Anjali along with her new found family went to a new house. Varad had called some of his contacts and arranged for an intermediate place to stay. They left there immediately. It had been a week since all of them walked out. Anjali had gone to Sojal's house and she had explained everything that had happened to Sojal's mother.
"I understand if you don't want to get Sojal married to Varad now." She had finished in an uncertain tone. But Sojal and her parents were even more determined to make this work. Sojal's father spoke to Anjali.
"We didn't know you were this brave. To actually take in so much even for the sake of loved ones is very brave. I would be touched if my daughter got married and became your daughter in law. And today I am even more proud of my two sons." He beamed at Varad and Shlok.
Sojal's father was silent for a moment and then he looked at all of them "But what about Niranjan?" He couldn't help asking since Niranjan was after all his friend.
Shlok replied in anger "What is there to say? Let him stay alone. He does not deserve us or our love." Varad didn't say anything else but Anjali's face slightly turned sad. It was fleeting for Shlok to notice but Nitin saw that. He asked Shlok to think rationally and not act in haste.
"Shlok beta, you must be calm. I understand what Niranjan did was not right but you cannot condemn him like that. Now more than ever you have to help him." Immediately Anjali looked hopefully at Shlok.
"I don't think he deserves any help uncle. Look what he did to Ayi. And all these years."
"I know. But has he ever been a bad father to you or Varad? Has he ever skipped his duty towards Anjali as a wife?"
"Uncle, are you supporting that man?" Shlok refused to even think of Niranjan as his father. His temper was starting to flare again. With Shlok it was always like that. Extreme love or extreme hate. There was no other way for him.
Anjali interrupted the conversation "Shlok, I think he is right. Your father has a problem and it was partly my fault for not speaking out and seeking help. Else things may not have got out of control. I realize that now."
"So what do you want to do? Go back to that low life?" Shlok sprang up in anger. Varad immediately went to Shlok and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Shlok, calm down first. I too think there's some sense in what they are speaking."
"What? Now you too are supporting Niranjan Agnihotri?"
Varad shook his head. "No, I am not supporting anyone but as a son I just want to help my father. Shlok, you must think dispassionately for a moment. He clearly has a problem and he needs help. And I feel we should stand by as family and help him out."
Anjali took Varad's hand in hers and gave him a grateful and tearful smile "I am so proud of you today Varad. I feel really lucky that I have a son who's like this. Sojal is very lucky to get a husband like you." She cupped his cheek, full of love.
In the one week both her sons saw lot of changes in Anjali. She had stopped trying to catch up with everything. At last she seemed to go back to her old self. She was calmer, she expressed love freely and was truly in good terms with her daughter in law. They all saw the Anjali that she had been before becoming an Agnihotri bahu.
"Speaking of which, where is my bahu?" Anjali was asking for Sojal. Right on cue Sojal and Astha came out of Sojal's room. They were smiling when they saw all of them in the living room. Sojal had got the entire update from Astha and she gave a shy smile to Varad, who returned her smile tentatively.
All of them spoke for some more time and had tea. The Agnihotris then proceeded to leave. Sojal had gone upstairs just then and Varad went in search of her. He knocked and entered when she asked him to come in.
Sojal was coming out of the rest room and was surprised to see Varad in her room. "Aap?"
Varad spoke in a hesitant tone at Sojal. "Sojal, I hope Astha updated everything to you. Now we three have come out and are living in a rented place. I don't have the Agnihotri tag with me anymore. Do you still want me? I am just an ordinary person now. Maybe you will get someone better suited.."
Even before he could finish, Sojal ran to him and placed her fingers on his mouth. "I want you. Not your name or your wealth. Don't ever say this again." Then she realized what she had said and snatched her fingers back. Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. Maybe she had been too forward she thought.
Varad cupped her face in both his hands and kissed her forehead. He then placed a soft kiss on her lips and went out of her room quietly. Sojal stood there in her room with shock written on her pretty face. She didn't know whether she had been dreaming. At last her dreams were coming true. Her first love and her only love succeeded. Sojal floated in ecstasy. She felt happy and emotional tears were flowing down her face. With a prayer of thanks Sojal went down to her parents.
Things proceeded quickly from then on. The very next day Nitin had fixed a date for the wedding. Two weeks from then, both the families had settled on the date. The elders got into the arrangements as quickly as possible while Shlok had just got selected as a Vice President of a software firm. He decided to join after the wedding.
Astha too was applying for her MBA in various universities. She now decided to continue with her studies with her mother in law's blessings. Their bond had become strong and unshakable. Astha's parents had been extremely proud of their daughter. They had welcomed her family with open arms and had stood by them during the difficult period.
All was well. Yet Anjali felt something amiss. She wanted to know what her husband was up to. Nitin's words were still echoing in her ears. Had she been hasty in walking out? Should she have stayed back and sought therapy or help? Anjali was confused and could not come to a clear decision. She decided to sleep on it and speak to Varad. Anjali trusted her elder son to take the right decision.
With that decided, Anjali sat back in the couch and enjoyed the solitude and peace that had filtered into her new life.
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