Previously...
At Anirudh's haldi ceremony...
While everyone is scolding Jhanak, Jhanak's gaze remains fixed on Anirudh...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone in Basu house scrambles to make a new haldi to deliver it to Arshi's house after the epic disaster.
Bodoma leans in close to Choton...
"Does this ritual hold any essence if Arshi doesn't apply the same Haldi as Anirudh?"
Choton pointing at Ani and Jhanak with his head and a smirk on his face
"It's all part of god's plan..."
Bodoma's eyes shift from Choton to Jhanak and Anirudh, a silent observation of the unfolding scene.
Unlike her usual self, Jhanak displays no trace of remorse in her expression for the mishap.
She actively tries to help clean up the haldi, but Bipasha prevents her from touching any haldi.
Jhanak walks away from Bipasha towards Anirudh lost in her thoughts, slides her one hand on the other, and rubs the splatters of haldi even deeper into her skin...
"Par haldi ka rang to ab lag chuka hai Bipasha didi... ab utarana chahu to bhi nahi utar paoongi!"
Anirudh sits still in the center of the room, his body covered in haldi, as he watches Jhanak approach. Her fingertips caressing the same haldi that he wears sends a wave of warmth through him.
Feeling slightly taken aback by Jhanak's actions, he instinctively straightens his posture and looks at her with a perplexed gaze. Their eyes locked in an unspoken dialogue; only if these eyes had a voice they would have silenced all others in the room.
Jhanak is startled by a hand on her shoulder. She turns to find Bodoma standing beside her.
"Jhanak, would you feed Appu? I have more tasks to attend to, I'll come back after checking on them," Bodoma says.
Jhanak nods in agreement and then looks around to find Anirudh absent from his spot.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Later in the afternoon the same day.....
After feeding Appu di, Jhanak hurriedly walks towards Anirudh's room. She knew she wanted to talk to him.
She pauses abruptly in front of his room, just before raising her hand to knock on the door...
"Lekin kya? Kya baat karani hai muze sirji se? Main unase kahungi kya?" she asks herself
Anirudh opens the door upon hearing a voice outside his room. He is surprised to find Jhanak standing there. He gets to admire her beauty closely for the first time today. How beautiful she looks in this simple yellow sari... his eyes notice the yellow haldi on her cheeks, still intact.
Anirudh quickly collects himself
"tum .. tum yaha kya kar rahi ho..." There's still a hint of harshness in his voice.
"Ab tak naraz hai muzase?" Jhanak questions
"Naraz ...kyu? Tumane aisa kya hi kiya hai jo main naraz honga?" Anirudh asks sarcastically "Jaldi batao kya kam hai. Muze ye haldi bhi utarani hai" ... he gestures toward the bowl of cold water
Jhanak picks up the bowl of cold water and sets him down on the bench near the bed.
Anirudh gazes at her in disbelief, but he finds himself unable to protest.
Jhanak soaks the white soft cloth in the cold water and starts wiping haldi from Anirudh's face. Anirudh can feel his heart pounding so fiercely that he fears Jhanak might hear it
"Maine pucha kya aap muzase abhi bhi naraz hai?"
"huh?" Anirudh responds, still unable to steady his heartbeat.
"Agar Maine aapako dukh ponchaya ho to I am sorry..."
"Aakhir kis baat ke lie maphi mang rahi ho Jhanak?" Anirudh's question jolts him back to reality...
Jhanak's hand suddenly halts on Anirudh's forehead, and she locks eyes with him, silently urging him to find the answer. But this time, Anirudh is in no mood for riddles.
To be continued.......
From nowhere it looks that you are writing for the first time.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
