Echoes of MaAn: Love beyond Separation

||61|| Caught in the Act (Continued)

"Anupama!" Anuj shouted, panic washing over him as he rushed toward her, his anger melting away in an instant. He dropped to his knees beside her, his heart racing as he took in the sight of her lying on the floor, eyes wide in shock and pain.

"Aanupama, are you okay?" he asked frantically, lifting her head gently, searching her face for any sign of injury. His breath came out in rapid gasps as he realized what he had done.

"Anuj, I'm fine," she reassured him, but the tremor in her voice suggested otherwise. Just then, Madhav and Sushma rushed in from the dining room, alerted by the commotion.

"What happened?" Madhav demanded, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion.

Sushma, always quick to assess a situation, hurried over to Anupama's side. "Anuj, what did you do?" she asked, her voice sharp. "You can't go pushing her like that!"

"I didn't mean to—she just—" Anuj stammered, his guilt evident. "I was angry, and I didn't mean to hurt her."

Sushma knelt beside Anupama, inspecting her for any visible injuries. "Anupama, can you sit up? Let's see if you're hurt anywhere," she said gently, supporting her as Anupama slowly pushed herself upright.

"I'm alright, really. I just lost my balance," Anupama said, but Anuj could see the slight wince of pain on her face.

Madhav knelt down, placing a hand on Anupama's back. "You're strong, but even the strongest can be hurt, especially if they're pushed. Anuj, you need to learn to control your temper."

"I know, I know," Anuj said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Anupama. I didn't mean to push you. I'm just worried about Aadhya. She's growing up so fast, and it scares me."

Just then, Aadhya re-entered the room, her eyes red from crying. She paused, seeing the concerned faces of her grandparents and the way Anuj knelt beside her mother, his expression frantic. "What's going on?" she asked hesitantly.

"Nothing that concerns you, young lady!" Madhav shot back, his voice filled with authority. "Your father just had a moment, and your mother got hurt."

"I didn't mean to hurt her!" Anuj interjected, standing up and facing his daughter, his frustration bubbling over again. "You need to understand that there are consequences to your actions, Aadhya! I was trying to protect you."

Aadhya folded her arms defiantly. "Protect me from what? Love? You don't own my heart, Dad! You can't control who I like!"

Anuj felt the weight of her words, but his anger was still simmering beneath the surface. "It's not about controlling you! It's about keeping you safe from making mistakes that could haunt you later on."

Sushma, sensing the tension, stepped in. "Anuj, calm down. This is not helping anyone. Aadhya is still young, and she will make mistakes. That's part of growing up."

"Then what? You're going to let her make mistakes with boys?" Anuj shot back, feeling overwhelmed.

"It's not just about boys! It's about trust. Do you trust Aadhya?" Sushma asked gently.

Anuj opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. "I want to," he finally admitted, his voice lowering. "But it's hard to watch her grow up."

"Aadhya, we need to talk about this," Anupama said, her voice steady despite the pain she felt. "You can't just run off with a boy without talking to us first. We need to be involved in your life."

"I'm not a little kid anymore, Mom! I can make my own decisions," Aadhya argued, her frustration evident.

"But you're still our daughter, and you're still in our house. There are rules," Anuj said, trying to keep his voice calm but firm.