Fantasy- MaAn shots

Act 5D

As the other passengers walked past him, Anuj tried to go ahead too. Tried but failed.

What he thought was right, felt wrong.Somehow, disappearing on her without answering her questions, accusations or whatever she would have, felt not right.

Taking decisions on her behalf and then thinking it was for her good, felt juvenile. Wasn't it more about himself than her?His fear of rejection was driving him to avoid it all together, and push her away.

"Sir?"The woman standing at the gate addressed him and looking at her, Anuj took a step back, shaking his head in negative.

He spun on his heels then and started to walk opposite to the direction he was supposed to go.

This fear was doing him no good.Either way he stood to lose her but running away like this was actually diminishing any chances at ever getting back together.

'Haarna hi hai toh koshish karke haar,Anuj. At least you will have no regrets',Devika's words rounded his head in a loop.

She had been right. Years back, he had been too late and regretted it to this date. But now he had a chance at mending things.

Massaging his temples, Anuj nodded his head and dared to look at his phone that he had put to silent, and true to his hope, there were 5 missed calls from her.

'Vo tujhse naaraj nahi hai!'

He recollected GK's words and found himself a seat in the waiting area. Once comfortable, he opened whatsapp and started going through her messages.

'Anuj? Aap kahan hai? Pick my calls.Please.

Main naaraz nahi hu.

Kal ke liye, sorry

Anuj, please'

Anuj flicked himself as he scrolled through the messages. If only he hadn't been so stubborn, he would have spared them both the heartache.

He continued to read through, the concern in her messages putting a smile on his lips, the first one in many days.

'Are you ok? Aap office toh nahi hain.

Kahan hai aap?

Itne naaraz hain.'

He was outraged, but by his own stupidity. Tumse naraz...kabhi nhi

'I cannot even reach kaka now. Vo bhi gayab ho gaye hain.

Are you fine? I am very uneasy.

Keep safe.'

Anuj clamped his hands over his eyes, chuckling foolishly. The thought of going away from her had sent him to hospital. If he would have read these earlier, he wouldn't have to be taking those medicines.

"Sorry,Anu", Anuj whispered endearingly as he read through each and every line, imagining her frown etched face

She had been diligent. Every day for the last week, she had called and messaged him.

'Bahot ho gaya aapka! Aap aate hain ki main aau?'

Anuj snorted loudly as he reminisced how she would scold him without regards, with haq. It felt good.

'Dosti main galti karne ka haq hota hai na?

Please come back.

Waiting for your return, your friend'.

He caressed the screen fondly, the 'your' tugging at his heartstrings.

The heart that had started to sing squeezed as it detected the dejection behind her next words. These were from yesterday.