Getting a bus from Bhimbhali early in the morning isn't a cake walk. Rudra had to lie to his family to meet Anaswara, after the little talk they had and unpleasant words of Bua, they all left Anaswara's home to Bhimbhali.

Keshaki Bua along with his mother Dharani didn't like the girl. According to Bua, Anaswara is a bit modern and outspoken when in reality she didn't even utter a word.

And to his mother Dharani , Anaswara didn't look as beautiful as her own daughter and also in the picture she was fair and beautiful.

Seeing the bus reaching the destination , Rudra jumped down the steps only to get scolded by the bus's ticket- checker.

Not giving enough attention to the man who hurled abuses at him , Rudra walked to the rickshaw stand.

" Cafe coffee day jayenge bhaiya " Rudra asked politely to the auto driver.

Sitting in the auto , he recollected their yesterday's interaction....

" Haan kyu nahi " Rudra said confusingly

She smiled and gave him her contact number. He contemplated on not knowing how to save her contact , she chuckled and said " Anaswara naam hai mera "

" Haan ..... woh main janta hoon "

" phir kal milkar baat karenge , tab tak don't let the family know anything , and please don't even tell them we'll be meeting tomorrow "

When they were heading back to the lounge , she turned to him and said " your Bua already didn't like me , hope your mother too joins her soon "

With that she was gone , just like the nervousness he had.

He was never so comfortable with the opposite genders . Anaswara seemd a bold lady , she told whatever she wants and vanished.

Reaching cafe coffee day , he called her only to know she had reached before him .

" Hi , I'm late , sorry " Rudra even didn't know why he was apologising.

" No problem. It might be a tiring journey right from Bhimbhali to here ."

" Not much , there's less bus services. Considering today is no festival day "

" oh okay, you might be hungry?"

" No I'm good. " Rudra's smile was something Anaswara liked since yesterday but then she didn't show that on her face.

Ordering two cappuccinos and brownies , they sat quiet .

Once they received their orders, Anaswara begin to say " You should reject this marriage "

Keeping the cup back he stared at her like he had seen some ghost.

She continued " you're being betrayed by my family. Apki family ko bhi bata dijiye ab jo main bolne wali hoon woh saari baatein"

Rudra didn't really have anything to say, so he remained silent looking at her.

" This marriage if ever taken place will be my second marriage "

Now he was perplexed, blinking his eyes and clearing his throat several times, he stuttered " Ma..main.... I didn't understand."

" Listen Rudra , I was married at eighteen sighting some problems in my horoscope. Aur aap sabse yeh sab batein chupaya jaa rha hai "

Walking in the streets of Kamaljit Nagar , Anaswara remained silent , she didn't even complete her part of the story .

" aapka husband?"

Rudra's question received a deep sigh from her . Sitting on one of the stone benches , she faced him with a sad smile.

" we're mutually divorced. "

Another minute passed away and the silence seemed so good in each others presence .

" aap mana kardijiye Rudra , main mana nahi kar sakti, jitne bhi rishte aaye hai un sab ko main mana kar chuki hoon , isliye aap mana kardijiye "

" par kyu? "

This was the first time someone asking her a reason for rejection.

" dekhiye I'm married...."

Rudra cut her off saying " And divorced bhi haina "

She frowned. " aap samajh nahi rhe , I'm divorced and there's a reason "

" You tell me the reason I'll reject the proposal "

" main , huh , I'm infertile "

Silence followed but this time felt like a knife cutting off them both .

" okay "

" okay ??? Dekhiye Rudra valid reason hai toh mana kardijiye "

" dekhiye Anaswara , main isko reason nahi manta , toh reject kyu karunga "

" main keh rhi hoon ki main ek Maa nahi ban sakti aur aap ..." her voice raised a bit and she stopped sighing.

After a whole minute he said " it isn't your fault , toh main kyu apko galat samjhu , ab bacho ko adopt bhi kar sakte haina matlab agar kabhi aapne "Haan " ki toh "

" this won't work , us won't work. You better reject the proposal "

Saying this she walked away , he smiled looking at her retreating figure.

" mil liya dosto se " his mother questioned

" Haan, chai pila do "

" khana laga rhi hoon"

" na khake aaya "

" toh chai bhi pike aata "

Not having a reply he whined " maa"

" Main toh keh rhi hoon aap turant mana karde bhaiya ji , mujhe toh ladki bilkul bhi nahi pasand aayi" Keshaki bua's words were no less than poison.

" main bhi yehi keh rhi hoon , aap unko phone milakar bata dijiye na " his mother's support to his Bua wasn't much appreciated.

Kishorilal Malhotra asked his son directly without paying any heed to his wife and sister " tum kya chahte ho Rudra ?"

" woh kya chahega aap turant mana kardijiye bhaiya ji "

" tumhara naam Rudra hai kya ?"

This made keshaki shut her mouth ,her son and daughter-in-law stiffled their laughs.

" baba aap Haan kardijiye. Meri taraf se Haan hai "

With that he walked out of the house .

Kishorilal informed the same to Agnihotri's who were on cloud nine .

" Maine nahi kaha tha , ladka haath se phisal gaya hai bhabhaji."

Keshaki's words put Dharani in a dilemma , now she was restless and sad.

Having no other way she faked her smile .

" What is it ?"

The goofy smile of her mother made Anaswara frown.

" They said yes ."

It took her several minutes to register her mother's words , she stood perplexed.

Silently making her way to her room , she ringed Rudra who the next second answered

" I told you to reject "

" And I told you that I didn't see any valid reason "

" I can't be a mother, I can never give you children, think of your family Rudra "

" They'll be sad . "

" exactly that's what I'm trying to make you understand "

" but....."

" kya ?"

" mujhe tumse shaadi karna hai Anaswara, tum chahti toh yeh baat chupa sakti thi , par nahi ki na , hum bacho ke baare main abhi nahi discuss karenge"

Did he just plead? Kinda.

Not having an answer she cut the call and sat on the bed with a thud .

Was she wrong in perceiving male category?
Isn't everyone like her ex- husband?

Confused and shocked, that's how she was.

One was happy in the present and the other was worried about the present.

Not knowing the tomorrow and the storm it's bringing on a package of buy one get three free...........

Will continue...........