Understanding the meaning of Love with MaAn

Disheartened 💔and Cured ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

Previously: Post lunch, the three of them seated. The air is light, until Anuj's curious question drops into the silence.

Anuj (softly, curious yet serious): "Anu... ek baat puchh sakta hoon? Yeh cancer treatment... tumhare dil ke itne kareeb kyun hai?" Anupamaa freezes for a second. Her smile fades. Her hands clutch her pallu tightly. Pakhi senses the shift, and after a moment, excuses herself quietly, leaving Anuj and Anupamaa alone.

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Anupamaa sat still for a moment, her pallu twisted between her fingers. The smile she had worn to hide her pain dissolved into a trembling silence. Anuj leaned forward slightly, sensing the storm behind her stillness. They sat on the sofa..

Anupamaa (voice low, almost whispering):
"Aapne poocha kyun cancer... kyun itna kareeb hai mere dil ke... toh suniye..."

Her eyes glistened. She drew in a shaky breath, looking down at her lap.

Anupamaa (gazing at the floor, eyes moist):
"Wo meri shaadi ki 25th anniversary thi... ghar mein sab khush the... sab tayyariyan kar rahe the. Aur usi din... usi din meri duniya toot gayi. Mujhe pata chala... Vanraj aur Kavya ka rishta..."

Her voice broke. She pressed her hand against her mouth, but her tears slipped.

Anuj's jaw tightened, his eyes burning with disbelief and silent rage. He clenched his fists on his knees, struggling to stay composed.

Anupamaa (continuing, staring into emptiness):
"Maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha... ki woh aadmi mujhe yun tod dega. Dil... dil ke hazaar tukde ho gaye the. Par phir bhi... maine kisi ko bataya nahi... bachchon ki khatir... parivaar ke liye chup rahi. Ek week keliye..."

Her voice cracked.

Anupamaa (whispering):
"Par Rakhi Dave... usne sab ke saamne sab sach khol diya. Aur us din... main toot gayi thi, Anuj. Main itni toot gayi thi... ki maine socha... iss jeevan ko hi khatam kar do..."

Anuj's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened, a wave of devastation and fear flashing across his face. He leaned closer, voice trembling.

Anuj (hoarse):
"Tum... tumne... apni zindagi khatam karne ki sochi?"

Anupamaa nodded slowly, tears falling freely now.

Anupamaa (choking):
"Haan... ghar se bhaag gayi thi. Raaste par bhatak rahi thi... tabhi ek truck mere upar aa raha tha. Agar us waqt... Anurag nahi aata..."

Her eyes turned soft, grateful, yet filled with pain.

Anupamaa (with tears, voice breaking):
"Anurag ne mujhe bacha liya... bilkul waqt par. Main behosh ho gayi thi. Hospital aas-paas tha hi nahi... bas ek wellness resort tha... wahi le gaye mujhe."

Anuj shut his eyes tight, a tear sliding down his cheek. His hand gripped the sofa armrest so hard that his knuckles turned white.

Anupamaa (soft, remembering):
"Doctor ne kaha main exhausted hoon... burnout. Anurag ne insist kiya... ki mera full body check-up ho. First time in 25 years maine check up karvayi thi... Mujhe... mujhe zindagi mein pehli baar laga koi itni parwaah karta hai meri. Aur phir... uss test mein pata chala... mujhe ovarian cancer hai."

Her lips trembled. Her gaze flickered to Anuj, whose face had gone pale.

Anupamaa (whispering, almost like a confession):
"Operation turant karna zaroori tha... aur operation ke waqt... mera khoon itna beh gaya... ki doctor ne kaha... mujhe bahut zyada blood chahiye. Aur us waqt... Anurag hi tha jiski blood group match hua. Usne apna khoon diya... baar baar diya... sirf mujhe bachaane ke liye."