Ranjha

2.1 | Benaam Rishte

Khaare Raaste

Chapter 1 — Benaam Rishte

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Anupamaa sat in an awkward silence.
The man before her was busy fidgeting with his pen, looking down and noticing the newly placed glass flower vase on the small table before the comfortable sofa on which he sat.

"Umm.."

"Yes.", He said finally looking up, snapping out.
"Yes.", Anupamaa drew in a deep breath.

Today, like everyday, she wore her average cotton saree. Blue and white in colour.
He, on the other hand, wore a black suit with a red tie over a white shirt. Hair combed to perfection, his face clean shaven except his favourite moustache.
But yet, the man sat looking down.

Anupamaa observed him, like she observed all her patients.
But he wasn't like any other patients, he was her ex husband.

It had been three years to the divorce of course, and the last time she remembered, she was quite cordial with him.
After marrying him to his mistress then, now wife, Kavya.

Her children had lived with their father because breaking the family was never on her agenda.
She kept in touch with them and often visited them when Vanraj was out of town or at his workplace.

After that she had embarked on her personal journey of self discovery.
She was forty back then and thankfully, still not past the age limit criteria, had enrolled herself into a clinical psychology course with Devika's help, her best friend.

Life had been pretty smooth post that.

Now she was running this therapy clinic in Ahmedabad, earning more than she expected.
Somehow she was so good at understanding other people and solving their problems that people kept recommending her to others.

She got married to her childhood lover, and according to the standards of the world - lived happily ever after.

Except, it wasn't entirely true.
Nonetheless, she refrained from talking about her own issues.

"So what has happened.. Mister Shah?", She asked, pulling her chair a little forward.

He sighed.

"It's.. it's my wife.", He mumbled.
Anupamaa drew in a deep breath.
She guessed what it was.
She had been in touch with his wife more than anyone else.

Professionalism, Anu. It's all about Professionalism.

"What about her?", Anu asked.

Vanraj looked up at her, eyes red now.
With ache or anger, she wasn't sure.

"You know everything about my backstory already.. so I might just start from the part you don't.. Kavya.. is pregnant.", He said.

Anupamaa drew in a sharper breath.

"Well then you should be dancing with joy, isn't it?", She blurted out, unwantingly.

He looked at her with a subtle smile.
His smile was rare, but whenever he came up with it, it was a sight to behold.

"I was, honestly.", Vanraj said, sitting up, "We did this pre godbharai thing at home, dance, music, theplas.. it was pretty good."

Anupamaa gulped nervously.

Being the secret keeper is pretty annoying.

"Until I got to know that the baby's not mine."

Anupamaa looked strictly down.
"And I know you know about it.", Vanraj added.
Anupamaa looked up at him, with a raised brow.

"Then? Why are you here?", She asked, perplexed.
"You're the one who ever understood me.. I don't understand myself anymore. I want her to go, yet I want her to stay.. I don't want to father that child, yet I want to father it.. I-I don't know what I want.", He whispered, burying his face in his hands.

A conflict of interest, it is.

Had she been outside, she'd have asked him to take back Kavya.
A friend for a friend.

But he was here professionally, and it was her duty to help him.
The right way.
No bias.

"Give yourself time, Mister Shah. The choice is big. You are neither the forgiving type nor.. are you the type who let's go.", She said softly.

He looked up.

"You must think thoroughly before you do anything.", She added.

Just then Vanraj's phone buzzed.
He pulled it out.

Samar New Jio No.

Anupamaa saw it and nodded.
Vanraj picked up the call.

"Yes.. I know.. the best florist will do the decor. I spoke to the caterer as well, don't worry. And please ask Toshu to keep calm and do absolutely nothing.", He said.

Anupamaa inhaled a cold breath.

Her son's wedding it was, and she still didn't have the chance to visit him.
Her own tragic schedule had been too packed.

She had moved out of Kapadia Mansion and was living in her mother's house now.
Her husband had left her for their foster daughter.
She remembered being shattered and broken for almost a month until she finally rejoined work now.

The Shahs knew everything but had refrained from any commentary owing to the little involvement they had in her life.

Vanraj hung up the call.

"He's so nervous..", He said casually, with a smile on his lips.
Anupamaa smiled back.

"I'll visit him after my sessions today.", She said.

Vanraj stood up.

"Must go.. I don't want to be late.", Vanraj said.
Anupamaa nodded.
He was about to step out when he paused at the door.

"Will Anuj come?", He asked.
Anupamaa looked strictly down.
"You should ask Dimpy, probably. I don't know.", She said.

Trying very hard to not let the tone of ache escape.

"I hope you're okay.", Vanraj said.

He knew she'd never come back.
And now, he knew how it was like to be betrayed.
He felt empathy, he betrayed her, and then her second husband - the seemingly perfect man - did it too.

Anupamaa said nothing.
She simply nodded.

"Kavya is staying with you, isn't it?", She asked softly.
He smiled, almost tragic.
"Yes.", He whispered

"I just hope Samar's wedding gets over peacefully, maybe then we can sort out marriages.", Anupamaa finally looked up.

He nodded.

They had a strange relationship.
They couldn't stay together, and life wouldn't let them stay absolutely apart.
They were like railway lines, never to meet but to walk together to keep the motion intact.

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