Chapter 9 - Good Intentions
“Hum Sambalte hai beta. Tum aaram se baito!”
“Haan, aur me Kaka ki help karti hoon!”
Both Gaka and Mukku started gathering everything from the dinner table, ready to clear up from the delicious and elaborate dinner.
“Arey! Iski kya zarurat hai Kaka? Mai karti hoo ne?” Anupamaa moved to get up, attempting to help.
Waving her to settle her back in her seat, both of them worked quickly, “No beta, tumne kana banaya, toh hum sumhalenge!” GK looked at her with kind and loving eyes before heading to the kitchen with full hands.
“Haan Anupamaa, aur aaj toh tum saara din academy main teach karahi thi, so you must be quite tired! So please let us clear up!” Mukku placed a final settling hand on her shoulder before taking the last of the stuff to the kitchen.
Anu sat there as the flashes of memories, years of service and solitude were washed away once more by this incredible family. Their simple actions filling wounds she’d long learned to live with.
How can they be so kind? I am so lucky. Thank you Kanhaaji!
Brought out of her reverie by a warm hand placed over hers, Anuj asked “kya hua Anu? Tum theek ho?” Suddenly not so nostalgic, Anuj’s voice reminded her of his recent actions. Pulling away her hand from his, she started daggers at him as she stood up from the table, slightly walking away… “kya theek hoon? Aap toh chodiye!” Her eyes slits of annoyance.
Anuj, only just able to restrain his laughter, asked with all the innocence he could muster, “Are, aise kya hua Anu?” Slowly getting up and walking towards her, his growing proximity enough to further ignite the tension between them.
“Seriously Anuj? Kya hua? Aap dinner ke time pe yea sab kya karahe the? Aapne Mukku ke saath aise shaadi ki baath ki! Meri toh jaan nikal gayee thi!”
Anuj, finding it even more difficult to contain his laughter, desired to take advantage of the moment they had alone, and brought himself even closer into her personal space. “But Anu, I was joking. Mukku ko bhi mazaak laga? And because of that, she stopped bothering us, right?” His eyes, big and sincere, distracting her as he leaned further into her space. “Right?”
“Haaaan… par….” Anu, suddenly hyper aware of his closeness, and the audible chatter coming from the kitchen, found her mind blank of any retorts, tried to switch tact. Trying to pull off some level of anger, she furrowed her brows and tried to tell him off (not that the sudden stutter she had developed helped…) “a..aur…aur aap jo wo baaki sab… baar baar…haath ke saath…. chammach ke s…sath kar rahe the… a..aise kaise chalega haahn? Kaka aur Mukku ko kuch dikhjata toh!?”
Anu, tu toh apne aap ko bhi nahi convince kar parahi… She was just a blushing mess at this point.
Wading further into her space, just shy of touching her, but somehow engulfing all her senses, Anuj looked into her eyes and with all the innocence of an demon, asked, “Kyu? Aisa kya kia maine?”
Anu, hyper aware that Anuj’s current closeness was far beyond the bounds of propriety that would convince GK or Mukku of anything if they would walk in, was trapped. Unable to shake his closeness, or tear away from him, she just looked at him in exasperation, wringing her hands together, trying to navigate through the nervous energy Anuj had generated within her. “Dekhiye…”
Anuj, unable to hold back, gently grabbed her arm and puller her to him, closing any gap as their bodies crashed into each other. His face dangerously close to hers, he tilted his head at the last minute, and brought it down to her ear to whisper, “Maine ka tha na? That be ready to blush? Main nahi ruk paunga…”
Anu was unable to function, his proximity, his words, his… everything, overwhelming her with his irresistible charm. She grabbed the chair for some stability, as her other arm held onto Anuj’s as it held hers.
Agar tu abhi sai aise react kar rahi hai Anu…Tera aage kya hoga? - even her mind betrayed her.
Anuj, placing his hand on top of hers on the chair and shifting the other from her arm to her sari-covered waist, moved his face further into her neck, nuzzling her slightly with his nose, inhaling her heady scent. Said once more, “Tum sacchi mai jaarahi jo?”
Anu was suddenly hit with everything that had happened in the last twenty four hours - finally letting him in, the newfound dynamic of their relationship, the waves of emotions and sensations he had evoked in her so quickly - all of it; only tarnished by the truth that that she’d be leaving him tomorrow - had her lost. Unable to do much more than lean into his shoulder and hiding her face in his taught neck, nodding the admitted fact of their parting.
Anuj, sensing the sadness in her aura, held on to her tighter, bunching up the material of her sari found in his hands, looked down at her face that she’d lent on his shoulder - evident of the closeness that she also craved of him. THANK GOD. Smiling wistfully as he drew on her hand with his fingers where they rested on the chair, he said softly into her hair, “mujhe lagta hai ki mujhe Mukku aur GK ki baath maan leni chaiye aur tumhe rok lena chaiye. What do you think?” He lightly brushed his lips across the side of her head.
Anupamaa, still unable to do much more than absorb his closeness - intoxicated by everything he brought out in her - traced her hand up his arm to his bicep and squeezed, hoping to convey much of her hazardous emotion. With her head still in the nook of his shoulder, she slightly shook her head in denial. Closing her eyes as she breathed in his uniquely tempting scent.
Anuj, absorbing her intentions, suggested, “Accha baba, toh phir abhi mere saath thori der time spend karogi? We can sit in my balcony as everyone goes to sleep?”
But before Anu could respond, Suddenly, “Haan! Mujhe abhi intni neend nahi Ayee!” Mukku could be heard barrelling her way back from the kitchen, causing Anupamaa to tense and jump away from Anuj’s embrace. Busying herself with something on the shelf, while Anuj grabbed his phone and started playing with it.
Arrey Mukku you Idiot!
Turning the corner, Mukku skipped towards the two, observing their evident awkwardness with each other.
In dono ka kya hoga?! Pehele kuch bolte nahi hai, aur ab door door kare hoke kuch karte bhi nahi hai! Useless! Mujhe ki kuch karna padega…
Like a hurricane, she grabbed both of them, one arm around each of their shoulders, pulling them towards each other “Aaaaashhhiquiiiiii Dhekhe?” Anupamaa’s heart might have stopped as Anuj’s stomach did flips…
“Hah?” Both flustered love birds exclaimed. No idea what new bomb just burst their little bubble. Tightening her arms around her two favourite dummies, she shook them slightly, in hopes of actually shaking up their silence, and said loudly, “movie dekhte hai… chalo! Agar Anu kal sacchi mai jaarahi hai, toh aap dono ko sona, not allow!” With that she pulled them towards the couches and the tv.
Both Anu and Anuj were dragged along, unsure what their chaotic Mukku was about to do.
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Hey guys!!! Hope you are doing well and enjoyed this little interlude. A very small moment but I hope these two characters and their cuteness was enjoyable. More coming soon!
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