Is love blind? .......Oh yes it is!! - Episode 22

Aashu’s POV:

Anjali left college in a hurry that day….She didn’t call up….I realized it was an emergency, so I didn’t pester her with questions too….But she didn’t call me after that…..Whenever I tried calling her, it was either busy or switched off……


A day passed off and there was no news from Anjali…..I was getting worried now….Something was wrong surely…….I tried her land line and it kept ringing….Nobody was picking up….I was sure that there was no one at her place…..

On Saturday evening, we decided to go to her home…..her house was locked…..The neighbours didn’t know anything except that somebody next door was hospitalized….

We were really tensed……Who could it be???We knew that uncle had diabetes for a long time now but what could have gone wrong suddenly……”She could have called us” Deepak remarked….”after all what are friends for? She would be suffering all alone in the hospital….her brother is not here too” …..I knew he was right but I was sure that she would not be in a state to do anything…..leave alone calling us…..She loved her parents especially her dad so much…..She must be in a trauma now!!

We decide to wait for her call for one more day……


Meanwhile Sheetal gets a mail from Jeeth asking her to meet him on Saturday night…..but due to the tension created by Anjali, she doesn’t check the mail……Even if she knew, she wouldn’t have gone to meet him because she was tensed and concerned for Anjali….

On Sunday, she checks the mail and explains the reason for her not meeting him….They fight over the chat…..Jeeth accuses her for giving lame excuses just to avoid meeting up…..But finally she apologizes and promises to meet him next time sure……

Jeeth_007: OK……..since you are saying so much, I will give you another chance…..I am leaving mumbai next Monday…..so we have one more weekend…..Will you be able to make it next Sunday??? Agar tum uss din bhi nahi aaye aur kuch bahaana kiya, phir toh mujhe bhool hi jaana…..
DreamyPrincess: next Sunday….ok….main zaroor aavungi!!!
Jeeth_007: hmmmm teek hai….Next Sunday sharp 6PM….Garden view hotel….I will wait in the restaurant there…..
DreamyPrincess: hmmmm…..pakka promise…I will come….

Aashu’s POV:
Finally our wait got over…..Anjali called up after a day…..

Anjali: hello Aashu…..[crying]

Aashu: are you crying?? What happened?? Who is in hospital??? Which hospital??

Anjali: [pausing in between and sobs]Aashu….Papa had a mild attack….He is in City tower hospital…

Aashu: Why didn’t you tell us??? Accha chodo…..hum abi aate hai
Anjali: no Aashu….he is getting discharged today….He is fine now…..[sobs again]

Aashu: oh ok…..I will come home then…..

Anjali: no Aashu….its a mess here…..I will try to come to college tomorrow….We will talk there….[sobs]

Aashu: is anything else worrying you??

Anjali: hmmm kuch hai…..kal bataungi…..

Aashu ok…u take care….

Anjali: hmm bye…..


I knew that there was something terribly wrong……But I have to wait till I meet her tomorrow….Was it related to Sid or her engagement with Rohit??? I was getting tensed as the time went by……
I decided to inform Deepak and Sheetal…..they would be worried too….I called them up and told them about Anjali……we did a conference call…..

Sheetal: oh, that’s great news…. [She is happy about Anjali and also about the fact that now she can meet Jeeth without any tensions….]

Deepak: par uske papa ko achaanak aise[stops]???sochte hua bhi darr lagtha hai!!!

Aashu: hmmm poor Anjali…she and her mom would have suffered all alone….I wonder if any of her relatives are there for support….

Deepak: humse kehthi toh accha hota….we could have helped her…..well its over now…no use telling about it…

Sheetal: exactly my point….forget it…yeh socho aage kya karna hai….

Aashu: arre sheetal, I am impressed…….u have grown up a little!!!

Deepak: ya phir yeh kisi aur ka asar hai kya??? [suspicious]

Sheetal: [hesitant and looking nervous] kiska??? Koyi bhi nahi?? tum kiski baat kar rahe ho???

Deepak: [suspiciously]nahi hai toh teek hai!!! Maine toh bas yunhi pooch liya….tum itna kyun pareshan hothi ho!!!

Aashu: [still thinking about Anjali...so she doesnt care much about their conversation]chalo…rakhthi hoom….kal milthe hai!!!


Next day in college:

Anjali meets them in college….

Aashu: jaldi bolo, kya baat hai??

Sheetal: haan….tumaara suspense jaane bhina mera sar phattaa jaa raha hai!!

Deepak: aisa kya hai Ke tum humme phone mein nahi bathaa sakhi…..and why didn’t you call us immediately??? We would have come to help you!!!

[Anjali sits down keeping her hand on her head…..Tears flood her eyes…..]

Aashu: [staring at deepak]tum usse kuch bolne dhoge......kitna sawaal pooch rahe ho……[turns to Anjali and notices her tears] hey dear…..what happened???? Why are you crying????? ok ok….first calm down…..[takes out the water bottle and gives it to her] lo paani peelo…..

[Anjali drinks the water……calms down a bit….and controls her tears…..she seems a little relaxed now]

Aashu: ab batao….

[Anjali silently looks at Sheetal and Deepak]

Deepak: now what??? You want us to leave??…..koyi secret hai kya jo tum sirf Aashu se bolna chahthi ho??? Aisi baat hai toh hum chalthe hai…..we will wait for you in the canteen….

Anjali: no no….i will tell….i…..i…..

[All are waiting anxiously for her to complete the sentence]

Anjali: [hesitantly] I am getting married…..

Aashu: phewww…..itni si baat…..but you know this already….kabhi na kabhi toh sab ko karni hai….

Deepak: then what???? What is there to cry over it??

Anjali: let me complete…I am getting married this Sunday!!!

Sheetal: what???? Sunday!!!! So soon!!!!.........i don’t know if I can come….[thinks about Jeeth] what time is the wedding????

Aashu: [glaring at sheetal] Is that very important now???? [turns to Anjali and floods her with questions] Why Anjali?? Are Rohit’s parents pushing for marriage??? Or is it your mom and dad’s decision???? Didn’t you tell them that you want to finish your college before that????

Deepak: What went wrong suddenly????Is it because of your dad’s health???

Anjali: Rohit nahi Sid…..

Aashu: WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU SAY?????

Anjali: MERI SHAADI SIDHARTH SE HO RAHI HAI!!!


Aashu: WHAT THE HELL!!! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND????

Anjali: It’s papa’s decision…..and I didn’t have any other option…Doctor adviced us not to anger him or do anything which will making him tense or flare him up…….So I had to agree to it….I couldn’t

Aashu: agree matlab??? Are you serious??? SID se!!!!

Anjali: hmm I am not joking…..but I am confused too….but it’s true that papa wanted me to marry Sid at the earliest…..

Deepak: yeh sab kaise hua???

Aashu: I know how it happened….Sid must have done something….

Anjali: I am not sure of what he did or whether he did something……Dad wanted to meet me first after he came into consciousness……



<<Rewind to the dad-anjali conversation….a brief flashback
Dad: kya tum Sidharth ko jaanthe ho??
Anjali: [confused about his question] haan jaanthi hoom...[concerned about his health]...aap kaise ho papa??? Ab sab teek lag raha hai na??main bohat gabra gayi thi…..aap teek ho na????

Dad: [dad didn’t answer any of my questions…..he was continuosly enquiring about Sid] Usse kaise jaanthi ho???

Anjali: woh mera dhost hai…..
Dad: [in broken sentences and in a slow manner] sirf dhost….ya phir kuch aur bhi……beta, tum mujhe sach bataa sakthi ho….

Anjali: sirf dhost papa….main kyun kuch chupaavungi…..

Dad: [in an annoyed tone] accha…toh tum humse kuch nahi chupaayi ho…..kya tum usse pyar nahi karthi ho???…..
Anjali: [was really petrified at his direct question] aap aise kyun pooch rahe hai????[pauses] aisa kuch bhi nahi hai….

Dad: tumne mera vishwas thoda hai……ab bhi tum sachaai nahi bathaa rahi….

Anjali: [tears in her eyes…] Aap aisa kyun keh rahe hai…maine kya kiya hai???

Dad: [loudly] TUMNE KYA KIYA HAI!!!! Woh mujhse sunna chahthi ho… [Halts]….….ab rehane dho….tumne jo ki hai, woh main apni mooh se bol bhi nahi pavunga…..[her mom rushes inside]

Mom: aap itna gussa math hui hai…..shaanth ho jaahiye…..[to anjali] tum baahar jao….

[Anjali looks at dad once and starts to leave…..]

Dad: [sternly] I want to meet Sidharth….Bring him here…
Anjali: par kyun papa

Dad: par var kuch nahi….…I want to talk to him….kya tum mere liye itna bhi nahi kar sakthi!!!
Anjali: [unwillingly nods] hmmmm…..

[Anjali called up Sid and asked him to meet her at the hospital……They talk to each other in the lobby……..]

Sid: [innocently and concerned]kya hua Anjali….yahaan kyun bulaaya???
Anjali: my dad is admitted here…..he had a mild attack

Sid: [shocked….] Is it??? How is he now????? [placing his hand on her shoulder and pats it gently] Don’t worry…he will be fine….Do you need some help from me???…..kya karna hai???bolo….

[Rohit’s parents passed by at that time……They stop to look at them for a second…..Then continue walking…..perhaps they were leaving after visiting Anjali’s dad]

Anjali: [pushing his hands off her] Papa wants to meet you…..Come with me….

[She starts walking towards the room and he follows silently….he is shocked and also concerned for her……..Her mom and 2 other relatives also see them coming…..They stare at them skeptically]

[Inside the room]

Anjali: dad….yahi Sid…ummm Sidharth hai..

Dad: main nahi jaantha ke jo bhi maine tum dono ke baare mein sunaa aur dekha….yeh sach hai ya nahi…..Aur ab jaanna bhi nahi chahtha….maine ek faisla liya hai….aur umeed kartha hoom ke tum dono uss faisle ko maanoge….

Anjali: [anxiously] kya faisla papa???

Dad: tumme thodi dher mein patha chal jaayega…… Filaal mujhe Sidharth se akele mein baat karna hai…..

[Anjali goes outside]

Anjali’s POV:
I was terribly confused about what is happening…..I waited impatiently outside….none of my people, not even my mom spoke to me properly……My mom accusingly stared at me…..She held me responsible for dad’s condition….Mom’s eyes were swollen and red….It was clear that she didn’t sleep last 2 days and was crying too…..Mine weren’t any better……

Half an hour later, Sid came out……

Sid: Aunty, Anjali……Uncle wants you both inside…..

Dad: maine Sid se baat karli hai…..Woh tumse pyar kartha hai aur shaadi karne keliye bhi thayaar hai…..issliye main chahtha hoom ke tumaare shaadi Sidharth se jaldse jald ho jaaye…..

Anjali: [shocked at this decision…shaken to the core] papa….aap yeh kya keh rahe hai????...main aur Sid….shaadi???….ho bhi jaldi…..hum dono ke beech aisa kuch nahi hai…..plzz papa….ek baar mera vishwas keejiye….[pleads with him]

Dad: bas karo Anjali….mujhe teri koyi baat par ab vishwas nahi hai…..[Mom interferes]

Mom: chup chaap papa ke baat maan lo…..hum sab ke liye yahi teek hoga….

[A small fight starts…..Anjali pleads and requests her parents but they don’t listen to her…..It stops when a nurse come inside to give him some medicines…Anjali decides to agree during that short gap…..]

Anjali: teek hai….main yeh shaadi karungi…..

****flashback ends*******>>


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Anjali: My relatives have started preparations for the wedding….

Aashu: [eagerly] What about Sid’s parents???have they agreed????? Both of you are too young na????
Anjali: Sid spoke to his parents….I don’t what he did or said to them….Whatever, they have agreed…..They are coming home tomorrow……In one second, my whole life is changing Aashu…..[cries and hugs her….rests her head on her shoulder]All my ambitions, my career, my friends…I feel everything is going away from me…..

Deepak: ab rone se kya faiyda….We had warned you so many times…..You shouldn’t have become close to him…..
Aashu: Shut up Deepak…..this is not the time to scold her…..She is crying and you aren’t helping her by saying this….Anjali……whatever leaves you, we will always be with you dear……but don’t worry, we won’t let you suffer like this…..

Deepak: What can we do???? Its all over na???

Aashu: We will talk to uncle and aunty…..lets make them understand….Rohit is the perfect one for Anjali…..

Anjali: [raising her head] no Aashu…..there is no use of that……I can’t hurt them…..moreover, Rohit’s parents have backed off from this wedding…..That was the reason for my papa’s sudden attack….

Aashu: WHAT??? Why???

Anjali: I don’t know what happened really…..…..Nobody at home wants to talk to me……All turn the face away when I come face to face with them…..i have become an alien in my family…..[cries again]

Deepak: par kuch toh bataaya hoga na???

Sheetal: yeah….didn’t you ask your mom???

Anjali: hmmm……She told me just this…..Rohit’s parents told papa that they don’t want a girl, who hangs out with some other guy, as their son’s wife….I don’t know who told them all such nonsense…..woh library waali baat bhi bataaya hai…....I guess its someone from college…..

Aashu: aur kaun…..woh Sid hi hoga!!!

Deepak: don’t blame anyone without proper evidence…..Anjali ko enemies ki kami nahi hai….kisi ne bhi kiya hoga!!! But I am surprised….because Rohit believed it too….

Anjali: hmmm….He didn’t call me to clarify also…..May be he doesn’t trust me anymore.…..

Aashu: He doesn’t deserve you dear…..He talked so much about his love to you and one small rumour made him back off from this…..how cheap of him??? He didn’t even bother to find the truth!!

Sheetal: hmmm that’s right….he isn’t worthy enough for you….[she thinks about Jeeth..and also hopes that he surely is not like Rohit….]

Deepak: forget about him…..he is a closed chapter now…..aage ke socho yaar!!!

Aashu: yup…..Anjali….You can’t marry that idiot….it’s not child’s play…..You cannot ruin your life just because of some baseless rumour…..let’t do something and stop this wedding…..

Anjali: plzz Aashu…..main aisa kuch nahi karna chahthi jo mere papa ko hurt karega….jaane anjaane mein maine unne bohat chot dhey di hai….ab aage nahi…..

Deepak: but Anjali….

Anjali: Deepak…let it happen……I am accepting this as my destiny……sab ke marzi yahi hai…..

Aashu: aur tumaari marzi?? kya tum Sid se shaadi karna chahthi ho??? Do you love him???
Anjali: [her mind has been fighting over it for quite a while now and she is still confused about it….this was one question she evaded always] to tell you the truth….I don’t know if I am happy….or if I love him…..but I am taking this as God’s wish…..



[At that time, Sam passes by….he smiles and comes to Anjali….]

Sam: hi bhabhi……ab se hum aisi hi bulaayenge….hum sab bohat khush hai…….[pauses and concentrating on her facial expressions]….Sid bhi khush hai.!!!

Anjali: [in a disinterested tone] hmmmm…..

[He realizes that he came at the wrong time….So he walks away…..Anjali’s friends clasp their hands in anger]

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Sid’s POV
When Anjali called me suddenly, I was pleasantly surprised….or should I say pleasantly shocked….but I was still confused about why she called me to the hospital…..Anyways. I got ready and left……She was waiting for me at the lobby…..She told me that her father was not well and wanted to meet me…
I was tensed for the first time in life….Why would he want to meet me??? Did Anjali tell him about my confession???Did he want to advice me or scold me or even further…..bash me up??? Questions crowded my mind…..I followed her to the ward…..Few people were looking at us curiously….as if we were not from some other planet…….
As expected, he asked about my friendship with Anjali….some questions were unexpected too….The most unexpected was the wedding proposal….He asked me if I would marry Anjali……. A love affair hadn’t yet started off…..before that a wedding proposal…..I truly loved her but never thought about a wedding and that too so soon…..But the situation was such that it put immense pressure on my thoughts and finally I decided to take the plunge…..I had to marry her some day, then why not now? So I said Yes…..Her dad and mom were happy with my reply…..A smile which was missing in their faces showed up when I said that…..But that same smile and happiness were missing still in Anjali…….But I didn’t bother much about it….I was finally going to get her…In a week’s time, she will be just mine…..Nobody will dare to come between us….That was the only thought in my mind when I said Yes…..
I felt happy and I knew that Anjali will be happy with me….I was damm sure that I could make her happy…..I left the place with happiness brimming my heart…..



I knew that the herculean task of convincing my parents lay in front of me…..I wasn’t scared about my mom…..She would agree to anything that made me happy……but my dad...Convincing him would definitely be tough but I decided to delegate that work to my mom…..

I presented the matter to my mom….She nearly freaked out saying that I was too young for marriage and responsibility…..I was still studying…….But I was adamant….My emotional dialogs worked….my mom agreed……She even took the responsibility of convincing my dad…..

By evening, she came to me with the happiest news that my dad agreed to it too…..She said that they would meet Anjali’s parents the next day…Meanwhile, Anjali’s dad got discharged from the hospital…..Her mom spoke to my mom and finalized the date…....
I felt happy…..I wanted to share it with my friends……I called them up and told about the sudden turn of events….They were glad to hear it too….I was excited about it and was looking forward to the day……In between, I tried to speak to Anjali but couldn’t…..I badly wanted to know how she feels…..but then decided to wait for the right opportunity…..for the day she would be with me….the day she will be mine forever…..


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The day before the wedding……
Sid’s POV:
I had planned everything for the wedding….everything was set…..and I was ready to take the saath pheras with my love……
I rearranged my room….which would be her room too from tomorrow…. I decorated the room…..the wall colors, curtains, bed sheets, flower vases, other show pieces…..All were as per her taste…..
As I sat in my room, I looked around and thought to myself….” I would ask them to decorate the room with just red roses and jasmine…..those were her favorite flowers…..” I smiled when I thought about it….
I even planned what I would talk to her during the wedding night…..With thousand dreams in my eyes, I forced myself to sleep….I had to get up early…..As usual, my mom had planned some pujas and a visit to the temple in the morning…..the wedding rituals would start soon after that……

[To be continued]