|Pehli Nazar|- MaAn FS (Part 2 PG 2 updated 23 OCT)

Another story. Another idea that I couldn't stop thinking on😆 Seriously though! Contrary to the serial these days, my head when it comes to Anuj kapadia is so full of different scenarios.

Anyway, this story is set in a verse where anuj and anupama have never known each other, and ours very truly mahanta syndrome ki moorat has moved out of shah house post divorce. This will be a short and sweet story. Hope you guys will enjoy!

Part 1

For the umpteenth time, she was glad that she had moved out. At least she didn’t have to undergo an interrogation every time she stepped out of the house. She was on her way to meet Devika now, as she was going to help her look for some decent jobs. The school teacher job wasn’t all that rewarding,so if there was a chance at a remotely higher pay, she was going to take it.

Anupama chuckled then. Once upon a time all she could think of was house, children, in-laws and husband. Now she was occupied searching opportunities to one up herself. Such a welcome change.

Anupama stopped her train of thoughts, as she spotted a speed breaker and slowed down her car. But once over the speed breaker, as her hands went to shift the gear, she was jerked forward as sound of something shattering reached her ears. Looking behind, she realized that someone had crashed their car into hers.

“Oh God!” Anupama sighed as she removed her seat belt and stepped out. People really needed to keep their eyes on the road!

~*~*~*~*~

They ended it with a handshake, and the woman walked out.The man followed soon after, however while the woman disappeared around the corner, the man walked over to the red Audi, turned his keys in the door and settled down, leaning his head back.

“Another dunce!” He chuckled, shaking his head as he started the car and veered it out of the parking lot.

Anuj had a lot to think back on.There was a time when he used to dream of the perfect love but now he had stopped hoping. He was 39 now, still meeting girls his age and younger alike, on his mother’s insistence, but he failed to feel the connect he was looking for.Vibes, as the Gen Z called it, he was yet to find the one whose would match with his. There would be times when he would meet someone who could hold an intelligent conversation, or someone who shared his interest. In the end though, his heart never agreed.

He wasn’t per se dying to get married but yes, he did dream of having that one special person, just like his parents. But alas, now he was so tired even the thought of dating frustrated him.

“Way to feel miserable about yourself!” Anuj had just about groaned when he experienced a jerk and lurched forward. Shocked, he looked in front to find that he had rammed his car into the car in front.

“Shit!” Unbuckling his belt,he quickly stepped out.

He approached the bumper to see that there were a few dents on it. Nothing too worrisome. The same however could not be said about the i10 whose left side tail light had been shattered and the trunk had buckled in a few inches.

Anuj peered to the side then, as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching, the sound of sandals precisely. His eyes went for the sandals first, as he trailed them upto a simple blue saree before he found the face of the woman approaching him.

Thump.

Instantly, his hands flew to his heart, as he blinked confused.

Her hair was braided to one side, while her neck was adorned by a simple necklace.

Thump.

“Just what in the….” Anuj murmured confused, as the woman stepped past him to check the damage done to her car.

She turned to him then,clearly not pleased.

And they made eye contact.

Thump.

Now this was really strange. Why in the world was his heart going insane over a woman he had laid eyes on a mere seconds ago.

Of their own accord, he found his eyes moving up towards her partition. No sindoor. Then he traced his eyes to the necklace, clearly not a mangalsutra. Was she single?

“You should focus on the road when you are driving!” Anupama remarked, as she saw the well dressed man in front of her simply staring. Most probably at a loss for words.He had caused an accident, alright. Now she was just waiting to see, what sort of excuses he was going to come up with.

As Anuj heard Anupama speak, his heart did another thump and he came to realize the track of his thoughts. Why was he looking for her marital signs?! And being married didn’t necessarily require her to parade around like those bahus he would see on TV.God!!

Anuj cleared his throat as he found the woman waiting.

“I apologise. My thoughts were somewhere else and…I’m really sorry. Are you alright?”

Anupama who was ready to pick a fight, suddenly felt all frustration leave her body. Because the man had accepted his mistake.

“I am fine”, Anupama replied and looked as the man massaged his neck.

“Are you…Ok?” She asked then and as Anuj looked at her in confusion, she motioned towards his neck.

“Oh, yes…just a minor jerk.It’s my fault anyway”, Anuj answered and both fell quiet. Anuj couldn’t for the life of him place this feeling. He hadn’t been half awkward with all his potential marriage partners.

As Anuj found her glancing at her watch, he glanced at his own to realize that he was getting late for his meeting.

“Excuse me!” He spoke as he quickly rushed to his car, and came back in a few seconds.

As he forwarded her the chit and the card, she looked at him confused.

“I am really sorry, but I’ve an important meeting to attend. I’m not trying to evade responsibility or anything, but regarding the repairs, would it be alright if we do that tomorrow. This is my personal number, so you can give me a call tomorrow and we can talk about the damage pay. And in case, you can’t reach me, this is my business card, just to assure you that I’m not running away”.

Gingerly, Anupama took the two and nodded, “I’ll take you on the offer then. I hope you will pick the call”.

Anuj nodded, “Absolutely.And thank you for being understanding”.

Anu smiled a bit and turned to leave. Anuj turned around too when he was called from behind. “Excuse me?”

“Ji?” He looked as the woman spoke, “Drive carefully! This is for your and for the safety of others too”.

“Sure”, Anuj smiled and watched as the woman finally entered her car and drove away.

“She was pretty”, Anuj spoke out loud and his heart jumped again. He chuckled amused, “Wow! You can’t be serious! Crushing at this age, wo bhi pehli nazar main! That too on someone you caused an accident! Not to mention, even if she did not look like it, she felt married”.

Who are you to judge?! The world can be full of eternal singles like you!

“Maybe she was not?” Anuj pondered and then as his phone started to ring, he bit his lips.

“Meeting!” And quickly he rushed inside his car, started it and drove away.

~*~*~*~*~

“Kya soch rahi hai?” Devika asked as she and Anupama were searching the internet for suitable vacancies for her.

“I was thinking about him… his voice was nice. And somehow he felt awfully familiar”.

Devika chuckled, “Your obsession with voice is seriously weird. But I’m happy at least it was a man. How was he?Handsome?”

Anupama tapped her cheeks as she closed her eyes to recall the encounter. A well fitted suit, a well groomed face and….pretty eyes.

“He was pretty, I think”, Anupama repliedand Devika started to laugh.

“Did you by chance crash your car with an actor or something? I mean, he was pretty and he looked familiar”.

Anupama shrugged, “Perhaps. Anyway,let’s focus on the work of finding me work”.

“Aye! Aye madam” Devika saluted and both got busy in their tasks.

Part2- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/159245694

So was it?😃

Wow. This one is an awesome take. A breath of fresh air😀 Waiting eagerly for the next chapter.

Aww this is so cute. More open and fresh and promising. Eagerly waiting for the next chapter 🤗🤗🤗

Nycc part dear plz cont next part soon

lovely story nice change from how they met in the tv show....please add me to you PM list.

Beautiful definitely a breath of fresh air. Pls do continue ☺️

Thump, Thump!

My dil is asking for more!
Lovely to read, read with a gigantic smile.
Accidents can bring unexpected but yet beautiful change like this story is.
He is familiar seems like the college friendship will play out here… hope so! Looking forward to next part.

Please add me to your DM list if you have one.

🤩 loved it!

You write so well - the flow of narrative is so easy to read

Thanks you all lovely folks for the encouraging and kind words❤️. It's always a pleasure going through all these comments. Makes this all the more worth it.

Well onto the next part then!

Part 2

*Ring* *Ring*

Lying on his stomach, lost in dreams, Anuj stirred as his phone started to ring.

*Ring* *Ring*

Reaching out a hand towards the device on the side table, he opened his eyes and narrowed them at the screen.The numbers were a blur but there was no name.

“Hello” Anuj mumbled sleepily ,while his eyes threatened to shut.

“Um…hello?”

“Who’s this?” Anuj asked gently,his eyes about close now.

“Ah, you crashed your car into mine, yesterday and then asked me to contact you today?” Came the reply from other end and sleep escaped Anuj’s eyes as he scrambled to sit up, tangled with the blankets.

“Oh, yes! I..ah—

Anuj looked at the wall clock then and realized it was already 11.

“I am really sorry! It skipped me.But if you will send me the location of service center, I will be there in no time!” Anuj replied hastily as he jumped off the bed and was soon opening his closet to take out his clothes, while the phone was pressed between his jaw and shoulder.

“No, it’s alright. I have sent you a copy of the expected repair costs. But if you’d like to double check then I’ll send you the address”.

Anuj paused then as he shut his closet and took the phone in his hands.

“You don’t have to. You trusted me enough to wait till today; the least I can do is have faith in you too. I will transfer the money into your a/c then”.

“Ok…thank you”

Anuj shook his head then imagining a silhouette dressed in saree with the braid lying neatly on one side of shoulder.

“No, Thank you! And sorry!” Anuj apologized as he heard a mumbled “It’s fine” and the call was ended.

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to put face to the voice but failed. He had only seen her once after all. He could somewhat imagine her but still could not.

“Oh! I didn’t even ask her name!” he clicked his tongue as the realization came too late.

“Ah, if it’s her account then maybe—

He trailed thoughtfully as he opened the whatsapp to find her message. It was a paytm UPI with the name‘Bhavesh’.

Anuj chuckled then, “Definitely not her name. Perhaps brother?”

‘Or husband? Or son?’

Anuj shrugged the thought as soon as it came. Their fated interactions had come to their end point. What use was mulling useless things? He already had enough thoughts to crowd his head,didn’t need one more.

And with that he walked off towards the drawing room, determined to enjoy his Sunday.

~*~*~*~*~

True to Monday blues, the time was 10 and Anuj had his head buried in files while his eyes alternated between them and the laptop.

*Knock* *Knock*

Anuj glanced at his watch then and pulled away from the files. Shutting them, he piled them one over another and placed them at the end of his desk.

“Looks like Ms. Anupama is here”.

Anuj mumbled to himself as he straightened his coat. They were not hiring during this time but on Devika’s insistence, he had decided to judge for himself if her friend was worth his company.

“COME IN!”

Anuj spoke up finally and as the door opened with a slight creak, Anuj looked up to find a woman step inside- a simple saree, a proper braid, bindi and a simple necklace.

‘Oh’

Before Anuj knew, he was standing and his heart, which had been still silent a beat ago was starting to pick its pace.

Closing the door after her carefully, she finally turned around while sending one final prayer to kanha ji.And her eyes fell on the man standing by the desk.

“Mr. Kapadia?” She asked surprised while Anuj nodded.

“Ms. Anupama? Devika’s friend?” It was his turn to ask as Anupama walked in and nodded.

Anuj smiled. What were the odds that they will be meeting like this?

“Pleasure to meet you” Anuj forwarded his hand and Anupama smiled shaking his hand. “Likewise”

“Please sit”, Anuj signaled her,and soon both took their seats.

‘So she is single?’ That was the next thought in Anuj’s head but he quickly shook it off. Neither she is one of your matches nor is this the right place or time! So shush it you moron!

Putting his game face on, Anuj did a few clicks and went through Anupama’s bio data that had been sent to him already.

‘BA in English. Optimum grades.But no experience’

Anuj pursed his lips and mulled a second before he went on to ask her a few general questions as was required of an interview.

She answered them decently letting him know that she had made an effort despite being out of touch for a longtime.

Anuj sighed. “Your qualifications are OK, but I don’t have a suitable post to offer you”.

He saw Anupama’s face fell and felt his heart clench. “Perhaps you—

“There is som—

Both spoke simultaneously and then stopped. Anuj urged her to go on first, trying to gather his feelings. He was mixing personal and professional.

“I-I have something to show you”,Anupama offered and Anuj waited while she pulled out a folder from her purse and forwarded it to him.

It was her portfolio- collection of some of the contents she had written while in college and school, for magazines, newspapers etc.

While Anuj flipped through them,Anupama sat anxious. There was another reason aside from money that she was here. Passion.

Sneaking a look at her face, Anuj flipped another page when his eyes paused and a small smile broke across his lips. He briefly glanced at her, while she was still occupied in her thoughts and shook his head.

This clearly was a mistake. He was sure that this heartfelt poem wasn’t something she wanted him to see. And then he did something, he would never have if his mind was sound. Far from it. He clearly was letting his heart get the best of him. Once is an accident, twice can be coincidence, but thrice has to be fate. And a businessman must snatch the opportunity when he gets one.

Sneakily, he separated the sheet of poem and slid it among his files and handed the portfolio back to her.

“So you had a flair for writing?”

“I still do!” Anupama answered excited before briefly closing her eyes for behaving like that and apologized.

“I-I may be a bit out of touch but under the right guidance I am sure..I can do even better”.

Anuj smiled. He really was going to go through it.

“Then would you like to join my team as a content writer?”

“I—yess!” Anupama beamed and Anuj tried to control his own smile.

“But you will have to work under people half your age. They are more experienced, more qualified, may even boss you around in my stead. Will you be fine with that?” Anuj asked, recounting from experience how his team of youngsters would irk the seniors of other companies, standing on the same pedestal as them.

Anupama nodded, “They are there because they worked hard for it. Age has nothing to do with hard work. I will work hard too. I won’t disappoint you”.

Anuj nodded and sliding his seat back, stood up.

“Welcome to the company, Anupama” He forwarded his hand and she met him halfway, smiling.

“Glad to be a part of it, Sir !”

While Anuj held the door for her and watched her walk out, he didn’t know why he was so happy. They barely knew each other and he was already awaiting her joining.

“Maa! Mujhe job mil gaya! Content creator!” Anupama shared excitedly over the phone and Anuj looked on.

“Haa, main aaungi kuch dinon main milne. Bhavesh ko bhi bata dena. Jai shri Krishna” And with that she cut the call and walked off.

“Brother, it is!” Anuj laughed and walked back in. Back to work.

~*~*~*~*

“Pagal ho gayi hai kya?!” Anupama exclaimed as she saw Devika laughing to tears on her bed.

“You crashed your car with Anuj’s?!”

“He crashed his with mine!”Anupama corrected her as Devika shrugged.

“Pretty..nice voice…familiar…you were talking about him na?”

Anupama rolled her eyes, “Haan.Toh?”

“Do you not realize why he looked familiar?”

“Why?!” Anupama was getting exasperated now.

“Arre dumbo, yaad kar! Final year ka college fest, a guy from another college did shayari on the stage and you fell for his voice”.

‘And deep eyes’, Anupama completed, recalling how she had spotted Anuj in the window glass, staring after her while she was on call today.

She had no recollection of his face from then but she vividly remembered his words for it were them that had fuelled her affair with poems, and romance.

“Yaad aaya?” Devika asked andAnupama just shook her head in negative, twisting her lips.

“Acha” Devika bought into her lie and frustrated lay down on her bed, getting busy in her phone.

Anupama apologized internally.Anuj was her boss now. Devika was his friend. And she didn’t want her nosy friend tattling to her boss even remotely.

But Anu knew now why she had felt giddy every time he and his eyes had smiled. Her heart recognized what her head had failed.

“Who would’ve though Mr. shayar will end up aging like a fine wine!” She mused to herself, excited to start her new journey.

Do share how you liked this part😃

Love it! Written so so well! Can't wait to see where you'll take the story next!