Jhanak gazed at the hands that held hers and gently tugged her from the Mandap through her unfocussed and watering eyes. All she could experience was respite, a momentary one from the cruel hand fate had dealt her with for far too long to surmise. Her racing mind ceased as she felt her feet stepping down to a halt, another pair in tandem. Startled by the act, she slowly raised her head to look at the pair of eyes, laced with concern and brimming with confidence staring back at her. The soothing voice questioning her imbued a sense of security, encouraging her to reply.
"Kya hua Jhanak? Ab sab kuch tikh hai to tum ro kyun rahi ho??"
Jhanak belatedly gathered that she had been crying upon Aniruddh's query. She closed her eyes in agony to stall the tears that crowded her vision. It was pure pain for her, even her tears out of control, like her life. She slowly opened her eyes to focus on Aniruddh.
"Aap ek baar phir mujhe bachane aaye hai sirji....", She replied with a trembling voice. Her hands folded automatically in a gesture of gratitude, something so trivial in front of the man who had saved her time and time again, her savior angel. Her head bowed down in anguish; eyes shut, tears streaming down her face and a sob escaping her throat. Despite feeling ashamed, she helplessly peeked at her guardian, companion, and husband again as his hands slowly encircled hers. With soft eyes that never left hers as if to assure her that she was safe, he slowly pointed towards the mandap where Tejas stood and spoke, in no uncertain terms.
"Jhanak, agar iss duniya daba bhi ho jayegi na.... phir bhi iss gunde se tumhe shaadi nahi karne dungi!"
"Yehi chahthi hai na tum??"
Hearing such assuring words, Jhanak shuddered as if her soul had left the mortal shell, body sagging with ragged breath. She nodded in a pleading affirmative as all thoughts left her mind, as if covered in a fog, lulling her into safety. Only one thought evaded her wounded psyche.
Mein teekh hoon. Sahi salamt.... Sirji ke Paas. Unke Saath.
With that in mind, she clenched his shirt with her hands, face seeking solace in his wide chest to let her tears fall freely. Nothing else mattered to her, only the safe haven in her husband's embrace.
Bas yeh ek lamha yehi rukh jaaye! Meri pati ke bahon mein.... mujhe bas meri haq jatane do. Aur kuch nahi chahiye Bhagwan....
Aniruddh protectively held the small, frail woman in his arms.... as if it was natural to do, his nurturing instincts kicking in. He wanted to soothe and calm his quivering wife while the husband in him roared to pounce at the man who had harmed her and tear him apart limb to limb with relish. He sensed that his eyes had turned bloody red in anger, but commanded himself to think otherwise as his priorities were first and foremost his wife: Jhanak. The arms that encircled her tightened a notch, hands rubbing hers in a gentle motion to pacify. And to his relief it worked, the shaking reaching an end. Tejas's manic screams, the flashes of the reporter's camera, the glares of the intrusive police who were approaching Tejas to arrest him.... None made an impact in front of Jhanak. All his senses were blind to the others, homing only on his wife, even her minute movements, his mind racing a thousand miles an hour.
Jhanak meri hai, meri dil, meri ruh, meri zindagi... sabkuch.... Haq bhi mera hai, zimmedari bhi, mohabbat bhi.
Usse kuch nahi hone doongi. Apne ghar vapas leke jaoungi, Kolkata. Jaise meine Appu di se vaada kiya.
His arms tightened around her, possessive for a second before slowly releasing. He tipped her chin with his fingers, face towards him, and shushed in the softest voice possible.
"Kuch nahi hoga Jhanak. Mein hoon tumhare saath."
He tenderly wiped the tear stains from her face with his thumb, fury rising with every stroke on her pale skin. He silently gritted his teeth to quench it.
Ab sirf Jhanak important hai. Calm down Ani... Gussa karne se kuch nahi hoga! Aur yeh time bhi nahi hai.
"Tumhe exams dena hai na? Uskeliye tho ayi thi tum."
Aniruddh asserted in a deafening tone, making sure everyone in the mandap heard it loud and clear. With the ensuing silence as an answer, he questioned his wife again tenderly, his hands intertwined with hers.
"Haan..."
Hearing his wife nod her head positively with a smile on her face, one bloomed in his too.
"Teekhai. Phir hum hotel wapas chalenge. Kal tumhara exam hai na?? Tumhe uskeliye preparation karna hai.... Chalo mere saath!"
He tugged their hands and took command of them both, confidently striding towards the exit. Whatever may happen tomorrow, he will cross that bridge when it comes.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Jhanak could only gawk in disbelief at the handsome profile of her husband's back and the silent stares of the people around her. Warmth spread through her hands which were clenched tightly with his. But the tightness did not hurt her in any way, instead, it only persuaded her more of her husband's unspoken promise. She silently etched this memory in her heart, knowing that the person she loved as her ardhangi was the only one who ever cared to fight for her sake in every way that counted. A single thought echoed as she let her husband guide her to the exit.
Aap sach mein bahot ache insaan hai sirji. Shayad isilye mujhe aapse pyaar hogaya.... Wo hona hi tha. Jab aap mere liye sabse itna lad rahe hai mujhe pyaar kaise nahi hoga??? Pyaar nahi... shayad wo galat lafz hai...
Both husband and wife came to a pause seeing the canopy of night spread over their heads, signifying their exit from the mandap. They exchanged silent glances, both wearing small smiles that hinted at their shared secret.
Haq tho hai.....
Aniruddh tugged at Jhanak's hand, motioning her to walk alongside him as their figures slowly blended into the night, a march toward their future.
