Doorbell rang....

GK opened the door...

It was Donna on the other side.

GK :- Come in....Donna...

Donna stepped in....

GK :- You have come on a perfect time....I m making your favourite dal dhokli today...join us for dinner...

Donna :- As much as I would love to GK....I just came in here to drop some files...I m in a hurry...maybe some other time...

GK :- Yeah! yeah Maan....no one has time for this old man nowadays...

Donna smiled at GK's puppy face....

Donna:- GKKkk....I thought I was the artist here.....but so much drama...huhh

GK :- okay okay.....you caught me..

GK chuckled..

Donna :- Now tell me where is the oldie of the house....I want to hand him over some files...

GK :- He is on the balcony waiting for some call from India...

Donna :- okay....

Saying this she walked away and GK went back to his cooking...

She saw that the door to the room was open and no one was in there.

She entered the room calling for Anuj and saw him standing on the balcony.....

She was in a hurry so she started away without noticing Anuj was lost in thought.....

Donna :- Anuj I have brought some files that needs your approval before tomorrow...have kept them on the desk....you have a 2 am conference call with the Hong Kong office....and you have a early meeting tomorrow at 9 with the finance department regarding our new venture...

She went on and on when she realised Anuj wasn't paying attention to any of it....

She walked upto the entrance of the balcony and saw Anuj standing with his back towards the entrance twirling the magnets between his fingers with a mug in his other hand looking at the beautiful sun setting on the New York skyline completely lost in his own thoughts....

Donna:- Anuj.....

Kitni ajeeb hai is sehar ki tanhaayi bhi...

kitni ajeeb hai is sehar ki tanhaayi bhi...

Hazaaron log hai magar koi us jaisa nhi hai....

Recited Anuj with a pain in his voice which didn't go unnoticed by Donna...

Donna walked upto him and stood beside him...

Donna :- Thinking about her....?

Anuj tried to refuse....

Anuj :- Naah......it wasn't about her....just appreciating the sunset....

Donna :- I don't understand hindi.... doesn't mean I can be fooled okay....I have seen almost all SRK movies....

Anuj chuckled at this....

Anuj :- It's not about her...

Donna :- You have taken me for a fool.........wait....

Anuj :- okay fine...fine... please don't do your Donna thing on me....

Donna :- you were waiting for a call from Vikram who is in India....you were twirling your magnets at a pace....which means you were thinking about the day his bike broke down.....and wait a sec

Saying this she sips the drink from his mug....

Donna :- And you are drinking strong ginger tea with some black pepper in it....means you are missing her....

Anuj pretending to be annoyed...

Anuj:- You did your Donna thing on me again....you know it's been years and I am still not used to it.... it's seriously annoying...

Donna :- Do you want me to continue or.....

Anuj :- okay fine....I was thinking about her....

Anuj sighed in defeat.

Donna :- Anuj...

Anuj :- Yess...

Donna :- Do you want me to...?

Anuj:- No Donna.....I don't have any rights...

Donna :- But Anuj....there is nothing wrong about knowing the whereabouts of your loved ones....you aren't interfering in her life....

Anuj :- Keeping track of her life would be as much betrayal to her as interfering.....

Donna sighed looking at her friend in defeat.

Donna :- You and your reasons....I just don't get them..

Anuj :- No one does...Donna..

Anuj paused for a bit and then continued...

Anuj:- plus if something was wrong...Devika would have informed me....

Donna:- Why don't you give Devika a call ?

Anuj :- I don't know Donna she has been trying to avoid talking to me for months.... whenever I ask her if everything is alright with her....she gets weird....I don't know... something is off....maybe she is tired of my devdas attitude...

Donna :- Don't act naive....you know Devika isn't like this...she might be busy or dealing with some issues....

Anuj :- That's the thing Donna....if she is in a difficult situation....I want to know about it....she has been always there for me...now is my turn...and....

Donna:- And....

Anuj :- Nothing.....

Donna :- I know there is something else...are you telling me or I have to force it out of you..... ?

Anuj:-I don't know Donna..... I know Devika has told me that Anu is happy with her family....with her kids... it's just that something in me is telling that she is not okay....

Donna:- It's been a year since you both talked about her....and ....you have been anxious for months Anuj....and it's not healthy....better call her and clear it up....

Anuj :- You can tell....?

Donna :- Come on....I can... GK can... you haven't been your usual self lately..... even Harvey was bothered that something is going on with you....

Anuj :- You're kidding me right?.... your so called cocky, narcissist, self absorbed husband can tell if something is wrong with me...... that's surprising...

Anuj said with a smirk on his face.

Donna was annoyed but said with a smile....

Donna :- you know why you and most of the people don't like him?

Anuj:- I believe you are gonna tell me why....

Donna :- Because people just don't like that he is right all the time....and he wins...

She took a pause and added...

Donna :- he might be a little self absorbed but he is a great lawyer and he hasn't reached there by ignoring what's going on in his surroundings....Mr Kapadia

Anuj was kidding but he realised that his words have upset Donna...

Anuj :- Donna....I am sorry...I know he isn't all that bad...I shouldn't have said that....

Donna :- Ohh don't cover up now...you are right he isn't all that bad...he is worse...

Anuj chuckled....

Anuj :- And you still married that creature...

Donna :- Anuj...

Anuj turned towards her adjusting back his specs....

Anuj :- Wait for me here...

Saying this Anuj went to his room and came out with a gift wrapped box in his hand....

Donna :- What's this?

Anuj :- Tadaa....

He handed her the box...

Anuj :- Your anniversary present....

Donna opened the box to find a beautiful photo frame with a photo of her and Harvey on her wedding day.

Donna :- You remembered....

Anuj :- Of course I did.....how can I forget the day Gollum took my precious from me....

Anuj said immitating Gollum from Lord of the rings....

Donna laughed at his antics.

Donna :- You are calling my husband a creature....

Anuj :- He is.... isn't he?

Donna :- For people who are just opposite of each other....you guys seem to have a lot in common...

Anuj :- Like what ?

Donna :- Movies, music and most importantly me.....

Donna said too proud of herself.

Anuj (to himself) :- Yeh ladki bhi na...zara sa bhaav kya dedo...hawa me udne lgti hai...

Donna :- Did you say something?

Anuj :- kuch nahi....I mean nothing....now go for your dinner... aren't you getting late?....go or Harvey is gonna rant the next time we meet that I kept you from him on your anniversary....

Donna:- Oh shit....I have to leave... bye....I will send you the details of your schedule...since you hadn't heard a single thing I said earlier....

Anuj:- Okay now go.....

Donna was about to leave when Anuj called her from behind...

Anuj :- Donna....

Donna:- Yeahh....

Anuj :- Will you ask Harvey about....?

Donna :- I will.... don't worry...

Donna interrupted before he could complete and was about to leave....

Anuj :- Donna....

Anuj took a pause....

Anuj :- Thank you....thank you for everything...

Anuj said with gratitude in his voice.....

Donna gave him a reassuring smile...

And she left.....

Dinner was a quite affair at Kapadia house.

GK was tired from all the cooking and Anuj was busy in his phone checking his emails.

Seeing Anuj busy in phone, GK tried to initiate a conversation...

GK :- Are kitna kaam krega Maan....khana to sukoon se kha le.....

Anuj :- GK bas 2 min....

GK :- Tujhe kaam krta dekh ke to kbhi kbhi mai thak jata hoo....take a break maan...

Anuj:- okay GK....see...yeh phone gya silent pe aur side me....aab khush?

Anuj asked keeping the phone aside.

GK :- bilkul khush.... that's like my boy....chl yeh bta wo brunch date wali kaisi thi.....

Anuj:- GK aap bhi na...

GK :- Arey kya mai bhi na...bta to sii....kya kya baatein hui...?

GK said teasing Anuj.

Anuj :-GK mai wha meeting ke liye gya tha....

GK:- Haan to kisne kha ki meeting ke sath sath pyaar ki baatein nii ho skti Maan....mai to kehta hoo next meeting me shaadi ki baat bhi krle

Anuj :- GKKkkk......

Anuj said in a tone pleading him to stop....

GK:- Accha accha...theek h....nii krta mai shaadi ki baat...

Anuj :- Thank you....

GK :- Accha....aaj to Vikram ke sath meeting thi na teri....baat hui?

Anuj :- Haan GK bss abhi usi ke sath video call pe tha thode der pehle...

GK :- kya baatein hui....kaisa hai wo?

Anuj :- Theek hai GK.....bss kaam ki baatein hui....kuch updates the India wale office ke wii de rha tha...h bss yhi sb kaam ki baatein...

GK :- US aane ke bare me kuch nii bola....

Anuj smiled at this.

Anuj :- Actually wo India bula rha tha.....nye project ke launch ke liye....

GK :- Aur as usual tune mna kr diya hogaa....

Anuj :- GK aap to jante hai na...

GK :- Haan haan janta hoo....

Anuj again fell silent in his thoughts and GK was annoyed with his habit of not expressing himself

GK( said in a irritated voice) :- Ek to tu yeh hr baat pe silent kyu ho jaata hai maan....wo hoti na to tujhe silencer, devdas pta nii kya kya bulati....

Anuj chuckled at this....

Anuj :- GK agar wo hoti to....kisiko bolne ka mauka hi nii deti....khud hi bolti rehti....

GK:- wo hoti to yeh daal dhokli me khub sari hari mirch daal ke khati...

Anuj:- Aur fir complain krti ki yeh itni teekhi kyu hai...

GK chuckled...

GK :- Aur fir....aur fir...ice cream khane ki zidd krti....

Anuj and GK looked at each other with a smile on their face but pain in their eyes....

GK :- Uski bahut yaad aati hai maan....

GK said with a sob.

Anuj kept his hand on his shoulders comforting him...

Anuj :- Mujhe bhi GK....mujhe bhi....

GK :- Wo theek to hogi na....

Anuj :- Wo theek hai GK...wo bilkul theek hai...

GK :- Tujhe pta......

Anuj :- Last time jb check kiya tha to London me thi....she is doing pretty well for herself....

GK :- tum dono ke beech yeh dooriyaan....aab mujhse bardas nii hoti....kbhi kbhi man krta hai use sb kuch jakr bta doo....

Anuj's heart sank.

Anuj :- GK....aap aisa kuch nii krenge...infact iske bare me sochenge tak nii....

GK :- Janta hoo maan...teri kasam jo khayi hai nibhani to padegi....

Anuj :- GK hme....

Anuj closed his eyes and continued....

Anuj :- GK hme... hmesha se pta tha ki wo din kbhi na kbhi aayega....

GK :- Haan lekin yeh nhi pta tha ki wo din mere baccho ki zindagi me itni kadwahat bhar dega....

Anuj trying to control his emotions from giving up....

Anuj :- GK jo.....jo ho gya so ho gya.....aab bhul jaiye...

GK :- tu bhul gya h Anuj ?

Anuj was overwhelmed. He couldn't speak.....

GK:- 10 saal Anuj....10 saal ho gye use gaye hue....

Anuj took a deep breath and spoke....

Uski fitrat parindo si thi

Mera mizaz darakhto jaisa..

Uski fitrat parindo si thi aur

Mera mizaz darakhto jaisa...

Use udd jana tha....

Aur mujhe kayam hi rehna tha....

Saying this he smiled and left the room not wanting GK to see the pain behind his smile....

But GK did....he always did...

Anuj went to his room and laid on his bed looking at the ceiling when some memories flashed before his eyes.....

Anuj...Anujj.....tu kha tha itne dino se....Anu ki shaadi Tay ho gyi hai...aaj hi hai (Devika's voice)

Bunty.....tera scooter kyu nii start ho rha....

Anu doing Vanraj's aarti with a smile on her face...

Maaa.....Papa.....Mukkuuu....

Aap mujhe sach kyu nhi bata rhe bhai......

I hate you bhai......I hate you.....mai aapse nafrat krti hoo....

A lone tear escaped his eyes.

Life has been brutal. It took away everything he loved......the love of his life Anupamaa....his parents....his sister who he loved more than anything in this world.

GK was the only person he had and he was his everything....his mom...dad....sibling....friend...guide....philospher... everything.

Anuj fulfilled every responsibility he had towards his loved ones but never exercised his rights. He never complained about anything.

He knew life hasn't been fair to him yet everyday he woke up with a smile on his face and gratitude in his heart for everything God has blessed him with....a healthy life...GK....mukku who was not with him but atleast she was safe which he always ensured....... for it could have been much worse.

But there were some nights like this when he closed his eyes and wished to get rid of the loneliness that has engulfed him......wished for someone to be there by his side...wished someone was there to wipe his tears....to comfort him....to assure him that eventually everything will be okay....

But when he opened his eyes all he could find was an empty room and an empty heart......

That's it for this part.

Hope you like it.....

Here the story of Anuj's parents death and reason behind Malvika leaving is a bit different from the original one which will be revealed further in the story....

The shayaris are from Google.

The next part will be updated soon....

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