Mere Humsafar

The Growing Insecurities

As growing adults whenever you think your life will be going smoothly, certainly it would end up being the opposite. There are some days you tend to feel very low and only assurance from someone closer to your heart helps. Anubhav's day was passing the same. Was he missing her? It was not even a question. But today he felt miserable. An argument with his seniors on how he quickly dropped his field duty after marriage and has become more calculative, doubts about his capability because half of his trainees failed the physical tests they were put to, everything was storming his mind.

He had called Vikrant to rant over this, that how his seniors had proved to be the worst for him because he was at least trying to manage his work life balance whereas they have failed to do so. His best friend has calmed him down. There were rare times when he losses cool. It was only when some one hurt his family or when a question mark is put on his devotion to duty.

He dialed to Ammi, when Haseena's mobile was not reachable again.

AS- pranaam Ammi kaise hai aap?

Ammi- Hum toh theek hai, subha hi toh baat Hui thi (she smiled)

AS- Ammi, Haseena ka phone nahi lag raha hai kabse, humme fikr ho rahi hai...

Ammi- woh toh bahar gayi hai Anu. Anuradha aayi Hui hai toh woh or uske khuch or dost dinner pe gaye hai. Shayad isliye hi.

AS- phir theek hai. Agar woh aaye or aap jaag Rahi ho toh Hume phone karne ko kahiyega.

Ammi- kehne ki zarurat padegi woh toh karegi hi 🤨

He smiled and after a small conversation, he ended the call.

His notification tab popped up with multiple Facebook notifications from Anuradha's account.

"Aaj ke din me bas yahi reh gaya tha", he cursed mentally seeing Alok popping in those pictures, sitting just next to his wife.

If there was just one person who could piss him off easily was Alok, Haseena's childhood friend who had happened to have crush on her, has proposed her once in college and has remained a bachelor friend to her since then. Even during their wedding he was a constant flirt to tease her bringing out his jealousy as easy as ever.

Outside his quarter.
"Are ja na tu tujhe nahi kahenge khuch", a man whispered.
"Aree", she whisper yelled. "Saath me aaye hai saath chalenge", the woman replied...
"Tum dono jao...return the favour", the third in their cadet group pushed both of them. At the same time Anubhav opened the door, glaring at them which scared three of them.

AS- Any problem? (He said rudely because of his already spoilt mood)

Ruhi- Sir humne knock toh Kiya hi nahi tha abtak...(he rolled his eyes)

Dheeraj- Ha prep toh karne dete pura.

Ankita- 🤦 Sir, Aaj Saturday hai toh saare trainees ne peeche wale camp ke paas bon fire rakha hai. Some snacks and drinks. Will you join us?

Ruhi- ek dum strict to diet (she cleared)

"No, thank you. Lekin aaj nahi"

D- Sir, sirf half- hour ke liye...sabko acha lagega.

Though he was strict to them at first, now he has loosened his guards and they all share a good bond apart from some casual tiffs between the trainees. And they planned this because one of the cadet was present in the entire "senior argument", involving his love life. That was an added worry for him.

"Okay", he said, accepting their proposal as he genuinely wanted to clear his mind with all the hurtful thoughts.

______

Next Morning,

Haseena video called him, around 6 a.m. to match his routine. But surprisingly he was still sleeping. His cheeks and eyes still red which happens highly in his hangover.

AS- Good morning (he said almost forgeting his last night worries)

HM- Good morning...aap...you were drunk?

Anubhav frowned but didn't show his irritation. Of all the things she had to ask this first.

AS- itni sure hai aap? (Coldly)

HM- chehera dekhiye apna.

AS- hum bimar bhi ho sakte the? Apne woh guess nahi kiya?

She assessed his angry but calm tone so tried to change the topic.

HM- acha chodiye ye baat. Hum kal raat ko bahar dinner pe gaye the apne friends ke saath.

AS- hmm...pata chala humme apki best friend ke FB se.

HM- kisse se ladke aaye aap? Kyu itna mood off hai?

Anubhav sighed realising he was taking her frustration out on her. He keeps his phone perpendiculary with the help of the cushion.

HM- humara koi pre-planned dinner nahi tha. Anuradha ayi thi woh hume kheechke legayi, waha phir humme Alok mil gaya coincidentally apne khuch office colleagues ke saath toh usne hume join karliya.

AS- Alok or coincidence...(he said plainly)

HM- Anubhav!! Problem kya hai aapko? Hum friends ke saath gaye ya Alok saath me tha?

AS- (irritated) aap chid kyu rahi hai? Alok ke saath humara reaction humesha se aisa hi tha, chahe hum aapke saath ho ya na ho.

HM- kyuki aap saath nahi hai humare, hum antaryami nahi hai ki aapki problem guess kar sake. Aisa kya hogaya ki aapne drink ki?

AS- hume is baare me baat nahi karna chahte ab. Aise mat dekhiye hume. Intezaar kar rahe the hum aapka ki atleast dinner se aake hume call karengi.

HM- hum... hum thak gaye the...

AS- aap shayad ye baat bhul jaati hai hai ki hum yaha akele hai lekin aapke saath waha sab hai...

HM- agar aapko hume yu suna na hi tha toh phone uthaya hi kyu?

AS- parso holi hai Haseena...tab bhi nahi uthayenge (he hanged up)

She threw her phone aside in anger. He had never behaved like this always respecting her comfort her space, never ever questioned that she does not give her enough time.

Haseena cried. Not for him but because of him.

Anubhav on the otherside faced same emotional turmoil, he felt insecure and hurt how almost everyone questions his love either for nation or for her so easily.

He covered his face and took a deep breath where as she rushed to her Ammi.

Ammi- Good Morning

HM- good morning Ammi.

She sat next to her and stretched herself on sofa, hiding her face in her lap.

Aaj khuch acha nahi lag raha.

Ammi- toh aaj sunday ke din kyu ja rahi hai?

HM- ek survey chal raha hai Ammi, jana zaruri hai...

Ammi placed her hand on her temple and pressed gently providing her comfort.

Anubhav also dialled to Maa, to give his heart some sort of peace...

Do vote and comment.