Makar Sankranti FS: Madeyla jeev Last part pg 12 - Page 7

✨🤩Thank you for tagging me 🤩✨

Noorie,

Simple and sweet ❤️❤️

Loved how beautifully you narrated this part..

Banter for food, haath se khana, such pure joy.

And that part of sharing with family, at times we only complicate such simple things. Glad to see Anu's mom being present and having final word.

Best was Anuj saying no rush for marriage. Matlab openly flirt, I mean courtship ke liye bol diya..

I love your stories Noorie, get such warm and homely vibes from them tbh 💗 I mostly read between breaks of studying so this is a wonderful reprieve :) please keep writing, even the shah parivaar scenes in your FFs are fun 😆

What a beautiful update! Loved it! Looking forward to the next chapter! ❤️💫

Part 4

Anuj waited in the car while Anupama went with GK to Kapadia house.

They had dropped off the Joshis' on the way back from Shah house.

Devika had decided to stay with the Shahs' till dinner, on Pakhi's insistance.

When Anupama returned, Anuj noticed that she had changed into a yellow and blue anarkali suit.

She had not only matched the colour of her outfit with his blue jacket but had also worn the watch from the set of watches which she had given him earlier that day.

"Yeh ghadi tumhare haath pe achchi lag rahi hai!"

"Thank you! Aapke haath par bhi woh ghadi achchi lag rahi hai! Woh.. aapne choodiyan utarne ke liye kaha ne toh.. maine socha ghadi pehen loon."

"Ha. Maine dekha tha. Tumhe choodiyan pehenkar patang udane me diqqat ho rahi thi. Toh mujhe laga ki dance karne me bhi hogi.. Varna unki khanak mujhe pasand hai!"

Anupama was surprised to hear that.

"Utni tej mujik(music) ke beechh unki khanak kaise suni aapne?"

"Subha suni thi, jab tum mujhe breakfast khila rahi thi!"

Anupama blushed when he took her hand and kissed it.

"Jab tum patang uda rahi thi tab hi man kar raha tha lekin.. baa toh baa hain! Waise hi unki baaz ki nazar hai, upar se binoculars lekar baith gayi!"

"Woh toh unki purani aadat hai! Aaj toh unko Sweetie ne hi bola tha ne ki dhyan rakhna koi chhetarpindi/cheating na kare!"

"Ha, par unka dhyan sirf hum par hi tha! Us baat ka fayda Samar, Nandini aur Paritosh, Kinjal ne utha liya!"

"Maine khana lagate samay Kinjal aur Nandu ko kaha ki dopeher ko jab baa, bapuji aaram karne jayenge aur baki log ghar chale jayenge tab tumlog aapas me Sankranti manana! Abhi jara lihaaj karo!"

"Oh God, Anu! Tum toh typical saasuma ho!"

"Bhapp! Evu kai nathi/Aisi koi baat nahi hai!"

"You bhapp! Beton se kuch kyun nahi kaha tumne?"

"Bete chhat se utarte, akele me milte toh kuch kehti nahi, ha! Seedhe kaan marodti!"

She loved the way he laughed.

"I'm so glad ki hum us ghar se bahar aa gaye! Ab bachchhe apni tarah se Uttarayan manakar khush aur hum apni tarah se manakar khush!"

"Hmmm! Mandir toh hum toophan se pehle bhi gaye the. Par tab hum Anupama aur Anuj the.."

"Achchha?! Toh aaj kaun hain?"

"MaAn! Aaj pehli bar MaAn kahin ja rahe hain!"

She told him how Samar had coined that name for their jodi.

"Maine Diwali ki subha whiteboard pe #MaAn dekha bhi tha. Par mujhe laga ki aaj kal ke bachche itne hashtags use karte rehte hain. Toh maine dhyan nahi diya. MaAn... sounds so good! Ab jab bhi GK man ko maan kahenge na toh mujhe humara wala MaAn yaad aayega!"

Now Anupama took his hand off the gear and kissed it gently.

When she placed it back on the gear, he locked his fingers with hers.

"Aapne jitna maan mujhe diya hai utna toh kisine nahi diya! Isiliye mujhe bhi yeh sabd bohot pasand aaya! Jab bhi kahin bhi koi yeh sabd bolta hai toh mere man me aap hi aate hain!"

He smiled affectionately while briefly turning towards her.

"Bachchon ne baki jodiyon ke jo naam rakhe hain ne.. KinTos, LeeMukh, SaNan, in sabdon ka koi matlab nahi hai. Lekin MaAn.. Is sabd ka matlab jitna achchha hai utna hi yeh sunne aur bolne me bhi achchha lagta hai!"

"I agree."

"Ab aap pure dhyan se gadi chalaiye. Uttarayan pe sadak haadse bohot hote hain."

"Yes boss!"

...................

Anuj had a hard time keeping his eyes on the road when Anupama untied her plait.

She finger combed her hair, oblivious to his predicament.

"Focus Anuj focus!" he told himself while maneuvering the car out of the city.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw tie her hair up in a neat bun.

She used the multiple hair pins, clutched between her teeth, to secure the bun in place.

Then she peered at her phone camera and turned her head from side to side.

"Kaas gajra bhi hota mere pass! Photo me kitna achchha lagta! Itni dopeher ko gajre wala bhi nahi milega.."

She aimlessly stared out of the window.

"Zuroorat nahi hai! Aise hi bohot khoobsoorat lag rahi ho! (sighs) Mujhe hi pata hai main kaise drive kar raha hoon!"

She bit her tongue and smacked her head.

"Sori, Sori Anuuujj! Aap apna pura dhyan raste pe dijiye, ha?"

"Dena hi padega na!"

"Kanhaji dhyan rakhjo! Thu Thu Thu!"

She warded the evil eye off him, them and their car.

........................

The sky became clear when they reached the highway.

"Jab tak Mehsana nahi aayega tab tak ek aadh patang hi dikhegi."

Her face was dreary and devoid of colour.

"Kya soch rahi ho Annu?"

She was startled when he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Relax! Kya hua tumhe?"

"Nahi, woh.. pichhli bar jab.. Modhera gayi thi ne toh.. Devika aur school ki saheliyon ne.. mujhe surprije diya tha."

"Umm hmm.."

"Devika ki wajah se saalon bad.. khud ke liye samay churakar ghar se nikli thi! Main school ke dino ko yaad kar ke bohot khus thi! Sabke aagrah pe maine dance bhi kiya tha! Par.. wapis aayi tab.. jitni khusi mili thi usse bohot, bohot, bohot jyada dukh mila!"

He was aghast when she told him how Vanraj had humiliated her and shut the door on her face.

"Tumhe zara si der ho gayi isiliye usne tumhe ghar me aane nahi diya!? How unreasonable! Outright disgusting!"

He passed his kerchief to her when he saw tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sori! Apne saath saath aapka bhi tehvaar kharab rahi hoon."

"Don't be! Main samajhta hoon ki tumhe yeh baat aaj kyun yaad aayi."

He held her hand again and waited till she composed herself.

"Jab tumhare ghar ke mandir me koi murti khandit ho jati hai tab tum kya karti ho?"

"Pehle toh nayi murti lekar aati hoon. Phir purani ko Sabarmati nadi me baha deti hoon."

"Correct! Waise hi buri yaadon ko achchhi yaadein replace kar deti hain! Agli bar Modhera jate waqt tumhare chehre pe sirf smile hogi, dekh lena!"

His words brought a smile on her face.

"Thank you Anuuujj!"

"Pleasure is all mine, sweetheart! Tum theek ho?"

"Ha. Ab theek hoon!"

........................

It was 4.30 pm by the time MaAn reached the Sun temple.

They climbed the steps to the sabha mandap

hand in hand.

After paying obeisance to the sculpted representation of the Sun, Anuj asked Anupama to pose near one of the exquisitely carved mandap pillars.

"Pehle tumhare stills le leta hoon. Video hum kahin aur shoot kar lenge."

"Ramkund ke pass kar lenge."

"Done! Ghunghroo pehen lo na. Koi specific mudra me pose karogi tab ghunghroo pehne honge toh zyada achchha lagega."

Anupama agreed and he captured her in various kathak postures.

She was amazed with the beautiful photographs.

"Aapka camera bohot achcha hai! Har ek photo kitni sundar aayi hai!"

"Kamaal camera ka nahi, pose karne wali ki adaah aur photo khichne wale ki nazar ka hai!"

"Oh ho ho! Ab main aapki photo kheechun?"

"Why not?!"

After clicking a few photographs, she asked him to remove his shades.

"Aapki aankhein najar aayengi toh photo aur bhi achchi aayegi!"

"Okay! Here you go!"

He promptly removed his aviators.

"Ha! Yeh behtar hai! Ek bar dekh lijiye. Mujhe yeh.. smartphone me photo lene ka anubhav nahi hai isiliye yeh angle-wangle meri samajh me nahi aata hai."

He wore his regular pair of spectacles before taking his phone from her.

"Pretty decent.." he said while scrolling through his pictures.

"Dobara leni hai?"

"Chalse/chalega. Tumhe jis song pe dance karna hai woh downloaded hai na?"

"Ha. Samar ne pehle hi kar diya tha. "

"Okay. Chalo toh Ramkund pe chalte hain.."

........................

When they reached the stepwell, Anupama cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled loudly "MaAn!"

She grinned when it was echoed from the depths of the stepwell.

Anuj was amused with her antics.

"Yeh kya tha?"

"Abhi aur bhi hai!" She gestured him to wait.

Turn by turn she took everyone's names-Mukku, Anuj's parents (whom she referred to as ma and pappaji), GK kaka, her mother, Bhavesh, her five kids, Nihal, Devika, baa, bapuji, mamaji, Sanjay, Dolly and Meenu.

"Bas karo Annu! Padosiyon ke naam baad me pukar lena! Andhera hone se pehle video lena hai aur mandir ka ek chakkar bhi toh lagana hai na?"

"Ha. Uske pehle hum ek selphie le le?"

"Sure!"

Anuj placed his arm around her shoulder while Anupama leaned closer to him.

"Come on Anu! Haath toh rakho!"

"Rehva do! Aas pass log hain.."

"Ha, sab tumhari aawaaz sunkar hi toh aaye hain! Unme se kisi ko bulaun humari photo kheenchne ke liye?"

"Annuuuujjj.." she whined.

"Areh, woh sab apne me mast hain! Tum unhe ignore karo aur sirf humare bare me socho!"

She linked her right arm with his left for the first selfie.

For the second one, she clutched his arm with both her hands and placed her head on his shoulder.

She placed her arm around his waist for the final selfie.

"Dikhaiye.." She glanced over his shoulder at his phone.

"Yeh dekho.. Achchi hain na, humari couple selfies?!"

"Jab camera achcha ho, adaah bhi achchi ho, najar bhi achchi ho aur najaara bhi itna achcha ho toh selphie toh achchi hogi hi ne!"

"Of course, of course!" he smiled.

.............................

Anupama was poetry in motion when she danced.

The song depicted a scene in Vrindavan.

Radha was dancing with the Gopikas on the banks of the Yamuna.

The melodious note of Krishna's flute entranced everyone including Radha.

She was so engrossed in dancing to its enchanting tunes that she did not realize when one of her anklets came undone.

Krishna noticed that and slyly passed the anklet to one of his friends.

He asked that Gwala to hide the anklet amid the branches of the Kadamb tree.

Once the Raas leela was over, Radha realized that her anklet was missing.

She immediately questioned Krishna, who was known to be mischievous.

He denied knowing about the anklet with the most innocent face but Radha was not one to be fooled.

The next day She stole His dear flute while He was busy eating butter.

Krishna knew nobody else would dare to hide the flute but Radha.

When He confronted Her, she replied that She hid the flute because She was jealous!

It seemed to Her that He loved the flute more dearly than He loved Her!

Krishna replied that the flute was very dear to Him as the only sound it ever emanated was Radhe, Radhe, Radhe!

To which Radha replied that the ghunghroos in her anklet chimed only His divine name- Kanha, Kanha, Kanha!

Satisfied with Her answer, Krishna adorned Her with the anklet.

Radha returned His flute, stating that it was now more dearer to Her than it was to Him!

That night as the full moon shone in all its glory, Radha Krishna performed the divine Ras Leela in the forests of Vrindavan.

Anuj was enamored by Anupama's deft footwork, fluid movements and vibrant expressions.

He recalled being similarly entranced when he had first seen her dance.

He was also reminded of her magnet, which he had stolen back in college.

It was certainly more dear to him now than it had been to her!

.............................

"Kaisa laga?" Anupama asked while dabbing at her forehead with her dupatta.

"Main toh 26 saal peechhe chala gaya!", he replied, still in a daze.

"Saachu kaho chho/sach me?"

"Ha! Jab college me maine tumhe pehli bar dekha tha tab tumse pyaar ho gaya tha! Lekin jab college auditorium me tumhe pehli bar dance karte huye dekha tha tab main pyaar me ghaayal ho gaya tha!"

He leaned closer and placed his hand on his heart.

"Aaj tumne phir se mujhe ghaayal kar diya!"

"Aapki baaton ka koi jawab nahi hai mere pass!"

She bent down to remove the ghunghroo.

He opened the metallic case for her.

"Aaj tumhe dance karte dekh main jitna khush hua ma bhi utni hi khush hongi!"

"Maine ghunghroo pehenne se pehle unka aasirwad liya tha. Aur unse kaha bhi ki jaise Mukku theek ho jayegi, tab agle saal hum use bhi yahan lekar aayenge! Agar ma ki yaadein is jagah se judi huyi hai toh dono betiyon ka unpe haq banta hai ne!"

"Main bhi yeh hi soch raha tha ki agle saal use aur GK ko bhi saath le aayenge."

"Bilkul! Mandir ke garbhagruha me chalein?"

"Okay. Video toh dekh lo.."

"Aapne nikala hai toh achchha hi hoga! Ghar jakar dekh lungi. Woh.. Editing karni hogi toh Samar kar dega."

"Okay. Chalo.."

..............................

"Tumne Kapadvanj ka naam suna hai?" asked Anuj as they came out of the sanctum sanctorum.

"Ha. Woh Anand ke pass hai ne?"

"Ha. Amaaro mood vatan chhe/Thats my native place. Wahan bhi bilkul kund jaisa hi ek vaav/stepwell hai."

"Achchha? Wahan aapke koi sagey, sambandhi rehte hain kya?"

"Ha. Door ke rishtedar hain. Mere pardadaji ka kapdon ka chhota sa karkhana tha wahan par. Phir mere dadaji ne Kapadia textiles ko Surat aur Ahmedabad me establish kiya. Papa ne unka business expand kiya. Aur naye business ventures bhi AK group me shamil kiye."

There was a mix of guilt and sadness in his eyes.

"Woh dono toh aksar kam ki wajah se bahar jaya karte the lekin dadi aur maa ghar pe hi rehte the. Meri aur Mukku ki wajah se. Maa ke liye Ahmedabad se baahar jane ka matlab hota tha ya toh mama ke ghar Surat jana, ya toh Kapadvanj jana. Zyada se zyada teej tyohar pe darshan ke liye Ambaji, Modhera, Dwarka, Somnath tak jati thi, bas!"

He paused to sigh in frustration.,

"Jab hum US me the tab main pehle padhai ko lekar busy tha. Phir papa ke saath business sambhal raha tha. Main.. unhe lekar kahin ghumne phirne ja hi nahi paya! One of the biggest regrets of my life!"

Even through the pain, being with her comforted him. They sat down under the shade of a tree.

"Main aapka dard samajhti hoon, Anuj! Maa koi bhi ho, hamesha apne se pehle parivar ko hi rakhti hai!"

"Janta hoon ki tumne bhi yeh hi kiya hai!"

He wrapped an arm around her.

"Main woh hi galti nahi dohrana chahta hoon! Main tumhe puri duniya ghumana chahta hoon, meri jaan! Business ke liye bhi India me, abroad.. jahan bhi jana pade tumhare saath hi jana chahta hoon!"

"Maine bhi Gujarat ke bahar kuch dekha hi nahi hai! Mumbai bhi aapki wajah se dekhna hua! Isiliye main bhi aapke saath ghoomne ke liye, duniya dekhne ke liye utni hi utsuk hoon!"

He was delighted with her reply.

"In that case, mujhe March me ek hafte ke liye Melbourne jana hai. Hotel ke nahi, kisi aur business venture ke kaam se. Tum saath chalogi?"

His heart beat in his mouth as he awaited her response.

"Jis haphte hum yahan nahi honge.. bujiness me nuksan toh nahi hoga?"

"Nahi hoga. Team sambhaal legi. Hum constantly unke touch me rahenge."

"Theek tyare!" She nodded in the affirmative.

"Really Annu?" He wanted to be doubly sure.

"Ha. Really!" she replied simply, reassuring him with her confidence.

"Jane se pehle gordhana/engagement karna chahti ho?"

She answered in a roundabout manner.

"Radha aur Kanhaji ka prem jab kathak ke madhyam se dikhate hai ne tab.. ek tarah se woh Jeevatma ka Parmatma se milan darsaata hai! Jab aatmayein judi hui ho ne toh kisi saamaajik bandhan, ya kisi reet ka koi mahatva nahi reh jata!"

Anuj nodded slowly, absorbing her words.

"Main jarur chalungi aapke saath Mail..?"

He bent slightly and spoke in a low, confidential tone. "Melbourne!"

"Ha, wahin! Gordhana ho ya na ho, main aapke saath jane ke liye taiyar hoon!"

He was ecstatic, to say the least.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! Tum nahi janti ki tumne mujhe kitni badi khushi di hai, Annu!"

He wanted to hug her so badly.

"Yahan nahi! Ghar jakar.." she said, reading his mind.

"Yeh bhi sahi hai! Chai piyogi?" he asked as he got up and fastened the buttons of his jacket.

"Aate waqt maine mandir ke pass hi chai ki tapri dekhi thi."

He offered a hand and helped her to her feet.

"Ha. Ab gaadi main chalaun?" she asked while dusting off her dress.

"Tumne kabhi raat ko peak traffic me gadi chalayi hai?"

"Ha, Amdavad me chalayi hai."

"Aur kabhi highway pe chalayi hai?"

"Do bar Kinjal ke saath Sarkhej Gandhinagar highway pe chalayi thi. Ek bar raat ko bhi, par aise.. state highway par toh.. nahi chalayi."

"Koi baat nahi! There's always a first time! Sham ka time hai phir Uttarayan bhi hai toh peak traffic milega. Agar kahin bhi tumhe aisa lage ki nahi chala pa rahi ho tum side pe park kar dena. Phir main chala lunga."

"Thank you! Aapki gadi itni mehengi hai phir bhi aap.. mujh par bharosa kar rahe hain."

"Kyunki mujhe pata hai tum mere bharose ka

maan rakhogi!"

She looked into his eyes and forgot her fears.

The setting sun peeked from behind the perforated stone screens as MaAn walked out of the temple premises.

.............................

Anuj took the wheels just before entering Ahmedabad city limits.

Anupama was baffled when he took a different route.

"Yeh rasta lamba padega. Aur traphic bhi jyada hai."

"Hum dinner ke liye ja rahe hain. Par us se pehle main tumhare liye kuch lena chahta hoon!"

"Kya jarurat hai? Main ghar pe khane ki taiyari karke aayi hoon."

"Woh kal kaam aa jayegi. Har kaam zuroorat ke hisab se nahi kiya jata hai! Aaj subha impromptu confession ho gaya. Main tumhare liye kuch la bhi nahi paya! Bank bhi agle do dino tak band rahega."

"Toh aapko jo bhi dena hai Somvar ko de dena. Mujhe koi jaldi nahi hai! Kaka ke khane ka kya hoga?"

"Aaj ka din itna special hai ki main aaj hi gift dena chahta hoon! Maine Samar ko message kar diya hai. Woh jab Devika ko drop karne jayega tab GK ko dinner pahucha dega. Okay?"

"Okay!" she acquiesced.

He parked the car outside a gold jewellery showroom.

.............................

Anuj bought two diamond bangles for Anupama.

When they got back to the car, he held her hands and delicately slid the bangles down her wrists.

"Kaisa laga gift?" he asked while stroking her wrists.

"Socha nahi tha ki mujhe.. (sighs) Thank you Annujj! Mere pehle heere ke kade hain yeh! Main inhe bohot sambhaal ke rakhungi!"

"Maine sambhaalne ke liye nahi, pehenne ke liye diye hain! Roz pehen sako isiliye halke bangles choose kiye!"

"Roj roj heere ke kade pehenu?!" She looked at him, dumbfounded.

"Ha, toh! Ise mat utarna please..!"

"Koi chura lega toh?"

"Main hoon na! Koi nahi churayega! Bekhauf hokar pehene rakho!"

She gulped nervously, her gaze stuck to the bangles which were gleaming even in the low light.

"Annu.. Aise dekhti rahogi toh jiska dhyan tumhare haathon pe nahi hoga na uska bhi chala jayega! Aise behave karo jaise yeh artificial bangles hain!"

She nodded tentatively.

"Kal subha mere office aur tumhare Shah house jane se pehle main tumhari nazar utar dunga! Kisi aur ka dhyan jaye ya na jaye, Mrs Shah ka dhyan in pe zuroor jayega!"

He was relieved when her lips broke into a smile.

"Ab dinner ke liye chalein?"

"Kahan jayenge?"

"Tum koi jagah suggest karo."

"Mujhe khane se matlab nahi hai! Aaj pura din itna kuch kha liya hai ki kuch jyada khaya nahi jayega. Aap kahin bhi le jaiye! Lasht me meetha paan khila dena toh sab hajam ho jayega!"

"Bhookh toh mujhe bhi khas nahi lagi hai. Kisi cafe me chalein?"

"Caphe.. is waqt?"

"Ha. Kisi bhi restaurant me aaj Uttarayan special dishes hi honge. Undhiyu toh mujhe tumhare haath ka hi pasand aata hai! Cafe me kuch light sa kha lenge."

"Ha. Jaisa aapko theek lage."

"Kisi aise cafe me chalte hain jahan ka khana aur ambience, dono achchhe ho. Mood fresh ho jayega!"

He started browsing the internet.

"Leela's caphe jana hai?" She hid her smile.

"Tumne shayad theek se suna nahi. Maine kaha ki aisi koi jagah chalte hain jahan mood fresh ho jaye!"

She could no longer hide her amusement.

"2 km door ek cafe hai jiski ratings aur reviews kafi achchhe hain. Wahin chalte hain! Aur suno.."

"Hmm?"

"Raste me toh tumne mere haath se khaya nahi ki.. mera dhyan hat jayega. Abhi at least ek niwala mere haath se kha lena!"

"Pakka! Paan bhi aap hi khila dena, bas?"

"That's like my gal!"

.............................

GK was shocked when the doorbell rang at 10.30 pm.

"Yeh koi time hai ghar aane ka?! Jab dono saath the toh itni jaldi kya thi wapis aane ki?!"

"Mummy, relax! Will you? Kam se kam humein andar toh aane dijiye!"

"Aa jao. Jai Shri Krishna Anu beta!"

"Jai Shri Krishna kaka! Samar aur Devika khana dekar gaye ne?"

"Ha beta. Maine khana kha bhi liya!"

"Saras! Main pani lekar aati hoon.."

"Tu baith. Pani main lata hoon."

Anuj stretched his arms as he settled comfortably on the couch.

"Aap theek hain?"

He nodded while supressing a yawn.

"Yeh dekho, ubaasi le raha hai! Jab ladka budhdha ho gaya ho toh hum GK kya karenge?!" he crooned.

"GK, please! Aapka sureela gana sunke padosi apni balcony se kood jayenge!"

Anupama smiled from behind the glass.

"Subha 5 baje ka utha hua hoon. Anu toh mujhse bhi pehle uth gayi thi. Khana banaya. Phir patang udayi, drive kar ke Modhera gaye, aaye. Phir dinner pe gaye. Wahan se madam ko paan khilane aur masala soda pilane le gaye! Tab jakar ghar aaye! Thakan bhi nahi hogi kya?"

"Not fair maan!" He shook his head.

MaAn turned to each other and shared a smile.

"Uske bad Anu ko long drive pe le jata toh kitni khushi hoti!"

"Mr Gopichand Karodia, will you please tell me your definition of a long drive?! Modhera tak long drive nahi thi toh kya thi? Kal subha meeting hai, agar aapko yaad ho toh.."

"Kaka, aap meri jara bhi chinta mat kariye!"

"Tu khush toh hai na beta?"

"Has toh! Mujhe aaj bohot jyada maja aaya!"

"Hamesha aise hi khush rehna, beta! Aaj salon bad sankrant sankrant jaisi lagi!"

"Aap toh humare saath mandir gaye bhi nahi. Phir bhi aisa keh rahe hain?"

"Toh kya hua? Main aur Mukku man se tumhare saath the! Anuj ke pappa mummy ke aashirwad bhi tumhare saath hi the!"

"Aap hain isiliye Anuj aur mujhe unki kami mehsoos nahi hoti hai!"

"Tu, bachche aur Hasmukhbhai hain isiliye humein bhi parivar ki kami mehsoos nahi hoti hai! US me yeh sare tehvar, chehel-pehel, logon ke ghar jakar ek saath celebrate karna.. yeh sab bohot miss kiya humne!"

Anuj nodded solemnly.

"Main samju chhu kaka. Par ab hum sare tyohar saath me hi manayenge! Holika dahan par Mukku bhi yahan hogi. Tab hum sab ko humare ghar bula lenge, ha?"

Anuj's heart swelled with joy when she referred to Kapadia house as 'humara ghar'.

"Ab aap aaram kijiye. Main aur Anuj Mukku se baat kar ke so jayenge. Subha jaldi uthna hai ne.."

"Theek hai. Goodnight!"

..............................

"Kya baat hai bhai!? Mujhe toh laga tha ki tum bhabhi ko date pe le ja rahe ho toh raat ko video call karne ki fursat nahi milegi!"

"Kya bol rahi hai, bachchi? Date pe koi mandir jata hai kya?!"

She shrugged while chomping on a piece of chikki.

"Tumlog itne sanskari ho toh ja bhi sakte ho!"

"Mukku.. Kai pan bole chhe/kuch bhi bolti hai! Chikki aur nasta tujhe pasand aaya?"

"Bohot pasand aaya! Achchha batao, agar tumlog date pe nahi gaye the toh phir color coordinated outfits me kya kar rahe ho? Kyun Anu bhabhi, patang udate time toh saree peheni thi na aapne?"

"Woh toh.. wahan dance karna tha ne isiliye suit pehen liya."

"Wow! I'm impressed! Couple dance bhi kar liya!?"

"Nahi, nahi! Kathak kiya.. maine!" she said, turning red with embarrassment.

"Bhabhi jab kathak kar liya toh bhai ke saath ek Bollywood dance bhi kar hi lete na? Tumlogon ka har dance waise bhi viral ho hi jata hai! Location itni sundar thi toh fayda utha lete!"

"Bas Mukku. Cut it!" Anuj intervened.

"Ok..kay!" she chirped.

..............................

By the time the call ended, the siblings had tears in their eyes.

Anuj placed his head on Anupama's shoulder.

She drew him closer and soothed him.

"Aaj hum sab kitne khush the! Mukku yahan hai bhi nahi, phir bhi woh khush thi! Tumne uske liye nashta aur mithai bheji. Dopeher me jab call kiya tab wahan pe sabne us se baat ki, usko yaad kiya. Tumne use ma, Bhavesh aur Nihal se introduce bhi karvaya. Jaise hi.. bachpan ki Uttarayan ki baat aayi waise use maa aur papa ki yaad aa gayi aur.. Rula diya maine bachchi ko!"

He thumped his fist on the bed.

"Aapne kuch nahi kiya, Anuuj! Uski manodasa abhi aisi nahi hai ki woh aapko samajh paye. Jis din samajh payegi ne us din woh khud aapse bachpan ki, maa aur pappaji ki baatein karegi. Kanhaji pe bharosa rakhiye! Agli Uttarayan aap dono ek saath manayenge, woh bhi khusi khusi! Hmm?"

"Hmmm.." he sighed deeply.

........................

"Ab aap santi se so jaiye. Goodnight."

She cupped his face and kissed his forehead.

"Goodnight. Tum bhi so jao. Kal subha jaldi mat uthna. Aur uthti bhi ho toh flashlight on kar ke kitchen me jana. Aaj maine tumse kaha phir bhi tum aise hi chali gayi. Andhara ma athdaayi javaay/andhere me takkar lag jayegi!"

"Na, havey toh mane tev padi gayi aetle kasu nahi thay/Nahi,ab toh mujhe aadat padh gayi hai isiliye kuch nahi hoga!"

"Kyun? Roz, andhere me kaunse expedition pe nikalti ho tum?!"

"Roj nahi par jab aap beemar the tab dard me aadhi raat ko karhaate the. Main aapki aawaaj sunkar us kamre se aapke kamre me aa jati. Aapki aur kaka ki neend na toote isiliye kitchen bhi andhere me hi jati aur ice pack lekar aati. Use aapke gardan aur sar pe lagane se aapko aaram milta tha aur aap.. karhana band karte the."

Anuj was deeply moved. When he failed to express his gratitude in words he allowed his lips to thank her appropriately.

His large hands framed her small face as he savoured that mouth which he had dreamt of for many years.

Her eyes fluttered close as she began to seek his tongue.

His fingers hastily plucked the clips from her bun, eager as they were to seek refuge in the waves of her hair.

Her fingers stroked the nape of his neck and pulled him even closer by his collar.

When they pulled apart, she noticed a wet sheen in his eyes.

"Thank you so much for everything! I love you!" he whispered.

"I love you too! Meri Uttarayan yaadgaar banane ke liye toh bohot jyada thank you!" she replied resting her forehead against his.

"My pleasure! Uttarayan abhi khatm nahi hui hai. Kal basi Uttarayan hai!"

"Par kal toh aap opphice jayenge ne?"

"Hmm. Wapis aate waqt tumhe pick up kar lunga. Phir saath me kandil jalayenge, humari terrace pe!"

"Theek chhe! Main kuch achcha sa banakar rakhungi aapke liye!"

"Pehle hum chhat pe celebrate kar lenge phir..." he smiled suggestively.

"Phir kya?" she frowned in mock innocence.

Yet again he allowed his lips to do the talking.

........................

Please ignore mistakes. Thank you so much for reading/liking/commenting on this story. Means a lot to me! ❤️

Cheers,

Noorie

I like it very much

Lovely...really beautiful ❤😍

Lovely update ❤️❤️❤️…. Liked it very much

Hey Noorie

Loved it as much as other parts.

Maan are so pure and soothing. I am sad that thus was the last part of the series...

Please do write something else on Maan. Thanks

Kya baat hai!!! I loved it 😍😍🤗👍👏

Thank you for the tag dear... 😊😊🥰🥰