Anjaane se woh – Chapter 4
Note for my readers:
Hey guys thanks for all your comments on the last chapter, did notice that some of you were getting a little impatient/ disapproving of the storyline. Guys, I left questions unanswered for a bit too long maybe not to some of your liking. Having said that I'm not going to turn from the storyline that I have always had in mind I've just kept your comments in mind. I'm going to stay true to my original perception with the hope that you will like what is to come.
Hopefully this chapter you will find closes to all your questions.
Please do leave your comments they are much appreciated. Thanks
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As morning dawns a misty sunrise falls upon the haveli, in the surroundings of luxury. In one of the lavish bedrooms
Gauri stands in front of the mirror and takes a quick glance as part of her morning routine. This morning she seemed to be a little phased, maybe because of that incident last night. She was hurt when she thought about it pain did cease on her expression and that was visible in the reflection in front of her. Yet as another thought swept her mind a smile came upon her face. Anupams words last night put a smile on her face. His friendliness remembering his comment about the ghungat innocence took to gauri. Applying her ghungat then looking in the mirror. Taking a good look at what she looked like, she took anupams advice and got dropped it. Surprise to even her she also noticed the difference. Maybe he was right? Should she or shouldn't she. With the reoccurring statement of anpuams playing in her mind she looked at her reflection and decided that he was right. She didn't know how long she could maintain this change, innocence and simplicity of the upmost kind gauri was unsure to how long it would last. Without the aid of that cover up her beauty was even more on display now. Her reflection was one of a pure simplify, simple yet beautiful.-Minimal yet magnificent.
Draped in a green sari her sense of dress and clothing matched the royal status that surrounded her yet the personality that was wrapped within was very innocent, Simple and pure. The way she behaved even alone in front of her reflection displayed a sense of timidity, yet that look in her eyes was deep. Her eyes carried tremendous levels of sincerity. Virtuousness glowed from all angles in gauri.
She cared not for her looks as much she did for her custom, the custom of carrying all significant symbols of a married lady. Sindhoor sat in a gold-faced container on the wooden surface in front of her…flicking open the lid gauri takes a slight amount of sindhoor two of her fingers and just as she brings her hand to her parting she hears footsteps.
As the sounds of someone walking down the staircase become apparent Gauris mind knew who that was. Those footsteps were vividly memorised in her mind. With the partial door that was open to the view of the haveli corridors she saw her husband walk down just as she had predicted. Rushing intently at seeing this she applies her sindhoor with pace and leaves the room in her husbands direction.
The impact of a tense atmosphere last night showed in shivs personality today. Early morining trace with a very deep drained look. His apperance was a hashed version of shiv kapoor plus the look of a lifeless personality. In a white shirt as per usuallity, shiv was in a makeshift version of his usual appearance, shirt no tie, rolled up sleaves and and an expression of tiredness as he walked down the staircase and off the final step. He could here the movement of someone behind him. The sounding of bangles and jewellery he knew it was gauri yet this was not at all apparent of his face. He stopped after a few footsteps as gauri approached from behind. There was minimal interaction- tense as gauri looked upon her him from behind her expression moved from a lowered reaction to a look at her husbands figure in front of her. She couldn't see his expression yet she could feel the intensity of the moment. Knowing not how to react the signs of hesitation could be seen on gauris expression. A mumble of her lips that said nothing, her posture that maintained an unsure presence. But none of that mattered at shiv although silent in his own place was the first to speak. with no movement and little interaction with his back to her he began speaking until the words felt to intimate to be said in such a manner.
Kal raat jo hua, uske leighyey mein tumse mafi mangta hoon. Gauri was shocked to hear him appplogise, showing it with a radpid rise of her expression. It was true that she didn't know him well at all yet she always had the feeling that he would be one to never apologise.
When shiv hears no response he takes a glance back at gauri…in that one glance he notices her expression maybe properly for the first time.
Washed away by whatever it was that made her stand out shiv got to the point after diverting his sight back.
"Jo meine kaha, kiya woah galat tha….im.. a" small pause came for shiv as he finished off – "I'm sorry."
Gauri was uncomfortable at the very sitation, unknown to both shiv and gauri anupam was watching all from the stair balcony. – a smile came to play on his face as he watched silently. The moment with silence continued until Shankar chacha made his presence, which was of relief to gauri. From some distance he questioned: "sahab aap naaste mein kya khayenge? " shiv refuses which gauri takes a note of. "mein office mein khalunga, anupam ko khahe use ana ho toe aayey mein jaa raha hoon." It wasn't clear if shiv meant this for gauri of Shankar chacha but on the other hand at the balcony watching down anpupam pulled a face an annoyed face at shivs comment.
Gauri could say nothing, no did she want to… she walked across the haveli floor to a seat where shivs blazer was propped. Picking it up she walked in shivs direction just behind him as an indication. This kind of interaction was a regualar. There were very few times shiv and gauri shared the same space once a week on a visist of his she would possibly see him. This is the way it was. As gauri covered shivs shoulders with the blazer her interaction was one that tried its best to not even rise her expression anupam watched the scene a shiv put on his blazer and shaking it off into shape left. In that process he had dropped his handkerchief. Gauri only realising after he had left it was too late. Picking up the ivory shaded handkerchief gauri stood for a moment with it…looking at it for a second like It was something important to her. A few seconds later she took it with her and walked into that room she called her own space. Watching her anupam followed.
He stood at the entrance for a while..watched as she looked to be stood in the corner doing something. When he could not make out what it was exactly he knocked on the face of the wooden door. She turned- anupam noticed how gauri had got rid of the ghunghat and his smile perked up with an extra glow.
Toe aapne meri sala le hein le, gauri looked confused until anupam mentioned "parda hatadiya" his comment put a smile on gauris face. Kya mein andar asakta hoon? As anupam questioned gauri nodded a yes and he walked in.
Walking closer to her even beside her he noticed that she had a box of objects, looking a deeper look they were all shivs things. In here he could see a single cuff link, a pen that he had seen shiv use many a times, a ring, a tie clip. These were all reconisably shivs things that she had. Anuapm mentioned it – aap shiv ki cheeso ko?? Gauris expression was a little uncertain and tweaked that anupam had seen all these things. What would he think. Yet anpuam knew that theses objects were probably the only things that she had of husband. A little teasingly yet with reason "kya mein shiv ka rumal rak sakta hoon, I mean use saroorat padegi." Just to test gauris reaction anupam watched while he took away the hankercife. He noticed a flicker in her eyes that was displaying feelings towards anything to do with shiv.
As anupam looked around the room at random he saw some rolled up paintings in the corner. Whist gauri was busy putting the box out of sight anupam rolled open one of those paintings to reveal an divine portrait of shiv. Oil painting with perfection of every detail. It was an image of shiv standing in his very own trademark way. The same look of surperiorty, the mannerisms everything was perfect yet anupam noticed something out of place.
Aap vakahien bohot atchi artist hai magar.
As gauri realises that anuapm is looking at her personal paintings she is a little hisstant and would have pefered to keep them private is the feeling she gives off.
Anupam: "Ek galti ki hai aap ne"
Gauri looks at anuapm with curiosity
Shiv left handed hein, yaani woh apni ghadi right hand par pehen ta hai. However picky it might have sounded anupams note made gauri think and he noticed how silent she was. Looking towards her she saw a certain pain in her eyes that spilled her thoughts.
"Agar mein une jaanti toe yey galti naa karti." Her words were filled with sadness that drew anpums attention.
"mein nahin jaanti ke joe meine apne man mein tasvir banayee hai unki woh sahi bhi hai ya nahin, woah satch mein aise hai ya nahin. Shayad yey baat muje kabhi pata nahin chalegi."
"Unki patni ho kar bhi anjaan hoon unse."
Anupam could see the extent of pain in gauris eyes yet it was mixed with love– weather she knew it or not she had her own perception of shiv in these paintings and she had fallen in love with him.
…………..
sometime later in Shivs office as he walks in and asks for morning coffee the string of tiredness he is feeling requires it. As shiv is about to take a seat at his desk he happens to notice a stain of his blazer. on the sleeve of his blazer was a red powder stain. Curious to it for a second stops and gauri comes to mind. It wa a sindhoor stain and ineffect it had come as a result of her interaction. Stopping for a second shiv seemed to be faced by it-one thought led to another, her helping him into his jacket, the night before when he had yelled at her and his apology. Shiv was lost in a uneasy thought. But just as he could stop all this anupam happened to walk in. seeing shiv aimlessly rubbing his jacket to get the stain off anupan laughs as he approches.
Tume iski sarurat padegi.. waving the handkerchief in front of shiv anupam takes a seat on the other side of the desk. Shivs expression is a little questioning to how he had the handkerchief yet he doesn't bother to question. Wiping jacket he takes it off and props it on the back of his chair.
He knew anupam wanted to talk and so waited for him to make a start but there was just silence, anpuam looked at shiv with a smile and shiv gave a more serious look back.
Shiv: "kya kehna chahte ho?"
Anupam still smiling makes a little fun, "ek cup chai mil sakti hai" shiv doesn't look to impressed because he knew anuapm was stringing him along, asking his secratery via phone to bring tea shiv was aware that anupam was about to go on..
Shiv I'm sorry shiv looks up at anpuam with a little surprise and then accepts.
"Kis baat ke leighyey, its not your fault."
Just as the two had made up and the tension was a little under control shiv went on to look at some work based papers and genral conversation but anupam had something to say.
Anupam : "Tumne gauri ke saath aise kyun kiya.?" Shiv looked up as to acknowledge his question
Shivs expression so very little change, "I don't know what you mean."
Anupam: Tunme use shaadhi kyun ki..
Shiv : "agar mein yey nahin karta toe woh kisi aur thakur ke saath bhand dhi jaati, tab uske saath kya hota?
lekin jo tumne kiya hai na woh uske barabar hein hai.
Shiv looks at anupam with irritation. What was he trying to say that he was like all those other men. Meine uski maadat ki, atche iraado ke saath!
Anupam: Mana ke tumare irrade sahi hai shiv lekin paanch sal ka dard bhi diya hai tumne use. Tumne uski maang bhari hai shiv, patni hai woh tumari. Kya tumne socha hai ke woh bhi apne pati ka saath chahti hongi. Ek patni ke leighyey apna pati sab kuch hota hai. Paanch sal shiv aur woh tume jaanti bhi nahin hai.
"Meine use koi kehd kar nahin rakha hai anupam, you think I am that harsh.
Panch saal pehle joe meine kiya shayad woh bina soch josh mein kar diya tha. Lekin mein use puri aasadi di ti. Agar woh jana chahti thi toe jaa sakti thi aur abhi jaa sakti hai."
Anupam nodds with disapproval, shiv was talking like shiv kapoor. He was forgetting that not all is done his way.
"Woah gaon ki ladki hai shiv, agar woh jaana bhi chaht hai na to bhi kabhi jaayeygi nahin. Use bachpan se shikhaya gaya hai ke pati ka ghar hein uska ghar hai aur kuch nahin."
Shiv knew that anpuam was right but he had reasoning of his own. "Tum use dur kyun rahe te ho shiv, apne thakur hone se itna nafrat kyun hai tume. "
"Kyun tum thakur ho us mein buri baat kya hai shiv?"
Hai buri baat kyun ke yey saab majburi baanjata hai. – I am shiv kapoor koi thakur kehne muje woh mein nahin chahta. Shivs talks with resistance which really stands against anupam.
Anupam: "Running from your responsibility shiv?"
Shiv gives the most power driven look towards anupam for questioning him in that way. Bilkul bhi nahin. – mein sirf yey thakur hone ka bhoj nahin uthana chahta. Anupam doesn't understand why yet as shiv pauses for a while in irritation he slowly opens up. Getting up from his seat he walks towards a window, looking out of it there is an awkward silence for a moment.
"Dad Thakur mehen pratap singh, aur mein shiv kapoor. Kitna farak hai dono mein. Anpum didn't make anything of it, shiv had his mothers maiden name kapoor instead of mehens. That was common.
As shiv stood looking out of the window his tone seemed to have eased, ek naam sirf naam nahin hota anupam pehchaan hoti hai.
"Isaan badaljata hai satus ke saath aur mein badalna nahin chahta.
Tum jaante ho naa ke meine aapna batchpan mom ke saath gusara tha magar gaaon mein dad ne dusri shaadhi ki thi. Thakur hone ke naate woh jo chahte the karsate the lekin meine appne mom ko rote hue dekha tha anupam. Unka dard dekha tha." Turning around to face anupam shiv could see a certain determination could be seen on shivs face. Meine tabse faisla kiya tha ke mein shiv kapoor kabhi yey thakuro ki duniya mein kadam nahin rakunga."
"Rahi gauri ki baat- mein nahin jaanta ke meine sahi kiya hai ya galat" shiv had his own reasoning for things yet unknowingly he was overlooking the same footsteps he was following. momentarily silence fell as shiv had nothing more to say. Sadness, a lost feeling was visible on his face until anupam replied.
"Jaha se mein dekh raha hoon na shiv, joe mehen uncle ne galti ki woh hein galti tum kar rahe ho." Shivs expression turned as anupam spoke.
"Nikihla ma bhi ek patni thi jo apne pati se dur thi aur gauri bhi ek patni hai Shiv - Tumari patni. "
Anupams words touched shiv within, maybe anupam was right?
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Kapoor house - Late that night as the day passes shiv continues to think over and over gain on anupams words. Not able to let them leave him shiv continues to think over the night. sitting over a glass of alcohol his mind weaves thoughts until the phone rings.
Picking up his phone from the side table of his chair the person on the phone is dr Mehta-
"Mr kapoor apke pita ko attack ayay hai.. agar aap jald se jald aajayeyge toe atcha hoga."
As shiv rushes to the haveli- the atmosphere is the haveli is dead. Rushing through rooms shiv gets to mehens room and bumps into the doctor leaving.
Doctor sahab? Shivs tone of voice is of sheer concern yet the doctor reassures.
Don't worry mr kapoor, sabkuch ab theek hai. Minor attack tha.. look after him.
Shiv thanks the doctor as he leaves and then enters the room.
Lying in bed mehen is surrounded, one one side of the bed is gauri and the other side anupam.
As shiv walks into the room gauri hesitates a little and moves from her seat to give shiv space.
Looking at his farther lying there seemingly in peace mehen smiles as he sees shiv.
"Appna khyal nahin rakhte aap, is umar mein itni paarishani. Choridijyey sab." Anupam intervenes in his very own way as he has already thought of something.
Shiv meine decided kar diya hai ke mein mehen papa ko apni saath le jaaraha hoon, mere ghar. Mehen smiles and shiv also agrees.
Mehen: "yey sab kaun sambhalega?" with a genuine worry mehen doesn't want to leave the haveli.
Aupam replies: "shiv hai na" shiv looks at anpuam with a certain look. It wasn't that he wouldn't take care of things but shiv knew what was going through is friends mind.
Shiv agrees, for his father's health and happiness was all that mattered.
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