Part 25
Heart's acceptance
All of them were still in the fair and Prem and Heer had gone off together to find some food and Anurag and Pihu were left alone sitting near a stall. There seemed to be this kind of awkwardness between them and they kept fidgeting and looking everywhere but at each other. There was much they wanted to say and express but both were in a dilemma as to how to put it through. They seemed to talk to the passer bys just in monosyllables but didn't say anything to each other.
Pihu: (finally built the courage) There is something I need to tell you (Anurag looked at her alarmed) in fact there is a lot that i want to say yet I'm unsure how to put it forward. I wanted to talk to you about this when you'd come home with Prem yet there wasn't the right time for it.
Anurag: you look very disturbed. What's wrong?
Pihu: I'm not disturbed but just surprised (she tried to get up but felt a bit shaky) I just wanted... (she couldn't continue and nearly fell)
Anurag: (caught her in his arms) Pihu! Are you alright?
She looked straight into his eyes as she lay their in his arms. For the few seconds she was there she was able to see so much love for her in his eyes that she didn't want to move. She wanted to remain like that forever
Anurag: (also kept staring at her, wondering what she was thinking. That closeness created wonders for both of them and their hearts raced fast. Then he realized where they were) Pihu, tum theek to ho na? Pihu? (shook her a bit)
Pihu: (came back to her senses) yes…I… I was just (got out of his arms and felt conscious) I don't know I just felt a bit dizzy that's all (held her shaky head)
Anurag: it must have been from that fall (held her hand and pulled her with him) come and sit here (made her sit down on a bench and in the nearby shop he called a boy) can you please bring water for her?
The boy went to get water and then Anurag kept asking Pihu if she was alright and took care of her. She just admired his concern for her and an automatic smile came on her face. The boy came with water and she took some and then she felt a bit better but still he didn't allow her to move and told her to take it easy. They sat like that for a while.
Pihu: I really appreciate how you saved my life
Anurag: well it was my duty (both stared at each other with awe) I mean I couldn't have just let Prem go by himself. He would have required my assistance too otherwise he might have also got stuck up there.
Pihu:(short laugh) well whatever it was, thank you for coming
Anurag: please don't say thank you
Pihu: there is one more thing for which I'll be indebted to you. Something which I haven't been able to tell you for a long time
Anurag: what?
Pihu: I've been restless from the time I've found out about this and couldn't wait to meet you and thank you from the deep of heart (Anurag was still bemused as to what she meant) I know what you did for Veera for which there are no words of gratitude for you. I know my family shall remain indebted to you for the rest of our lives (Anurag thought about what she said and turned to the otherside) please don't blame my uncle and aunt as they didn't tell me anything. I was talking with Veera and she accidently spilled it out and then I'd to find out the truth because it was just too confusing (he still didn't look back at her) I know exactly how much hardships you must have gone through in order to get everything done and must have also spent a lot of your quality time and money as well. So please allow me to thank you from the behalf of my family as they wouldn't even know whom to hold the gratitude to. We certainly are indebted to you for life
Anurag: (stood up with his arms folded across his chest. He faced away from her) if you really do want to thank me then just do it from your side. Your family shall never be indebted to me because whatever I did I only did it for you Pihu. Yes I do hold high respect for your family yet I only took such a step to make you happy (she stood up and he turned around towards her) when I saw you so distressed I couldn't handle it so I made the decision of returning back your peace by resolving the matter. Your happiness means everything to me.
She had tears her eyes as she could't believe the guy in front of her could be so wonderful. The guy she thought she would never ever fall in love with, stood there in front of her changing her mind altogether.
Anurag:(came closer to her and took her hand) I've only thought about you in everything Pihu. I want to ask you something today (still held her hand and he saw she wasn't looking in his eyes. He put her face up so she was looking at him and he saw her moist eyes) I never want to see these tears in your eyes anymore, that's why I'm asking you this again. And believe me if your answer is still 'no' then I promise I'll never bring it up again
She didn't say anything and waited anxiously for his question. Her heart knew what it was and she was also nervous as to how would she answer him that time.
Anurag: Do you still feel the same way about me as you did a few months ago? Does your heart only hold hatred for me? Do you still want to refrain from having any relation with me? Do you still... (he paused as he hesitated to ask her the next question but he had to do it as now was the last chance) Do you still not love me? My feelings and affections have not changed Pihu. If you still refuse then as I promised I'll forget about this whole thing forever
Pihu: (overwhelmed) I don't know what to say as I feel totally ashamed of all the things I'd said to you. It was the distressing situation at that time that I said all those harsh words...not now many things differ (kept staring at him still thinking how to put it through) it's become almost difficult to express my feelings and affections now. Yet I can certainly tell you that I hold no hatred or grudges against you anymore (his face lit up) I think I have fallen in love with you. It's hard to calculate when exactly it emerged but yes it's there and it's strong just for you
Both of them were really happy and they still held each other's hands not wanting to let go. Then Anurag wiped away her tears with his thumbs and she burst into happy tears again and she hugged him. At first he was stunned by the act as it was like the first official time she had hugged him like that. Once before when she had done it was due to other emotions but that time he knew she did it because she wanted to. Then gradually his arms went to engulf her too and he held her tight. That was the place where both wanted to be and wished to be forever.
Prem: ehem…ehem…
Both Anurag and Pihu quickly seperated and went red with embarrassment. A laughing Prem kept staring at both of them whilst an astonished Heer oogled both of them.
Prem: Heer tumhe nahi lagta ke ab in dono kee chori pakri gayi hai?
Anurag:What are you saying Prem? We were just...I mean she wasn't feeling well so I was just you know...
Prem: ha ha to maine kab mana kiya (still the teasing tone) wese bhi inki madad to sirf tumhi karsakte ho
Heer: Why are you teasing them like this Prem?
Prem:(pretended to be offended) I'm not teasing them. You'd be surprised Heer on what these two have done which has ruined my peace and quiet. They haven't let me sleep for many nights.
Heer: kya matlab?
Both Anurag and Pihu panicked and glare at Prem to not say anything or else. He just laughed as he enjoyed it.
Prem:shall I tell you what you guys did at night?
Anurag: Prem! (warning tone) you utter another word and I swear I'll kill you
Prem: oh come on, there isn't anything to hide, especially from Heer
Heer: oho can anyone explain to me what you guys are talking about?
Prem: chalo me samjhaata hu
Anurag: Prem! I'm warning you
Prem: why are you so afraid Anu? I'm not going to reveal the very explicit private things (on purpose made it sound really fishy) when you two actually have divulged into it a lot
Heer: (eyes wide with shock) what are you saying?
Anurag: that's it. You're dead! (ran after him and Prem ran away before he could catch him)
Pihu just laughed at the two whilst Heer was still confused as to what was going on. She came to Pihu and wanted answers and Pihu also knew what her sister was going through so she decided to take her out of her misery.
Pihu: (hugged Heer) Heer I'm so happy today that I can't explain. I'd never thought that this day would also come. You won't believe how much I've anticipated hearing what Anurag told me today.
Heer: that means you two...I seriously can't believe this at all
Pihu:(pulled out and was really excited) yeh sach hai Heer. I know it's hard for anyone to believe this but it's true. He still loves me and now I love him too
Heer: (still found it unbelievable) of course it looks unbelievable to me still (held Pihu's hand) please tell me the truth Pihu. As I know how much you hated him so how did this...
Pihu: I've forgotten all that. It's best sometimes to forgive and forget and move on.
Heer:tell me exactly when you fell in love with him
Pihu: that's hard to decipher (thought over the previous events) yet it can be said that I developed all the feelings after I saw his huge mansion in Heampstead
Both the sisters laughed together at their funny thoughts and were really happy for each other. Now they would be living together forever and both were glad and proud of their choices.
Anurag and Prem returned with Prem yelping as Anurag was holding his ears and making him apologise hundred times. The girls just laughed at them and then Anurag again composed himself in front of them. Now nothing was left undone between him and Pihu and it was the best day of his life.
All four of them decided to return back to Maan Niwas So much was left to be said and done still as the main part was to go and inform her parents of the new relation that had taken place. Pihu knew that her father wouldn't have much objection but she knew her mother was going to be harder to crack. Somehow she knew that Anurag would manage alright.
As they returned back he got a chance to talk to her alone again in their walk towards the exit of the fair.
Anurag: My uncle informed me about his meeting with you. He told me how unexpected it was and it hardly surprised me. Your answers intrigued me further. You would have expressed your displeasure in front of him very well if you wanted no such relation between us.
Pihu: (laughed) you must have known me very well by now to have calculated that. There would be no hesitation in bad mouthing you behind your back if I could do that on your face
Anurag: however you'd not said anything which wasn't true (she looked towards him slightly amazed) I deserved no forgiveness for the way I'd treated you then. Believe me I've been agonising myself over it from that day about it. I still remember your words of anger "If only you would have behaved in a more humanly manner, I would have reconsidered my opinion of you but no you continued to put yourself down in front of my principals more". Those words have haunted me day and night
Pihu: I'd never thought it would have such an adverse affect
Anurag: well of course then I understood your state of mind and believed you reacted according to it. I could never forget your red face with anger. You had said "When I first met you I was able to guess your character at an instance. Your pride, your small mind and your self centered nature totally showed how you could never be beneficial for anyone. I was definitely sure that a man of your nature would never be able to keep anyone happy no matter whom they were."
Pihu: (continued to laugh) please don't repeat everything I said
Anurag: I don't want to hide anything from you anymore. My thoughts and ideals have been conceited from childhood because I was taught that way. They were the right principals for a successful man (turned towards Pihu and stared at her with love) I would have been the same still Pihu, if you wouldn't have entered my life and taught me the real values of life (Pihu smiled as for the first time she felt like Anurag thought of her as his own. The way he addressed her with her nickname and not the formal name he always used, did all the work) I would never want to lose you anymore my sweet and dearest Pihu
She linked her hand in his and rested her head on his shoulder as they continued to walk back towards their car. It was a beginning of a new journey where everyone had reformed to a new life.
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