Originally posted by: strancho
Part 3 - Realization
As the sun slowly rose above the horizon, he groaned and tried to burrow deeper into his pillow. The pounding in his head was like a sledgehammer. He had little recollection of the day before, but he knew he drank too much.
As he lay there, feeling sorry for himself, his phone rang.
Anuj: (In a sleepy tone) Hello..
Other side: Papa..
Anuj: (Wide awake now) Choti..
Choti: Papa, I called you so many times but you did not answer.
Anuj: Sorry beta. You say, how are you? Is everything okay?
Choti: Everything is okay. I am also fine. How are you and mummy doing?
Anuj: We are fine, my princess.
Choti: Papa, would you be able to meet me today? Maa and I are leaving for Delhi tomorrow.
Anuj: Delhi? Why?
Choti: Anuj, Maaya here. We are expanding our business and I have to be there to oversee everything. We are shifting to Delhi. Choti wanted to meet you before leaving, would you be able to take out some time today?
Anuj: Of course. Let's meet at BMC children's park at 5 pm.
Maaya: Sure, we will be there.
As soon as the clock struck 4:30 pm, Anuj took his blazer and drove to the children's park. He was excited and happy to meet his daughter after 4 months. He reached ten minutes early.
Choti: Papa, Papa..
Anuj: (Overwhelmed with emotions) How are you, my princess? (He took her on his lap)
Choti: I am fine. How are you? You know papa, I and maa came in 2nd place in the recent dance competition held at my school.
Anuj: Wow. Next time, you will surely win.
Choti: Yes. Papa, how is everyone? Toshu bhaiyya, Pakhi didi, Samar bhaiyya and Adhik Bhaiyaa?
Anuj: Everyone is fine my bachcha. Is my princess happy?
Choti: Yes papa, I am very happy with Maa. She helps me with my homework, she makes me delicious food and she never leaves me.
Hearing that a pang of sadness suddenly clouded his thoughts. He couldn't help but think of all the times his daughter was left alone.
Choti: Papa, my friends are here, can I go and play with them for some time?
Anuj: Ha beta, go.
Maaya and Anuj sat down on the nearby bench.
Maaya: Thank you Anuj. I know that you are a busy man but thank you for taking out time for my daughter.
Anuj: I should say thanks to you for letting me meet Choti. Thanks, Maaya. Also, I want to apologize for the way I have behaved toward you. I know I've been rude and disrespectful, and I'm sorry. I should have let Choti go before only. But I thought she could be the saving grace for my marriage. I thought that if Choti stays then Anupama would give us a little time and attention. I tried to save my marriage using a little child.
Maaya: When you love someone, there are times that those emotions make you feel insignificant. I thought that it was because of love and that's why I am miserable. However, when the man I loved left me, I realized that the reason I was miserable wasn't because of love. You know Anuj, now that I think of there were always signs that something is not right but I just brushed them off. He used to get angry at me for trivial things but I overlooked them. It was because of my pride that my love cannot be wrong. I wanted to protect my so-called love from withering. As soon as you fight to protect your love, it is not love. It is a person's pitiful pride.
Anuj: You are right. I knew that I would never be her first priority. I knew that both Shahs and Anupama can never let go of each other. But it was my useless pride that made me believe that I can bring her out of that. People do not change that easily. Maaya, does love end when a relationship ends? Or does a relationship end because love has ended? I am not able to see the bigger picture, you know.
Maaya: If love is based on priorities and conditions, it can certainly die because priorities and conditions keep changing in life all the time. Is your love based on priorities and conditions? It’s not about the picture but about each of those single pieces that make it…one single piece…one single day…if you take care of the pieces and if they are right then the picture …the relationship…will adjust itself to perfection. Anuj, when you have expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Why did you expect everything to change after marriage? Isn't that the Anupama you loved?
Anuj was nervous and didn't know how to respond to Maaya's questions.
It was time for Maaya and Choti to leave. They said their goodbyes and left, but Anuj was lost looking for answers. It was time for him to face the truth he was fleeing.
In the next part, I will conclude this OS. Thanks, for encouraging me and giving me ideas.
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
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