Estranged | ✓

XXXXIV. beautiful world

vanraj :

Next morning, I found myself sitting awkwardly in the school, amongst the many parents.

Wearing my usual formals, black blazer with white shirt and formal shoes.
Anupamaa wore this beautiful frock she said a client gifted her. It was a soft blue in colour with floral designs. I found it very hard to look away from her.

She did very little make up, but still looked like some Bollywood actress.
I lowkey felt under confident wearing the same old suit.

The children had gone to the backstage, they had a performance.

Samar was dancing. Pakhi was doing a small skit and Toshu was going to participate in one minute speech.

I glanced at her, drawing in another deep breath.
"Stop staring at me for once, Mister Shah.", She said smiling, without even looking at me.
I instantly looked away, now looking at the stage.

"You're looking so handsome in this suit.", She added.
"I'm glad you liked it, Maharani ji.", I said with a smile, I could feel my face go warm.
Do men blush?
I could feel myself going back to the old school lover that I used to be in my teenage years.

And I loved it.

"We are going to start in a few minutes.", The American Host mentioned.
Anu placed her hand on mine.
I felt a current through my being. I glanced back at her.

"You know.. you look so cute when you get shy.", She said edging closer.
"I-I am not getting shy..", I mumbled awkwardly.
"Who ever knew the obnoxious Vanraj Shah could be such a cute lover..", she said.

She was making me feel things that I had locked up years ago.
I clasped her hand tighter.

"We are starting with the dance.", The host said.
We immediately turned out attention towards the stage.

Samar and other boys of his age danced on an English song. I couldn't help adoring my son. He had his dancing skills from his mother.
I felt my heart swell up with pride.

Anu was taking the nazar off him with her classic 'thu thu thu'.

After that there was a cute skit with the youngest kids about parents. Pakhi was playing the caring mother, sounding absolutely adorable as she spoke.
"Stella, you will.. take care of yourself at school, okay?", She asked. Her classmate who was playing the child nodded.

She glanced at me once and beamed.
I smiled back the widest possible smile.
"She loves you so much.", Anupamaa said softly.
"Because of you.", I said as I glanced at her.

She just looked at me with affection in her eyes.

•

anupamaa :

He was changing so rapidly.
The more time we spent together, the more I saw him drowning in love.
And somewhere, I was too.

His hand held mine tightly.
As I looked into his eyes, the moments seemed to pause. It felt almost like a movie.
For nine years, I had never been able to read his eyes. They were always trying to look somewhere else.
Even in our romance, there was something that he hid.