IAL Chapter 31: Anjili

Chapter 31: Anjili

 

The house was eerily quiet with awkward silence. Everyone turned to look at Anjili she had stopped struggling and had slumped against Akash. She was staring out into space. No one really knew what to do to pacify her.

 

Mamiji turned towards Khushi and lashed out. “This is all your fault Pati Saree!”

 

Before anyone could protect Khushi, Anjili interjected, “No Mamiji, no one is guilty until proven otherwise. Chote, give me all the files. Khushiji, come with me. No one follow us, I want to be left alone for a while.”

 

Arnav handed her the files quietly and Khushi followed her to her room. No one tried to stop them. Anjili seemed pretty determined and she became just like Arnav when she got this way so it was just best to abide her request. Once they were in the room, Anjili closed the door and looked at Khushi.

 

“If Shyamji was hitting on you, you should’ve told me. I didn’t think you were one of those girls Khushiji.” she asked Khushi.

 

“I’m not Anjiliji, believe me, I only found out that he was your husband at the pooja when you finally introduced us. I broke off the engagement immediately and I wanted to tell you the next day but your mungalsutra broke.”

 

“Engagement!” screeched Anjili in outrage.

 

“Anjiliji please calm down and I’ll tell you everything. Please just listen to my side of the story.”

 

“A couple of thugs were misbehaving with me and he came in and rescued me. That was in Lucknow but I met him again in Delhi and he offered me a job in AR. He’d come around our house and help out a lot and he told us he didn’t have a place to stay so Buaji insisted that he stay with us. Eventually we got engaged, he never once told us that he was married. When I found out I broke it off.”

 

“And you didn’t tell me.”

 

“Because of your mungalsutra and because he said he wouldn’t pursue me anymore and that he was going to be faithful to you. I believed him, we all did.”

 

“We?”

 

“Me and my family. We didn’t like deceiving you but it did look like he was keeping his word until the thing that happened on the roof. Please Anjiliji, you have to believe me.”

 

“Alright Khushiji, I’ll take into account what you said, I’ll look at the evidence and make an informed decision. I’m not like Arnav and NK, I’m not blinded by my love for you. You can go now.”

 

Khushi turned to go but stopped at the door and turned around.

 

“I hope your love for Shyamji doesn’t blind you from making an informed decision.”

 

Saying that, she left the room, leaving Anjili with her thoughts and files.