When a man loves a woman- 3

Episode 3

' You are my sunshine. . . . .

My only sunshine. . .

You make me happy. . .

When skies are grey. . .

You'll never know dear. . . .

How much I love you. . .

Please don't take

My sunshine away. . . '

The car casset player automatically started to play the song. Anshula was gazing at Mahesh anxiously. In the next second,he pushed her on to the front left seat which was next to him. He didn't want to look at her anymore. Since then,there was only silence inside the car. Anshula leaned on to the foggy glass and questioned herself about what happened few minutes ago

' It's your home. . . You can get off. . . hurry up. . . your mom and dad are waiting. . . '

The deep baritone voice of Mahesh pierced Anshula's thoughts.

' oh. . . um. . . yup. . . I. . . I'll go. . . . '

She was jittery and jumped out from the car. But when she got ready to thank him,he rushed away from her as soon as she got off. Though it was drizzling,she didn't care and walking to the gate. Her dad's car was infront of the gate

' Twnikie. . . . . . ,It's raining babba. . . We are really sorry. . . It was very late to come home. . . With whom did you come. . ? Whose car was that ? '

Janaki,Anshula's mom ran to anshula with an umbrella in her hand

' No worries amma. . I'm okay. . . He was my co- artist ,Maheshwar Sachdeva. . . You know him. . . '

' God ! You said him to drop you ?. . . '

' Nope. . . I never. . .

Amma,I feel tired. . . please let me to take a rest. . . '

Her intention was to be alone for a while and think about the feelings that were ghosting around her mind. So that night was a very long one for Anshula. Those complicated thoughts drove her to the wall all over the night. Next morning,she was free from her working shedule but had to be at driving training school because Janaki ( Anshula's ) wanted Anshula to get driving license as soon as she turned to 18. So in the morning,Janaki dropped Anshula by the Vaidya Motor training school

' Hello miss Anshula. . . . Happy to see you here. . please wait for our driving instructor to arrive here with the vehicle. . '

According to the guidence of the receptionist,Anshula was waiting infront of the gate for the instructor.

' Hi miss. . . I'm your instructor. Get in to the car quickly. . . '

' Mahesh ji. . . . !! you ? Wh. . what are you doing here. . . ? You. . . ? '

' Sh. . . !! Tiku. . . please come and sit. . . '

Wearing a red cap with black broad shades Mahesh was sitting on the driving seat of the green colur Renault Fregate that belonged to the driving school. He signed her to get in to the car

' It's you. . . ? But How is this possible. . . ? '

' Everything is possible,if you have a strong dedication. . . okay tiku. . . let's go. . . . '

Anshula kept the silence until it took more than 15 minutes

' I know what you are thinking tiku. . . '

' Then,why doncha answer me. . . ?These complicated thoughts are too much heavy to my heart. . . '

' Um. . I know. . . ,the 1 st thing is I came here to say sorry to you for what happened yesterday. My intention was not to do such thing. . But I couldnt make my heart to understand the limits I should keep. . . '

He uttered with a melancholic voice as he did a crime

' My feelings have crossed all limits and boundaries. . Now you can do nothing Mahesh. . . Why don't you say it. . . ? For what are you waiting. . . ? '

' Tiku,I. . I can't do such a huge crime. . . take all these things as a nightmare and forget them. . . You are such a pretty girl with a great value. . . You hafta settle in someone's heart who can take care of you like a queen. . . It's not me. . . '

' Mahesh. . . . . . . . How dare you to say it so easily. . . ? I'm not a robot. . . You always kept your eye upon me since the day we met for the first time. . You took care of me though you didn't say it to me. . . If you had no feelings on me,why did you come so close to me. . . ? '

She wanted to cry. But delaying tears to fall down from the corner of her eye,She gripped his short collar tightly.

' I never said that I love you. . . Yup,It's true that I feel special about you. . . But I can't be the one that you wished me to be. . . believe me tiku. . . I'm not that one. . . '

' Oh god. . . ! How stupid I am. . . You're right. . you never said. . But I believed,I expected something than this. . . I dreamt. . but it's only me who wanted to be together. . . I got it. . . at least,tell me for the last time. . .

Tell me,why did you think I never suit for you. . . ? '

' Not you tiku. . . but I never suit with you. . . " cause,already I belong to someone else. . . . '

Anshula was thunderstruck by Mahesh's trembling voice

' What did you say. . . ? Then you are. . . . '

' Yup tiku. . . I'm a married man with two sons. . It's the bitter truth. . I know,you won't be able to believe. . . '

' No. . . . . . . . No. . . Mahesh. . You are joking. . . It cant be the truth. . .

hey,look at me. . this is not a joke. . okay. . . ?

Look at my eyes and say,

" It's a lie. . . I was just joking tiku. . . . "

Come on Mahesh. . say it just now. . . . My heart is about to explode. . . please

. . . '

She cried leaning on his chest for more than an hour. But he had no courage to stop her or comfort her. He was still looking far through the glass of the car while tears were crossing his cheeks axiomatically.

(* Twinkie- Nickname of Anshula )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

' Mama, Don't you have the dinner. . ? It's 9. 30. . . You are very late for the dinner. . '

Anshula,that was trapped behind a chronicle of past memories,woke up from that nightmare when she heard a cute bubbling voice behind her

' I dont feel to have dinner. . . I meant I'm not hungry. . . You go and sleep Akshu. . you hafta go college tomorrow. . . right. . . ? '

She stroked her 16 years old daughter Pratiksha's( Akshu- the nickname of Pratiksha ) head smoothly and uttered

' you get worried about papa. . . ? I can understand mama. . I'm not such a little kid. . . '

' Nothing like that Akshu. . . . why I should worry. . ? He hasn't fallen ill. . He is in a good health condition and he is safe where he is now. . so no worries. . but I miss him a lot. . '

It sounded melancholic.

' Mom,don't fabricate stories. . . You're a genius in hide everything from us and get hurt. . . Wait here. . . I'll call papa and say him to come soon. . . '

Pratiksha was bit aggressive as she felt much pity on her mom

' No need to do such things. . . you go and sleep. . . I can manage everything between me & papa. . . just keep on your mind you're still a kid. . . . You can't find solutions for adults' matters. . . '

Anshula was a little strict to Pratiksha because she didnt want to take the matter any further

' It's invain to talk with you mama. . . You will never grow up. . ! '

Prathiksha angrily went inside the house when Ashwini slowly approached the swing where Anshula was sitting.

' Look ash. . . Everyone says the same thing . . . " you'll never grow up. . " then I'll always be a teenage girl with three kids. . . LOL!! '

' Sorry ma'am. . . I also said the same. . . '

' hey. . . hey. . . I was just kidding. . . come and sit here. . did you have the dinner. . . ? '

Anshula held Ashwini's hand and made her sit next to Anshula on the swing

' No ma'am. . . How can I have,while you're not. . . . '

' If you were my daughter as well as Pratikshaa. . . I wish. . . . But I shouldnt be worry. God gave you to another mom for giving birth and next he sent you to me. . . . '

Anshula's kindness,love and affection melted the frozen tears which was on the inner corner of Ashwini's eyes

' Ma'am I also pay my gratitude to god every day for sending such a great human being to me. . .

' Tears,Tears. . .

Don't fall down. . .

You never deserve for

My pretty girl. . . . !

No tears anymore. . . '

Anshul sang melodiously and wiped tears from Ashwini's apple cheeks

'Ma'am I cant imagine that Mahesh sir has forgotten the anniversary. . . '

' Me too. . But I think he must be busy because of the film premiere of Archan. . Archan is his son. . . So it's his responsibility to be there as Archan's papa. . . I don't want to make him away from his kids. . . you know ash,my love is not a trouble to anyone I love. . '

Ashwini had nothing to reply. She had to pray only for much strength for Anshula

To be continued. . . .

- Dr tiku -