Teaser pg 1
Part 1:
“Sorry Anupama” he replied in a disdained tone replaying the happenings of the evening as they transpired.
Initially, guilty of speaking out of turn, he had put a leash on his outburst when Anu was dragged away to be questioned by someone who failed to understand what Anupama meant to that family.
He knew her status there couldn't be defined by a relationship tag and he respected her instinctive concern for the family that she had spent a huge chunk of her life with. Be it good or bad, she felt a sense of belonging with them and he appreciated her for being so annoyingly selfless.
“Anuj aap sorry kyu bol rahe hai ?” she pleaded trying to understand the conflict going on inside him as he looked disturbed and he wished he could tell her why.
He had cringed and shuddered with disgust when he saw his Anu being treated in a way he didn't approve of and cursed himself for the restrictions he had imposed on himself to not intervene in her family matters and just trusted her to come out a winner every time.
Though his faith in her never wavered and he knew she was as strong as they come but deep down he knew she was hurt , her self respect was shredded to pieces each time but she still posed a brave front...perhaps for him, perhaps for them.
“Anu, sorry isliye kyuki mai jab se tumhari zindagi mein aaya hoon tab se tumhe sirf dukh aur pareshaniyaa hi mili hai, jabki mai toh tumhare liye sirf aur sirf khushiyaan chahta hoon” his angst got the better of him and he couldn't keep it in anymore.
He blamed himself and was certain that ever since he had come into her life, Anu was made to face a whole lot of hostility and criticism for having a friend, a male friend, and one that harboured feelings for her for 26 long years.
“Anuj, aap aisa kyu soch rahe? mere liye aap aur aapka saath hi sabse badi khushi hai” she professed but he simply nodded his half hearted approval with a smile as he was still not convinced.
She knew she had to be bold with her words and actions to rid him of his guilt. She took a deep courageous breath and sussed if he was ready for what she was about to say and do.
“ Anuj aapko mai apna sabse accha dost maanti hoon” he smiled again “aur ab toh mai aapse,....” why did she stop now? what was she trying to say? he wondered when she gave him one long gratifying look and let her actions do the rest of the talking...
He frowned and waited with bated breath for her to finish what she started and slowly, she walked her hand towards his hand on the gear stick and mindfully placed hers on it.
*******
Jolted by her soft touch and assuming their hands touched by mistake, he flinched and tried to pull his hand away in reflex but she held it firm enough to show her intent.
He couldn't believe his luck and hoped it wasn't one of his open eyed dreams. She couldn't believe herself either and let the gushing feeling sink in.
She was too shy to look at him and he had coloured a loud and dark shade of red. A sudden chilling breeze made him tremble or was it her touch he thought and smiled basking in the glory of her first real step towards him, he didn’t want to think too much into it just yet and let the happiness make room.
There was a delightfully loud silence in the air as they enjoyed the carefree moment with no strings attached. Anu knew he had earned it while he reeled with disbelief.
*****
Reluctantly steering the car into her street, he wished they could take a detour and get lost in the known streets to make the moment last forever and she could now very well read the regret on his face.
With a heavy heart he pressed his foot on the brake as she loosened her grip on his hand and reached to undo the seat beat.
He rushed out to open the door for her as usual and was tempted to offer her his hand but refrained from doing so thinking it would be too soon for him to take such advanced level liberties.
She sensed his hesitant attempt and snorted ever so slightly causing him lowkey embarrassment as he moved back to give her the space to step out of the car.
Gazing at her mesmerisingly, he thought she looked so elegant and ravishing in that cream sequinned saree with her long silky tresses cascading her back and though he had given her a thorough look and mentally praised her a thousand times already, there was something he had missed earlier, perhaps it was the tint of mush that was quite apparent now.
Clutching the end of her saree, she rehearsed a goodbye in her head while he was still trying to find a way to break her stunning spell.
“bohot acchi lag rahi ho tum” he blurted and she giddily mouthed a soft ‘thank you’...the weather had turned a dim romantic and the breeze was getting colder and heavier, blowing the dry leaves in the air.
“aap bhi bohot acche lag rahe hai” she returned the compliment and he gestured a thank you with his hand and smiled boastfully on being praised by the one he craved to hear it from the most.
“accha phir, kal milte hai” she said tip toeing and wiggling her eye brows playfully.
“haan...kal milte hai...” he replied plainly not wanting to let her go...
As she turned around to walk towards the house, he stopped her by saying “Anupama, wo jo tumne...abhi...gaaadi mein...” he meant to ask what she wanted to say before the touch but her thoughts fleeted elsewhere.
“mera matlab hai, wo tum kuch keh rahi thi uss..uss se pehle?” he gestured to the cherished touch on his hand and before she could reply a stray piece of something poked her eye and he rushed to help.
“Anu ruko” he lifted her face and reached for the corner of his red shiny stole but changed his plan in a frienzied moment and took his lips close to her face instead and blew directly into her eyes.
*********
lo ho gaya first part, please batana kaisa laga, I know most of it was justifications but yeah thats what MaAn are at the moment for me😉
anyways, please do drop in some comments and let me know what you liked and what you didnt.
@nish - aadha mukka bhej sakti hai😜
see you all in the next update, thank you🙏
Edited by hinz - 3 years ago
Ishaani
Cricket
6