The Ogre's Proposal (COMPLETED)

Chapter 54

ANIKA
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'Ahhhh..Just one more...Ahhh...Ahhhhh!!! Very Good Puttarji!!! Look you want to have a long strong braid like Mumma na? Then you should eat well!!! You can't just get up eating a few morsels!!! Come on...one more Shabaash!!! (Bravo!!!)' I patted her back as I fed her another morsel of Dal Chawal with her favorite Aloo Bhindi that she's fallen in love with, ever since she's eaten it the first time at Rab Di Mehr.

'Enough Mumma!!! Now my tummy will burst!!! Please!!!' she showed me her puppy eyes and I finally let her go not before she completed her Almond Milk and went to sleep with Dhara. My little one didn't know what had happened but definitely sensed that her Dhara Masi is upset and requested if she could sleep with Dhara tonight. It's the last few days she'll get here as her school would begin again and she'll miss them all.

After all...we are going back.

Yes!!! I'm going back home with Shankar and our daughter. Last night he just asked me and I couldn't...just couldn't deny. Although I wanted to stay with Daarji and Dhara, Shankar told me that they'll need time with each other.

I was shocked when I got to know Shankar saw Dhara sneak out of the room. I was furious and was ready to fight with him for not telling me anything. How could he hide something so crucial but when he confessed that he let Jack's men follow her and keep an eye on her always I felt slightly relaxed. Someone was there with her. But he must have still let us know.

When I argued the same with him, he said that he felt it was best if she ran away rather than marrying in a toxic household. Sharath's parents only understood money, property and position in the society, Sharath was blinded by his parents love and Dhara...Dhara would have lived a life of a slave if she was getting into the Mukherjee household.

He didn't want Dhara to come back here because he was worried if Dhara would succumb to an emotional Daarji but then with Chakraborty uncle's presence everything changed. I wasn't completely convinced with Dhara's runaway bride plan but then at least she didn't marry Sharath. He wasn't worth Dhara. Of course it hurt her. It was a long term relationship and I'm sure it must have broken Dhara's heart to let go of her love and dreams but then just to make your dreams come true you can't sacrifice your life and make it a living nightmare.
I was happy that his judgement didn't go wrong. Sharath indeed was toxic and his family a flaming red forest. Glad Dhara survived.

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I walked into the room only to see Shankar surrounded by all my siblings. Shankar kept telling them about various different career opportunities. In small towns like these people only equate a good job to being either an engineer, doctor, CA or an IAS officer. It's like there's nothing else to achieve other than these. But when Shankar told them different career paths like an opera singer, a sand artist, a technical writer, MUA, or for that matter a scientific farmer who can multiply crops with the knowledge of farming science.

These kids had so many questions and Shankar kept answering them all with utmost patience. Some were so impressed with Shankar's suggestions that they were even taking notes. Last I'd seen them this impressed was with Tillu. But then it seems Shankar is their new favorite career advisor. Someone like Roshan was motivated that in spite of his condition he could achieve something bigger in life and that his leg wouldn't be a stopper in his life.

I decided to give them some space and silently went to Daarji's room where he seemed still very gloomy. I simply went and stood next to him. He was looking out of the window. He kept looking at the fields which now belonged to him again. It brought a smile on my face but he still seemed skeptical. I knew Daarji. I slowly circled my arm around his and rested my head on his shoulder. He looked at me and simply patted my head.