Trigger warning: Barring the last two flashbacks, all other flashback scenes have been taken from the serial, as per the demands of the story. You may choose to skip reading them as the dialogues might be triggering. Flashbacks in blue font.
Part 25
"I'm sorry to hurt you, Anu par.. toxic logon me bapuji bhi shaamil hain!"
Anupama turned questioning eyes on him.
"Kya.. kaha aapne? Bapuji kya..hain?"
He knew he had offended her when her face paled with shock, yet he continued.
"Bapuji hi nahi, ba, Dolly ben, Sanjay bhai, Toshu- sab log toxic hain!"
Anupama responded right away by getting defensive.
"Agar aapne sirph ba aur Tosu ko toxic kaha hota toh.. main maan leti. Lekin yeh baat toh main maan hi nahi sakti!"
He patiently tried to talk to her while she remained rooted in her stance.
"Aa tamari gairsamjhan/misunderstanding chhe! Aap kuch nahi jante ki in logo ne mere liye kya kiya hai!"
"Main samajhta hoon ki shadi ke bad bapuji, Sanjay bhai aur Dolly ben hi the jinhone tumhe accept kiya tha. Isiliye tum unhe bohot manti ho. Jinko tumne apna mana agar woh bhi tumhe apna mante toh tumhare saath galat nahi hone dete!"
She shook her head in vehement denial.
"Mr Shah ne jo kiya uske liye aap unko dos nahi de sakte! Bapuji mujhe beti mante hain! Sanjay bhai aur Doli ben mujhe badi ben ka darja dete hain! Areh, bapuji toh humare, MaAn ke, hiteshi/well wisher hain! Bestu varas/new year pe unhone hi mujhse kaha tha ki main aapko apne man me jagah doon!"
A surprised Anuj listened in silence as she revealed her conversation with bapuji.
"Aap unko kuch hi mahinon se jante hain par main 26 saalon se janti hoon!"
"Sahi keh rahi ho tum!" he prefaced so as to placate her. "26 saalon tak main unhe nahi janta tha. Par maine jo dekha, jo mere saamne hua usko main kaise andekha karoon? Batao?"
"Aapne kya dekhkar apne man me yeh rai bana li mujhe nahi pata lekin bapuji mere Bhagwan hain!"
He removed his spectacles and pinched his forehead.
"Dekho Anu, I understand ki.. yeh sab sunna tumhare liye mushqil hai. Believe me.. Main yeh sab tumhari fiqr me keh raha hoon. Please shanti se ek bar puri baat sun lo. Phir bhi tumhe laga ki main galat hoon toh galti manne me mujhe koi sharm nahi aayegi!"
After a few moments of silence she agreed.
"Theek chhe. Boliye.."
...............
"Ba jab Diwali pe tumhe kos rahi thi tab.."
"Tab bapuji ne mera paks liya tha!" she cut him off obstinately.
"Tab tak ba tumhari insult kar chuki thi! Baki logon ko is baat se koi problem nahi thi, kisine unko bolne se nahi roka kyunki verbal abuse ko us ghar me koi tawajjoo/ importance deta hi nahi hai!"
"Sab ba ke vyavahar se chauk gaye the!"
"Kya Diwali pe pehli bar ba ne aisa kaha tha ki unki saas ne un par aur Vanraj par tumhe "thop" diya hai?"
Anupama chose to remain silent.
"Ba, bapuji ki anniversary wale din jab Kavya tum pe ilzaam laga rahi thi ki Vanraj ne use divorce tumhari wajah se diya hai, tab koi kyun nahi aaya tumhare defense me?"
Anupama had no answers and he did not seek any either.
"The way she charged at you.. Mere rongte khade ho gaye the! Agar woh tumhe dhakka markar gira deti toh sab daudkar aa jate!"
He paused to exhale sharply while she assimilated whatever he said.
"Agar ba, bapuji, Dolly ben, Sanjay bhai ki jagah wahan ma, pappa, Bhavesh aur Devika hote toh kya woh Kavya ko aisa karne dete?"
He gave her time to dwell on his words and sort through her feelings until she was able to articulate them.
............
Anupama was humbled into silence as she reflected on and thought of the situation from Anuj's perspective.
Her parents and brother had always been protective of her.
Devika never allowed anyone to sling a speck of mud at her.
She mutely shook her head in response to his question.
"Bapuji tumhe beti mante toh tumhari padhai ki parvah karte. Jab tumhe akhir me akele khate huye dekhte toh ghar ke mukhiya hone ke nate yeh rule bana dete ki sab ek saath khayenge."
She found her voice as her emotions were stirred up.
"Bapuji ne saath khane ka niyam banaya tha, pichchle saal. Jab meri padhai rukva di gai, woh ba aur Mr Shah ko rokna chahte the.(gulps) Par woh chup rahe taki ghar me kales na ho."
"Ghar ki shanti bani rahe isiliye unhone tumhe padhne nahi diya, abuse hone diya! Apne bete ko tokte na, ki woh bhi apni wife ko waise treat kare jaise bapuji ba ko karte hain!"
He wiped the tears of anguish that stained her face.
"Tumne pitru bhakti me koi qasar nahi chhodi par unhone tumhe divorce ke bad bhi us ghar me rok liya! Apne volatile ex ke saath ek ghar me rehna, usko constantly uski wife ke saath dekhna kitna traumatic hoga main samajh sakta hoon."
He ran a hand through his hair to calm himself.
"Aisa kaun se parents karte hain? Tum Kinjal ko beti manti ho na? Kal ko Kinjal aur Toshu alag ho jaye aur woh dobara shadi kar le toh kya tum bhi Kinjal ko Toshu aur uski nayi wife ke saath ek ghar me rukne ke liye bologi?"
.............
Anupama was stunned as his reality checks hit her hard.
She stared bleakly at him. He looked as pained as she felt.
"Kya woh.. sach me.. mere.. pita nahi hain?"
He blinked back tears as he spoke in a gloomy voice.
"Koi bhi "beti" agar aadhi raat ko pareshani me call karti toh uske "pita" turant use ghar bulate! Thande dimag se sochkar, family ko consult kar ke koi decision liya jata. Galti ka khamiyaza bhugatne me family apni "beti", "ben" aur "ma" ko akele nahi chhodti, jaise unhone tumhe loan bharne ke liye chhod diya!"
Anupama went back in time to Rakshabandhan 2020.
Rakhi Dave had pompously revealed to the Shah family that Anupama had mortgaged her part of the house to Rakhi on the latter's terms.
............
"How dare you!" yelled Vanraj while glaring down at Anupama, who remained silent wirh downcast eyes.
"Mujhe pata tha tum bewakoof ho isiliye tumhe bankwalon ne thag liya! Lekin itni bewakoof ho ki tumhe Rakhi Dave ne bhi thag liya yeh pata nahi tha mujhe!"
Guilt and embarrassment engulfed Anupama, who wordlessly bore the humiliation as she always did.
"Areh, woh bank fraud wale toh kuch bhi nahi the! Yeh aurat toh sabse badi fraud hai!"
He yelled while pointing fingers at Rakhi, who was too busy enjoying the "entertainment" to take offense.
"Tumne yeh ghar girvi nahi rakha, tumne garv ko girvi rakha, suqoon ko girvi rakha, khushiyon ko girvi rakh diya hai!"
It was only when Anupama tried to open her mouth that bapuji spoke up.
"Vanraj, meri baat sun beta.." bapuji stuttered meekly.
"Areh, kya sune!" Ba cut him off crisply. "Aapki laadli ne is ghar ko naagin ka bill bana diya hai! Ab sunne ke liye bacha kya hai?"
"Bapuji, aaj aap ise defend nahi kar sakte!", said Kavya with indignation. "Areh, waise hi kam problems thi kya is ghar me, jo isne sabse badi problem ko ghar me lakar bitha diya!?"
"Mummy, aap koi aur rasta dhoond lete!" Kinjal spoke as though it was a cake walk. "Aap mom ke pass kyun gaye?"
"Mummy, har insaan ki galti karne ki koi limit hoti hai par aapki galtiyon ki toh koi limit hi nahi hai!", remarked Toshu with a cursory glance.
"Tumlog meri beti ko gherna band karo!" was all that bapuji uttered even after hearing the barrage of accusations.
"Toh kya kare bapuji? Bataiyye.." asked Vanraj impatiently yet bapuji did not speak in her favour.
"Isne mera aur ba ka toh chhodiye, aapka bhi maan nahi rakha! Yeh ghar aapne ise aashirwad ke roop me diya tha aur isne aapka aashirwad girvi rakh diya!"
She was reduced to tears as the thought was too painful to bear.
It was only when Vanraj shrieked his lungs out "Kisse poochhkar tumne yeh ghar girvi rakha?" that bapuji yelled "Mujhse poochhkar!"
.............
She was gutted as she thought about it now.
"Jab maine Rakhi ben ke ghar se phone kiya tha, bapuji ne kaha ki agar ghar aur parivar me se kisi ek ko chunna pade toh parivar ko chunna chahiye! Ghar toh dobara bana lenge!"
"Dobara bana lenge?!" he repeated incredulously. "Areh, itna aasaan hota hai kya ghar banana!? Parivar ke bare me socho, apne bare me nahi! Yeh baatein bachpan se ladkiyon ko spoon feed ki jati hai taki rudivadi reet/patriarchial customs bani rahe!"
Though she was nodding, he could tell that her attention was dwindling.
"Kya soch rahi ho tum? Mujhse share kar sakti ho.."
"Aapki baat se kuch yaad aaya. Ba bapuji ki saalgirah wale din aaplog nikal gaye uske bad Doli ben mujhse baat karne aaye the.."
...........
Dolly offered a glass of water to a visibly upset Anupama.
"Bhabhi, aap please ek bar bhai se baat kijiye na.."
Anupama was distraught at the request.
"Main kya baat karoon, Doli ben? Aur main kyun baat karoon?!"
She got up and walked away from her.
"Unki saadi, unki biwi, unki jindagi! Jo marji kare!.. Main unke kisi bhi maamle me jara bhi nahi padhna chahti, ha!"
"Bhabhi yeh aapko bhi pata hai ki yahan jo kuch bhi hota hai uska asar aap par bhi padhta hai!"
Though Anupama denied initially, she felt her resolve weaken at the mention of her family.
"Mujh par nahi! Sayad.. bachchon par, ba.. bapuji par.."
Holding her shoulders, Dolly turned her towards herself. "Matlab aap par asar padhta hai!" she concluded in a tone of finality.
"Bhai ke decision se ghar me koi khush nahi hain!.. Agar bhai gusse me aakar divorce le lete hain toh aap sochiye uska Pakhi aur Samar pe kya asar padega? Future ki chhodiye, bhabhi, abhi ghar ka kya hoga? Ladaiyan hongi, alimony mangi jayegi! Divorce do logo ke beechh hoga lekin iski keemat ba, bapuji, bachchein chukayenge- financially, socially, emotionally!"
...........
Anuj asked her a relevant question.
"Family ki itni chinta thi toh woh khud kyun nahi gayi samjhane?"
This further unnerved Anupama.
"Kya tum.. Vanraj se baat karne gayi thi?"
"Ha. Main gayi thi par Mr Shah par meri baaton ka koi asar nahi hua!"
"Par tumhe toh trauma hua na! Yeh toh seedhe- seedhe emotional manipulation hua, Anu!"
He explained how she was coercively manipulated by Dolly in such a subtle manner that she didn’t even realize it.
As she reflected on what he said, the blinkers dropped from her eyes.
"Kya Dolly ben ne tumhare divorce ke time pe bhi.. tumhe convince karne ki koshish ki thi?"
Anupama nodded solemnly. It all came back to her in that moment of truth.
"Jis din parivar ko Mr Shah aur.. Kavya k bare me pata chala tha, Doli ben mujhe manane aayi thi.."
............
"Bhabhi mujhe pata hai ki.. bhai ne jo kiya woh galat kiya! Par please, aap bhai se alag mat hoiye! Agar aap bhai se alag ho gayi toh yeh ghar bikhar jayega!"
She pleaded with folded hands.
"Ghar ko bachakar rakhne ki jimmedari akeli aurat ki kyun hoti hai?"
She had no answer to Anupama's question.
"Woh nahi pata! Bas itna pata hai ki aaj kal na offices me yeh sab bohot common hai!"
Even though she did not get a reaction from Anupama, Dolly continued with her justification.
"Mardon ko apne se chhoti umar ki ladkiyon se attraction ho jata hai! Kuch din tak unke peechhe paagalon ki tarah ghoomte hai phir ghar laut aate hain!.. Yeh mard hote hi aise hain? Bore ho gaye toh time pass ke liye kuch aur chahiye! Yeh Kavya na bhai ki life me woh hi timepass hai! Agar kuch serious hota toh bhai ghar chhodkar kab ka uske pass chale gaye hote na?"
Anupama gave a wry smile as she turned away from her.
"Agar chale gaye hote ne toh main unki thodi si ijjat karti ki mere na sahi kisi ke toh sage hain!"
Dolly remained unfazed as she followed Anupama.
"Main na bhai ki tarafdari bilkul nahi kar rahi hoon! Main sirf itna keh rahi hoon ki ab waqt badal chuka hai!"
Anupama did not mince words.
"Waqt badla hai Doli ben, ristey nahi! Sori ha! Aap bhale hi naye jamaney ki hain par aapki soch, aapke khayalat purane hain!.. Ghar ko bachane ki baat aayi toh ghar patni ka! Aisa kyun?"
"Kyunki ghar toh patni hi bacha sakti hai na bhabhi? Pati ghar ki chhat hota hai toh patni neev! Neev chahe kitni bhi majboot kyun na ho, use chhat toh chahiye hi chahiye na?"
"Toh yeh hi dar toh chhat ko bhi hona chahiye ne?.. Agar neev jara bhi hil jaye ne toh chhat seedha jameen par aakar girti hai! Jab yeh ghar dono ka, parivar dono ka, ristey dono ke toh phir unko bachane ki jimmedari dono ki kyun nahi?.. Mujhe samajh me nahi aa raha hai ki aap apne bhai ko samjhane k bajaay mujhe kyun samjha rahi hain?"
Taking her hands in hers Dolly pleaded.
'Aisa nahi hai bhabhi! Please.. samajhne ki koshish kariye!"
"Sahi keh rahi hain bhabhi!" Sanjay exclaimed as he joined them. "Samajhna use chahiye jisne galti ki ho! Bhabhi, hamesha kehta hoon, aaj bhi keh raha hoon- chahe jo bhi ho jaye aapka yeh bhai aapke saath hi hai!"
.............
Anupama pressed her mouth against his chest to prevent her sobs from being heard.
Anuj felt his blood boil in fury as he comforted her.
"Sanjay bhai ne.. Kavya aur Mr Shah ko range haatho pakda tha phir bhi mujhe.. kuch nahi bataya! Har sal rakhi pe kaha ki.. main aapka bhai hoon phir bhi mera viswas toda!"
He waited till she let off whatever she wanted to.
"Jab Hum college me the tab mujhe tumhari saadgi aur sundarta ke alava jo pasand tha woh thi tumhari nidarta! Jis din tumne Pankhil Oza ko thappad mara tha, uske bad wale din main aur Bunty class me Pankhil ki utri hui shaqal dekhi. (Part 8)Hum tumhare hi bare me baatein kar rahe the.."
.............
Bunty tapped Anuj's back while the students were answering the roll call.
"Vey, vey jone la! Aaje aa karamat kevi rite thai gayi/Abey dekh, dekh! Aaj yeh karishma kaise ho gaya!?"
Anuj, who had bent down to retrieve his pen, immediately sat up straight.
He saw Anupama glaring at the guy who had troubled Devika.
"Jo scholar party kabhi peechhe mudkar nahi dekhti woh Oza ka naam aane par usko mudkar ghoorne lagi!"
"Hmmm.. " Anuj nodded. "Uski aankhein jaise silent warning de rahi ho!"
"Ha. Lagta hai Oza ke liye usne permanently Chandi avatar dharan kiya hua hai! Jordaar chhe!"
"Ae toh saru kehvay ne!/Yeh toh achchi baat hai na! Apni friend ko lekar protective hone me galat kya hai!?"
"Galat kuch nahi hai bas tu dhyan rakhna, vaahla! Us Devika ke saath kabhi panga mat lena, varna tera chance permanently gaya samajh!"
"Chal, hatt! Main kyun pange lene laga us se?! Sachu kahu? Mujhe Anu ka yeh teekha andaaz pasand hai!"
"Oh bapa! Teekha andaaazzz!" Bunty repeated with a cheeky grin.
"Swabhav se narm kyun na ho, jab zuroorat pade tab sakhti se pesh aana aata hai use! Anu bheegi biladi nathi, seehan/sherni chhe!"
"Ha bhai ha! Gir forest thi aayi chhe, direct!"
Anuj swore under his breath while kicking him under the desk.
...........
"Tumhari baaton se pata chal raha hai ki divorce ke bad tum nidar, strong, suljhi huyi thi. Toh phir.. bad me kamzor kyun.. kaise padh gayi?"
She revealed that she caved in under pressure and the blinding love for her family.
"Log sirph kehte hain ki saas, sasur ma, baap ki tarah hote hain aur ma baap Kanhaji ki tarah pujaniya hote hain! Par maine toh dil se mana! Ma, baap bhi aur Bhagwan bhi! Talaq ke bad bhi sare riste nibhaye par sab.."
She waved her hand listlessly in the air.
"Sabne mujhe grant me le liya, jab ki unke liye maine apneaap ki, ma, Bhaves, Nihal- kisi ki phikar nahi ki! Unko maine grant me le liya!"
She seemed taken aback as the revelation hit her.
"Ma bachpan me kehti thi "Dikri toh parki kehvay/ Beti toh parayi kehlati hai! Maine sach me.. usko paraya kar diya!"
She felt a tightening in her chest as though her heart was tying itself in knots.
"Anuujj.." she gasped suddenly as her head throbbed with shooting pain.
"Annu..! Annu.. Su thayu/Kya hua?" He felt his heart thump loudly in his ears when she clutched his arms tightly for support.
"Mane.. shwas nathi aavto! Thap.. jevi lagi/Mujhe.. saans nahi aa rahi hai! Dhakka.. sa laga!"
Panting heavily, she squeezed her teary eyes shut as the light of the night lamp seemed to blind her.
He promptly gathered her in his arms and carried her to the balcony.
........
Half an hour later, Anupama blinked a few times while staring into the dark sky.
Wrapping the red bhujodi shawl around her shoulders, she rubbed her arms as the cold air made her shiver.
Anuj joined her with tall glasses of hot chocolate milk.
"Yeh pee lo. You'll feel much better!" he offered with a smile.
She took no time in swigging the glass down, thankful for the warmth it offered.
Anuj felt guilt and hurt pangs as he gently wiped her mouth. May be he was too direct for her?
Keeping the glasses aside, he snaked his arms around her waist.
"Sorry Anu!" he murmured against her hair.
"Aap kyun, main sori! Main hi nahi samajh payi jo aap bhoomi pujan se samjhana chah rahe the. Ghar chhod diya lekin.. riston ke liye judaav nahi chhoota!"
She clicked her tongue in sheer frustration.
"Mujhe unse jyada apneaap pe gussa aa raha hai! Sab kuch dekhkar bhi maine.. kyun un logo ko itna maan, sammaan diya?! Apne pappa se bhi ooncha darja diya bapuji ko!"
She bit back a sob as the pain resurfaced.
"Mujhe pata chala tab bhi Mr Shah aur Kavya ki baat ghar me nahi batayi. Main ek riste ki be-imaani ki saja doosre riston ko nahi dena chahti thi!"
"Kya Vanraj ne is baat ka fayda uthaya?"
He reluctantly let her go when she broke apart from him.
"Maine hi unko mauka diya ne! Mr Shah kamjori ka phayda uthana barabar jante hain!"
"Ab bhi de rahi ho, bas farq itna hai ki ab tumhara divorce ho gaya hai!"
She looked perplexed. "Ab toh sabko pata hai. Phir kaise?"
"Maine kahin padha tha, Anu. You cannot heal in the environment that made you sick! Us ghar me bar, bar jaogi toh Vanraj aur ba ko tumhe baandhne ke mauke milte rahenge! Phir tum aage kaise badhogi?"
Here she slowly turned towards him.
"Saachi vaat! Parivar taakat na bankar meri kamjori ban gaya!"
"Bachchon ke liye bhi waise toxic mahaul me rehna theek nahi hai, Annu. Pakhi ke nazuk dimag pe galat asar padega. Samar aaj kitna khush lag raha tha! Agar Samar aur Pakhi apne dad ke saath rehna chahe toh alag baat hai. Otherwise tumhe unhe apne saath rakhna chahiye."
"Maine is visay me pele bhi bohot bar vichar kiya, lekin ba, bapuji akele padh jayenge yeh sochkar kuch nahi kiya. Par ab aisa nahi hoga! Ab main.. apne bachchon ke bare me sochungi."
He kissed her lightly holding her in an embrace.
"I'm so proud of you sweetheart! Look at the positive changes! Tum pehle se zyada confident ho aur tumhara mindset bhi change ho raha hai. Ab tum bejhijak mujhse apne man ki baat kehti ho, I love you kehti ho!"
"Par aap man ki baat nahi keh pate! Naste wali baat toh bohot chhoti si thi! Phir Kyun jhoot kaha ki Bunty ko idada aur handvo pasand hai?"
"Agar main keh deta ki use samosa aur patra pasand hai toh tum subha subha apneaap ko overexert kar deti. Raat ko theek se soyi bhi nahi thi isiliye maine jhoot bola!"
Leaning onto the balcony railing, she nodded thoughtfully.
"Ab mat bolna, pleej.."
"Nahi bolunga, kasam toh kha hi li! Waise.. Ab tum theek ho na?" his voice mellowed as he peered into her eyes.
"Ha. Main ab theek hoon!" she remarked with a soft smile as fresh air filled her lungs.
.........
Anupama lightly pecked Anuj's lips.
"Subha hone me jyada time nahi hai. So jaiye varna woh.. migraine ho jayega."
"Tum bhi yahin so jao na mere pass.."
"Na, na! Samar uthkar dekhega ki main wahan nahi hoon toh kya sochega? Aap ek kam kariye ne. Meri godh me sar rakhkar so jaiye. Aapko neend aa jayegi phir main chali jaungi."
"Tumhari neend ka kya?"
"Kuch nahi! Mujhe taqiye pe sar rakhte hi neend aa jayegi! Aap letiye ne.."
"Nah! Aaj tum meri godh me sar rakho!"
"Areh, par aap.."
"I'll be fine. Main alarm rakh deta hoon. Samar ke uthne ke pehle hum uth jayenge."
He was glad when she agreed without further ado.
...........
His head sank into the cushioned headboard as he relaxed against it.
"Ek aj minute. Uthiye ne.."
She quickly scribbled something on it when he lifted his head.
"Ha ab sar rakh dijiye."
"Yeh kya tha?" he asked with a frown.
"Woh maine "Shri Krishna sharnam mam" mantra likha taki aapko bure sapne na aaye!"
For a moment he was too choked to answer.
"That's so sweet of you!" he said as he drew her hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss on her palm.
Holding her hand close to his heart, he smiled wistfully.
"Meri ma bhi aise hi, mere taqiye ke neeche apni prathna likh deti thi."
She gently ruffled his tussled hair.
"Aapne jab mujhe pehli bar college ki baatein batayi thi tab maine kaha tha.."
...........
"Aaj ka din mujhe hamesa yaad rahega!"
"Mujhe bhi hamesha yaad rahega!"
"Aapko toh waise bhi sab kuch yaad hai!"
"Ha, magar tumhare saath yaad karne ka maza hi kuch aur hai! Aaj aisa laga jaise hum 26 saal pehle wali duniya me pahuch gaye jahaan.. pyaar me ummeed thi, khwahishein thi, sapne the.. Ma, papa, Bunty the.."
..............
"Aaj bhi woh hi kahungi ki yeh din hamesa yaad rahega! Aur ab toh Bunty bhi aa gaye hain! Ma aur pappaji bhi yaheen hain!"
He caressed her bangle clad wrists.
"Achcha hua tumne pehen liye! Waise yeh kangan pehenkar sone me diqqat nahi hogi na?"
"Jara bhi nahi!" she assured with a smile.
"Let jao.. Tumhe mujhse zyada aaram karne ki zuroorat hai."
Anupama smiled as she placed her head on his knee.
He leisurely smoothed her hair with his fingers.
"Tumhare izhaar karne se phir se ummeed jag gayi! Khwahishein aur sapne bhi, lekin hum dono ke! Aur humare sare sapne poore honge! Is bar sab kuch achcha hoga!"
He felt reassured as she closed her eyes.
Feeling satisfied, he let himself doze off.
............
Little niggles of worry that built up inside her mind did not allow Anupama to rest.
Time and again she looked up to check on Anuj, scared that he might have a panic attack.
It was only that day that she had come to understand the extent of damage Anuj had undergone while being in a one sided relationship.
Had he ever thought of the implications of being her lover?
Did he ever regret falling in love with her?
She ruefully massaged her temples as disturbing thoughts tormented her.
In her previous relationship, she was always walking on eggshells around her partner, doubting if she was good enough for him.
The same doubts encircled her again.
Probably Tina was more deserving of his love.
She was well educated. She knew him well. Her life was less complicated.
Most important- She had less baggage than her.
But Anuj Kapadia was madly in love with Anupama, which ruined his chances of settling down at the right age.
She sighed as she stared resolutely at the ceiling fan.
He could have had it all by now- a loving and understanding wife, sweet, obedient children to dote on, a caring family to rely on in times of stress.
He would not have had panic attacks and GK kaka would have been at peace as well.
But he chose to embrace the loneliness that came with loving her.
And what did she do? She made him the silent witness to Shah family drama, not caring once about his mental health.
How difficult it must be for him to see her and Vanraj as a family with their children in every other festival?
To top it, the kind of insults he had to endure for being her friend must have hassled him to no end. He smiled in front of her while he withstood all the pain.
She recalled his parting words to her as he left with GK after ba bapujis wedding anniversary celebration.
"Sab ke saath saath apna khayal bhi zuroor rakhna!"
He was always concerned about her well being always put her before himself. Just as she had put Vanraj before her.
She jerked her head off his lap.
Sitting beside him, she avidly watched him sleep.
Last time he was separated from her, there were only two things- the magnet and the piece of paper with her handwriting.
This time, if she were to die before him, there would be too many things to torment him- photographs, gifts, endless memories.
She felt a shiver of anxiety at the horrible thought.
She couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't.
.............
Please ignore typos and mistakes.
Cheers,
Noorie
Part 25 on pg 100
Edited by Noorie17 - 3 years ago
Hindi TV Shows
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