Chapter 3

Hina

@hinz

Part 1: Page 1

Part 2: Page 2

Part 3:

The mention of Kaka struck an emotional and nostalgic chord and he was transported back in time to when Kaka had taken ill and Bapuji had called them both for the chat.

Dekho beta mujhe pata hai ki tum dono ke liye iss waqt parivar zyada zaruri aur mai ye bhi jaanta hoon ki shayad ye sahi samay nahi hai ye baat karne ka par GK ki bigadti hui haalat ne mujhe majboor kiya ke mai tumse ye baat karoo...kyuki woh khud se kabhi kahega nahi par mai jaanta hoon ki uske dil mein kya hai...issliye request kar raha hoon ki GK aur meri khushi ke liye tum dono shadi karlo.... jo rishta kuch samay baad honey wala hai uska abhi ho jaana hi behtar hai....

They had decided to give each other space and prioritised their family over themselves....Love had unintentionally been put on the back burner while their relationship still grew stronger with each passing day as they stood by each other and played the perfect partners.

Anu hadn't yet confessed that she loved him back but her actions were enough to suggest she did....and a lot more than him cause she didn't think twice before putting herself at stake for the one person she loved the most,

His unrequited love of many years could never match or even come close to her sacrifice, he knew...and he hadn't stopped loving her every second of every day...and the irony that she was right here, wanting to be loved back was killing him every moment. 

“thank you...and I’m sorry I didn't call you, mai chahta toh tha par.....” he  couldn't decide if she was looking for a justification

“par mujhse baat karne ki himmat nahi juta paaye? kyu?” she looked at him longingly “mai aapke liye itni parayi kab ho gayi Anuj?” she whined leaving him choked up.

Flustered, she pulled back and chided herself for bringing up what she had promised to avoid. This was probably why he never tried to contact her in the past seven years, cause he had no answers to her questions, neither was she seeking any.

It reminded her of how she had agreed to marry him...without any questions asked, she had said yes to an intimate wedding that only Bapuji and GK knew of. The only regret she had back then was that she hadnt confessed her feelings to him before they signed the papers but she had more than made up for it on the day and every day after that.

*******

Forking around the ravioli in his plate, he hung his face low in guilt and gave her time to vent as that was the least he could do. However, he could still read her expressions change from anger to frustration, then sadness to affection and ending with love, like always.

Feeling lowkey guilty for lashing out at him for what he didn't deserve, she gave him one last absorbing look before saying “ I’m sorry mujhe woh sab nahi kehna chahiye tha...dessert order karein?” she chirped

He looked up to check how good she was at the pretence and sniffed to say ”sure” and “chocolate fudge?” they cheered together.

********

Reminiscing their first dinner date as a married couple, Anu recalled how he had whisked her away to spend some alone time together as newlyweds. The date at which she had confessed her love for him in a way he hadn't imagined.

Chocolate fudge would always hold a special place in their hearts cause it was the reason they kissed for the very first time and kissed until the dreaded phone call that changed their life....

thank you Anu mere sath aane ke liye, mai bas kuch time tumhare sath akele mein bitana chahta tha, tumse kitni baatein karni hai...tumhe kitna kuch kehna hai aur tumse bohot kuch sunna hai...mujhe toh abhi bhi yakeen nahi ho raha ki humari shadi ho gayi hai...ab tak toh bas ummeed thi ek rishte ki par ab darr bhi hai ke ye sab humse cheen na jaaye...mann karta hai mai tumhein kahin chupa loon, sabki nazro se kahin dur...aur pray karta hoon ki hamare rishte ko kabhi kisi ki nazar na lagey...

Pulling up into the valet of the suburban hotel, Anuj jumped out excitedly to open the door for his new bride as they made their way to the reception to check in for the day.

Hi, we have a reservation for two rooms booked in the name of Mr and Mrs Kapadia....

*************

lo ji 3rd part bhi done done....

going back and forth in time is hard, I have done this before in one of my previous FFs but with MaAn its not coming easy. 

Anyways, let me know what you think still please...and there will be more revealed in tomorrows update...added some happy/ brighter bits to cut the melancholy, hope I havent confused you more.