PART 30
It is wednesday evening; Anmol had been going to his meetings in the morning and in the evening, they would go out and see places. They were both getting ready for a party organized by the hotel crew in their lounge for honeymoon couples. Ragini wore that maroon sari that Anmol bought for her the other day while Anmol wore that maroon shirt to match Ragini's outfit. Anmol got ready and turned around to see Ragini looking gorgeous in that attire. Her light makeup, straightened hair toward one side and exposing her bare back; this could make any man feel weak in his knees. Anmol signalled her to walk ahead as he followed her. They walked out of the hotel and headed to the separate lounge area which was 2 minute away from the actual hotel building. Anmol held out his right hand to Ragini and she smilingly held it with her left hand and they walked inside together looking like perfect couple. They sat down and enjoyed their refreshments and had dinner while enjoying the evening when after a shortwhile dance floor was made accessible to the couples. Everyone got up and seeing this Anmol also got up from his chair and bent down a little to propose Ragini for a dance.
Anmol: May I have the pleasure of having a dance with such a beautiful lady?
He was gazing at her with huge smile also hoping at the same time that she would agree to his offer. Ragini blushed and nodded saying yes and held his hand as they slowly approached the dance floor. Ishq ke Imtihaan playing at the background; Anmol placed one hand on Ragini's waist and held Ragini's hand with the other. More than dancing, he was just pre-occupied looking at Ragini and admiring her beauty. Ragini had lowered her neck but had a blushing smile on her face. Once in a while, he would spin her; they were both engrossed in their dance when finally the applaud broke their attention. The couples headed back to their tables and the host came on stage to announce the last segment of the party.
Announcer: Hello ladies and gentlemen; I am sure you all are having a great time. Now time for little fun exercise. We have your table numbers written on paper slips in this box we will randomly choose 3 numbers and those couples sitting on those tables will have to do participate in the game BUT only ladies. So, the lady sitting on that table will have to come up here and confess love for her partner and we did this on purpose for ladies as men can easily do this but its little challenging for ladies. So, ladies are you ready and please don't feel shy! Allright so lets get started, first no is 43!
It was a white woman who had married recently and confessed love of everyone. One more lady participated and it was time for the last number of the night.
Announcer: And now ladies and gentlemen, the last lucky number for the night and it is 27!! Please come up!
Ragini's face turned pale after hearing the number 27; Anmol was equally shocked but deep down inside he was happy and was curious to see if Ragini would confess her love today and will do it in front of everyone. Ragini looked at Anmol and looked around as everyone was waiting for her to go on the stage. She slowly walked upto the stage while flashes of Anmol played in her mind; she recalled every single moment she spent with Anmol- the night at Kanpur, the night of karwachauth when she hugged him fearing that she had lost him, their second marriage, the night when Anmol confessed his love to her, when he asked her to accompany him for lunch date, their dance practices; how he stood by her everytime she faced any problem at home; how he proved to be perfect father for Tammy and perfect husband and son- doing everything without expecting anything back. She was standing on stage and it was all dark in the hall and the limelight was only on Ragini; she held mike with her trembling hands as she was about to say something that she didn't even tell herself or hinted to Anmol and now she was in the position to confess her love in front of people but she had one satisfaction that they were all strangers; not someone from their family or friends.
Ragini: Umm... mujhe samaj main nahi aa raha ki main kahan se shuru karoon; jo baat main aaj kehne jaa rahi hoon shayad aaj bhi naa kehti agar aise halaat nahi hote par iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki main mazboori main yeh sabh keh rahi hoon. Main jo bhi kehne jaa rahi hoon voh aisi baatein jo maine pichle saat saalon se naahi apne aap se kahin aur naahi aapse Anmol. Ek tarah se acha hi hai ki aaj aisa mauka mil gaya warna shayad aaj bhi nahi keh paati. Aap jaante hain Anmol, maine kabhi aapko aapke naam se nahi pukaara kyunki aapke naam se bahut puraani yaadein judi huyi hain. Mera pehla pyaar Anmol hi tha; Ranvir se milne se pehle, usne mujhe apna naam Anmol hi bataaya tha aur aaj kismat dekhiye ki meri zindagi main aap aaye aur bhi Anmol. Aap wakya hi Anmol hain; pichle saat saalon se aapne mera saath diya begair kisi umeed ke, tammy ke liye aap uske papa bane, gharke liye aapne kya nahi kya, mummy aur papa ji ke liye aap unke Ranvir bane. Aapne yeh sabh faraz nibhaye par maine kabhi bhi apko pati ka hakk nahi diya aur aapne hamesha mere is faisle ki izzat ki par pichle kuch mahino se dil main ek ajeeb si uljhan hai- voh kya cheez thi jisne mujhe us din karwachauth ki raat par aapse gale lagne par majboor kiya, kyun mujhe vohi dar mehsoos huya aap ko kho dene ka jo main Ranvir ko khote samey mehsoos kiya, kyun mujhe bura laga jab yeh jana Shivani aapse pyaar karti hai, kyun apko divorce dete samey mere dil main dard huya, jab aap hospital main the main hi jaanti hoon main kaise us daur se guzri; dil main vahi dar baith gaya ki jaise mujhse koi cheez choot rahi hai, koi apna mere se door jaa raha hai...in sabh baaton ka jawaab to shayad kab ka mere saamne tha par shayad main hi use nazar andaaz kar rahi thi yaan phir jaan kar bhi anjaan ban rahi thi. Jo bhi main mehsoos kar rahi hoon pichle kuch mahino se, maine jaan liya ki voh aur kuch nahi balki pyaar hai; haan Anmol voh pyaar jiski maine umeed chod di thi par aaj is dil main phir se pyaar jaaga hai. Mera pehla pyaar Anmol tha aur aaj bhi mera pyaar Anmol hai- haan Anmol voh aap hain; mera aaj bhi aap hain aur mera aane wala kal bhi aap- I love you Anmol.
Ragini stood there with tears in her eyes but her heart felt content after she confessed her love. There was pin drop silence in the hall and shortly the lights went on and the audience applauded. Ragini saw Anmol standing there with tears in his eyes but before she could walk upto him, he walked away from there.
STAY TUNED!
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
Kumkum Bhagya
