MaAn OS : A little thing called Love!
Anupama took in the vibrant surrounding through her wider than usual eyes. The atmosphere was coruscating with dreams and hopes for the upcoming year, due in a few hours.
It so happened that Anuj decided to throw a New-Year party at the last moment citing the reason for it to be promotional agenda for their soon-to-be-launching restaurant. But she knew better.
Consequently, she found herself standing at the giant party hall dipped in the colors of love and peace, red and white. Multiple, sparkling drop-shaped ceiling lanterns hung low, giving it a feel of a puffed-out raindrop shower. Anu could only wish for the showers to be of happiness this time.
The selfie corner was artistically designed with innumerable hanging silver star lights coupled with fairy lights. It also showcased a decorated antiquated scooter of 90's with tiny wheels and split seats as a picture prop. It was simply to stress how far we have come ahead of time. It was sweet, it was meant to incite a healthy retrospection.
Dispersing away from the flare of these glimmering lights, Anupama found herself a deserted corner. Perched over a slightly raised platform, she rested her hands over her bent knees. The shimmery material of the loose drape of her red saree sparkled under the brightness falling from the decor standing tall behind.
Though her hollow gaze focused on the half-fisted interlocking hands in front of her but the reel of thoughts behind them reflected her life so far. The 25 years of the trauma of a loveless, meaningless marriage and the mental abuse by a cheating husband roved in front of her eyes.
These lights had always been at loggerhead with her and it's natural if she couldn't swallow a glut of them adorning her life for some time now.
3 months, 9 days,18 hours, and 7 minutes precisely.
Since a certain Anuj Kapadia happened.
Although it's his second appearance in her life but she is so heedless of 26 years old-college heartthrob-loverboy Anuj's presence that it feels like the first time. The best time!
That reminds her of the key to this vintage Anuj that Gk kaka has gifted her as a new year present, Anuj's diary.
Fetching it from her side, she opened the first page excitedly. Her fingers tenderly ran over the name scribbled tastefully, ANUj. Her eyes refused to miss the words A N and U written in caps and were highlighted in the spelling of ANUj. He would never think of separating even her name from his.
As Anu's finger flips through the pages one after the other, she knew she's closing the pages of the black diary of her past, one after the other. She could feel the effervescence of new beginnings dancing in her heart.
She enjoyed the petrichor of closure and basked in the glory of the first shower of love. She was so looking forward to this new year and the new journey where she would be considered equal, where she would be atleast considered!
Each new sheet would bring forth a new color and dimension of Anuj's love, one-sided love to be precise, for a woman who had no idea of his existence, who was miles away from him, who he had not met in decades.
For her!
For 26 long years.
Is it even possible in today's era?
Pages after pages, she found herself falling harder for him, one Shayari at a time.
Anu's eyes widened a wee bit on finding a red rose carefully laminated in a transparent sheet stuck between the pages. With a shy smile, she traced its borders and then the words on the page.
"Ek kashish si hai uss ehsaas ki tadap me,
joh tere sparsh se hoke gujarta hoga.
Kya haseen nazare honge us raaste pe,
Joh tere dil ki chaukhat pe jake theherta hoga.
Ek khalish si hai un taqdeer ki lakiro se,
dil pe toh gehrai se likh diya tera naam,
bhagya me na diya tera koi mukkam.
Baawjood iske na koi shikwa baki hai
zindagi me ho na ho,
Dil me tera hona kaafi hai.
Koi puche toh shaan se bataunga,
mere pyaar ki bas itni si kahani hai.
na tujhe hai iski kuch khabar,
na mere taraf se koi beimani hai.
Meri shayario ki tarah shayad,
iss pyaar ki kismat me bhi nasamjhi hai,
Na samjhi ho toh thik hai
na samjhne ki niyat hogi teri,
toh mera dil zaar zaar hojaaega.
lekin fir bhi iska har ek tukda
tujhse hi wafa nibhaega,
tujhse hi pyaar nibhaega."
Her eyes pooled with the profundity of those words, those feelings. Anuj's heart is an unfathomable abyss of purity, respect, and devotion. It would only splurge love and kindness. The words that were bleached from Anupama's life's dictionary. She shed a few of the precious tears on realising the contrast.
Instantly, Samar's voice echoed in her heart as he had quoted 'Yeh toh woh kisse-kahaniyo wala, Meera ji wala pyaar hai!'
Anu couldn't deny it anymore. Teary-eyed, she embraced Anuj's diary near her heart and barely managed to control her sobs. Her heart felt the pang Anuj must be living with, all these years.
Being in an overtly committed one-sided relationship without an ounce of hope then losing his parents to an unfortunate accident at a tender age then being estranged by his only sister. How does he sleep at night?
The simplicity of his complexities stared right back in her eyes. He was so in love yet so alone.
Each day was a new heartbreak, each moment was a new battle for him. But he fought, bravely.
Before Anu could lose herself further Anuj came as the saviour, like always. Seeing Anuj approaching, Anu hastily swiped clean her face and trimmed it with a soft smile.
Stooping slightly, he searched her eyes for any trace of sadness, gently asking, "Anu, tum theek ho?"
A soft chuckle left her mouth hearing his patent question. His care would always weigh above his love. And this is going to remain that way!
Looking at the diary over her lap, she replied, "Yes! I was just cherishing my second best gift of this year."
As Anuj's gaze followed her movements, he realised her tender hold had nothing but his heart, his diary.
As his senses kicked in, he freaked out, asking, "How this..? You read everything? This can't be..Urghh! GK!!" He couldn't complete any of his sentences until realisation dawned and relief washed over his face, instantly.
"Huh! So what?! You won't understand anything. It's Shayari, after all."
At this point, he was busy reassuring himself cause if he had looked in Anu's gleaming eyes he would know, she understood everything this time around.
"Oh by the way, what is your best gift then and who gave you?" Anuj knew he hadn't given her any such thing as called gift and so his name wouldn't be on the list still he couldn't hide his disappointment.
Raising her head above, rolling her eyes upwards, looking deep into his eyes, she stated, "Kaanhaaji ne!" Her consuming gaze lingers over his face as he simply nodded in reply. 'You are my best gift, Anuj!'
Sighing heavily, Anuj slumped beside Anu on the raised platform, simulating her posture. It didn't take another second for Anu to decipher his aloofness. He was not in his element, something was terribly off.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, sparing him a side glance.
"About what?" His distant gaze was settled on the crowd ahead.
"About the thing bothering you?" It was a miracle Anu could focus on the conversation given the proximity between them and the way their shoulders and arms were brushing.
He looked sideways, adorning a knowing smile. He's not surprised anymore by the impeccable ability of this woman to read him.
"I'm missing my parents a lot today. Christmas and New Years were so our things back in the US." His smile soon turned into a painful sigh and he looked away trying to fight a lone tear settled over his eyelash. Anu held his hand over his knee and clutched it tightly, extending her silent support.
She knew he had bottled up so many strong emotions for a long time. It is about time he embraces them and learns to let go.
"I was 25 when we celebrated our last New Year together. It was a memorable one for me. Dad gifted me my favourite bike and Mom had to go all the way to town to bring me my favorite chocolate fudge. We used to be a happy family, Anu! And suddenly one day, I lost everything, like nothing ever existed." Taking out his glasses, he dabbed his moistened eyes over the sleeve.
Sniffling like a baby, he continued, "I've always longed to belong, for a family to call mine."
Anu couldn't see his pain anymore. Uncaring of the way their knees bumped, she turned around. Sliding the lapel of his blazer, her hand reached out to the front pocket of his redshirt for the pen.
Anuj's confused gaze intently followed her actions as she kept scribbling something in his diary that lay over her lap.
"Anjaan thi jis pyaar ke vajood se,
uski khubsurati ko arso baad pehchana hai.
Tere Jitne na sahi, pyaar mujhe bhi hai,
haan! aaj maine mana hai"
Anuj looked adorable as he fumbled to put on his glasses and stressed over his eyes to read. But as the meaning of those lines dawned he felt his whole life got its meaning, its purpose.
He stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed, first at the diary then at Anu, back at the diary, again at Anu. A soft smile played over her lips at his baffled expressions. Anu adjusted the glasses he left tilted in his haste to read her penned emotions.
Anuj took all the time to process the very fact that his deepest emotions are being reciprocated, equally. Anu loves him. His Anu loves him.
She understood his inability to react to this cavernous moment of his life. Hence, taking both his hands in hers with all the love, she proclaimed, "I'm here for you, Anuj. Always!"
A full-blown smile blossomed on his face, brightening it multifold. He let his fingers slide over her hands and basked in the first touch of love in his life.
Moments later, clearing his throat, embellishing his gorgeous face with cheekiness, Anuj teased, "I'm so envious of this diary right now."
Before Anu could voice her confusion, he completed, "It got to read the emotions I had been yearning to since 26 long years."
Anu couldn't bear the intensity of his gaze settled over her and shyly looked down. He craned his neck downward and tried to meet her gaze, pushing her embarrassment further.
Lightly smacking at his arm, she chided, "Stop staring."
Before Anuj had the opportunity to ruffle her feathers further, the chime of his phone demanded his attention.
The distraction provided Anu the time to get a hold of her frenzied emotions and her cheeks to regain their normal color. Although Anuj was having a serious discussion with Samar, neither his free hand left Anu nor his unabashed gaze.
Both of them took a good look at the pictures Samar sent on Anu's new smartphone and shortlisted Samar's wedding attire. The tot refused to wait till the party concludes.
Sinking in the bizarre vogue in cloth designs, Anuj had a hearty laugh.
"Imagine Anu, how funny I'd look when I'll wear these groom's attires?"
Anu choked on her breath as she registered his words. Anuj realised his slip up and instantly jumped into damage control, "Anu, I..I didn't mean.."
Anu stopped his stuttering by a swift click of her tongue indicating a no. Meeting his eyes, she asserted, "You'll look handsome, like always. And if you'll sport a clean shave, you'll look to be of Samar's age."
He was smitten by the shades of boldness admixed with a gentle shyness that his lady adorned.
Inching closer, he pressed, "So, you find me young and dashing in clean shave?"
Anuj rightfully received another smack for the day. "Aap bhi ne! Ab chale?"
Nudging her shoulder, he joshed, "Kaha? Phere lene?"
*******
So, how do you find it?
Edited by docritu99 - 3 years ago
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