Anidita: Mending the relationship

MUHIM

"Tayyar ho? " Samarth asked me 50th time since we have started walking. It was Sunday today and that's why I came in afternoon because at this time everyone usually sleep in their houses and here I am walking in scorching sun with this dumb personality.

"Haan Samarth ab kitni baar poochhoge? Ab tak toh tayyar shabd bhi tang aa gaya hoga tumse" I replied irritatedly.

"Samarth nahi Anaay" He corrected me, puffing his chest high in proud while I rolled my eyes on his overacting.

"Chalo pahuch gaye" He said pointing towards an old cottage which looked very creepy. How am I going to come here everyday?

"Ye? " I asked.

"Haan" He said casually like it's his home where he come everyday. Are haan! Roz hi toh aata hai ye yaha. I mentally slapped myself and shook my head.

"Chalo bhi " He took me inside. My face was covered with my black chunni as I was wearing my black salwar suit, which Samarth have gifted me. I wondered that from where did he brought such a dress as he lives with his mother and their house and lifestyle seems too eh! What to say? Umm....like a little middle-class. Okay I know I could have used a better word but I didn't got any more polite word!

"Anaay! Kaha the tum? " A man in his 30s asked to Samarth..... I mean Anaay, while sharpening his sword.

"Kaka dekhiye toh main kise laaya hu apne saath. " Anaay replied and the man looked at me with a smile.

"Ye vahi ladki hai na jiske baare main tum bata rahe the? " He asked about me.

"Haan! " Anaay replied shying a little. Shying? He? What? How? Am I dreaming?

I came out of my thoughts when Anaay snapped his fingers in front of me.

"Kaha kho gayi? "

I shook my head in a no and he gave me a confused look but I ignored him and went towards kaka.

"Nomoshkar kaka" I bent to touch his feet but he stopped me.

"Are beta iski kya zarurat hai? " He denied me to touch his feet.

"Main apni zindagi ke naye padaav main apna pehla kadam rakhne jaa rahi hu isliye bado ka aashirvaad to zaruri hai na? " I said and gave him a warm smile when I remembered Kaka sasur ji's words.

"Vijayi bhava" Kaka sasur ji blessed me as I bent to touch his feet.

"Bondita achhe se tayyari karna aur khudko zyada chot mat pahuchana. Maine Samarth se baat karli hai vo tumhara achhe se khayal rakhega aur agar na rakhe toh mujhe bata den-" Som dada showed his elder brother's love and protection but was cut off by me.

"Bas-Bas Som dada. Saans toh le lijiye"

He nodded and was again going to say something when Batuk interrupted him.

"Som dada ab meri baari hai" He turned towards me. "Bondita apna khayal rakhna aur aate vakt thodi mithaayi bhi le aana"

"Achha vaise naam kya hai? " Kaka asked me bringing me out of my dream land.

"Bo..... Anaya" I replied.

"Khub bhalo" He said and secretly looked towards Anaay as if teasing him but I shrugged off my thoughts.

"Are sab yaha aoo" Kaka called everyone, all of them stopped their work and came towards us.

"Are ye kon hai? " A man asked kaka, pointing towards me.

"Ye Anaya hai humari nayi saathi"

Everyone greeted me warmly and introduced themselves. There were 5 men and 2 women. Everyone seemed to be in 20s-40s. Raghav dada, Ganesh kaka, Arvind kaka, Chandan kaka, Ajit dada, Aadrika didi and Devika didi. All of them were very sweet to me but Devika didi was talking to me a little rudely which I ignored.

"Ab yaha ye nakab pehnne ki koi zarurat nahi hai" Aadrika didi said.

I nodded and took out my chunni.

"Are waah khub bhalo " Everyone praised me.

"Shakal se kya matlab hai talwaar chalana bhi toh aana chahiye na" Devika didi threw a sword at me and I held it. Her words and actions were kinda rude but obviously she can't just accept anyone as her partner and tell him/ her all her secrets.

"Devika ye kya tareeka hai kisi se baat karne ka" Kaka scolded her but I stopped him.

"Koi baat nahi kaka. Maine jo sikha hai vo main zarur dikhana chahungi" I gestured devika didi to start sword fighting. She smirked and we both started fighting trying to defeat the other one.

She pushed my sword by her sword with a force and I fall in front of my sword.

"Anaya" Anaay shouted and was going to come towards me but kaka stopped him.

Devika didi was going to attack on me but I immediately picked up my sword and shielded me with my sword. Our swords together made a 90° angle. Oh ho! Why the hell am I thinking maths here. I pushed her and got up again. She again came towards me while running but I shifted a little which resulted her sword to hit on the wall. She turned fiercely. Oh no! This fight is turning an intense one. I need to stop it now.

She again attacked towards me and this time I pushed her sword which fall down. She was going to fall on her sword when I held her hand and saved her from scratching her back.Everyone started clapping for me while I helped Devika didi to stand.

"Vaah Anaya tum toh bahut achha ladti ho" Raghav dada said and everyone started praising me.

"Vaise kaha se seekha aisa ladna? " Arvind kaka asked me and I smiled at Anaay.

"Anaay ne sikhaya" I replied.

"Aree kya ho raha hai yaha par? " I heard a familiar voice and looked at the direction of voice and was shocked to see Manorama didi coming near us.

Wait! What? Why? Is she real? Or am I dreaming?

Fortunately she haven't seen me still as everyone was standing in front of me which have hidden my face.

"Are Manorama aayo. Dekho aaj humare yaha ek nayi saathi aayi hai" Ajit dada replied to her.

"Achha? Kon? " She started coming towards us and my heart beat was increasing. No. She shouldn't know that I am a krantikari. Her leg hit the fallen sword and I got time to pick up my chunni and cover my face again. She picked up the sword and kept it aside.

"Milo isse. " Kaka said and everyone shifted aside. "Anaya"

Manorama didi came towards me and looked at my eyes intensely, which were uncovered and I can feel my palm getting wet by the sweat. What if she identifies me? If she told Barrister babu then? How will I face him?

"Tumhe kahin dekha dekha lag raha hai" She said to me and my breathing got uneven.

"Are Manorama tumne kaise dekha hoga? Aaj hi toh aayi hai" Chandan kaka saved me. Manorama didi turned towards him and I breathed in relief. She gave him a knowing nod and was again going to question me when we all heard a voice.

"Dhundho! Yahin kahin honge vo krantikari" A british accent voice came and we identified that it was Britishers.

"Hame yaha se jaana chahiye jaldi" Kaka said and we nodded. Anaay held my hand and we all went to our respective places not before saying " Vande Mataram"

****

Hallooo sweetie pies!

So how was this part? As promised here is the face off of Manorama and Anaya. Thank god Bondi was saved! *sigh in relief*

Questions from the chapter:-

• What are your thoughts about Devika?

• Do you think that Manorama have identified Bondita?

• Did you liked Anaya's fight with Devika?

*Don't forget to comment and vote*

Okay bye bye

Sayonara~