Wrecking Ball | 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒏

chapter 10

" Aaj aasmaan mein rang alag sa hai
Aaj fizaa ka dhang alag sa hai
Kya hai yeh mausam ka hi khel
Ya mera dil hi hai jo behek raha hai "

Anuj thought in his mind as he watched her jumping as a wave hit, trying to hop above the low waves at the shore.

His subtle smile fixed on his lips. He had never believed he'd fall in love, hence to suffice his heart he'd write poetry and novels. All these years he didn't know who they were dedicated to, but today as he watched her, he felt like every single romantic poetry he had ever written had been solely for her.

He had seen people fall in love and shatter. The last time he had seen, it had been Vanraj. He had seen what a heartbreak can do to a man, and he ever since then had refused to fall in love. But today, he realised, how sometimes the heart did what it wanted. Despite the troubles, despite knowing there was no hope, it loved.

He knew it.
He felt it.
And he knew it would never be reciprocated, but he just did not want to refrain himself from these blushes and shy smiles. 

"Anuj! You are here to stand in the corner and stare at me?", Anupamaa asked finally looking at him.
Yes.
He wanted to say, but did not.
"No.. I mean.."
"Why can't you come down here and enjoy?", She asked.
"No no.. I am fine..", He said with a smile. She looked at him with narrowed eyes and then walked up to him.
"See I understand you get shy before me, but there's no need to getting shy before the sea, okay? Come on.", She said.

"See Anu.. I am not exactly a fan of the waters-"
She held his wrist.

Anuj felt a surge of warm current through his whole being. 
"Now you will be.", She said with a smile pulling him towards the sea. His legs gave away as they automatically followed her command.
"Open your shoes.", She said. Anuj looked at her with bated breath, she still held his hand, a burst of happy hormones coursed through his body.

"Come on! You want me to-"
"No.", Anuj said before Anu could bend to open his shoes, "No thanks. I can do that myself."
And he opened his shoes and socks.
She released his hand.

He drew in a deep breath, trying to get normal.
"Lets go.", She said with a smile as they walked down to the waters. The water hit Anuj's feet softly, a soothing cool in temperature. He looked down at the water.
"It feels good.", He said smiling to himself, "Maa Baba would bring Mukku and me to the beach when we were small."
"Mukku?", Anu asked.
"Ah, my younger sister.", He said, looking up.

"Why don't you bring your Maa Baba to the beach then? It looks like you've not been here for ages.", She said.
She saw the sudden change in expression, it was subtle but yet profound.
He looked back to his feet.
"Maa Baba passed away three years back.", He said drawing in a deep breath.
"Oh.. I-I am really sorry, Anuj.", She said softly.

"No.. don't be. The only person who should be sorry is me.", He said, smiling a tragic smile.
He never spoke about this to anyone except his friend, no body was that close, until now.
"Why?", Anu asked softly.
She was annoyed of her parents, but to imagine a life without them sounded like torture.

"It was my twentieth birthday..", He said softly, looking down, "We had this thing of car racing on my birthday. Maa Baba in one car and me in another. We were doing what was normal, my parents were winning, I was feeling happy internally. I was about to press to accelerator to keep the competitive spirit on.. when..", His voice broke.

Anupamaa looked at a tear slide down his eye. He instantly looked up and brushed the tear off. He looked up at the sky. It was monsoon and the sun was already behind the clouds.
Another tear slid down his other eye.

Anu gulped, she could feel the soul shattering ache this man before her was going through.
"Just when I was about to press the accelerator, a truck hit their car.", He mumbled in a broken voice.
"And it all ended within moments. By the time they were taken to the hospital.. they were gone.", He said finally, drawing in a deep breath.

"My sister and I were left orphaned.. All because I wanted to car race.", He mumbled. She wanted to console him, but before that she wanted him to say everything that he kept bottled up in himself.
"Mukku and I might be cordial now.. But the things have never been the same. Both of us feel the same emptiness in that huge mansion. I feel like with mine own I had scarred her life as well.", He added, wiping off his tears, drawing in a deep breath.

Anupamaa slowly placed a hand on his shoulder, comforting him.
"It is not your fault.", She said softly, knowing it was of barely any comfort.
"Everyone said that.", He said with a hollow smile.

"I don't know why I am even telling you all this..", He said but continued, "But it makes me feel a little better. I rarely open up.. but.. I somehow trust you."
The words rolled out his tongue automatically. She smiled softly at him, squeezing his shoulder a little.

She edged close to him and wiped off his fresh tears.
She could feel an invisible bond could around them at that instant. One that they didn't want but that was destined.

He looked at her, the proximity suddenly did not embarrass him, it comforted.
Why did he feel this way? What was the point?
He didn't care. 

She smiled at him.
"You will be fine. Not immediately but one day the wound will heal.", She said.
"You are sure?", He asked.
"I know it. Good people often go through the worst difficulties but they always come out of them as better people.", She said.

He suddenly looked beyond her, and froze.
She did not understand what happened, as she turned.

Vanraj.

...

:))