Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 20

Anjali's POV contd.....

I just closed my eyes when my phone rang again…..”What great timing!!”......i thought as i picked up the phone!!!! Rohit’s name flashed on the screen……I read the name before picking the call…..I didn’t want to repeat my mistake….
I picked the phone after 5 rings…..hmmm I was hesitant to pick it….I thought he would cut the call when I delayed picking up…but he didn’t……

Anjali: Hello….

Rohit: [little hesitant…or was he feeling shy speaking to me] Hi Anju….[he shortened my name…well I was fine with it….I had just agreed to the greatest event in my life, my marriage without much thinking, then whats there in a name??] I landed just now…..and on my way to the hotel…..

Anjali: hmmmm…

Rohit: Oh God, I can’t believe that we are going to….[he didn’t complete the sentence…..may be he was shy or feeling awkward like me] We used to talk so much and suddenly I feel tongue tied…I know you must be in the same state…..I know it came upon you in the most unexpected manner….I wanted to tell it to you directly when we met….All along I was trying but couldn’t…..

[He pauses as though he waited for my reaction….]

Anjali: I understand……

Rohit: Whenever mom spoke to me regarding marriage proposals, I used to feel irritated….And when I really felt that I needed a life partner, the first face that came to my mind was yours…..I then realized that you are the one………I wanted to tell you immediately but then felt that its better I come through proper channels……[smiles…..]I called up mummy and she was more than willing for it….[he paused]

Anjali: hmmmm [mind voice: I wish you said that to me first….]

Rohit: My parents like you very much…..They are very happy….Your parents are happy too….. Anjali, I feel like jumping in joy…..

Anjali: [mind voice: And me….nobody cares if I am happy….not even you Rohit….]

Rohit: Damm this official trip…….I just want to fly back to you…I am missing you already….i don’t know how I will be away from you for 2 weeks..…...I know you are dying to meet me too…..The moment I finish my work, I will be right there in front of you…..Oh dear, I called up to talk sooo much but now I don’t know what to say…….

[I was silent…..I didn’t know what to speak…….I think he sensed it] Anjali……why are you silent??? Are you not happy with this???

Anjali: [mind voice: Atlast, the question I waited came up….I just started to tell it out when my dad and mom’s faces came to my mind……I can’t do it] Actually Rohit…I am not [Rohit interrupted before I could complete]

Rohit: What??? You are not happy!!! But mom told me….[I intervened]

Anjali: [my dad's face flashed in front] no no….I meant it’s all so sudden na?? So I am kind of feeling strange……All this while, we have been good friends, and now suddenly our relationship is changing to…..[I stopped…he felt that I was blushing]

Rohit: ohhh….I know….I was feeling the same too…..but don’t you worry, we will always be good friends [Sid’s words echoed in my ears…..i didn’t know why, may be because he said the same to me….] I have heard that good friends make good husband and wife…..[grins] So by the time we marry, I will prove to you that I will be a perfect husband too….[he smiled naughtily….I felt that he was trying to be romantic……]

Anjali: [I hesitantly smiled….it was a false smile just to make him happy] I know….

Rohit: chalo tum so jao….i will call you tomorrow…..bye.....gud night…..

Anjali: bye….gud night……[before I cut the call, he spoke up hesitantly]

Rohit: love you… [He was reluctant to cut the call…may be he wanted to hear the same from me…..but I was silent…...he did something which I least expected…he kissed me over the phone….I was shocked and took off the phone away from my face…I didn’t know how to react……So I just cut the call….This Rohit was new to me and I felt really really uncomfortable…..]

[He may call again....so I switched off the phone and went back to sleep]

Rohit’s POV:
Huh???She cut the call so abruptly…..Did she not like it??? No no….why would she not like it?? I didn’t do anything wrong….I am her fiance now………May be she felt shy……
Should I call her again?? [Thinks] Not now…it’s too late….I will do that tomorrow…..

A/N: The kiss part does not mean that Rohit is not a good guy……He was just being over romantic and thinks that Anjali will like it…..He is trying to transform from a good friend to a lover…..but Anjali, in her present confused mind state doesn’t like it or feels odd when it comes out so suddenly……..His transformation comes in quickly because he is over excited or over joyed since he is getting the girl of his dreams…..On the other hand, Anjali is yet to visualize him beyond a friend!!

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Aashu’s pov:
I wanted to tell Anjali about Deepak’s confession…..I tried to call her so many times, first the mobile was switched off and then engaged and now switched off again…..I was petrified about what was happening to her…I badly needed to talk to her….I thought of calling the landline but it would disturb uncle and aunty……..

I told myself that I would wait till morning…..

Next morning, I was woken up by her call…..I almost jumped off my bed to pick it up before she cuts the call…..
Aashu: hi Anjali….where were you??? Main kabse tumse baat karne ki koshish kar rahi hoom…..

Anjali: Aashu…..[she broke down…..I could hear her crying…..]

Aashu: Anjali….what happened dear????Anjali…..tell me something yaar….why r u crying???

Anjali: [in between her sobs she managed to tell me the entire story…..i was really shocked to hear about the alliance with Rohit…..I wasn’t shocked much regarding Sid’s party and proposal as I was already expecting it to happen….I felt that it came in late than what I had expected]

Aashu: How many times did I warn you about that Sid??? Anyway, forget that……but 

Rohit??? How can your mom and dad fix your wedding just like that???Shaadi hai, dammit….koyi khel nahi….It’s your life!!!I think you should speak to your dad…….seriously yaar…I really meant it…..

Anjali: but Aashu, I can’t hurt him……All are happy with this….[Aashu shot back]

Aashu: and you?? What about you??? Are you happy???[She was silent] answer me….

Anjali: I asked this question a thousand times to myself Aashu and I didn’t get one reason for not being happy…..Rohit is a good guy and I know him well….I mean most of my cousins got married to some stranger…They just got to look at the guy’s photo and say yes…..That way I am fortunate!! Isn’t it???

Aashu: [angrily] Oh yeah….then hold on to your fortune tightly…..don’t let it go!!!

Anjali: Aashu, don’t get angry……

Aashu: [I was angry like hell] I meant what i said…..go & get married…

[Anjali became silent]

Aashu: [i tried to calm myself down] accha baba….i am not angry…..It’s just that I am concerned for you….But if you know Rohit well enough, then it’s fine I suppose…anyways, you are not getting married now na??

Anjali: hmm….but Sid….. [Aashu almost burst upon me….]
Aashu: SID!!!! What’s your problem dear??? Are you in love with him??

Anjali: [hesitating] no yaar…I like him……that’s it
Aashu: then just forget it…..

Anjali: hmmm…..
Aashu: so when are you back to college???

Anjali: Wednesday…..i don’t know how I will pass my time at home…..

Aashu: I will try to drop in sometime in the evening….

Anjali: ok then….bye

Aashu: bye…take care….aur ek baat…..Sid ke baare mein sochna bhi math…..

Anjali: nahi re…main nahi sochoongi……bye.

Aashu's POV: I was surprised by this news….that’s true but when I thought about it deeply I felt happy that she escaped from Sid……DAMM……I HATE THAT GUY!!!
Amidst all this, I didn’t want to load her with my problems too…So I didn’t tell her about Deepak….

[To be Continued]