This scene is mostly setting up the stage for Anirudh's Mumbai visit. I hope you enjoy it! 😉 ❤️ You can find the whole FF series here on this link --> Mumbai Blues
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Jhanak's room
Anirudh enters Jhanak's room, looking around the place filled with so many memories of her. Slowly he began to explore, opening the cupboard, touching her things that she left behind. He finds the ring and the saree he had lovingly gifted her. Overcome with emotion, he clutched the saree to his chest, tears streaming down his face.
"Tumane meri di hui ek bhi cheez apane pas le jana nahi chaha Jhanak... Tumhari intani narazagi main kaise bardasht kar paoonga...."
It had been two agonizing days since Jhanak left Kolkata. Anirudh had tirelessly searched for any clue to her whereabouts, alongside frequent hospital visits to check on Arshi after her surgery. His nights were sleepless, his meals untouched. Worry for Jhanak's safety consumed him, her absence haunting his every thought.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching.
"Jhanak..." Appu Di entered the room, hope in her voice, hoping to find a trace of Jhanak.
Quickly, Ani wiped away his tears.
"Haan, Appu di..."
"Anii.. Tu yaha kya kar raha hai? Tuze to pata hoga na Jhanak kaha hai?"
"Jhanak kyu chali gayi ani? Wo bohot dukhi thi... Wo dancer ne usake sath bilkul accha nahi kiya..."
Appu di finds the newspaper on the bed, the same one she had left in Jhanak's room two days ago.
"Aree Ani ye dekho Maine ye drawing bhi banayi thi jab police Jhanak ko lene aayi thi..."
She showed Anirudh the drawing on the paper with a gentle sadness in her eyes.
"Haan Appu di... bohot accha draw kiya hai aapane.." Anirudh responds with an emotional voice, trying to hold back his tears.
Appu di suddenly notices the newspaper is torn from the side
"Arre par ye paper phat kaise gaya? Maine to nahi phada? Ye kisane phada?"
Anirudh examined the paper, noticing it was torn in a deliberate square shape.
"Kahi Jhanak ne to? Agar ye Jhanak ne phada hai to ye koi advertisement ho sakati hai."
"Muze pata karana hoga iss page par kya chapa tha. Kya pata koi clue mil jaye?" Ani thinks to himself
"Ani..." Appu Di gently shook Anirudh, who was lost in his thoughts.
"Kya hua?"
"Huh...Kuch nahi Appu di! Thank you so much! " He kissed her on the forehead, a mixture of gratitude and determination in his eyes, and rushed out of the room, his heart pounding with renewed hope to find Jhanak.
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Ani at the newspaper stand
Anirudh approached the newspaper stand attendant with urgency.
"Bhiaya muze do din pehale ki newspaper check karani hai... ye wali" he said, showing the attendant the specific newspaper he had brought from home.
"Wo to dekhana padega sahab... shayad raddi me de di ho ab tak.."
"Please please mere liye bohot important hai... please muze dhoondh ke digiye na please" Anirudh pleaded desperately.
The man went to the back of the shop to search for the older newspaper. Luck was on Ani's side that day. After a tense wait, he managed to locate it.
"Thank you bhaiya, thank you so much" Anirudh exclaimed gratefully.
Quickly, Anirudh scanned the torn page he had been searching for.
"Ye to koi job posting hai. Walk-in interviews for production assistant. Eligibility graduation, age limit 30 years. Ye to koi Mumbai ki company ki job posting lag rahi hai... Jhanak is eligible for this job! Kya usane iss company me apply kiya hai? Muze pata lagana hoga" he muttered to himself.
Anirudh immediately dialed the number on the advertisement to inquire about Jhanak's application. A receptionist answered on the other end.
"Hi, my name is Shekhar. I found out about your company from a friend of mine. Are you guys still interviewing for the job posting in the newspaper from a few days ago?"
Anirudh thought it was best to hide his identity in case Jhanak learned about his phone call and decided to run away somewhere else again.
"Hi sir, no the interviews are already concluded. We already hired someone."
"Oh, I see. Well, I was wondering if my friend Jhanak Raina got selected or not for that role. I was not able to reach her today"
"Jhanak... oh the new girl..."
Anirudh's eyes lit up as the receptionist recognized Jhanak's name.
"Yes, Jhanak Raina..."
"Yes, she will be joining from tomorrow, sir. Do you want to leave her a message?"
"No, no need. I will try to call her again tonight and talk to her. You don't need to mention this to her!"
"Ok, sir. no problem"
Anirudh finally had a lead on Jhanak's whereabouts.
"Finally Jhanak muze tum tak pohanchane ka rasta mil hi gaya! Bus ab muze kisi bhi tarah se tumhe mana kar meri zindagi me vapas le aana hai!"
"Tumhe muze maph karana hi hoga Jhanak! Chahe kitana bhi time kyu na lag jaye, main tumahe vapis jeet kar hi rahoonga"
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Bose House
Anirudh sat at his laptop, deep in thought as he searched for more information about the company where Jhanak was now employed.
"Why does this name sound familiar?"
It didn't take long for him to realize that the company Jhanak works for is a subsidiary of the corporation he works for, but this one is more involved in the entertainment business. Anirudh was pleasantly shocked. Without hesitation, he dialed his boss's number, determined to convince him to transfer him to the Mumbai location of this company.
His boss wasn't convinced at first to lose him but Anirudh insisted relentlessly, giving him all sorts of reasons such as it was his long-standing dream to work on a project with this company, he needed time away after all that happened in Srinagar, and even hinting at resignation if his request wasn't granted. No one can compete with Anirudh Bose when it comes to manipulation and persuasion.
His boss finally agreed under the condition, that he would continue to support his team from Mumbai remotely and return as soon as the project was completed. This was a fair bargain in exchange for finding a way to reconnect with Jhanak.
As soon as the call ends, Anirudh hurriedly starts packing his bags.
"Ani.." Tanuja enters the room
"Huh, ma?" Ani responds, hastily while stuffing clothes into his bag.
"Tum kahi ja rahe ho?"
"Haan ma! Muze abhi abhi boss ka call aaya tha. Muze urgent basis par Mumbai jana joga."
"Mumbai! All of a sudden? Kitane dino ke liye?"
"Pata nahi ma. Ek project ke liye jana hai par koi deadline di nahi hai"
"Aise kaise? Aur tumahari shadi , aur Arshi ka kya?"
Anirudh paused in his packing at the mention of his wedding.
"Ma Arshi ki chinta muze bho hai. But ab job hai to jana padega. Main Arshi se phone par touch me rahoonga. Aur shadi ka to mom Arshi puri tarah se revocer na ho jaye tab tak kuch nahi kar sakate. Aur main ab shadi ke liye itana sure bhi nahi hoon..."
Tanuja was taken aback by Ani's words. "Sure nahi hoon matlab?"
"Ma main bohot zyada confused hoon abhi. Jo kuch bhi hua, jo kich bhi Shrsiti Aunty ne kiya... Arshi bhi unaki side le rahi hai. Wo bimar and shock me hai main samazta hoon... muze kuch samaz nahi aa raha hai. Abhi ke liye, I just need a break. Aur ye Mumbai trip is a perfect chance for me."
"Accha thik hai. Thoda thande dimag se socho, Ani. Tum ja kar aao. Aise hi kisi bhi rishte ko khatm nahi karate."
Anirudh nods his head in agreement.
"Arshi ke saath waise bhi yaha bohot log hai, aur abhi ke liye main Jhanak ke alava aur kuch sochana nahi chahata. Muze jald se jald Mumbai pohanchna hoga" Anirudh thinks to himself.
"Jhanak main aa raha hoon Mumbai!"
credit to @runakxlove
To be Continued...
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Up Next: So Close Yet So Far
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