SS : Another chance at life (ch 10 updated) - Page 11

awwwww so cute dear and I'm so happy for MaAn❤❤❤❤❤🤗🤗🤗🤗

Omg!! Such a lovely confession 🥰

Anu ko hi initiative lena pada par 😅

Loved it! Anupama truly being able to re-write her past and make her own decisions with foresight having lived one life.

Just a sweet love story…if only they had met in college and shared their feelings this is what would have happened! Well done… made my Christmas holidays 😊

Chapter 9

She had stayed behind in the college that day, as she had the last practice session still pending, though she had asked him to go ahead, back home as he was supposed to reach home not later than 6.00 pm. In a hurry, he was packing all his belongings into his bag, yet his attention was occupied by his Anu, who was dancing gracefully.

"Arre bhai, aa rahe ho naa? Dhyaan kaha par hai??!"

"Haan Bunty, ek minute bas.."

Sealing the bag, he threw it over his shoulder, cast a wistful, final glance at Anu, and headed out.

His Anu.

That had taken some time to get used to. It had been two years since they started courting - it was still sinking in. They had faced their fair share of ups and downs and would continue to do so, but they were always together in it. That, in the end, was what really mattered.

The upcoming year was their last one, post the completion of which they had decided to get engaged. Post-graduation would come next, and after gaining a bit of financial stability - maybe in a year or two - marriage.

"Ek minute Anuj, tumhari bag ek side se khuli hai, main thik kar deta hoon." Bunty's voice brought him out of his reverie. He had a mischievious twinkle in his eyes. Paired with the playful way he was smirking, it looked as though he knew something that Anuj did not. Feeling wary, he let Bunty righten the bag. Both of them headed home.

"Maa, main ghar aa gaya..."

"Haan beta, chalo haath, pair, mooh dho lo."

Having done so, he took his bag to his room upstairs. Opening it to take out his books, the first thing he noticed was Anu's baby blue, sheer dupatta, the one that she had kept on the table during her dance practice session. It had somehow been carried along with him in his bag.

Inspite of being an inanimate object, it certainly made its presence felt. The whiff he caught from it was so distinctly like its owner - if he closed his eyes, he could very easily imagine her sitting in front of him.

"Yeh kya hai, beta? Yeh kiska...."

"Maa woh ye Anu ka dupatta hai, woh galti se aa gaya..."

"Pehle magnet, ab dupatta!!??" Raising an eyebrow in jest, his mother asked him in a teasing manner.

"Woh galti se aa gaya na Maa, sach me, kal de doonga wapas."

"Thik hai. Par yaad se, bhulna nahi. Kya lagega uss pyaari bacchi ko?"

"Haan Maa, jarur."

Dinner was a quiet affair. Having finished his food, Anuj washed his hands and headed to his room to complete his pending acadamic work. Working on completion till it was rather late, he never knew when his drowsy self succumbed to sleep.

Soft, gentle hands caressed his face, brushing away his awry hair from his forehead. A melodious voice poured into his ears soothingly -

"Neend ayi hai, toh bed par sona, desk comfortable nahi hai, gardan akhad jaayegi...."

"Anu!!! Tum yahan, aur woh bhi iss wakt!!"

"Kyun, mein mere dupatta chor se milne nahi aa sakti, hmm..??"

"Aisi baat nahi hai, kabhi bhi aa sakti ho, koi rokegaa nahi."

She was looking alluring in her dress, perched on his desk right in front of him - uncharacteristically bold of her.

"Tumhara dupatta, woh - "

"Kaise pehnu, aap ke paas hai, lautaa dijiye, fir pehenti hoon."

That failed to register with him, though, his mind focused on the way her hand caressed his face, carded through his hair and laid feather-light touches on his collarbones tantalizingly.

"Anu," he made a half hearted effort of stopping her ministrations, "Tum ruk jaao, warna mujhe rukna mushkil ho jaayega...." Eyes a tad bit darker from desire aflame in them; dilated pupils; his baritone now slightly husky, guttural; hands itching to envelop her, imprison her in his arms - the effect her simplest actions brought in him was obvious. Snaking an arm around her waist, he brought her closer. He affected her too - made her covet him ardently. She cocooned him in her arms and leaned forward, as if meaning to meet his lips with those of her own - and then let go. He opened his eyes and looked around, only to recieve a still silence in answer. What a bold dream!!

'Kya sapna tha.... treading dangerous grounds, Anuj,' he admonished himself.

The next morning had Anuj sprinting through the hallways, gasping to catch his breath - it was of no use, though. He was late for college, already missing the first lecture. Perhaps sitting in the library for some selfstudy was the best, as there was still half an hour for the next lecture to start.

He couldn't meet Anu until lunch break. The way she had been all shy, in contrast to the bold dream-anu, when he returned her dupatta was equally pleasing to his eyes. She couldn't rest her gaze on him, and he coundn't avert his own from her. He didn't offer any explanation to her, while she didn't demand it of him, accepting her belonging back without questioning his possession of it.

Instances like this created a warm, fuzzy feeling in the heart. They both trusted each other immensely and strived hard to keep it untouched. This mutual understanding, trust between them was very beautiful. It was the base and the strength of their relation, and would be so in their future life. They didn't just love each other, they were in love with each other - life felt beautiful, indeed.

Last round, sorry if I missed anyone 😊😊

You have something in your writing that move my heart a bit.. ❤️ it's beautiful 😍 considering all will go fine, agar sad ending hua toh mera dil ko solid dokha hojayega.. mera dil mat thodna pls

Wow simply beautiful. Thanks for the tag

It's so beautiful..👏

But pata nahi kyu, when I read those long term plans.. post-graduate financial independence and then marriage. Thoda dar lagta hai.

Hope all goes well with them this time 🙏

Wow, honestly I thought we were going another fight by Anuj to protect Anu in the starting paragraph. 😆

These shy kids, they have been courting for 2 years and this speed. 🤣

Nicely written 👌 👏