Echoes of MaAn: Love beyond Separation

||60|| Caught In the Act

Anuj sat in the corner of a bustling restaurant, going over notes for an important business meeting. He absently sipped his water while waiting for his clients to arrive. The ambient chatter and clinking of cutlery provided a comforting backdrop, but his mind was somewhere else—on the upcoming presentation and how to seal the deal. Just as he flipped through his notes, his eyes wandered around the room.

That's when he spotted them.

Aadhya and Aarav, both fourteen, sat at a table not far from his, leaning into each other and laughing at something on Aarav's phone. The carefree nature of their laughter warmed Anuj's heart, but he couldn't shake off a strange feeling as he watched them. They looked so happy, so young and in love, completely lost in their own world.

As he continued to observe, Anuj felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. They were still kids, he thought, yet here they were, acting as if they were in their own little romance novel. Against his better judgment, he discreetly took out his phone and snapped a picture of the two, careful that they wouldn't notice. He felt a mix of emotions—nostalgia for his own youth, amusement at their innocence, and an unshakeable instinct to protect his daughter.

After finishing his meeting and bidding farewell to his clients, he made his way home, his heart heavy with thoughts about Aadhya and Aarav.

Later that evening, Anuj arrived home, eager to unwind. He quickly freshened up, washed off the day's stresses, and changed into a comfortable outfit. Aadhymaan was in the living room, playing with his toys, and Anupama was preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Anuj picked up Aadhymaan and planted soft kisses all over his face, showering him with affection as he plopped down next to him on the floor. "Hey there, little buddy! Did you miss your dad?" he cooed, completely lost in the moment.

Anupama walked in, glancing at Anuj. He was unusually animated and affectionate. "What's going on with you today?" she asked, a teasing smile on her face.

"Just showing Aadhymaan some love," Anuj replied, glancing over at Anupama, who raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off.

He took out his phone, scrolling through his recent pictures to show her some office-related things, but just as he was about to flip to the picture of Aadhya and Aarav, he hesitated. Instead, he quickly closed the gallery, determined to keep that moment hidden for now.

"Why don't you show me the new project you were working on?" Anupama suggested, still watching him closely. There was something in his demeanor that made her uneasy, but before she could probe further, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Madhav and Sushma and Rajesh and Meera, Aadhya's grandparents, emerged from their room, bringing laughter and lightness to the atmosphere. "What's cooking? Smells delicious!" Madhav exclaimed, his eyes twinkling.

"Just your usual," Anupama replied, smiling at them, grateful for the distraction.

Anuj felt a moment of relief. With his in-laws present and parents, he could delay the inevitable confrontation he had in mind. But soon enough, Aadhya walked in, her backpack slung over one shoulder, and the light in the room dimmed as Anuj's protective instincts surged again.

After dinner, Anuj decided it was time to address what he had seen. He called Aadhya into the living room, the rest of the family settled nearby, their expressions curious. "Aadhya, can we talk for a moment?" he said, keeping his tone calm but firm.

"Sure, Dad," she replied, a flicker of uncertainty passing over her face.

"Is it true that you've been spending time with Aarav? Like... more than just friends?" Anuj asked, trying to sound casual, but the tension in the room thickened.

"What do you mean?" Aadhya replied, attempting to deflect. "He's just a friend, Dad."

"Just a friend?" Anuj challenged, folding his arms. "I saw you at the restaurant today, laughing and being all... cozy."

Her face turned a bright shade of red. "Dad, it's not what you think! We were just hanging out, really!"

"Aadhya," he said, his voice raising slightly, "don't lie to me. I heard you two just the other day at your birthday party. You were talking about how much you love each other!"

"I was just being silly!" she protested, crossing her arms defiantly. "You can't just take everything so seriously!"

Anuj's anger flared. "You're only fourteen! You shouldn't be having these kinds of feelings. You need to focus on school, not on—"

"Not on what? Love?" Aadhya interrupted, her voice rising in frustration. "You had your first crush at my age, Dad! What's so wrong about me liking someone?"

"It's not about the crush; it's about being responsible! You can't just run around with boys!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.

The family watched in stunned silence, tension filling the room as Anuj glared at his daughter. "You're grounded! No phone, no outings with friends for a month! Go to your room now!"

Aadhya's eyes widened, the disbelief and hurt evident on her face. "That's not fair!" she shouted back, tears forming in her eyes.

"Go!" Anuj thundered, pointing toward the stairs.

With a huff of indignation, Aadhya stomped off, muttering under her breath. "You don't understand anything!"

As she left, Anuj felt a swell of anger still coursing through him. He stood there, breathing heavily, trying to compose himself.

Anupama stepped closer to him, attempting to calm his raging emotions. "Anuj, maybe you overreacted just a little?"

"Overreacted?" he scoffed, rubbing his temples. "She's only fourteen, and she's talking about love and relationships. It's too soon!"

"Every generation is different, Anuj. You need to trust her," Anupama said gently, her hands resting on his shoulders.

But Anuj, still consumed by his anger, felt an urge to push her away. "You don't get it! I'm trying to protect her!"

In that moment of frustration, he shoved Anupama aside.

She stumbled back, her eyes wide with surprise. "Anuj!"

As she tried to regain her balance, she caught her foot on the edge of the coffee table and fell backward, gasping as she hit the ground.

"Anupama!" Anuj shouted, the anger in him evaporating instantly. Panic surged through him as he rushed to her.