Understanding the meaning of Love with MaAn

#MaAn on A Date

As the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the city in a warm glow, Anuj steered the car towards his house, lost in thought. It was a quiet drive, filled with the soft hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of leaves as the car sped down the road. However, as the vehicle took a right turn, Anupamaa's voice broke the silence.

"Anujjj..." she said softly but firmly, pointing towards the opposite direction. "Yaha nahi... mujhe toh wahan jaana hai..."

Anuj blinked, snapping out of his reverie. "Ghar hi toh jaa rahe hai, Anu," he replied, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Haan, lekin mujhe apne ghar jaana hai," Anupamaa said with a gentle smile. "Maa mere intezaar kar rahi hogi."

Realization dawned on Anuj, and he let out an apologetic laugh. "Oh! Sorry, sorry, Anu. Bas... thoda absent-minded ho gaya tha."

Anupamaa shook her head, her smile widening. "Koi baat nahi," she reassured him.

Quickly, Anuj made a U-turn, heading back towards Kanta Maa's house. For a while, they drove in companionable silence until Anuj decided to strike up a conversation.

"Waise, Anu," he began, glancing at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road, "yeh jo pooja aaj prepone hui hai... kal ke liye kuch plan hai?"

Anupamaa pondered for a moment. "Kal? Aram karenge aur kya. Waise bhi, uske baad toh sab kuch itna packed up hoga... shaadi ke program mei dono busy ho jaayenge."

Anuj chuckled softly. "Haan, lekin tumhe tumhari shaadi mei kaunsa kaam karna hai? Tum bas dulhan banke enjoy karna."

She turned to him with a mock stern expression. "Haan, aur tayyariyan kaun karega? Sab kuch hawa mei ho jayega kya?"

"This is not fair," Anuj protested, a playful pout forming on his lips. "Tum kaam-vaam bilkul nahi karogi. Sab kuch main dekh lunga."

"Woh kya baat hui?" she countered, raising an eyebrow. "Aapka bhi toh shaadi hai, aap bhi toh enjoy karenge?"

Anuj grinned. "Haan, toh theek hai. Tumhare do-do Bakuda hain na, sab samhaal lenge."

Anupamaa laughed, shaking her head. "Haan, woh toh hai. Waise... Anujjj..."

"Bolo?" he asked, his tone softening at the way she stretched his name.

"Woh Anurag resort ke baare mein bol raha tha shaadi ke liye... kaunsa hai?"

"The Royal Serene Resort," Anuj replied promptly.

"Aap waha gaye hain pehle?"

"Haan, ek baar," he admitted. "Wahan mere business partner ka birthday party tha. Bahut sundar jagah hai, lekin poora resort explore nahi kiya maine."

"Achcha," she said wistfully. "Maine kabhi pehle resort nahi dekha. Ek baar Rakhi ji le gayi thi, lekin ek ghante bhi nahi rukhe the hum."

Anuj's heart tightened at the memory he knew she wasn't voicing. He decided not to dwell on it and instead, tried to lighten the mood. "Koi baat nahi, Anu. Kal free hain toh wahan jaake dekh sakte hain, if you wish."

"Nahi, nahi," she protested quickly. "Surprise rehne dijiye."

Anuj smiled at her innocence. "Theek hai. Waise kal free hain toh..."

"Toh?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Would you like to go on a date with me, darling?" he asked, the term of endearment slipping out effortlessly.

Anupamaa's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. "Aapne mujhe kya bulaya?" she whispered, barely able to meet his gaze.

Anuj realized his slip and fumbled. "Oh! I'm sorry. I won't call you that if you don't like it."