A/N: This is the last Bunty Anuj special part. Regular updates will resume from next week. Flashback in blue font.
Part 20 C
"Havey keh ne. Rubaru ma su kehva mangto to?"
Bunty's face wore a pensive look as he spoke.
"Pichchle 2 salon me.. meri professional life.. sahi nahi chal rahi thi. Is baat ka meri mental health pe.. asar pada. Therapy li maine.. That is responsible for the change in my perspective about you."
"I'm sorry! Mujhe pata nahi tha. I guess.. Devika aur Jagu ko bhi.. koi idea nahi hai is bare me?"
"I've become quite guarded as a person. Maine hi.. is bare me baat nahi ki."
Anuj nodded. "I understand. Ab tu theek hai? Ab bhi therapy chal rahi hai?"
"Ha, chal rahi hai. Par main pehle se behtar hoon."
"That's great!"
"June tak toh humare jhagde k bare me maine apne therapist ko nahi bataya tha kyunki mujhe lagta tha maine jo sahi kiya!"
Bunty stopped when the waiter arrived to take their order. He ordered coffee for himself and chocolate truffle pastries for both of them.
"1st July ko Devika k 45th birthday pe jab maine use call kiya toh pata chala ki tu September me India shift ho raha hai. I'm sorry! Maine instantly tujhe judge kar liya! Mujhe laga Anuj k liye Ahmedabad = Anupama! Ab woh single hai isiliye yeh aa raha hai. Varna hospital aur hotel toh India k kisi bhi metropolis me bana sakta tha!"
Anuj simply shook his head.
"Bad me Devika ne bataya ki tu 2020 se hi plan kar raha tha par nahi aa paya."
"Covid ki wajah se aana postpone hua. Mujhe jab ehsaas hua ki apni adoptive country k liye bohot kuch kiya maine, par apne birthplace k liye kuch nahi kiya.. tab maine wapis aane ka decision liya."
Bunty averted his gaze to the table.
"Jab mujhe Devika se yeh baat pata chali toh man me yeh sawaal aaya ki.. Kya 14 saal pehle bhi.. maine tujhe galat samajh lia tha?"
Anuj stiffened as he recalled the last time he had spoken to Bunty prior to the present day.
............
Bunty called GK a couple of days after his 30th birthday to apologize for his mistake.
When Anuj got to know about it, he called him.
As luck would have it, Bunty was busy and his wife answered the call.
Though she was subtle and indirect, it was clear to Anuj that she was insecure about their friendship.
By the time Bunty arrived on the scene it was too late.
"I'm really sorry Anuj! Fiyanshi ki baat ka bura mat lagana."
"Mujhe bura nahi laga. Par l guess humein.. dosti se.. break le lena chahiye.."
Bunty clearly did not see that coming.
"Fiyanshi ki taraf se main sorry keh raha hoon na? Phir tu kyun aise react kar raha hai?"
"Bura mat manna par.. Bhabhi ki baaton se saaf zaahir ho gaya ki.. woh mujhe pasand nahi karti hain."
"I know Fiyanshi humari dosti ko lekar insecure ho rahi hai par yeh uska koi solution nahi hai. Main us se baat karunga. She'll come around, trust me!"
Anuj spoke as though he did not hear Bunty.
"Main nahi chahta hoon ki teri life me.. meri wajah se problems aaye. Tu bas unko khush rakh! Mere liye unse jhagadna mat. Aur.. mujhse distance maintain kar.."
Bunty lost his cool when he heard that.
"Kya distance maintain kar?! Aisa karne se uska belief aur strong ho jayega ki woh sahi hai. Main bhi kise samjha raha hoon, jisko pyaar ke alava kuch soojhta hi nahi hai!"
"Kya kuch bhi bol raha hai?!"
"You don’t value our friendship anymore! Aaj meri biwi ne kuch keh diya toh tera yeh haal hai! Kal ko teri girlfriend kahegi ki use Bunty pasand nahi hai toh tu 2 minute nahi lagayega dosti todne me!"
"Evu nathi, Bunty! Stop being unreasonable!"
"Evuj chhe! College me bhi aisa hi tha!"
"Vey yaar! Tu har bar past ko beechh me lekar aa jata hai! I don't want to have this conversation!"
"Bahane mat bana! Teri asli problem yeh hai ki tujhe conflicting situations ko face karna nahi aata hai!"
Anuj was offended by his brusque remark.
"Cut it! Kya kaha tune?"
"Sahi kaha! Tujhe bas bhaagna aata hai because it's easier!"
"What rubbish!?"
"Tujhe dosti se break lena tha na? Main yeh dosti permanently tod raha hoon!"
Anuj was too shocked to respond or protest.
"Kal ko Fiyanshi k vichar badal jayenge tab bhi main apne vichar nahi badlunga! Hoon aeva maanas ne dost nathi kahi shakto j dosti ne mahatvaj nathi aapto/Main aise insaan ko dost nahi keh sakta jo dosti ko importance hi nahi deta!"
Anuj didn't realize when Bunty ended the call.
...........
Anuj came back to the present when the waiter placed the pastries before them.
"Sorry.. Kya kaha?"
"Tu kuch soch raha tha?"
"Ha. Main.. baad me bataunga. Tu bol na.."
"So I told him everything. Unse baatein karke mujhe kafi clarity mili."
"Toh tu unke kehne pe mujhse baat karna chahta tha?"
"Don't get me wrong. He asked me to forgive you to relieve myself from bitterness and resentment."
"ok. I'm sure that must not have been easy.."
"It wasn't, since I had been holding on to the grudge for so long. Par unhone mujhse khud ko teri jagah rakhkar sochne ke liye kaha. Tab maine realize kiya ki jisne apne parents ko kho diya, apne pyaar ko kho diya, uske liye.. apne best friend ko bhi kho dena.. kitna mushqil raha hoga!"
Anuj fought against the rising emotions which were making it hard to maintain a straight face.
"Jab tujhe laga ki mujhse door hone se meri married life me problems nahi aayengi toh tune woh bhi sweekar kiya! Aur maine kya kiya? I just blocked you! Kuch kehne, sunne ka scope..."
...........
He was forced to pause mid-sentence when his coffee arrived.
"I wanted to apologize but I was skeptical. My therapist prepared me mentally. So that even if you wouldn't want to talk or wouldn't want to forgive me, I would be able to accept it. Yeh sab reunion se pehle nahi ho paya. These sessions take time.."
"Understood. You said you were skeptical. Was it just because you were embarrassed?"
"Yes, partly because I was embarrassed. I knew this conversation would be awkward. The thought of starting all over again was overwhelming. Phir socha ki maine jo kiya uske bad.. tujhe mujhse baat karne ki ichcha nahi hogi! He said that you'll never know unless you take the risk of trying!"
"Correct! I know that people change with time. Not everyone is willing to give another.. a second chance. Maine toh iski ummeed nahi ki thi! I had stopped believing that.. we could ever go back to being friends! So I understand.. where you're coming from."
"Maine jab decide kiya ki main Sunday ko tujhe call karunga toh socha toh maine bhi yeh hi tha ki baat ho jay utna bohot hai! Friendship hona na hona toh baad ki baat hai. Uski ummeed mujhe bhi nahi thi."
Bunty held his hand across the table.
"Something changed in the last 3 days. Pehle baby ka adoption hua, phir Ahmedabad-Ladol trip tay hui. Tu aur main itne time k bad Ahmedabad me honge yeh sochkar hi.. ummeed jagne lagi! Aur Kanhaji ne saath diya!"
Anuj returned his smile.
"Aaj jab Devika se baat hui toh.. cheezein saaf nazar aayi. Isiliye maine dosti karne ki baat chhed di! I'm so glad we were on the same page!"
"So am I! 1 baat poochhun, bura toh nahi manega?"
"Nahi. Poochh.."
"Tere aur bhabhi k beechh.. sab theek hai na?"
"Ha, sab theek hai. Her thinking has changed. Jab humari dosti tooti tab.. kaaran badal gaya par uski insecurities waisi hi reh gayi. Waqt laga par 1 cheez bohot sahi ki humne. We stuck to each other and continued working on the relationship even when the other was struggling."
He sighed defeatedly.
"Tere maamle me.. I just.. gave up! Tune haath khade kar diye toh maine bhi kar diye! I'm so sorry! Maine humare jhagdon ko 17 saalon ki dosti se zyada importance de di!"
"I'm sorry Bunty! Tune mere liye jitna kiya utna toh kisi dost ne nahi kiya! Humare jhagde se pehle.. kuch waqt tak humari dosti one sided ho gayi thi."
"Kisne bola?!"
Anuj slipped a finger beneath his glasses to wipe his tears.
"Kisine nahi. Mujhe aisa laga. Tu mere saath tha par.. main tera saath nahi de paya! Now I'm here for you! Remember that!"
"I will! Tu bhi yeh guilt ka bojh utar de apne sar se."
"Hmm. Please.. bhabhi ko blame mat karna! Unki baatein sunkar jo galat decision lena tha woh maine liya tha. Don't hold her responsible for it!"
Bunty nodded in response.
..........
"Devika ne mujhe tere aur Anu ki friendship k bare me bhi bataya tha..", said Bunty while stirring his coffee.
"Mujhe bohot khushi hui jab usne kaha ki tum logone apni dosti ke liye uski family ke samne stand liya!"
Anuj sighed ruefully.
"Ha, stand liya tha par.. I'm yet to learn from my mistakes!"
His heart skipped a beat when he recalled the night of chhoti Diwali.
Bunty's forehead pinched as he frowned.
"Kya kiya tune?"
Anuj felt a lump forming in his throat.
"Some things are too personal to share. Devika ko sari baatein nahi pata hai."
"Anu ko pata hai na?"
"Nahi. Par main use batane wala hoon."
"Usne bataya tujhe usk.. trauma ke bare me?"
"Abhi toh ek doosre ko jaanne, pehchanne ka silsila shuru hi hua hai. Woh puri tarah se.. open up nahi kar payi hai."
"Main samajh sakta hoon ki use khulkar batane me time lagega. Main yeh bhi janta hoon ki tu uske saath rahega. Par utna kafi nahi hai!"
Anuj was perplexed. "Kafi nahi hai matlab?"
"You both need therapy. Tune 26 saalon tak jo dard saha woh apni jagah hai. Lautne k bad Anu ko usk ex aur family se close hote dekhna.. I can imagine how tough it must be for you!"
"Meri mushqilein uski mushqilon k saamne kuch nahi hain!"
"Mujhe Anu ke bare me pata hai. I can't fathom the kind of mental anguish she has gone through! Tu usko aur khud ko convince kar therapy ke liye."
Anuj pondered over his words in silence.
"Love and acceptance have healing properties, agreed. Par us se zyada important woh healing hai jo parallely chalegi, therapy me. Professional help makes a huge difference! Trust me!"
Anuj nodded thoughtfully.
"Main samajh raha hoon, Bunty. Teri baaton se pata chal raha hai ki tujhe kafi fayda hua hai therapy se. Main Anu se is bare me zuroor baat karunga!"
..........
Bunty briefly left the table to answer a call.
When he returned he saw Anuj sitting with a morose expression.
"Tere saamne chocolate pastry rakhi hui hai aur tu kha hi nahi raha hai! Kamaal hai!"
Anuj smiled as Bunty attempted to uplift his mood.
"Pehle jiske aane ki khushi me moonh meetha karva raha hai uski photo toh dikha!"
Bunty obliged instantly.
Anuj took out a 2000 rupee note from his wallet and rotated it around the cellphone thrice.
"She's very cute! Uski toothless smile kitni pyari hai!"
Bunty nodded as a serene smile appeared on his face.
"Aankhein bilkul jheel jaisi hain! Kehne ko main shayari keh doon lekin.. jab milegi tab kahunga!"
"Kyun nahi?"
"Waise, baby ka naam kya rakha hai?"
"Parso naamkaran me decide hoga. Abhi toh sab apni marzi k naam se bula rahe hain!"
"Achcha! Ab main tujhe photo dikhata hoon. Ruk.."
"Kiska?"
"Mere bete ka! My buddy boy, Samar!"
"Buddy boy!" Bunty repeated with a grin as he looked at the photograph.
"Anu ka.. chhota beta?"
"Ha. Sirf Anu ka nahi mera bhi!"
"Amazing! Yeh tujhe bohot manta hai na?"
"Ha. Pyaar bhi bohot karta hai! Use Anu ne bataya hoga tere bare me. Tabhi usne message bheja.."
He unlocked his phone to read the message.
"hi Anuj! Maine suna aapke OG buddy Ahmedabad aaye hain. Enjoy! Can't wait to meet him!"
Phir doosre message me usne likha hai
"Aap unko convince kariye na. Mujhe kal aap dono ka chhapri dance dekhna hai!"
"Oh bapa! Chhapri dance ka bhi pata hai use?"
"Ha, toh! Dekh, main tujhe baaton, baaton me invite karna bhool gaya! Anu ne tumlogo ko breakfast ke liye uske ghar bulaya hai."
"Janta hoon. Mujhe message kiya tha usne."
"Toh main subha kitne baje pick karun?"
"Rehva de! Aa aapnu Amdavad chhe, vaahla! Tu Anu k saath mandir jakar aay phir call karna. Mujhe usne address bheja hai. Main pahuch jaunga!"
"Theek hai. Aur kaki?"
"Mummy, pappa nahi aa payenge. Unko subha subha baal ashram jana hai."
Anuj was surprised.
"Mujhe nahi pata tha ki kaka bhi aaye hain."
"Tu un dono se lunch pe mil lena. My treat!"
"Ji nahi! Tu treat tab dena jab main Hyderabad aaunga. Kal lunch se pehle tu un dono ko mere office lekar aana. Wohlog aayenge toh mujhe aisa lagega jaise.. ma aur papa mere office aaye hain!"
Bunty reassured him with his smile.
"Pakka lekar aaunga! Tu kab free hoga?"
"Main 1 baje tak free ho jaunga."
He placed the mobile in his pocket and dug into the pastry.
"Chocolate pastry toh common hai! Pata hai, Anu mere liye chocolate se unique cheezein banati hai! Usk haath ka chocolate peanut samosa is out of the world!"
Bunty smiled at his childlike glee.
"I'm sure! Uski rasoi toh pehle bhi out of the world thi! Mujhe yaad hai Diwali vacation me usne Devika ko chorafali ka dabba diya tha."
"Ha aur Devika ne mujhe woh dabba dete huye kaha tha ki yeh tera consolation prize hai! Do hafton tak usk haath ka nashta khakar kam chalana! Par hum dono ne 1 hafte me sab safaachat kar diya tha!"
"I know! Phir agle hafte maine Jagu ko uske ghar kaki ke haath ka nasta lekar bheja tha!"
"Hum dono se zyada toh ma excited thi ki meri vahu mere haath ka nashta khayegi!"
"Ha! Un dabbon ko lautate waqt Anu ne chivda aur thabdi penda bharkar diya tha. Woh Jagu ko chakhaya bhi nahi, hum hi pura kha gaye!"
"Waise, is Diwali usne apne haath se mujhe penda khilaya tha! Tesdo padi gyo to/maza aa gaya tha!"
"A toh padhvanoj hato/woh toh aana hi tha! Anu ko abhi bhi basundi pasand hai kya?"
Anuj nodded while relishing his pastry.
"Main kal uske liye basundi lekar aaunga. Aur.. bachchon ko.. kya pasand hoga?"
"Wahan pe sirf Samar hoga aur usko bhi basundi pasand hai. Bachche apne dad k saath rehte hain."
"I see. Baki dono ki bonding achchi hai tere saath?"
"Samar jitni nahi. Bete k saath relation bohot formal hai aur beti se dosti hui hai. But.. unko, in fact, aadhi family ko abhi humari relationship k bare me pata nahi hai."
Bunty wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh ho! Secret dating!"
"Ha, par tere jaisi nahi! Abhi tere level tak pahucha nahi hoon main!"
When Anuj winked at him Bunty winked right back.
"Is janam me pahuchna bohot mushqil hai! Waise yeh teeno bachche toh hain hi aur.. aage ka kya plan hai?"
"Abhi humne date karna shuru kiya hai! Tu kahan pahuch raha hai, bhai?!"
"I know.. abhi tumhari relationship nascent stage me hai. Tumlog past ko relive kar rahe ho. Lekin.. jab bhi tumlog.. future ki planning karoge.."
He stopped and, to Anuj, it appeared as though he was filtering his thoughts.
"Don't mind Anuj.. Main Anu ko ya tujhe judge nahi kar raha hoon. It's jus that maine aur Fiyanshi ne.. adoption ka option consider karne me.. bohot der kar di!"
Anuj nodded as he listened attentively.
"India me adoption ka scenario covid k bad change ho gaya hai. Pehle jahan 2 saal lagte ab 3-4 saal lag rahe hain. Waiting period me anxiety k alava.. bachche k saath parents ka age gap bhi badh jata hai. Just keep these things in mind.. in case.. you guys.. decide to adopt a child."
"I will definitely keep these in mind. Thank you buddy!"
...........
"Kuch aur chahiye?"
"Nahi. Woh.. Bunty.." Anuj began hesitantly as he wiped his mouth.
"Ha, bol ne.."
"Don't take it otherwise..Tujhe kabhi professionally meri koi help chahiye toh bolna. If you decide to join my company, I'll be the happiest!"
"Thanks for the offer! Let me think about it."
"Sure! Take your time."
"1 offer main tujhe deta hoon!"
"Kya?" Anuj curiously stared at him.
"Tu jab Anu ka var/husband banega tab tera anuvar/bestman main hi banunga! Jab bhi tumlog shaadi karoge, jahan bhi karoge mujhe bulana. Main haazir ho jaunga!"
"Yeh bhi koi kehne ki baat hai! Main well in advance bata raha hoon. Jab teri 50th anniversary pe tumlog dobara shadi karoge toh tera anuvar main banunga! Pichhli bar jo bhi bana tha usko bata dena!"
"Bilkul, bilkul! Chal, bohot der ho gayi hai, yaar. Bill bhar deta hoon phir chalte hain.."
"Yeh paise rakh dena tip me." Anuj said as he folded the 2000 rupee note.
...........
A cool breeze carrying the scent of jasmine flowers greeted them as they walked outside the hotel.
Anuj was immediately reminded of Anupama.
Bunty snapped his fingers in front of him.
"Usk bare me ghar jate waqt soch lena, pehle cab book kar!"
Anuj smiled as he removed his cellphone from his pocket.
"Tujhe cab mil toh jayegi na?"
"Aapdu Amdavad badlaayi gayu chhe, bhai! Der raat tak cab milne me koi problem nahi hoti hai."
"Saras!"
As they waited for the cab, Bunty nervously cleared his throat.
"Main guzra hua waqt toh.. wapis nahi la sakta hoon. Par promise zaroor karta hoon ki Bunty version 2.0 woh galtiyan nahi karega jo version 1 ne ki thi! Tu bejhijak mujhse apne man ki baat kehna! Agar kisi baat ka bura lagta hai toh bhi kehna. Main tere nazariye se samajhne ki puri koshish karunga."
"Zuroor! Aur tu bhi kehna!"
"Kahunga par tu bura mat lagana, Anuj. I only call out those whom I care about!"
"Of course! In hindsight, I do realize that you wanted me to be a better version of myself. But.. You know it bothered me when you crossed limits."
Bunty acknowledged with a nod.
"Then I thought you were trying to fix me and that is where I started drifting apart."
"I know. Is bar hum apni dosti ki limits mutually set karenge."
"Aur agar koi decision lena hoga dosti ke bare me woh bhi mutually hi lenge."
Anuj extended his hand with a genial smile.
"Gentleman's promise?"
Bunty removed something from his jacket pocket and placed it in Anuj's outstretched hand.
"Gentleman's promise!"
"Yeh kya hai?"
His eyes twinkled as he recognized the object at a closer glance.
"Teri autograph book! Mere US jane se pehle humne kharidi thi!"
"Ha! Isme sabse pehla autograph tune hi diya tha, jaise teri wali me maine diya tha!"
Tears appeared in Anuj's eyes as he flipped open the small booklet.
The blue ink appeared darker than it was since the pages had turned yellow.
The quote "We meet to depart and we depart to meet!" graced the first page, followed by Anuj's striking autograph.
The other side of the page was embellished by a shayari written neatly in Hindi script.
Yaar ke naam hai yeh salaam,
Muhabbat se bhara hua ek payaam/message,
Yaadon me lipta, dosti ka inaam,
Jo tadapte dil ko de aaraam!
"This is so precious!"
Anuj kissed the book before returning it to Bunty.
"Kal subha main apni autograph book lekar aaunga! Fresh autographs denge!"
"Done!"
............
Bunty embraced Anuj when the cab arrived.
"Chaal tyaare, kaale madiye/Kal milte hain!"
He recieved a pat on the back from Anuj.
"Itne time bad tere moonh se kaale madiye sunkar kitna achcha lag raha hai! (nods) Madiye! Modo nahi padto/Der mat karna."
"Na, na. Vehlo aavis/jaldi aaunga. Mujhe bhi yeh kehkar Tujhse milkar utna hi achcha laga! Ghar pahuchkar Anu aur mujhe, dono ko message kar dena! Bye!"
"Sure. Take care buddy. Bye!"
Both felt much lighter and happier as they parted, only to meet the following morning.
.........
Thanks for reading, liking and commenting! Hope you like this part.
Cheers,
Noorie
P. S. Shayari by yours truly
Part 21 on pg 77
Hui Ghum Yaadein
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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