Understanding the meaning of Love with MaAn

College Reunion Invitation

Anurag was sitting beside Anupamaa, who had just gone through a wave of emotions, her eyes still wet from their heartfelt conversation. The room was quiet when Anurag's phone buzzed, and he saw his father's name flashing on the screen. His heart leapt with joy—his Papa always called during the night when he knew his "bachcha" was free, and their chats were something Anurag cherished.

He picked up the call, excitement evident in his voice.

Anurag: "Papa! Aapne din mein phone kiya? Sab theek hai?"

His father's voice, tender and filled with affection, came through the phone.

Anurag's Papa: "Sab theek hai, bachcha. Bas tumhari yaad aa rahi thi. Tum kaise ho? Abhi kahaan ho?"

Anurag glanced at Anupamaa, who gave him a small smile, sensing the joy in his voice.

Anurag: "Main abhi mera ek best friend ke mummy ke saath hoon, Papa. Woh thodi pareshaan thi, toh unke saath baitha hoon."

His father's tone softened even more.

Anurag's Papa: "Tumhara dil itna bada hai, bachcha. Tum sabka kitna khayal rakhte ho. Par tumhe bhi apna khayal rakhna hai, samjhe? Main bas tumhe batane ke liye phone kar raha hoon ki main India aa raha hoon... especially Ahmedabad. Apna dream project start kar raha hoon—India mein hotel chain ka sapna pura karne ja raha hoon."

Anurag's heart sank for a moment. He had been looking forward to going to the USA to stay with his father for a month.

Anurag: "Papa... mujhe laga tha main USA aaunga. Maine global dance event aur science aur math Olympiads ke liye itni der se tayari ki thi. Maine socha tha hum waha ek mahina saath rahenge."

His father's voice was filled with a mix of pride and sadness.

Anurag's Papa: "Mere bachcha, main samajhta hoon. Mujhe bhi tumhare bina rehna mushkil lagta hai, lekin yeh sirf ek mahine ki baat hai. Tum apne Olympiads aur dance event ke liye jao, aur jab tumhara sab kuch khatam ho jayega, tab main tumhare paas aaunga. Phir main tumhe kabhi apni nazron se door nahi hone dunga. Hum saath rahenge, hamesha ke liye."

Hearing his father's comforting words, Anurag felt a wave of emotions, a mix of relief and excitement.

Anurag: "Papa, main aapke bina rehne ki soch bhi nahi sakta. Lekin yeh soch kar khushi ho rahi hai ki phir hum kabhi alag nahi honge. Main ek mahine baad aapke paas aakar rahunga."

They spoke a little longer before bidding farewell. Anurag put the phone down and turned to Anupamaa, a soft smile on his face.

Anurag: "Mummy, main ek mahine ke liye USA jaa raha hoon. Aapko apna khayal rakhna hoga jab main nahi rahunga."

Just then, Devika entered the room, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

Devika: "Annu! Tumhe pata hai? Hamari college reunion party hai 3 din mein! Aur tumhare liye bhi invite aaya hai!"

Anupamaa's first instinct was to refuse. She hesitated, her mind immediately racing to what Baa might think.

Anupamaa: "Nahi Devika, tum jao. Mujhe nahi lagta ki mujhe jaana chahiye. Baa kya sochenge? Woh mujhe itni aazadi nahi denge..."

Anurag quickly jumped into the conversation, not willing to let her miss out on something so important.

Anurag: "Mummy, main chala jaunga iska yeh matlab nahi ki aap apna dhyaan nahi rakhogi. Yeh reunion aapke liye hai, aur aapko jaana chahiye. Main ek mahine mein wapas aa jaunga, tab tak aapko khud ko enjoy karna hoga!" He winked mischievously, his voice playful yet affectionate.

Samar joined in, backing up Anurag.

Samar: "Exactly, Mummy. Yeh moka baar baar nahi milta. Devika masi sahi keh rahi hai, aapko jaana chahiye. Hum sab aapke saath hain."

After some cute banter and convincing, Anupamaa finally relented, but the thought of Baa's reaction still made her nervous.

Anupamaa: "Lekin Baa? Unhe pata chala toh pata nahi kya kahengi."

Anurag, with a cheeky grin, replied, "Main chala jaunga iska yeh matlab nahi ki aap chup ho jaogi, Mummy. Baa ko samjhana aapka kaam hai, but aap jaoge zaroor."

With that, Anurag gave her a tight hug and left, playfully reminding her to "enjoy life" while he was gone.

Once he was gone, Anupamaa mustered up the courage and went to inform Baa about the reunion. As expected, Baa's immediate response was harsh, her traditional mindset surfacing.

Baa: "Kya reunion! Shaadi-shuda aur bachon wali auratein reunion mein nahi jaati! Tumhe kya zarurat hai waha jaane ki? Log kya kahenge? Kaise izzat banake rakhi hai hamari! Tum toh ghar ki izzat ko mitti mein mila dogi! Tumse yeh ummed nahi thi, Anupamaa."

Anupamaa stood silently as Baa continued her rant, trying to digest the harsh words.

Baa: "Jab se hospital se wapas aayi ho, tumhari harkatein badal gayi hain. Yeh Devika ka asar hai, usne tumhe bigaad diya hai! Tumhare bachche hai, ghar hai... aur tumhe reunion ki padi hai? Izzat uchaalne ka aur koi tareeka nahi mila kya?"

At this point, Samar and Devika stepped in to calm Baa.

Devika: "Baa, aapko samajhna hoga. Yeh reunion Anupamaa ke liye ek chance hai apne purane doston se milne ka. Woh itne saal se apni khushiyon ke bina reh rahi thi. Ab jab woh thoda jeevan ka sukh dekhna chah rahi hai, toh aap unhe rokengi?"

Samar: "Baa, Mummy ne apne poore jeevan mein sirf sacrifice kiya hai. Aapne dekha hai unhone kitna jhela hai. Yeh ek reunion hi toh hai. Hum sab saath hain, aur aapko bhi unhe support karna chahiye."

Baa, although still not fully convinced, started to soften a little.

Baa: "Reunion ki zarurat nahi thi... lekin agar tum log itna zor de rahe ho, toh jao. Lekin yaad rakhna, izzat ka khayal rakhna. Aur wapas time se aana, warna koi laaj nahi rahegi."

With a half-hearted agreement, Baa finally let Anupamaa go, though the reluctance was still evident in her voice. Anupamaa, feeling slightly reassured, thanked Samar and Devika for standing by her.

And as Anupamaa left to prepare for the reunion, she carried with her not just excitement, but a sense of renewal—ready to embrace the small joys she had been denied for so long.