Unka Intezaar-The Wait For Love

Chapter 5- Third Karwachauth. Alone ?

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*Third Person's POV*:-

Three years passed without Ranvijay but this time Nishtha was in the Rajput Mansion. Her life was usual, going to hospital, helping her patients and writing her new book.

While none of the family members took the initiative to know her, Nishtha tried gelling up with everyone. The only person she was open with was Meera- her devrani or to say Vardhaan's wife whom he had married out of the blue in Meerut and come home with her hand-in-hand. But that was a different story all together.

Like her husband, her devars too were a little cold but at least they would come home.

Ridha didn't like Nishtha even a little, she would brush Nishtha off and sometimes even belittle her with Jayanti bua and her daughter, Jasmine.

Abhijay dadu and Komal dadi were on a tour of all holy places of the country. And the others well they chose not to know her.

But in these three years, Nishtha had observed everyone and everything about them. She knew what time they woke up and what they preferred to eat. Nishtha became the perfect bahu for a family that wouldn't accept her.

So she spent her time with her books. One of which was published a week ago. And right now Nishtha was in a meeting with her editor-Krisha Singhal.

The aim was to know the reviews of her newly published book- The Wonders of Tara Mahal. Another best seller crossing 100 million sales.

"Congrats Nameless," Krisha praised raising her cup of coffee towards Nishtha who in return passed a small smile to Krisha. "How's the public reaction ?," asked Nishtha coming directly to the point.

"100 million sales in a week says it all. People are loving the book," Krisha said. "I sense a but," Nishtha completed.

Taking a deep sigh Krisha continued, "they want something different from you. I mean it's all serious up until now, people would love if you try your hand at romance. They want to see Nameless elevate the level of romance."

Nishtha's smile dropped. The topic was repeated again and it was always bound to be repeated. She just nodded to Krisha. "It's okay, people will want more. But we don't cater to their choices right. You write what you want. Your choice works," Krisha stated trying to cheer her favourite author up.

"By the way, how's your husband ? Met him ?," asked Krisha taking a sip of her coffee. "No," came a sharp reply which caused an awkward silence to spread around.

"Leave him, tell me why are you so decked up today ?," Krisha said trying to diver the topic from Ranvijay. "My 3rd Karwa-Chauth," Nishtha answered blankly.

Krisha groaned inwardly at her failed attempt to divert Nishtha's mind from her husband. "Bye, I will leave. E-mail me the questions," Nishtha said picking up her bag and activa's keys as she left for the mansion.

*Nishtha's POV*:-

There was a sudden rush in the house and something felt different. "Ramya kaki what happened ? Why is everyone on their feet right now," I asked Ramya kaki. "Nishtha, Ranvijay is back home. Everyone is on the terrace breaking their fast.," she replied making my heart beat fall.

"Chaand ke saath-saath aap bhi aagaye,"
(With the moon, you too came back.) I thought and took slow steps towards the terrace. As soon as the reality of his presence sank in, I ran towards the terrace.

Opening the terrace door I huffed seeing everyone. I walked inside with my steps becoming heavy, 6 and a half years of wait and I was finally seeing him today.

I was nervous, my heart was exploding with unrecognisable emotions. I stepped where the others were when the sight shocked me.

He was sitting down on the ground with some other woman in his arms. Tapping her cheeks, he asked someone to bring water.

I just did one thing next. Walked towards Ranvijay, took the glass from the person offering water to him and turned the glass over the unconscious woman's face. "What the f...!," the woman woke up with a jerk.

I looked down at her seeing her drama get over. "That's how you wake up an unconscious person, they don't drink water when unconscious.," I said looking at Ranvijay who was already looking at me with what seemed surprise.

He thinks that after all this year of wait, I would just give him to some other woman who is a cake faced doll ? Naah.

"Who the hell throws water ?," the woman shouted and stood up angrily. Cheap actress.

"Aree Nishtha when did you arrive ?," Radhika chachi asked a little loudly to break the tension that lingered. "Niya why don't you dry yourself, you are wet," Maa said to the woman in front of me. Stomping her feet like a brat she went away.

Then I realised the name and looked at maa. Niya...interesting, so she is the one they desired as their bahu ?

I looked back at Ranvijay to see his reaction. Our eyes met and kept looking. He looked handsome in that white shirt and beige pants. His eyes were tired, perhaps from the journey.

Realising what I was doing I looked away. "Luckily you came on time, break your fast quickly," chachi said and pulled me in front of him.

I felt the dupatta on my head and a thali and chaini being passed to me.

Oh god. I was going to do this for the first time and no I never did the rituals with the photo thing ever. I would go to sleep hungry and thirsty for the past two times.

First I did his aarti looking everywhere but his face.

Then I picked up the chaini and looked at the moon through the chaini, moon was my companion even on the nights of dispair.

Then I looked at him, our eyes didn't meet. He was looking straight somewhere I don't know. His face was stoic showing how forced he was into this.

"Ranvijay make her drink water now," chachi instructed passing him the kalash of water. His hands stopped in between showing his hesitation.

Dipping my head down, I touched my lips to the cold brass tumbler and titled the glass touching my hands to it. "Done," I said and looked away.

"Touch Ranvijay's feet now," chachi whispered. "Huh ?," I asked if I heard right. "Pair chhu puttar," chachi repeated.

Nodding I bent down to touch his feet and he stepped back. I stayed for a second and stood up with a jerk turning away. I wanted to break something right now. Anything would do, even that cheap actress's face.

"Everyone has broken their fasts it seems, now let's go tot the dining," dadu announced and we left. He was the first one to leave and Tanya followed behind him.

I left in the last that too cause Rudra called me. Reaching the dining I looked out for him to see the place beside him taken by Niya on one side and Ridha on another.

Whatever little hunger I was feeling vanished. And you know the best thing, Ranvijay didn't even ask Niya to shift.

Instead she looked at me and said, "Why don't you sit beside Meera, pleasee ?".

I quietly sat beside Meera and passed her a small smile when s gave me a plate, "Thank You."

Gulping down the food which somehow I felt tasteless. "Niya yeh lo," "Niya serve this to bhai please ," was all Bua ji, Ridha and Jasmine did. Making me realise it was always Niya they saw at the daughter-in law.

As soon as the dinner was over everyone sat to chit chat. "Meera I am not feeling well, I will just go and rest in my room.," I informed Meera. A nod from her and I left the hall.

I calmed down as soon as I reached my room. The 3000 sq.ft. hall felt suffocating to me. It took me half an hour to register and believe that Ranvijay was back. My husband of 6 and a half years was back, I had a chance now. To win him.

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