Three coins in the fountain

Ending 1: Humari Adhuri Kahani

Hey guys, it's been exactly one year since my last update. I gradually started losing motivation to write after the Maya arc and the second separation between Anuj and Anupamaa, and eventually, I stopped watching the show altogether.

I had returned to ITV after a long break, drawn to the mature romance with Anuj's entry. But as his character arc went downhill, I lost interest, even though I tried to stick around for Anupamaa. The increasing misogyny and DKP's treatment of the female lead became unbearable, and I lost motivation not just to watch, but also to write.

This last chapter marks the end of my Anupamaa journey, to be honest. I've written two alternate endings—choose whichever is your favorite. Thank you all for your support!

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Anu stood at the edge of the Sabarmati Riverfront, the cool breeze brushing against her skin, but doing little to calm the storm inside her. She stared out at the water, trying to ground herself, but the memories came flooding in—memories of a love that consumed her, overwhelmed her, and left her broken.

Anuj had arrived quietly, standing beside her. She hadn't even heard his footsteps, but she could feel his presence, as familiar and comforting as it was painful. For five years, they had danced this impossible dance, and today, Anu knew it had to end.

"I knew you'd call me," Anuj said softly, hope flickering in his eyes. He was still the same man—patient, kind, endlessly devoted. And that was what made this even harder.

Anu took a shaky breath, her heart heavy with guilt. "Anuj... I've done you so wrong," she started, her voice trembling. "I strung you along, kept you tied to me, even when I knew I we would never be together."

He opened his mouth to protest, but she shook her head. "No, listen. When you came back into my life, after all those years... it felt unreal. I couldn't believe someone could love me the way you did. It was like a dream, you were my prince charming, waiting 26 years for me. But deep down, I didn't believe I deserved that kind of love."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him, the man who loved her. "I didn't love myself, Anuj. Not after everything I'd been through. I had spent 25 years in a marriage that broke me, convinced me I wasn't enough—that I wasn't lovable. When you showed up, I couldn't understand how anyone could love me that selflessly. I felt... indebted to you. Like I had to repay you for all those years you waited for me. And then, I fell hopelessly in love with you, more deeply than I'd ever thought possible."

Anuj's eyes were wet now, too, but he remained silent, letting her pour out the feelings she had kept buried for so long.

"But when you left me for Maya... it shattered me," Anu whispered, her voice breaking. "It wasn't just that you left, it was what it did to me. I started believing something was wrong with me. That I will never be enough for you, or anyone. You were the one person who made me feel like I was special, like I mattered, and when you left, it took away whatever little I had left of myself."

Her chest heaved as she tried to hold back the sobs threatening to escape. "I kept calling you, kept dragging you back into my life because I wanted to feel loved. But the truth is, I've been so scared to let go of you because I didn't know how to love myself. I was holding onto you to fill the emptiness inside me."

Anuj's face crumpled with emotion, his own guilt reflecting back in his eyes. "Anu, I never wanted to hurt you. I—"

"I know, Anuj," she interrupted gently, wiping away her tears. "I know you never meant to hurt me. But this... this love we have? It's been toxic. It's consumed me, it's consumed both of us. I've been using you as a crutch because I was too afraid to stand on my own. I thought if I had you, if you still loved me, everything would be okay. But I was wrong."

She took a deep breath, feeling lighter as she spoke the truth she had been running from for so long. "I realize now that I don't need this toxic messy relationship of our to be whole. I need to love myself first. I need to stop seeking validation from you. That's why I can't keep doing this with you, Anuj. I can't keep pulling you into this cycle of pain and heartbreak. I need to let you go, not just for your sake, but for mine."

Anuj's eyes were wide, filled with the realization of everything they had been through. "Anu, I've waited for you for so long..."

"I know," she whispered. "And that's why this hurts so much. You waited for me all those years, and I held onto you, thinking you were my salvation. But I've come to see that no one can save me except myself."

She stepped closer, placing her hand gently on his cheek. "I love you, Anuj. I always will. But I need to choose myself now. For the first time in my life, I need to put me first."

Anuj's tears fell freely now, and he closed his eyes as her words washed over him. He had loved her fiercely, selflessly, but in that love, they had both lost pieces of themselves.

"I'll always love you, Anu," he whispered, his voice breaking. "But if this is what you need, I'll let you go."

Anu smiled through her tears, a bittersweet smile that spoke of love, loss, and healing. "Thank you, Anuj. For everything."

She turned and walked away from the riverbank, leaving behind the weight of the past. For the first time in years, she felt free—free from the burden of trying to be enough for someone else. Today, she chose to be enough for herself.

When she returned home, Aarav was there, waiting quietly, his presence steady and unwavering. She had made her choice—not between two men, but between the woman she used to be and the woman she was becoming.

He didn't ask questions, didn't pry. He simply wrapped his arms around her, offering her the comfort of someone who understood. And as she leaned into him, she realized that for the first time in her life, she wasn't waiting for someone to save her.

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PS: My co-writer is ChatGPT