Chapter 10

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Anjali was in her room checking the puja list making sure she has purchased all the items on the list. She had already giftwrapped Kajal's gifts and hid them in her wardrobe.

"Bhabhi?" She looked up when Kajal came in the room. "What are you doing?" She came and sat next to Anjali.

She put the list aside. "I was just checking the puja list to be sure we purchased everything on our shopping trip. So tell me, what can I do for you?"

Kajal gave her a serious look. "Hmm.....I can't come talk to my bhabhi just because I want to?"

Anjali laughed. "Of course you can, but I just left you little while ago, and you didn't say anything then, so tell me what's wrong?"

"I will tell you in a minute, but there was something else I wanted to ask you first."

Anjali smiled at her sister-in-law, thinking Kajal wanted to know what her brothers' has gotten her for rakhi. "Are you still upset with bhai over what happened that night?"

She was taken aback by Kajal's question, she got up and made a restless movement, trying to figure out how to answer without making Aditya look bad in his sister's eyes. She had noticed the night before, the siblings were back on even footings, they were back to the way they were when she first came into the house. She didn't want to tip the balance of their relationship again. Brother and sister relationships are sacred and nothing or no one should be able to come between them.

"Bhabhi nothing you say to me will effect how I feel about bhai, we have reached a truce, I know bhai hurt you, but I also know he feels bad about it now, and I completely understand if you are still upset with him." Kajal stood up and went to stand next to her bhabhi.

Anjali sighed. "Kajal, he didn't trust me, how can I not be upset with him? I know he feels bad about that night, but its hard for me to put my trust in him now, what will he do next time?"

"He might surprise you the next time, if there is ever a situation like that again, but I would doubt that he would ever leave you alone and vulnerable like that again." Kajal spoke quietly.

Anjali just shook her head.

Kajal watched her bhabhi intently for a moment as if trying to figure out what is going through her mind. "What will you do? Are you planning on leaving him and Mehta House?"

Anjali looked away feeling guilty. Kajal took her back to bed and sat her down. "Bhabhi, just think about this for moment. Is this what you really want to do?" When she started to answer her, Kajal stopped her. "Just listen to me for a moment. If you leave, mom will be devastated, she loves you like a daughter, and beside what explanation will you give to her and the family? Every one loves you, and they think you and bhai have a normal marriage, neither one of you have indicated that there is any problems between the two of you. Do you really want to be alone? Do you not want to give it one more chance and see if this time you will get everything you ever wished for, especially bhai, whom you have loved for a long time?"

Anjali thought about Kajal's words, it was nothing different from what she had been thinking, but coming from someone else, especially from someone who knew all about Anjali and Aditya's relationship, it made a bigger impact. "I really don't know what to do Kajal."

"Bhabhi, I am not saying decide right now, I am just saying think about it, there are other people involved, how it will effect everyone. And besides bhai really wants to make it up to you now and work on your relationship, why not give it a chance? Just think about it." Kajal gave her a pleading look.

Anjali nodded her head. "I won't do anything yet, and think about it. So tell me what else you wanted to say to me."

Kajal twisted her hands nervously, she didn't know if her bhabhi is going to be able to help her, but she didn't know who else to ask. She couldn't tell her mom directly, so she will have to ask her bhabhi to do it. Kajal cleared her throat. "Well actually I want to introduce you to someone."

Anjali raised an eyebrow. "Someone? As in someone special, why me?"

Kajal flushed when her bhabhi guessed what she was trying to say. "So you can tell mom about him."

Anjali moved away in surprise and gave Kajal a shocked look. "Oh, no you don't, I can't talk to maa bout it. You have to tell her yourself."

"Bhabhi please, she listens to you and she won't say no if you meet him first. He is a really nice guy and comes from a very good family. Plus he is from this area."

"Is he from your school? How did you meet him?" Anjali watched as her sister-in-law paced nervously and thought what is this girl getting me into?

She stopped in front of Anjali, not meeting her eyes. "Um..not exactly, I met him at school, but he wasn't attending college, he used to come meet his sister, who is a good friend of mine."

Anjali sighed, she needed to know more about this guy. She might as well meet him first, before making any kind of decisions. "Okay fine, I will meet him then decide what to do."

Kajal jumped and hugged Anjali tightly almost making Anjali fall. She laughed at Kajal. "Thanks bhabhi, I know you will like him. I will tell you as soon as I can make an arrangement with him."

Anjali hugged her back. "Don't thank me yet, I have to see what he is like before I tell maa."

They talked for while more before Ramila called them down to prepare dinner.

*~+~*

Meanwhile Aditya and Raj were still thinking about how to make up for the hurt they have caused to the most important person in their life.

He told Raj about how he had met Anjali the first time and what happened and also about what is currently going on. He had expected Raj to explode at him, but Raj just shook his head and laughed at himself. "I was thinking you would be able help me get close to her, but you have your own problems to work out with her."

Aditya looked at him thoughtfully. "I don't know, you coming back and me helping you mend her relationship with her will win me some brownie points with her, so in this case we would both be able to help each other."

Raj thought about it and came to a conclusion, Aditya was right, and there is something else he had to tell Aditya that will take stress off Anjali. "There is something else you should know, that will help reduce her stress."

Aditya was curious, but he wanted to know something. "Does Anjali always get sick when she is stressed?"

Raj thought about it. "Yes, as far as I know, and the latest cause of her stress may be Urmila auntie wanting Riya to marry your cousin, and for Anjali to arrange the alliance."

It was Aditya's turn to ask, "How do you know this?"

Raj rubbed his forehead. "They have involved dad into their plan. When I came home, Dad started ranting and raving about how Anjali hadn't come to visit in months, and it is because she is avoiding him because auntie wants Riya to marry your cousin. And since Anjali is jealous of Riya, she doesn't want the alliance to happen and that is why she won't talk to your parents about it. It was all very confusing for a moment, but I finally calmed him down and made him tell me."

Aditya was also confused, "But your dad can't stand Anjali, then why would he expect her to visit?"

"Who knows, for appearance purposes, I guess, he wouldn't want your family to think that she was mistreated, in anyway, growing up, he knew Anjali wouldn't say anything either." 

He couldn't look at Aditya in the eyes, he was ashamed to reveal so much to his sister's husband, but if it helped Anjali to finally get the happiness she deserves than he would gladly share all his families shameful secret with the person who will make his sister happy.

Aditya folded his hands in front of him. "Okay, rakhi is two days away and I take it you want to see her on that day, so that gives me enough time to talk to her. Lets hope she listens to me for a change. Your sister is very stubborn sometimes."

Raj laughed at that, "She has learned to stand up for herself against everyone but my father, that is why auntie takes everything to dad in regards to Anjali."

Raj left after while making Aditya promise to call him soon as he talked with Anjali. He didn't want to wait too long to see his sister, he has waited too long already.

*~+~*

That evening Aditya came home in frustration. He thought he had taken steps to ensure that no more mishaps took place at their construction site, but it seems there was another accident today, thank god it was only minor one and no one was injured. He needed to find out who is responsible for replacing good quality material with the cheap material they've been finding at some of their sites. It was obvious it is someone with inside knowledge of the company.

He was still deep in thought as he walked past the kitchen, but then he heard a soft giggle and stopped in his track. No way! He hasn't heard the sound of that laugh in a long time. He dropped his bag in the chair and walked towards the kitchen. He stopped at the kitchen door and observed the scene before him. He caught his breath when he saw Anjali smiling at something Kajal was saying to her.

He should have known his sister would bring back the smile on her face. No one could resist his sister. It seemed Kajal was asking her to teach her to make a dish and Anjali kept saying no, insisting his mom made it better than her, so Kajal should ask her.

Anjali turned so her back to the kitchen door, she didn't see Aditya standing by the door watching her. He started to walk away but Kajal's next words stopped him.

"Bhabhi, you should make Gulab Jamun(Fried Indian Donut) today, they are bhai's favorite." Kajal was looking straight at him. He raised an eyebrow at her, but she just smiled and turned back towards Anjali.

Anjali's smile faded at Kajal's request. She had tried to please him, in the beginning of their marriage, with his favorite sweet dish, but he always refused saying he didn't like to eat unhealthy food. "Your bhai doesn't eat sweets anymore, he has become more health conscious these days."

It was Kajal's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Since when?"

Before Anjali could answer she heard Aditya speak up, "Since I married your sweet bhabhi." He walked into the kitchen and stopped behind Anjali and waited for her to turn towards him. Anjali froze, she stared at Kajal, who just smiled at her teasingly. She gave Kajal an, "I am going to get you back look" and turned towards Aditya.

He crossed his arms and waited for her response. 

"Aditya, what are you doing in the kitchen?" 

They all turned towards Hina auntie who had just walked into the kitchen from the back door. Anjali breathed a sigh of relief. Kajal laughed at Aditya's embarrassment at being caught in the room he never visits.

She stood next to Hina auntie, with her arms around her, and gave Anjali and Aditya a teasing look. 

"Auntie, bhai is trying to talk bhabhi into making Gulab Jamun for him, but bhabhi is refusing, saying he needs to stay fit."

Anjali glared at Kajal while Aditya grinned at his sister. 

"Yes auntie, now you can talk to your daughter-in-law and tell her to make Gulab Jamun for me." He winked at Anjali, who just looked at him blankly.

Just then Ramila also walked into the kitchen. She was also surprised at seeing her son in the kitchen. 

"Aditya, what are you doing here?"

Hina smiled at them, "Ramila, Aditya is requesting Anjali to make Gulab Jamun for him."

"And your daughter-in-law is denying me."

Ramila looked at Anjali, "May be my daughter-in-law has a good reason for denying you Aditya." 

Anjali looked at her mother-in-law in surprise. She gave her a reassuring smile, Anjali sighed. She didn't want Ramila to scold Aditya on her behalf.

Aditya looked at his mom sharply and knew that his mom suspected all is not well between him and Anjali. He also knew that his mom probably suspected the fault lies with him and not Anjali. He decided to retreat before things became awkward. He dropped his hands at his sides. 

"Okay I give up, but can I have some tea at least?"

His mom gave him a knowing look. "Fine go to your room and freshen up, Anjali will bring your tea."

He left without glancing back and rushed up to his room to freshen up.

He just finished his conversation with the manager of the construction site where the accident happened, when Anjali walked in with his tea. He threw the phone on the bed angrily and sat on the bed rubbing his head.

She noticed this and immediately became worried for him. He had been tense lately and from the conversation this morning and just now she has gathered that there have been quiet a few accidents on the construction sites, and he is trying to figure out what is going on.

When he noticed her standing there he immediately stood up and cleared his face and smiled at her, "Thanks for the tea." He took the tea from her and went to sit in the chair.

She hesitated for a moment. "Are you okay?"

He looked at her in surprise. "Yes I am fine, just a minor problem at a construction site."

She knew he was lying, the problem was lot bigger than what he is making it out to be. She went to his wardrobe and laid out his nightclothes.

"Do you want medicine for your headache?" 

Aditya who hadn't realized Anjali was still in the room, looked up at her blankly. He frowned and looked at her questioningly. She sighed, he hadn't been paying attention to her. She just shook her head. 

"I laid your clothes out, why don't you go freshen up while I get you medicine for the headache."

He stood up to offer the empty cup to her, when she took the cup from him and started to walk past him, he caught her hand to stop her. He brought her close to him, 

"Thanks again for the tea and for laying my clothes out. I know you care for me, how long will you deny it?"

Anjali opened her mouth just to do that, but the words got stuck in her throat when she saw the tender look in his eyes. She looked away and he smiled in triumph. She sighed at his elation and knew she just gave herself away by not saying anything, but in all honesty she couldn't deny her feelings either. For her the moment she realized she was in love with him, he was it for her, no one else could take his place in her heart.

But that didn't mean she is willing to give into him either. Kajal's words ran through her head. Is she being selfish by not thinking about the family? She had been right, they all loved her, specially her mother-in-law and she would be hurt the most. Anjali needed to think about what she wants to do.

Aditya watched the fleeting expressions on Anjali's face and wondered what she is thinking about. 

"What are you thinking about?"

She looked up at him, "I am thinking if you would let me go, I can go get the medicine for your headache." 

He narrowed his eyes at her. She raised an eyebrow, as if to say "What you don't believe me?"

He let go of her, "Fine run from me, but remember one of these days you will run to me." Anjali left the room without commenting.

*~+~*

A/N

Hey everyone, thank you all for giving this book a chance. I know the first few chapters were really boring but give it a chance the story does get better, I promise. 

I have two long chapters today and may update more tonight. This story is complete and I will try to post quicker.

Please vote and give me some feedback as to what you think of the book so far.

Thank you again for reading, voting and following. 

One last note, I am very bad at translations, please forgive. 

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