Ananya was still lost in her thoughts as she slowly walked up to her desk, her eyes still stuck on Ronnie's empty chair. Sweet smiles graced Sunny and Baby's faces as soon as they saw Ananya back at KKN. After Ronnie's sudden demise and Ananya's absence the whole office seemed like hollow place to all of them. Richa quickly wiped the tears off her face and greeted Ananya with a warm hug. She was glad that finally Kabir had managed to bring her best friend back to life and make her stand on her two feet. Without Ananya and Ronnie, Richa had been completely lifeless all this while.
"Ananya ab tu aa gayi hai na, ab tu dekhna Ronnie bhai ko insaaf dilwane se koi nahin rok sakta humein" Sunny said with slightly tear choked voice causing a fresh film of moisture flood Richa's eyes.
Ananya kept a gentle hand on Richa's shoulder and took her in another hug.
"Bas Richa ab bahut rona ho gaya, ab rone ka time unka hai jinhone humare saath ye kiya hai" Ananya stroked her hair and tried to calm her down.
Richa nodded lightly and wiped her tears, slightly parting from her.
"Bilkul theek kaha Aanya tune, ab jab tak hum saath hain koi kuch nahin bigaad sakta humara. Ab jawab dene ki baari hamari hai" Sunny exclaimed and all of them joined hands in resolve.
All of them were still talking when Ananya noticed Rahul going to Kabir's cabin with a cup of coffee.
"Richa Kabir office aa gaye hain kya, woh mujhe unse ek bahut important file ke bare mein discuss karna tha" Ananya asked.
"Oh jee Kabir sir aa to gaye hain par..." Baby interrupted.
"Par ...par kya Baby?" Ananya asked.
" Jee mujhe na lagta hai ki aajkal na sir khud par kuch zyaada hi pressure le rahe hain" Baby told.
"Matlab?" Ananya was slightly worried now.
"Matlab ye jee ke subah se ye teesra cup coffee pee rahe hain Kabir sir" Baby spilled the beans.
"Aur yahi nahin aaj to sir subah saat baje hi office aa gaye the..haine baby jee" Sunny told.
Ananya felt a sudden sting of concern for Kabir as everyone told about his stress. Though it was her only who had said that she and Kabir would only share a professional relationship and nothing personal but somehow worrying about him came naturally to her. It was something out of her control.
"Ananya tujhe nahin lagta ye sab sahi nahin hai...I mean aise to Kabir sir ki tabiyat kharab ho jayegi" Richa asked in a worried tone.
A sharp concern and pain surged through Ananya at Richa's words.
She nodded thoughtfully and said..."Main baat karti hoon..."
After another half an hour Kabir called Rahul in his cabin and inquired about his strong black coffee. It was going to be his fourth cup of the day and it was hardly afternoon.
"Woh sir aapko coffee nahin mil sakti" Rahul told in an apprehensive tone.
"Nahin mil sakti matlab??Kya office mein coffee khatam ho gayi hai?" Kabir was slightly infuriated due to all the things happening around.
"Nahin sir woh actually kissi ne mana kiya hai apko coffee dene se"
"WHAT?? Kisne...???" Kabir looked up from his file now and was staring angrily at Rahul.
"Maine..." A voice from behind caused his features to soften instantly and his anger to melt like snow in may.
His heart almost skipped a beat hearing Ananya's strict voice after weeks now. How much he had missed his 'Ms. Authoritative' 😳
"Maine mana kiya hai Rahul ko apko coffee dene se" Ananya declared, arms crossed on her chest.
"But kyun Ananya??? I mean woh actually mere sar mein dard ho raha tha subah se tabhi maine..." he said but stopped midway and bit his lower lip feeling angry at himself for speaking aloud about his coffee marathon.
Her eyes immediately softened as they met his, the warmth and love in them almost ready to consume her. She looked away slightly trying to prevent her eyes from spilling all her pain.
"Kabir aap aisa kyun kar rahe hain...this is not good for your health. I know aap papa ke case ko lekar aur SHreya, RG ko lekar bahut stressed hain par subah se char cup black coffee!!! I mean this is so bad. And sunny ne mujhe bataya ki aap kaise subah se office mein hain...I am sure apne breakfast bhi nahin kiya hoga" she knew him so well.
Kabir looked down trying to avoid her eyes like a school boy caught without his homework notebooks.
"I seriously don't believe you Kabir...Subah se kuch khaya nahin aur itni coffee...you know how bad it is. Aise to aap beemar pad jayenge" there was a palpable concern in hiw voice that felt like a blanket in frost to Kabir.
"Relax Ananya tum aise hi tension le rahi ho...I am fine" he was trying to dodge the situation but started hi-cupping suddenly.
"Dikh raha hai kitne theek hain aap...chodiye ye sab and come with me" Ananya literally closed his files forcefully and took him to cafeteria.
She ordered sandwiches and juice for him.
"Ismein mayonnaise to nahin hai na" Ananya asked the cafeteria guy. Kabir sneaked a glance at his stupid reporter as she made sure if the food was absolutely good for him to eat or not. A little smile tucked at his lips seeing her concern. For him it was some other sort of happiness. Not just because he had never ever felt so cared for in his whole life but also because it had been ages since Ananya treated him like this...with so much authority and strictness. While it was just her concern but atleast it made her turn into his old Ananya only if it was for a little while.
"Kabir ab bina koi bahana banaye ye chup chap finish kariye...I want n oexcuses. kuch kha lenege to apka headache bhi theek ho jayega and juice se acidity bhi kam ho jayegi" she declared and waited for him to start.
Kabir knew now there was no escaping and rather he was enjoying every bit of her attention and care. Rather he had been craving for it since days now.
"Tum nahin khaogi" he asked before taking a bite.
"Nahin mujhe bhook nahin hai...woh ma bina breakfast kiye ghar se aane nahin deti. Aap khaiye"
He nodded and started eating his food while she sat with him without saying much. There was a strange pain that tugged at both their hearts as they sat like this. So close yet so far. Ananya felt overwhelmed by the thought of how far she had come in his love. There was a time she hero worshiped him for his perfection. But today when she knew that afterall he is not that perfect as much as she thought, she loved him all the more. She wanted to embrace his flaws, take care of him in his weak moments and help him repent his mistakes. Ananya sighed as her own thoughts made her feel uneasy.
Once Kabir was done with his food a satisfying smile graced her lips.
"Thanks" Kabir huffed and she nodded. He was about to take her leave when she called him from behind. He turned around to look at her.
"Kuch rah gaya tha kya" he asked looking straight into her eyes. His voice was so lovingly painful that it sliced through her heart.
"Nahin...I mean han...woh...ye tablet hai. Agar zyaada headache ho to le lejiyega and please no more coffee for today" she requested.
Kabir smiled and took the medicine from her.
"Thanks once again" he said and she turned to leave.
"Ananya" he called this time.
"Han..." she turned to face him.
"Main bas tumse ye kehna chahta tha ki...I mean I know I have failed you Ananya. And I know ki ab shayad tum mujhe apna hero nahin samajhti. But I want to promise you ki main un logon ko kabhi nahin chodunga jinhone Mr Kashyap aur Ronnie ke saath itna galat kiya hai. I will never leave them. And may be mere aisa karne se main wapas tumhara hero to na ban payun but atleast I will try that you are no longer ashamed of me...and once again thanks for everything"
He sighed and walked away.
A tear rolled down Ananya's cheek as his heart breaking words echoed in her ears. She had fallen in love once again...this time not with her hero, but her wounded warrior ❤️
Shiv Shakti
