Chapter 35

~35~

"Sorry..."

Anu gave a small smile.

"You know... I believe that I did a mistake too..."

"No, no... I uh.. I..."

"You really think a girl doesn't know if she is stared at?"

"Huh?"

"I knew that someone was looking at me... but being brought up in a very strict house where I was taught from a very young age that boys are monsters, I dared not to look at whoever it was. I was so scared that I told my mother that someone was looking at me and she immediately started to look for grooms out of fear that her daughter would be tainted. Had I had some courage and turned around and looked at him... I would have known it was not a monster.... Because of my fear, I lost 25 years of my life living caged with that monster. I think I was punished enough for that foolishness of mine... now enough about me... tell me more... I know Anuj came back after the accident..."

"He did... but everything had changed by then... Aunty-Ma and Uncle were gone all of a sudden and Mukku was broken... she knew her mother and father would never come back... she was only 12 and to shut the pain... she started imagining that you would someday come and become the mother she had lost... I was so frustrated and tried to make her see sense at first but then let her have the fantasy after Mom told me it was her way of coping grief... she kept the faith that you would come... and it helped her through the toughest days... I hated you more then because I knew you would never come... then we fell in love... and... and broke up..."

He paused and wiped a tear off his eye.

"All the years alone I kept hating you because I blamed you for our misfortunes just as much as I blamed Anuj... ever since you entered Anuj's life... life became bad for all of us... then, that day I came back and saw you... I was so angry... at you... because you had come too late... but then... Anuj explained and finally this dumb brain saw sense... I know I made a lot of mistakes in the past because of my anger... but I really want to make it up... and I believe the first thing is to stop hating people for no reason... so there..."

She nodded.

"I hope someday you will love me for who I am too... Until then let's be friends."

He smiled at her, her offer of friendship after knowing his true feelings making its way inside his otherwise closed heart at once. He took her outstretched hand and shook it. Someone clearing their throat made them look towards the door. Anuj stood there looking at both of them.

"Coach...? You called me..."

Anuj nodded and walked towards him settling himself down in the couch beside him.

"I wanted to talk... but before that congratulations kid for winning the cup."

"Thank you, Coach... my Lady luck did wish me the best before I left..."

He gave a wide smile and Anuj's eyes widened in surprise.

"She met you? She never told me that..."

"She came home the day before I left... uh... we talked... finally..."

"So is she... did she...?"

"No no no, she asked me to give her time..."

Anuj heaved a sigh of relief.

"I told you she still cares... ok I wanted to talk something important... it's about Mukku's business partner..."

"Mr. Shah?"

"Yes... as I said before, I don't trust him... he is cunning. I am sure he has planned something big. I am worried about Mukku... she said she would take care... but..."

"But you don't trust that guy so you want me to do something..."

"Yes..."

Anu looked at Anuj, feeling hurt. They had been talking every single day about the same and yet he had felt the need to call Aarav. She opened her mouth to protest, but Aarav spoke first.

"Coach... I think you need to wait... you know Mukku... she would run away if you push her badly..."

"But..."

Aarav sighed knowing that Anuj and overprotectiveness walked hand in hand. He knew of the habit only too well.

"I promise nothing will happen to her... I am going to her, now."

"Will you talk to her?"

"About Mr. Shah? No... if she says she will handle, she will handle it... I am not going to push her... but you don't worry... I will be by her side... that man cannot hurt her..."

Anuj didn't look convinced but Aarav stood up.

"You need to stop worrying, Coach... Let go. Things will be alright soon"

When Anuj said nothing, Aarav turned to Anu whose eyes were fixed on her man.

"Bhabhi... please handle him. I am leaving..."

With that, he left. As the cabin door closed shut, Anu raised her eyebrow 

"So... you have something to say... I believe."

"What?"

"I guess I have been repeating those words that Aarav just now said everyday in vain... what's the point when you don't even listen..."

"I do listen... I do listen, Anu... but how do I get over the fear of losing Mukku again..."

"You think you are the only one who is afraid? Do you know how many nights I have nightmares of something happening to her?"

"Then why don't you stop her...?"

"Because she's not a five year old whom I can lock inside a room... she has asked for some time and I promised her that I will give it... you promised too.."

"I can't Anu... I can't..."

Anu sighed.

"You need to let go. She is 32, she knows what she is doing and she has promised to treat Mr. Shah as nothing more than her business partner... From our bedtime conversations, I do know that she treats him as professionally as she would treat any other colleague... in fact she doesn't even trust him..."

"But she is my baby sister..."

"She is my baby too... It's not that I don't worry... but sometimes we need to stand at a distance and watch... if you hold too tight, it may break... I only know it too well... I promised her I will be there for her and I will be there... if she rises, I will be there cheering... if she falls, I will be there to catch her... That's all I can do right now... and that's all I will do..."

He said nothing and she stood up.

"You always say that I am the hero and heroine of my story... Let Mukku be the same in hers..."

She turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"To the Shah house, Bapuji has been calling me over for a long time... I am going there and staying there tonight... oh... and you may think I haven't noticed... but I do know that you have been creating excuses to prevent me from spending time in the Shah house... I never complained about it... but not today. I am leaving now."

"No.."

***

Next part below