Wrecking Ball | 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒏

chapter 15

"Bhai lets join in the waltz na!", Malvika said keeping handing her mocktail to one of the waiters.
" But..", Anuj said softly.
"Come on..", Mukku held his hand and pulled him to the centre of the hall, and started doing waltz.

Vanraj and Anupamaa were waltzing right beside them, oblivious to their presence.

Kholi hai khidki maine
Iss naazuk se dil ki
Jaage hain dekho phir se
Khwab hazaar

"I love this song.", Vanraj said softly.
"Why?", Anu asked wondering what was this man before her.
"It gives hope.", He said smoothly, "Hope that we'll finally find someone who loves us truthfully."

"Its time for a change of partners.", The host said.

Anuj didn't realise Anu and Vanraj were right behind him.
He turned for the change.
Anu suddenly lost her balance and bumped onto him.

Banke lehar tu aayi
Rooh se yun takrayi
Sadiyon se tha is pal ke
Liye bekaraar

"Well Shayar Kapadia saved you.", Vanraj said grinning as someone else held his hand.
Her hands rested on Anuj's shoulder, Anuj's hand wrapped around her waist, they stood only inches apart.
She drew in a sharp breath and stood up straight.

"I-I am so sorry.", She mumbled awkwardly.
"It-It's alright.", Anuj said, internally jumping in happiness but not showing it a bit.
"Let's continue the waltz.", He said softly as he gave his hand for her to take.

Kya kiya hai tune
Kya kiya hai tune
Kya kiya hai tune mere yaar

He held her hand tightly, pulled her closer to himself.

Jo jeene laga hun phir se
Khone laga hun khud se
Kya kiya hai tune mere yaar

She drew in a sharp breath as she placed her hand on his shoulder again. 
He slowly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

"I need to talk to you.", Anuj said in a whisper. Anu looked up startled. Something told her he was going to say, what she didn't want to accept.
"Anuj see..It's my engagement.."
"I deserve my say, Anu.", Anuj said looking straight into her eyes, "It is really important.", He said in a desperate whisper.

"Anuj.", Anu said drawing in a deep breath, "I am marrying Vanraj. And that's it. I know we were kinda close and all, but that's only friendship and-"
"I never said I was in love with you.", Anuj said with a subtle smile.
"I-", Anu fell silent realising, "Yeah but whatever..", She said trying to cover up, blushing deep red.

Anuj's lips curved into a pained smile.
She is going to say no.
He realised bitterly.

"Anu we are just friends.. that's it. It's okay, please don't overstress yourself.", Anuj said trying very hard to not show his grief.
Anu looked at them, she somehow could see though his fake smile, the little surge of moisture in his eyes.
"Are-are you sure?", She asked, she could suddenly feel the numbness in her throat.

Was she in love? Love didn't happen so soon, did it? Probably it was just infatuation.. but then why did it feel like the pain would tear her apart? 

"Have to be. I mean I can't be loving you knowing you are not mine.. that's so dumb, right?", He muttered in fake enthusiasm.
Love doesn't see reason, it just happens, and it happens at the wrong time with the wrong person.
He said it himself but forced a smile.

"Now it's time for the engagement.", Anu heard Vanraj's father. She instantly stepped back from Anuj, drawing in a deep breath. She turned to walk away when she felt his hand wrap around her wrist.
She turned, there was a look of ache in his eyes. His spectacles didn't hide the little tear that he blinked off.

"Have a great life, ahead.", He mumbled.
He wanted to say "I love you!" before the world, but somehow his confidence and resolution gave away. He had never been the one who snatched. He didn't want to be the one, now. He would be happy watching her smile and laugh from afar.

She knew what he was doing was sacrifice. She felt guilty, she would either ways. She had not wanted to be stuck at the edge of a cliff where on one side if she said yes to Anuj's feelings she'd be breaking her parents trust.. the trust Vanraj's father, his family had on her. And on the other hand she was here, breaking this man, who was hopelessly in love with her.

He was, she knew.
And she knew, she shouldn't be.

He let her hand go and took a step back.
"Come on, someone get the ring.", Vanraj said walking down to Anu, beaming. She drew in a deep breath, she felt tears in her eyes.
She blinked them off and turned towards Vanraj.

Anuj stepped back towards the corner.
Malvika rushed down to him.

"Did you tell her?", She asked.
He looked down drawing in a sharp breath.
"She said no.", He stated simply.
Mukku looked at his drooping shoulders, his heartbroken face. She felt a tinge of sympathy.
And then she remembered how she had lost her parents, her world, and how she was left alone while her brother was busy self - loathing.

The sympathy vanished as soon as it had appeared.

She gulped and drew in a sharp breath.
"You'll be fine.", She said, trying very hard to sound sorry for him.
Anuj couldn't look up.

He heard the clapping, the ring ceremony happened before him but he didn't look up. He looked at his hand, the lines that didn't have the woman he had fallen for.
He drew in a sharp breath.

Malvika looked at him, sighing.
He's gonna start off his old 'I am such a bad guy' thing again.
She thought.

She clearly remembered the accident, it had been his birthday and his very dumb car racing which had costed them their parents. She had been on the back seat, mildly injured physically but mentally she was destroyed. 
When she had been discharged from the hospital, she had found Anuj crying in his bedroom. She felt bad for him then.

After all it wasn't his fault, was it?
Then he had joined the Kapadia Empire, which was always on number one, and started working. He went to college and then went to office, while she struggled with almost everything at home. Be it the food made by the cook, or the tests, or studies. Nothing worked out for her.

While he would leave early in the morning, he would come home so late that months would pass without meeting each other, while staying in the very same house.
That is when she had found solace in Vanraj who was dealing with his break up that time. He had struck the balance between work and family. He had time for her while her own brother didn't.

He drew in a cold breath as she watched Vanraj slip the ring into Anupamaa's finger.

"You are not happy, Mukku. Are you?", Anuj asked abruptly.
She forced a weak smile. She was just sixteen, only a class tenth student, but she found her emotions way ahead of her age.

"I never was. But guess what? No one cares.", She said bitterly.
Anuj looked up finally at Anu and Vanraj. Anu didn't look too happy, she was faking a smile. Within her was a tempest of emotions, she felt like Anuj had let her go too easily, but she knew it wasn't his nature to fight.

She glanced at him beyond Vanraj. He looked back at her. For moments time stopped.

She almost asked, "Can you not stop me from going?"
And he replied, "I can't. I wish I could."

She broke the eyelock and looked at Vanraj. Vanraj looked at her, "You look distracted. Is everything okay?"
"Yes.", She said with a forced smile. He nodded and looked at the cameras. 

She knew he wouldn't look past what she said, he wouldn't know how she felt, he could but he just didn't.
She knew she was pulling herself into a wrong deal, but she knew she couldn't get up and go against her family values and ethics either.

...

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