#MaAn: A flight of fate

||22|| Always, Together, Forever

Two Months Later

The sun hung high in the sky as Anupama stood by the window of their living room, watching the children playing in the garden. Anu was chasing Aarav around the flowerbeds, both of them laughing, their carefree voices filling the air. The past two months had flown by in a whirlwind of family moments, new adventures, and the quiet contentment of everyday life. But today, there was something special about the day—something that felt like a turning point.

Anupama and Anuj had grown closer than ever since that romantic weekend. They'd followed through on their promise of creating more memories together as a family, filling their days with laughter, joy, and love. But there was also a quiet determination between them to build something bigger—to shape a future that could offer even more for their children and themselves.

Anupama had taken a big step in her career. She'd returned to her dance academy with renewed passion, expanding its outreach and even organizing special events that brought the community together. Her students adored her, and the academy was thriving more than ever. Anuj had been her biggest supporter through it all, cheering her on, helping her navigate the new opportunities, and providing encouragement at every step.

Anuj, too, had been busier than usual. His business was growing, expanding into new markets, and requiring more of his attention. But despite his hectic schedule, he always made time for family. He'd make it home for dinner, take the kids to school when he could, and make sure to set aside weekends for family trips. It was something that Anupama admired about him—his ability to balance it all without ever making her or the kids feel neglected.

Today, however, was different. As she stood there, watching the sunlight play across the children's faces, her heart was heavy with anticipation. She was waiting for Anuj to return home from an important meeting—a meeting that could change everything for them.

The door creaked open behind her, and Anupama turned to see Anuj step inside. His face was calm, but there was a certain excitement in his eyes. She immediately knew that the meeting had gone well.

"How did it go?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a touch of nervousness.

Anuj smiled, walking over to her and pulling her into his arms. "It went perfectly," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear. "We're moving forward."

Anupama pulled back slightly, searching his face. "You mean..."

"Yes," Anuj confirmed, nodding. "We're going to open our first international office. It's happening."

Her heart leapt in her chest. It was something they'd talked about for weeks now—Anuj expanding his business overseas, starting with a branch in London. It was a huge step, both for the business and for their family.

"London," she said softly, letting the word sink in.

Anuj nodded again, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. "It's going to be a big change, but we can make it work. We'll have to travel back and forth for a while, but I don't want it to disrupt our lives too much. I want us to approach it as a family decision, like we've done with everything else."

Anupama felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety bubbling within her. The thought of expanding their horizons, of embracing new possibilities, was thrilling. But at the same time, she couldn't help but worry about the logistics, about how it would affect their kids and their routine.

"Anuj, this is incredible," she said, her voice filled with pride. "But are you sure it's the right time? What about the kids? What about your time with them?"

Anuj smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "I've thought about all of that, Anupama. I know it won't be easy. But I want to make sure that, even as the business grows, we stay grounded as a family. That's why I want to do this with you by my side. We'll make sure that the kids are a part of this journey, that they don't feel like anything is being taken away from them."