Part 5 - Just Us
“Anuj…” she mumbled into his chest after some time.
“Haah?” He breathed out as they remained in their embrace, his thumb slightly moving on her back, brushing the juncture of her blouse and bare skin - making her shiver slightly.
“Anuuj” she implored, urging his attention back from their bliss - pulling away from him slightly to look him in the eyes.
Chuckling, he framed her shoulders with his hands, still not letting her go fully. Hah! Like I will ever let her go now
“Aapko pata hain ne, iss sabke baad, mu…mujhe ab yahase jaana chaiyee… mujhe waapis apne ghar jaana chaiye” she said with a slightly downcast look, trying to convince herself as much as tell him.
Anuj’s grip tightened slightly as he searched for her eyes, shocked at her statement. “What! Anu why!?” He couldn’t even imagine living without her here, the easy rhythm of their lives together, let alone the promise that today’s revelation had brought.
Anu, looking down in resignation “Haan… aapne hi kaha, aapki tabiyet ab theek hai, aur Mukku bhi settle hogayi hai. Toh phir, ab toh main yaha rukungi toh ajeeb lagega na?”
Anuj stepped even closer to her, leading to Anu stepping backwards with him, his desperation to convince her otherwise just drove his movement into her… “aise kaise Anu. Abhi toh tumne kaha ki tum humhe ek mauka dena chahati ho!? Ye sahi nahi hai kya? Ki tum mujhse…. Mujhse…” He still couldn’t say it…. He might have already jinxed it!
Looking up fiercely, Anu clarified “Pyar Karti hoon. Bohut saara. Haan”
“Toh phir?” Anuj’s face contorted into a puppy look, still moving forward with desperate momentum, continued “phir tum merese door kyu jaana chahati ho? Abhi toh paheli baar mere itni paas ayie ho”
Anu, slightly amused at this point, found herself moving with this overgrown child, and suddenly felt her back to the wall, coming to rest on it with a small thud. Placing her hand once again on his heart she sought to settle him “Haan Anuj. Ye sub sach hai. Lekin ye bhi sach hai ki ye mera ghar nahi hai.” She looked down again, knowing that he won’t quite accept what she was saying yet…
Unable to compute her words, Anuj let out a grunt of confusion… “Anu… yeh ghar, yeh sab khuch…. Ye… yeh Anuj bhi…. Tumhara hai” drawing his hands up to hold her cherished face, pulling her eyes to his, he emphasised with determination “sirph tumhara hai”.
Her breath hitched as she was blown away by the fierce gaze boring into her. Raising her hands up to his face, mirroring his affection to reassure him, she said softly, “Haan Anuj. Main ye jaanti hoon… aur samajneki koshish bhi karoongi. Lekin, mera yaha pe rehena, jab hamara… hamara aisa koi rish…. Rishta nahi hai… toh…sahi…nahi hai…aap samaj rahe hai na me kya keherahi hoon?” She hoped she didn’t have to delve into this further… there were her kids, her family, everybody to answer to. Her head spun with the complexities she would have to handle….
But suddenly to her surprise, Anuj’s face suddenly broke into an excited smile, arms wrapping around her waist he got closer into her space again, “accha ji! Anupamaa ji, aap mereko propose karahi hai? Aisa hai to let’s go! Let’s get married right now! Mandir paas hi me toh hai!! Do you think Punditji will be free now?” With that he started pulling her towards the door, loudly proclaiming the plan of action.
Laughing at his antics, Anupamaa pulled him back to her at the wall, “Arrey Anuj! Yeh aap kya keherehain! Aise kaise!” Blushing her eyes dropped in embarrassment. “Abhi toh humne ye sab shuru kiya hai! Bohot kuch hai jo aapko bolna hai. Bohot kuch hai to aapse sunna hai… Tora sabre rakhiye ne!”
Anuj placed one hand at the wall to the side the other held her waist very lightly, brushing her bare skin with the faintest of restrained touch. Already enough to make her heart jump. Peering into her eyes with a new intensity he muttered in a low entrancing baritone, “Anu, 26 saal hogaye hai tumhe door se pyaar karte hue. Jab pata nahi ta ki tumhare dil mai bhi mereliya pyar hai toh puri zindagi aise raike khush hota. Lekin ab…”. His hand slid across the wall closer to her face, his lips just inches away from hers, his hands tightening on her waist, “ab jab mujhe pata hai. Ki tum bhi mujse pyaar karti ho…. Toh mai tumhe apne paas hi rakhoonga. Tumhe door kabhi nahi jaane doonga”. Slightly tilting his head, putting most of his force on his hand on the wall, as not to crush her, he nuzzled her cheek, and gave it a deep long kiss, whispering in her ear, “Subre hi toh nahi hota Anu”.
Anupamaa couldn’t breath. Couldn’t think. This man's simple touch on her waist, their proximity, his body against hers with the wall offering no space for respite, his head hovering by her ear, the fire that had erupted where he’d kissed her, the Goosebumps she felt across her body in reaction to his continuous breath on her cheek and neck, it was overwhelming. The simplest of gestures had her feeling like a puddle on the floor. How can that be? This man. This ridiculous gorgeous man. His scent was intoxicating. His presence was all-consuming. It had never been like this before. She didn’t know what to do?! But she had to get a grip!
Gripping his shoulders she nudged his body away slightly, hoping the inches now between them might give her mind some time to think… her eyes in turmoil, her mind still blank, she took a second, unable to look at him as she gathered herself.
“A… a…. Anuj. Y…ye…yeh aap ky..kya…kyaaa”. She was so flustered. She needed to get a grip.
Anuj, knowing he had really pushed it today… What else could he do when he had everything he ever wanted in front of him! Stepped back slightly and lightly held her face in one hand again. Hoping to lighten the intensity that had engulfed them… “Sorry Anu. Mujse raha nahi gaya. Lekin main yahi kaina chata hoon ki ab tumhare bagair reina bohot bohot bohot mushkil hoga. Tum please mujse door nahi jao”. Somehow, as the heat of the moment dissipated, all that was left was his wide-eyed vulnerability.
Unable to hold herself back, Anupamaa looked deep into his eyes and she too showed him the true emotions swirling inside her - her precious and never-ending love remained restrained... by something…. He couldn’t quite name it. Giving her a chance to explain, he waited.
Taking a steadying breath she said, “Anuj, mai aapke liye jo feel karti hoon, voh bohot bohot bohot special hai. Lekin, main bas ye chaati hoon ki hum is rishte ko vo waqt dein jo hum dono ko kabhi nahi mila. Mujhe Anupamaa Vanraaj Shah sey sirph Anupamaa banne mai itna sammay abhi nahi hua hai. Jo kamzoria uss Anupamaa main thi, v…vo… abhi puri tarrah Meiri zain say nahi gayee hai. Jo jhijhak mujhe…mujhe phirse pyar karne sey thi, vow abhi bhi ai.”
For the first time, Anupamaa found herself able to pour her heart out, and share the truths she had even hidden from herself… all because of this love she had found. Smiling she tried to assure Anuj with her eyes…. “Lekin! Apne, is pyaar ne, mujhe bohot bohot bohot brave banaya hai. Aapki wajeh se mere main phirse himmat hai, pyar karne ki. Aage bardne ki. Aapke saath.” She placed her hands over his, still cradling her face.
“Main chati hoon ki hamara ye pyar, ye rishta thore aaraam se aage bade. Mujhe woh saare pal chaiye joh doh loogo ke saath pyaar main hote hai. Kisi aur ke interference ki bina. Society ke rules ke bina. Thori dehr ke liye Mujhe sirf aap chaiye. Aur kuch nahi. Saath toh poori zindagi ka tay hai, lekin, ye khushi sirf abhi ki hai. Thora saath me isko bhi enjoy karte hai ne?” With that, she held both of his hands in hers, and kissed his knuckles. Looking back up at him, her eyes open in all their truth.
Anuj was done for, he was gone. He had no choice but to do exactly as she asked. Always.
Mukku was right, he really was a AKC.
But how could he not be? Her vulnerability showed just how much love she had for him, and how much of herself she had rebuilt to get to this point. He hadn’t fully realised the depth of her pain, the extent to which she had lacked affection and care in her life. He’d met her again after she’d already climbed out of her marriage and claimed some of herself back. The situation at her home was bad enough when he’d first met her, he could only imagine what it must have been like for so long. He had to do everything he could to soothe her wounds and pour love into them. He would do it. Whatever it took. She was the hero of her story, but he could be her support system. Every hero had one.
Smiling, with tears in his eyes, he folded his arms around her. “Whatever you say Anu. Anything for you.”
Smirking a little, she lifted her head to rest her face higher on his chest. Whispering into his delicious scent she said, “waise bhi, apse thora intezaar karke pyaar karna, aapke saath time bitana, usme hi bhi bohot mazza aye ga”. With that, she placed a feather-light kiss in the hollow at the base of his neck, with a soft smile and blush adorning her.
Anuj, enamoured by her words said rakishly… “Oh really Anu? Well get ready to blush a lot! I am going to flirt with you. All. the. time!” With that he placed a kiss at the side of her head and wrapped her in his embrace.
With her head on his chest, Anu found both hearts settled once more. Sukoon.
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Today's part! Hope y'all enjoy it! Please share your thoughts!
The next part will be out very soon!