Understanding the meaning of Love with MaAn

Kiddo-Buddy

Previously, Finally, long after midnight, when exhaustion softened the fire, Anuj and Anupamaa lay tangled in each other's arms. Skin against skin, hearts beating in sync, they drifted into sleep — happy, complete, and utterly inseparable.

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Anuj stirred awake, his throat parched. He blinked at the dim light of the clock beside him — 5:02 a.m. Only a few hours ago, he and Anupamaa had finally collapsed into sleep, utterly spent after a night where love had drowned out everything else. He smiled at the memory, brushing a soft kiss across her hair where she slept soundly against him, still curled like she belonged nowhere else but in his arms.

Water, he thought, gently sliding out from under her. He pulled on his pyjamas — something he wasn't in the habit of doing at this hour. For years, with only GK kaka and Anurag at home, he had roamed freely, unbothered. But now the house was full — Mukku, Pakhi, Kinjal, Nandini... girls who didn't need to wake up to their jijaji or Buddy walking around half-naked.

He chuckled to himself, tugging at the drawstring of his pyjamas. Waise bhi, Anurag utgaya hoga... 4 baje utjatha hia... Agar abhi bina pyjama ghoomta toh pakka us ladke se takra jaata.

Yawning softly, he padded toward the kitchen, filled a glass, and gulped down the cool water in one go. As the relief spread through him, a thought crept back in — the one that had been bugging him since dinner.

Sabko pata hai... ki cancer charity kaafi close hai Anu ke dil ke... but mujhe nahi. Kya hai jo sab jaante hai aur main nahi?

On his way back, he slowed as he passed the mandir. The diya wasn't lit. Strange. At this time, Anurag would normally be here — head bowed, reciting shlokas, beginning his day in discipline and devotion. But today? Empty.

Frowning, Anuj walked on, stopping outside Anurag's room. The door was bolted from inside. Curtains wide open, window ajar. Curious, he leaned closer, peeking in.

And then he froze.

Anurag wasn't asleep. He was pacing, phone on speaker, his voice sharp, almost desperate. On the other end, a weary manager answered.

Manager (groggy): "Anurag sir... iss waqt call? Sab theek toh hai?"

Anurag (snapping): "Nahi! Kuch theek nahi hai. Suno... aapse kaha tha na, Mr. Kulkarni ke baare mein kisi ko nahi batana? Toh phir Toshu ko kaise pata chala? Uski nazar ab mujhpe hai."

Anuj's brow furrowed. Kulkarni?Yeh kon hai?? Aur yeh ladka itna tense kyun hai?

Manager: "Maine kisi ko kuch nahi bataya, sir. Aap hi bataiye, itna subah-subah call kyun?"

Anurag (voice rising): "Because Toshu bhai utne se pehle clear karna tha! Agar woh Papa ya Mummy ko bata de toh problem ho jaayegi. Aur yeh suno... OFFICE KA ADDRESS Kulkarni ko kisne diya?"

Manager (hesitant): "Sir... woh maine diya. Anuj sir toh office aate nahi the kuch din se... mujhe laga... aapka dost hai toh..."

Anurag (angrily): "Dost?! Woh koi dost nahi hai. Bas ek acquaintance! Aur ab Papa wapas aa rahe hai office mein parso se... aur agar Kulkarni wahan aaya... toh mein gaya! Samjhe? Kal hi usse call karke bolo office ke aas-paas bhi na dikhe. Aur ab toh Mummy bhi office join kar rahi hai... she's sharp. Unhe ek baar shaq hogaya... Toh "

Anuj's pulse quickened. His hand tightened against the window frame. Mummy bhi office join kar rahi hai... toh Anu ko isme kyun kheench raha hai yeh?

Manager (softly): "Sir, ek baat kahun? Main aapke under kaam karta hoon, par aapne mujhe hamesha bade bhai ki tarah treat kiya hai. Isliye keh raha hoon... jo bhi aap kar rahe ho... Anuj sir se chupaiye mat. Please, unhe hurt mat kijiye."