Previously on Mumbai Blues...
Scene: A Chocolaty Saga - A Hollow Victory
He looks at the two chocolates on the ground, the martyrs of his childish chocolate war, while he has been ignoring the war that mattered the most the whole time.
Should he feel triumphant seeing the half-eaten chocolate -- his trophy of a trivial chocolate war -- or should he mourn the uneaten chocolate -- his rejected apology?
It's a win that feels like a loss, isn’t it? -- A Hollow Victory.
......................................................................................................................................................
The room is silent again after Jhanak leaves. An inner voice jolts Anirudh, urging him to go after Jhanak and not let her leave without hearing him out, "Jhanak... nahi iss bar nahi!"He rushes out of the storeroom, determined to catch her before she leaves the office.
The office is empty, everyone has already left for home. Jhanak is back at her desk, quickly gathering her things, tears streaming down her face as the memories of what happened back in Kolkata and in the police station come flooding back.
Anirudh's words and his gaze full of the lack of trust in her, flash relentlessly in her mind.
"Agar Jhanak ne ye crime kiya hai to, use saza milani chahiye!
Agar wo guilty hai to, usake khilaph aap sakt kadam uthayenge!
Attempt to murder ki jo saza hoti hai , aap use dilvayenge!"
"Jhanak!" Anirudh calls out from behind seeing her at her desk. His voice carries a mix of urgency and desperation.
"Jhanak muze tumanse baat karani hai!" He approaches her desk.
"Muze aapase koi baat nahi karani. Please muze akela chod dijiye...", Jhanak responds, her back still turned to him as she hurriedly collects her things, trying to leave the office as fast as she can.
"Jhanak dekho main janata hoon, tumhare jane se pehale sab ne tumhare sath bohot badtmizzi ki, bohot kuch bura bhala kaha, issi liye tum iss tarah ghar chod kar chali gayi... "
"Jo hua wo nahi hona chahiye tha. Arshi ke sath jo kuch bhi hua usake liye tumhe zimmedar theharaya gaya! Jabaki tumhari koi galati nahi thi, balaki galat to tumhare sath hua tha! Isilye main tumase dil se maphi mangana chahata hoon... Aur maine jo"
Jhanak turns around abruptly, her eyes brimming with tears and pain. Anirudh gulps, seeing her pale face and the anguish in her eyes. A heavy silence hangs between them, intensifying the emotional weight of the moment. Anirudh's heart splits in two, seeing Jhanak's lifeless face.
"Aapane..?" Jhanak asks with a trembling voice, challenging him to continue his apology.
"Haan... Maine...", Anirudh looks down with guilt, unable to meet Jhanak's eyes, his heart breaking at the sight of her tears.
"Sirji aap kis baat ke liye maphi mang rahe hai?" Jhanak speaks breaking the the heavy silence. Anirudh looks up at her with eyes full of bewilderment.
Jhanak continues, "Aap ne kuch galat nahi kiya hai, nahi kaha hai. Aapke gharwalo ne jo bhi kaha, use main bhool kar aage badh chuki hoon. Aur aap bhi to sirf sach ka sath de rahe the na? Arshi didi ke gunehgar ko saza dilwana chahate the. Arshi didi ke liye insaf chahate the... usame kaisi galati?"
"Jhanak..." Anirudh tries to speak again, his eyes full of pain and remorse.
"Aap hi ne kaha tha police station me, agar Jhanak ne ye crime kiya hai to, use saza milani chahiye! Jhanak ko attempt-to-murder ki jo bhi saza hoti hai, wo milani chahiye...", She stresses the words "agar", "crime", and "attempt-to-murder". Her words cut through the air, each sentence a reminder of the past wounds. Listening to his own words that once he spoke carelessly and hurt her, are cutting him deeply now.
Anirudh keeps looking at her eyes. The weight of his own words is pressing him down, rendering him speechless.
"Aap ne kuch galat nahi kiya hai, aap maphi mat mangiye!", Jhanak says, her voice carrying a forced smile. But the anguished eyes and tremor in her voice, are telling a different story.
Jhanak picks up the bag and starts to leave the office.
"Nahi, galati ki hai maine!" Anirudh speaks with a firm voice. Jhanak stops at the words and turns around.
"Tum se kiya vada todane ki galati... Tum par hamesha bharosa karane ka vada todane ki galati... I am sorry Jhanak! I am really really sorry! ", Anirudh’s apology is laden with heartfelt sorrow, his eyes brimming with tears. His remorse is palpable as he struggles to convey the depth of his regret. Jhanak’s tears flow freely as she drops her bag, the weight of Anirudh’s words hitting her with full force.
"Sirji... Muz par apani behan ka attempt-to-murder karane ka case bana tha... muz par itana bada aarop lagaya gaya... muz par aapane bharosa nahi kiya, itani badi baat bol di? Aur aap keh rahe hai sorry?" Her voice quivers, a mixture of pain and disbelief in her tone. Anirudh's face contorts with the sting of her words.
"Nahi Jhanak",he begins, his voice breaking with the weight of his emotions,"Mere paas alfaz nahi hai tumhe ye jatane ke liye ki main kitana sharminda hoon! Main tumase nazare nahi mila pa raha hoon! Lekin please ek baar, ek baar, muze samaz ne ki koshish karo. Maine tum par kabhi ilzam nahi lagaya. Main dil se bhagwan se prarthana kar raha tha ki tum apani begunahi sabit karo. Ek pal ke liye ye sochane me bhi galat lagata tha ki tum kisi ko dard pohancha sakati ho. Tumhe takliph me dekh kar muze kitani takliph ho rahi thi, main ye tumhe bata bhi nahi sakata... Tum nahi janati, jab tum khud ke liye ladi, jub tumane apani begunahi sabit ki to mere dil ko kitana sookoon mila!", Anirudh’s voice trails off, his expression a mix of guilt and desperation as he seeks for understanding, his eyes pleading with Jhanak to see beyond the pain and accept his remorse.
With a sense of urgency, he continues to explain further, "Jhanak...Shristi aunty ne police complaint file ki thi. Main soch bhi nahi sakata tha, ki wo tum par bina kisi saboot ke police complaint file kar sakati hai. Apani hi beti ke case me koi aisa kyu karata? Main ye baat samaz nahi paya. Upar Arshi ki halat thik nahi thi, main unaki baaato ko nazar andaz nahi kar paya. Main uss vakt bohot confused tha, main bus..."
(This dramatic BGM for this moment as she speaks ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZZL-qW67A&list=PLNOY9IMmw-dLqsgg2b5lSh9CWKLhPUjWE&index=7)
"Sahi kaha apane" Jhanak interrupts, her voice heavy with emotion. "Aap ne ilzam to nahi lagaya Sirji, par sath bhi to nahi de paye!" Jhanak words splits Anirudh's heart in two.
Jhanak continues with tear-filled eyes, "Main samazati hoon... aap confused the, aap jisase itana pyaar karate hai, baat unaki thi, janati hoon... issi liye unake baare me soch kar muz se ek baar ye bhi nahi bol paye, ki Jhanak... muze tum par pura bharosa hai, tum aisa kuch nahi kar sakati!" Tears streak down Jhanak’s cheeks, a painful smile forming on her lips as she continues.
"Aap shayad ye kabhi nahi samaz payenge, mere liye aap kya sochate hai usaka ka mulya police ke kisi bhi saboot se bohot zyada tha..." She pauses, and takes a deep breath, to get hold of herself, controlling her tears she then adds, "Lekin Sirji, Jab koi kisi se pyaar karata hai, aksar aisa hota hai. Shayad ye aapaka Arshi didi ke liye pyaar tha, aur main usake samane bohot choti hoon! Saccha pyaar ise hi to kehate hai, hain na sirji?" Jhanak wipes her tears and takes a deep breath. Anirudh listens in utter dread, his face reflecting the agony of her words.
"Lekin sirji, aap muze apane ghar le kar aaye the aur aap hi jab muz par bharosa nahi kar paye to main aapake ghar me kaise ruk sakati hoon? Aur aisi ladaki jis par aap bharosa nahi kar sakate, use aap ko apane ghar me rehane bhi nahi dena chahiye. Aap ke bohot ehsaan hai muz par Sirji, main aapaki karzdar rahoongi zindagi bhar ke liye. Iss liye, muz se maphi mang kar muze sharminda mat kijiye. Aur aapne muz se Kashmir jo kaha tha, use bhool jaiye. Arshi didi se kiye hue vade nibhayiye. Hamesha kush rahiye, main aapake liye hamesha yahi chahungi!... Ab muze chalana chahiye..."
(Tanha sa dil mera .... For this heartbreaking moment for both Jhanak and Anirudh....)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK1_RV4elV4
Her words which feel like an unspoken farewell of their love, meet nothing but painful silence from Anirudh. Jhanak says a final Namaste and leaves the office, not looking back, crying in silence as she leaves the office. She was taking away the memories they shared one by one, with each step as she walked further and further from him, leaving him behind again in nothing but darkness. The room feels darker with each step, the light getting sucked out of the room again, as Anirudh stands motionless in silence watching it all happen.
He is too stunned to act or even speak. His face pales, his lips dry, paralyzed by shock and grief, he does not know how to stop her. The weight of the words and the piercing pain in his heart caused him to lose strength in his legs and he stumbled on the ground and broke down in tears.
Jhanak left but left her words and the walls are echoing them back to him a thousand times over.
He is now fully confronted with the depth of the hurt Jhanak endured because of his actions and words. Everything that once seemed so genuine - the confession of his love in Kashmir, the promises he made - all now appear as if they were mere delusions. His failure to show faith in her obliterated all the moments they shared, turning them into painful reminders of what once was.
Her trust in him lies shattered, her heart broken. He failed to tell her what she wanted to hear from him, at that moment when she came to his room worried about Arshi. The enormity of his apology and the reasons he offers now seem insignificant compared to the depth of the hurt she experienced. The weight of his failure is crushing, making every word he spoke and every promise he made seem like a distant, cruel joke.
Anirudh cries in solitude, folding his legs and sitting alone in the office room next to her desk.
"Jhanak, tum aisa kuch nahi kar hi nahi sakati! Bus itana hi to bolana tha. Main tumase itana bhi nahi bol paya? Tum meri vagah se ghar chod kar chali gayi , aur main doosaro par chillata raha? Tumhe ye tak sochane ke liye majboor kar diya, ki tum mere liye koi maine nahi rakhati, jab ki Jhanak tum mere liye sab kuch ho! Kya meri baat par tum kabhi yakin kar paogi?...
"Tum par ek pal ke liye bhi shak karane ka khayal bhi mere man me aaya, iss ke liye main hamesh apane aap ko kosata rahoonga! Tumhe itana dard diya, tumahra bharosa toda, tumhara dil toda, usake liye muze kabhi maph mat karana Jhanak... kabhi nahi! Jhanak tumase zindagi bhar maphi mangane ke liye taiyar hoon, tumhari narazagi manzoor hai, lekin... tumase door jane ka khyal bhi muze sau maut marata hai... tumhare bina ab main nahi jee sakata... nahi jee sakata...."
Anirudh closes his eyes, resting his head in his hands. The room is heavy with his anguish, the silence echoing his inner turmoil.
Suddenly, the noise of the approaching footsteps of the security guard jolts him from his despair. His eyes snap open in dread.
"Jhanak!!" he exclaims, leaping to his feet and thinking about Jhanak's whereabouts this late at night in this unknown city. In a frantic rush, he grabs his belongings and bolts out of the office, colliding with the guard on his way.
"Suniya bhai sahab... Aap ne Jhanak ko kahi jate hue dekha?", Anirudh asks the guard, his voice shaking with urgency and worry for Jhanak.
"Jhanak, ji kaun Jhanak?" Guard responds with a confused expression.
"Abhi bhi ek ladaki yaha se nikali hai. Gori si hai, lambe bal, white color ki dress pehani hui thi"
"Ji unhe jate to dekha office se bahar par kaha gai wo to hume nahi malum!"
"Kya matlab nahi maloom? Aap ka kam hai employees ki security ka dhyan rakhana. Wo aapake samane office se bahar gayi, iss shahar me nayi hai, rehane ka koi thikana bhi nhi hai! Aur aap kehate hai , ke aapko maloon nahi!?" Guard takes the bitter blow of Anirudh's worry for Jhanak.
"Are sahab, ab iss office me hazar log kam karate hai. Hum sirf kaun aata jata hai usaki record rakhate hai, ab office se jane ke baad kaun kaha ja raha hai, usaka dhyan hum kaise rakhenge sahab?" , Guard explains
"Damn it! Kaha gayi hogi tum Jhanak!!"
Anirudh’s worry intensifies. Determined to find her, he decides to venture out on his own.
"Kitani raat ho gayi hai. Area ka bhi muze kuch pata nahi hai. Agar paidal nikali hogi to zyada door nahi gayi hogi. Muze abhi nikala na hoga. Use hostel bhi to nahi mila, to kya koi hotel?"
He approaches the guard again, "Suniye, yaha aas pas me koi hotels? Ya phir taxi stand, bus stop kuch? "
"Haan, sahab office ki building ke bahar nikal kar signal se right lenge to aage ja kar ek taxi stand hai. Aur saste hotel to sahab waha se karib 4-5 km aage jake bohot sare hai. Par wo area accha nahi hai sahab. Red light district usake pas me padata hai na sahab! To agar aapako acche hotel chahiye to mithi nadi ke uss par dekhana sahi rahega sahab"
"Red light district? Jhanak ko bhi to ye pata nahi hoga..." Anirudh murmurs to himself, his anxiety palpable. "Ok...Thik hai ... shukriya!" He thanks the guard and leaves immediately.
"Jhanak ko area ka pata bhi nahi hai, kahi usane koi aisi waisi hotel me room le liya to? Muze use dhoodhna hi hoga, kaise bhi karake!" Anirudh rushes out of the office to look for Jhanak.
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On the street:
Jhanak is walking aimlessly on the bustling streets of Mumbai with her bag in her hands. Her heavy heart and restless mind are making her oblivious to all the chaos of the street. Still feeling overwhelmed by the conversation and the events that took place in Kolkata, she continues walking with no sense of direction or destination in mind.
Today, his apology confirmed he did not trust her. After all that they had been through, it all came crashing down like a house of cards in a single moment. It's all so unbearable... "Aapane maphi kyu mangi, Sirji?", she murmurs through her tears, her voice barely a whisper in the cacophony of the city.
In this storm of emotions, the feeling of their embrace in the storage room, the laughs they shared on the night of Anirudh's birthday, his declaration of love in that hotel in Kashmir, all those beautiful moments she treasured flashed before her eyes giving her heart a screeching unbearable pain. Were all those moments truly meaningless? Did the words he spoke in Kashmir were merely just words and nothing else? Had her actions, her sacrifices for him and his family, meant nothing?
She traveled hundreds of miles away from that place, but today that place tracked her down and dragged her back to where she was before. Her tears flow freely, and she is so lost in her sorrow that she doesn’t even realize how long she’s been walking. Suddenly, she bumps into someone making her come to her senses and look around.
Jhanak looks up and realizes she’s in an unfamiliar part of Mumbai. The streets are narrow and bustling with activity, but something feels different. Neon signs flicker above doorways, casting an eerie glow on the old, crumbling buildings. The air is thick with a mix of aroma --street food, incense, and a faint, unpleasant smell of liquor.
Women stand in doorways and lean against walls, dressed in bright, eye-catching clothes. Their faces are heavily made-up, and some of them glance at her with a mix of curiosity and indifference. The streets are alive with a cacophony of sounds: snippets of Bollywood music from radios, the occasional shout or argument, and the constant hum of conversations.
Jhanak feels overwhelmed by the sensory overload, her own emotional turmoil amplified by the chaos around her. She realizes how far she has wandered, both physically and emotionally, from where she started. As she stands there, feeling lost and vulnerable, she wonders how she ended up in this place and what is this place exactly.
Jhanak’s eyes dart around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. "Are oh, sundari kise dhoodh rahi ho?!" a middle-aged drunk man approaches her.
"Nahi kuch nahi..." Jhanak starts walking away from him, but he keeps following her. Noticing other men around her, and casting uneasy glances, she realizes she’s wandered into a dangerous area and needs to leave quickly.
"Are kaha chal di! Ab itana bhi mat tadapao!! Tume pehale dekha nahi hai yaha, khoi khoi si lagati ho. Kahi bhatak gayi lagati ho! Kaho to rasta dikaha de?!" The man tries to grab Jhanak's hand forcefully. Jhanak reacts swiftly, gets out of the hold by pushing the man away, and runs in the opposite direction. The drunk man feeling humiliated, chases after her, catching the attention of a few nearby. Gasping for breath, Jhanak scans for an escape.
She spots the main road in the distance, likely the way she came, and races toward it. In her haste, she bumps into someone and falls, scraping her knees and hands.
A lady looking like quite a misfit for the area supports her backup. "Aap thik to hai?!" Journalist Jiya asks. Jhanak is nervously looking around panting feeling hesitant to talk to her.
"Lagata hai aap gum gayi hai. Ye jagah safe nahi hai. Hi, I am Jiya, aur ye hai Pari, hum reporters hai!" Jiya introduces herself feeling the hesitation from Jhanak.
"Aap ek kam kijiye, yaha se sidha sidha jaiye, aapako taxi mil jayegi! Jaise har chamakane wali chiz sona nahi hoti, waise hi ye Mumbai shehar hai, iskae kai rang hai, aur ye jagah uname se ek hai. Welcome to Mumbai Miss!" Pari says showing Jhanak the way.
"Shukriya!" Jhanak thanks them and quickly heads in the direction they indicated, putting distance between herself and the drunk man who, due to his intoxication, is lagging behind.
Exhausted and still terrified by the experience, Jhanak emerges from the dangerous area, panting and desperately looking around for a taxi. Just then, she hears a familiar voice calling her name,
"Jhanak!!!!"
"Sirji?"
(Reminiscing this beautiful moment again with this BGM ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7xymI9KRn0)
She turns around and sees Anirudh standing near his car looking at her. Seeing Jhanak in distress, he comes running towards her.
Seeing him, Jhanak can no longer hold back her tears. Overcome with emotion, she breaks down, allowing herself to be vulnerable again. As she breaks down in tears losing her strength, Anirudh comes and grabs hold of her before she falls to the ground.
"Jhanak, tum thik ho?"
Overwhelmed by the ordeal, Jhanak bursts into tears. Anirudh, seeing her scraped hands, understands that something serious has happened. He enfolds her in his arms, his soothing voice a soft murmur.
"It's ok, it's ok...sab thik hai. Main hoon na! Ab sab thik hai Jhanak... shhhh.... It's ok, it's ok...shant ho jao..." He puts her head on his shoulder comforting her, carasses her head trying to calm her down.
Anirudh scans the area, noting the drunk individuals, men flirting with women, and the flashing neon signs. It becomes clear they are near the red-light district the guard mentioned.
"Jhanak ye area thik nahi hai, hume yaha se jana chahiye..."
Jhanak nods in agreement, her eyes reflecting her exhaustion. Anirudh helps her to stand, but her injured legs cause her to stumble again. Seeing her bloody knees, he gently lifts her into his arms. Jhanak instinctively wraps her arms around his neck for support, and they share a silent, profound look.
Despite everything that happened earlier, Anirudh’s presence now brings her an unexpected sense of safety. How can it be that after all that transpired, she still seeks his comfort and protection?
The image of the man trying to grab her hand forcefully flashes before her eyes as she shivers in fear, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes, cuddling up slightly into the comfort of his arms. Anirudh takes a sigh of relief having found Jhanak safe and starts to walk towards his car.
.....................................................................................................................................................
Anirudh's apartment
Anirudh lays Jhanak on his bed and covers her with a blanket. She fell asleep on the ride back holding on to his hand due to exhaustion. It started raining and they got a little bit wet, just as they arrived at the apartment.
Anirudh gently caresses her head and notices that she has developed a fever.
"Jhanak?" Anirudh gently tries to wake her up.
"hm..." Jhanak opens her eyes and finds herself in an unfamiliar place.
"It's ok Jhanak. Tum safe ho. Tum mere apartment pe ho!" Anirudh reassures her.
Jhanak places her hand on her nose and snizzes.
"Jhanak tumhe thoda sa bukhar hai aur bahar baarish ki vagah se kapade bhi thode gile ho gaye hai, please kapade change kar lo, warana tabiyat aur kharab ho jayegi. Aur phir kuch khana bhi khana hai aur davai bhi leni hai."
Anirudh sneezes.
"Aap ki tabiyat thik nahi lag rahi..." Jhanak speaks in a low concerned voice with eyes closing and opening as she drifts in and out of sleep.
"Tum meri chinta mat karo. Pehale apani halat dekho. Kya kar rahi thi tum waha us area me? Aise hi kisi bhi hotel me nahi ruk sakate..."
Jhanak shakes her head in denial, "Muze pata nahi chala main waha kaise pohanch gayi..."
"Ok, pehale please kapade change kar lo...", Anirudh says, helping her sit up on the bed.
"Tumhara bag to main gadi me hi bhool gaya! Bahar baarish bhi bohot hai. Ek kam karo abhi ke liye mere kapade pehan lo.", Anirudh says, getting a t-shirt and a pair of trousers from his cupboard for Jhanak.
"Ye main kaise pehan sakati hoon? Main thik hoon, thodi der me kapade sukh ..." Jhanak is interrupted by her sneeze.
"Hmm, thodi der aur , aur tum aur bimar pad jaogi! Apana dimag chalana bandh karo, aur jo main kehata hoon wo karo. Ye kapade badal lo, ya phir tum chahati ho bina chate ke tez baarish me gadi me se tumhara bag lene jao niche?" Anirudh argues back
Jhanak reluctantly accepts clothes from Anirudh. Anirudh grabs, the second pair of clothes from the cupboard, "tum yaha change karalo, main bathroom me change kar leta hoon!", he says and leaves the room closing the door behind him.
Jhanak tries to get up from the bed, letting out a pained sound because of her scraped knees.
For the first time, she truly feels away from home, alone in a city all by herself. She shudders at the memory of the drunk man grabbing her hand and wonders what might have happened if she hadn’t escaped and Anirudh did not come in time. The brave women she met in the red-light district come to mind - journalists away from the safety of their homes, navigating those dangerous streets fearlessly and yet doing their job. Today the unknown streets of Mumbai scared her, yet it also inspired her. Inspiration hits in the strangest of times, doesn't it?
She quickly collects herself and changes out of her wet clothes into the clothes Anirudh gave her.
Anirudh knocks on the door. "Jhanak? Kapade badal diye ho to bahar aake kuch khalo!"
"Ji, aa rahi hoon..." Jhanak responds.
Anirudh is taking the food out of containers and onto a plate that he ordered some time ago when Jhanak opens the room door. He turns around and looks at her, and his eyes widen in awe as he sees Jhanak in his clothes. For a moment, he is spellbound and drops the spoon -every guy’s dream to see the girl he loves wearing his clothes and it came true today.
Jhanak approaches Anirudh and picks up the spoon he dropped.
"Aap ka chammach..." she offers it back to him.
Anirudh is still under the spell and does not respond.
Jhanak says again, trying to get his attention, "Sirji...?"
"huh?" Anirudh comes back to reality.
"Aap ka chammach ... gir gaya tha..."
"Oh haan... thanks... Ab kaisi hai tabiyat?", Anirudh asks as he puts his hand on her forehead to check the temperature.
"Main thik hoon", Jhanak moves her head away
"Jhanak tumhe abhi bhi bukhar hai. Aisa to kya hua ki tumhe itana bukhar ho gaya, aur itani chot kaise lagi?", Anirudh questions Jhanak
Jhanak looks at Anirudh emotionally but remains silent, still distressed by the events on the street.
Anirudh recognizes the hesitation, "Accha nahi baat karani to koi baat nahi. At least kuch kha lo."
"Main thik hoon, baarish rukate hai. Main chali jaoongi"
"Jhanak please, ye natak bandh karo. Halat dekhi hai apani? Bukhar hai, pair me chot, aur upar se anjan shaher. Kaha jaogi itani raat ko? Aur kya samaz ke rakha hai tumane muze? Tumhe main aise hi jaane dunga?"
"Baitho yaha..", He settles her down on the chair and sits next to her.
"Kuch khalo... " Anirudh offers her a spoonful of rice.
Jhanak looks at Anirudh, still distressed by their emotional conversation today. Anirudh recognizes the emotions but keeps holding the spoon waiting for her to eat.
"Jhanak please kuch kha lo...please...", he requests her again in an emotional voice.
Jhanak eats the half-spoon half-heartedly. Anirudh feeds her a couple more spoons.
"Main khud se kha loongi, aap please kha lijiye", Jhanak says stopping him.
Anirudh hands her the spoon and then grabs the first-aid kit. He sits down near Jhanak's leg.
"Apana pair dikhao ... kaha lagi hai tumhe chot?"
"Nahi main thik hoon, thoda se laga hai. Patti karane ki zaroorat nahi hai"
"Jhanak, maine suna tum kapade change karate vakt dard me thi, aur dekha maine kaise chal rahi thi abhi. Ab natak bandh karo, aur dikhao muze kaha chot aayi hai, warana main khud dhoondh lunga!"
Feeling too exhausted to argue, Jhanak relents.
"Yaha ghootano par, lekin maine trousers pehani hai. Aap muze de dijiye , main khud se laga lungi"
"It's ok, its just me. Main kar lunga.."
"Nahi, lekin aap kaise..."
Anirudh does not wait for her to say anything more and begins to lift her trousers to her knees.
As he carefully pulls up the fabric, Jhanak winces in pain as the trousers graze the wound, "shh....",
Anirudh’s fingers gently graze her skin, his touch both tender and soothing. His heart cannot help but skip a beat at the touch of her warm skin even in this situation.
Anirudh carefully holds her leg in his arms, his heart aching as he tends to her. Jhanak shivers from the contact as she grips the chair tightly.
"Jhanak, bohot dard ho raha hai? Tumhe bohot chot aayi hai! Ye choti chot nahi hai! Tum apana khayal rakhana kab sikhogi?"
He applies medicine to her leg gently, and Jhanak closes her eyes at the sting of the treatment. Anirudh finishes with the bandage.
"Ho gaya! Ab aankhe kol sakati ho"
Jhanak opens her eyes and looks at Anirudh. She is thinking about how did she end up with him again here. What is this unspoken connection with him that no matter how much further she wants to go, somehow fate brings them back together?
Jhanak opens her eyes and looks at Anirudh, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind. She wonders how, despite her efforts to distance herself, she always finds him next to her. What is this unspoken connection that binds them, pulling them together no matter how far she tries to go? She does not know how to live with him in her life and not feel the pain of her love that can never come true.
"Abhi kal vapis dressing karani hogi. Isse gila mat karana. Ab khana finish karo phir davai bhi leni hai", Anirudh says as he gently places Jhanak’s leg back down and pulls down the trousers. He then takes out a tablet for fever and holds it to her mouth. Jhanak continues to look at him lost in her thoughts, and Anirudh signals her again to open her mouth.
"Itani chinta kyu hai aapako meri, kya main aap se pooch sakati hoon?"
"Isaka jawab tumhe pata hai jhanak, pooch kyu rahi ho!"
"Nahi pata, issi liye pooch rahi hoon. Muze aap samaz nahi aate." Jhanak replies.
"Ek din samaz jaogi!"
Anirudh places medicine in her mouth and offers her a glass of water. Jhanak drinks the water and gulps down the medicine.
"Aap ko bhi bukhar hai, aap bhi davai le lijiye" Jhanak says in concerned voice.
Anirudh looks at Jhanak with sarcastic eyes, "Aur tumhe meri itani phikr kyu hai, kya main ye pooch sakata hoon?"
Jhanak avoids the question, "Nahi ye phikar nahi hai... "
"Muze dekh kar samaz gayi main bimar hoon, aur keh rahi ho phikr nahi?" Anirudh inquires.
"Aap ko davai khani ho to khai ye varana koi baat nahi" Jhanak responds in firm voice.
"Thik hai, agar aisi baat hai to nahi khana khaoonga aur nahi davai loonga!" Anirudh rebels.
Jhanak feels conflicted, contemplating her options.
"Nahi please aisa mat kijiye, aap please davai aur khana kha lijiye!"
"Kheela do!" Anirudh demands.
"Nahi bikul nahi!" Jhanak denies firmly.
"To main khaoonga..." Anirudh stays stubborn.
"Sirji, aap zid kyu kar rahe hai?"
"Ya to tum khilao nahi to main khana nahi kha raha!" Anirudh clears his firm stance.
Jhanak is reluctant but she thinks about how Anirudh got sick back in Kashmir and out of concern, gives in and picks up the spoon with rice to feed him. Anirudh eats the rice from her hand, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"Jhanak aaj bhi tumhe meri parava to hai. Chalo tumhare dil me meri liye thodi si jagah to hai", Anirudh thinks to himself as he happily eats from Jhanak's hands.
Anirudh then stops her from feeding him anymore, "Jhanak aaj jo kuch bhi tumane kaha, I am sorry Jhanak. Maine tumhare dil ko maine bohot thes pohanchayi hai. Main tumase jitani maphi mangu wo kam hai... Jhanak, muze kabhi maph mat karana. "
Jhanak looks at Anirudh with stunned eyes.
"Lekin badale me muze tumhari zindagi me reh kar tumhare dil ke ghav ko bharane ka mauka do!" Anirudh says, adding an important condition to let him stay in her life and repent. Staying apart from Jhanak is not an option for him. He will do whatever it takes to win her heart back, he makes a promise to himself.
Jhanak remains silent, her pain evident in her eyes. His apology touches her heart, but the wounds are too deep to put her faith in Anirudh again. She wonders how she will ever let go of the love she feels for him if he remains in her life. Why is it so hard for her to push him away, even when every part of her heart knows it might be the only way to heal?
Anirudh lifts her gently into his arms. Jhanak wants to rebel but finds herself unable to say anything again as if she is mute.
"Jhanak, kyu nahi rok pa rahi sirji ko? Kya ho gaya hai tuze, aise to hamesha apani baat par ad jati hai. To aaj kya hua ?", she thinks to herself.
(song for this moment ... Tu hai toh ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeJtg2hFnhs )
Tu na toh ghar, ghar nahi lagta
If you are not with me, home doesn’t feel like home.
Tu hai toh dar nahi lagta
If you are with me I don’t have to fear anything.
Tu hai toh gham na aate hai
I never feel sad because of you.
Tu hai toh muskurate hai
Because of you I smile all the time.
Anirudh takes her into the bedroom and tucks her into bed. As the effects of the medicine start to take hold and sleep overtakes her, Anirudh stays by her side.
(Song for this moment from Arijit Singh... Samjhawan ....when Anirudh is looking at Jhanak hoping for her to understand the pain in his heart despite knowing how hurt she is ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2f7MZaw3Yo)
He is reminded of the time in Kashmir when he cared for her just like this. So much has happened since that night.
Main tenu samjhawan ki
Na tere bina lagda jee
Tu ki jaane pyar mera
Main karoon intezar tera
Tu dil tu yun jaan meri
Main tenu samjhawan ki
He caresses her head softly with tears in his eyes, "Jhanak, ho sake to please muze maph kar dena!"
He leaves the room closing the door behind him.
Anirudh dials a number on his phone, "Haan main bol raha hoon, Main kal aa raha hoon..."
......................................................................................................................................................
To be continued...
they are dheet , not my mistake 
... I am glad my efforts are reaching you guys 🫶
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
