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Anandi is sitting pensively in her room moodily looking at the wind chime wishing that the wind chime would bless her with much needed Shiv's mental strength to her to sort out her inner turmoil. She has moved on from the pain of J's abandonment and divorce. Truly moved on from the emotional baggage that she carried on for a long time.
Fortunately for the peace of Singhs and A, Bhairon took the decision to talk to J and send him back to Mumbai after serving in Narayan kaka's fields. B decided to finance J's MS through bade papa and made him promise that he would finish his MS. How J wants to sort out his relations with Gauri was J's responsibility, he better learn it and let him at least be responsible for the relationship that J himself had created in the first place. B also made it clear that under no circumstances J would get the right to administer their family hospital, he has lost the haq and it would be betraying Lal singh 👏. Though J was welcome to serve in the hospital in consultant capacity, he could make only specific number of visits to the haveli in a year and not definitely welcome atleast for the next six to eight months when A and S get married and settle down.
She cannot put a finger to what exactly is bothering her?
It is already late in the day...Though Anandi is very tired, she wants to finish one more task. Anandi's eyes fall on the day's newspaper, she has now got in to the habit of reading the paper completely at least in the night. This she learnt from Shiv, who reads at least 2 to 3 newspapers a day. He had stressed on the fact that as administrators they need to keep up with what is happening around and need to know all the political/economic points of view. Her eyes fall on an interview published prominently on the front page. It is an interview with Shiv (there is a photo of her collectorsaab in specs, he is looking very scholarly and collectorish) about his experience of being Jaitsar's first collector, challenges that he has faced, his goals/vision for the district. What Shiv says in the interview is very thought-provoking and A's eyes light up when she reaches the end of the interview. Shiv has expressed his praise and gratitude to Anandi -sarpanch of the village, villagers and the panchs for his wonderful journey in Jaitsar. A can't help but feel proud of S -his aspect of sharing his accolades with all the stakeholders.
Finally, she put down the paper. Tired though she was, she just couldn't sleep. There are still niggling thoughts and finally it dawns on her that the root cause of this pensive mood is her inability, rather the failure to completely understand Shiv, his aspirations and their rishta. Is it her inability? or has she really not made the effort to enrich their rishta? S has been giving more than 100% for this rishta to work both professional and personally, but what has been her role? Wasn't she the one who had proposed to him in the first place and S had told that he would wait eternally if required? Has she truly understood him as a person and not just as an able administrator/district collector? He is immensely gifted and by tying herself to Jaitsar as she told him after the roka, isn't she also tying him to Jaitsar alone? Doesn't the state and other districts deserve his vision? And, what about his own professional growth. Because of this rishta, is he lifelong going to be tied to Jaitsar as its collector. Has she been so selfish or swarthi that she cannot see beyond her own pain and struggles.
Just then her cell phone rings. She picks it up. It is the object of her thoughts ---Shiv.. By now, she has realized how much she was missing his towering and gentle persona. She would always look forward to her visits to his office or the CH. But for the last one week, he was in Jaipur attending the district collectors' conference and also the review meeting of Jaitsar's progress as the new district. They both had put together the various reports and presentations. Every interaction with S on these was an enormous learning experience for her. She was grateful to S for it. Without making her feel inadequate, he had asked her inputs on different issues and taken the panchs in confidence on further developmental plans of Jaitsar.
Shiv who is on the phone on the other side is aware of the reason for A's silence cos Bheem Singh has been updating him on day to day basis. His one observation sometime back was very revealing. When asked if A had any issues with some files that were prepared for her signature, BS said - pata nahi sir, jab aap office me hote the, anandiji bade enthusiastically aati thi office ko aur meetings attend kart thi.. Aajkal, office aati hai, files dekthi hai, kaam khatam kar leti hai, par appka khaali office cabin dekh kar unka chehra badaa udaas dikhtha hai.. woh bahut khoyi khoyi rahte hai aajkal. S did not know whether it was just verbatim reporting from BS or BS was hinting something else. He felt it was wise to leave the conversation at that...
S - Hello, Ajee, aap thik tho hain na?
A, suddenly jolted from her reverie ' haan, bas newspaper padh rahi thi aapke interview'aacha laga padhke..
S - Main jaitsar waapas aagaya hoon aur kal humko Udaipur jaana hai, aapko yaad hai na? Shaadi ke jode lene ke liye aur khareeddaari karne ke liye?
A, now her mood is lit up and says with a smile which S could hear and feel in her voice'haan, main aapka intezaar karoongi..
Next Day:
S and A leave for Udaipur early and have packed breakfast to have on the way. They drive in amicable silence infact Ajee is dozing off as she had not slept much, thinking about the crucial conversation that she is planning to have with S. On the way, they stop at a garden to have breakfast. A decides to take this opportunity to talk to S.
A : main kuch kahoo tho aap bura na manoge?
S - kahiye..
A - Mujhe lagne laga hai ki mujhe iss rishte me sirf acchi bahu yah beti banna enough nahi hai... Aapki sahyogi hone ke naate mera bhi kuch farz banta hai. Main is rishte me bahut na insaafi kar rahi thi.. aapki kushi maine nazar andaaz kiya. Is rishte me kush rahna aapka haq hai.. Chahoongi ki aapka career badhthe jaaye, aap bahut oonchaayion pahunche- Par mujhe se judkar sirf Jaitsar se aap judhe rahenge. Aapka ujwal career main daaw pe nahi lagaana chahthi. Yeh mujhe manzoor nahi hai.. Jaitsar ke alava aur kitne districts, state, country level me aap kaam kar sakthe hai.. Yeh sab realize hone ke liye mujhe Jaitsar se baahar aana hoga.. Jaitsar ab bahut badal chukka hai. Jaitsar me itne padhe likhe ladke ladkiyaan hai jo Jaitsar ke liye accha kaam karne ke liye sochthi hai.. Unme se jo kaabil hai unko sarpanch chunna padhage aage ke dino me Unko training dena padega, sikhna padega...Aapko agar sarkar se aur behtar posting mile aap na mat karna. Maine bhi socha hai ki mujhe aage padhna hai aur naya seekhna hai aura aage sarpanch post ke alawa kya kyam kar sakthi hoon sochna chahiye.. Maine is disha me nahi socha nahi tha ab tak. Mujhe mere comfort zone se baahar aana hoga aur aapka isme mujhe guidance chahiye'
S is very surprised at this thought process of his Ajee, but does not want to debate about it now. He decides that it is better to sit down one day with his Ajee to discuss threadbare her decision. So, he says- - ok, aapka decision main respect karta hoon'par ek din hume iss mudde par baat chiit karne padhegi. Kya yeah decision aapne mera liye liya hai, kya aapko yeh puri terah se manzoor hai? Aapka yeh decision humare jeevan me turning point hai, isliye bahut rational thought se sochna hoga.
A who is now used to how S thinks nods her head relieved.
Udaipur
They reach Udaipur around lunch time and are warmly welcomed by the Shekhers. Rathores are also present there. Ira introduces Vikram Rathore who was serving in the army along with Alok as a doctor and who is now running a free clinic and his wife Sneha, who is a teacher in the blind school. They are feeling a bit lonely with the marriage of their daughter and have been spending more time with the Shekhars currently. They are excited at the fact that Anandi will be staying with them during her sojourn at U'pur. They have seen the sagai video and are looking forward to knowing her better. A seeks their blessings and is impressed with them. New windows are opening in her small world.
Following lunch, Ira takes A around the haveli and A shows keen interest in seeing Ira's shaadi ka joda. Ira happily shows her shaadi ka joda, which is a beautiful outfit in kumkum&crimson red with delicate gold embroidery.
Ira - Anandi beta- ab tum thodi der aaram karo, evening chai ke baad- hum purchasing karne jayeenge'maine aur meenu ne checklist banayaa hai..Shopping aaraam se ho jaayega..
At tea time
Shekhars, Anandi, and Rathores have finished their tea and have got ready for their shopping trip.
Anandi hesitantly tells Ira - ma, mujhe kuch kahna hai aapko..
Ira --haan beta bolo..
A - Mujhe shaadi ka joda nahi khareedna, aap Shiv ke liye lijiye..
Folks are shocked.. and A realizes what she has said and immediately corrects, aisa hai ki mujhe naya wala nahi chahiye...aapka aashirwad hai tho aapka shaadi ka joda hi pahnungi shaadi me'...
Ira is now very surprised.. Brides would leave no stone unturned to buy outfits and jewels of the latest fashion and why is Shiv's dulhan planning to wear her joda. She is curious to know the reason.
A very hesitantly starts her explanation looking straight at Ira and Alok --maa, papa maine jo dekha hai aur jaana hai, aapke zindagi me jo methaas hai, ek dusre ke liye jo lagaav, pyaar, parvah, aur izzat hai, yeh sab Shiv aur mujhe aapke ashirward ke roop me milege, agar aapka shaadi ka joda pahnungi tho --yeah mera maanna hai.
Turning towards Shiv, looking at him adoringly with a soft voice, she says -- Hai na, Shiv?, mai aapse bahut pyaar karti hoon, hamaare beech ka rishta jo ek doosre ke samman se shuru ho kar, pyaa me badal gaya hai, woh pyaara sa rishta atoot ho jaayega, hai na?
Shiv who is intently listening to the convo, didn't comprehend for a second what his Ajee was saying. When he got the import of his Ajee's public declaration - the sincerity in her confession and request, he said his thanks and prayers to Karni mata. There is a wow look on his face. He nodded his head in trance, even though he wanted to hug his Ajee and twirl her around for the sweet way in which his Ajee revealed what her heart felt. This would wait when he would take his Ajee on Udaipur tour tomorrow...
Ira and Alok become teary eyed and embrace both Shiv and A.
Ira says ' Shiv ' mujhe aaj garv hai ki tu mera beta hai'Main bahut kush hoon'I just don't have words to express our happiness'and she kisses A on her forehead and says- Anandi'meri saheli ek designer hai, use phone karti hoon'woh mere shaadi ka joda tere liye alter karegi'ab kush.. A nods her head shyly and looks up at Shiv with all the love reflecting in her eyes for him. But when he saw everyone observing him he naturally became a 'red tamator'😳 and this does not escape the attention of Rathores who are so happy for Shekhers.
Sneha teasingly says: Shiv beta aap kyon sharma rahe ho, lal lal tamatar ho gaye, yeh toh dulhan ka haq hai na, sharmaana'On the pretext of attending Bheem Singh's call he literally runs out of the hall 😉..
Dadaji in exasperation says: beta Anandi--yeh Bheem Singh aap donoko chain se nahi baithne dega aapke shaadi ke baad BS ko yah chaar dhaam yatra pe bhej do yah phir BS ka shaadi karwa do.. Anandi burst out giggling at the thought of BS going on a teerath yatra'.😊
S completes the conversation with BS. Though he is mightily pleased and thrilled to bits with his Ajee's declaration, he observes that A's such public declarations would lead to more taang kichofying from his family and he just could visualize what would happen later on in their lives.. May be his sweet innocent Ajee needed to be wooed in a propah way and urgently get some lessons in holding heart to heart conversations privately. Neither his place nor Jaitsar was the correct venue..With this resolution, he set off to book a table for two for candle light dinner at the Udaipur lake palace hotel.
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Cricket
