Anjaane se woh - Chapter 3
Previous chapter – Anupam questions shiv as to who this woman in the haveli was implying that shiv had kept her with indecent intentions there is a tense moment between anupam and shiv………….
"so..that lady is like another woman in your life shiv….she is your keep?"
Without saying a word shiv takes a few steps closer to face anupam
tum ho anupam, agar koi aura hota toe….. the look in shivs eyes was defined with pure power, there was an touch of softness from his friend. There was pure disgust on anupam's face. he hated the fact that his friend could stoop so low…
shiv could see all this …Shiv was done being calm and his voice began giving of a harsh frustration almost peaking to anger "faisla kardiya, SHIV KAPOOR EK BEHAD GIRA HUA INSAAN HAI ??" shiv looked with a certain intestity that showed a strain to his thoughts..
"JIS INSAAN KE BARE MEIN TUM ITNA KUCH SOCH GAYEY ..USKI SUNNNA ZARURI NAHIN SAMAJE?
………. Shiv had blown his patience and his anger could no longer take these accusations. In as much frustration as was churning inside shiv demanded that anupam would take a trip to the haveli with him.
…………
Darkness of night, rain and lightening take over the night fall shivs car stops outside the haveli entrance..as the gates open for the luxiourious car the atmosphere within the car and outside of it is ice cold uncomfortable. There was no talk between the two of them. Not one word from either shiv or anupam, faint smell of alcohol on shiv made anupam a bit wary of his driving mannerism and that one mention of caution was enough to see the void of anger shiv was growing, anupam said nothing more. Yet it was time to break silence as the car stopped they were to enter the haveli any second..this silence of shiv was the silence before storm which was the only thing anupam was sure of.
The atmosphere in the haveli was silent, night-time saw only one or two guards, the odd servant who looked surprised or even shocked to see shiv and anpuam walk in with such a strong presence.
As both anupam and shiv walked alongside each other there seriousness seemed to influence the surroundings. The vivid atmosphere was disturbed by footsteps.
As shiv and anupam made there way towards the lounge very traditional style grand wooden doors were there entrance. Pushing them open shiv unveiled the lounge of the haveli. In front of them was the grandness and the tradition of the home. Anupam did not know how exactly to react this was shivs time to explain himself. As shiv walked further into the room Anupam also walked behind him…stopped when seeing shiv react – shout.
Shankar!!!!! Anupam watched while shiv in a very irritated tone shouted repeatedly for Shankar chacha. Knowing that all were sleeping an regret for the situation did fill anupams mind but it was now or never..
As Shankar chacha hurried after some moments it was clear that this old man had been waken from his sleep yet shiv did not care. Shiv was as intimidating as ever when he was angry and today was no exception..
In his very own persona shiv so no regret of disturbing his employee and made his authority felt. Without even taking a glance as Shankar shiv made him self clear.
"Shakar upar joan aur use kaho ke woh isivakt neeche aayey." The man seemed wary of the fact that it was mid-night at this hour she was sleeping.
"magar sahab, abhi??"shiv didn't like to be questioned and the look on his face made it clear. Looking down at him in such away that the old man had no chance but to remember that shiv was his malik. Walking up the central staircase the man hurried a little as shivs tone seemed inpatient.
Whilst shiv waited with the same impatience slipping his hands into his pockets he gave anupam a rare glare of defiance.
……
Upstairs as Shankar walks though grand corridors he gets to certain room and knocks on the face of a wooden door.
As the sound of the unlocking of a bolt is heard shankars nervousness eases. There was no need to worry about his maliks reaction to failure, as she seemed to be coming. As the door opens after a few minuets the lady again dressed in that deep red avoids any reveal with the aid of her saari.
"Aap ko is vakat parishan kar ne ke leigyey maafi chahta hoon magar…Sahab ayey hai, unone aap ko bulayay hai."
As anupam walks the floor with a sense of worry shiv distress is contained within his very difined stance and silence. As Shankar chacha makes his way down both shiv and anupams expression question, Shankar lets them know that she Is making her way. Shiv asks Shankar to leave.
With a little more wait the silence is broken with the sounding of what were paayal.
Anupam's attention was drawn to the very top of the staircase where this figure was walking from. Yet again she was draped in that red saari…and again her face was hidden. It was like a parital ghunghat in a way that it was impossible for anupam so see her. As she walked down the length of the staircase the bewilderment of anupam did not cease. She stopped at some distance from both shiv and anupam in silence looking insecure.
As shiv looked over her it was clear that his presence was making her feel uncomfortable. As shiv called her to step forward there was a little hesitation, which led to shiv repeating his words. "Yaha aaown". The second time around she took a few steps forward. The moment fell under a tense sensation, as shivs next instruction was more demanding.
"Apnna ghunghat haataon". There was a noticeable uncertainty from the lady but shiv was adamant. He looked down at her with expectation, on the other hand anupam felt bad for her sake who ever she was she was facing an upsetting ordeal. Her minor actions showed it was something she did not want yet was forced to do. With shivs demand she reveled her face. Not so much showing her face she had lowered it upon instance of revealing it yet her features her face had been seen. She was an innocent looking young lady. Simple yet beautiful her eyes a shade of honey brown her hair long dark, skin tone was of the perfect balance. She was dressed lavishly .. she fitted perfectly into her surroundings. She looked nervous even frightened who wouldn't be. Two men were staring town her with intensity..
shiv didn't take much notice of her though..he concentrated more on his own words.
'Batown use ke tum koan ho." Anupam took a glance at shiv shocked at the situation.
As shiv towered over her his question was put forward with dominance. Yet she said nothing, shuddered a little at the tone of shivs voice and kept her eyes fixed to the floor. Shiv knew she wasn't going to say much.
"Yehi woh ladki hai,,jise meine kharidaa tha." Shivs words were said with so much defiance that his anger now had become reasonable. Anupam was shocked to hear
"Dekhlo atchi taara se uski maang mein mere naam ka sindhoor, uske gale mein mere naam ka mangalsutra." Around her neck was a mangalsutra..her parting was too filled with sindhoor she was his wife? Anupam was shaken, he was wrong?. Shiv still had more to say which proved there was more to this. Shiv looked in the upmost irritable state his expression made a mark on anupam.
"Pucho use ke meine kabhi use chua tak hai.!!!" The situation had gone to such an extent that anupam was silent yet the girl she was in tears…
shiv so none of this, he had to prove a point. Stepping forward to her he questioned her with as much intensity.
'Tum kaho, kya meine kabhi tume chua hai?', as tears made there way down her face her expression was still lowered. "Tumare saath kuch galat kiya hai..??" listening to shiv she nodded negatively, Anupam could not make sense of the situation.
As shiv had proved his pointed he was glaring into her with anger yet it wasn't her fault realizing the weeping that was coming from her shiv walked away. Away from both of them he walked away in a certain direction of the haveli.
Leaving both anupam and the lady in an awkward situation, anupam watched silently as she ran up the staircase in tears.
What had he done? Feeling a sense of guilt it was clear that he had known nothing about the situation and had spoken too soon. Judged shiv on something he knew very little about.
………….. Sometime later into the night, anupam couldn't go home instead had tried to sleep in the haveli lounge. Not very successful in doing so he heard those footsteps again… that lady made her way down the staircase and again with a partial ghungat. As anupam so her approaching he rose from his slouched position on the seating area and stood up as she stoped at approach.
With a pause she spoke from behind her veil: "Aap upar jaa kar guest room mein so sakte hai."
Anupam was taken over my softness of her voice, sounded like she had got over the sadness earlier.
Anupam nodded and then walked alongside her silently as she led him upstairs. Walking up the grand staircase side by side, anupam had no what to say to her. What could he say, by the time that thought had crossed they had approached the entrance of a room.
She spoke again timidly "yehi hai aapka kamra" anupam nodded; yet from where he was standing he could see another room too. He questioned, yey kaisa kamara hai.
With hesitation she revealed it was her room "ji yey mere kamra hai." Anupam took this chance up to see if he could find out a little more. "kya mein dekh sakta hoon?" that question surprised her as Anupam could see her face lift up as if to ask why. With a pause she nodded a yes and led Anupam into the room.
The room was small, shade of deep red and funished with wood, It wasn't a bed room more a spare room, there was no bed her.
"Aapke kamre mein bed nahin hai?" Anupam asked with confusion and also innocence "Nahin mein yaha nahin soti yey toe sirf ek kamra hai jaha mein apna vakt guzarti hoon. "
It was clear form the surroundings that painting was her hobby there were various wall hangings, creative ornaments, storage space and a chairs. Anupam took a seat and looked around the room from the chair. Looking at her spoke with intrigue.
"Aap shiv ki patni hai..?"
She nodded
Anupam was unsure to his own question, Why did he think of asking maybe because he was still shocked. "Mein shiv ka dost hoon, anpuam" she replied knowingly
"Ji pata hai."
Anupam was surprised "Kya" as he listened to her reply it made sense
"Meine baba ko apke bare mein baatkarte hue suna hai." Anupam guessed that she meant mehen by the referral to baba. Anupam watched her from the distance as she began moving things around the room.
Anupam: "Aapka naam kya hai.?"
She turned towards anupam and very silently churned the name "Gauri " out. Anupam was pleasantly surprised he added a bhabhi to the end which led her to turn. This time her gunghat didn't exists looked like it has sliped with the sudden turn. "Aapko ghungat nahin rakha chahiyey..aap aise hein aatchi laag ti hai." She looked at anpuam with an estranged expression but in his personality she saw a devar. A friend and his smile forced her to smile too.
Anuapam wanted to ask why and how all this had taken place. Shiv was married, his wife was unknown.. what was all this.
There was no easy way to ask all this but anupam had his ways, kya aap meri tasvir bana sakti hai.? Saying with a charming way anupam was already sitting in the portrait chair ready and gauri agreed too nodding a yes she put paintbrush to paper in front of an easel.
After some time it seemed, as gauri was comfortable with anpuams presence and anupman asked. "Mein shiv ko batchpan se jaanta hoon lekin usene kabhi aise nahin kiya. Mera matlab yey shadhi." Gauri paused her painting and the look on her face was of pain which anupam noticed.
Gauri avoided saying anything yet she spoke to anupams surprise.
"Ji waoh…waoh saadhi ek hadsa si thi toe."
Anupam : "Hadsa ?"
Gauri: "woh mujse shadhi nahin karna chate the woh toe…" there was a blunt pause from gauri and her eyes began to shed small tears seeing this anupam rose from his seat and pulled out an handkerchief.
Anupam thought this is as far as he would get but gauri opened up it looked like years worth of lonely endurance needed to open up.
"Paanch sal pehele jab hamari shaadhi hue toe woh…" anupam was surprised that it had been that long.
She stopped it was like she couldn't explain, "jab woh muje kharidne ki baat kar rahe the woh satch tha.."
Anupam was shocked only as she spoke in tears things became clear.
"Mere pitta….aur mein is gaaoun ke rehen vale the..ek dhin woh muje haveli le ayey baad mein pata chala ke woh muje paise ke leighyey behch na chahte the…..
Aisa hein hua lekin woah dusre thakuro ki jaise nahin hai…unone mujse shaadhi ki taa ke mere pitta muje kisi aur ko na….." her sadness drowned her expression in tears and it all made sense. Shiv wasn't in the wrong he was trying to save a girls life. Anupam couldn't quite grasp why shiv had hidden her away though maybe because he still loved ippshita at the time but that was only something that shiv could clear up. At the moment in time here was his wife in upmost pain and no one to share it with. Looked like she had been neglected for years. It was time for things to change. As anpuam was successful in lightening the mood he insisted that gauri would smile and finish of his portrait. She did just that sometime later and the clock struck 1.45 and gauri had to completed the portrait.
Anupam was amazed to see the skill that she had, it was amassing, and exquisite in skills the oil painting showed immedicable talent. Overly pleased at it..anupam recognizing the fact that it is gone past midnight he asks gauri to rest and he too leaves.
Leaving the room with a smile stopping just outside it anupam had been through a world wind of truths he was not prepared for. There had been such a huge leap in shivs life that he knew nothing about. There were still questions and a sadness that gauri had been kept hidden all this time. She had suffered all these years.
It was time for him to fix things, looking at his wristwatch an all thinking mind seemed to know what he had to achieve. What he had to do next.
……. ok guys let me know what you think, its nice to be back! and writing again. hmm spending most of my time trying to save my second serial love bairi piya❤️ but i have to thank all of you for your fab comments and dedication to my ff. i was away for so long but u guys still waited thanks! 🤗
Edited by jagrutid - 14 years ago
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