MaAn - Tale Of 2005

Chapter - XVII [Abhi Na Jao Chodkar]

He was walking back and forth in the corridor outside the gate. His restlessness was at its peak but then he saw an auto halt there and Anupamaa getting out of it. He wanted to hide but she saw him and was walking towards him. Her face was expressionless. He couldn't make anything out of it. Moreover he was confused regarding how she knew about him being there and leaving for the US. And if she never wanted to see him, why was she here??

Though he had questions in his mind, he was still relieved to see her after so many days. It felt like rain after scorching heat of summer. She stood in front of him and handed his documents.

"aapka Kuch samaan reh Gaya tha mere Ghar par. Ye lijiye"

She looked extremely pissed off. He realised that Patel told her about him.

"Anu..pamaa wo mai tumhare ghar......" 

She came close held him by his shoulders.

"Samajhte kya hai aap apne aap ko haa....Mujhe bataye bina, itni door jaa rahe hai. Pyaar karte hai naa mujhse phir ek baar bhi nai socha mere baare me. Aur jab ghar aaye the to mile kyu nai, kya lagta hai aapko sab humesha aapki marzi se hoga, jab chahe aa jayenge, jab chahe chale jayenge...Socha bhi aapke Bina mai kaise......"

He kept looking into her eyes, listening to her rant, it was like honey to his ears. Anupamaa...His Anupamaa finally talked to him. She looked around to see a few people looking at them and left his collar, all embarrassed.

Anuj didn't know what to do.

"Anu...tum to mera chehra bhi nai dekhna chahti thi naa. Maine kitni koshish ki tumse baat karne ki. Mujhe laga mai utar gaya tumhari nazron se."

She looked at him, still enraged.

"Kabhi kabhi Kaano suni baat bhi sach nai hoti Kapadia Ji. Ek Aurat jise aaj tak yahi ehsaas dilaya gaya ho ki wo kisi ke pyaar ke layak nai hai, uski keemat sirf ek aadmi ke pair ke jooton me hai,
Use achanak koi aakar kehta ki wo usse pyaar karta hai aur wo is desh ke sabse bade businessmen me se ek ho jiske peeche ek nahi,  do nahi, hazaro khubsoorat ladkiya padi hai to kya use yakeen hoga."

Anuj was flabbergasted.

"Anu mai...."

Anupamaa cut him in between and continued -

"Aaj mai bolungi aur aap sunenge.
Mai ek bahut aam ladki hoo Anuj jiske jyada bade sapne nahi the, mujhe sirf apna pati, apna Ghar, chahiye tha. Par kismat ne mujhse wo bhi cheen liya. Jis aadmi se maine sab se jyada pyaar Kiya usne mujhe charitraheen kehne se pehle ek pal nai lagaya. Jis aurat ko maine apni Maa se badhkar pyaar diya usne mujhe gaali di. Usi waqt aapne apna sach bata diya. Waqt doosra hota to mai kuch aur sochti magar Jahaa meri izzat taar taar ho rhi thi , mai kuch aur nai soch payi....isilie itna waqt liya maine....Mai aapki nai uski shakal dobara kabhi nai dekhna chahti jisne mujhe...apne bacchon ki Maa ko Sare-Aam badnam karne se pehle ek baar nai socha. Aur ab aap mujhe akele chod kar jaa rahe Hain."

All this while, Anuj kept thinking about his pain of staying away from her. It did not strike him that the person she loved the most earlier, butchered her pride in thousand pieces that day. How could she stay sane. He hated himself for being selfish.

She lost her control and burst into tears. She put her hands on her face while weeping. He held her hands lovingly.

"I am sorry Anu...Mai apne guilt me itna doob Gaya ths ki tumhare dard ke baare me soch hi nai payaa...I am really very sorry."

She pulled her hands away.

"Konsa guilt, kya mujhse pyaar karna aapko galti lagta hai."

Anuj held them again.