Chapter Seventeen

K-Shandra

@K-Shandra

Anurag moved around her room, glancing over everything as he waited for her. With the door partially opened, he ensured that he remained out of the line of sight of any possible passer by. His gaze landed on the payal he had gifted her. He moved to pick it up and smiled at the memory of how it would chime to announce his love, whenever she moved. A sense of excitement filled him at the thought of meeting her, something that had seemed missing earlier. Although the minutes he waited seemed like hours, he knew she would be there soon. It was her room after all.

He placed the payal back on the dressing table. Then he felt her. His breath caught and his heart sped, a feeling he always associated with Prerna’s presence. Instantly he turned towards the door, moments before she entered and turned to close it.

He moved, whispering her name, and watched as she instantly turned to face him, her shock evident. Before she could place any distance between them, before she could allow any awkwardness to fill the moment, before she even had the opportunity to question his presence there, he pulled her into an embrace and absorbed the soothing balm her presence and proximity always provided him.  

 “Anurag?”She questioned against his chest, moments before he felt her back stiffen and she start to resist his embrace.

“Shh, Prerna. Please don’t fight me, just let me hold you.” He whispered against her hair, “I’ve missed this.” He felt her again relax against him and tightened his hold on her. It was such moments that made everything tolerable. Moments when everything and anything they faced became inconsequential and the only thing that mattered was them. He closed his eyes and soaked up the warming sensations that slowly spread throughout his body.

  He felt her shudder, an action that startled him and caused him to pull back slightly to look at her. Tears? Her tears always distressed him. He moved to wipe them,asking “What happened?”

But before he could wipe her tears she pulled back and then held up her hands. Her palms turning upwards for a moment, before her shoulders drooped and her hands again lowered. She visibly swallowed and then shook her head.

Anurag stepped forward and again drew her into an embrace,gently asking, “Did you think I would let you go that easily? You promised me and I intend to kept you to that promise.”

Prerna for a moment softened against him and he thanked the gods for that, knowing they had a lot to work through. A calm and agreeable Prerna would be more willing to listen to reason. He needed that from her. But just as he too relaxed into the moment, he felt her back again stiffen and immediately knew that the moment had come to an end. He would undoubtedly face her argumentative side.

She pulled back, but not entirely out of his embrace. Her confused expression had him immediately hesitate. It was obvious enough that she would not lay-into him for being there, but he had no idea as to what was on her mind. When her hesitation stretched for a moment too long,he asked, “What happened?”

Visibly confused, she asked, “You remembered?”Adding a moment later, “When?”

Anurag drew in a deep breath and released his hold,instantly regretting it. “Just after you left, actually. I got a whole series of flashes and blacked out.”

Within a heartbeat her hands reached for his face as she checked him over, “Are you okay.”

He reached up to take hold of her hands, noticing the concern in her eyes – immediately thankful that she had not distanced herself from him as he had feared. “I’m fine. The doctors at the hospital checked me over and said everything is all right.”

“Hospital?” She questioned, and instantly became visibly distressed.

“Really, Prerna, I’m fine. The doctors dismissed me I did not run off – although the though had crossed my mind.”

She pulled her one hand from his and slapped his shoulder, seriously demanding, “And that is supposed to make me feel better?”

“It had to happen,” he reasoned, adding, “Or else I would not have…” although he left the rest unsaid.

Still confused, Prerna asked him, “Or else you would not have, what?”

Anurag recaptured her other hand and brought them in front of him. He held them together and he looked right into her eyes as he said, “I remembered what happened in Switzerland.”

Her eyes flickered to the side and then down.

Instantly he released her hands and reached for her cheeks, encouraging her to look up at him. Gently with his left thumb he stroked over the skin, and said, “Sorry, sorry.” He released her cheeks and moved to hold his ears. “I’m really sorry.”

Prerna’s brow knit moments before she asked, “What are you sorry for?”

Her words caused an image flash across his mind.Instinctively he reached out with his left hand to caress her cheek and stated,with remorse, “I slapped you. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

 Prerna reached up to clasp his hand and drew it down, holding it between both of hers,as she said, “There is no reason to, I said many hurtful things that day.”

“But I still should not have raised my hand to you,”he insisted as his other hand came to cover hers. Immediately he realized she was not wearing her engagement ring. His brow knit as he moved his hand and turned hers to inspect her hand. Distressed to confirm that her ring was missing,he asked, “Where’s your ring?”

Prerna pointed to her dressing table as she said, “I took it off before going to the washroom.”

Anurag moved from her to collect up her ring.Returning, he slipped it onto her finger, firmly stating, “Its place is here,and always will be.” He covered her hand with his, but noticed her hesitation.

“Anurag…” she started, but then grew silent.

Instinctively Anurag drew her into is embrace as he said. “Seven lifetimes Prerna. You are tied to me for seven lifetimes. And I promise you that I will find you in each and every one of them. I won’t let you go.” He kissed her forehead and then pulled back enough to look into her eyes.“But tell me something, honestly.”

Prerna tilted her head, her brow knitting for a moment, before she lifted her brows in a gesture he instantly recognized.

He took a few moments to compose the question that had been haunting him since he’d made sense of his newly remembered memories,and then started. “On your resume, you mentioned Switzerland as your favourite place, and since I now know why you married Bajaj and that could not be the reason why Switzerland?” Prerna’s shocked expression had him quickly add, “ I mean I did everything I could to make you hate that place.”

Prerna shook her head, but smiled, before replying,“It is because you chose it for us.” On noticing Anurag’s confused expression she added, “It was where I came to know exactly how much you love me… and had things been different…” Prerna left the remainder unsaid.

Just then a knock sounded at the door, with Veena calling, “Preyu, open the door.”

Anurag looked about him in alarm, searching for somewhere he could hide.  Prerna gestured the bed and he quickly moved to slip under it while she went to open the door. Prerna checked to ensure that he was out of immediate sight before opening the door.

Her mother stepped inside carrying Sneha, at first looking about the room.

Concerned by her mothers actions, and hoping beyond hope that she had not learned of Anurag's presence Prerna asked.” Mom, what’s the matter? What are you looking for?”

Veena turned to Shivani as she started, “Shivani is acting all strange again and I know her well enough to know that she’s trying to hide something.”

“What would Shivani want to hide?” Prerna asked,catching Shivani’s eye and tilting her head just enough to indicate the bed. As her mother turned around, Prerna noticed Shivani’s obvious sigh of relief.”

“That’s what I though, but you know with Shivani you never know.”

Prerna moved to take Sneha from her mother and asked, “Why the sudden concern?”

“You know how she behaves out of character whenever she’s nervous about something, and she seemed especially insistent on bringing Sneha here.”

Prerna looked at Sneha, then glanced at Shivani before answering, “She might be nervous about handling Sneha.”

Prerna took her daughter and the moment she had settled her, Shivani said, “Well goodnight, come mom, I’m certain sister Prerna is tired, even Sneha seems tired.”

Veena turned to look at Shivani in obvious confusion,stating, “See what I mean? While such concern is commending, she is just far too nervous.”

“I’m certain it is nothing mom, “ Prerna said,looking up from a sleeping Sneha.

Veena suspiciously stated, “You seem better.”

“I feel better after my bath.”

“That is good,” Veena said turning to Shivani, “Wellcome along now.”

Prerna walked them to the door and with one hand closed and secured it. She turned back towards the bed and watched Anurag emerge then appear to dust himself off. Unable to contain the laughter bubbling inside, Prerna covered her mouth.

On noticing her shaking shoulders, Anurag demanded,“What’s so funny?”

Prerna tried to swallow her laughter, but then pointed to him, “You are?”

“What?” Anurag demanded.”

“I mean technically you are the son in law of the house, but you sneak about and hide like an illicit lover.”  

Affronted Anurag demanded, “Illicit lover?”playfully adding, “Oh, so you have experience with this?” and started his approach.

“Anurag,” Prerna warned, holding her one hand out with her index finger pointing skywards.

“No don’t start with…” he again started on his approach but on noticing Sneha stopped dead in his tracks, “Sneha.” He again approached, but this time with a different intention as he came to stand besides her, instinctively reaching out to touch his daughter. He looked at Prerna and gestured.  Prerna inclined her head only slightly while lowering her lashes, then allowed him to take Sneha.

His entire being beamed with joy as he moved back towards the bed, whispering to Sneha, “There’s daddy’s little sweetheart.”

Prerna happily watched them for several moments before a heavy oppressive weight again settled over her shoulders. She knew she should not allow it, should not allow him to develop a relationship with Sneha,for it would only end in pain. Mohini would never accept them and she could not expect of him to choose… because she knew that Mohini would employ any and every manipulative ploy to separate them, and in the end it would be Sneha that would be hurt.

She knew the joy a father brought in one’s life, she was lucky enough to have two father figures in her life, so she understood what a void there would be in Sneha’s life if she grew up without a father. 

Almost as if he sensed her thoughts, Anurag looked to her. A change in her stance, or possibly the manner in which she responded alerted him that something was amiss.

“Prerna?”

Prerna swallowed against the lump that had formed in her throat, then said, “You should leave.”

Anurag tilted his head, for only a moment and then lowered Sneha onto the bed. He placed pillows around her and then turned to Prerna.

Without hesitation he pulled her into an embrace but could feel her resistance, since her body remained ridged. “Don’t do this Prerna. Don’t put distance between us.”

“I can’t do this anymore.”  Prerna said pulling from his embrace, “I may have been able to handle your family’s issues, but Sneha should not be made to suffer them. It would not be fair on her and you know your mother would never accept us.” Prerna said as she placed some distance between them before continuing, “I want her to know that there is more to her than her birthright, money and status in society.”

“And she will know that,” Anurag insisted.

“Not with your mother,” Prerna flatly stated, for once not caring as to what he thought. If she needed to make him hate her and her opinion of his family, she would do so in order to protect her daughter.Thus she continued, “Your mother will take pleasure from reminding Sneha her entire life that she is the daughter of a middle class girl.” Prerna shook her head. “No, it is better if we end this now because there’s no way that I can live in that house. I will also not subject my daughter to such taunts and limited mentality.” Prerna turned to Anurag and noticed his shocked expression,“Look I know she’s your mother, and that you love her, but we both know she will never accept me. We have been at this point often enough to know how this would end.” Anarag made to say something but Prerna shook her head and held up her hand, then continued, “How many times have you said you will handle your mother, that I should trust you to manage this? only for us to land right back here. Your mother has told me to my face that she does not approve of me as a daughter in law – not once, but several times. She will never accept us.”

“But we’re married, we would have been married with all of the rituals in front of everybody.” Anurag countered.

“No, we’re not.” Prerna said, shocking him.

“What do you mean? How can we not be married? I’ve seen our marriage licence.”

Prerna took a deep breath and said, “Yes, we are married, only ….” She hesitated for several moments and then said,  “…it’s confusing”

“So Anupam tells me as well.” Anurag threw back. 

“I don’t know how much you remember, or if this may even harm you, but if this will make you understand my decision then it is for the best.”

“What do you mean?” Anurag asked

“It means I will tell you what is relevant, even though I shouldn’t.”    

Anurag gestured for her to continue.

“We never got married with full rituals because you went missing before we could complete them.” 

With obvious disbelief Anurag asked, “I went missing on our wedding day?”

Prerna nodded but said, “Technically you married me the day before, but our social ceremony never took place.”

Obviously confused Anurag asked, “But how can our wedding be registered then?”

“I also questioned this after you told me, and the only reason that is even remotely plausible points to Rishabh.”

“What would Bajaj have to do with this?” Anurag demanded.

“Rishabh arranged our wedding,” Prena said, but on noticing the scepticism in Anurag’s expression she added, “I know it would be difficult for you to believe with only part of your memories, but he did.”

Anurag rubbed his eyes for a moment and then said,“Don’t you think he would have been more likely to arrange for my disappearance?”

Prerna chose to let it slide, since she knew it would be futile to get into an argument with him about it when he had only part of his memories. Instead she said, “Bajaj had me sign a number of documents for our divorce, I think one of them may have been a marriage notification which could have been filed along with the divorce papers.”

“You didn’t check over the documents?” Anurag asked surprised.

“I had your attorney check them and he said they were fine.”

“So he’ll be able to confirm?” Anurag asked more to himself. He then turned to Prerna asking, “Do you think Bajaj would have done that?”

“Rishabh is very particular when it comes to such matters, so it would not surprise me.”

“Then I should thank him, I’ll try contact him in the morning.” 

Drawing in a deep breath. while fighting the sense of pain she felt at simply the thought, she finally said the unavoidable,  “Even if it were so, your family does not accept our marriage. So we may as well initiate divorce proceedings and end this.” 

“No! Never!” Anurag instantly and firmly decreed. “I will never divorce you.”

“Anurag?” She asked, hoping to appeal to his logical nature.

“Until the day I die, you will remain my wife.”

“That is not in our hands,”

“It is!” He insisted, then moved to take her shoulders encouraging her to look at him as he said, “Prerna, please, all I ask is that you trust me in this. I will arrange everything. Please, I will make things right.”

Prerna looked past him. She lifted both her hands only to allow them to drop again to indicate her displeasure at his request.She had trusted him so many times before, only to be hurt time and again.

“All I ask of you is that once all the arrangements are done, that you will come with me.”

“But every time we get to this point something happens, and I’m tired of it.”

“Things only happen when someone tries to come between us. I won’t let anyone or anything come between us again.”

“Your mother is already between us.”

“I will deal with her.”  Anurag said pulling her into a hug, adding, “This is not just about us anymore.”

Prerna took courage from his words.Perhaps…just perhaps… this time things will work out.