Kaun hai jo sapnon mein aaya, Kaun hai jo dil mein samaya
Anandi was lying on her bed night before marriage, she was too overwhelmed with her family's participation and dedication of special song for her……with eyes full of tears when she drifted into sleep she did not realize.
Tossing and turning her head she was in her dream world when suddenly she saw the white horse on the horizon……..she had a big smile on her face and without thinking started running towards him. Her heart was singing and pounding simultaneously- Surya baadal!
Woh chhoti si Anandi abhi bhi chhupi hai uske andar. Aaj kitne dinon baad muskurai hai aur khul ke baahar aayi hai- naachne ke liye, gane ke liye, use pata hai uska surya badal aa gaya hai.
Jaise hi ghoda paas mein aaya Anandi ki aankhein khushi mein khuli ki khuli reh gayeen. Usse vishwas nahin hua, yeh uske Collector Saheb hain……nigahein jhukin par, sharam se aur phir ekdum uthin ek muskaan ke saath, ek ummeed se. Shiv ne haath badhaya jise Anandi ne ekdum se pakad liye aur unke saath sawar ho gayi unke vaahan pe. Ghoda dora aur Anandi ki neend khul gayi achanak se ek muskurahat ke saath.
She could not believe this was Shiv she had been dreaming of for so many nights now. Her subconscious mind had registered this fact but not her till now !!! She has to tell him….she HAS to….
She cannot make the same mistake twice, she is Anandi and has to be Shiv's Anandi now. He has acknowledged his love in such a passionate way and so beautifully that she cannot deny him the right to know she loves him too…more than he can imagine or feel or ???, she blushes deep red.
It is 4 in the morning hmmm and today is her marriage day….her brain and heart both make a somersault…..she picks up the phone and types hurriedly….''Please come to the jogging place right away''
Shiv hears the beep, gets up startled as he is half awake too but after seeing the message his eyes pop out. He is beyond his wits and writes back in a reflex: ''Is everything alright?''
''Yes J Aap aayiye to'' is the only reply he receives.
Both at their ends are wearing their respective jogging shoes and wondering what's happening…..Anandi to her heart and Shiv to his heart and mind both.
Without making any noise both sneak out in the dark and jog to the place decided or requested J
Anandi is already sitting on a bench nervously twitching her hands when Shiv arrives. Shiv slowly comes near and stands close to her. He is very happy to see her once again before the marriage but tension is too evident from his face as well as he is concerned about this sudden invite from her. He still cannot comprehend that she wanted to meet him alone as in she WANTED to meet him or was DESPERATE to meet him too as he was before marriage.
Anandi can feel his presence and in her nervousness stands up with her hands behind her.
S: Anandiji kya hua….aapne itni subah subah mijhe yahan kyon bulaya?
A: Who aapse kuchh baat karni thi; kuchh kahna tha aapse
S: Boliye na
A: Woh aapko jogging aur exercise karna acchha lagta hai na (looking here and there)
S: To aapne mujhe jogging karne ke liye yahan bulaya hai?
A: Nahin maine socha aapke saath kuchh waqt bitaon akele mein aur kuchh baatein bhi kar loongi isse pehle ki sab hamare aas paas ikatthe ho jaayein (with her eyes down towards the earth), isiliye yahaan bulaya aapko
S: To kahiye na (with his eyes popped out and mouth wide open as in a trance)
A: Aap theek hain na I mean nervous to nahin (eeks what am I saying A thought)
S: Aapko ye poochhne ke liye yahan aana pada (with a twinkle in his eye) haan nervous to hoon par aapke liye, aap khush hain na? (she could feel the deep concern in his voice)
She looked up: Haan lekin jo baat kehni thi wo ye nahin hai
Shiv just looked at her, she was looking so mesmerizing that it was difficult for him to control his hands, he just wanted to hug her tight and kiss her so vehemently that he was literally forcing his hands by his side.
Anandi brought her hands forward holding a red rose.
Looking straight in his eyes, she said the inevitable: Yeh shadi main apni maan ki aakhri icchha ki vajah se ya parivar ke dabaav ki vajah se nahin kar rahi hoon…….balki is liye kyonki main aapse pyar karti hoon…..itna ki mujhe khud bhi nahin pata…I love you ShivRaj Shekhar.
Her hand holding the rose moved forward but her eyes closed now and tears of happiness started rolling down her cheeks.
Shiv held her hand instantaneously in both his hands and called her: Anandi aankhein kholo aur meri taraf dekho in a husky voice. She trembled and opened her eyes and she was awed to see tears flowing through his eyes too.
Both without any further thoughts just hugged each other.
Is haseen pal mein bas do hi shabd sunai de rahe the…..Shiv- Anandi
Never imagined I will write an OS ..……You all helped bring out a person in me which I never knew existed- carefree….I am romantic but responsible too, itni mastkhor hoon ye nahin pata tha
These are my parting lines to my fellow Anshians…….Will always remember you all Jab Tak Hai Jaan Jab Tak hain Jaan.