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Anupama was in the kitchen packing lunch for Devika who was sitting on the couch busy sending some mails on her laptop.

Anu:- Devika.....tera tiffin pack kar diya hai... office jaate time yaad se rakh lena...

Saying this she went to the dining table where her phone was kept and picked it up to find two missed calls from Samar.

She dialed his number but it was busy.

Anu:- Kabhi to phone utha liya kar Samar....

She was missing him and her eyes went to the family picture on the wall to get a glimpse of the son who she hadn't seen in weeks.

Suddenly she realised that she had left a family picture of hers on her office desk. She immediately searched her office bag for it but it wasn't there.

Anu:- Devika...

Devika:- Haan bol..

She answered looking down in her laptop.

Anu:- Us din Bunty ne office bag ke saath koi aur saaman nhi laaya tha kya?

Devika:- Nhi bas tera bag aur phone.....kyu...kya hua?

She asked casually still busy in her laptop.

Anu:- Nhi kuch nhi....ek photo frame thi mere desk pe meri aur baccho ki....kone me rakkhi thi shayad unhone dhyaan nhi diya hoga...

Devika:- To kya ho gaya.... office jaa ke leti aa....

Anu:- Kaisi baatein kar rhi hai?....mai office kaise jaa sakti hoo..?

Devika looked at her and spoke...

Devika:- Kyu nhi jaa sakti?

Anu:- Tu jaanti hai kyu....

Devika:- Anu tu wha apna saamaan lene jaa rhi hai...chori karne nhi...

Anu:- Lekin baaki sabko to yhi lagega na...

She let out a sigh.

Devika:- To kab tak logo ke dar se ghar me chupne ka irada hai....

Anupama stood silent.

Devika:- Anu....tune kuch galat nhi kiya hai...so tujhe logo ki baaton se fark bhi nhi padna chaiye....but still tujhe lagta hai ki tera wha jaana shi nhi hoga...to Bunty ko call karke bol de...wo lekar aa jayega....

Anupama thought a little and spoke...

Anu:- Nhi wo already mere liye itna kuch kar rhe hai....unko aise baar baar pareshan karna theek nhi hoga...mai unhe message karke puch lungi ki mai office aake apna saamaan le jaa sakti ya nhi....

Devika:- Jaisa tujhe theek lage...

She gave Anupama a warm smile and left to get ready for office.

Anupama took her phone from the table and texted Vikram that if she can come to the office to pick up her things and he replied with a yes.

She texted him a thank you and kept her phone on the table when it rang.

It was Samar calling and she picked up the call in a second.

On the call....

Anu:- Hello

Samar:- Hello Rockstar....kaise ho aap?

Anu:- Tu na mujhse baat na kar ne Samar.....ek to itne dino baad phone karta hai.....aur puch rha kaisii hoo...

Samar:- Sorry mummy classess me itna busy ho gaya tha ki time hi nhi mila...

Anu:- Bas bas hn...itna bahana maarne ki zarurat nhi hai...mai jaanti hoo tu khi busy wizy nhi tha...

Samar:- Are sach me...aajkal extra batches aur dance shows ka itna pressure hai time hi nhi mil pata....

Anu:- Do minute Maa ka phone uthane ka time nhi milta tujhe....are nhi baat kar sakta to mat kar....lekin yeh to bata diya kar ki tu theek hai ki nhi... tujhe pata hai mujhe teri kitni chinta hoti hai....

Samar:- Sorry mummy.....aage se dhyaan rakhunga....

And he chuckled a bit while saying this.

Anu:- Aab tu has kyu rha hai?

Samar:- Mai kha has rha hoo...

Anu:- Samar....

Samar:- Kuch nhi....bas itne dino baad aapki daant sunke accha laga...

Anu:- Tu ek baar Ahemdabad aa ne...fir daant ke sath sath ek thappad bhi padega....

Samar was silent.

Anu:- Kya hua Samar?...chup kyu ho gaya...

Samar:- Kuch nhi...aap bhi kya daant aur thappad ki baatein leke baith gaye....yeh sab chodo....aur batao aap kaise ho?

Anu:- Mai theek hoo bakuda...tu kaisa hai?

Samar:-Mai bhi bilkul theek hoo....infact awesome hoo bilkul aap ki tarah...

Anupama smiled at his antics.

Anu:- Chal bata ne....tera kaam kaisa chal rha....aur wha rehne me koi dikkat to nhi hoti....aur khana kaisa milta hai....tu khane me laparwahi to nhi karta ne Samar?....dekh tune zara si bhi laparwahi ki ne to....

She shot questions at him one after another

Samar:- Are bas bas shaant shaant...saans to le lo....kitne sawal puchoge....

He chuckled a bit and then continued...

Samar:- Umm....kaam bahut accha chal rha....rehne me koi bhi dikkat nhi hai....khana aapke haath jaisa to nhi but theek thak mil jata hai...aur most importantly mai khane me bilkul bhi laparwahi nhi karta kyuki mujhe pata hai agar aapko pata chala to aap mujhe apni masaledani me daal ke koot doge....

Anupama chuckled.

Anu:- Good boy....

Samar:- Hmm aab bahut ho gayi meri baatein....aab aap mujhe batao ki aapki job kaisi chal rhi?

Anupama stood silent. She wanted to share with Samar about all that happened but she knew it would make him anxious and he wouldn't be able to focus on his work. So she decided to keep quiet about it for the time being.

Samar:- Mummy kha kho gaye aap?

Anu:- Khi nhi bakuda...aur job meri acchi chal rhi thi....bas thoda break liya hai abhi college ki wajah se...

Samar:- Lekin aapka college to next week shuru hoga na?

Anu:- Haan wo....wo

She stammered a little.

Anu:- Wo kuch assignments pending the bas isiliye...

Samar:- Accha....pakka mummy...koi aur baat to nhi hai na?

Anu:- Nhi Samar....koi baat nhi hai...tu yeh sab chod ne....aur yeh bata tu Ahemdabad kab aa rha?

Samar didn't know what to say. He wanted to meet her but his guilt was holding him back.

Samar:- Pata nhi.....kaam ka pressure thoda zada hai to...Shayad abhi chutti nhi mil payegi...

Anu:- Lekin Samar...

Samar interrupted her.

Samar:- Sorry mummy...but abhi nhi aa paunga

Anu:- Theek hai lekin tu agar jald hi nhi aaya na mujhse milne to mai Mumbai aa jaungi...tu dekh lena...

Samar:- Okay mummy...mai aapse baad me baat karta hoo....ek important call aa rhi...bye....take care...

Saying this he cut the call.

Anu:- Aree...

She saw that the call was disconnected.

Anu(to herself):- Yeh ladka bhi na...

She let out a sigh realising that she shouldn't have mentioned Ahemdabad.

She went and stood in front of the little kanhaji's idol kept in her hall and prayed.

Anu:- Kanhaji mera bacche ko uske kaam me tarakki dijeyega....wo jaha bhi rahe bas khush rhe....uske upar koi bhi pareshani ka saya tak na aaye....dhyan rakhjo....

Anupama reached the floor she used to work on and stepped out of the elevator. As soon as she stepped out and walked towards her cubicle, all the eyes on the floor shifted onto her. Some were filled with pity....some with disgust....some were raised in question and others filled with accusations. She knew she wasn't welcome in the office and going there meant reliving the same accusations and insults again and again but decided to go anyways. She wasn't the one at fault and therefore had no reason to hide in her home afraid of the accusations from the people who know nothing about her.

She strode across the floor with her head held high and reached the cubicle. She searched for the photo on her desk but couldn't find it. She looked in the drawers but it wasn't there.

Fir se blue file dhundh rhi ho....

A voice commented and everyone in the office left out a chuckle.

Anu(to herself) :- Not again...

She turned around to face the person and well who could it be other than Vanraj Shah setting the perfect example of how not to behave in an office.

She let out a sigh.

Anu:- Mai blue file dhundhu na dhundhu Mr. Shah....lekin aap mujhe zaroor dhund lete hai...

Vanraj:- Kya karu....humara rishta hi kuch aisa hai...

He said with a smirk and she rolled her eyes at the comment.

Anu:- Humara koi rishta nhi hai Mr. Shah....apni galatfaimiya khud door kar lijeye nhi to mujhe karni padegi....

She said with a stern voice.

Vanraj:- Tumse rishta rakhna bhi kaun chahta hai....choro se wasta rakhna meri aadat nhi hai...

Anu:- To aap yha kya kar rhe hai?...na to is floor pe apka office hai na koi kaam....aapko nhi lagta aapki baatein aur harkate dono ek dusre ko contradict karti hai....ek taraf aap kehte aapko mujhse koi waasta nhi rakhna....aur dusri taraf mera samaan apne haatho me leke ghumte hai....

She said pointing towards the photo frame in his hand.

Anu:- Aur aapko nhi lagta....aapko kuch zada hi pata hai mere bare me....mai kaun si file dhundh rhi thi...kis colour ki dhundh rhi thi sabki knowledge hai apko...

Vanraj took a gulp as he realised he accidentally spoke about the file he knows nothing about according to everyone else.

He calmed his nerves and spoke out....

Vanraj:- Tumahre kaarname hi aise hai ki unki charcha pure office me ho rhi hai....file kaisi thi kaun si thi yeh mujhe kya pure office ko pata hai....aur rhi baat is photo frame ki to mujhe laga tum iske liye pareshan ho rhi hogi...afterall tumahre pass iske alawa bacha hi kya hai....isiliye maine tumahri desk se utha liya....socha tumhe de dunga....kyuki tum office to aane wali nhi...lekin mujhe kya pata tha ki tum itni besharam ho ki wapas se muh utha ke aa jaogii...

He taunted her to cover up the nervousness he was feeling after mentioning the file accidentally.

Anu:- Mr. Shah apni had me rahiye....aur mujhe yeh photo wapas kijeye....

Vanraj grinned handing her the photo frame which almost slipped from her hands but she caught it in time.

Vanraj:- Are are aaram se.....rishte to bache nhi....photo frame to bacha lo....

He smirked.

Anu:- Rishte abhi bhi mere hi hai....Mr. Shah...aur humesha mere hi rehenge...bhale kuch rishte abhi door ho....lekin ek na ek din wo dooriyan zaroor khatm hongi...aur mai us din ka besabri se intezaar karungi...

Vanraj chuckled at the statement.

Vanraj:- Tumhe lagta hai mai aisa hone dunga....mai apne baccho ka naam ek chor ke saath judne dunga....isiliye keh rha hoo...isse pehle ki puri duniya ko pata chale apni galti management ke samne maan lo aur yeh baat yhi khatm karo...

Anupama smirked seeing him make so much efforts to prove her guilty.

Anu:- Come on Mr. Shah....kab aap apni in bachkani harkato se baaz aayenge.....Pakhi ko bhejke mujhe emotionally blackmail karne ki kosis karna....aapko nhi lagta yeh kaafi outdated tricks ho gaye hai aapke liye bhi....

Vanraj:- Shukr manao ki Pakhi ko tumahre pass bhej rha hoo....agar bhejna band kar diya to taras jaogi usse milne ke liye...

Anu:- Aap bhul rhe hai ki abhi bhi mujhe Pakhi se weekends pe milne ki permission hai...

Vanraj:- Lekin kab tak rehegi....

He interrupted.

Anu:- Aap kehna kya chahte hai Mr. Shah?

Vanraj:- Kuch nhi bas yhi ki jab court ko pata chalega ki Pakhi ki maa chor hai to kya wo use Pakhi se milne ki permission denge....I don't think so.

Anupama stood silent trying to comprehend Vanraj's intentions.

Vanraj:- Tum soch rhi hogi court ko kaise pata chalega....well kabhi na kabhi to yeh khabar khi na khi chapegi hi aur us khabar ko court tak pahuchane ki zimmedari mai leta hoo...

Anu:- MR. SHAH

She yelled in frustration.

Vanraj:- Are bas bas...yeh awaaz aur energy baccha ke rakkho court me kaam aayegi....

He gave her a smirk and left.

Anupama stood frozen in her place realising what Vanraj was upto. Up until now, she was only worried about Vanraj manipulating Pakhi against her but now she realised he was using this fiasco to snatch her daughter away from her. The mere thought of loosing her daughter made her anxious and stressed. Vanraj has been playing his games with her and her kids all their life and she can't let that happen again..not this time.

She walked upto Ishika's desk and asked her if Vikram was busy. Ishika informed that Vikram was in a meeting and his schedule is pretty tight today and politely asked her to come later.

Anuj:- Shit shit shit!!!

He smacked the steering wheel while driving in frustration.

Anuj:- Mai itna late kaise ho sakta hoo....wha meri Anu problem me hai aur mai so rha tha....

He reprimanded himself for getting up late in the morning.

He had set three alarms on his phone before going to bed at night but the exhaustion and jet lag caught upto him and he couldn't hear the alarm in the morning.

The sound of the constantly ringing doorbell woke him up and he stirred up with a jolt. He immediately got out of bed and walked towards the door to open it and found Vikram's driver standing there.

Driver :- Good morning sir....Vikram sir ne aapke liye car bhijwayi hai....mai neeche aapka wait kar rha hoo...

Anuj was only half awake and could barely register the words he said. So he asked the driver to leave the keys with him and go home. He closed the door and yawned. Looking at his watch, he realised how late he was and immediately went to get ready for office. He didn't want to waste any time in getting ready so he grabbed the first suit he saw in his wardrobe. It was a black suit with a white shirt and he paired it with his silver Rolex and his usual rimless glasses that were a little loose.

He walked down to the car in his parking lot and headed for the office.

He blew the horn for the hundredth time pissed at the traffic in front of him.

Anuj:- I haven't hated the roads of Ahemdabad more in my life.

He said in frustration.

Finally a few moments later, the traffic cleared and the cars started moving. Anuj pressed the accelator and started driving at high speed overtaking other cars in dangerous turns. He finally neared the AK Group office and was about to park his car when a bike appeared out of nowhere. He had to take an abrupt turn to avoid an accident with the bike but instead he slammed his car into one of the Santro parked on the side of the road.

Anuj:- DAMN IT !!!

Anuj yelled in exasperation as nothing was going according to the plan today.

He loosened the seat belt and got out of the car slamming the door behind him. He turned around to look for the bike person but he was already gone.

He moved towards the Santro to have a closer look at the damage he has done and turned out it was pretty bad. The headlights on the back of the Santro were shattered and there were multiple dents on the body at the back.

Anuj:- Damn !!

He wanted to wait and apologize personally to the owner but he had no time. There was a board meeting next day and he wanted to find something to clear Anupama's name before that. So he immediately took out a piece of paper from the sticky notes kept in his car and wrote Donna's number on it with a sorry and stuck it on the windshield of the Santro.

He let out a sigh and walked into the office premises.

As he entered the office, the receptionist greeted him and he nodded in acknowledgement.

He took the elevator to the 28th floor on which Vikram's office was situated. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he felt a tug in his heart. He knew the feeling...the restlessness....a sense of someone's presence. He has felt it before when she was around and he is feeling it now.

He looked around hoping to spot a familiar face among the crowd but there was no one.

Anuj(to himself) :- Tu bhi kya soch rha hai Anuj....wo itna sab kuch hone ke baad office kyu aayegi....

He smiled at his restlessness as he realised it hasn't been a day in India and he is already imagining things. He brought his hand to the left side of his chest and gently caressed it trying to calm his pacing heart.

He took a few moments and then started walking towards Vikram's office. He saw Ishika having a conversation with someone whose back was to him in front of Vikram's office. He was about to get closer to the office when he was blocked by a bunch of over enthusiastic employees. They were very eager to meet the owner of the Kapadia empire for the first time and hence surrounded him in a circle greeting him and introducing themselves. Anuj appreciated their enthusiasm and acknowledged each one of them with a smile on his face. However his eyes kept darting to the figure of the lady wearing a long A line black kurti and white palazzos talking to Ishika near the office. He didn't know why but he was curious to see her but was being distracted by the employees. He realised if he doesn't get this over with, he would be stuck here for the entire day. So he shook everyone's hands and acknowledged the efforts they have been putting in for the company politely asking them to get back to work.

As soon as he was done with the meet and greet, he moved his eyes towards Vikram's office only to find the lady has disappeared.

He let out a sigh realising he has been doing everything today other than what he is supposed to do.

Anuj(to himself) :- Focus Anuj....Focus !!

He reminded himself of the issue at hand and went to Vikram's office.

Anupama was enquiring about Vikram's schedule from Ishika when she heard some sounds coming from the other end of the floor. She turned around to find almost all the employees were gathered in a circle greeting someone but she couldn't see his face.