Sanjay gave Sanjana and Anjali a flying kiss leaving the trio shocked. ‘Why the hell are you staring at me Arya? Did you mention where to kiss? You just said the blo*dy word kiss and I kissed but being lenient, am I right Sanju and Anji?’ he asked and they agreed. ‘You’re right, he didn’t mention,’ Anjali said making Arya happy. Sanjana rotated the bottle and it came on her and Arya. ‘Truth or dare?’ she asked. ‘Dare,’ he replied shrugging his broad shoulders. ‘Oh so you also have no power to tell the truth, ha ha ha!’ Anjali laughed and he admired her.
‘Becharay do choohay billiyo’n k beech phass gaye hain,’ (The poor mice are trapped between the cats) Sanjana joked having a high five with Anjali laughing with her. ‘Toh tum dono billiya’n bhi to phassi ho hum do shero’n k beech, hai na Arya?’ (So you both cats are also trapped between us lions, right Arya?) Sanjay asked. ‘Yes,’ he replied and all of them laughed. ‘Par billi to sher ki mausi hoti hai na,’ (but a cat is an aunt to the lion) Anjali joked again and once again they all laughed and got back to giving Arya a dare.
‘So your dare is to drink ten shots of beer,’ Sanjana said and he stood up and went to kitchen followed by everyone and they watched as he drank one after another and stopped after the tenth shot. He walked stumblingly and his broad shoulder collided with Anjali’s shoulder because of which she lost balance and fell in his arms. ‘Oh sorry baby, but I m houseful, can’t walk,’ he said straightening her and put his heavy arm around her shoulders. Sanjay held him from the other side and took him to the room carefully.
‘Sanjana its not fair that you gave him such a dare,’ Sanjay said. ‘Its just a game, let’s not play further and go back to our house,’ she replied. ‘Its ok Sanju, party was necessary to celebrate our victory, I think we all should drink, no?’ Arya said supporting her. ‘Yes,’ Anjali agreed smilingly going to kitchen and brought a bottle with three glasses and filled each of them. She handed Sanjay and Sanjana each and drank having cheers with both of them. The trio drank and Arya kept staring at Anjali admiring her every move, he loved her after all.
He was sitting on the floor watching Anjali and his eyes felt heavy because of too many shots and he passed out on the floor. She was the second one to pass out that too with half her body resting over his body. Next was Sanjay who fell next to Arya and Anjali and the last was Sanjana who fell on Sanjay with her head on his chest. Next morning they woke up and decided to skip college today. That day Sanjay’s parents decided to fix his alliance with Sanjana so that they marry soon after their studies are finished but before that, they’ll be engaged to each other.
Raima (Nyonika in her first birth), Sanjay’s mother phoned Saadhna, Sanjana’s mother inviting them for lunch that day. Manjali and Baldev were the first to arrive there as Sanjana would arrive later. Anjali got to know about this and secretly went in the mansion jumping from the walls and stood outside the window to hear the conversation between them. ‘I think Sanjay and Sanjana should get engaged as they love each other since childhood, who would be a better girl for Sanjay than Sanjana? Only if you agree, the rest is on us,’ Raima said sipping her tea.
Anjali felt as if someone pierced her heart with an ice cold knife a thousand times. ‘Yes, why not? I also feel the same, but I want that enough gap is given to them between engagement and marriage as marriage is a big responsibility,’ Saadhna said. ‘OK, so the alliance is fixed, you give this news to Sanjana and I will tell Sanjay, I would love Sanjana as my daughter in law,’ she replied. ‘I would also love Sanjay as my son in law,’ Saadhna said and they had a hug. Anjali threw a stone at the window in anger and their attention diverted towards her.
The watchman came to her. ‘Who are you? How did you got inside? Maybe you’re a thief that’s why you came like this by hiding,’ he said and held her wrist pulling her inside the house. Just then Sanjana too arrived but she hadn’t got inside till then. ‘Raima ji, she was looking inside your house like a thief,’ the watchman said. ‘You leave. I will see,’ she replied and he left. Sanjana entered inside greeting everyone keeping her arm around Anjali smiling at her. They greeted her back and then looked at Anjali
‘So tell, what were you doing here looking inside like a thief?’ Raima asked her walking towards her. ‘I..I was..,’ she was cut in between. ‘And how dare you to throw a stone inside? Someone might’ve got hurt,’ Sanjay’s father Mani said. ‘I will speak, actually uncle, she also wanted to come but mumma refused,’ Sanjana said looking at Anjali whose face had an annoyed expression. ‘What’s this reason? And if you’re saying truth, then why did she throw this stone inside?’ Mani asked. ‘Uncle, someone else might’ve thrown it. Maybe some kid threw it,’ Sanjana lied knowingly.
‘There is no single child who can do this. You’re lying to save your sister,’ Mani said knowingly. ‘So I will tell you all the truth and the bitter truth is that I also love Sanjay from my childhood, I just came to hear what you want to talk about and if you all got to know about it,’ Anjali said. ‘What? How shameless person you’re. You can’t see your sister happy,’ Raima said. ‘No aunty. Sanjana is my sister. Why the hell will I not love her?’ Anjali said angrily. ‘You yourself told us that you love Sanjay,’ Mani replied.
‘Uncle, is loving someone a crime? If its a crime then why are you fixing Sanju’s alliance with Sanjay?’ Anjali said. ‘Yes aunty. It’s not her fault. I apologize from her side,’ Sanjana said. ‘Sisters often sacrifice for each other. She shouldn’t have done this,’ Raima said. Anjali started losing her cool. ‘Oye hello aunty jee. Who the hell are you to say all this? You have no damn right,’ Anjali said angrily creasing her eyebrows. ‘Anjali!’ Raima shouted and was about to slap her but she held her hand. ‘You don’t have any right to slap me, stop interfering.’
She left her hand and she writhed in pain as her bangle had broken from her grip. Sanjana looked at Anjali worriedly. Aiyappa, ab toh Anjali gai kaam se (Aiyappa, now Anjali is gone), Sanjana thought. ‘My bangle broke, it cut my skin because of this girl,’ Raima said in pain. ‘Aunty stop this drama,’ Anjali said coming near Raima but was cut in between as she felt her arm being held and she was turned towards Mani who slapped her shocking everyone, she held her cheek getting teary eyed while Sanjana gasped in shock and stood beside Anjali keeping her one arm around her shoulders and her hand on her cheek.
‘Do you have any manners on how to talk to elders? She is my wife but I never dared to speak rudely to her and my son never dared to talk with her in loud voice and you’re talking to her meeting your eyes with her that too like this? Didn’t your mother ever told you how to talk to elders? Are you stupid? Look at your sister, how well mannered is she but you? Shame on you, actually the thing is you’re a daughter without a father, if your father would’ve been alive then he would’ve told you how to talk with manners,’ Mani scolded her and Sanjana looked on angrily.
(Will Sanjana sacrifice her love for Anjali?)
Both Mani and Raima had a rebirth.