Anandi called Shiv's cell for the third time and when there was no response again, she became impatient. She immediately dialed Bheem Singh. As he picked up the phone surprised, Anandi asked hurriedly, "Collector sab, Kahan hai? Woh theek toh hai na?"
Confused by her questions he answered, "Ji, Anandiji. Collector sab toh theek hai. Kya hua?"
Anandi relaxing a bit said slowly, "Woh, collector sab phone nahi utha rahe thay toh mujhe laga ki ...wo..?"
"Ji, sir ab bhi office mai hai. Woh kya hua ki meeting dheere se shuru hua hai. Minister sab jo subah anevalethe dopahar ko aaye na, iss liye. Aapko kuch kaam tha vunse."
"Nahi. Kuch Kaam nahi. Shukriya", she said in a hurry and hung up. And as all her tension drifted away she fell asleep.
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Next day morning Shiv called her but Anandi missed it as she was in the wash room. Later when she saw his missed call and was about to call back she found a message popping on her cell. It was from Shiv. It read, "I am sorry for not calling you yesterday, Anandiji. Bheem Singh informed me about your call. I am really sorry for not picking your call and worrying you. I will be staying here even today as there is still work to be done. I might be in meetings the entire day, so don't try to call me. I will call you whenever I get time. Sorry again." An unknown smile crept through her lips as she read the message.
The whole day went by normally except for the few calls from Jagya which she didn't pick up.
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Jagya was furious when Anandi didn't pick his calls but then he slowly composed himself saying that he slipped a doubt into her mind and it will take a little time to take effect. He subsided his urge to go and meet her deciding to give her some time to decide.
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That evening Anandi got another message from Shiv, "The work here might take little longer than expected." Sudden uneasiness sneaked onto her face as she read it. She thought a moment and replied, "That sounds bad as everyone in Jaitsar are already missing you."
After a few minutes her cell beeped, "Does everyone include you too?", was the question.
Anandi stood still perplexed as she read it. She then smiled and typed, "You say we are friends, then why won't your friend miss you?"
Shiv's happiness knew no bounds as he read the message. Even if she thought of him just as a friend, it meant a lot to him. He was watching the message again and smiling to himself when Bheem Singh interrupted him and informed about the next meeting starting. -------------------
Later that night, Anandi was about to enter Dadisa's room when she heard her talking to someone. She was about to push the door but came to halt as she heard soft sobs. Worried she almost entered the room when she heard Dadisa say, "Jagya - mera ladesar". As Anandi stood still like a statue Dadisa continued, "Mujhe maaf kardena. Sabh tujh ko ghar se nikaal rahe the aur main ne kuch nahi kaha. Agar tu sach mai badal gaye ho toh kuch din sabr rakh. Sabh tujh ko maaf kar denge aur tu apna haveli wapas aa jao ge. Tu ne aisa kyun kiya. Agar tu sahi hota, toh Anandi, tu aur hum sab kitne khush hote..." Not able to listen anymore Anandi knocked on the door startling Dadisa in the process. Giving Dadisa some time to compose herself she slowly walked into the room and handed her milk. After making sure Dadisa was asleep she went back to her room.
Anandi was buried in her thoughts when she saw her cell blinking from the corner of her eye. She was shocked to see 8 missed calls from Shiv. She immediately dialed his number but an automatic voice answered, "The number you are trying to reach is not reachable." Confused Anandi cut the call and that was when she saw a message blinking on the screen. It read, "Thank You." Not giving much thought about why the 'thank you' might be she kept the phone down. "He might be sleeping. I will call later", she thought. She laid on the bed completely lost remembering Jagya's words from few days back and Dadisa's turmoil. One question kept popping up all the time, "Am I responsible for Jagya not able to live with his family? Was Jagya correct? Am I being selfish?"
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Anandi was in school next day when one of her students informed her Shiv was running fever. Anandi corrected the girl telling her that Shiv was not in the village and she must have mistaken. The girl confidently said she heard her father speak about it as he was in the hospital when Bheem Singh came there to pick up the medication. Anandi stood dumbstruck for a few seconds then looked at Gulli and requested her to manage the school for the day.
She immediately exited the school and walked towards the circuit house still confused. She knocked on the door which was opened by Bheem Singh.
She plainly asked him, "Collector Sab, kahan hai?"
Bheem Singh looked inside pointing to Shiv's room.
Anandi felt bad. He returned from his trip, he was not well and he didn't find it important to inform her. She decided to ask him the reason for hiding his return from her and what does it mean?
She walked into the room followed by Bheem Singh. Shiv was lying on the bed with a pale face and energy less body. Looking at his condition she forgot all her questions and slowly walked to him with concern taking over. Hearing the footsteps Shiv opened his eyes and tried sitting up on seeing her. Watching his effort Anandi stepped in to help him sit. Shiv glared at Bheem Singh as if cursing him for telling her? Understanding his expression Anandi answered before Bheem Singh could say anything.
"Bheem Singh didn't inform me anything. You need not be angry with him. What did you think you will not tell me and I wouldn't know."
Shiv could sense disappointment in her voice. He looked at Bheem Singh who silently moved out of the room. Once they were both alone Shiv calmly spoke, "I am sorry, Anandiji. I didn't want to worry you and everyone else in haveli. So I didn't inform you. Also it is just fever, nothing to worry about, it will go away in one or two days."
"Collector Sab, knowing you are sick I agree everyone will be upset but finding out from someone else or later when they come to know you didn't tell them will upset everyone more. Even as of now, Dadisa and everyone else will feel very bad for what you did. You didn't do the right thing.", Anandi explained.
"Sorry, I didn't think that far. But I am fine now."
"You said your work is going to take more time and you will not be here today then what happened? Is everything ok? You were fine last night then how did you catch fever so suddenly?", she asked concerned and at same time not paying any attention to his 'I am fine' act.
"Ya ya, everything is fine. I .. I thought of staying and completing the work today but then I changed my mind and completed it last night itself. Once I was done I started home. But then it started to rain heavily and I was driving my jeep...", he said giving a slight shrug followed by a smile as if gesturing - now you get the picture.
Anandi stared at him for a second and then asked, "You drove home in rain?"
Shiv gave a tight nod. Which gave way for her next question, "But why? You should have stopped for the night? Why did you start that late at night in the first place?"
Shiv thought for a minute about what to answer to that. He looked at her who was waiting for his reply. He took a deep breath and answered trying to sound very casual, "You said everyone in Jaitsar was missing me and even I was missing everyone. So I decided to come early after your message."
Before she could react in anyway Shiv started coughing. Worried, Anandi asked, "Did you take any medicine?"
Shiv nodded in affirmation unable to talk.
Putting their conversation on hold, Anandi requested Shiv to rest for sometime and stepped out of the room. Once out she called and informed Dadisa of the current happenings. Dadisa who got worried listening asked her to stay there with Shiv and they will come soon.
Anandi joined Bheem Singh in the hall. She questioned him as to why he didn't stop Shiv from travelling late in night. He replied, "Till around late yesterday evening the plan was to stay there even for today but later sir suddenly decide to complete the work as soon as possible and return home. I tried telling him completing all the work and immediately travelling will be very tiresome for him but he didn't listen. He worked till past midnight and immediately as the work was done he started for Jaitsar. I should have accompanied him but I was to deliver few files, so I suggested I would come back by bus. I didn't want to delay sir because of me. Now I feel it was a mistake. I should have been with him. Then this morning when I called sir he didn't pick up, so I came home only to find him sick. Sorry for not informing you but sir asked me not to."
"Don't blame yourself. Also don't hide such things from me again.", she said as she thought about what Bheem Singh said. "'Late evening' that was around the time we exchanged messages. So he was telling the truth when he said he came as everyone was missing him? But in rain?" Anandi was still not clear on why Shiv acted this way.
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After nearly 40 minutes Makhan came to circuit house with food and informed Anandi that Dadisa and others will be coming soon. Anandi took the food to Shiv's room, served into plate and gave him. Shiv was not interested in eating as his throat was aching. He tried escaping by saying he will eat later but Anandi insisted he eats it while it is still warm. She added that it will ease his pain. Giving in he was about to eat but then again stopped and asked Anandi if she ate anything. When Anandi suggested that she will eat later at home, he blackmailed by saying she has to eat now or he will also not eat. At last both ended up having lunch together with few eye locks in the process even though without much talking.
Shiv was very happy that he fell sick. He smiled at himself thinking that he must be losing his mind to think that way but he knew the reason was not his mind but the girl before him. He was very happy that he got to spend time with Anandi.
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Just as Anandi and Shiv completed their lunch Dadisa and others arrived. Shiv seeing everyone tried to stand up only to be stopped by all of them. After enquiring about his health and how it all happened everyone showed their disappointment with Shiv's decision to drive home in rain. Shiv just smiled and sweetly replied that he was missing Jaitsar so much that he wanted to come back as early as possible. Everyone smiled and took leave warning Shiv to take the needed rest. Outside Shiv's room Dadisa asked Anandi to stay back and take care of Shiv. She called Makhaan and ordered him to stay with Anandi in case anything is needed. Bheem Singh interrupted arguing that he is here to look after everything. Dadisa bluntly looks at him and says she know what she is doing, silencing Bheem Singh.
Dadisa looks at Anandi before leaving and tells her to take good care of Shiv. She adds that she will inform his family about his illness as they should also know but will also mention there is nothing to worry.
Current Affairs
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