Raat Akeli Hai

𝐈. cheeni zyada

❝

Ha hum milen hai
Sau sau dafaa
Mai dhool hu
Tu karwaan

❞

vanraj :

Night had set in over New York City.
The Statue of Liberty gleamed in its evening glow.

And Bapuji has sealed my fate.
And here I was landing in New York City, in hopes of getting the NOC for the Shah House signed by her.

Anupamaa.

The woman who somehow managed to stay in my life, despite leaving.
And I hated her.
I hated her with all my being, as much as I could possibly hate.

Or maybe I was lying.

It didn't matter anymore.

Devika had only informed me that she worked at some restaurants.
That's all.
Apparently she'd tell Anuj Anupamaa's address but not me, because I was a pathetic person and Anupamaa was better off without meeting me.

I wasn't even going to disagree.
I definitely did not want to meet her.
Not now, not after 5 whole years, not after I had finally managed to live and breathe without her existence around me.
Anyways, she was divorced, again.
(As per Devika, of course, rest I don't know)

So maybe she was having another of her empowerment waves now.
I should have really stayed away but my Bapuji cannot get over his Beti Prem.

Nevertheless, I needed early morning tea to feel alive again.
I pulled out my phone, and searched for Indian Restaurants around me.

A few names came up.
I chose one and took a cab till there.

Spice And Chutney

The name read.

Over the years, I had lost my vision (almost) so I had to wear these spectacles. And I had shaved off my moustache.
I was about to walk into the restaurant when I saw my own reflection on the glass door.

Is that even me? Vanraj Shah without his moustache? With spectacles? In a suit over a shirt..
Spectacles and suits were someone else's speciality, I knew.
And despite being obsessed with my own individuality I decided to shave off my speciality and dressing style.

I had been doing several things that did not have an explanation.

Or maybe they did, and I refused to accept it on purpose.

I walked into the restaurant and took a seat.
A waitress immediately asked for the order.

"One cup of tea."
"Sir, we have a special Indian tea, would you like to try?"
"Sure.", I replied with a beaming smile.
The American - African waitress nodded and walked off.

I had not called Kinjal or Toshu yet.
I wished to meet them, especially my grand daughter, but somehow Toshu's cold demenour made me skeptical.
The boy had ignored his mother at first sight, what would he do to me?

The tea arrived.
I sat up and placed the cup to my lips.

I paused.
The sugar was in excess.
And I had tasted this exact tea, with excess sugar, almost 34 years ago.

"Kaisi bani hai chai?", Her mother asked nervously as I removed the cup from my lips.
I glanced at the girl.
I could not see her face, I wouldn't see her in person until the wedding, I knew.
The sugar was in excess, almost as if she had done it intentionally.

"Bohot aachi bani hai.", I lied with a smile.
Amused, as I gulped down the rest of the tea.
Extra sweet tea definitely meant an extra sweet girl.

I placed the cup back on the table, drawing in a cold breath.

Of course.
Her memories were permanently here to haunt me.

I was about to turn when I heard the sound.
The sound of footsteps.
25 years of knowing someone had its own benifits you know.

I froze.

"Surri.. surri.. woh aapki chai mein shayad cheeni zyada padh gayi thi.. woh mai galti se.."

"Sorry hota hai.", The words rolled out, like a habit that I could never get rid of.

I did not look up.
Jaws clenched, eyes firmly down.

"Sorry hota hai, Anupamaa.", I whispered.

•×•

book language : hinglish
theme : lost love, angst
THIS IS NOT A MAAN BOOK.

Warning : this book was written when the show had just started with the america track, and hence involves anuj slander because he had annoyed to me death back then (still is doing - dated 5th of april lol) - and much before vanraj finally appeared in america.
So basically this is what could have happened alternately.

so basically read this with an open mind.