With Shiv's help Anandi finally got the help required to get Mannu back. Holding Ganga's son gave her an immense satisfaction. It was a very intense feeling of relief. She could not put her finger on why she felt as if a huge burden had lifted from her head. Mannu was holding on to the corner of her chunnari. His hair was disheveled due to the chase.
'Anandi' a familiar sound reached her ears. She turned around and her heart skipped a beat. She finally realized why she had felt the sudden relief.
'Anandi, main apni career main pehli baar nakaam hua hun' the image of a devastated and vulnerable Shiv breaking down in front of her passed through her mind.
Anandi looked at Shiv and smiled. Shiv slowly walked towards her. His eyes twinkling and his smile reflecting the very relief that Anandi had been feeling.
The entire world probably stopped for them as they walked towards each other. Mannu was happily clinging on to Anandi.
Anandi slowly moved her hand towards Shiv's forehead and brushed off the dirt that had stuck to him. Her eyes were set on him and for him alone.
With her thumb she slowly wiped out remaining dirt that stuck to his eyebrows.
Shiv almost savoring the moment went further closer to Anandi.
'Anan'-started shiv but was distracted.
Mannu had just clung on to Shiv's shoulder wanting to go towards him. Surprised pleasantly with this gesture, Shiv took Mannu in his hands and threw him up in the air with joy and caught him.
Listening to Mannu's laugh seemed to make his heart feel lighter. He knew that Anandi too shared the feeling.
There were many unspoken feelings that were shared between them. Mostly he wanted to hear his Anandi's voice but just then Sandhya ji came towards them.
Sandhya walked up to them and smiled at Shiv.
'Namaste collector sahab' she said politely.
'namaste' said shiv smiling. He then handed Mannu over to Anandi.
'Aapnay aaj ek maa ki aas ko wapis zinda ker diya' said Sandhya greatefully
'maine kya kiya hai. Sarah shrey tho Anandi ko jana chahiye. Aagar voh Mannu ko sahih samay per nahi pehchanthi tho aaj hum Ganga ko uska beta aaj lauta nahi pathay' Said shiv with a smile
Anandi looked at him lovingly and then looked away noticing that her teacherji's eyes were on her.
Sandhya smiled at her and said
'waqay main Anandi. Thum bohot kushnaseeb ho. Thumhay apnay jeevan sangharsh ka phal bohot acha mila hai' Sandhya said indicating towards Shiv.
Shiv immediately cut in
'Khush kismet tho main hun Sandhyaji'
'waise main aapko sandhya ji bulaun ya teacher ji?' he asked her with a smirk on his face.
'Anandi tho aapko teacherji kehthi hai tho is rishtay aap bhi meri teacher hui. So main bhi aapko teacher ji hi bulaunga' said Shiv as if he had just written a newly passed law.
Sandhya laughed glanced towards Anandi who was just smiling at her husband lovingly.
'are ye kya. meri chapar chapar baath kernay wali Aanandi abh phir khamosh ho gayi?'
'achhaaa'.abh mujhe baat samaj aayi' said Sandhya as if a revalation had dawned upon her.
'Kya' asked Anandi surprised.
'Ki' jo har kisi ko la-jawab karay , usay sirf Collecter Sahab la-jawab ker sakthay hain'
Anandi blushed at her remark. She immediately understood what Sandhya was hinting towards. Before the function had begun Shiv had asked her to text the three words that he had so impatiently waited for.
She must have blushed with the Shiv's thoughts in her mind, without realizing that Sandhya had been waiting for her and now her teacher, rightly so, had made the connection.
Sandhya laughed out loud as she looked at shiv who was looking confused as ever.
'Teacher ji abh humay jana chahiye. Mannu ko Ganga kay paas le ker jana hai' Said Anandi
After hugging and bidding her goodbyes to Sandhya, Anandi and Shiv left towards their car with Mannu happily swinging in their arms.
