Raat Akeli Hai | 𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒋

XII. beginning of the end

vanraj :

I sat at Spice and Chutney, completing a client meeting on video call.
Yashdeep was being kind to me by letting me sit here, the lighting in Toshu's house was terrible, and as the CEO of the India Branch of Mehta and Co. I needed a good place.

I wore this wine colour suit that I bought last night while returning home.
I noticed Anupamaa in the kitchen, and she looked nervous. As if something important was coming up.

After the meeting ended I walked down to the kitchen.
"Mister Shah, abhi mujhe pareshan mat kijiye. Kaam hai bohot.", She said without looking up from the veggies she was dicing.
I looked at her amused.
I had said the same lines to her several times throughout our marriage.

"Nehi karunga. Bas puchne aaya hu ki tum theek ho ya nehi.", I said simply.
"Mai theek hu. Thenk you.", She said plainly.
"Waise tum mujhe pasand toh nehi karti.. lekin agar kabhi bhi zaroorat ho toh yehi hu mai.", I added awkwardly.
She looked up drawing in a deep breath.

"Mister Shah mai jaanti hu aap aache banne ki koshish kar rahe hai.. aachi baat hai. Lekin mujhe na aapse lena dena hai, na aapki aachai se.", Her words stung terribly, but I nodded.

"Hum dono ke beech jo bhi tha.. woh khatam ho chuka hai. Humesha ke liye.", She added.
I looked at her, drawing in a deep breath.

"Tum aaj bhi Anuj se hi pyaar karti ho?", I asked.
She paused momentarily.
"Ha. Tab bhi jab aap mujhe mandir mein lene aaye the.. aur ab bhi. Rishta khatam ho sakta hai, pyaar nehi.", She said, looking down at her veggies.
"Rishta toh humara bhi tha.. pyaar toh tum mujhse bhi karti thi..", I said softly.

"Kya aapne kia kabhi?", She asked sharply.
I stood in silence.
Didn't I tell her a few days ago? Or maybe my words didn't effect her at all.

I sighed as I walked back to my seat.

I got to some other work, as I noticed Yashdeep walk down to her. They spoke over something with grave faces.
Then she headed out of the restaurant.

She got onto a taxi and left.
Deepu gave her a few words of encouragement before that it seemed.
I stood up, perplexed.

"Deepu.. what's up?", I asked him.
"Anupamaa ji closure ke liye jaa rahi hai.", He said thoughtfully.
"Closure? Anuj usse closure dega? Deepu woh aadmi closure kam aur reunion pe zyada focus karta hai.", I said immediately.
"Ab jo hai woh hai Vanraj.", He said sighing.

I skeptically sat back.

After a moment, a few papers were slammed on my table.
I looked up.

"Yeh lo. Tumhara divorce.", Kavya said, looking anguished.
"Tumne itni jaldi sign bhi kar dia?", I asked a little taken aback.
She drew in a sharp breath.

"Mujhe lagta tha ki Anupamaa nehi rahegi toh humara rishta chal jayega.. lekin paanch saalon mein bhi humara rishta chala nehi. Tumhe agar ab bhi Anupamaa hi chahiye toh mai kyu tumhari doormat banke rahu? Tumhe Jo karna hai karo Vanraj. Jiske peeche bhagna hai bhago. I'm done with this marriage too.", She said frankly.
I nodded, gulping.
She just placed the papers before me and walked past me.

"Aur ha.. mai kuch dino baad Ghar wapas chali jaungi. Waha se tum nehi, sirf bapuji mujhe nikal sakte hai. Abhi mai apni behen ke Ghar Jaa rahi hu.. not that it matters to you, but anyways.", Saying so she strode off.