SS: Marrying Miss Kashyap *COMPLETED* Epilogue@pg-130 28/09/15 - Page 76

CHAPTER-10

A week later, Ananya was returning back to Delhi with Kabir and her father... Her wound had started healing up, and was able to walk with slow steps... Kabir and Ananya had informed her mother that they are going to stay back at Gangtok to relax, as they want to relax after the sting operation, thus not telling about Dr. Kashyap being found out... They wanted to surprise her... And here they were checking in from the airport to be landed to Delhi 2 hours later...

Kabir had kept the date of the arrival a secret from Armaan and his mother... When they all landed in Delhi, they went straight to Ananya's mother's flat... But the house was locked... Ananya used the spare key from her bag, and entered along the two men... She offered her room to her father to freshen up, while Ananya looked around to prepare some tea for the three of them, when the door bell rang, and Kabir went to open the door... It was Ananya's mother and Armaan who had gone for the grocery shopping... Seeing Ananya and Kabir home, they were ecstatic... All went on hugging and Armaan picked his sister up a bit and twirled her around to land her back on her feet again... Ananya limped a bit on being landed with a thud, and that caught Ananya's mother's attention- "Ananya... Beta, ye tere paav mein dard hai kya? Tu aise kyu chal rahi hai?"... Ananya looked towards Kabir, and he decided to handle it... "Unh... Actually Maa, uss sting operation mein Ananya ko bullet lag gayi thi..." Ananya's mother's eyes went wide in a shock, but Kabir covered up quickly- "Lekin ab wo theek hai... I mean uska ghaav theek ho gaya hai... Thode din lagenge dard jaane mein..." But Mrs. Kashyap looked a lot worried at yet, making her daughter sit on the sofa, and ask her the details...

Seeing the environment so tensed, Armaan decided to lighten it up as he spoke- "ye sab chodo didi, ye bataao humare liye wahan se kya laaye ho aap aur jeeju?" Armaan sprung up and sat on the sofa folding his legs up... Ananya's eyes twinkled a bit, as she looked at Kabir... His slight nod gave her an affirmation to break the news... Ananya gave a huge smile to her brother, patting his arm- "Tu bhi kya yaad rakhenga Armaan... teri didi tere liye kya leke aayi hai... I mean aap dono ke liye laaye hain main aur tumhare jeeju..." Ananya stood up from the sofa, and went towards her old bedroom, calling someone out... Kabir too stood next to Ananya, as the imminent man of their lives walked out with heavy steps, finally facing the rest of his family after 8 years... Though Armaan had seen a lot of his father's pictures, but it took a few seconds time for his mind to register the image with the man he saw in front... Instead Mrs. Kashyap spoke in a whisper- "Sudhir..."... Armaan instantly looked at his mother shocked... her eyes had immediately filled up with tears... Armaan looked back at his father... his eyes were tears clouded... Armaan ran to his father, and hugged him tight... Oh! The feeling of having a father was back... the feeling of utter security was back... It felt like a homeless person has got a shelter for life... The young boy clung to his father so tightly, only to release on his phone ringing... His coaching class was to begin, and he had to rush... He wanted a promise from his father to not disappear again... The father smiled amidst tears, that he will stay back forever with them, and he should concentrate on his studies at the moment... They could catch up later...

Mrs. Kashyap walked to her husband, eyes still brimming with tears, when Kabir rolled their luggage to the hall... Ananya hugged both her parents, and said- "Aap log baatein keejiye, catch up, patch up... Aur haan maa, saari ghusse ki bhadaas nikaal leejiyega papa par..." both mother and daughter laughed, when Ananya told she's leaving for her home, as they had come to drop Papa here... As Ananya walked, her mother spoke up wiping her tears with her dupatta- "Ananaya, Kabir; beta khaana khaake chale jaana... Main abhi banaa deti hoon..." Ananya smiled again understanding her parents needed to talk, as she spoke- " Nahi maa... Aaj nahi... Aaj toh aapke Damaad ke haath ka khaana khaaungi... Inke dada ne bataaya hai ke ye Ande ki Bhurji bohot achhi banaate hain... Zara hum bhi toh test karein inki culinary skills..." Ananya giggled at Kabir's mocked face, as they both came out of the flat, closing the door behind...

The cab took Kabir and Ananya to their apartment, Kabir paying him off walked rolling the entire luggage while a smiling Ananya walked beside him... There was a lot of content in her eyes, spring in her each step, and happiness on her face... The happiness that Kabir saw so palpable in Ananya, was all he could ask for, that was all he had strived for; fulfilling the promise to himself at the very wedding day... He sighed in content, and pressed the elevator button to reach to the 7^th level to their apartment...

Opening the door to their sweet home, Kabir switched the lights on... The home was impeccably clean... His mother, and relatives had already left to their respective residences, and this lonely house was now lively again with the return of the couple... Ananya wanted to bath first, and Kabir took the other bathroom, for a quick shower... Changing into his pants and T-shirt, Kabir went to the kitchen, and started peeling onions... They both were starving; the dinner had to be made soon... Ananya walked into the kitchen wearing Capri and a loose royal blue shirt... The water from her long tresses was still dropping on her shirt... She looked from behind Kabir, and chirpily asked- "Kya banaa rahe hain?" Kabir looked at her face, and then said- "Ande ki bhurji... Tumhi ne toh kaha tha ke you want me to prepare that..." Ananya smiled while leaning on to his arm, hugging it-"Waah! Aap toh bohot kehna maanne lage hain mera..." Kabir shrugged smiling...

Ananya looked around the shelves searching, and Kabir asked her the same... Ananya smiled- "Bhurji kiske saath khaayenge... Aata kahan hai? Lets prepare rotis also..." Ananya found then flour container, and started taking that out... Kabir admonished her immediately- "Ananya your wound still hasn't healed... you should be resting... Agar bohot bhook lagi hai toh we'll get bread from downstairs..." But Ananya was adamant- "Arre! Hum roti khaayenge na... Aap itne pyaar se bhurji banaa rahe hain, I should also do something... Main roti bana loongi... I know aata goonthna..." and Ananya started with kneading the flour amidst Kabir's protests... She indeed was able to knead the flour... By the time Kabir switched the stove off, he looked at Ananya busy rolling the chapatti... Kabir wanted to laugh his head off seeing a weird shape taking place instead of a conventional round roti... He smiled and then asked with all the love not to offend her- "Roti belna aati hai tumko Ananya?" Ananya looked up at him, and slowly begun- "Ab tak toh sirf tab banaayi hai jab maa ghar par nahi hoti thi... Shape kaisa bhi ban jaata tha, Armaan ko daant-daant ke khila deti thi, taaki wo mera mazaak na udaaye..." Ananya then hastily began correcting the shape of the chapatti, ending up making it weirder... She scowled out- "Mujhse gol kyu nahi banti roti...? Kaise correct karoon isko!" Kabir smirked to himself... She was behaving like a little teenager... He searched for a sharp edge bowl, and kept it on her rolled chapatti cutting out a perfect round shape... Ananya looked up with a huge genuine smile at his effort to make her smile... But then again frowned- "Aise toh normally roti nahi banti na... Why can't I make a round chapatti with this belan only?" Ananya made a sad face again... Kabir tried to console her- "Ek din mein toh gol-gol rotiyaan nahi banti na Ananya... it needs practice..." but seeing her not satisfied, he tried again- "Achha, ok! Let's try it together... Phir banengi gol rotiyaan..." He stood right at her back, holding her hands over the belan, and started moving it with certain steps... Ananya's smile returned back, seeing the chapatti indeed remaining round till it was rolled... She immediately put the roti on the tava, and started rolling another chapatti with Kabir again guiding her hands... Now what Mr. Sharma was helping Ananya making rotis turned into nuzzling his nose softly over her nape, blowing his breath on her neck... Ananya again shuddered under his effect... She quickly moved forward to change the side of the chapatti on the tava... And then back to rolling the next chapatti, and Kabir back, to nuzzling on her... "Kabir..."Ananya mumbled... "Hmmm..." Kabir too replied teasing Ananya's senses... "Mujhe roti banana hai..."Ananya tried concentrating... "Toh banaao... Kisne roka hai?"Kabir teased her further... Ananya gasped, as she saw the roti on the tava getting over cooked... She moved forward, and took the roti away placing the one she had rolled already with Kabir... As soon as she put the new chapatti on, Kabir's hands landed on her waist pulling her back to him... The kitchen resounded with giggles and teases, as the remaining chapattis were a hefty affair to cook...

Kabir and Ananya adjusted themselves on the cushions laid on makeshift bedding in the large balcony... After having dinner there, surrounded by ornamental plants all around and a large glass overlooking the beautiful night skies of Delhi, Ananya plopped over Kabir's shoulder, leaning onto him in the cosy embrace of his arms... She said nothing, but the satisfaction still felt in her entire demeanour... Kabir didn't know when had he seen her so happy, and full with life, not even this happier on their wedding day... As if she has got all she wanted from dear life... Indeed Ananya spoke up after a few seconds- "Kabir, mujhe samajh nahi aa raha, how have I been so lucky? In a span of few weeks, my life has turned all topsy-turvy, only to realise, it was done to do all the things right... I mean one day you land up at my parent's home with your mother with an alliance, and in a week we get engaged... A month and a half later we were married, and two weeks later, we are here, went through a dangerous sting operation, getting shot with a bullet, you walking half a mile taking me, and where we land up by luck! Papa's clinic... I mean what life is!"

Ananya looked up at Kabir while speaking all this, and by the end of the last sentence, she saw him smirk... Smirk wide and clear... She stopped looking at him, and then suspiciously spoke- "Aap aise muskura kyu rahe hain?"... Kabir smiled wider, and Ananya in turn getting impatient- "Bataaiye na... kya hua?"... Kabir cupped Ananya's chin with the index finger and thumb of his free hand, plucking at it- "Kyuki lucky aap sirf luck se nahi hote Mrs. Sharma, uske liye thodi mehnat bhi karni padti hai..."... Kabir's vague statement made Ananya confused further- "Main samjhi nahi..."... Tumhe yaad hai sting par jaane se pehle you asked me, why Gangtok, and I said it would make easier..."... Ananya nodded, and Kabir continued- "Actually maine Laxman ko lagaaya tha tumhare papa ka pata karne... But kyuki the case is closed, unki kisi ko khabar nahi thi... On forcing him, usne pichle 8 saal ke saare records khol dale har means of transport ke to search when was your father last seen... On very vague evidences he came to the conclusion ke shaayad... Shaayad wo Delhi se by road alag-alag routes se, alag-alag destinations par, apni identity chupaate-chupaate North India ki taraf gaye they... Itna toh pakka tha ke your father wouldn't be at some big cities, but in small towns or villages. Uske kisi reliable source ne sirf itna bataaya tha ke wo Gangtok ke aas-paas dikhe they kabhi... Toh bas, uss hi basis par hum gaye they Gangtok... With a belief ke sting ke baad dhoondhne ki koshish karenge... Isliye hi toh I took leave from the office for 2 weeks, to get ample time to search for him after our work... But never knew, we ourselves will land at his doorstep in the time of emergency..."

Ananya had extracted herself from Kabir's arms by the time he told the entire story, and her eyes went wide in shock... Kabir looked amused seeing her reactions, and huffed a smile- "Kya hua?"... "Aap tabse mere papa ko dhoondhne mein lage they?" Ananya felt emotional... Kabir pulled her back in his embrace, looking at her face down in his arms- "Ananya, the day of your wedding, I saw how your papa was missed by you and your family, at each point of time, how emotional your mother felt missing your father when the pandit asked for the father to do your Kanya daan... I know that all... And then that night of the wedding... How you cried for your father, while telling me about the locket... Ananya, I realised what your father means to all of you... He meant a lot to me too..." Ananya never knew, when small tears rested at the corner of her eyes in way of little drops, ready to drop anytime, and Kabir continued- "Ananya, the day we were marrying, I had vowed to myself to work myself forever for you happiness, to make this wedding work into a marriage, to have that genuine smile always on your lips... Because your happiness means the world to me Ananya... And to keep you happy is not a favour, but a responsibility; that I'm ready to abide by all my life... And that's a promise..."... Ananya no longer wanted to hear more, she just hid her red-hued face, his T-shirt absorbing the wet pearls of happiness and love, slowly sliding from her eyes... The moment stopped for the couple, in the arms of each other, in the castle of love, to face another day beginning from the next morning... A new chapter opening for them to close another chapter from the loose ends of life...

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