Yours To Love Yours To Take: Salim And Anita's Sanctum (Verma Clan's Sanctum Series)

by Reshma Ranjan

  He turned towards the advocates and nodded his head. One of them looked at the couple suspiciously. He looked a little older and wiser.

  “And the second thing is the prenuptial agreement I want Anita to sign. When and if she wants to walk out of marriage, which she can, anything which belonged to Ananya, or was supposed to be her share of their common wealth, will be mine and Anita will pay me back for all the expenses I pay for her during our married life.” Anita’s body stiffened as she heard every word. She knew her meagre salary from the school was enough for her. The wealth never mattered to her. But asking her to part with everything which was Ananya’s was a blow below the belt. He knew that after having lost her parents and now Ananya, all she had left was her belongings as memories. Anita realized that Salim was making sure she didn’t have a way out of this marriage. Does he realize he was making a trap for her where he will also be imprisoned?

  “Third, she cannot demand any alimony after we separate or contend against it.”

  The advocates squirmed as they took down the notes and the older one narrowed his eyes.

  “Mr. Verma?” The older advocate said. “Is this the lady in question? I need to speak with her.”

  Salim took a couple of steps away and the old man came to Anita. Raising his hand for a hand shake, he held her eyes. She looked at him calmly.

  “I am Advocate Sanjeev Shukla.” He waited for her to say something and when she didn’t, he looked at Salim and an odd smile played on his lips. “Listen, beti. I have a daughter your age. Do you really want to marry this man?”

  Before she could answer she heard Salim’s confident voice. “Adv. Shukla, you have to ask her if she has agreed to marry me. Tell me, darling, do you agree to marry me or not?” She looked at him and back to Adv. Shukla and nodded her head. Shukla frowned.

  “Why are you not speaking? Are you afraid of this man?” She immediately raised her head. Of course, she was not! She shook her head firmly confirming that she was not afraid of Salim. Shukla saw she meant it when she said she didn’t fear this man. When he didn‘t hear any more explanation, he let out a breath. “Tell me your full name.”

  “Anita Batra.” Salim replied.

  Shukla frowned at Salim. “I want to hear her say it, Mr. Verma.”

  Salim shrugged. “Be my guest, except I don’t have a lot of time.” He looked at the other two advocates. “Meanwhile, you guys carry on with the paper work because I doubt you will be seeing Adv. Shukla any time soon. I don’t know how much time it takes for Adv. Shukla to make a mute speak.” There was a shocked expression on everyone’s face and Adv. Shukla looked at the girl who stood silent yet strong.

  “You are sure everything is fine isn’t it, beta?” He asked.

  Anita nodded. She didn’t know why but she thought if her dad was alive he would have shown the same concern for a strange girl. Smiling, she hugged the old lawyer, and then moved away as if trying to convey that she would be all right.

  “Pre-nuptial agreement is still not considered valid in India. Mr. Verma should know that. Please remember that you can contend against this if you plan to leave the deal. And you can fight to get out of the clauses mentioned here as marriage is still considered a sanctimonious bond in India.”

  Adv. Shukla looked at Anita trying to gauge if she followed his meaning. She nodded and he looked back at Salim. He was sure Salim would be furious because he had just made the law in India regarding pre-nuptial agreements clear to Anita. But he saw Salim look at Anita with an odd expression. He wondered if Salim wanted her to walk out from the agreement. She stood her ground. Adv. Shukla nodded and patted her head, and moved to his group to get all the notes down. Salim looked surprised. Her brave smile was like a punch in his gut.

  ~~~*~~~

  Surendra passed the lawyers as he entered Salim’s room. He watched Salim sit down, his exertion taking a toll on his energy level. He felt sorry for this man’s loss. From what he read about Salim’s family and the man himself on the internet, they were the epitome of good citizens. He saw Anita standing by the window, looking out. Her tension was palpable. She stood there taut, as if ready to break. He moved towards her and placed his hands on her shoulder. She closed her eyes.

  “Anita!” Surendra called her.

  Letting out a deep breath she held his hand and after a pause, she turned and smiled at him. He bent to kiss her forehead and let his forehead gently rest on hers. She was not used to his showing affection but she needed physical solace now. She closed her eyes. They heard Salim clear his throat. She opened her eyes. Salim’s eyes bore into hers, spitting hatred. She slowly put some distance between her and Surendra.

  Surendra held her face for a moment. “Stay strong my girl.” He said. She nodded, her eyes trained on the floor.

  Surendra had arranged a wheel chair for Salim and he was taken to a car.

  Salim frowned. “I thought you were taking me to see Ananya.”

  “We are. We are going to the crematorium.” Surendra motioned to the van where Anita stood, tight as a bow. Anita and I will come in the van.”

  “I want to go with Ananya.” Salim said. Surendra straightened. He looked toward the confused nurse and nodded. The nurse pushed the wheel chair to the van. Anita moved aside as the nurse and Surendra helped Salim in. He was seated on the bench across Ananya’s body covered in white. Surendra helped Anita in. Anita sat beside Salim and Surendra joined them. In between the two big men she felt insignificant. But she felt she could borrow some strength from them. Then she saw Salim’s arms twitch. She knew he wanted to see Ananya.

  ‘He needs his closure.’ She slowly leaned towards Salim and placed his hand at the edge of the white cloth covering Ananya. He didn’t clutch it so she raised her eyes to look at him. His eyes were empty, the pain and defeat in them evident.

  Salim saw his pain reflect in Anita’s eyes. He turned toward Ananya’s lifeless body lying in front of him. He slowly lifted the white sheet off. A cry broke from his lips as he looked at her mangled form. Anita’s hands tightened on his forearm. He dropped the sheet and turned with a sudden movement and pulled her toward him.

  “That’s not her!” His voice almost broke and was barely a whisper. “You are her twin, look at her, it’s not her.”

  A sob escaped her lips. She loosened her arm from his grip, moved the white sheet away and slowly turned his face towards Ananya, pointing to the black mole on the left side of her nose. He looked at the mark. How many times had he kissed that mark when she smiled and wrinkled her nose? He closed his eyes and touched the mark, remembering the old times. Then he placed his hand on her forehead and stared ahead as if seeing nothing.

  The van stopped. Salim realized where he was and that he was touching his Ananya for the last time. He turned to see Anita with her head bent, her hand holding Ananya’s lifeless hand under the sheet. I shouldn’t feel sorry for her. How can she be alive when her twin is dead?

  Everything after that went like a blur with Surendra taking care of everything. Ananya was taken in and he stood a little away without moving. His eyes searched and found the defeated, almost slouched back of Anita. She swayed and he was about to rush to her but he stopped himself. She doesn’t deserve my concern, he thought.

  Anita felt the darkness creeping in. She willed herself not to faint. Her arms searched for support and found the steel pillar of the crematorium. Surendra, who stood with his head bowed as the fire engulfed Ananya, quickly raised his head and looked at Anita and then at Salim. Salim held his eyes for the fraction of a second and then lowered his head again. When the cremation was over Surendra slowly moved towards Anita. She was still holding on to the pillar. He took her in his arms and held her for some time. She let his warmth seep into her and hoped against hope that it would give her some solace. Then they walked towards Salim. She noticed his eyes were shut and he stood stiff as if in a trance. Anita noticed how Salim let Surendra hug him but his eyes looked dead. Surendra motioned the nurse to get the wheel chair for Salim
. They drove back to the hospital.

  The nurse helped the exhausted Salim to bed. His face was taut. Anita understood he was struggling to hold his emotions in check. She looked at Surendra and said she would like to stay with Salim in sign language.

  Surendra frowned. “No! Let’s go.” Anita was surprised. Surendra never said no to her.

  “Anita, stay here.” Salim’s voice was defeated.

  Surendra didn’t like it. The girls were his responsibility, and he never realized when his feelings changed for Anita. He had seen the glimpse of Salim’s hatred for her. He didn’t want her to suffer. That man was not in his senses to realize he would hurt another innocent life.

  Surendra knew Anita was feeling Salim’s pain or she wouldn’t have asked to stay. He feared her emotional connect would grow into something more. He knew his own feelings would be squashed if something brews between these two, but if that brought happiness to her he wouldn’t have minded. But he doubted Salim was the one to give Anita happiness.

  Surendra left bidding them a good night. Anita sat on one of the couches.

  Salim’s eyes were closed. She could see his jaw muscles twitching. He looked like he was in pain. It could very well be anger too.

  The nurse came in with a tray of food and medicine. She looked at Anita and then at the lying form of Salim. Coming closer to Salim, the nurse touched his shoulder.

  “Sir”

  Salim’s eyes flew open, his anger obvious. The nurse took two steps back. Anita, sensing the hostile atmosphere, placed her hand on the nurse’s shoulder. The nurse looked at her as if she was a deer caught in a car’s headlight. Anita took the tray of food from the nurse while Salim watched her. She noticed his eyes were red and he noticed hers.

  He took a deep breath. The nurse slowly helped him to sit with support. He felt as if he no longer had the energy to do anything. The moment Ananya was taken into the crematorium he knew that a part of his life was over, the very essence of his life was gone. He lived but was not alive. He looked at Anita. How similar they looked yet they were not the same. Could he imagine her as Ananya? He tried hard but failed. He ate the food as she fed him. Soon she took the medicines from the nurse’s hand and gave it to him. Slowly the nurse and Anita eased him into bed and soon he was dead to the world.

  ~~~*~~~

  Present day, Bangalore

  Salim had brought Anita here to make her suffer as he was suffering in Ananya’s absence but he found himself thinking of her well-being.

  Anita felt relaxed in the bed that almost swallowed her whole. She stretched her arms. Her hands touched a face. ‘Ananya!’ She thought, as she pulled the nose but something felt different. As soon as she opened her eyes the reality crashed in. She pulled her hands back and sat up. Salim was watching her. She frantically said ‘sorry’ using sign language. She tried to tell him she thought it was Ananya. Not giving a single expression, he just stared.

  It was then that she saw the life size photo of Ananya by the side of the bed. All Ananya’s photos were arranged in the room. They captured the very life of her. It was like Ananya was watching them. Watching them lying together on the same bed. Anita paled.

  She stood up in haste and almost tripped on a chair when they heard a knock.

  “Come in!”

  Seema, the housekeeper, came in with two cups of coffee and Milind walked in behind her. “Madam, you look tired than the photos here. You need to eat more and you will be back looking like that.” Seema motioned to the life size photo of Ananya in which she wore a gypsy skirt and a frilly top, laughing merrily.

  Milind cursed loudly and Seema looked at him, frowning.

  “Seema, these photos are not of her. That is Ananya, her twin. She died a few days back.”

  Seema gasped. She looked at the girl and then to Salim with his cast.

  “Salim! This room looks like a tomb. Remove the photos now” Milind roared.

  “Don’t you dare to interfere in my life, Milind.”

  “You want to keep her memories, go ahead. You have many rooms in this house. And if you want her photos here, do that but both of you should shift to another room.”

  “I decide where I stay, Milind. And she is my wife. She will stay in the same room I stay in, no matter what.”

  Milind went out of the room cursing and called Anita over.

  “Listen, Anita, I am not sure your decision of marrying him was the right one. And I have absolutely no clue why Salim is behaving this way. Promise me . . .” he said, taking a deep breath, “Promise me that if Salim goes beyond the limit you will message me immediately.” As if he had not already, Milind thought. He held out his hand. Smiling, Anita placed her hands on top of his and nodded.

  Salim came out of the bedroom and found Anita smiling, her hand in Milind’s. “What are you doing, holding my wife’s hand?”

  Anita was shocked. Milind laughed.

  “Bro, she is my edethiyamma. I can hold her hand. I can promise to be her guardian and make her promise to call me if anybody hurts her or if she needs me”

  Anita looked at Milind and Salim, a little worried at the tension brewing between them. Both of their faces were serious. Milind had already picked his side and it was not by Salim. She hoped it wouldn’t come to a fight between the brothers.

  “Sir, I have made a concoction which is very good for healing internal injuries.” Seema interrupted the tense silence.

  Salim looked at her as if she had spoken Greek. “I have told you a thousand times, Seema. It’s Salim, not Sir.” He left them in a hurry.

  ~~~*~~~

  In an hour Milind was ready to leave and he bid adieu to all. Salim found them all in the kitchen by the breakfast counter. Salim stood there watching the exchange. He was about to leave when he looked at Anita and noticed she looked as if she had been doing some physical work. But he walked away. The last thing he wanted her to think was that he noticed her.

  “Madam, you must go and freshen up. The rest of the work can wait till tomorrow. And please give this concoction to Sir.”

  Anita took the cup from Seema and nodded. She went in search of Salim and found him standing in the sit-out watching Milind’s car leave. She walked to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned and for the first time she felt how tall he really was, her 5’4 looking puny in front of his 6’1. As if he had read her mind, Salim moved closer and leaned in, his face barely an inch away from hers. She held her breath. He took the glass with the concoction and finished the whole thing in a quick gulp and then pulled her to him suddenly. She tilted her face to the side to avoid colliding onto him. He inhaled audibly and she realized he was inhaling her smell. She gasped and tried to move back but he pulled her in.

  After a moments’ panic, she looked straight into his eyes, throwing back the challenge.

  For a moment he was surprised. Then he raised his head and smiled.

  “So that’s how it is going to be? Interesting!” He released her hands.

  She turned and just before she left the room, he called her.

  “Anita, I don’t mind the raw worked-up smell on a woman, but you might want to freshen up a bit before retiring for the night.”

  Her color rose and soon she rushed to the bedroom.

  Salim felt odd. He wanted to continue to trouble her, to give her a difficult time but he found himself liking this girl, and felt strangely attracted to her. He remembered he had kissed her, those soft lips without any lipstick or makeup. Seeing her all worked up and sweaty today, he had felt an odd stirring.

  ~~~*~~~

  That evening he walked into the bathroom and heard a gasp. Through the frosted glass, he saw the vague outline of her slim body in the shower enclosure. The towel was hung outside the door. His first instinct was to turn away but he remembered when he had tried to scare her how she had thrown back the challenge at him.

  “Are you done, yet? Here take the towel” Salim said.

  Anita put out her wet hand to get the towel.

&nb
sp; He didn’t know what prompted him but a naughty thought came to him.

  “Why don’t you walk into it?”

  She pulled her hands in as if bitten by a snake.

  “So you won’t come out?” This time he saw her shaking her head.

  “You’ll have to come out and get the towel if you want it.” He moved back from the shower enclosure feeling really wicked.

  When she didn’t respond for a minute, Salim opened the shower door slightly and put the towel in, his head turned the other way. He closed the door after she took it.

  Once back in the bedroom he paced like a tiger in a cage. He had only just realized what a sensual turn this was taking.

  As Salim paced he could feel the pain in his shoulder increase. He had removed the cast to try moving his arms. It felt as if he had just added more days to his recovery. Despite being a doctor he had removed his cast at the spur of the moment. And to trigger his irritation Milind had walked in and pointed out how bad the idea was. He had called Salim’s hospital and informed them that Salim’s injury had aggravated and that he would be unavailable for a minimum of three months. Salim had not stopped Milind. He knew if he said or did anything stupid Milind could make the Verma Clan drop in the very second. Salim put the cast back on.

  Chapter 3

  Nursing, routine and awareness

  Anita came out looking fresh and vulnerable. She didn’t react when she noticed Salim’s eyes on her.

  He smiled and then flinched at the pain radiating from his arm. She left the towel she was using to dry her hair on a chair and came toward him. He was resting with his eyes closed when she slowly removed his cast. Salim didn’t say a word. Doctors had given her instructions regarding taking care of his shoulder. Holding his arms, she checked the stitches. She leaned forward, pulled a pillow and cushions to place his arm on and then went to get a mirror. Motioning him to move forward she placed the mirror behind him and gave him a small one to hold in front of him. He realized she wanted him to check the stitches himself. He checked in the mirror. His stitches had almost healed and the skin had darkened due to the healing.