"Vanraj.. Hi-Hi.. I..", Anuj stammered instantly stepping away from Anupamaa.
Vanraj walked down to them.
His expression was not readable.
" Raj! Look I found a shell..", Malvika paused looking at Anuj and Anupamaa.
Oblivious to who Anupamaa was she started,
"Ha! See bhai caught you! This is the girl na?", She said grinning, " You know Raj, last day bhai was lying on the bed and day dreaming about someone! Don't you lie today bhai.. It is her na?"
Anuj paled three tones.
"Is it?", Vanraj asked with a raised brow.
"No.. No of course. This Mukku is so stupid-"
Vanraj's face broke into a smile.
"Why are you panicking? It's alright.", He said casually, placing his hand on Anuj's shoulder.
Anuj relaxed a little.
"I knew you guys were out for Mumbai tour, didn't think we'd bump into each other.", Vanraj said with a smile.
Anuj could feel his heart still pace in nervousness.
"Wait.. who is she?", Malvika asked with a raised brow.
"Ah, she is my fiancee. Your to be sautan.", Vanraj said grinning.
Malvika narrowed her eyes.
"Ouchie mouchie.", She stated, before giving her hand for a handshake with Anupamaa.
"Just letting you know you are going to have quite a number of sautans.", She said grinning. Anu shook hands with her with a subtle smile.
She was taken aback by Vanraj's reaction. The moment she saw him she thought he'd do something drastic but he just smiled and said hello.
"Um.. Since you are here both of you spend time.. I will be off.", Anuj said forcing a smile.
"No.", Malvika said instantly, "Please.. pretty please..", She said holding Anu's hand.
"Mukku-"
"Bhai she is marrying Raj na? She'll be with him her whole life.. I only have this time.. You guys continue your tour and let us do ours.", She said stubbornly.
"But-", Anuj tried to say.
"It's alright.", Vanraj said with a smile, "I have promised her to stay on beach with her for the rest of my day, so you guys have continue your tour."
Anuj nodded drawing in a deep breath.
"Also..", Vanraj looked at Anu, "Tomorrow we have a magazine photoshoot. After all you are marrying the hottest billionaire in town.", He said with a wink.
"Yeah.. meet you later.", Malvika said pulling Vanraj by his wrist. He flashed a smile and then turned to follow her.
"He did not create a scene.. How?", Anu asked softly.
"He is very unpredictable, Anu. Sometimes he's all nice and lovely but at times he turns into the villian the business world knows him as.", Anuj said heaving a sigh of relief.
"I wonder why a soft and well mannered man is friends with him?", Anupamaa asked.
Anuj drew in a deep breath.
"He is not a bad person, he just likes to win all the time. His ambition and attempt to keep himself the best in the room makes him the villian.", Anuj said drawing in a deep breath.
"No one can like an ill mannered man like him for all you know.", Anu said straightaway as she walked back to wear her slippers.
"I am afraid..", Anuj said to himself watching Malvika collect shells and showing them to her Raj, "My sister likes him a little too much."
"Anuj can we now go to visit SRK's house?", Anu asked.
Anuj drew in a deep breath and nodded.
They sat back in his car. He started the car.
"Umm.. Mukku likes him?", Anupamaa asked softly.
"Oh yes. It's mostly a childish crush I guess. Anyways he is quite the charmer.", Anuj said with a subtle smile.
"You know childish crushes can be quite a thing.. First love is forever.", Anu said sitting back.
"You've fallen in love before?", Anuj asked with a smile.
"In real? No. In dreams, so many times!", She said smiling to herself, "I have a huge crush on Shah Rukh! I have married him twice in my mind.", She said giggling.
"Ha.. Of course.", Anuj said grinning.
"Have you?", She asked.
Anuj drew in a deep breath.
He did want to say Yes I have.. I am falling right now.. and I am falling for you.
But he did not.
"No.. Not really. I have seen others fall and break. It's quite scary.", He said.
"Hmm.. Heartbreaks can be really painful.", Anu said sighing, "But then you can't stop living in the fear of death, you know."
"Quite a fact.", Anuj said. The more he spoke to her, the more he adored her.
"You know why my parents agreed to this marriage with Vanraj?", She asked.
Anuj nodded into a no.
"Firstly because he is rich and successful.. and secondly because somehow my Maa feels he looks like Vinod Khanna. Turns out she had a crush on the actor hence she wants me to get married to Vanraj.", She said giggling.
Anuj broke into laughter.
"That's the most absurd thing I have heard in all my life.", He said laughing as he drove.
"Arrey that's not it! My brother is...", And Anu went on with the things that were common in her middle class home, fun in the power cuts, dancing in the rain, eating during class and then getting hit by a chalk..
Everything Anuj had only imagined in his luxuries, while she had lived.
He adored every aspect of hers as she spoke. Anu who had been quite shy with strangers found talking to Anuj easier than anything. He was easy going and a great listener, she knew he wouldn't judge her.
They headed down to Shah Rukh Khan's house, Anuj being the reputed tycoon that he was got Anu to meet her "dream man". Anu had taken fifty selfies grinning crazily and two autographs, one on her personal diary and the other on a poster of the actor.
After everything Anu had ever dreamt of came true, they headed back to the Shah Villa.
"I have never laughed this much all my life.", Anuj said finally as he stopped the car.
"And I have never been this happy all my life.", She said opening her seat belt.
"If anyone ever got to know I could laugh this much.. they'd probably faint.", Anuj said still laughing. His cheek muscles hurt, he didn't remember when he had been this happy, this content.
"I wish I could watch you laughing with me all my life.", Anu said involuntarily. It just rolled down her tongue.
She instantly sat up, wondering what she had just said.
Anuj sat up straight too.
"I-I mean as a friend you know.", Anu added abruptly.
"Ye-yeah obviously. Friends.", Anuj said with an awkward smile.
"Meet you soon.", She said getting off the car.
"Soon.", Anuj said with a smile as she shut the door.
He drew in a deep breath.
She said it, involuntarily only, but she said.. Did she feel the same way? Probably it wasn't really one sided?
...
:)
YOU ARE READING
Wrecking Ball | 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒏
Romance" Some triangles are dangerous " When Anuj falls heads over heels for his best friend's forced fiancee, Anupamaa, he knew he was on the wrong path. But does the wrong ever lead to the right? • names of characters are inspired from the daily soap Anu...
