She looked on in dazed wonderment as he pleaded with the attackers to give back his chumbak. Her fear of the goons momentarily forgotten as the desperation in his voice rang out, snagging at her heart, drowning out the melee surrounding them. Her plea to leave it be, had fallen on deaf ears. It was his only keepsake of hers. His most precious possession. How could he let that go? Ever.
His confession from moments before had tilted her world on its axis. She knew he loved her, she had even heard him say it out loud, but hearing him say the words to her while looking deep into her eyes, felt different. It was as though the words had traveled from his very soul. Spilling emotions that had been guarded fiercely for decades.
There was an earnestness in his bearing, yet there was an aura of calmness about him. Tears glistening in his eyes at the enormity of the moment. Those tears, as much as his words, unfurled something deep inside her that she didn’t even know existed.
When had it even lodged itself there?
How can a love this deep endure for 26 long years without any sustenance, was a question that swirled constantly in her mind. Do unrequited feelings not just fade away to nothingness eventually?
The depth of his love for her was both sobering and exhilarating. He made her want to look at herself through his eyes. He made her want to be that person he sees in her.
Free to fly.
Free to dance.
Free to laugh.
Free of the weight of responsibilities and duties that were second nature to her.
Free to live life.
Free to be Anupama.
Just Anupama.
His Anupama.
Before her mind could tether her soaring heart, a searing pain pierced through her head. She heard him scream out her name frantically as he ran towards her, as though in slow motion, before a welcome darkness engulfed her.
Her, “Anuj, I…”, lying shrouded in the ensuing silence.
~ Ruchi
oOo
Happy Happy Happy Birthday dear Hinz! 🥳
I wish you a day and a year filled with all that you desire. Lots of darshan of biceps and seenas and every other anatomical part you want to forensically examine ;)
You are delightfully funny and unfailingly warm. It’s been lovely interacting with you these last few weeks. I wanted to write something amusing about your fangirling of Anuj, but this is what turned out. Not a surprise maybe. After all, in this serial, nothing turns out how it starts out! Baat kahan se kahan le jaate hain sab!😆
Hope you have a wonderful birthday ❤️
CID
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