Author's note
Ok people. I was attending this wedding reception the other day and this beautiful scene in my mind. What was supposed to be a small OS ended up being a pretty long story. Its freaking 8 word pages 😂😂
So this deserves atleast a read from a true Maan fan and feedback will be bonus. This is by far my most favorite work. So pls do let me know.
Phew! 😆
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OS: Falling for you…
‘Alright then Kapadia, I’ll take your leave…’, Vikram said pushing his chair behind and rising to shake hands with Anuj before leaving.
‘… and make sure you get there on time. Don’t waltz in late just because you are the celebrity. Behen ki shadi hai teri,’ he teased and slapped on his back.
Anuj flashed an embarrassed smile and said, ‘Don’t worry yaar, she is as dear to me as to you’.
‘We’ll be there before time’, he said further looking at Anu, earning an affirmative nod from her.
‘Anu and Devika are always on time, be it college or the reunion party unlike you’, Vikram commented cheekily.
Looking at Anu he said, ‘‘Ye Anuj college bhi tumhahre chakkar mein late aata tha ab bhi wahi haal hai…’, he guffawed unaware of the fact that Anuj’s silly college crush had been his unrequited love for 26 years. Although it still remained his best kept secret to the world it was no more a secret to her.
Anu blushed pink but recovered and said, ‘We’ll be there Vikram. It’s been great reconnecting with all of you after all these years. Anuj has been saying such good things about you and your company. I recently got to know you are the face behind Mehta constructions.’
It was Vikram’s turn to be modest. ‘It’s nothing. You are the shining star Anupamaa. Look at you making such big headlines. All this women empowerment and all the achievements. You are the talk of town. My wife is a big fan of you already, she is dying to meet you since she got to know we were classmates’
Anuj stood there in pride. Soaking in the bliss of finally seeing his Anu getting her due recognition. He was beaming with joy when her eyes sought his attention.
‘It’s Anuj. The man making my life a moment’, she said turning crimson.
‘Indeed’, she heard that one word while everything that followed faded as Anuj and Vikram’s conversation took stir.
She struggled to tear her eyes away from him ‘stop gazing at him Anu’, she reprimanded herself as she shifted her weight from one foot to other, fingers fidgeting with the pen in her hand.
This was her secret activity these days. Looking at him unabashedly. It was new and beautiful. She still couldn’t get her head around the thought of Anuj in her life as someone more than a friend. But it gave her butterflies in the stomach. Something she found it silly as it was supposed to happen to teenagers and not her but it did. Every time he caught her looking at him, something would drop in her stomach and she’d have to look for distraction to avoid her eyes giving away.
‘I’ll walk you out’, Anuj said to change the subject and move away from the spotlight. The mutual admiration club had to end its meeting he thought. Anu waved Vikram off and resumed work.
In the lobby Anuj turned around to ensure he was a earshot away before he said, ‘Vikram thank you for considering Mr.Vanraj Shah and his wife for the posts.’
‘You’ve just done me a favor. They’ve been good recommendations for my business. And don’t worry, this is between us.’, he promised and walked off.
************************
Anuj entered the cabin and took his seat opposite Anu who had finish reading the invitation card and was putting it back in the envelope.
‘Anu…’, he began.
‘- listen pick me at 7 please.’, she said nonchalantly and rose.
Anuj swallowed his further words and nodded cutely in confirmation feeling thrilled at being her chaperone, again. As long as am with her, that’s all matters. Not how!
She mumbled a quick thank you and moved around the table picking up the files and carelessly threw her unpinned pallu on her shoulder which covered his reeling head briefly until the soft fabric brushed his head as she walked away humming something under her breath. Her scent lingered for a while even after she was gone. The door’s gentle click on being shut broke the spell.
***********************
Anu returned home early from work. She refused to be ridden home by Anuj as he had to drive home and get dressed himself to pick her up later.
She’d rushed through all the domestic chores that needed to be done once home and checked her phone one last time before she stepped into the bath.
A faint line of disappointment covered her face. There was one message from Vanraj asking her to meet but she ignored it royally. She was curious why there was no message from Anuj.
‘Pahunch gayi ke nahi itna hi pooch lete…’she muttered and put down her phone in disappointment and turned around. Her eyes fell on the clock on the wall, it had struck 6.
‘Hey Kanhaji, aaj fir meri waja se late na ho jaye Anuj’, she shrieked and rushed to bath.
***************************
She had spent twenty minutes rummaging through her cupboard looking for the blue silk saree she loved but never wore it because Vanraj had told it never suited her. But today she specifically wanted to wear it simply because she remembered Anuj mentioning once that his favourite color was blue. His favourite singer was Kishore kumar and his favourite food was khandvi. She’d gone ahead and gifted him a mix of Kishore kumar songs and khandvi was now a regular item on the breakfast menu that she packed for him to work. This and many other little things she did for him was a whole new journey in itself for both Anu and Anuj and they enjoyed and savoured it in oblivion. Anu was learning while Anuj just did what he had been doing for 26 years. Love her unconditionally.
Normally it would take just 10 minutes for Anu to drape a saree and plait her hair. She didn’t care to match her jewellery even though she’d bought some. She had always preferred simple appearance overall. Ever since she started seeing Anuj in a different light, things changed. Especially today she was taking time to not just select her clothes but she put in efforts in even selecting an appropriate neck piece and earrings. She wanted to dress up. For his appreciative eyes.
Anu busied herself in dressing up. With saree draped in one go, she left the pallu fall on her slender arm from her delicate shoulder pinned securely. She’d kohled her eyes and coloured her lips to match the natural blush. She didn’t realise about the time until she heard the doorbell ring. She had screwed one earring and was in the process of doing the other and she heard it again.
‘Who can it be?’, she muttered to herself a little annoyed for being disturbed and rushed to the door. She had slipped half the bangles down her wrist while other remained clutched. She collected her long open hair and loosely rested them on her right shoulder just before she threw the door open to a breath-taking Anuj standing in front of her.
She had seen him in best of attires but today seeing him dressed in a deep blue Armani bandhagala set, that matched her saree almost completely, had knocked her feminine senses out literally. His hair combed back neatly, him groomed to perfection and smelling heavenly he looked gorgeous. In the fleeting seconds she noticed his deep eyes behind the golden rimmed spectacles never left hers. She blushed how he studied her head to toe cautiously yet with deep admiration without making her feel least bit uncomfortable.
Unmindful of her appearance she stood there at the door for a second longer and reacted when she heard him clear his throat to draw her attention.
‘Aap?’
‘haa…mein. Didn’t you tell me to pick you up at 7?’, he asked surprisingly.
Flabbergasted at being so affected by his presence actually looking like a Greek god himself, she felt insecure of being half nicely dressed as him she fumbled, ‘I mean…is it 7?’
Anuj rechecked his watch sheepishly to confirm, ‘Did he end up early at her door merely out of excitement? Thankfully it was 7 and he was on time.
‘At least that’s what my watch says so…maybe it’s not working correctly’, he tried to reason only to make her feel a little better.
Anu chuckled at his innocent attempt of making her feel less guilty about it. He had to own up isn’t it? She asked herself letting him in.
Her laughter chimed like sweet bells in the otherwise silent living room.
‘She wore blue Anuj’, he sighed soaking in the beauty she was in the deep blue color saree. Apart from catching Anu gazing at him these days, he knew she had begun to put in efforts to acknowledge his likes and avoid his dislikes.
He knew she was feeling differently about him but did not want to ruin it by confronting her. He had waited 26 years, wouldn’t hurt if she took forever to finally realise what she felt for him was no different. But that did not stop him from pushing his boundaries at times.
‘Why don’t you sit. I am almost ready. Just need to take care of my hair’, she said and turned on her heels when she heard him say, ‘Leave it open’.
‘huh?’
Anuj stuffed his hands in pockets and strolled around the table to reach her. He pointed at her reflection in the mirror apprehensively and said softly, ‘khule baal zyada ache lag rahe hai…aise hi rehne do…’
Anu colored up at an alarming speed. She met his eyes in the mirror but tore away instantly feeling painfully bashful. She turned to face him struggling hard to keep her fingers from covering her crimson cheeks.
‘I’ll be back in a minute’, she said and escaped into her room without taking a single look back at him.
If she suffered the effects of his gaze behind closed doors, Anuj struggled to keep himself contained even when left alone.
Anu quickly rechecked her reflection in the mirror to try anything she could to match up to him but all she could think of was stick a tiny bindi on her forehead with her shivering hands. She brushed her hair again and left them open, gently cascading on her shoulder ending at her waist with light curls that formed naturally. And suddenly she felt so beautiful.
For the first time seeing herself as he saw her made her aware of how he actually defined beauty. She suffered another bout of blush and warmth all over just at the mere thought of being in front of his eyes all through the evening. She wanted to be seen, appreciated and loved like he always did.
‘Chalein?’, Anu’s voice distracted Anuj after a few minutes. He observed she’d indeed let her hair open.
‘Sure’
She pointed at the keys hanging by the door and let herself out making little adjustments to her saree and hair and then let him lead them to his car after he locked up. She allowed herself all his lavish attention by letting him be the chivalrous man he was. He ensured he’d seated his lady comfortably into the front seat beside his and walked around to take the driving seat.
He found her stealing glances again, he’d noticed from the corner of his eyes. His lips curled into an endearing smile. He chuckled at her being so ignorant of being caught and let her devour him like he did. At least, she had better confidence than him he thought.
Just after they had set off, “Saadgi to dekho unki nazro ki…’, Anuj’s voice filled the silence.
‘Huh’,
‘Saadgi to dekho unki nazro ki, hamse bachne ki koshish mein baar baar hamein hi dekhte hai…’, Anuj completed baffling her again.
‘Anuj…’, Anu’s hand flew to cover her eyes but her crimson cheeks and speechlessness gave her away.
Undoubtedly, she’d understood his shayari this time around because she did not dare to look in his direction again without blushing like a young bride.
Anuj didn’t bother her further but drove in silence only not wiping off the smug look on his face. This funnily irked her more.
************************
Anuj carefully drove into the venue through the mob of media awaiting guests at the entrance. He stopped right in front of the grandly decorated entrance where the red carpet that was rolled out for the guests began.
He religiously got off the car and pocketed the valet ticket before he strolled around the car swiftly towards Anu’s door.
Unmindful of the crazy media that impatiently awaited his entry and hundreds of other eyes watching his every move, he held the door open and offered his hand to Anu to step out of the car.
The sudden frenzy and sound of shutterbugs caught Vanraj and Kavya’s attention. In order to gain space in Vikram Mehta - their boss’ good books they had volunteered to be stationed at the entrance and personally welcome his high-profile guests.
Anu stepped out of the car gracefully and felt a tad bit taken aback at the media glare. She unlike Anuj was not used to so much attention.
She quickly rearranged her open hair and was trying to collect the pleats that were neatly folded at her foot earlier when she left home but now a little disoriented. She was about to bend to do the needful but Anuj was faster.
Absolutely unaffected by the entire coverage of his action, he dropped on his knee in front of her.
‘Anuj…ye kya…’, she protested as he began to deftly collect the pleats of her saree one after another into a bunch and pressed them neatly from a length to bottom to let them stay still. Happy with his attempt he looked up and inquired, ‘Better?’
‘It’s perfect. Thanks’, she said and smiled while she pulled on his elbow gesturing to stand up. She was feeling utterly conscious yet was pleased to be basking in the absolute attention of this man who was coveted by women around the world.
He stood up to ‘ooohs’ and ‘Awws ‘ from the audience especially the young intern girls covering the news, after gaining her satisfactory nod.
‘THE Anuj Kapadia didn’t have to do this in front of everyone’, she shyly whispered into his ear leaning into him.
‘Mujhe koi farak nahi padta. Tumse zyada important to kuch bhi nahi hai’, he said simply and shut the door of the car and let the valet drive off.
He turned to face the cameras with a ravishing smile and waved back at the crowd in general.
‘Sir – Madam ek ek photo please’, badgered the press.
‘Sure’, he was sliding off to let them click Anu first but this time she was faster. She had slipped her hand into his arm and pulled him closer for pictures together. His eyes darted from her hold on his arm to her smiling gloriously at the cameras. Anuj had removed his other hand from pocket and protectively covered hers. His warm hold on her symbolic of a future together.
Both looked stunning in blue and complemented each other making them seem like the perfect couple ever. Their simple gestures were a treat to all the watchful eyes. Their movements in sync were as poetic as Anuj himself.
While Kavya was left stunned to see Anuj bringing along Anupamaa, Vanraj was pleasantly surprised to just see Anupamaa. He was proved wrong again when he saw her look ethereal in the blue saree he never liked. It did pinch him to see her with Anuj but this was nothing new. All he could do was lament his fate.
Kavya fumed with anger. All that she had ever dreamt of was actually happening but with Anupamaa.
‘If there is anything you need to learn from Anuj, learn to be THE man. It takes a true man to be unbothered and respect and care for the women he loves so passionately.’ Kavya walked off leaving Vanraj all alone depressed beyond words.
‘…my business partner Anupamaa will address that but not today and not here. This is our college friend’s social function so lets just not talk business here please.’, Anuj answered politely to one of the many questions thrown at them.
Until the security could part way for them, Anuj gripped Anu’s hand and shielded her to pass through the stream of photographers into the venue.
At the top, Anuj tersely nodded in Vanraj’s direction simply to acknowledge his sorry face and walked past through him, his grip on Anu’s hand growing stronger unknowingly.
When she felt his hold stronger, she registered Vanraj’s presence and Anuj’s indifference. She let him lead and ignored Vanraj’s attempt to speak to her. She had learnt to see past through anything and anyone that bothered her. Not just her, even Anuj.
Both walked hand in hand into the reception hall turning several heads as they walked past through the guests to greet their friend.
Their entry together earned the loudest cheer from their bunch of friends who waited for them at the end of the stage.
‘Hayee mere do anmol ratan’, Devika squealed in excitement and grabbed a 2000 Rs note from her purse and circled it over their heads to ward off any evil eye and handed it to the waiter behind. ‘Look at you two glowing!’
She was an expert at embarrassing them in private and public and nothing and literally no one on this planet could stop her from doing so. As much as it annoyed them at times, they doted on her and her affection too. She was clearly the biggest blessing in their lives both singly and jointly.
‘Devika, stop it!’, Anu chided in hushed voice.
‘What? We are not blind Anu, bahar kya hua sab ne dekha yaha live. All this love in the air. Uff!’, she teased.
‘Devika please’, Anu tried hard not to blush and escaped her eyes.
Devika cupped Anu’s face affectionately and said, ‘Anu, tera chehra aaj tak itna nahi khila. Meri chod apne dil ki baat to sun le. Wo sach bhi hai aur sahi bhi…’
‘Tujhe sahi maine pyaar ab hua hai. This what you feel IS love. Wo nahi jo tu ab tak samajhti aai hai. Farz pyaar nahi hota par pyaar zarur farz ban jata hai. Ye saari khushiya teri hai sirf teri…samet le..’
‘Meri baat ho rahi hai?’, Anuj placed his hands on both their shoulders interrupting the two.
‘Haan’
‘Nahi’
Both answered together. Anu failed to cover up while Devika did.
‘Let’s meet Vikram’, Anu said to change the topic and pointed in the other direction. Anuj followed her he turned around to see Devika flashing a big smile and thumbs up.
Both Anu and Anuj greeted Vikram, his sister and the groom and the entire family at large. Their perfect pairing earned such appreciative glances from all. Everyone wanted pictures with the two together.
Their college friends took numerous selfies with them centred and standing around them.
Vikram’s wife was now not just smitten by Anu but also Anuj. She must have said it out loud in excitement that god bless this couple’s togetherness that both looked awkwardly at each other but neither denied or corrected her.
The crowd broke into fun filled dancing as the music filled the air. Everyone insisted them to join especially Anu as it wasn’t a secret that she was a great dancer. She didn’t need much prodding though as her heart was dancing to different tunes already and all she wanted was to match her feet with it.
She held out her hand towards Anuj and said, ‘Dance with me’
Anuj needed no more insistence. Only a fool would deny a soul’s calling. He gently placed one hand of hers on his shoulder and held the other so carefully. He didn’t hesitate to snake his arm around her waist and drew her close enough to let his warmth soothe her slightly shivering body.
Both swayed in sync to the sweet music that changed into a slow one.
Anu lifted her eyes and met his that had captivated her heart. She’d never felt so secure and so loved before. He’d worshipped her yes but there was an unimaginable amount of love that he had within him for her. Maybe that is what filled her heart too.
‘Aise kya dekh rahi ho?’, he broke her chain of thoughts.
She smiled and nodded in negation.
‘Kuch kehna hai?’, he prompted. He could read her thoughts and that was something he was an expert at.
She bit her lip shyly and nodded in yes.
He waited. His heart had doubled its pace.
The excitement he felt he sensed it coming.
‘Bol du?’, she teased.
He hated himself for teaching her this. She always used it back on her creating the suspense that killed him. He did not have his share of fun with this as much as she did.
‘Haa…’
‘Bol du?’, she said and laughed looking at his irritated nod at how this killed him.
‘Hum Dil de chuke sanam…. tere ho gaye hai ham…teri kasam….’, the melodious song played at that second and Anu needed no more words.
If only Anuj knew how to breathe, he could do with some air he thought. She pressed her hand on his shoulder reminding him to breathe.
‘Ummeedein…’
Tum hi se hai mere sanam…Thama hai tumhara hi ye daman…bhulenge kabhi na ab tumhe ham…”
Anuj’s love had finally been reciprocated after all. He was a champion in business, never lost but had suffered the biggest loss of his life when he lost Anu to Vanraj. But today even that was undone.
Possessiveness took over and he drew her delicate frame closer letting his warm lips touch her forehead.
They swayed all along. Unaware. Oblivious.
‘Tere yaado ke saaye mein guzregi zindagi….us khuda ke baad to puja hogi bas terii’, her eyes promising the many things she wanted to give him for all the love.
For now, and for all the coming years.
Her eyes seeking affirmations to journey along. To never let go this and all the coming lifetimes.
‘Chahe jo maang lo…sab tumhara hai….tere ho gaye hai ham…teri kasam…’
Anuj pulled her to him and caged her in his embrace. He’d been dying to collect her in his arms and never let go. Her head rested on his chest and she dissolved into his embrace and hugged him back with all the love she was holding back. It was divine, it was magical. There was euphoria in that moment.
Only their Kanhaji knew that their souls were now fused as one to never fall apart.
His timeless love finally won rewrote a new fate for him and for her.
End..
PS: Thank you if you survived. Leave a comment gooo 😈
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