Beginning of a new afterlife(Small AnSh OS)

An ecstatic serenity dawned upon Anandi's senses as she recollected the events of the day ...the second morning of her married life. "Married" - the word itself had sent chills down her spine on the first night of the nuptial. But things were different now...much different from what they had been a day ago....

I had been standing by the window of our bedroom with myriad confusions in my mind when the shrill sound of his crisp footsteps shuddered me to reality. He had been downstairs, attending the person on the door.

"Kaun tha darwaze par?" I fumbled as I saw him advancing towards me. My heart grew wilder as he gradually closed the distance between us and took my hand into his. He was looking deeply into my eyes...so deeply that I could almost feel him see through me. Embarrassed, I broke his gaze abruptly.

"Anandijee ek baat puchun aapse?" he asked as I tried to stride back, forcing me to meet his piercing gaze.

"Kya...?" I gasped faintly, still trying hard not to let the intensity of his eyes affect me so vehemently.

"Aapko kya lagta hai maine apse shaadi kyun ki ?"

As soon as he spoke, I was confounded by the nuance of his question...why was he doing this? Invading exactly the same place within me I don't want him to even have an idea about. What will it get him provoke the bitterness within me...I don't want to hurt him. I fluttered in exasperation.

"aap aisa kyun kar rahe hain collector sahab?" I sighed in irritation as the intensity of his love-filled eyes nettled my guilt more brutally.

"Main kuch nahin kar raha Anandijee...bas aapse ek sawal pooch raha hoon...kya lagta hai aapko, kyun shaadi ki maine aapse?"

"Collector Sahab" wheezing I gulped on my own juices..."Main kya jawab doon aapki baat ka...shayad Iss sawal ka jawab to main khud bhi nahin samajh payi aajtak."

He smiled as I confessed, confusing me all the more.

"Sahi jawab" he said as I looked at him with muddled eyes.

"Jee...?"

"Sahi kaha aapne...isiliye hi shaadi ki maine aapse. Kyunki shayad aap khud bhi nahin janti ki aap kitni sunder hain. Aur aapki yehi baat aapko sabse alag banati hai"

My heart skipped a beat as his words affected more than just my auditory senses.

"But you know what Anandijee...kehte hain ki jab kisi baat par khud ko vishwas na ho ya koi confusion ho...to ek baar, uske bare mein kisi aur par vishwas karke dekhna chahiye...kabhi kabhi kisi aur ka vishvas humare confusion ko door kar deta hai...bas zaroorat hoti hai to uss vishwas ko ek mauka dene ki"

I was just listening to him in rapt attention as he cupped my face to look into his eyes,"Kya itna vishwas kar sakti hain aap mujhpar?" he asked and I couldn't say anything except an approving nod. Yes I was sure I trusted him. I was scared but still I trusted him. The two things are antagonizing I know...but still it's a truth. I trust him more than I can ever trust any man.

A faint but blissful smile had tucked the corner of his lips as he saw me nod into approval. I gasped as he slowly moved his hand to my face and lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.Treading closer, he lingered his hands along my arms, stopping gently at the shoulders and pulled me closer.I was scared,but he didn't back off Leaning further, he closed his eyes and planted a tender peck on my forehead. I shut my eyes tightly, my fists clenched tighter. I quivered as I felt him treading down slowly. An undercurrent passed down my spine as his lips now caressed the tender skin of my eyelids into a soft kiss; making some held back tears roll down my cheeks. My muscles stiffened as a reflex. There was something about his touch I had never felt before - ever! To my surprise I just wanted to give into the moment...as If suddenly all my fears, my confusions and insecurities had melted into the warmth of his love. For that one moment, all the brackets of the past seemed to dwindle automatically. He held me with such firmness in his arms as if he would never let go of me...and for the biggest shock of my life, It made me feel good. Really good.

I slowly opened my eyes as I felt him gradually breaking our moment of proximity. A fresh drop of tear quietly escaped my eye as I looked into his soggy eyes. I still could not believe that this one moment meant so much for him. Smiling faintly at me, he gently wiped my tears with the tip of his thumb.

"Thanks Anandijee" he whispered in a voice so sonorous that it made something melt within me "Thanks mujhpar vishwas karne ke liye. Iss rishte par apna vishwas barkarara rakhne ke liye. Maine kaha tha aapse...iss rishte ko lekar kisi jaldi mein nahin hoon main. Aur aaj bhi main wohi sochta hoon. Har cheez intezaar kar sakti hai...tab tak jab tak aap uske liye taiyyar na hon...pure mann aur aatma se. Aur main bhi intezaar kar sakta hoon...apni aakhri saans tak. Main bas aapko ye ehsaas karwana chahta tha ki main hameshan aapke saath rahunga. Phir chahe hum kitna bhi aage badh jayein...ya na bhi badhein. Main hameshan aapse waisa hi pyaar karunga. Aur jab tak aap poori tarah iss rishte ke liye taiyaar nahin ho jati..tab tak mere liye woh vishwas hi bahut hai jo aaj aapne humare iss rishte ko diya hai. Isse zyaada aur isse aage filhal mere liye kuch bhi important nahin. Aur aaj...is ek khubsurat lamhe mein...aapke ehsaas...aapki rooh se judne ke baad...maine bas yehi jana hai ki aaj se hameshan, mujhe uss ek din ka intezar rahega jab aap poori tarah iss rishte ke liye taiyyar hongi...kyunki main janta hoon, ki woh din meri iss aur aane wali har zindagi ka sabse khobsurat din hoga"

A surreal tranquility descended upon her as his words reverberated in her ears. She smiled as she looked at the beautiful face of her loving husband, who was peacefully sleeping on his side of their bed totally unaware of the slow turmoil his love had set within his newly wedded wife. Tucking the blanket properly upon him she slid herself into her bed and went to sleep. No she was not ready for what all happened between them a few hours ago, but now the fears have begun to seem trivial. It was not that she suddenly wished to be closer to him...but surely was ready to explore him - the only man who had ever touched her in ways more than he even knew.

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