In Udaipur Collector office is buzzing with people early in the morning. After 10 day long holiday Shivraj Shekhar is joining back today. Since he is been known as strict officer all are preparing for his arrival. Shivraj s SUV enters he comes out hurriedly. Shridhar Joshi his PA welcomes him. Shiv headed straight towards his cabin. Shiv gets busy looking after his work. Office staff is equally gets busy in their routine. After 2 hours of nonstop work finally Shiv had some relief. Shridhar brings juice for Shiv.
Sir yeh juice aapke liye'.
Yah thank you'..main abhi kehne hee wala tha Shiv states.
Well Sir abhi ke liye sare kaam khatam hue hain. Lunch time ke baad ek meeting hain lekin abhi timing fix nahi hain.
Ok'let me inform.
Sure Sir. Well Sir if u don't mind ''can I ask you something .
Yah go ahead bolo kya kehna chahate hoo Shiv said in relax mood.
Well Sir'.aapki Kashmir trip kaise rahe?
Oh'.yes bahot acchi thi Shiv said with beaming voice.
That's good Sir.
Yah'.well'yeh file check kar lee hain maine. Tum isse rakh doo filhaal meeting ka samay fix hone ke baad sath lee chalenge.
Yah sure'.
BTW aaj date kya hain while writing something Shiv asked.
Jee Sir 14th May.
14th May'..Shiv mutters.
Kya hua sir''''.Shridhar asked.
Nothing'.you can go now.
Ok sir'..Shridhar left cabin.
Oh aaj 14th May hain'..aaj hee ke din ek saal pehale main Anandi se mila tha. Main iss din ko kaise bhool gaya. Anandi bhi bhool gaye'..kamaal hain. Abhi usse call karta hunn'.as he picks his cell. Cell beeps SMS alert.
"Happy 1st meeting Anniversary Hubby" Anandi smsed him.
Shiv's face is beaming with Joy. Toh yaad tha usse'..abhi bhejta hunn SMS.
Toh Mrs Anandi Shivraj Shekhar ko yaad tha'.he wrote.
Haan'.bilkul. Main iss din ko kaise bhool sakati hunn. Aap hee bhool gaye'.she wrote.
Well'..kya karu abhi tak Kashmir mein hunn main'
Dhat...
Haan...waise aaj shaam ko jaldi aane ki koshish karunga.
Jee...main aapka intezaar karungi my beloved hubby.
Sure Wifey'bye. Love you''.
Shiv smiled while looking at his cell. He open picture gallery in cell & smiled too. Open Anandi's picture which was taken by him in their HM in Kashmir. He place soft kiss on picture.
Anandi'.sach mein yeh duss din mere zindagi ke sabse haseen din the he said softly to her photo. Ek saal pehale main tumse mila aur bass meri zindagi ne ek naye karwat lee. Meri zindagi ki haseen suruwat. Aur aaj thik ek saal baad tum mere itane kareeb hoo. Miss you wifey.
He relaxes in his chair. All past last year events comes in front of him. From Chittod he was transferred to new District named Jaitsar. Before joining he went his home in Udaipur for one night to meet his family. As usual his Mom tries to convince him for marriage. He nodded head like each time & smiled. After dinner with family Shiv sits in library. He was reading newspapers. After hectic two days in Chittod finally he gets time to read. He saw article where his new district was mentioned.
Anandi Singh'..he reads name of Jeiatsar's sarpanch. Oh'.he mutters. This is interesting '.so because of her efforts Jeiatsar become District. It would be interesting to meet this Anandi Singh'.he said. He feels something while saying name Anandi. Yeh mujhe issa kya hoo raha hain'..kuch ajeeb se hoo raha hain. Pata nahi''chalo so jata hunn. Kal jaldi nikalna hain.
Main bhi na...Shiv said stretching his arms in chair in his Udaipur office. Kuch ankahasa ihsaas hoo raha tha lekin uss wat main samjh nahi paya kya tha . Ab smajh mein aa raha haia...Shiv smiled while looking at Anandi's picture.
Main jesitsar pooch hee raha tha ki maine Rath sawar ek ladaki ko dekha aur koi rath chala bhi nahi raha tha. Maine jeepse peecha kiya toh ladaki madaat ke liye pukaar rahe thi'..finally jaise taise main rath pe sawar hoo gaya aur Ghode ko kabu kiya. Lekin iss sab mein hum dono bhi rath se gir gaye kisi talaab ke kinare. Maine uthke dekha toh doo badi gehari aankhe nazar aaye'.dara hua chehra'bikhare hue lambe baal'.lekin phir bhi khubsurat ladaki meri taraf dekh rahe thi. Uski chunari khain dur padi hue thi maine chunari uthake usske pas gaya'.chunari lapeti'..tab bhi uska dara hua chehra hua tha. Main khade hone ke liye apana hath aage badhya''.lekin meri tarh dekhke woh khud aapne aap khadi hue.
Mujhe laga ki kya ladaki hain''iss waqt bhi aapani khudari dekha rahe hain. Jab maine usse ghode pe bithake wapss leke jaane ki baat ki toh ussne suru mein mana kar diya. Uske liye mere jaise ajnabi ke sath jana lekin koi aur upay nahi tha. Finally she agrees. Hum dono'.. ghode pe baithke nikal pade. Tab mujhe pata chala ki yehi Anandi Singh hain Jaistsar ki sarpanch. Suru mein mujhe hairaani hue''.itanisi dkehne wali yeh ladaki''lekin usske khudari aankhon ki chamak dekhke main samjh gaya. Yeh ek khass ladki hain. Pata nahi kyun maan hee maan mein khush bhi hua ki ab usse mulakatein bhi hongi. Function main hee Collector hunn yeh dekh ke kitani pareshan hoo gaye thi Anandi. Function mein naachte hue Anandi kitani acchi dekh rahe thi main aapne aapko sambhal ne ki koshish kar raha tha. Aur phir Dadisa se mulakat hue. Unke kehne pe main mela dekhne gaya Anandi ke sath.
Aur phir humara milana takriban roz hone laga. Ek dusare ke sath kaam karte karte takraar bhi hue humari. Anandi aapne baat ko kitani aamtmavishwas ke sath rakhte thi. Uska yeh confidence mujhe pasand aane laga. Takraar ke baad dheere dheere mujhe ihsaas hone laga ki yeh ladki aur ladkiyon se alag hain. Anandi mujhe khadus smajhti thi. Mera dil mere dimaag pe haave na hoo iss liye main issa kar raha tha. Anandi ki taraf main khincha jaa raha tha. Heth Singh ne jab mujhe bataya ki Anandi shaadi shuda hain tab mujhe bahot sadma laga. Aur usse bhi jayda yeh sunke uske pati ne chod bhi diya yeh jaanke. Anandi shaadi shuda thi'yeh jaankar thoda dukh hua lekin usse jayda itani acchi ladki ko chod ke koi kaise jaa sakata hain. Phir ek BalVivha ko rokne ke liye Anandi akeli chali gaye tab mujhe yeh pehali baar ihsaas hua ki main uski fikar karne laga hunn. Uss din main wahan nahi poochnta toh''Shiv gets up from chair.
Uss din ke baarien main soochna bhi nahi chahata. Aur phir Anandi ka Bal Vivha hua tha yeh kadava sach samane aana. Mujhe bahot bada dhakka laga. Anandi ne kitana dard apane ander chupaya tha yeh samjh mein aaya. Main kuch nahi kar sakta tha. Ashima ka main zindagi bhar ihsanmand rahunga uske aane se hee meri dil ke ander dabi hue baat bahar aaye. Main jaane anjane Anandi ko apani patni apani jeevensathi ke roop mein dekhne laga tha.
Jab mere janamdin pe Aanndi ko pehali baar sari mein dekh toh bass dekhta hee reh gaya. Soocha aaj main aapane dil ki baat kehke rahunga usse. Dara hua tha ander se'..lekin Dadisa mujhe se bhi aage thi. Unhone khud mujhse Shaadi ke baat ki. Main hairaan hoo gaya lekin main haasi khushi haan ki. Lekin Anandi bura maan gaye usse laga main aur Ashima'..Shiv nodded his head. Kitani naaraz hue thi mujhe se Anandi. Main bhi pareshan hoo gaya. Kis tarah Anandi ko samjhun yeh soochke. Lekin kudrat kuch aur hee manzoor tha. Anandi ka Maa ka achanak gujar jana. Aur usse ke baad mujhse shaadi karne ke liye uska achanak haan kehna. Bahot kuch jaldi jaldi mein hua.
Lekin iss sab mein Dadu Mom Dad ne meri pasand ko manzoori dee. Anandi ka past janate hue bhi'haan Choti Maa naaraz thi lekin jald hee woh bhi maan gaye. Humari sagai hue. Anandi phir bhi mujhe thodi bujhi bujhi se lagi''.waqt ke sath sab thik hoga yeh main janta tha. Uske baad Jagdish ka wapass aana sabse maafi mangna aur mere aur Anandi ke beech kadavahat gholne ki koshish karna bahot kuch hua. Lekin iss sab mein Anandi aur meri dosti hue aur sabse jayada mera uss par uska mere upper bharosa din ba din badhane laga. Aur maine ek bahot badi galati ki bina Anandi se bina pooche hum dono rishta''accha hua Anandi ne mujhe dant lagaye. Anandi kitani naraaz hue thi mujhese pehale baar usske dil mere liye kya bhavana hain yeh maine jaana.
Aur phir'..humari shaadi ki taiyaari suru hue. Diwali mein Anandi aur main thoda aur kareeb aaye ek dusareke. Mujhe dheere lagane laga ki Anandi ab mere aur kareeb aa rahe hain. Shaadi ki rasame suru hue Haldi hue ...phir...railway tender ki gadbadi. Anandi mere sath mere peeche daatke khadi hue thi. Usska mere upper vishwas dekhke main khud aachraj mein tha. Mujhe chudane ki koshish mein woh jut gaye...aur phir...sach samane aa hee gaya. Main aur Aanndi Jagdish uss karname ko bura hadasa samjhe ke chod diya. Ab Shaadi ki rasam mein phir se suru hue Mehendi...mujhe bhi lagani padi...
Sangeet ki raat aaye. Anandi ki saheliya aur meri pyari saliyon ne mera kaafi mazak udaya. Maine bahot enjoy kiya. Aur phir Anandi mere samane aaye'sach'..'..bass pal wahin ruk gaya tham gaya. Anandi ke pariwaar ne'..Anandi ko aur mujhe accha surprise diya. Aur Sanchi ne''well''maza aa hee raha tha ki'Dadisa ko chakkar aaya. Jagdish ki chinta mein who ander hee ander khaa rahe thi. Mujhe bura laga Anandi ki zindagi mein jinki wajahse khushiyan aaye wohi dukhi hain. Main Jagdish ko wapass lee aaya. Main yeh sab kuch iss liye kiya kyunki main janata tha Anandi aapne pariwaar ke liye bahot fikarmand rahegi. Jis pariwaar ne usse unke khudke bte jayda pyar diya sambhala padhya likhaya'..duniya se ladhana sikhaya. Unke liye Anandi kuch karna chahati thi. Main Anandi ki taraf se yeh sab kiya uska honewala pati ke naate.
Finally who din aa hee gaya Humari shaadi''meri zindagi ka sabse khass din. Sab kuch jaise sapane jaisa tha. Laal jode mein Anandi kitani khubsurat dekh rahe thi. Shaadi rasamo riwaazon ke sath hue Anandi ab Mrs Anandi Shivraj Shekhar ban gaye. Mera naam uske naam ke sath hamesha ke liye jud gaya'.. phir bidaai bhi. Anandi ka rota hua chehra mujhe aaj bhi yaad hain.Hum Kesar Bhag mein aaye'..sari rasame nibhaye shaadi ke baad ki.Anandi se milke sab khush hue. Aur ab humari SR jahan hum dono akele''..
Shaadi aur baki sab main main khud bhool gaya ki Anandi mere sath'''..well'..uss din thak gaye thi issa soochke main bhi chup raha. Thoda naaraz tha lekin'.main sambhala apane aapko. Dusare din Anandi se main dil ki baat kahi'.'..mere dil haal bhi bataya'''.uss waqt mujhe uske chehare pe kuch dar dekha lekin'.main samjh nahi paya.Main khud bhi aapni hee dhun mein tha. Raat ko maine taiyaari ki''.lekin Aanndi study mein akele soo rahe thi. Mujhe samjh mein nahi aaya'..jab maine usse uthake bedroom lee aaya tab pata chala ki Anandi sone dekhava kar rahe hain. Aur main samjh gaya ki Aanndi iss sabke liye abhi taiyar nahi hain. Main bhi itani badi baat kaise bhool gaya'mujhe usse baat karni chiyeh thi iss baarein mein. Lekin Anandi ne bhi mujhse baat nahi ki. Maine than lee usse baat nikalke rahunga. Wahi hua jab hum dono akele the tab maine usse dil ki kehne pe majboor kiya. Anandi roo rahe thi''.main usse samjhaya. Wada bhi kiya jab tak who khud apane aap mere tarah age nahi badhegi tab tak main usse dur rahunga. Mere liye bahot mushkil tha'..lekin Anandi ke liye karna pada'.humare rishte ke liye. Aur kahin na kahin mujhe yakeen tha ki ek din mera yeh sabra Anandi ko mere kareeb layega.
Wahi hua''Jeaitsar jane ke baad'jab pata chala Jagdish phirse bhag gaya hain. Tab Anandi pareshan hue pariwar ko lekar''apana sara dukh mujhese baanta'.pehali baar mujhe gale lagake. Mujhe samjh mein anhi aaya ki main kya karu.Pehale baar Anandi mere kareeb thi. Phir Anandi mere kisna kisi bahane mere kareeb aane ki koshish karne lagi. Hum Jagdish ko wapss ghar lee aaye. Anandi ke liye Jagdish se jayda pariwaar imp tha. Mere liye Anandi. Jes pariwaar ne mujhe mere zindagi se milvaya unke liye mujhe itana toh karna hee tha.
Ab dheere Anandi mere kareeb aane lagi. Ganga ke bete ko chudwani ki koshish main jab nakamyab raha tab usse mujhe bahot sambhala. Raat bhar mere pass baithe rahe. Anandi ki aankhon mein mere liye fikar dekhye dene lage. Uski aankhon mein main ab ek ajeebsi chamak dekhye dee rahe thi. Aur ek din achanak Anandi mere office mein khaana leke aaye usse dkhe ke main samjh gaya... ...Shiv smiled while remembering that scene''Anandi ki aankhon mein saaf dekhaye de raha tha ki who mujhese kuch kehna chahati hain. Kya yeh bhi main samjh gaya tha lekin chahata tha ki woh khud kahe. Lekin bhagwan ko kuch aur manzoor tha. Shaadi ke baad pehali baar hum dono juda hue mere kaam ki wajah se. Bahot miss kiya miane usse...Anandi ki awaaz se laga ki ussne mujhe mujhese jayada miss kiya. Ab bass usse milane ke der thi. Agale din aachanak uske samane aake maine usse hairaan kar diya. Anandi ki aankhone mujhe sab kuch bata diya...woh mujhe gale lagana chahati thi lekin sabke samane sharama gaye. Lekin humari baat aadhuri reh gaye.
Anandi aapne techer jee ke function mein gaye aur bahot bada karnama karke laut aaye. Mere nazar mein usske prati aadar aur badh gaya aur pyar bhi...lekin mere transfer ki khabar ne mujhe ulljhan mein daal diya. Anandi ko yeh baat baki sabse pata chali aur woh naaraaz hoo gaye. Lekin main janta tha ki woh mujhe jayada der tak naraaz nahi rah sakati thi. Anandi ne iss baat ko khushi sweekar kiya. Anandi ka pariwaar dukhi hua suru mein yeh jaanke lekin sabne humme samjh liya.
Inn sab mein Anandi mujhe ek aanokha surprise diya. Joh maine soocha bhi nahi. Anandi mujhe usse jagah lee gaye jahan hum pehali baar mile. Main samjhe gaya ki Anandi mujse kya kehna chahati hain.Usse asani hoo iss liye main khud usse phir se ek baar I love you kaha. Aur wahin khule aasaman ke neeche paani ke ander Anandi ne mujhe se aapne pyar ka izhaar kiya. Uska yeh roop main kabse dekhne ke liye taras raha tha. Apani sari sharam chodke poore haq se woh mere kareb thi. Uski aankhon mein aapne liye pyar dekha paa raha tha main...mere bahot kareeb thi Anandi.Uski dil ki har dhakan mujhse yehi keh rahe thi ki Anandi mujhse pyar karti hain. Bahot pyar...
Lekin phir bhi hum dono ek dusare se dur hee the. Jeitsar walon ne humme pyarse vida kiya. Jagdish bhi dusari shaadi ke liye taiyaar hoo gaya. Hum sab Kesar Bhag aaye. Dusare Din holi thi. Anandi ka ek naya hee ropp dekha maine...khilkhilati...natkhat...chulbuli...Anandi. Joh waqt ke sath kahin khoo gaye thi. Bhanag ke nashe mein uska khule dil se sabke samane mujhse pyar ka izhaar karna. Mujhe accha laga uska yeh naya roop.Anandi yahan Udiapur mein aapne aapko dhalne ki koshish karne lage. Mujhe kya pasand hain isska khayal rakhne lagi. Lekin ek crsis situation mein mera aur Anandi ke beech pehale baar choti se takraar hue. Main Anandi pe chillaya. Aaj bhi mujhe iska dukh hain. Anandi meri baaton se udass hoo gaye. Main janta tha ki Anandi apane aapko saza degi...
Maine usse HM ka surprise diya woh bhi Kashmir mein. Anandi ki khushi saaf jhalak rahe thi uski aankhon se uski muskurahat se. Aur hum Kashmir ke liye liye ravana hue. Anandi ek choti bachhi ki tarah excited thi. Kashmir mein ab bass hum dono aur koi nahi.
Shiv smile remembering about his HM. They saw all famous places Gardens, tasted authentic Kashmiri food too. Anandi does shopping for family Shiv happily carried all bags. But among this entire stuff most important thing happen which brings them together forever. Finally Anandi shed all her insecurity & hurdle. Aakhirkar Anandi aur main sahi mayano mein pati patni ban gaye. Sach''aaj bhi soochta hunn toh''Shiv said. Anandi aur mere jeevan ka ek naya chapter suru hua jis mein pyar tha vishwas tha aur dher sari khushiyan thi. Anandi ne zindagi mein bahot saha hain dekha hain lekin aaj usse jab haaske khushiyon ko gale lagate hue dekhata hunn toh sukun mehsoos hota hain. Anandi ne meri zindagi mein rang bhar diye. Apane shaant swabhavse usne mere pariwar man jeet liya. Aur main'..main toh kabka'..uska hoo chukka hunn Shiv said.
Sir'meeting ka waqt hoo gaya hain Sridhar enter in cabin. Shiv comes out of trance.
Yah chalo'..Shiv left cabin.
In evening Shiv is driving towards his home.
Aaj Anandi ko leke kahin bahar chalta hunn. Ghoomana bhi hoo jayega aur dinner bhi karenge he mutters himself.
He comes inside KB.
Anandi''he shouted her name. He looked around'.no one is there. Anandi'..arre koi nahi hain. Nathu' Mom'.Choti Ma'..arre'..jara upper jake dekhta hunn. He climbed staircase march towards his bedroom.
Anandi he said while entering bedroom.
Yahan bhi nahi''.gaye kahan''Anandi''he looked around. Phone karta hunn. Gaye kahan yeh maine kaha tha ki main jaldi aaunga aaj'.he dail her number.
Anandi tum kahan hoo'main ghar poonch chukka hunn'.. yahi hoo''.. matlab mujhe dekhaye kyun nahi dee rahe hoo'''...he look around'..Anandi'.Shiv said.
Shiv''.Main yahan hunn Aanndi is standing behind him.
Oh'.he looked at her. Anandi wore beautiful blue sari with elegant matching jewelry. Her face is beaming with new bride glow & most importantly her smile.
Anandi'..he hugged her tightly''''kahan thi tum he said while hugging.
Aapke moohse aapana naam sun rahe thi'''.aapke peeche peeche'.she said softly while buried her face.
Accha'he broke hug.
Haan accha lag raha tha sunne mein aapna hee naam''
Btw ghar mein itani shaanti''.Shiv asked.
Jee Sanchi sehaliyon ke sath movie gaye hain. Mahi bhiaya cricket match ki practice mein. Aur baki sab Papa ke dost ke ghar gaye hain. Unhonne bulaya tha aaj...Aur main aapa intezaar.
Accha''he smirked. Kya bahana banaya yahan rukne le liye he teased her.
Bilkul nahi'..Choti maa ko sach bataya Anandi told.
What???? Really...he was surprised.
Anandi laughed...aapko meri phooli hue naak naazar nahi aa rahe Shiv.
Shiv laughed...Anandi joined him too.
I Love you'.both said simultaneously. Both looked at each other & hugged.
By ananthesh
I was born to a lovely couple, in the end of june as summer dies, in an Udaipur clinic, emerging out of the darkness which secured me, into a new inviting world. I was a very chubby boy, I remember being embarrassed when my near and dear ones used to pull my cheeks adoringly. My mom used to say that i always befriended girls faster than boys in my pre-primary days . As I grew up I was very much into studies, I became shy towards girls, and avoided them. I was a nerd till the age of 14, wearing outsized specs which made my tiny eyes look out of shape. As I entered my late teens I got interested in fashion trends and accessories, which I started to follow as well. I really admired the knights costumes in movies those days, unknowing that one day I would become a knight myself, for a damsel in distress. I've taken part in elocutions in school and won prizes too. My teachers have appreciated my speech skills and said I may become a great politician one day, not knowing what my future has in store for me.
In my college days I was quite an eye catcher, girls always liked to approach me, talk to me etc, which I neither felt good nor bad, but i have never had crush on anyone as it was very tough for me to be impressed with a girl, eventhough i had lot of girl friends in London , but never had a girlfriend where I was pursuing my post graduation, Ashima was the best among them. And the end of my studies approached, i had acheived distinction in my college too, and atlast i was glad to return to my homeland back.
When my father was intending to put me in our family business, I surprised him by entering civil service. Two years later I was an IAS officer. Within 6 months I got transferred to a new district, which has been taking baby steps into a district from a small village.
I collected lots of information on the place through newspapers and government records, as a result I found about Jaitsar and its "Sarpanch" Anandi Singh. I didn't knew that she would one day become my life.
I remember very well, how Unknowingly I ended up with my ANANDI, on my way to Jaitsar. First, I thought I was just saving a girl who was in trouble, but I never knew I was meeting my destiny there. She was a mystery to me at first, but I slowly unravelled the mystery surrounding her and when I recognized her I couldn't help but admire her for what she was. I understood that I have confronted a beautiful girl who has suffered since her childhood, but always pure at heart, never gave up the spirit in her, always sacrificed for others and who had all the qualities and full potential of my dream girl.
The days passed along with our verbal fights, and I sensed that I've started to like her.
I've faced many tiffs, compromising consequences but never let my principles down, and when a day came where I was left confused how to deal the tough villagers, There she stood beside me like an angel and single handedly solved the issue brilliantly. And for the first time in my life a girl impressed me , her smartness, composed nature drew me to her like a magnet. When she fell in danger the next time with gunmen in toe, I became her savior again. I also came to know of her painful past, and I admiringly saluted her.
As my birthday approached, I got the shock of my life, when Dadiji kept the marriage proposal in front of me, and I was dumbstruck. Daadiji was a surprise package, as I've always wondered how an old village lady such as her can be more mature and modern in thinking. I was elated at her proposal and accepted it with teary eyes. But fate had other plans, Anandi's painful past never let her go, and she was not able to move ahead in life. I slowly made her feel at ease, wiped her tears and gave her the much needed love, which she very well deserved. And finally, she fell in love with me and confessed her love, whispered the magical words which i was yearning to hear from her., . I was overwhelmed to receive her love which was as pure as a raindrop. """
PRESENT---- Shiv came out of his reverie as he was Immersed in thoughts about Anandi with her picture in hand. It has been three days sinc Anandi went missing. He hadn't slept well since then. Shiv's felt empty and lifeless without Anandi.
- Anandi woke with a start when she heard a crashing sound outside. It has been a fortnight since she has been locked up in a deserted building, Anandi didn't have a clue of where she was, or why she has been kidnapped. She turned around to sense what was happening around her, trying to catch the noises around ,
she could hear footsteps, whispering voices but was not able to understand what they were discussing about , as it was an unknown language. She noticed a girl in a Kashmiri dress come in as it was a routine that the girl would come in to give food to her..
"Go on, eat this, she removed the knots and relieved her off from the rope which had tied her to a chair. She gave a plate with two rotis and a curry. After five minutes Anandi found herself again tied. She had been trying to untie the knot that bound her hands for several days, but it turned out to be very difficult as she was weak, after a lot of effort, on the fifth day she found a small blade over the corner of the room. She noticed it when the food was served to her. In another hour, after a lot of strain she moved the chair she was sitting in towards the blade, she bent downwards, moved her foot a little and carefully picked it up clutched in between her toe fingers, after a lot of effort she finally freed her hands. The next step was easy, she removed the cloth covering her legs and mouth too. Anandi slowly went near the door and tried to catch voices or any kind of sounds, she then tried to push the door hard but it was impossible as they had locked the room from outside and the wooden door was as strong as a rock. she thought fast and searched for any other way to escape out of the room, but the room seemed spotless, but only for a small ventilator on top of the room. It had been covered with grill and glass. Anandi took the chair she was sitting in and looked through the gap and found as small room which was full of utensils, it was a kitchen.
After what seemed like a day, Anandi heard a deep hoarse voice sounding as though ordering someone and when she climbed the chair to look who it was, she froze in shock, as she saw Shiv hugging the young girl, who was serving her food everyday. Anandi felt herself going numb in pain. "Oh, Shiv, how could you?"
"How can you betray your Anandi?"
Anandi's eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't believe Shiv could do this to her, How could he?" But Anandi looked at him intently, he can't be my Shiv, shiv doesn't have a beard or a moustache. Anandi heard him speak to that girl, his voice is hoarse, not like Shiv's husky tone. Anandi was astounded on seeing a lookalike of Shiv. Are my eyes under a spell, he's just like Shiv, but, no there are slight differences.
The next two days she was pretending to be bound by the ropes, ,but when the girl came, anandi asked her why was she kept here and who was behind all this.
The girl stared at Anandi, and said,
"Listen, we've to keep you locked up, i dont know why, we just got the orders. Dont shout"
Anandi: "Who is giving you orders, who are they"? Anandi's voice rising in anger.
"You're crossing your limits, Iam not allowed to and I won't have to answer you", That girl said dangerously and left. Anandi had to bide her time and wait for her savior to come and save her as usual.
Shiv on the other hand, was searching for Anandi everywhere and he had been trying through all the means with the help of police.
When Shiv came back after bringing the ointment for the knee wound from the car, he found out that she has been disappeared without a trace. But only hope was a sim card that had been lying a few metres away where they found the foot trails. After that set of foot prints there was no trace of footsteps anywhere. The police informed that it was an old simcard which was not in use at present. But they found the owner of the sim card and came to know that he was a gunda, but has gone missing now.
Shiv's heart fell, he saw a slight ray of hope with that clue, but that wasn't of any use now.
Days passed, it has been a fortnight since Anandi was missing, when finally one day, the police gave good news, that they've found the present address of that sim card owner. Shiv along with a big police force went to that place.
It was a small one storey building, but when they got the wind, that police have surrounded them, they tried to run through the backside trapdoor. But Shiv who had sprinted slowly inside without noise, caught a man at the right moment before he escaped, by shooting his leg with a gun in hand.
He was hospitalised and in two days time, he was brought back to police custody. After four hours of investigation by the policemen, he spilled the truth. Anandi who had been waiting for Shiv that day after the Skiing, She had witnessed a murder of a minister,once the murderers saw Anandi , they instantly tried to kill her. But Anandi put up a great fight, but she wasn't successful against five men.
Shiv who was listening to all this, felt his heart bleed with pain at the thought of suffering his wife would've gone through. The man continued, but since they were against killing women they took her and kept her like a hostage. And once they came to know who she was, they had better plans for her. Shiv asked what were the other plans, but he said he didnt know anything, and he wasn't having any information on the present whereabouts of Anandi and her kidnappers. He fainted at last, as the injury had caused him a lot of blood loss.
Now, again Shiv was left without a clue where to start again.
After two days, Shiv got a call from a stranger, that Anandi might be in a particular place and with certain people, but he didn't disclose his details and disconnected the phone, when police traced the call, it was from a local Phone booth. But shiv along with the police force left to that place immediately.
Anandi was terrified one day, when a guy entered her room with food in hand, instead of the usual girl, he was the man who looked like Shiv, he stared at Anandi with an odd expression on his face. Anandi's heart was thumping fast in fear. He walked towards her, Anandi who had her eyes closed could sense her temperature rising up as he scanned her appearance top to bottom.
Then suddenly he had his hands on Anandi making her squirm in discomfort and disgust. She screamed at the top her voice, when an old woman hurried inside looking worried. she saved Anandi on time from that Him who seemed to be her son,That elderly woman consoled Anandi apologetically.
Anandi cried throughout the night, She was left to ponder how she's going to get out of this mess. And prayed to god to send her Shiv for her rescue.
And it seems god heard her prayers, as Shiv was on his way to save Anandi. But Anandi who was growing restless to get away from there, found a loophole one dayto escape when the girl who used to serve food, had left the door open. Anandi took the chance and left that room in a blink of an eye. She sprinted through the deserted passage swiftly, but Anandi was very weak and couldn't continue running. At that moment she came across another room and inside the room there was a trapdoor on the floor leading to an underground passage. Anandi had seen the girl get in through this passage many a times. So she was confident enough that it would lead her outside this building. Anandi went inside the room , lifted the trapdoor and got into it, which was filled with darkness, rats and owls. Anandi was unperturbed by it, as she had other worries troubling her. She wanted to escape as soon as possible from there.
Anandi held on to her half torn Saree and ran for her life.
Shiv who had reached the deserted building, wanted to confirm whether its the same place as there was nobody seen around. A man who was staying in the next village had confirmed about the truth of the inmates of the building. Shiv and team rounded up the building and were thinking of ways to get inside, when Shiv took the lead and entered the building's back door. No trace was visible inside and Shiv checked for any secret passages. He found a tiny hole on the side wall of the Kitchen. He entered it and went quickly through with a torch in hand. When he had been walking inside for a few minutes, he heard footsteps from the opposite side. He grew cautious. He switched off his torch and slowed down his pace too.
On the other end, Anandi was holding on to her life and walked through, after a few minutes she heard a Shoe sound against the cold stone floor inside that underground. She held her breath and tried to turn around as the noise was coming from the other end of the tunnel. But in all this, Anandi did not notice another figure following behind her with bare foot. As Anandi turned around to go back when someone closed her mouth from behind. It was Shiv. When Anandi clutched his hands in an attempt to release herself, she recognized the engagement ring. Shiv whispered, "Anandi,it's me" and
Anandi couldn't believe her ears, she turned around to see shiv looking at her emotionally. He whispered, "There was another man following you.""so, I had to warn you without making noise.",
He looked at her torn dress, he took his overcoat and covered her, and asked in a thick voice , "How are you, dear?"
Anandi: "Oh, shiv"
Anandi hugged him with tears flowing down her cheeks, they broke apart after what seemed like ages.
Shiv gestured Anandi to stand behind him, while he went to deal with the men who was trailing her. He fell down unconscious after a few punches from Shiv. Ansh hurried towards the police men and ordered to roundup the whole building and arrest each and every inmate of the building.
Anandi and shiv returned home in the next three days, after enjoying the rest of their honeymoon peacefully.
Anupamaa
