Anandi barely noticed the family walk out of the room. She was intently watching Shiv, who was looking right back at her. She noticed this happening a lot lately, whenever one of them said something about the other. Off late, she had found herself growing much, much closer to Shiv, less anxious in his physical presence and not fighting with her own feelings as much as she used to. Still, She had not tried to take things any further than being merely polite to him, with him continuing to be at his patient yet relentless best doing everything that is possible to get her accustomed to him...his presence...his proximity.
Shiv wasn't worried about himself as much as he was about Anandi. He didn't want her to go against her feelings and he knew that she is indeed working her very best to overcome her fears. She had a spirit about her that wouldn't quit, and she refused to be left behind simply because she is scared. It was this that made Shiv feel so strongly about her., the very spirit that made him to love her.
"Sab chale gaye..," Anandi murmured as Shiv nodded, not taking his eyes off her.
"Haa..Shayad hume akele chodne ke liye..," Shiv said.
He appreciated the effort on their part.
Anandi didn't know how much longer she could take the dancing around with her own feelings, but she was still afraid to put into words the feelings that she was experiencing for her best friend turned husband. Putting those feelings into words would make them a reality, and she wasn't prepared for reality yet, no matter how much she wanted it.
The sound of a loud crash came from the television, one of Shiv's favorite new pastime these days, breaking their eyelock as they turned to look at a gruesome car crash scene from a movie.
"Aap kya dekh rahe hain?" - Anandi asked.
"Patha nahin." - Shiv shrugged. In truth, he only paid so much attention to the television so that he could avoid facing the feelings that threatened to overpower him and erupt at any moment. Watching the images on the screen easily banished the image of him grabbing and kissing Anandi senseless from his mind.
Anandi looked over at Shiv, his eyes set upon the television once again, and she sighed.
Slowly., she watched Shiv approach from the other side of the sofa on which she sat. He stopped and sat in the place next to her.
"Acha picture hai kya...?" - She asked.
He nodded.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. She realized the quiet between them was no longer awkward.
Shiv suddenly turned to face her and smiled at Anandi.
"Come here," he said..."thoda kareeb aake baithiye..."
"Jee?" she asked, not understanding his request.
He took her hand as he gently pulled her close to him. There was a moment of questioning as to where to put his arms, but he finally got it right and settled them on the back of the sofa partly encircling her shoulders too in the process.
He then slowly got his hand down to her shoulder. He tightened his grip around her , trying to pull her just a little closer.
She tried to retract a wee bit...
"Is something wrong?" he asked her.
"Naah," she said, but her voice went up an octave.
"Are you sure?" - Shiv asked.
"Haan," - Anandi said, and she nodded her head firmly, though they both knew she was trying to convince herself more than Shiv.
"Anandi Ji.."
"Collector saab..."
They spoke at the same time.
"Go ahead," - Shiv said softly.
"Mujhe...Mujhe yaad nahi aa rahi hai..kya kehna chahti thi...," Anandi admitted, and felt her cheeks started to burn.
Shiv faked a little annoyance. "Anandi, Agar aap jo kuch avoid kar rahe hain..uske baare mein agar baath nahin karenge toh ...mein idhar se jaa raha hoon...!" he said, getting off the couch.
He didn't have a chance to move away from the couch since he felt Anandi's hand on his wrist, pulling him back down to a sitting position .
"Main aapko bilkul samajh nahi paa raha hoon ... Anandi !- he said teasingly to her. She was still holding his wrist, making it hard for him to move, for she even felt she relished the contact. The room was quiet, except for the sound of their breathing. Anandi was sure she was going to snap from the tension that was filling the air.
"Haa...mein bhi apne aap ko samajh nahi paa rahi hoon...," she said, "par maine ek baath samjhi..ki main galath hoon..."
Shiv relaxed her shoulders at her words, and turned to look at her. Her face was still red, but there was sincerity in her eyes as she kept looking at him.
"Go on," - he said.
Yeh sab jo raha hai...mere galathi hai...par mein apne aap ko sambhal nahi paa rahi hoon...She told him., relieved when he smiled at her.
Aur isiliye bhi ho sakta hai...ki mujhe kuch bhi karne ki sujhthi hi nahi...jab aap mere kareeb hothe hain...mein bahut confuse ho jaathi hoon aur apne aap pe gussa bhi aatha hai ki hum dono kidhar bhi nahi pahunch rahe hain..!"
"Hum kidhar Jaa rahe the kya..?" Shiv said softly.
Anandi smiled, feeling more confident now that he had started talking to her. "Haan...main toh yehi samjhi ...mein galath hoon kya...? " she asked.
Mujhe lagtha hai ki mein bas gol gol ghum rahi hoon ... Balki mujhe ek seedhe raaste pe chalna chahiye...!"
Aap philosopher bhi hain? ... Kab se ? - Shiv asked her,pleased that she had caught onto his earlier metaphor.
"Kya?" Anandi asked, confused.
"Never mind," Shiv said. "Keep talking."
" Shayad mein yeh kehna chahti hoon.. mujhe jo baath karna chahiye., who keh nahi paa rahi hoon.."
She finally said.
"Well," said Shiv, not daring to hope that she would take the conversation any further, Hum dono iss wakt idhar akele hai.. I'm not leaving, and I have plenty of time. Boliye...aap mujhe kya kehna chahti hai..?"
Anandi looked at him, knowing words would not suffice. He was looking at her so intently, and as her eyes fell to his lips, she knew what she had to do. She leaned forward and kissed him, lingering for just the tiniest moment, before she pulled back.
Shiv smiled, and Anandi took it to mean that he understood everything she was trying to say. She still felt the need to explain. "Collector saab...Mujhe maaf..."
Shiv put a finger to her lips to stop her. The last thing he wanted to hear was her apologizing to him..
"Baas...Chup..!" - he smiled at her again and she relaxed.
Shiv continued, "Can I say something now?"
His voice had become softer, a tone Anandi had never heard before, and she gulped before she nodded.
Expecting Shiv to say something to her, she was pleasantly surprised when he leaned over and kissed her, a little more persistent than she had, giving her time to catch on and kiss him back. The kiss was slow and tentative, full of questions and answers and the newness of it all.
They pulled apart and looked at each other, eyes shining as they smiled.
"Mein bahut hi naa samajh rahi..." - She told him, and she moved her hand to his.
Their eyes caught again . Anandi knew that it was time to get serious. It was time to finally move forward.
"Mujhe maaf kijiye...maine aapko bahut sataaya..."she said.
"I think things happen for a reason, Anandi," - Shiv said. "Perhaps ... ab se pehle., hum ek doosre ke liye ready hi nahi the.."
Anandi nodded. "Ho saktha hai..." she said. "Ab ready hain kya..?"
"What do you think?" Shiv asked, his voice was suddenly no more than a whisper.
Anandi looked at him again, knowing he would never let himself leave her side. Everything was suddenly crystal clear; she knew they were meant to be together. her breath caught as she spoke.
"Bilkul..," she said, and she leaned in to kiss him again, meeting him halfway.
They spent the next few minutes learning about each other. Their kisses remained innocent, though each one lingered just a little longer than the last. They both knew that they would enjoy exploring this new facet of their relationship as time went on. Tonight was just the first moment of many they would share.
After they broke apart, Anandi yawned, finding herself tired despite her desire to stay awake all night talking to Shiv. Her fatigue did not go unnoticed by Shiv, who looked down at her.
"Do you want to go to bed?" he asked.
"Thoda der., idhar hi baithenge..? - Anandi asked.
"Sure," said Shiv. There was a slightly awkward moment as he pulled her a little closer. They gave each other a small smile when Anandi had finally settled underneath his arm. However, once they were settled, she was not surprised to find that she fit perfectly in the crook of Shiv's arm, and neither was shocked to feel so at ease in each other's arms.
There were no declarations of love that night, at least not in words. What she needed to say to him could wait for the right time. For now, they both knew what she is feeling and didn't need to put it into words just yet.
Neither was aware of when sleep overtook them.
Tomorrow would be the day that they would embark into the unknown. In their dreams they both knew that the new adventures they were starting with each other, would, no matter what came their way, be done together.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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