Hello 👋 everyone. I am new here. I accidentally saw some Maan clips on YouTube and ended up binge watching the show. I absolutely adore Anuj's character. Here is something I wrote based on the current track. Hope you like it.
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One Stormy Night
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It was already 2 am and she tossed and turned in her bed trying to get some sleep. It had been three days since she last saw him or spoke with him properly. He had called her earlier in the morning and she wasn't able to pick up as Baa had some acidity issue just then. After about 4 hours she had finally had got few minutes to call him. He had picked up but a minute or so into the call Kinjal had fainted and that was it. Sighing to herself she got out of bed. Sleep was far from her.
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The clouds hung low threatening to spill. A storm was brewing but she knew it was nowhere closer to the guilt storm brewing inside her. To the world she might be the best family woman but she knew she was a failure. She had failed as a lover. Here was a man who had waited for 26 years with no expectations and after she had finally realized her feelings she couldn't give him even few minutes of her time. She felt intense rage against herself as she remembered the sarcastic expression in Mr. Shah's face as he ordered her around. Oh he never directly ordered her, it was always someone needing something just when she had a few minutes for herself and Mr. Shah conveniently reminding them that only Anupama could do it. She wished she had the guts to say no and move away but she never could find it in her heart to refuse anyone at the Shah house. As a burst of lightning cracked opened the sky, she fell on her knees dissolving into tears right under their flat.
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The gushing wind and loud thunders woke Anuj up. He sighed in his sleep irritated that he had to get up from his bed and close the window. It was only in his dreams these days that he saw her and often something woke him up just when he was about to do something romantic. Today was no different, the stupid thunder had interrupted their kiss. Mentally cursing the thunder he went to close the window. As he opened the curtains his eyes fell on something scratch that it was someone shaking and sobbing below. His breath clutched as he recognized who it was. Without another thought he dashed out of his door.
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"ANU... ANU..."
He shook her harshly and pulled her up. Anupama broke from he reverie and looked at him startled.
"Anuj... what happened? What are you doing down at this time? Why are you not asleep? Are you not well..."
"Isn't that something I should be asking? Now not another word... let's go home..."
"I... uh... have..."
"Shut up... I said not another word... Home now..."
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As soon as they reached upstairs, Anu turned to her flat but Anuj pulled her inside his. She didn't protest this time. He gave her a towel, switched on the geyser, gave her a saree which he had recently purchased and pushed her inside the bathroom and instructed her to take a shower.
Few minutes later Anu came out to see him standing in the kitchen making tea. Her heart melted at the sight and once more a wave of guilt flooded her and her eyes once more filled with tears. As if sensing her presence he looked up.
"Anupama"
The lack of warmth in his voice stung her and she looked up rapidly. He motioned her to sit down and offered her tea. He turned to leave her when she reached out and held his hand.
"Angry?... I am sorry we weren't able to talk... I'll try.. to... make it up to you somehow.... I..."
"How?"
"Well.. I..."
"I have never been a father before but that doesn't mean I am stupid enough to not know that a woman's pregnancy is for 9 months. So are you planning to come down everyday and stand under my flat and burst into tears and leave without letting me know you were here?"
"I am sorry... I really couldn't muster up the courage to come up"
"Why? Am I such a monster?"
"Anuj... what are you saying?"
"What else do you expect me to say? Here you are at the middle of the night right under my flat yet don't want to come to me. And you are saying you couldn't find the courage. Listen Anupama... I know you care too much about those thankless Shahs but that doesn't mean you forget I care about you..."
"I didn't forget... I am really sorry that I couldn't call you.."
"If there is anything you should be sorry about... it should be for the act you just did a few minutes ago. Do you really don't know that sitting in the rain like that in the middle of the night could... what if something had happened? Why..."
Anuj's voice broke a little and he looked down. He continued quietly.
"I waited so long for you. Now that I have you Isn't it natural that I would like to keep you?"
"Anuj..."
Anu slowly held his hands and pulled it close to her heart. She looked into his eyes filled with tender love for her and she felt safe and loved.
"I am sorry I hurt you. It's just that the guilt of not being able to meet you is eating me up. And that's why I came here I couldn't sleep. I wanted to come up but I didn't want to disturb you. Moreover I felt helpless that I wasn't able to do anything about the situation. It was like Mr. Shah was still in control of my life. I am sorry I..."
Anuj said nothing but pulled her into a hug. She rested her head close to his heart. They stayed like that for sometime. Slowly he pulled away from the hug and tipped her chin up.
"Listen Anu... You are in control of your life not anyone else. If they think they can use your kindness to control you then it's high time that they know they are wrong..."
"But how?"
"Hmm... where there is a will there is a way... this temporary storm will pass away... we will figure something out... you will find a way, Anu... look, they didn't want you to meet me yet you are here right and we are still together?"
Anu gave him a small smile.
"You do know how to make me feel good don't you?"
Anuj smiled and moved close to her, too close that she felt his breath on her lips.
"You know I do have other ways to make you feel better..."
She pulled him towards her and brushed her lips on his.
"Show me... You can keep me till the sun comes up..."
Anuj chuckled and pulled her onto his lap.
"Are you suggesting something Ms. Joshi?"
"Well... we do have a good half an hour before sunrise... if you really want to spend it talking then..."
"Oh no Anu... don't get mad... I am forever at your service..."
Saying so he pulled her into a passionate kiss.
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Book Talk
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