Aanandhi Bond
1755 Words
A month Later.
Sharma Villa
Viraj Sharma lifted his head, sensing someone near him. Nisha was standing extending some papers towards him.
Viraj: What’s this?
Nisha: I would like to do a Ph.D in Psychology. This is an application. Sign it.
Viraj took it from her hand and signed it.
Viraj(happily): I’m so glad about your decision. You need mind diversion like this. Hope you will forget everything and will become
happy like before.
Nisha nodded yes.
Viraj: You can do your Ph.D in London if you want.
Nisha: No dad. I don’t want to leave you alone here.
Viraj(feeling extremely blissful): I’m glad. But I’m sorry I couldn’t make your wish come true.
Nisha: Forget it, Dad. I don’t want to think about it anymore.
Viraj nodded yes in relief. He touched her head with satisfaction and left the place repenting. Nisha looked at the application, smiling devilishly.
Nisha(in mind): I’m sorry Dad. I fooled you. Because I don’t want to be a fool. I can’t let go of anything which I liked. I’m going to hit someone psychologically, which will be worse than a physical wound.
RM
Raut's were glad as Arshad started coming home earlier. Within a month, they witnessed gradual improvement and also confidence in Aanandhi’s behavior.
She started using simple English words in between her conversations which she learned in her spoken English class. Should I mention, Nirupama was the one who gave her company the task of talking in English, which made Arshad worried.
What if Aanandhi got confused? But to his surprise, Aanandhi corrected Nirupama’s funny English.
Aanandhi was enjoying her college, spoken English class and also Arshad’s company. At the same time, she never skipped her DAUGHTER-IN-LAW duty.
College
Aanandhi was waiting with a lunch box on the last bench as Loli and Sonu went to the canteen to get lunch for Loli. She saw a guy coming towards her. He was her classmate. But she didn’t know his name.
Guy: Hi…
Aanandhi remembered Loli’s words that she shouldn’t call anyone Brother or Sis.
Aanandhi: Hi…
Guy: I’m Ranveer Khan.
Aanandhi: I’m Aanandhi.
Ranveer: I know.
Aanandhi: Ohh.
Ranveer: can I ask you something?
Aanandhi: Sure.
Ranveer: you told the professor the first day that you were from Patna and studied in Hindi medium.
Aanandhi: Haa…
Ranveer: I also studied in Hindi medium. But you are not struggling with our portions like I do. Seems like you picked it up very easily. How?
Aanandhi(smilingly):Mr Arshad is helping me with my studies.
Ranveer: Who is Mr Arshad? Is he your tuition master?
Aanandhi(Laughing): No no. He is my husband.
Ranveer(surprised): Ohh. That’s really great.
Aanandhi (excitedly): Yes. I was very scared at first. Besides joining me in spoken English class, Mr Arshad teaches me daily.
Ranveer: You are so lucky to have such a husband.
Aanandhi nodded yes thoughtfully.
Aanandhi: You can ask me if you have any questions about our subjects. I will help you.
Ranveer: Thank you so much, sister.
Aanandhi was delighted to hear “sister” from Ranveer.
Aanandhi: You are welcome.
She didn’t call him brother in return. She didn’t want to make Loli upset. Ranveer left the place as Loli and Sonu came with their lunch.
Aanandhi: I will bring lunch for you tomorrow onwards. Don’t eat canteen food.
Sonu: Say it hit on her head. She always runs behind outside food.
Loli: because it tastes good, you know?
Aanandhi: But it’s not good for your health.
Loli: Ok baba. Forgive me. she said holding her ears.
Sonu: Aanandhi, what’s the matter, you got good marks in the test? Loli seems like Aanandhi is not our type.
Loli(Laughing): Exactly. Aanandhi don’t be a very good girl.
Aanandhi: No Loli. I have to do this for Mr Arshad. He trusts me a lot.
Loli(contently): Really?
Aanandhi: Yes, he teaches me in Hindi every day. That’s why I coped with our portions.
Loli(amazed): What!!! ASR and Hindi?
Aanandhi: Haa… thank God he also studied in Hindi medium.
Sonu: What rubbish? He…
Loli gestured to her not to say. Sonu stopped looking at her confusingly.
Loli: So, ASR is helping you in your studies?
Aanandhi: Haa, every day.
Loli: You are so lucky Aanandhi. Besides sending you to college, he is helping you.
Sonu: That’s great. I have seen many girls discontinue their studies after their marriage is fixed.
Aanandhi’s face hung hearing that. How blessed was she? She never expected that she would get a chance to study after her marriage.
Yes, her husband was really a gentleman. She thanked him inwardly.
She went to wash her Tiffin box feeling proud to get her Mr Arshad.
When she came back, she heard Loli and Sonu’s discussion seriously.
Sonu: Why did you stop me when I was supposed to say the truth about ASR? (Aanandhi stuck to hearing the word “truth”. What were they talking about?) He studied at OXFORD University but why did he lie that he studied in Hindi medium?
Loli: ASR would have said that because he wanted to make Aanandhi comfortable. She may feel reluctant to ask him to teach if she gets to know that ASR is spending time referring to our subject in Hindi to teach her.
Aanandhi couldn’t understand anything because she had no idea about OXFORD University.
But one thing she got clear. Arshad was putting effort for her. Loli and Sonu stopped talking about seeing Aanandhi.
Aanandhi didn’t show them that she heard their talks. She behaved normally but her mind was twirled in a whirl of thoughts.
With the same thoughts, she went to spoken English class. A doubt hit her mind. Didn’t Arshad say that he learned English here? Was that true? She asked her master,
Aanandhi: Sir, when did Mr Arshad study spoken English here?
Aanandhi could read some tension on his face. He was suffocating to answer her. How could he even answer when there was no answer to her question? He composed.
Master: Five years ago.
Aanandhi: oh...
Master: How could I forget him? He was a brilliant student.
Aanandhi: You are right. He told me that he had studied here five years before. I forgot about it.
The master huffed in relief. So he didn’t get caught. She plastered a smile.
To Aanandhi’s surprise, Arshad himself came to pick her up. He was waiting outside the institution. He smiled at her but didn’t receive it in return as Aanandhi was looking at him in a different way.
Arshad: Aanandhi, are you alright?
Aanandhi: yeah…
Arshad: What do you think?
Aanandhi: I am thinking about my next task.
Arshad: Next task? What’s that?
Aanandhi(making up herself): Active voice.
Arshad: It’s very simple but based on language.
Aanandhi: That is exactly what master told. (pause) When did you study spoken English here?
Arshad (stuck for a second): when I was in college.
Aanandhi: Means?
Arshad: Nine years before.
Arshad said casually unaware of the truth, that he was caught.
Aanandhi: Ohhh… what did you do five years ago?
Arshad: I started my business at that time.
Aanandhi: Where is your office?
Arshad: do you want to visit?
Aanandhi: if you have no problem.
Arshad: Why will I have a problem? In fact, you have to go there one day. AR is waiting for you.
Aanandhi: Why?
Arshad: Because you are my wife. And “Accounts management” will be there next semester. You can learn accounts from
Brother in law if you are willing.
Aanandhi:ok.
After that, Aanandhi didn’t ask him anything. There was only one thing on her mind. She wanted to know about OXFORD University, where Arshad studied.
Arshad got confused seeing Aanandhi thinking something serious the entire way to RM. She selected someone in RM to ask about Arshad.
After reaching RM, as usual, Aanandhi started doing her routine work. After a while, she went searching for Zaara who was eating chocolate mousse, relishing sitting at dining. She smiled at seeing Aanandhi and extended one to her. Aanandhi didn’t deny. She took a spoon full of mousse and ate it. It was indeed delicious.
Zaara: How is it Aunty?
Aanandhi: Excellent. She licked her lips.
Zaara: Dad brought it for me.
Aanandhi: I have seen Loli eating this many times.
Zaara: Hope you will also start eating it.
Aanandhi (nodded yes): I think Arshad should also have eaten in our college.
Zaara: Your college? No Aunty, he studied at Oxford.
Aanandhi(without showing her curiosity): Ohh where is it?
Zaara: It is in England.
Aanandhi(struggling to control her shock):Arshad would have struggled a lot to learn English then.
Zaara: Uncle and struggling with English? English is the one which always struggles in Uncle’s mouth.
Aanandhi: Means?
Zaara: He completed his schooling at CBSE School. He was brought up with English.
Aanandhi: How do you know these things?
Zaara: Raut's had no more work than praising Uncle. They want me to be like Uncle. So they tell his story repeatedly.
Aanandhi: Like him means? How?
Zaara : Like skilled in English, smart in business, clever at handling problems and calculating everything wiser.
Aanandhi was stunned to find out about Arshad and also the effort which Arshad was putting on her.
Searching for Aanandhi, Arshad descended the stairs. He smiled seeing her eating mousse with Zaara. He left the place, giving her space.
Aanandhi was scratching her head. Why Arshad doing this? What’s necessary to lie? Poor girl, she didn’t know that “The true man only lies to make his girl comfortable.” “The real partner always motivates, inspires and pushes the other”.
But there was no chance for Aanandhi to think in that way because she didn’t know Arshad was doing everything out of LOVE. Until then she would be thinking in Aanandhi’s way… funny way….
In the same way, Aanandhi’s mind sparked brightly. Yes.….. Finally, she got it….
Aanandhi(self-talk): didn’t Mr Arshad say, “ AR is waiting for you?” Being a clever businessman, he got to know how brilliant I’m. So he is making me ready for his company. He needs my services, that’s why he is encouraging me to get it.
Mr Arshad…. You are so lucky to have got to know how talented I’m. But you don’t know that there is a detective agent hiding inside me. I will find all your lies soon.
Aanandhi BOND was ready to find the lies which Arshad uttered.
In that process would she find how deeply her husband was in love with her?
- Writer
