Chapter 3

Hina

@hinz

Part 2:

'Ding Dong' went the doorbell again and Anu wondered who it could be this time, though it wasn't late. Putting the yarn aside, she muted the TV and rushed to get the door.

"Hi" it was him again, the one she was just watching on the telly.

"Hello" she replied awkwardly as though she had been prying.

"sorry aapko itni late disturb kar raha hoon" he apologised making her curious of what he might ask next.

"nahi koi baat nahi, kahiye" 

"woh actually mai yaha naya hoon, I mean Ahmedabad mein naya hoon"

and she mumbled under her breath "haan pata hai US se aaye hai"

"toh mujhe yaha ke baare mein zyada kuch pata nahi, aap toh sab jaanti hogi naa?" what did he mean by sab, she wondered

"sab matlab, grocers, doodh wala, newspaper etc, please inke contact details mujhe de sakti hai aap, if its not too much trouble?"

She looked so cute in the glasses he thought, and though sarees might be her thing, she looked quite nice in casual salwar suits too, like the one she was wearing right now, reminded him of the pink suit he had first seen her in.

She went in to fetch her phone while he was lost in self talk. He had obviously been keeping tabs on her to know what she looked best in.

"Jignesh Patel" she said scrolling through her phone and he replied "nahi mera naam Anuj hai,  Anuj Kapadia" and it made her chuckle.

"Oh, I see...you meant the grocers?" she could only manage a nod between her laugh...

and that's how they broke the ice...

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It was late afternoon and Samar had come to visit Anu after his dance practice for a show he was meant to be performing in Delhi on the day after Anu's birthday. Anu was very excited for her son's first big break in the corporate world and hoped it would bring him more such offers to help him follow his passion like she did.

"mummy ye men's deo, shaving gel, ye sab aapne kyu mangaya hai?" asked Samar unpacking the bag of groceries that the delivery boy had just dropped off at the door.

"kya bol raha hai bakuda, dikha" said Anu going through the bag filled with mens toiletries and straightaway knew who they were for.

"woh saamne wale naye padosi hai Anuj, ye samaan unka hai, jaa de aa" she ordered and wished it was her delivering the bag.

She peeped through the crevice of the door discreetly and watched Samar talk to the neighbour and was intrigued by the length of their conversation, 'did they know each other?' she wondered but dismissed the thought knowing he had just moved to India.

Finally when Samar returned, she pretended not to seem overexcited and before Samar could say anything she asked " itni der kya baat kar raha tha?"

"arey mummy aapke naye neignour Mr. Kapadia hai" cheered Samar

"haan woh mujhe pata hai...toh?" asked Anu curiosly

"mummy yeh wohi Mr. Kapadia hai jiske event mein mai perform karne wala hoon, aur inhone hi mujhe aur Nandu ko uss din accident se bachaya tha,...he's a very nice man, very humble and down to earth isiliye shayad itne bade businessman hote hue, ek choti si society mein reh rahe hai...US return hotey hue bhi itni simple lifestyle, he's truly an inspiration." said Samar.

Listening to her son speak so highly of him, it made sense why he had that effect on her..his charming personality was what was pulling her towards him and the suave demeanour was an added bonus to the captivating looks.

He was a complete package but also off-limits, she thought reminding herself of his committed status, sighing she made a mental note to thank him for saving her son's life.

**********

"chal bata kya baat hui usse kal?" asked Devika excitedly

Smiling to himself thinking of how adorable she looked last night he said "uska phone number mil gaya mujhe" as if it was big achievement.

Devika looked at his lovestruck friend and tapped on his head to say "arey wo toh tu mujhse bhi le sakta tha, isme kaunsi badi baat hai? ye bata tujhe usne apni birthday party mein invite kiya ki nahi? bas tu usey propose karde birthday wale din, phir ye Anu ki life ka best birthday hoga!" 

"Devika yaar, kya bakwaas kar rahi hai...muskhil se toh uska padosi bana hoon, tu pati banne ki baat rahi hai... pehle dost toh ban jaane de, pyaar toh ho jaane de..."

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here's part 2, batao kaisa laga? sorry it's not as long as the first