Chapter 4
There was a knock on her door as she was about to jump in for a quick shower. She ran towards it wondering who it might be. She had already gotten a call from Abhay informing her that he was in Delhi and she had insisted that he come over to the Raizadas to meet everyone tonight. After much hesitation, Abhay had finally agreed to drop in for a few minutes.
"Anjali Di!" She said she found Anjali standing at her door. "Please come in, I'm glad your here.. I got you something!!!" She told her as she pulled Anjali into the room.
She dragged Anjali to her bed and forced her to sit down as she looked at the array of bags on the floor. She saw the one that she was looking for and she picked it up with a smile on her face. She immediately sat on the floor next to Anjali and handed it to her.
"What's this?" Anjali asked as she place the jewellery box that she was carrying on the bed and looked at the package.
"Anjali Di, it's a little something for you" Kushi said
Anjali took the package and opened it. It was a beautiful pale pink saree. It was so simple yet so beautiful.
"Kushi I don't understand" Anjali said looking back at Kushi. Kushi of all people knew that she has only worn white for the past year and she was confused by the pale pink saree.
"Anjali Di, It's time" Kushi said
"Time for what?" Anjali asked.
"Time for you to wear something other than white" Kushi said sternly to Anjali
"But Kushi..." Anjali started off
"No Anjali Di. I know why you continued to wear white. And it's time you stopped. A year has gone by and it's time for you to move on"
"Kushi you already know I've moved on"
"Yes, but you have to stop shutting people out Anjali Di. I'm not telling you to go out there and meet the first man you see and fall in love with him. But don't shut every single person that comes to you as well. That monster was not the love of your life. He was a fraud and a con man. Not every man is like that"
"Kushi he was my second chance at a happy life. And he turned out to be a disaster. So what makes you think that there is someone else out there for me?"
Second chance? Kushi thought before she spoke again..
"I don't know if there is Anjali Di. All I know is that by you continuing to wear white, your still letting him control you" Kushi told her with a somber look on her face.
"As long as you wear white, he's rotting in hell laughing because he has won. Until you completely move on and stop the facade, you will never be free of him Anjali Di" Kushi finally said.
Anjali looked at the young woman sitting on the floor next to her. She saw so much wisdom in her eyes. For someone so young, she was amazed at her maturity. She knew that Kushi had a point and she realized that despite how she felt, her ex-husband still hung about like a dark cloud until she stopped what she had continued to do. She knew that once she shed this part of her, she would be free of him forever. And she had to do that for herself.
"Ok baba, I agree" Anjali finally told Kushi. Kushi got on her feet immediately and pulled Anjali up with her.
"Oh I'm so glad Anjali Di" Kushi said hugging her tightly.
"Ok Ok, now go get ready Kushi. I have something for you too. So go get changed and I'll wait for you here"
"What? No no. You have to wear this tonight Anjali Di" Kushi said pointing at the Saree.
"But Kushi!!!" Anjali said unable to understand how Kushi could be so stubborn!!
"We are having a party today and you can't go down there in white"
"But all the guests have already seen me like this Kushi"
"So who cares Anjali Di?? Today is a new beginning for everyone Anjali Di" Kushi said thinking about the time she had spent with Arnav earlier today. It was a new start for them too.
"Ok ok Kushi! But if that's the case, we can get ready in my room. Come with me now she" said as she grabbed the jewellery box and looked at Kushi
"Anjali Di, I'll get ready here and meet you in your room"
"Now listen to me missy, I've done everything you asked me too, so its your turn to listen to me. After all I am older to you aren't I?"
"Ok Di" Kushi said as she grabbed all her stuff while Anjali dragged her to her room down the hall.
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15 minutes later Kushi had had a quick shower and gotten dressed, she went into the sitting area attached in Anjali's room to find Anjali fixing her Saree. Anjalee looked serene in her new Pink Saree. She looked like a different woman compared to the person that had walked around in white all year.
Anjali saw Kushi and smiled. She looked stunning and she knew her brother had not only found himself a smart and compassionate wife, but a beautiful one too.
"Kushi go sit at the dressing table and I'll come help you with your hair"
"No need Anjali Di, I'm leaving it lose" she said
"Ok ok, but let me just fix it a bit" Anjali said.
Kushi reluctantly sat in front of the mirror while Anajli walked over to her with the jewellery box.
"Kushi I have something for you" Anjali said giving her the box as she continued fixing Kushi's hair.
"What's this?" Kushi said as she opened the box to find the beautiful jewellery laid out in the velvet box.
"Its for you Kushi"
"But I can't accept this" Kushi said still staring at the jewellery. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and it was like she had picked it out herself. It was perfect in every way and she couldn't stop staring at it.
"You have given us all something very special Kushi. So this is for you. So let me put this on now" Anjali said as she slowly took each piece of jewellery out of the box and placed it on Kushi.
Kushi looked at herself in the mirror. She coudn't recognize herself. It was like she had grown up. She was a different person. No. She was the same person. But she somehow looked and felt different. Like a woman and not a girl.
Anjali also looked at her brother's future wife in the mirror. She wondered how her Chote was going to react to this beauty. She knew he had never seen her like this and she knew if he didn't give her those bangles tonight and make her his forever, some other man at the party will.
"Di where are you?? Nani wants you to come to the party immediately" She suddenly heard Arnav's voice at her door. Suddenly both the women were at the door ready to join the party. As Anjali opened the door, her jaw dropped to the floor. Chote was wearing the outfit Kushi had picked out for him.
Arnav stood stunned at his sister in a Pink Saree. She was smiling brightly at him as he had not seen her like this in quiet a while.
"Di what happened? I mean it's so great to see you like this" he said
"Kushi happened" she said smiling at him. "Do you like the gift she got me? And look at you Chote. I always told you this suits you much better than those silly suits you wear all the time. You never listen to me. But looks like Kushi happend to you as well huh?" She asked him grinning.
She slowly walked toward him and he found himself suddenly staring at Kushi. He had no words to describe what he saw. She looked perfect. In every way. And he just stared. It was his jaw that hit the ground this time. He notice the jewellery and thought it was perfect for her. He saw that she was staring at the floor and knew immediately that he should stop staring.
"So how does our Kushi look Chote?"
Nothing. No Response. He just continued to stare at her.
"Chote!!" His sister nudged him.
"Um I mean she looks nice. I guess, I mean, yeah. I mean.. Can you 2 please hurry up now?" He said before angrily storming off at the direction of the party.
"Kushi C'mon let leave before Chote comes back and drags us both by our arms" Anjali said as she followed Arnav.
"Ok Anjali Di" Kushi said as she followed the 2 siblings to the party. She had managed to take a look at him before he had walked off and she knew that he looked very handsome in the outfit that she had picked out. "Not just handsome, he looked drop dead gorgeous!!" she thought.
Suddenly she realized that he had worn what she had picked. And it was only fair she thought. After all, she wore what he had picked out didn't she.. So it was only fair for him to do so. And then she remembered how he had stared at her. And she suddenly felt a little flutter in her stomach that felt like butterflies. And she blushed. So then why had he walked away so angrily?? She asked herself as she walked towards the waiting crowd.
Anupamaa
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