately wrapped around her once again, and she found her head resting on his chest... just under his chin.
Anandi closed her eyes and let the emotions of the moment flow through her as she took several deep calming breaths and listened to Shiv's heartbeat. For some unexplainable reason, a serenity that she'd never felt before washed over her, with a thought that his heart beat only for her.
Suddenly she knew that it is all going to be all right. In the end, everything would work out for the good. Jagdish would be defeated. She and Shiv would have their "happily ever after."
They had to. They'd come through the victories in many battles personal as well as professional that they couldn't possibly come to the end and not be the champions.
With her mind, body, and soul at ease for the first time since the horrifying episode with Jagdish, Anandi softly said, "Main theek hoon...Collector saab...sach mein."...
She pulled away from him but didn't break contact. She merely slid her hands from around his waist to rest on the sides of his face. Setting her watery eyes on his slightly less watery eyes, Anandi gave him a small reassuring smile before she started to plead her case.
Where she'd originally been worried about Shiv's emotional reaction to what she'd been subjected to, Anandi now realized that it was just reassurance that he needed. After her realization that all would end as it should, she knew assurance was something that she could finally give him.
"Sach mein...Main bilkul theek hoon." Before he could interrupt, she quickly continued..."Main ee nahi inkaar karoongi...ki mere dil ko bahut chot pahuncha...aur mein bahut darr gayi...phir bhi...mein idhar hoon...aapke saath...aur mein bhagwan se shukriya aada karna chahthi hoon...ki mein ee bhayanak imtihaan se'...bina kuch khoye bahar nikal saki hoon..."
Anandi closed her eyes as a shiver went over her as a vivid image of what could've happened floated across her mind...If Shiv wanted to call off their wedding...just b'coz he didn't love her.
She shook it off and opened her eyes to see Shiv staring at her with an odd look in his eyes. She quickly realized that she still had her hands on his cheeks, and the position was a little more intimate than she wanted this situation to be.
She still hadn't completely explained herself yet, so she quickly removed her hands from his face and placed them on his chest as she began to continue her rationalization. However, Shiv was still giving her that strange look, so she looked down to talk to his chest.
"Aur kya aap isko samjhe nahi'?...Humne mere ateeth ko haraaya...!!! Mujhe maaloom hai...hume aur bhi bahut dur saath me jaana hai...aur jho bhi takleefe humne saath me abhi tak jhele hai...woh aane wale mushkilo se...bahut kum ho sakhte hain...Par kya...aapko ee nahi lagta...ki yeh chote chote jeeth'...ek din hum dono ke liye...bahut bada jeeth laa sakthe hai...Sab kuch bilkul theek ho saktha hai'...?"
She looked back into his eyes and smiled the first genuine smile in what felt like forever.
" Isi liye...mein jab bol rahi hoon ...ki mein theek hoon...mein apne poore dil se bol rahi hoon..."
Mein theek hoon kyonki...mere saath ek brave, smart aur dil ke sacche humsafar khade hain...jo mujhe ek khushhaal zindagi jeene me madad karenge...woh mujhe protect karne ke liye...kisi bhi had tak jaa sakte hain...bhale hi kabhi kabhi...mujhe woh thoda gussa dilathe hain''...
Shiv snorted a little at the last comment., especially in their current quest, but he quickly turned somber again.
"Kya aap Jaanthi hain...Anandijee...mujhe kitna takleef hui...aapko kho dene ki soch mein...?...he asked earnestly.
Anandi couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head. She lightly brushed the fringe on Shiv's forehead then stopped when she realized what she'd done.
She quickly dropped both her hands to her side and gave Shiv an embarrassed smile. However, the smile quickly dissipated and her eyes widened when Shiv's hands moved to each side of her face, and his thumbs gently began to caress her cheeks. Anandi's heart swelled at the gesture and at the look of longing that had returned to his features.
Her breath caught when she realized that Shiv's face was moving closer to hers. Her eyes had just fluttered closed, and she felt just the slightest softness of his lips on hers when a shout from the direction of the door caused them both to jerk apart.
"Bhaiyya...Daadi ji bula rahi hai...Dinner time hogaya..."
Shiv let out a long sigh and pulled Anandi back into the embrace of his arms ..and mumbled..."Ee Maahi bhi naa''...
Anandi pushed back, slightly confused. "Kya..?"
"Never mind. Long story. Anyway,... ab hume neeche chalna chahiye...sab log intezaar kar rahe honge'."...
Shiv gave Anandi a bright smile and stepped around her and started towards the stairs hand in hand. They had taken a few steps when he pulled her to a stop.
"Anandi'...mein aapko batana zaroori samjhtha hoon ki mein Kisiko ko bhi...apko kabhi bhi hurt karne nahi doonga...aapki khushi ke samne mere liye...aur kuch bhi mayne nahi rakhta...ee mera vaada hai aapse...sache dil se'" he said with truthfulness reflecting in his expressive eyes...
Anandi smiled back at him before she reassured him... "Mujhe maloom hai...Collector saab" ...She stepped forward, placed her free hand on his left cheek and raised up to plant a light kiss on his right cheek before she pulled away and began pulling him towards down stairs.
She somewhat expected Shiv to take her slight kiss as an invitation to try again what had been interrupted by his brother. However, he followed after her with ease. Of course, knowing him., he must've agreed with her declaration that the future would end well for them. There would be plenty of time to pick up where they left off.
As they journeyed towards the stairs, Anandi reflected on the past for several moments. Sure her heart still ached, and she knew that the memories from last few hours would haunt her for some time.
However, she now had a new, more pleasant memory to focus on. It was such a brief moment, but she could still see the look in Shiv's eyes and feel the slight touch of his lips. She now had no doubt that she was in love with Shiv Raj Shekhar, and for the first time..., She had felt good...she hadn't asked lalsingh for a pill to sedate her'...she would never risk the memories of this evening to be lost in error...!!!
FINISH
Just a little something...to get thru' this weekend..š
Dixie...Here I Go...'This is specially for U'.šš
Pls pardon my Hindi vocabulary...as I'am not very conversant in it.
Hope U all like this attempt...š
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
