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The morning sun shone softly on the streets outside the AK Group bringing it with a flurry of early morning activity that announced the begining of new day in Ahemdabad and a new chapter in Anuj's life.

A chapter that Anupama won't be a part of....

A thought that Anuj was still trying to convince himself of as he looked outside the window of his office.

He has been there since yesterday morning trying to bury himself in work for as long as possible to avoid thinking about Anupama. It used to be quite a easy task for him in US but now....when he was in India....so close to Anupama....dealing with his emotions was getting harder day by day. The shield he had spend years in building around himself was pierced by the hope that Anupama would someday be friends with him.

How did he even dare to hope of something like that?

He rebuked his heart deciding to go back to the way the things were before he met Anupama.

He needed to this for himself and for the people around him especially GK whose heart aches everytime he sees him gloomy or sad. The old man had spent his entire life taking care of him.....loving him....the least he can do is keep him happy in this age.

Taking a deep breath and switching off the emotions in his mind, he turned around only to find them back on.

Anuu....

He gasped.

Clad in a solid blue kurti paired with white pants, stood Anupama at the door waiting for Anuj.

Anu:- Sorry....yeh door khula tha and I was about to knock.....but tabhi aap...

She said apologizing for the intrusion but Anuj didn't listen to a word she spoke.

He was busy in his own world debating whether all this was real or just a fragment of his imagination while Anupama stood there looking at him gazing at her in confusion.

Not hearing him speak or react, Anupama decided to try again...

Anu:- Anuj...

She called and hearing his name from her mouth brought him out of his daze.

Anuj:- U...yes....yes...

He stuttered finding it difficult to gather his thoughts.

Anuj:- Tum....tum yha Anupama....I mean yha kaise?

He said trying hard to frame a sentence.

Anu:- Haan wo actually.....mujhe aapse job se related kuch baat karni thi....

She answered hesitantly which made Anuj more nervous than before.

Anu ko baat karni hai ya mana karna hai....

He thought as he braced himself for an answer.

Seeing him lost in thought, Anupama decided to leave assuming that she had come on a wrong time.

Anu:- Sorry mai aapko bina bataye aa gayi.....agar aap busy hai to mai....

She was about to say that she can come again later when Anuj interrupted her.

Anuj:- No no no....it's alright Anupama....you're most welcome....please take a seat.

He said pulling out a chair for her.

Anu:- Thank you...

She replied taking a seat while Anuj took a seat opposite her.

Anuj:- Tumhe kuch baat karni thi?

He asked wondering if she has come to reject the job offer.

Anupama:- Haan wo....mai yeh baat Vikram se karne aayi thi lekin unhe kuch kaam aa gaya subah to wo nhi aa paaye.....unhone kha ki mai aapse kar lu.....

She answered recalling her conversation with Vikram this morning.

Anuj:- Itni formality ki koi zarurat nhi hai Anupama.....jo bhi baat hai khul ke bolo....tumhe job ke baare me baat karni thi na?

He asked her to speak her mind without any hesitation while Anupama prepared herself to address another issue before going onto the one related to job.

Anu:- Haan wo to karni thi....lekin usse pehle mujhe kuch aur bhi kehna hai....

She spoke with hesitation that didn't go unnoticed by Anuj.

Anuj:- Kya?

He inquired.

Anu:- Sorry....

She said baffling Anuj.

Anuj:- Sorry?

He asked confused.

Anu:- Haan sorry....

She stated again taking a pause before continuing.

Anu:- Jitni baar bhi hum mile hai....utni baar maine kabhi anjaane me kabhi jaan kar aapse bahut berukhi se baat ki hai....pehle party me aapko daant diya aur fir parso....

She stopped mid sentence thinking of how rudely she refused his help that day.

Anu:- I am really sorry...

She apologized regretting her past behaviour.

These words from her mouth troubled Anuj more than her rudeness ever did.

From the time he had came back to India and have met her, everytime he had seen her....she has been apologizing to one or the other person for mistakes she never did.

Not being able to see her drown in guilt, he decided that he would try to be one of those people she would never have to apoologize to.

Anuj:- Anupama please... it's completely fine....mujhe to wo baat yaad bhi nhi thi.....

He said trying to ease Anupama out of her remorse but Anupama was adamant on apologizing.

Anu:- Aap sach me bahut acche hai.....but it's not fine....I have been very rude to you when all you have done is try to help me.

She said feeling guilty while Anuj tried to relieve her of it.

Anuj:- Anupama....Kisi se help na lena ya lene se mana kar dena....rude nhi hota.....infact that day.....you reminded me of college wali Anupama.....jo sab kuch khud karti thi....jise aage badhne ke liye kisiki help ki zarurat nhi hoti thi....I m glad I got a glimpse of her after so long.

He explained her that there is nothing to be sorry about and infact he was glad that she is back to being herself.

However, Anupama wasn't convinced. She tried to argue with his statement but before she could Anuj stopped her.

Anuj:- Isse pehle ki tum dubaara sorry bolo.....let me tell you it's absolutely fine....mujhe bilkul bhi bura nhi laga.

He stated but Anupama being her couldn't stop herself from apologizing again.

Anu:- Still sorry....

She said again making Anuj click his tongue.

Anuj:- Yeh sab chodo aur mujhe yeh batao ki tumne job ke baare me kya socha hai?

He asked changing the topic to something that he wanted to get over with.

Anu:- Sochte to hum bahut kuch hai....par hota whi hai....jo kanhaji chahte hai.

She stated plainly making Anuj twirl the magnets between his fingers more and more anxiously.

Anu:- Jaise kanhaji chahte thi ki talaak ke baad mera parivaar mujhse.....

She started out to express her feelings about the divorce but stopped midway realising no one really cares about it.

However, Anuj did care about it.

Looking at Anupama suppress her emotions was not only painful but heart wrenching for him. He desperately wanted her to continue so that she could get rid of the burden of pain she has been carrying with her all these years but as expected she didn't.

Anuj:- Anupama....

He nudged her a bit wanting and hoping that she would continue but Anupama moved on from the topic.

Anu:- Wo kya hai na.....Parivaar ke saath rishta bhale tut jaaye....lekin zimmedariyon ki dor kabhi nhi tutati....waise hi meri bhi nhi tuti hai......mujhpar aaj bhi bahut saari zimmedariyaan hai....mere ghar ki....parivaar ki....bado ki....choto ki.....sabki....Aur zimmedariyaan uthate uthate yeh kandhe itne mazboot ho gaye hai ki ek aur zimmedari se aab dar nhi lagta....

She added getting to the point.

Anu:- Isiliye meri taraf se is job ke liye haan hai....

She said accepting the job offer.

The fingers that were aggressively twirling the magnets in anticipation a few seconds before stopped moving hearing those words come out of Anupama's mouth as the person who was moving them was taken aback by surprise by the sudden reveal.

Anuj.....who had convinced himself of the fact that Anupama would reject the offer.....was not able to believe that she just said yes to it.

Anuj:- Ek minute tumne abhi kya kha?

He asked for confirmation fearing that he had heard wrong.

Anu:- Yhi ki meri taraf se is job ke liye haan hai....

She answered confirming her acceptance of the offer but Anuj still wasn't convinced.

Anuj:- Haan ?

He asked again still not being able to believe it.

Anu:- Haan.

She replied with a bit confused smile witnessing his odd behaviour.

Anuj:- Anupama are you sure?

He inquired wondering if Anupama had taken the job under some kind of pressure.

Anu:- Yes....but if you aren't then....

She answered thinking that he isn't sure about hiring her.

However, before she could underestimate herself further, Anuj interfered saying....

Anuj:- Tum kaisi baatein kar rhi ho....I am sure....I mean we are sure......I would....I mean we would be lucky to have you work on this project.

He replied fumbling his words in excitement.

Anuj:- Thank you so much for saying yes.

He thanked her and God internally for this pleasant surprise.

Anu:- Thank you Anuj...

She said expressing her gratitude for the job but all Anuj could focus on was his name coming out of her lips.

Fir se usko sunna

Aab meri zarurat ho gaya

Tune liya to naam mera

Aur bhi khoobsurat ho gaya

After being called Mr. Kapadia a day before, the sound of his name from her mouth came as a soothing relief to his ears instilling in him a hope that the things....if aren't better....are also not worse.

Anuj:- Sorry?

He said scratching his ears pretending to not have heard what Anupama said earlier.

Anu:- Hn?

She asked not being able to understand him.

Anuj:- Umm.....matalab kya kha tumne?

He replied asking her to repeat herself again and she did.

Anu:- Thank you, Anuj.

She said with a pleasant smile on her face but Anuj wanting to hear his name again pretended not to understand her.

Anuj:- Huh?

He exclaimed.

Anu:- Thank you, Anuj.

She repeated herself providing some relief to Anuj's anxious heart that had been worried since the day she called him Mr. Kapadia.

Anuj:- Thank you, Anupama.

He thanked her for repeating herself and Anupama who had something else on her mind gave him an awkward smile.

Anu:- Ek baat hai.....

She said wanting to talk about something.

Anuj:- Anupama jo bhi baat hai...tum khul ke keh sakti ho...

He stated giving her the assurance to speak her heart out.

Anu:- Anuj.....Maine aaj tak jo bhi kaam kiye hai....mere liye wo bahut bade hai......aap jaise bade aadmi ke liye wo bade mamooli chote kaam hote honge....par mere liye to ghar se bahar nikalna bhi sagar langhne jaisa tha....

She said recalling the days when she was confined to the four walls of the Shah House.

Anu:- Fir pehli baar school me job lena....apni khud ki dance academy kholna....wapas se angrezi sikhana....aur apni padhai puri karna....mai ghar se bahar zarur nikli hoo....par ghar se bahar bhi meri duniya bas choti si hi hai.....college se dance academy.....dance academy se ghar.....

She added mentioning her small achievements that were her pride oblivious to the fact that he was proud of them to.

Anu:- Wo aajkal ke bacche hote hai ne....jo humesha kisi na kisi kaam me vyast hote hai......koi kisi job me.....koi internship me....ya fir koi apni skills badhane me.....humesha kuch na kuch seekhne ki kosis me rehte hai....

She went on to talk about the kids who spend their time trying to improve themselves and he listened to her patiently without causing any interruption.

Anu:- Mai waisii bilkul bhi nhi thi....peechle satayis saalo me mere resume me experience ke naam pe agar kuch hai to wo hai wo internship jo maine is company me ki thi.....

She expressed her concern turning the smile on Anuj's face into a frown which he tried his best to hide.

Anu:- Maine haan to kar di hai.....lekin sach kahu to mujhe pata bhi nhi hai ki is job ki mere se kya demands hongi......bas itna pata hai ki is kaam ko dene ke liye mere pass itna hi experience aur exposure hai....

She added trying to make Anuj aware that she is not as competent as others for the job.

Anuj:- Jitna hai utna kaafi hai....

Anuj disagreed.

He was not fond of Anupama's habit of doubting herself again and again.

He decided to address the matter but carefully without crossing any boundaries.

Placing his magnets on the table, he looked at her and spoke....

Anuj:- Honestly jab Vikram ne mujhe bataya tha ki usne tumhe yeh job offer ki hai to I wasn't very sure about it.....because it was a very different profile than usual.

He said putting the situation as it was when he discussed it with Vikram.

This statement of his added more into Anupama's fear of not being able to live upto his expectations and she started looking down at her hands.

Anuj:- But Jab Vikram ne mujhe tumhara kaam dikhaya....I knew at that very moment ki agar mere is project ko koi naya perspective de sakta hai to wo sirf tum hi ho.....

He added with a voice that was a hundred percent sure of his decision making Anupama lift her gaze up from her hands.

Anuj:- Dekho Anupama.....agar mujhe koi experienced person is job ke liye chahiye hota to mai unhe hi hire karta.....but this job doesn't require experience....it needs ideas....fresh ideas....jo shayad sirf ek fresher hi provide kar sakta hai.....

He explained further trying to address her concern about inexperience but instead of solving her confusion....he added to it.

Anu:- But Anuj....I am not a fresher...

She replied baffled by his explanation.

Anuj:- Anupama....By fresher I don't mean someone who is young.......but someone who is up to date with today's way of working or ideas.....jiske andar wo junoon ho.......kuch naya karne ka.....kuch naya sochne ka....kuch naya seekhane ka...aur trust me wo junoon mujhe tum me dikhata hai....

He clarified.

Anuj:- Point yeh nhi hai Anupama ki tumne peechle satayis saalo me kya seekha kya nhi....point yeh hai ki tumne un satayis saalo me apne seekhane ki chah ko marne nhi diya.....use zinda rakkha aur.....aab satayis saal baad apni us chahat ko pura karne ki kosis kar rhi ho.....and that's commendable.

He added praising her efforts to learn new things even at this age.

Anuj:- Aur rhi baat is job ki.....to is job ki demand sirf imaandari dedication aur creativity hai....jo I am sure tum me bharpur hai.

He stated giving her the much needed confidence.

From the time Anupama decided to take the job offer after her talk with Devika, she had this uneasy feeling in her heart that said she won't be able to do it but the way Anuj addressed her every concern and fear today rekindled her faith in her own abilities.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke...

Anu:- Lekin creativity to tab dikha paungi na jab mujhe is project ke baare me kuch pata hoga...

She said indirectly indicating Anuj that his pep talk worked making him grin in excitement.

Anuj:- Ofcourse.....of course.

He said elated by her remark still not being able to believe that he would be working with her.

Anuj:- Yeh is project ki file hai.....ise dhyaan se padh lena aur koi bhi query ya doubt ho to tum mujhse bejhijak puch sakti ho....

He added handing Anupama the file of the project and reassured her that he would be there for her in case any doubt or queries arises in her mind.

Anu:- Iske liye ek aur thank you.

She said thanking him again for being so open to help.

Anuj:- Baap re.....Itne sare thanks ke liye to mujhe ek gullak rakhni padegi.....

He remarked playfully making Anupama chuckle aloud.

Seeing her loosen up a bit and laugh around him, Anuj felt a lot relieved and happy.

A smile on her face was all his heart needed to forget the events of the past.

As her laugh subsided, she noticed his gaze on her forcing her to address the issue she never wanted to.

Anu:- Anuj ek aur baat karni thi mujhe aapse....

She spoke hesitantly which made Anuj shift his gaze away from her.

Anuj:- Ka....kaho na...

He said with a half smile praying that she hadn't noticed him staring at her.

Anu:- Mujhe baaton ko ghuma ke kehna nhi aata isiliye jo bhi hai seedhe seedhe hi kahungi....

She stated in a serious tone giving Anuj an idea that the following conversation is going to be awkward.

Anu:- Hum college me saath the....aab kaam me bhi saath honge....par asal me aap mere boss honge aur mai aapke liye kaam karungi....to aap mere saath waisa hi bartaav kariyega jaisa aap apne baki employees ke saath karte hai.....jaise sab waisii mai.....

She asserted on the issue that she shouldn't be treated any differently just because she is associated to him from college.

It was a pretty unusual demand from that of the others. The whole world wanted to flaunt their association with Anuj Kapadia but here was Anupama asking him to not give her any kind of special treatment just because she was associated with him.

She was indeed unique and that is what he loved about her.

He nodded acknowledging her demands with a proud smile leaving Anupama no choice but to move to the most awkward part of the conversation.

She didn't even want to bring up the matter but the events of the past few days had forced her to discuss it.

Anxiously fiddling with her fingers, she spoke....

Anu:- Anuj wo.......college me aapke man me jo bhi tha....

She paused leaving the sentence midway for Anuj to contemplate.

As Anuj understood what she was referring to, his heart stopped for a minute thinking of all the consequences it might have but he tried to maintain a straight demeanor not wanting to make her feel more awkward than she already was.

Anuj:- Usse kabhi bhi tumhe koi pareshaani nhi hogi Anupama...

He said assuring Anupama that he would never cross any boundaries with her which she already knew.

Anu:- Mujhe pata hai aapke man me kuch nhi hoga....par fir bhi pehle se keh dena chahti hoo....bhale hi aab mai ek patni nhi hoo....lekin ek maa....ek beti....ek saas hoo aur humesha rahungi....mai aapke saath kaam kar rhi hoo par isse zada aur iske alawa mujhse koi aur umeed mat rakhiyega.

She clarified not wanting to give him any kind of hope but little did she knew.....he has lived without it for twenty seven long years. Her words were not something that he wasn't aware of but coming from her....it pricked him more.

However, he had promised himself to never hope again long ago.....all he needs to do now....is to maintain that promise.

Anuj:- Nhi karunga.

He said reassuring her of the same.

Anu:- Agar aapko bura laga ho to sorry....

She apologized for bringing up the issue while he just smirked at her not surprised.

Leaning a bit back into his chair and twirling the magnets between his fingers, he spoke....

Anuj:- Maine tumse pehle bhi kaha hai Anupama.....mujhe yeh dekh ke bahut accha lagata hai ki tum apne dil ki baat kitni saadgi se sabke saamne rakh deti ho........apne dil ki baat ko seedhe seedhe kehne ka hunar har kisike pass nhi hota....