Part 2 - The Realisation
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The silence was deafening. Even if their expressions were not. Not that either of them could look at the other directly.
The delicate closeness that the two of them had build since his accident, the gentle tension that had held their eyes on each other longer and pulled their hands to each other more often - a brush on the arm in jest, a grasp of the hand in comfort - was suddenly crackling with electricity.
Anuj sat there fidgeting, his hand rubbing across his chin, trying to find purchase on the situation that had presented itself. How could he convince her to stay? Eyes quickly glancing at Anu every so often. He was scared, no, terrified of what might transpire due to the explosion that his baby sister had set-off.
Anupama, felt like she was falling. Falling to the hole of chaos that had been dug up in front of her in the last few minutes. It winded her, the possibility of walking away knocked all the air out of her chest. Barely leaving her with a breath to breathe. Unable to stomach it, the possibility of being far from him, she suddenly bolted up… a voice trembling she mumbled, “Mai aathi hoon” and started to walk towards the kitchen.
Still recovering, Anuj barely heard what she had said. It wasn’t until she was almost to the door that his head shot up, and he let out an uneven shout. ”A… Anu?!”
Anupama felt the remaining singular breath leave her chest for good now, the yearning in his voice almost leaving her spinning. Grabbing the door handle for stability, she stood rooted to the ground. Still just about mumbling, “M… main chai banaa ke, aur kuch khaane ke liye laati hu. Aapka dawai lene ka time hone wala ho ga”. Actually she had no idea what the time even was, she just needed to get out of this room. Away from the risk of loosing this, him. “Not that you have him Anupamaa” her heart warned. Her blood roared in her ears.
“Anu”, his voice gentler now, but still revealing his desperation. “Meri dawai doh din se band hai”. Tentatively he got up, not wanting to scare her, she still hadn’t look him in the eye since Mukku had left.
Biting her lip, she gripped the door handle more, taking a steadying breath, (which did nothing!) she stared at the floor. Hoping it would swallow her whole. “Oh…” she breathed out.
In that moment, a heavy blanket of realisation fell on both of them as they finally admitted to themselves that the game of house they had been playing was possibly coming to an end.
It was as if a string snapped and the sudden weight of the moment crumbled on Anuj, “Anuj… tou kaisa Ghadha hai? Mukku is right. She’s been doing so much for you. Helping out Kaka, working on healing Mukku. And still working on our project And still running the dance school. And still being a mother and daughter to her family!! What are you doing?! Why haven’t you realised that she’s running circles around you, taking care of you, not only physically as you healed from a simple concussion but also as you are dealing with the mess of your family history and Mukku. What the hell!? She’s been so kind to you! And You’ve been taking advantage of that. Ghadda! You promised her you wouldn’t cross any lines, not demand more than friendship, and certainly not start holding out hope. Hope of her. Hope for her. Hope for them. Then what had all this time been?! Grabbing her hand in tears, asking her not to leave him, stepping closer and closer into her space… sleeping in her lap while holding her pallu for gods sake! What was all this if not hope?! Anuj… you had promised her, and now you have failed”. His internal monologue span out of control as shame gripped him, constructing every joint in his body and pouring sand down his throat.
Blinking hard as his eyes started to sting… he called out her name again. Broken in an entirely different way this time “Anupamaa…?”
The use of her full name, and the tone of his voice shocked her enough that she whipped her body around, eyes bulging as she tried to control her lurching heart. What she found was a totally different man than one she had been peacefully sitting next to just minutes ago. She saw him, as if folding in on himself. Suddenly hiding his eyes from her. Weird…
She felt herself be pulled towards him, unable to bare his slightly pained look even more than the crushing embarrassment which had plagued her since she’d started seeing him anew… “Hah?” She said… Her insides screaming at him, telling him the intense love she felt for him. Hoping the torrent of emotion that flowed out of her, which just seemed to stop below the surface, would echo into his heart. Why can’t he see it? Hoping, praying this would be the moment… now that the delicate glass which withheld their dream life since she came here had shattered, she hoped this would be the moment he would reach out and pull her towards him.
“Anu…Panama…” he still wouldn’t look at her. “I’m, I’m sorry”. What?! “I’m sorry. Mukku’s right. I have been taking advantage of you. Taking advantage of your kindness. I am better. Much better. You have done so much for me. So much for my family. Th… thank you.I have asked so much of you. I’m sorry Anupamaa. I didn’t mean to. You have so many responsibilities and I have kept you to myself. Just because I love you, doesn’t mean I can do this…” he kept rambling on as Anu stared at him in disbelief.
Why is he apologising?! What is he saying? Why does he do this?! What can’t he tell? That I want to be here. He didn’t take advantage? What is he saying?! Why isn’t he looking me in the eyes? Why is he calling me Anupamaa?!” Now she really was spinning… where’s that door handle when you need it… It felt like she was being caged in that snow globe that he’s gifted her, not to celebrate her strength but to Isolate her, standing in a snow storm. Cold & alone.
His guilt and her confusion towered like tall mountains, overshadowing the deep flowing river of their love. He rambled as she was lost in a maze in her mind. Enough.
“Anuj! Baaas. Aap ye kya kahe rahe hain?” Stepping closer she reached out to grab his arm, trying to anchor him back to her, to them.
Still not looking at her, his eyes downcast, was that shame? He curled his hands into tight fists and mumbled “sorry Anupama. Shayad maine galti say ummeed ka haath pakarna shuru kardia thah. I’m sorry. I broke my promise”.
Anupamaa was taken aback by the sadness in his voice. Like a small child caught in a terrible mistake. Why didn’t he realised so much had changed since he had needed to promise her that he wouldn’t even hope for what they had now? Or perhaps, if Anupamaa was honest with herself, nothing had changed. Perhaps even then… she had fallen so deeply in love with them, that its comfort had embraced her as warmly as it had today. Her heart squeezed in sadness, realising that this big gorgeous hunk of a man had no idea where he stood with her. Her insides sank at the thought of leaving him alone in his feelings for her, for a single moment longer. Enough… suddenly her determination to ensure he would never again feel the dark cloud of shame engulfing him, washed away any shyness, any embarrassment, which had held her back until now. Enough. Now was the time. Yahi sahi waqt hai Anupamaa. Bol de…
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Okayyyyy sorryyyyyy 🙈🙈🙈🙈 I had promised lots of cute fluff, but I couldn’t resist a bit of angst before we get there. I feel like Anuj is the kind of person who’d spiral like this. His fear of hope holding him back. But don’t you worry, the angst will not be lasting long! Cuteness to come! 💕
Edited by Sanara555 - 3 years ago
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