Maya gets to know about Samar and Dimpy's wedding. She called Barkha. Barkha already received the clear message from Anuj to not mess with Anupama. But here, curiosity killed the cat. She picked up.
Maya: Anuj kahan hai.
Barkha: Tumhara record shuru ho gaya phir se mujhe nahi pata.
Maya: Hmm, koi baat nahi hai toh mere hi.. Main Anuj se itna pyar jo karti hun.
Barkha: Arrey yar choddo na itne ache ache ladke hai duniya mein.
Maya: Per wo ladke Anuj nahi hai na
Barkha: Ye pagalpan hai wo shaadishuda hai.
Maya: Shaadi toh hoti hi tutne ke liye hai.
Barkha: Her shaadi tootne ke liye nahi hoti, kuch nibhane ke liye bhi hoti hai.
Maya: Haan hoti hongi...per ye wali toh tootegi.
Barkha: Mujhe kuch kaam hai toh main tumse baad mein baat karti hun.
Choti Anu turned sad hearing Maya's conversation.
CA: Maa aap papa se pyar karti hai.
Maya thought she should be prepared to see her and Anuj together when they get married. So it's high time now: Haan beta, I love Anuj. Main aur tere Papa shaadi karenge and phir hum happy family ban jayege.
CA: Per Papa toh Mummy se pyar karte hai na, aur Mummy Papa se.
Maya: Haan karte honge per main bhi toh aapke Papa se pyar karti hun na, tumhari mummy se kayi zyada pyar karti hun.
CA still wanted to defend: Per sab toh kehte hai ki Mummy Papa jitna pyar koi kisi ko nahi kar sakta.
Maya: Nahi beta ye sab kehne ki baatein hoti hai jab main aapke Papa aap saath rahenge toh dekhna aapke Papa mujhe aapki Mummy se bhi zyada pyar karenge.
CA: Aur agar nahi kiya toh.
Maya: Unke paas koi option hi nahi hoga.
CA: Lekin humein toh unke saath rehna chahiye na jo humein pyar karte hai.
Maya: Nahi beta humein sirf uske saath rehna chahiye jise hum pyar karte ho,, tabhi toh hum usse khush rakh payenge. Humesha apne liye pehle chuno. Humesha.
CA went from there, thinking over their discussion. Maya thought to herself: Beta tum hi wo main kadi ho jo mujhe mere manjil tak pahunchayege. Ye Barkha mujhe kuch bata kyun nahi rahi hai. Khair iske bas ki bhi nahi hai. Lekin mere bas mein sab kuch hai. After all, I am Maya.
*************************************************Anu and Anuj reached home.
Anuj: Don't you dare to move.
Anupama: Per main theek hun.
Anuj: I know you are very strong, but jab main pass hou tab tumhe strong banne ki zarurat nahi. You are and will always be my baby.
Anu: Aur jab aap akela chodd jaye mujhe tab.
Anuj exhaled, got out of the car, went to Anu's side, and scooped her up. Anu opened the main door, and they went inside. He strided toward Deewan.
Anu: Nahi wahan nahi chaddar gandi hojayege phir Maa dantege mujhe.
Anuj: Main dho dunga.
Anupama chuckled looking into his eyes: Agar Aap chadar dhoyenge toh Maa aur Buaji mujhe dhul denge.
Anu quickly broke eye contact and said: Wahan chair pe.
Anuj was still lost: Hmmm kya kahan.
Anu pointed toward the chair.
Anuj: Garam pani sahi rahega.... Main Kapde nikalta hun...Pehle hum naha lete hai.
Anu widened her eyes: k...k..kya kya kya kya ...kya
Anuj looked at her,, understanding the reason behind Anu's response,, pressed his lips, folded his hands, and bowed: Devi main kapde nikalta hun aapke almari se aur aap naha lijiye, phir main bhi naha lunga, aapke nahane ke bad. Shabdon ki gustakhi ko shama kijiyega.
Anu bit her cheek again. Anuj kept the water pot on the stove. He took out her clothes and her towel, like he had known since eternity where she kept everything. Anupama noticed he was still frowning. His jawline was still tight.
And as Anupama contemplated, he was angry. This was the third person on call facing the wrath of this fierce Kapadia - The business tycoon. Suddenly, one voice caught Anupama's attention.
Priya: Sir, I am really sorry. I just thought ki aap meeting jaldi khatam krke ghar jana chah rahe the. Isliye disturb nahi kiya. I am so sorry, sir. I need this job. I will never miss anything related to Anupama Ji again.
Anupama, being the compassionate one, is not able to stop herself, as she is unable to tolerate someone losing their job because of her. But the last time she tried to calm down Anuj, it did not go well. She stood just behind Anuj and was hesitating to touch him, as if the mere touch would burn her.
Anuj: No, Priya. You know me. I cannot..
As he turned, he saw Anu standing behind her. He raised his eyebrows in question. Anu pointed toward the phone and gestured to give it to her. Anuj shook his head. Anu narrowed her eyes, although she was scared due to the last confrontation, but one innocent girl was on the verge of losing her job, and she could not just let that happen due to her fears. Anuj shook again. She looked down, and as she was about to turn, Anuj kept the phone on her palm.
Anu: Hello, Priya, Anupama baat kar rahi hun.
Priya: I am sorry, mam. Mujhe sach mein nahi pata tha aap problem mein hai warna.
Anu: Priya ruko ruko.. pehle ye batao tumne khana khaya.
Priya is bewildered by the question: "N...No, mam.
Anu: Toh jao khana khao aur tame se so jana..phone mein mat lagna.. warna neend nahi poori hogi dark circles ho jayenge aur subah office aane mein bhi deri ho jayegi.
Priya: Per mam Anuj sir.
Anu handed back the phone to Anuj.
Anuj: Be on time and have a rest now.
Priya bade good-bye. Thank you, Mam. Thank you, Sir.
As Anuj started dialing the next number, Anu spoke: Mujhse gussa hai toh gussa ho lijiye. Aise ophice employees pe gussa karne se dimag saant ho jayega per dil ka dimag saant nahi hoga.
Anuj clenched his jaw and exhaled deeply: Anu tum kyun dhyan nahi rakhti ho apna.. ya toh mujhe poora time apne saath rakhlo.. yun toh itna bada handbag leke ghumti ho ki isme adha brahamnd aa jaye yun chatta nahi tha tumhare paas.. phone charge nahi..tuti huyi sandal
Anu cut him in between: Ekaj minute aap aisa kaise keh sakte hai mujhe, maine aapko 4 call kiye samar ko adhik ko ankus bhai ko call kiya woh toh mister shah ko. Aur chappal ka kya keh rahe aap itni mehangi li thi mujhe pata tha tutegi.
Anuj: Lekin tum gaadi lekar jaati toh.
Anu: Acha sabzi bhi gaadi pe lene jau taaki sabzi wale bhi mujhe loot le.
Anuj: Sabzi wale bhi matlab aur kisne himmat ki Anupama Devi ko lootne ki.
Anu missing his pun continued: Us chappal bechne wale bhai ne thagg liya mujhe, dhokebaaz, pata hai kitni mehngi thi.
Anuj nodded: Aur chatta na hone ka kya bahana hai.
Anu: Haan bhool gayi main toh...toh kya....aap sab ko call kiya na maine to khud pe gussa hoyiye pehle.
Anuj: Aur ye mister shah bada yaad aa raha hai tumhe uska kya keh rahi thi.
Anu: Unhe call..
Anuj interrupted: Haan call kyun chithi bhejke bula lete ajkal poore Ahmedabad ka majnu wohi toh bana ghum raha. Dono haathon pe daud ke aata wo.
Anu was getting continuous calls on her phone in between. She smirked, bit her tongue, and said: Haa baat toh sahi hai mister shah ko hi bula lete hun. She called.
Anuj frowned: Anu main bata raha hun.
Anu on call: Arrey mister shah ajkal aapke pas tame hi nahi hai mere liye. Aapko mere yad nahi aati.
She checked Anuj with a side eye; he was searching for something. He quickly picked up one thick iron chain wrapped around his palm, came to Anu, and whispered: Aaj jo hoga uske saath uska jimmedar main nahi hounga.
Anupama controlled her laughter and put the phone on speaker. Samar spoke: Mummy, please thappad mar lijiye bas ye na kahiye. Duniya mein mister shah ek hi hai. Aur wo bas ek hi kaafi hain. Main jaldi aata hun aapse milne.
Anu chuckles: Koi bata nahi beta aaram se. Dhyan rakhjo. Bye Mummy.
Anuj bit his tongue: Agar sach mein wo hota na phone pe toh aaj tum dekhti.
Anu: Acha apko wo lena bhi allowed hai gaal pe dusri ladkion se aur main baat bhi nahi kar sakti..Mujhe bhi agar koi
Anuj : Line poori mat kar dena warna.. aur waise bhi tumhe kya fark padta hai tumne toh mujhe aage bhadne ko kisi aur ko dhoondhne ko keh hi chuki hai.
Anu got irritated and choked while saying: Haan toh jayie jayie aur jo dil mein ho wo kariye.
He covered the distance between them in long strides and came close very close to her lips, saying: Pakka jo dil mein hai wo karlu pakka batao.
She took one step back, and he took one step forward. After taking 2-3 steps like this, she whispered: Maine aage badhne ke liye kaha tha. They were so close that her words first reached his lips and then his ears.
Anuj: Haan bolo na aage badh jau.
Anu: Kisi aur
Anuj, without losing the proximity, and coming even closer if possible: Kissss kya
Anu: k..k..k..koi aur
Anuj merely spoke in hushed tones: Tol mol ke bolna.
Anu: P...p...p..pani
Anuj wetted his lips.
Anu: G....Garam
Anuj removed his coat.
Anu teared up: Kaise kar lete hai aap Anuj,,, jab pyar toh itne pyaar ki khud ko bhul jaate hain, aur jab narazagi toh itni narazagi ki mujhko bhul jaate hain.
Anuj getting the point, bowed his head: Anu wo choti ko tumne jaane diya lekin mujhe tumhe uske liye ladte huye dekhna tha jaise tum baki sab ke tym stand leti ho.
Anu: Kiske saath ladti choti ke saath ya choti ko janam dene wali maa ke saath jiske saath wo rehna chahti thi.
Anuj: Lekin main tab sirf Choti ke baare mein soch raha tha.
Anu: Ek Maa ko bahot bahot acha laga Anuj. Aap bacho ko pyar karein jitna dil karein usse bhi zyada karein apko haq hai.. per bachon ki maa ka apman karne ka haq nahi milta apko.
Anuj: Anu tumhara apmaan krne ka mera koi irada nahi tha lekin main apne gusse mein behta chala gaya aur pata hi nahi chala. kab itna aage nikl gaya.
Anu: Ye jo aap gusse mein beh jaane ki baat kr rahe hai na... Ye maine 26 saal saha hai. 26 Kya aaj tak bhi ye chal hi raha hai kabhi Tosu Kabhi Pakhi bas pehle mujhe ghar se nikal diya jaata tha is bar aap khud ghar se chale gaye.
Anuj: Anu tum mujhe Vanraj se compare mat kro, please wo aadmi...
Anu: Anuj Ye aapke baare mein nahi hai, ye mere baare mein hai ... Vanraj mujhe yaad bhi nahi lekin gussa yaad hai wo darr yaad hai,,, aur jab aap gaye maine phir se wo darr jiya.
Anuj: Darr kis baat ka Anu...
Anu: Darr aapse door hoke jeene ka jo ab mujhe aata hi nahi. Pehle shaadi mein pati choota ghar choota rishte choote per kabhi aisa nahi laga ki marr jaungi per apke bina Anuj mujhe jeena nahi aa raha.
Tears rolled down Anuj's eyes.
Anu: Har din subah main uthti hun ye soch ke ki aaj ki shaam mujhse milne na aaye. Aur har raat main soti hun ye soch ke ki is raat ki subah na ho. Main aisi toh nahi thi Anuj.
Anuj shook his head: Please ye mat kaho. Kya ab sab theek nahi ho sakta. Kya maine tumhe humesha ke liye kho diya. Kya kuch hai jo phir se sab theek karde. Kya mujhe tumhara pyar dubara kabhi nahi milega
Anu looked down, fidgeting with her hands, then nervously held her pallu tightly, started perspiring, and suddenly shivered and fluttered her eyelids rapidly. Anuj held her hand steadily: Pehle naha lo, khana khaate hai, phir baat karte hai. Don't stress.
Anu nodded. Anuj turned. She spoke further: Thoda tame chahiye sochne ke liye.
Anuj looked upwards as he prayed to all his Gods to come together today for him and her. He turned slowly, and to lighten the situation, he tapped his watch and added with some extra charm: Aur sochne ke liye main tumhe aapni poori zindagi deta hun.
Anu chuckled with teary eyes and spoke very softly: Kaise kar lete hain aap Kapadia ji.
This is the sweetest sound to his ears he has heard in ages. After listening, he realizes how much he missed it. how much he wants to hear it again and again and again and again. Can he pretend he has not heard it? But will he push the boundaries? He calmed himself and smiled. He quickly went inside, kept the hot water and her clothes in the washroom, and came back: Main chood au
She pressed her bindi: chyee kuch bhi. Aap bhi change kar lijiyega, plez.
He was loving this new vibe. She is smiling. Aha, what a relief! Main flirt kar raha tha Anu blush kar rahi thi that vibe. That homecoming feeling. He quickly changed and made kadha for both of them.
She came out looking as ethereal as always and surprised to see the scene unfold in front of her. He has set up the table with the mejposh, with two candles in between and two square-sized cushions on both sides. The radio was tuned to her favorite program.
He came out of the kitchen and exclaimed: Annu time please, lete hai na, please.
She nodded.
Anuj: Kya aap mere saath date pe challenge, Mrs. Kapadia. She smiled.
He pointed toward one cushion: Madam, have your seat, please. Apke liye 3 course meal pesh kiya jayega.
He first brought Kadha. She made faces, but she was surprised to see he bought one for himself too.
Anu: Aap theek toh hai na.
Anuj: Arrey date pe aaye hain madam aise itni tasty cheez aapko akele thodi khaane dunga.
Anu chuckled: Isme bhi, same same.
After finishing the kadha, he went to the kitchen and came out after some time: Lijiye madam Khichdi, kaali mirch wali chai and desert mein halwa.
Anu served food, and they had dinner. Anuj was going to pour tea from the kettle when Anu got a video call. She rushed to pick it up.
Anuj: Anu aaram se kya ho gaya.
Anu: Katt jayega.
Anuj: Toh back call kar lena Anu.. ruko main lata hun.
Anu: Mister shah ka hua toh, apko wo chain bhi toh dhoondhni hogi.
Anuj pressed his lips: Mat kara karo aisi baatein.. aisi bhari jawani mein pitt jayega wo.
Anu picked up the call; it was an unknown number. As soon as she picked up.. she saw a sad Choti Anu on the other side of the call.
Anu panicked: Bebli,,,,, choti kya hua hai sab theek hai,, tujhe koi chot lagi hai kya... phone kiska hai,, Maya kahan hai,,tu udas kyun hai,, kisi ne kuch laha hai,, tune kuch khaya hai ki nahi,, school mein kuch huya hai..
Anuj was shell-shocked to hear it. He got up and rushed toward Anu. But before he could come in front of the camera, CA spoke: Offo Mummy adhe question toh main bhul bhi gayi. Papa aur maine aapko sikhaya tha na ek ek karke mummy. Ek ek karke pucho. Per pehle, ye batao aap akele ho na mujhe sirf aapse baat karni hai.
Anu spoke: Bebli Papa
CA interrupted: Nahi mummy sirf aap please.
Anu looked towards Anuj, and he nodded.
CA: Mummy, mujhe darr lag raha hai..
Anu: Tu toh mere strong bebli hai aur maine tujhe bataya tha na jahan Bhagwan hotein hai wahan kuch bhi aur nahi hota.
CA: Mummy, bhoot wala darr nahi per koi aur darr hai jo mujhe pata nahi kaun sa hai.
Anu: Ae Annudi kya hua hai, bol ne beta.
CA: Mummy w..w...wo Ma w..wo..wo kehti ki papa unse shaadi karenge kyunki wo papa se pyar karti hai aur phir papa unko aapse bhi zyada pyar karenge... per mujhe toh papa sirf aap hi ke saath chahiye.. aur kisi kisi ke saath nahi.
Anu was too startled to respond. Anuj wanted to disappear somewhere.
CA: Mummy, mummy.
Anu regained her composure: bas itni si baat ke liye mere choti si pyari si bebli itni paresaan ho gayi. main tera kya hi karu.. tu itni pyari pyari si kyun hai.
CA: Kyunki mere mummy bahut pyari hai na
Anu: baap re baap baatein bananae mein toh bilkul apne papa pe gayi ho maahri Annudi.
CA giggled and straightened her imaginary collar.
Anu continued: Tujhe tere mummy papa saath mein ache lagte hai na toh wo humesa humesa saath hi rahenge kyunki un dono ko aur kisi ke saath rehna aata hi nahi , aata kya kisi aur ke saath rehna hi nahi.. Theek che maahri mithudi.
CA: Pinky promise, Mummy. Anu nodded, and tears fell from her eyes.
CA: Offo, mummy Papa sahi kehte hai aapme 95 percent pani hai aap itne aansu laati kahan se ho.
Anu chuckled: Aayi badi Papa wali. She thought for a second and then said: Acha tujhe ek suprize dun toh secret rakhegi mummy bebli wala secret.
CA nodded. Anu went toward Anuj and handed the phone to him. CA exclaimed Papa yieeee per papa aap mummy ke saath akele mein kya kar rahe ho
Anuj choked: m.. main kuch bhi nahi beta aapki mummy ka dhyan rakh raha hu main bas.
Anu laughed at his nervousness.
CA: Awwww, candlelight dinner matlab, hawwww..
Anuj blushed Anu startled: Ye sab kahan se seekha tune... bitte bhar ki chokri aur baatein dekho aur aur aap kya sharma rahe hai aise bethe bethe...
Anuj corrected his collar: Main candle bujha deta hun nahi toh maa datenge ki ek poori candle khatam kardi humne.
Anu smiled and pointed toward Choti: Aur tu padhai pe dhyan de aur ye phone kahan se aya tere paas.
CA: Offo Mummy aap kitne cute ho..... Papa aap ko mummy jaisi cute aur pyari ladki kahin nahi milegi. Aap please Mummy ko hi love karna.
Anuj turned red: Mujhe chahiye bhi nahi beta na isse zyaada na kam baas yahi humesha humesha...bas yehi pyari cute pagal chokri chahiye mere pagal chokri.
Anu passed him a stare with all the red blushy face.
CA: I love you, Mummy. I love you, Papa. Ab main rakhti hun. Aapko milkar baki sab bataungi.
The call was disconnected. Anuj with all his courage look at Anu and pointed toward her hand: May I.
Anu nodded. He took Anu's hand and made her sit on the cushion. He served tea. They enjoyed looking at each other, feeling content, with hearts filled with love and gratitude, while the song on the radio played Badal Bijli Chandan Pani jaisa apna pyar lena hoga janam hame kayiii kayiii baar....
To be continued....