SS: realisation updated 13/1/13

INDEX:

Part 1 Page 1

Part 2 ,3 : Page 2

Part 4,5 :Page 3

Part 6 : Page 4

It was now nearly two months since the marriage had taken place.At CH,Anandi thought back about how she was scared of voicing her opinion to CS in those initial few days.She now wondered why it had been so.He was her best friend whom she knew so well and was so happy she was going to marry.But ,all of a sudden,there had been a new fear in her mind.Thoughts of Jagya which she was sure she had erased cropped up.She had been frightened to care for CS in any other way,lest she be scarred again.Oh! she would have fulfilled her wifely duties ,she was sure but she had been reluctant to take the last step-that which spoke of trust.

She had seen the Sekar family with open mouthed wonder! Despite knowing that there was no gender discrimination, she was still taken aback to see he mother in law pulling her husband's leg in front of everyone..or threatening jokingly to not give him food! Even though Sumitra and Bhairon cared for each other,there never was this freedom between them. And she had grown up in that environment where the husband's wishes always took precedence.How then could she tell her fears to CS?After all,he was a man and her husband ,and was it not her duty to keep him happy?

But CS turned out to be different,much to her surprise. She recollected with a smile as to how that day when they had been alone together,he ,so patiently,brought out her fears and insecurities in the open..how he had promised to be by her side and help fight those ghosts.True to his word,he had suppressed all his desires[and oh! she knew there were plenty for she saw it in his eyes] and was giving her space.The wounds were healing.No longer did she balk at his touch or squirm when he held her in his arms'

It was now a comfortable environment at CH. After the day's work,they would sit down and he would discuss issues with her'those relating to Jaitsar and even of the world.He was so intelligent,but he would always lend a patient ear to her point of view and would also correct her if she were wrong in those sessions.Never in her life had anyone listened ,let alone asked her what her thoughts were.This man was overwhelming her with his care and affection.Slowly she was developing a fondness for him in her heart,along with the respect.

Anandi looked at the clock and her brows furrowed.CS was late today.Just as she was about to call him,the jeep pulled up in the portico.A nandi ran to the front door.There along with CS stood Ashima!...!!!

Hmmm very interesting beginning please continue.

HMMM😉 to "uth ko pahar ke niche lane ke liye"...ho gayee ashima ki entry...😆 lovely... don't make us wait for long😊

good starting.👏...waiting for the update...

Ashima looked great in her svelte figure hugging black mini and she was clinging onto Shiv!!Anandi's heart skipped a beat.Apparently she had decided to surprise her friend and had landed in CS office this afternoon without informing Shiv.Only Saanchi knew of her arrival and had told her it was a great plan. A was slightly irritated. Her patience with Saanchi was wearing thin.She no longer felt magnanimous toward Saanchi and wanted to give the girl a piece of her mind..Anandi came back to the present.She welcomed Ashima into the house.CS was happily smiling sandwiched between his friend and wife.

The entire dinner and after dinner time was hogged by Ashima who brought Shiv upto date with what their friends were upto.Anandi gradually withdrew into her shell even though CS tried to involve her in the conversation.

That night sleep evaded Anandi.She couldn't comprehend why she was unhappy with Ashima's visit.After all she was her friend too.Why was she resenting her talking to Shiv? Was she jealous?Anandi rejected the thought as quickly as it came to her mind.There was no reason for her to feel so. CS had already assured her that Ashi would only be a friend to him. But did Ashi feel the same way too about him ,now that Shiv was married?A small voice of doubt raised its ugly head….

The next morning over breakfast,Ashi made plans for sightseeing around Jaitsar.She wanted to go to all the places she had visited before.Shiv smiled on as his friend chatted incessantly.Suddenly he noticed that Anandi was unusually quiet and her smile was not reaching her eyes.When they were alone,he quizzed her.She flatly denied anything was wrong.As he left for the office,she held his hand ,of her own volition and told him to take care and have a great day!!!Shiv was flustered.This was the first time she had touched him on her own.This was a great step to progress in their relationship.Till this time it was only baby steps ..He was overjoyed when it struck him that she might be jealous.It meant she cared more than she would admit. To be honest,he had been slightly annoyed when Ashi showed up with no warning.It meant less time alone with Anandi and they were just moving into comfort zone….Maybe Ashi 's arrival would be a blessing in disguise after all!!!

Through the day,Ashi kept teasing Anandi about her marital life.She wanted to know what gifts lover boy had given her,how romantic her life was?She told her how all girls had drooled over Shiv in London,yet,how he would be courteous and graciously reject their advances….which made him all the more hotter!!!He would always tell them how he preferred to wait for the love of his life.She told anandi she was very lucky to get Shiv into her life.She would have given anything to be in Anandi's place today.

Anandi thought over the conversation she had had with Ashi.How lucky she was to have a person like Shiv in her life!Yet why was she hesitating to take the final step..or was she?What was plaguing her mind these days?Why was she waiting for those accidental touches by him? More importantly,why was she irritated by Ashi's visit? Anandi was confused ..She had never felt this restless.What was happening to her ?She had presumed she was happy with the comfort zone she had created for herself,but of late it didn't seem to be enough.

She had all along though that love was a once in a lifetime occurrence and had firmly believed in it.Now she was not sure.And what was worse was that she had nobody to discuss it with.The more she thought of it,the more she realized how important Shiv had become in her life.He was always there to listen to her problems and offer solutions.But how could she take this to him?She had nobody in Singh family to discuss it with and definitely not her mother-in-law.Saanchi was still hostile to her.

Anandi closed her eyes.Images of Shiv flashed before her,him carrying her to bed and gently disentangling the bangle from his shirt,looking at her in concern when she squashed her finger while making halwa and then, him telling her he loved her and wanted to spend every moment of his life with her.She turned red when she remembered his touch.Though at that point she had felt uncomfortable,now a wave of warmth coursed through her veins just thinking of it.It would be so nice to have him hold her in his arms and feel his breath in her ears once again.She stopped short in her tracks.What had happened?This was the first time she had thought of him in this vein.The first time when she wanted physical intimacy with him and Jagya had not been anywhere in her thoughts.Was this love?

"Bhabhi",a voice broke her reverie."Mahi Bhaiya,When did you come? And suddenly?Is all well?"

M: Why bhabhi?can't I just drop in to see my dear Bhabhi and Bhaiya?

Now that Mahi had come,Ashima insisted that he take them out rather than wait for Shiv.So the whole day was spent in sight seeing and shopping with Anandi as guide and Mahi as chaueffer.They returned home late at night tired and spent.Anandi,in particular was feeling exhausted.She had not been sleeping well the last few days and she now had a bad headache.Her feet were feeling like lead.She was grateful to Mahi for having suggested dinner at a dhaba on the way.That had saved her the cleaning.She could now go and collapse in bed.

As she entered the room,Shiv was at his laptop.He looked up at her and smiled.But his smile turned into a frown as he saw his wife's face.She was looking dead beat.Anandi confessed to feeling tired and having a headache.Shiv set aside his work and insisted she lie down after giving her medicine.He then began massaging her head.All of a sudden Anandi's exhaustion seem to have taken flight.A strange sensation filled her,one that she never experienced before.S's touch seemed to work magic on her.But soon her tiredness overcame her and she went to sleep with a contented smile on her face.As for CS ,no official work got done.He spent the whole night admiring his beautiful wife ,wondering when his luck would change.Sometimes he wondered how he maintained a tight control over his emotions.HE was so much in love with her that he just wanted to hold her tight and take her to a world where only the two existed,shower her with the love that none had ever known existed or experienced.

A sweet start and a wonderful update...!!!

Loved it!😳

THe next few days seemed to go in a whirl with Ashi's constant outings and chattering.Anandi seemed to grow quieter by the day.Shiv was sorely tempted to flirt with Ashi just to get Anandi's hackles up.But his love for his wife prevented him from causing her hurt ,even in jest. Unknown to Shiv,even Mahi noticed the change in Anandi.

One fine day,he saw Anandi staring vacant eyed into the horizon.she knew she was doing wrong yet again by Shiv.Her turmoil was yet again creating a distance between them.And try as she might she was not able to open up to him.There was the shimmer of tears in her eyes.Mahi now decided that enough was enough.It was time to take matters in his hand.Just as he had goaded his brother to openly profess his love for Anandi before the wedding,it was time to find out what was irking his Bhabhi.His brother was obviously not proving successful,though not for want of trying.He had seen Shiv repeatedly try to get her involved in every small thing but she would do so with reluctance.

He walked upto her.She hurriedly wiped her tears which he noticed.Mahi took her hands and made her sit down.She glanced enquiringly at him.

M: Bhabhi,all through my life,my brother has been a a pillar of strength and a role model to emulate.The entire family has always been proud of him.It is rare to find such a person with a combination of brain,brawn and character perfectly gelled. But deep down,I have always worried that he took life too seriously,he was too disciplined,he never relaxed.He was so stingy with his smiles.Somewhere along the years,the funloving Shiv ,I knew as a child got lost in the race of studies and career.I wondered why he never found any of those hot girls who threw themselves at him attractive.I fretted about himAnd ,then as if by magic, you came into his life.To be honest,when I first heard about you,I was a little taken aback.I wondered what my sauve brother saw in a village belle.i phoned him and for the first time in many years I heard laughter in his voice.I could feel his joy throbbing .When he talked about you,I could feel his love for you even from that distance.I knew my brother had fallen and really hard.I understood why, when I saw you on your engagement and more so, as I got to know you better.You are the perfect foil for my brother.Now he smiles more often,he is more relaxed and has learnt to control his temper.He has even learnt to take jokes sportingly….I though all was well.However,this time I noticed that there is something troubling you.I know that Shiv is also worried.I have seen him give worried looks your way but you seemed to have shut him out. And I know hat as you are hurting,he too is hurting inside,but he will not tell you lest you hurt more.So I want to tell you,bhabhi if there is something that prevents you from approaching Bhaiya you could always use me as your sounding board…..that is if you truly consider me your brother.

As anandi listened to Mahi,she realized how she had misjudged him.Oh !she loved him,a little more than anyone in the house.He had always been ever ready to fight for her and support her.He was one of those who had accepted her unconditionally right from the beginning,had always tried to get Shiv and her spend time together and never failed to say a word of appreciation..But ,despite all this ,she had thought of him as a young immature boy who just sailed through life with not a care,untouched by its harsh realities.How wrong she had been…here was a man who had as much understanding and depth as his brother did.She needed a friend and she realized that there could be none better than Mahi…for he understood her and his brother as well.

So ,with tears streaming down her eyes and regret in her voice,she poured out the pain in her heart and confusion in her brain.Mahi,on his part ,listened quietly without a word.There was no judgement in his face or tone when he finally spoke.

M: bhabhi,what made you think that love happens only once in alifetime?It is an emotion like all others.when there is no limit to happiness,sorrow,anger,hatred or any other ….when we go through the gamut over and over again why should one restrict love alone?You tell me something,what is your idea of love?

Anandi looked at him in wonder..How could she have ever thought him immature?None had ever asked her what she thoughtof love.Being in love in having one mind in two bodies…when one is able to know what is in your mind even without you telling,feeling complete only when the other is by your side,having utmost faith that no matter what, the other will always be by your side,will lend you a hand when you trip,will lift you when you are down,will be the wind beneath your wings…..anandi stopped short in shock..shiv was all this and more ,but what she realized was that she too was wanting to and willing to be all this and more for Shiv…to give him in triple measure all the joy and love he had brought into her life.she closed her eyes.Images of Shiv flashed before her….Suryabadal,his fighting for her at Jyoti's marriage,his arguing with Heth singh,his support when her mother passed away,the cute look in his face when he told her he loved her,the joy on his face when they were married,the love on his face when he gazed at her the first day after the wedding and the pride when anyone praised her…….And then she saw Shiv opening his arms and beckoning to her.Anandi saw herself running to Shiv and nestling in the comfort of his hold……. It was as if she had come home. A glow that she had never experienced before filled her.She was in love with Shiv…had been for quite sometime but had stubbornly recognize to acknowledge it.Now that she had opened her heart,she felt light,like a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.She wanted to shout out to the world her love for the wonderful man in her life.Her countenance lit up with the smile that shone like a blazing sun….

Mahi saw Anandi's face…the myriad emotions that played on it and finally the ecstasy that brightened her features.He drew in his breath in wonder.He had never seen her look so beautiful and glowing as now.He smiled in satisfaction and walked away quietly allowing Anandi happiness in the solitude of her thoughts.It was now time to deal with big brother….what little kids they were!shaadi toh kar liye par dono ke dono ab bhi bacche rahe aur me toh unke bade bhaiyya….!!!

Aawww...the realization dawns..😳