Khabar-e-Tahayyur-e-Ishq

Baat Unkahi

Notes: I mentioned Anu visiting Mumbai for a three-day dance competition in chapter Dasht-e-Tanhai. I've changed the location to Cuttack because Odisha recently hosted the Hockey World Cup, which inspired me to think that this kind of event could be a great chance to showcase Anu's professional progress.

This is where the narrative starts to come together because I've now begun connecting necessary flashbacks. I suggest reading this and Dasht-e-Tanhai if you don't recall it because this is the day before she departs for Cuttack and Dasht-e-Tanhai features Anuj narrating what occurs after she departs for Cuttack.

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"Waqt tham sa Gaya, Manzar ruk si gayi

zakhm dil ko aas hai teri, Dhadkan ko talash hai teri"

When they arrived, Anuj was standing in the doorways sorting luggage for the trip. She notices right away that he has lost weight, and when he looks at her in the car, their gazes meet. His eyes are hollow as well, with dark circles surrounding them. By looking at his unkempt appearance, she could tell how much he missed her (yet he wore her favourite shirt). Seeing him there, standing and staring into her eyes, made her forget about the agony she had been feeling for the past two months. All she wanted to do was run out of the car, embrace him in a bone-crushing hug, and kiss him. She then exits the car while maintaining the eye lock. There is a commotion in the background. Her children and GK are loading the bags into the car. But time has stopped moving for her, and possibly for Anuj as well. They're just staring at each other, not knowing what to do next. All of her plans and preparations for this moment were dashed the moment she saw him. Her heart had taken over her rational mind. She came on this trip to gradually let Anuj down, but now that she saw his face today after a long time, she can't nor she want to do it. She is at a loss for what to do next.

Everything was in order. The car was packed with luggage. She hadn't realised she hadn't seen Adhira until she noticed the baby seat in the left corner of the car's last row. Mira appears unexpectedly, smiling brightly and holding Adhira in the baby carrier, and begins instructing Anuj. Anuj averts his gaze from her face and responds to Mira with one-word responses. He's fidgeting between her and Mira, but her soul has already been shattered. Despite being surrounded by many loved ones, she had never felt more alone than she did right now, and all she could do was stare at them blankly before gathering her wits and turning around. She goes and sits on the right corner seat of the last row. A single tear falls from her eye, but she wipes it away quickly. She rebuilds her wall, which was shattered in an instant by his face. A warm memory rushes at her but she is utterly cold.

"Acha Meenu, tum aur Anuj living room saaf karlo, tab tak main chocolate milkshake banati hu"

Anu then left for the kitchen. She could hear Anuj and Meenu laughing happily from the kitchen. She thus takes 'balaayen' from Anuj and Meenu and silently prays to Kanhaaji to keep this smile forever. She mixed all of the ingredients for the chocolate milkshake and started the blender when she noticed Anuj blush, frown, and eventually be shocked, which piqued her interest in what they were discussing. She rushes to join them and be a part of this conversation, pouring milkshakes into three glasses.

With an easy smile, she asked, "Mere sabse favourite log kar kya rahe hai?" Anuj stared at her as if she had confessed her eternal undying love for him. She realised she had included the word 'favourite' for him. She has been careless since realising her love for him and has been slipping affectionate terms of endearment for him. Her irrational brain still told her that giving in to these feelings was a recipe for disaster and that she would never be enough for him. She can't give him a house with GK, Anuj, her, and their child, whose laughter fills the hallways. She already had that with the wrong man, and now she never wishes to have the same. She desires a quiet, peaceful life free of responsibilities and duties, where it is just her and Anuj on their journey to the end of life. Her rational mind told her that Anuj was not Vanraj. He will understand her baggage, predicament, and complicated life. He is already aware of it, and once she has confessed her feelings, she intends to let him have out if he so desires. Despite the risk of heartbreak, she must confess her feelings because he deserves it after 26 years of tapasya. She just needs the right moment to pour her heart into him, and she can do that on Valentine's Day after returning from Cuttack. She was travelling to Cuttack with a dance troupe from her academy to perform at the opening ceremony of the Hockey World Cup, in which they will represent Gujarat.