That thing called love | MaAn SS |updated pt4a&b pg11&12 / 21.11 - Page 6

Hope you feel better.😊

This part was a bit sad with misunderstandings. 😭

Teaser pg 1

Part 1: pg 3

Part 2:

‘No, it’s not love’...she was convinced. It can’t be she reassured herself replaiting her neatly plaited hair in frustration...Huffing at the mere thought of falling in love, she rendered all of Devika’s claims invalid and far fetched.

Then unintentionally scrutinising herself in the mirror she said “woh toh itne acche hai, handsome hai, fit hai...aur mai? ” pointing to herself she laughed off the tiny bit of confusion left in her from last night.

‘Maana ke Devika hamesha sahi hoti hai par iss baar nahi, mujhe Anuj se pyaar nahi hai aur na kabhi hoga’ sealing the thought in her heart and head, she locked her house and walked to the street to hail an auto.

******

Mumbling to himself in anger, he clicked his seat belt in and started driving towards his office.

He wanted to get there early to finish his paperwork so he could leave preferably before Anu came in..but then he also couldn't resist the urge to see her face one last time before he left for the factory site...

Battling with his thoughts, he hurled abuses to himself for being so indecisive and just as he slammed the car door close, he saw Anupama getting out of the three wheeler.

As soon as their eyes met, a strange vibe filled the air around them.

She looked tired after the long sleepless night, the bags under her eyes spoke for her...Trying to look fresh, she tugged on her plait and cleared her throat as she gradually walked towards him...

Why was she here so early? he asked himself and freaked at the thought of her knowing how he felt about her and them...he couldn't afford putting their friendship at stake cause that is all he had... for now....hating himself for feeling that way, he sniffed and brushed his suit as he approached her.

Though there was nothing to be awkward about in the obvious sense, they both felt jittery and uneasy, their reasons being totally different yet similar in some weird way....

There was a strange kind of unspoken nervousness as though they were appearing for a surprise test the teacher had announced that morning, where they had to fight their inner demons and score high to advance to the next level, thats if there was one.

“tum...itni subah kaise? I mean kuch zyada jaldi nahi aagayi tum? ” he asked jokingly to mask his discomfort on seeing her there.

“haan...woh maine socha kee naye saal ka aaj mera pehla din hai office mein aur mai itne din aayi bhi nahi thi ne toh isliye...” she justified as they walked towards his cabin...

“it’s alright Anu-pama” he couldn’t bring himself to call her Anu...”

Opening the door to the cabin he let her walk in first and said “tum araam se, jitna time lagta hai lo, koi jaldi nahi hai” her tried to put her at ease but she couldnt when he said “actually mujhe bhi bonot saara catch up karna hai aur Devika se Mumbai ki meeting ka feedback bhi lena hai” and straightway she was reminded of what Devika had said about his selflessness...

Anu was lost in her thoughts and that made Anuj uncomfortable...did she just sense my guilt? he wondered and dug his face in the file to stop her from seeing it loose its colour....

*******

A good few minutes later when the deafening silence in the room made her anxious, Anu tried to look under the file to see his face to figure out why he was behaving unlike him...

Clueless about what was going on in his head, she subconsciously blamed herself for it and prepared to address the elephant in the room.

“Anuj aap thik hai na? aapne nashta kiya?” she asked and tapped her head for sounding so random...

“Hmm, haan...haan” he replied in short syllables sliding the file to the side “haan maine nashta kiya, GK ne mujhe chocolate milk diya tha, aur tum ne kiya?” he asked and kicked himself mentally for sounding so juvenile.

“haan maine toh subah hi theple banaye the, aapke liye bhi laayi hoon, khayenge?” she asked and went to grab her bag from the sofa and pulled out the stainless steel container from it, Anuj smiled and walked over to her.

And just like that the ice was broken and they were back to being ‘friends’.

“bohot tasty hai Anu” he said munching the breakfast she had thoughtfully packed for him.

“araam se khayiye, aur mujhse ye promise kijiye ke aaj se aap acche se nashta karenge, sirf chocolate milk bhi koi nashta hua? bolo!”

Hearing her sweetly fuss over mundane matters, Anuj felt a sudden sense of contentment...of a happy life that they could have together, only if...

He unabashedly let the feeling linger on for a while and smiled to himself as he enjoyed the blissful moments while he could...

This was perhaps as close as it could get to the life he pictured with her, where they were in a relationship, where she loved him back...

That was but a dream and the reality was right in front of him, glaring in his face, laughing at his misery...

“Anuj!!!” said Anu curiously when she saw him smirk...

Waving her hand in front of his face to bring him back, she said “nashta khatam ho gaya ho toh kaam shuru karein?” and pointed to the desk covered in stacks of files they had to go through...

“haan..chalo mai tumhe dikhata hoon kya karna hai, phir mujhe kuch der mein nikalna bhi hai” he said frustratingly looking at the time in his watch...

He wished she could come along with him like the last time when they got to spend some quality time together but the thought of the wretched morning that followed that night tainted the beautiful memories they had made...

Meanwhile, Anu also ran a reminiscent flashback of that memorable day but she only chose the good memories and left the hurtful ones out.

She was reminded of how he almost confessed that night and then she subduedly thought of the day he actually confessed his feelings to her, looking her right in the eye, with all his love and how in return she christened their unique relationship as something that meant more than friendship and less than love...

He deserves better! she yelled within and told herself off for refusing his love... her face dropped in despair as Devika’s harsh but true words came to haunt her....

Oblivious to the changes in her face, he tried to wrap up and got his papers together and said “accha mai nikalta hoon, mujhe der ho rahi hai”

While putting his jacket on he noticed how she looked a little pale and distressed.

Hoping it was nothing, he grabbed his laptop bag and asked “Anu, tum thik ho na? “ and yes she nodded with a small smile to end his curiosity.

“Sure?” he asked again, not entirely convinced by her smile.

“haan sure, aap jayiye ne, late ho rahe hai aapko”

“accha thik hai, tum ye saari files study kar lena aur kuch samajhne mein dikkat ho toh...”

“tadaa! main hoon na!” screamed Devika barging in cheerfully hoping to see ‘MaAn’ together...

********

so here’s another not-so-happening update but it was needed to get them to where I want to take them😌I hope to make up for it in the next ones..this was more about them figuring out their feelings and did have some cute bits I think☺️😜 oh well do tell me if you liked any of it...

thank you for all the lovely and encouraging comments,🤗 love you guys for making me feel good and loved...

see you tomorrow!

goodnight

tag and song

https://youtu.be/fhs6wYi4Jr0

Nice part deary.

Do continue🤗

Eventless morning 😀 Devika aayi hai to abb kuchh hoga shayad 😃

Plz continue.. our eager hearts need some MaAn moments Aur show me to wo milne se rahe abhi k track me 🙈😃

You have explained their Complex emotions beautifully❤️please continue soon

Loved how you portrayed their inner turmoil.

Both are stupid😆 26 saal nikaal diye aur kitna time waste karenge

So beautifully portrayed my dear!! Loved it 👌👌🥰

Thank you for tagging 😊😊🤗

Thank you guys🤗

fir reading, liking and commenting, though it was a filler update😳

Have finished writing the next part, will post shortly☺️

This update was very soothing and calming🥺 and the song🖤