Lovers

1. Revelation

Some reprieve was needed. His hopelessly in love hope was doing him no good. He had come back determined that he would never expect a thing of her. But these days, every smile passed his way would make him think of a not so distant future, with her in his life, in his house, in his room, in his--

"AGHHH! No, what are you even thinking? Stop, you stupid heart!" Anuj chided himself, frustrated.

He was daydreaming too much for his own good. And whose fault was this?

His of course! He had started to delude himself into thinking that Anu felt something for him. Just because, they had come a long way into their friendship didn't mean she had to feel romantically about him.

"Her friendship and trust is more than enough", Anuj murmured as he slipped in some files into his bag.

He needed some time away from her so that he could salvage what he had build in the last 14 months.

Because if his madness was allowed to have its way, he wasn't sure how long it would be before he would end up confessing.

Anuj checked his watch then. It was time to leave.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Stepping into the lift, the first thing she stared at was her reflection, and she smiled content. 14 months with Anuj had done her a load of difference. She was more confident, more charismatic. Not to mention the wardrobe change. Anu pouted at her reflection- hair in a high pony and formal white shirt paired with blue trousers, did become her. It was all him.

And his thought reminded her of the conversation two weeks back. He had invited her over to celebrate her first interview. He had been drinking that day. Wine it was, but his exceptionally poor tolerance had made sure that he was knocked out after a glass. As she had somehow managed to put him into bed, he had murmured in his sleep and sobbed, like a child he was.

"Rejection is..is better than regrets, Anu. I wish...agar 26 saal pehle...wo ladai...tum..main....I wish, I would've spoken then...I really l.....yo..."

And he had passed out, leaving her hanging and her heart stuck in her throat.

She had been harbouring feelings for Anuj, for sometime now but had decided against expressing them. First, because she had been the one to draw the line between them with that pompous announcement, all those months back. Secondly, despite Devika's "Tu uska crush thi" chants, there was no solid indication of "thi" being "hai". And she certainly wasn't looking forward to a heartbreak this soon. As long as she could be by his side, it was fine.

But now he had gone ahead and muttered gibberish, giving her hope. She knew of the fight that had hospitalised him and how he had missed his chance to ask her out. Devika had told her all about it, but it was in the past.

That is, till that day. Now, every turn she looked at him, he looked a little more lovelorn. And she sure as hell looked lovesick too. This to and fro game of glances was fascinating but this indecisiveness was giving her a headache. Now every waking hour, she was imagining scenarios of her confessing to him. She had even dreamed of a very romantic nig....

Anu fanned her face then.

"Get a grip! "

And as the lift came to a halt, Anu shook her head. She could navigate this emotional maze after work too.

"Good morning, mam"

"Morning, Sandhya", Anu smiled greeting the receptionist and stepped inside.

"Arre Dinesh, what are you freaking about?" She asked a man, twiddling with his phone.

"Mam, actually the taxi i booked is yet to arrive and flight is in an hour".

Anu furrowed her eyebrows then. "Where are you going?"

"No mam, its Anuj sir. He is leaving for US..

And eyes widening in horror, Anu made a dash for Anuj's cabin, her heart crashing and jumping with anxiety.

'Regret is better than Rejection, Anu'

"He can't be....." Anu mumbled, as she reached his cabin and threw open the door, starting Anuj out of his skin.

"Damn! You scared me!" He exclaimed mock horrified. But all Anu could see was the packed trolley bag standing by the doorway.

"You are leaving for US?"

"Haan, wo actually...

"Why didn't you tell me?" She interrupted him, stepping inside.

"There was nothing to tell really. I just..." He tried to explain but Anu was having none of it.

"Nothing to tell! You used to tell me everything but now you are leaving, and I-I have no clue!" Anu sobbed towards the end and Anuj's eyes widened in alarm.

He flailed his hands around in panic.

"Nhi Anu, you are misunderstanding. I am just going for....

"You are not allowed to leave", Anu announced as she opened his office bag andstarted going through his papers. Disappointed, she looked over his table before zeroing in on him, and stepping into his space.

Anuj's heart beat naturally picked up, while Anu went through his pockets before snatching the passport from his inner pocket.

"Anu, ye tum kya..." He asked perplexed as she stepped back with his passport. His phone pinged then and he went through the message.

"Anu, the cab's here so please, give me the passport" He pleaded, taking a step forward.

She stepped back in response, shaking her head in negative. "You can't leave".

"Yeh kya bachpana hai!" He let out, a bit pissed, extending his hand to snatch the passport but she pulled back.

"Fine then. Don't blame me because you are forcing my hand", Anuj sighed out exasperated as he stepped in her space, and caught her hands behind her back, trying to take the passport clasped b/w her fingers.

'This is torture', Anuj held his breath, as he pressed closer to Anu, to take the passport.

But her zidd defeated his control, and he pulled back, afraid that he would lose it.

"What is this stubbornness?!" He asked out aloud, his voice edgy. Why was she testing his patience?!

"I cannot let you leave", she replied clutching his passport.

"Why?" Anuj asked then, a tiny bit of something he was trying to kill, sprouting up.

"I..." Anu hesitated. What if he rejected her?

"I am going home", Anuj sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. Stupid, stupid hope.

Anu watched as Anuj turned to leave. She had his passport so he couldn't leave for US. But something in her heart was shouting, that she would regret not speaking today.

'Rejection is better than regret'

She clasped the back of his coat then and took in a deep breath.

"I ..I l-lo....HuTamePremKaruChu, shayar kapadia", Anupama finally breathed out, as a small smile found her lips.

She felt light. "Hu Tame Prem Karu Chu. I love you, Anuj. I love you".

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