Author's Note
Mein firse aaa gayi 😆...for all those who wanted a hug at the end. This is for you. Hope it makes up for that half left there scene. Not sure if its good enough but did try my bit. Tell me how you like. 😊
OS - A moment
'Bapuji bas kijiye ne...sab bhul jao. Apko mujh pe bharosa hai ne?', she cajoled her bapuji to drink some water after his massive breakdown. In the last couple of hours his wife for over five decades, Leela's outburst had shook him to core.
Anupamaa bit her quivering lip to hold her sob back. Her bapuji's vigourless stature, drooping shoulders and stoic face had pierced her heart deeply.
"Meine kuch nahi kiya puri zindagi...kuch nahi", bapuji kept mumbling as fatigue took over causing drowsiness.
She gently shushed him one last time and helped him lay back on the bed, His tired mind needed rest more than his tired body she thought and covered him with a warm comforter, She ensured he'd relaxed and drifted to sleep.
Anuj's gentle sniff drew her attention. That's when it dawned upon her that he had not left her alone even for a minute. From the moment he opened the door of her house after returning from the karkhana to now. It was almost midnight, she had taken time to help bapuji settle, changed into fresh clothes herself and put her father to bed. He was there all time. Like a shadow not leaving her even for a moment. Even shadows quit in dark, he never did.
She found him standing at the door holding a tray with two glasses of water, in one hand and discreetly wiping a tear with the back of his other hand. When their eyes met he dropped his spectacles back in place and appeared as normal as he could. His beautiful face covered with worry lines and tired eyes were a testament of his feelings not just for her but her father too.
She rose from the bedside table and covered the distance between the two. Before Anuj could offer her water, she took the tray from his hand and offered him instead. Without uttering a word, he picked the other glass and held it out to her.
'Thanks', she mumbIed after she sipped some water from the glass and kept it away on the table. He'd nodded and put his glass down too.
'..for...', she began but her eyes clouded with tears again. She looked down at her knotted fingers, her tears now leaving a fresh trail on her cheeks each time she wiped them away.
Anuj hated seeing her so vulnerable. So crestfallen. So weak.
'Anu-', his voice cracked. He had a lump in his throat that didn't go away. He looked away, took a deep breath and composed himself.
'Ek pita na hokar bhi pita jaisa pyaar karna kya hota hai ye mujhse zyada koi nahi samjhega', he began.
'GK meri life mein sirf mere pita nahi, meri maa, mera bhai, dost sab kuch hai. He has loved me dearly and brought me up like his own son. Aaj Jo kuch bhi ye Anuj Kapadia kar paya hai wo sirf aur sirf unki wajeh se.'
'Tumhare liye bapuji bhi bas wahi hai.', he said as if reading her mute words.
She looked in her father's direction, his curled-up figure broke her heart. The man whose voice and word were loudest and most respected now slept in silence and solitude. It seemed like he'd aged a good number of years in the last couple of hours. His fragile state of mind enveloped her fears and she burst out crying.
'Mere liye mere bapuji mere pita se bhi badhkar hai...wo mere sab kuch hai...26 saal mein aajtak unko itna toota hua nahi dekha meine. Hamesha mera saath diya, mere ansu ponche aur har khushi banti aur aaj unki ye halat...', she choked and sobbed.
'Anupamaa please....sambhalo apne aap ko', Anuj struggled to keep her from breaking down further.
'Baa ki mere liye nafrat ne to aaj us insaan ko tod diya jisne mujhe kabhi tootne nahi diya.'
'Kya mein itni buri hu?', she covered her tear stained face with her palms and broke down copiously.
'Kya mein itnii...buri hu...Anuj?', she asked through clenched teeth in utmost despair.
Anu had never broken down like this in front of him. She always held such a strong composure and today she was falling apart like house of cards. She had bared her scars to him.
Anuj's hand rose to hold her when she took his name but stopped midway for a second. He was sceptical if reaching out to her like this would be crossing the imaginary boundary they'd drawn between them.
It was heart breaking to listen to her sobs and see her trembling like a lost child. He pushed his guilt aside and stepped an inch closer to her; gently placing a hand on her shoulder he whispered, 'No...Anupmaa...'
His single platonic warm touch is all it took. Her hands still covering her face, she involuntarily dropped her head on his shoulder and cried her heart out.His gentle hold had freed her off of all or any mental strings and she gravitated to him, like her soul had heard his calling.
Anuj was taken aback yet he silently let her be. As much as he wanted to collect her in his arms to console her, to wipe her tears away and tell her It would all be ok, his hand that warmly remained on her shoulder lifted to her head and just gently caressed it. He'd dared to rest his chin on her head, taking a moment to compose his thoughts.
He'd felt needed. Wanted She looked for a confidante, a guide, a friend in him. She needed his reassurance. And he silently wanted to be all of it. Anything that could bring solace to her.
His arms may not have enveloped her into him but his heart had. He patted her head affectionately till her sobs subsided to silent tears. He felt her relax in the long silence that followed. His heart beats had been restored to normal and so were hers she realised. Her silent tears reduced to sniffing and she gingerly lifted her head off his chest and raised her eyes to meet his.
Anuj was so worn out in that emotionally charged moment, he didn't realise his finger had stroked her right temple collecting the loose hair strands sticking on her wet face in the process, whose ends had stuck to his stubbled chin and tucked it behind her ear.
Her body shivered with his touch while her eyes red with tears matching his remained on him. She stepped back slowly and put some distance between them awkwardly.
Her movement broke the spell and his hand nervously flew to push the bridge of his spectacles.
`Am sorry,' she said. 'I...didn't mean to..,', she fumbled for words....'wo.... am sorry',
'Relax Anupamaa..', he said calmly. He knew she was concerned about putting him in an awkward situation.
'Ek dost dusre dost ko aise waqt mein nahi sambhalega to kab sambhalega? Waqt aane par kya tum nahi - '
'Mein aapko rote hue dekh hi nahi sakti...' she cut his sentence in hurry. Hadn't he done that too when she cared for him through the night while he burned with fever.
And when she caught him surprised yet smirking, she realised and covered up, 'wo...mera matlab...ha aapne sahi kaha..."
In order to bring back their normalcy he changed the topic seamlessly, 'Don't worry about bapuji. GK, you and I will take care of him and help him out of this situatation.'
'You were right when you said, you as a daughter are enough and there is no need to be a son to take care of a father. So, don't forget this and keep moving ahead. Don't let anything or anyone to stop you'.
She nodded affirmatively and said', Why don't you get some rest? It's been a long day again. You look awful.'
'Awful? Really?', he wrinkled his nose and touched his cheeks as if confirming.
'So bad?", he coaxed her further while she chuckled finding him cutely funny.
'Uff...Go, before I scold you and you complain about it too.'
He laughed feeling happy to see her normal, 'I am going but I'll be In my car downstairs. I don't think its wise to take a risk of bapuji's health. Let's monitor him tonight at least. Emergency hui to Ill be able to drive us'
Anupamaa looked on at him in complete admiration. What did she do to deserve this man she thought.
`Kya hua? Aise kyu dekh rahi ho? Any problem?'
'Will you ever stop being so thoughtful and concerned?'
He blushed and looked away, 'Mein neeche hi hu car mein. Tum bhi rest karlo' and turned on his heels to leave.
Anuj,' she stopped him.
'haa?'
'Please stay.'
'Aap bahar sofa pe rest karlo. Mein yaha couch pe thik hu. I'll be able to watch bapuji also', she offered sincerely.
'Are you sure?'
'Never been before', she smiled.
He'd taken that as a cue and walked out leaving her much calmer and confident than before. He lay on the sofa he'd bought himself but never did it cross his kind then that he'd be sleeping over it in her house. He smiled thinking about it and slipped into a sweet slumber almost instantly.
End.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
