Part 19 Direct Denial

"I don't want to get married..." Anjali said sternly.

Sinhas and Arvind were shocked, except for Shyam. He was looking at her silently as if, he already knew what her answer would be.

"But, why, Anjali?" Rajeev asked.

"What do you mean by, WHY uncle? I just don't have the interest in getting married. I have decided to help Chotte in AR. He is asking me to join AR form long ago" she said without disturbance on her face. That brought a smile to Arnav's face.

"Anju, what are you doing? Rajeev is even ready to make you his bahu. He ignored the truth that you are a widow" Arvind said.

"SHE IS NOT A WIDOW" came from Arnav and also from Shyam at a time.

The hall became pin-drop silent. Arnav and Shyam looked at each other speechlessly.

"What do you mean?" Arvind asked.

Arnav recited what Khushi explained to him about Anjali's marriage. Shyam nodded yes affirmatively.

"Arnav is right. Anjali is not a widow" Shyam said.

There was no confusion on Anjali's face but on Ratna's face. She didn't think it the way it was.

"Ok... she is not a widow. (Arvind turned to Anjali) Then what stops you from getting married? I don't want to miss this alliance, Anju"

"Excuse me, Dad... stop overpowering me. It's enough of everything. The last time also you did the same when Rajeev uncle brought Dheeraj's alliance. I obeyed you. Not this time. This is my life. I will decide what I want... I don't want to get married. That's all..." she said with a calm face but her words carried heaviness.

"Anju..." Arvind was about to say something.

"Try to understand Dad. I too have feelings. I can't change it accordingly... excuse me" she walked to her room.

Simran was highly disappointed. It was not gone unnoticed by Shyam.

Rajeev gestured for Shyam to stop Anjali. He didn't give heed to it.

"Anjali, Shyam loves you and you know that," Rajeev said, making everyone dumbfounded.

Anjali stopped at the spot not turning back.

"And, I know something too... you too liked him"

Anjali turned towards him wrathfully.

"I liked him? Who said? How do you know?" she started walking toward Rajeev while arrowing those questions.

Rajeev got stuck. He could not say Simran's name. if he said, her dirty act of separating Shyam and Anjali came out.

"No one said. I know you and Shyam were close friends"

"Oh, really? Then why did you arrange my wedding so urgently when he is not in India? Why didn't you wait for my friend to come back to India who is your son?"

Rajeev was suffocating to answer her. He looked at Arvind.

"Anju, you should not talk to elders like this" Arvind came for Rajeev's help.

"You don't have to teach me what and how to do, Dad, because Mom had taught us very well something called manners when you were roaming around your friend, concentrating to pacify him for no reason" A slight anger started peeping in Anjali's tone.

Arvind stood wordless stunningly.

"Do you know in what school I Chotte studied? Do you know what's my favourite subject? Do you know what's my favourite food? Respect comes from the way the elder shows concern for us... if it is the case, there is no single quality in you to show respect" she said looking at Rajeev and then Arvind.

"Anju, you are making things difficult..."

"Things are already difficult in our family, Dad. Except for you, everyone present here knew that. In the process of showing your friend good, don't put me on fire Dad"

"Will you say, you don't like Shyam?" Rajeev asked.

"I do not owe to answer you, uncle. It's a matter between us two. I will answer him if he questions me." She said looking at Shyam.

"Shyam, why are you silent? Won't you ask her anything?"

Shyam was silent. Anjali smirked.

"He won't question me because he knew the reason. He knows why I don't want to marry him."

Rajeev looked at Shyam who sighed.

"And, I know something else too... that even you don't know about your son"

Rajeev gulped down. So did Simran. What was that they didn't know about Shyam?

"He came to the temple to meet me before my wedding. He confessed his love that day. As I didn't accept his proposal, he promised in front of God, keeping burning camphor in his palm that he will never get married to anyone else other than me"

Everyone looked at him shockingly. Shyam fisted his palm into a ball.

Something kicked in Arnav's mind. Did Anjali also love Shyam? That's why she was staying in the disguise of a widow even after knowing about her incomplete wedding?

"I'm sorry, Shyam. I don't mean to hurt you. But, there was no chance for us to get united. Because I know very well where this wedding will lead us. I know what made Rajeev uncle take the proposal forward. He will demand Arnav to marry Simran which I don't want to happen" Anjali told openly making Rajeev and Simran flabbergasted.

Arnav gulped hard. Somewhat he guessed it.

"I love my brother very much. He respects me as a mother. I admire his every action... fearless nature... individuality... way of making decisions... I don't want to build a hindrance in his path. Of course, no one can do that. I want him to be peaceful. He can't be peaceful if I get married to you. Your father and sister won't let it happen" She said without hesitation.

Rajeev and Simran suffocated like hell. Not only them but anyone expected that kind of HIT from Anjali.

As anyone didn't expect, Shyam stood up and said,

"If this is the problem, let me get it clear. Neither I nor anyone from my family will nag you to get Simran married to Arnav" Shyam promised to make his father and sister upset.

"Take your time, Anju. Waiting is not new to me. I will be waiting... for you... like always..." Shyam left RM without waiting for his father and sister to accompany him.

Anjali also didn't stop there. She went back to her room.

Arnav and Ratna were in different states. They knew Anjali and Shyam were good friends but they didn't know there was a story that includes Shyam in Anjali's life. They got a strong doubt that Anjali also should have loved Shyam. Then why didn't they stop the marriage with Dheeraj? So what if Shyam was not in India? Why did they take it forward?

Rajeev managed to handle the situation.

"I don't think what made Anjali think so. I really feel bad. She is a kid after all... let me know if she changes her mind" Rajeev started walking and Simran followed him enraged.

Arvind looked at Ratna. Arnav was about to go, he stopped and looked at Arvind.

"I don't want anyone to force Di. I will be with her in this."Arnav walked and stopped hearing,

"Shyam is a good guy"

Before he said anything,

"But he is a son of Rajeev Sinha..." Ratna said.

"What do you mean, Ratna?"

"You know very well what I meant"

"Why are you hating Raju so much?"

"I hate not only him but also you" Ratna left the place.

Arnav headed to Anjali's room without minding about Arvind as if he didn't exist. He saw Anjali checking her mobile. He got in and sat next to her on the bed. Anjali didn't look at him.

"Di..."

She raised her head and smiled at him. Arnav sat beside her.

"Do you love Shyam?" he came straight to the point.

"To be honest, I wished to marry him... ONCE... but not now. Shyam is not like his father. He didn't change even after my marriage got fixed with Dheeraj. I witnessed pain in his eyes. He asked me to marry him after Dheeraj's demise."

"But, you never allowed him to meet you..."

"He has been sending me messages to which I never responded"

"Why didn't you tell me about it if you want to marry Shyam?"

"I thought my marriage with Dheeraj was happening with Shyam's consent"

"Didn't it?"

"No... we misunderstood each other. He thought I'm not interested in him. I thought whatever in his heart for me is just friendship"

"It seems he still loves you"

"So?"

"You should marry him Di..."

"No, Chotte, there is an unimaginable ploy behind this proposal. Shyam may be a sweet man but his family. I would have accepted him if they had come with the proposal a month ago. But now, it doesn't make sense. They won't let me live peacefully until they get what they want. They will force you to marry Simran. They will ask you to drop Khushi somewhere. Could you do that? Khushi is your responsibility. You have to keep the words that you gave to her father. We can't leave her anywhere... she should be in RM no matter what because she has no one other than YOU"

"I will manage, Di"

"Of course, you can. But why should we take unnecessary tension?"

"I will take any tension for your happiness..."

"No, Chotte, enough of taking tension. We have already faced much tension. Not anymore"

"Di..."

Cutting him,

"However I'm not going to give up easily. Let's see, what Shyam is going to do." She smiled.

Arnav gazed at her contently. He understood that Anjali was expecting something from Shyam.

They saw Khushi enter the room. Her eyes were teary. Arnav and Anjali spared a glance.

"Khushi, are you alright?" Arnav asked panicking.

She came and knelt in front of Anjali.

"Di, please marry Shyam Bhai if you love him..."

Anjali looked at Arnav who was gazing at Khushi.

"I heard what you said about me. Don't take me wrong. Please drop me in a hostel. Get rid of me and get into the new life Di. You don't have to bother about me..."

Cutting her,

"Diiiii" Arnav said gritting his teeth.

Both Khushi and Anjali looked at him.

"Tell her I won't spare her if she repeats it again," he said looking at Anjali with anger.

Anjali sensed the situation becoming dangerous.

"No, Arnavji... this is your family. You should give the first preference to it... and I..."

Arnav stood up from the bed and made her stand, clutching her upper arm.

"Can't you understand Khushi? Yes, my family is important to me. According to me, you are not someone. I consider you as my family. No one could break the bond with us. I will never part ways with you... Understand?" he yelled making Khushi tremble and Anjali smirk.

To be continued...