Estranged | ✓

XXXIII. choice

anupamaa :

Humein tumse pyaar kitna..
Yeh hum nahi jaante..
Magar jee nahi sakte..
Tumhare bina..

I slowly opened my eyes.
It was his voice.

I sat up on my bed the next morning, rubbing my eyes.

"Papa, you sing sooo well!", Samar said, happily.
"See that's why handsome Papa is the best!", Pakhi chirped.

I slowly got off the bed and freshened up as soon as possible.

I opened the door of my bedroom to find, my dream come true.

He sat with a guitar on his lap. My children, eating at the dining table.
That was his classic sandwich.
He had prepared breakfast.

"Continue singing na Papa.", Toshu said.

He heard my footsteps and turned.
"Mummy!", Samar shouted happily as he hopped off his seat and ran down to me.
I knelt before him and hugged him tightly.

Suna gham judai ka
Uthate hai log..
Jaane kaise zindagi..
Bitate hai log..

I looked at him.
He sang, with a beautiful smile.
That was my homeland.

Din bhi yahan to lage..
Baras ke samaan..

I released Samar and stood up.
My lips curved into a smile, my heart swelled up in joy.
I too joined him in the last verse.

Humein intezaar kitna..
Yeh hum nehi jaante..
Magar jee nahi sakte..
Tumhare bina..

A

nd then he stopped with a smile.
"Wow!", Pakhi said giggling.

But he kept looking at me.
With a satisfied smile.
And I smiled back.

It was a silent agreement,
Stay with me forever.

•

vanraj:

I was told someone had arrived to meet me without an appointment.
And I had to rush down to my office.

I walked into my huge cabin to find no one.
I walked in and shut the door behind me.
"Good morning, Mister Shah.", I heard from right behind.

The man had been standing by the door all this while.

He was probably my age or slightly older.
And I had definitely seen him somewhere.
It too me moments to recognise.

"Amit. You know me already, don't you?", He said grinning casually.
Obviously I had seen him in his wedding.

"And what do you want?", I asked without wasting much time.

"I know Rittika met you and told you everything, but.. trust me, I want nothing great from you. No guns, no blood, nothing.", He paused, taking a step towards me,

"I want your job-"

"No. Definitely not. This company or job is not what you get.", I snapped instantly.

His lips curved into a displeased manner.

"But you know what's the price then?", He asked.
I drew in a sharp breath.

"Your ex wife and current almost love interest.. her dream is to dance all over the world, but.. what if I ruin it for her?", He asked in a dangerous soft voice.

Obviously he was trying his manipulative best.

"I don't care. This company is my dream. I am not stepping down.", I said sharply.

"So you choose to destroy Anupamaa's dream for your selfishness? Again?"

My mouth went dry.

"I give you a day's time. Think. Because I am not making up anything. I can very well destroy her reputation as well as career within moments.", He said before turning.

And he left.

And here I was left between a choice,
Either choose my happiness or hers.

I drew in a sharp breath.

•••