Imperfectly Perfect

3.SILENCE: That Haunts The Heart

SILENCE: That Haunts The Heart

It was lazy evening, there was peaceful silence it looked but....
Anupama was sitting on couch chhoti's head on her lap and the gentle caresses making bebli sleep.

Anupmaa was in her own thoughts clueless about what's happening around.

Anuj was sitting on the bed pretending as if he was watching TV but he was looking at her from the corner of his eye, trying to feel the same pain she is going through, he kept hurting himself reminding the things happened in past. That night, her emotional breakdown, her shattered dreams, her broken trust, her tears, her pleas, her broken heart........

Chhoti sleeping in her mom's lap, the atmosphere was quite good outside air was cool and light and there's gentle breeze blowing, and strands of her long hair caressing her face, she didn't bother to tuck them neatly. She looked so silent, only when chhoti was around or wanted her parents she used to smile and talk.

Last night he and chutki, woke up in the middle of the night like thieves (ofcourse chhoti had planned), when Anupama woke up not finding them on the bed, she looked for them, at first she got scared when she didn't find them in room, when she calmed down, she got the idea about their whereabouts and Anu came to kitchen, her kitchen was mess. And father and daughter were having icecream, she just glared at chhoti and she hid behind her dad, but that was not going to help her she knew and Anuj bit his tongue as he knew Anupmaa will scold him and then chhoti.

But somewhere he hoped that maybe maybe this time she would scold him.  At least she will talk, she will say something, she will assert her haq over him as his wife and as the mother of chhoti.

Chhoti....

Mummy sorry..... Vo actually papa ka plan tha.... she hugged Anuj by his waist tightly as if she was sorry for blaming him.

Anuj immediately nodded in negative, and gulped nervously. 

Chutki... Chal raat bhot ho gayi... Bebli... Kal school Jana hein ne....chal Ave...

Chhoti ran towards Anupmaa, she took her in her arms, it pained him more, her silence was killing him.

They entered in room, Anuj followed them.

Anupama and chhoti laid on the bed,

Anu...sorry vo.....chhoti zid kar Rahi thi...to mein usee mana nahi kar paya......

Bache hein kya aap Kapadia ji jo chutki ne kaha aur aap maan gaye...seedhe seedhe boliye ne ki aap ko icecream khani thi...hein ne..?!? Aur dono baap beti raat bhar khaste rahenge....kanha ji kya Karu mein Inka...

His imaginary world blurred, when he saw she wasn't saying anything but it was him imaging her a
scolding him.

Anu??

Ji...koi baat nahi....vo iska kal school hein na issliye mein pareshan ho gayi thi.....

He nodded.

~~~~

Anuj looked at Anupama, she kissed chhoti's head as she slept peacefully on her lap.

He knew her fears, but he wasn't sure if he was able to assure her that she should trust him.

And again the same incident played in his mind, 

As she fell on the floor, he screamed loudly,

Ann... Anuu??? He called her

.....................

Anuu..... He moved forward and took her in his lap.