PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3) [COMPLETED]

SHOT 52

Third person's pov!

Just when they were smiling contentedly, Niranjan's phone rang and the name on the caller ID wiped the smile off Anjana's face.

'Maa'

It was Niranjan's mother calling. Niranjan attended the call and put the call on speaker.

"Maa.. How are you?" Niranjan asked as soon as he answered the call.

"Asking your mother's whereabouts only when she calls you, huh, Niranjan?" The sarcastic voice asked back and Niranjan took a deep breath. His mother's taunts and acidic tongue drove them away from their hometown Kodakanalli. That's where Niranjan's family resides. Niranjan is the eldest son of the wealthy Agnihotri family of Kodakanalli village. Niranjan has a younger brother and two younger sisters.

Niranjan fell in love with Anjana who belonged to a lower middle class family. The Agnohotris were against the relationship, but Niranjan stood strong against the whole family and they had no other choice but to get the two married. But Anjana was never whole heartedly welcomed into the family. She was emotionally abused by Niranjan's mother from day one. But Anjana bore with it all, without letting Niranjan know about it. But when the emotional abuse turned into physical abuse, Niranjan started noticing the burn marks and all on Anjana's body, which raised his suspicions. That's how Niranjan started a business in Bangalore and settled there with Anjana, away from his family. They visit the family in Kodakanalli for vacations and festivals.

"It is Gudiya's anniversary week, Maa. We are visiting temples, praying for our daughter's peace." Niranjan said.

"Your wife caused a mother heartache by separating her from her son. And God punished her for her sin by separating her own daughter from her." Chirashree Agnihotri said and Anjana sucked in a sharp breath as she heard those words.

She couldn't believe the woman's hatred even after all these years. Tears welled up in her eyes when she thought about the child she lost.

"Maa.. mind your words." Niranjan could barely control his anger.

"Don't raise your voice. Anyways, I didn't call to talk about all this. I called you to inform you about the pooja in the Naag mandir. It is happening in two weeks. You know the traditions. The eldest daughter in law of the current generation has to light diya in the Naag mandir. You didn't bring your daughter in law here yet. It is time the family met her. As it is, we never got a chance to meet the previous one." Chirashree said sarcastically and Anjana shot a scared look at Niranjan.

"We will be there for the pooja, Maa." Niaranjan said and hung up the call.

"Niranjan, if she hurts Vaiga, I won't tolerate it." Anjana said in a warning tone and Niranjan sighed.

"We won't let her hurt Vaiga, Anjana." Niranjan said.

"I don't trust your mother. Neither do I trust your sisters, Niranjan. If any one of them raises their acidic tongue against my daughter, they will see an Anjana they never knew existed." Anjana said fiercely, like a mother bear all set to protect her baby.

"Maybe this will bring Abhay and Vaiga closer.." Niranjan said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" Anjana asked in confusion.

"As you said, my sisters wouldn't stay quiet. They would definitely try to taunt Vaiga by one or other thing. And Abhay will never tolerate unfair things. You remember the old Abhay. How many fights he and Mithran had gotten into since school days. He is never one to stay quiet when something unfair happens. And now, if it happens against his legally wedded wife, do you think he would stay quiet? He will definitely react. And that probably will reduce the distance between them.." Niranjan said and Anjana prayed for it to turn out to be true..