Fantasy- MaAn shots

|Mulaqat|-Shot 2

On their way to cafeteria, Pakhi fixed her hawk eyes on Anuj, who continued walking by mummy’s side, his eyes alternating between her and the way ahead, while his smile continued to stretch bit by bit.

The man maintained his pace the entire walk, sparing space to mummy in case of crowds. It felt like such asmall thing but she was noticing it still. She had never seen her father do the same and so probably had never seen the grandeur behind these small things but she could see it now.

Anuj quietly followed behind them as they entered the cafeteria and Pakhi turned her head, just to check if he was still looking.

Surprisingly, or should she say unsurprisingly, he was staring at mummy enamored, oblivious that she had caught him in the act. And she couldn’t help but smile. Did he really like mummy still? Kese?

As they took their seats right across the counter, Anuj did a quick scan of the menu displayed on the board ahead and turned to the two.

“Kya khaogi Pakhi? My treat!” He chirped and then he turned to Anupama, “Aur tum kya logi, Anu?”

Pakhi choked on the water she was gulping as she detected the glee in Anuj’s eyes as he called out ‘Anu’. And she found herself concluding that never had her mummy’s nickname sounded so sweet. This man was just too sweet!

Anupama patted Pakhi’s back and declined politely, “Nhi, hum lunch laaye hain”.

“Ok, then main apna order karke aata hoon”.

As he took his place in the queue, Anuj looked back to see Anupama and Pakhi discussing something and he couldn’t help but grin, as those days 26 years back flashed past his eyes.

Flashback

Preparations of the oncoming intercollege fest had him real busy and it was already past lunch. Anuj was famished and so he and his friends were going to the chola kulcha stall outside the college. No way was Anu going to be in the canteen anyway so what was the point in eating that horrible food?

But out of habit, as they moved past the canteen, he peered inside, eyes scanning over the premises in a second while his legs continued to move.  A second later however, he retraced his steps as he saw the person of his affections digging deep in the book in her hands.  And without a thought, Anuj came to stand at the doorway and just watched as Anu helped Devika cram for the upcoming test.  He chuckled as she flicked Devika on the forehead when she decided to give priority to the dosa in front of her.

“Oe! Anuj tu kaha—

The words of his friends died midway as they followed his line of stare.

“Ohhooohhh!!” His friends sing-songed simultaneously bringing Anuj out of his stupor as he turned to glare at them.

“Kitna fattu hai yaar, kab tak door se dekhega!” His one friend laughed, nudging Anuj forward who resisted,his eyes widening.

Anuj looked around the canteen- the students were staring at him now. He gritted his teeth.

“Saalon, agar Anu ne dekh lia na toh—

--toh acha hoga. Dekh, hai toh vo vegetarian toh tujhe khaegi toh nahi.  Agar thappad maare toh Diwali ka advance gift samajh kar le liyo. Otherwise, dono jakar baarish main ek doosre ke saath bhuta kha lena”.

"Kya?” Anuj gave his friend a bewildered look in response, while he just shrugged. “Bas teri ye googly eyes mujhse ab nhi dekhi jaati. Aur isse pehle ki tu uske lambe baal aur gore gaal ki shayari se mera khoon kare, please bhai kuch kar le!”

Anuj rolled his eyes at that, “First,maine aise koi shayari nhi kari. Second, main aisa kuch nhi karunga toh let’s just leave. I’m starving”

“And thirsty!” His other friend added as his group burst into boisterous laughter while Anuj flushed hard.

And the commotion they raised managed to draw Devika’s attention, as she signaled him to come over.

“Ja na Anuj, apne crush ke sath lunch karne ka golden chance tujhe bula raha hai”.

“Shut up!” Anuj snapped maintaining a smile on his face, while nodding in negative to devika.

Devika widened her eyes and glared his way as he mouthed, ‘some other day’.  Their sign conversation caught Anu’s attentionand she turned around. And Anuj  got stuck.

“Dekha toh tujhe yaar~

Dil main baji guitar”, his friend murmured and Anuj elbowed him, while he raised his hand to wave at Anupama but she had turned away by then. And shaking his head, he fisted his fingers and walked away.

“Some other day, definitely”.

~*~*~*~*~

“Sir, aapka order?”

Anuj came out of the memory trip then and looked over his shoulder once again to come to reality. There she was.And his day had finally come.

“A cheese paneer sandwich will do”.

As Anuj settled down with his sandwich, his eyes fell on the duo’s lunch and he exclaimed, “Aaloo ke parathe,my favourite!!”.

Pakhi and Anu shared a smile athis excitement as he bit his tongue and straightened his coat.

“Aap mere— Pakhi then paused as Anuj looked at her questioning.

Perhaps he would appreciate it more if the offer came from mummy! And knowing mummy—

And just then, Anupama forwarded her lunch to Anuj as he looked at her, his eyes shining.

“May I?” He asked and as Anu nodded, he dived in to eat.

Face stuffed and cheeks puffed,he started to release a barrage of compliments, “Too good! Yum! You are the best, Anu.Just best!”

While Anupama just smiled in response, Anuj continued eating, relishing the taste of her hands.  It was only One paratha later did Anuj realize that Anupama was yet to touch her lunch.

“Tum bhi lo na , anupama. Pakhi kya sochegi ki uski mummy ka lunch hadap liya maine” Anuj joked as Pakhi chuckled.

“Nhi aap kha—

“No buts! Friends main sharing chalti hai!” With that said, he kept his plate in front of her, and placed a paratha from her lunch in the plate too.

“Pakhi, tum meri witness ho.Maine Anupama ko ek paratha diya tha. Isse zyada main dunga nahin kyuki ye mauka roz toh aaega nhi”, and his boisterous smile softened towards the end.

Anu smiled.  Unlike someone, this person had a warm heart.She just shook her head. No, perhaps she was making a big deal out of it,because she had never been at the receiving end.

“C’mon Anupama!”, Anuj finally coerced Anupama into eating the sandwich and paratha. And as the duo got engaged in minor conversation, Pakhi smiled feeling happy.

She patted her back. “Good job,  Pakhi!”

She still couldn’t be sure about Anuj’s feelings but the way he treated mummy felt very nice. And mummy and Anuj did look nice together, comfortable and cozy.

He seemed to suit her mother like her father never did. And if her father was allowed to move on, her mother had the right to an exceptional suitor too.