"Kaha Kho Gyi Anu Beta....."

said Motibaa and Anupama came back to present.

"Kuch nai Moti Baa, mujhe Yaad Aa gye wo... "ANUJ"....college me bahut phamous the...Sab unhe Shahrukh Khan Kehke Bulate the..."

She had a bright smile on her face thinking about this man. His mere thoughts were like Fragrance of Mogra, which could fill her immediately with happiness and positivity but the reasons were unknown.

"Chal Anu...Ab baatein bahut ho gayi...Ab tu aaram kar."

She slept peacefully after such a long time.

~

"Sir we have studied our target customers. Its basically the college going students and the area has many elderly people residing there too. We need to cater both these age groups."

Said The head (Reasearch Team, Kapadia Group Of Industries)

"Now the question is how??

Okay guys, Good Work. I will look up into this. Mail me all reports regarding this. The meeting is dismissed."

Said Anuj, while being in deep thoughts regarding his new projects.

Anuj Kapadia was the King of Business World. There were many players in the market but nobody could touch his superiority for he was smart, practical and had a heart of gold. He knew how to make relations, not just with big companies but also with each and every employee working under him. That made him different from others.

This new project was very special to him in many ways. It opened gates for him to come back to his love.... to his home after 10 years, his kaka would not just talk about living in India but actually experience it again, it opened new avenues for Kapadia group to grow in Indian Market.

He was very serious about it and did not want to take any risk.

He was buried under his files when he saw the colourful tote bag lying on the couch kept opposite to the table of his cabin.

Anupamaa was getting bored as she did not have habit of sleeping at this time of afternoon. She was so used to working day and night that this leisure time was just not passing. She tried calling Vanraj to know about his well beings but no response. Baa told her that she got a call from him in the morning and that he was fine. She asked whether he inquired about her. She blatantly said -

"Mera Beta Itne bade desh me kaam karne gya hai. Uske paas itna sab baat karne ke liye teme nai hai samjhi. Tu to kabhi ghar ke bahar nikli nai, to tujhe kaise pata hoga kaam ki ehemiyat (*importance). Jo ghar ka kaam karti thi wo bhi ab mujhe hi karna pad raha hai.... huhhh"

She was used to these taunts by now. Its not like it did not effect her but she tried staying normal as she did not have any other option.

She thought of taking a walk in the lawn as sitting at one place was now making her uncomfortable. She was walking slowly while looking at the plants kept on the edges of the wall.

She was about to step on a broken glass piece stuck on the grass beneath her.

She felt her foot on something softer. Softer than the grass but hard enough to keep her balanced. She looked down and saw him looking straight into her eyes. His palm was holding her foot to protect her from that glass piece. She had to hold his shoulders to prevent from falling.

She got lost in his eyes which were brimming with love and care for her. His gaze did not make her feel uncomfortable even for a second.

He threw the glass piece away and then softly kept her foot on grass.

She was still not able to process what happened and got nervous. He stood up.

"Jai Shree Krishna...Aap yaha... mera matlab aap..wo..aise...yahaa"

"Sorry Anu...pama.... wo neeche kaanch ka tukda pada tha, tumhe lag jata isiliye maine hata diya."

She couldn't believe herself. How he always reached to save her on right time. How can he see things which she could not, even after being closer to them. She thought of saying so much but could only utter -

"THENKYOU...Aap yaha kaise"

Anuj was about to say something that Motibaa came out of the house.

"Arey Anuj Beta tum yaha....kaise ho tum??"

He touched her feet in repect and wished her first. He said

"Wo aunty Anu...pama ka bag meri Gaadi me reh gya tha kal to bas wahi dene aaya tha."

Anupamaa was shocked that the man who was no less than a page 3 model as he featured the headlines of newspapers almost everyday came all the way to return her 350 rupees worth bag!!

She immediately said -

"Aap itni door se mera bag lautane aaye hain!!!"

Anuj chuckled and said -

"Haa kyunki mujhe pata hai...auraton ki poori duniya unke bag me hoti hai.wo kisi bhi cheez ke bina manage kar sakti hai except apne bag ke"

All of them laughed. Anupama was smiling ear to ear. Moti Baa offered him to come inside. All of them sat on the Sofa in hall. Moti Baa called Leela and said -

"Arey Leela bahar aa.... dekh kaun aaya hai"

She came out of the kitchen and saw Anuj. She gave him really cold expressions.

Moti Baa introduced him to her. As soon as she heard he was business tycoon. Her face glowed and her greedy mind starting working to impress this guy.

She immediately went inside to get him Tea and snacks which shocked everyone as Leela never works "willingly".

Anupama offered to help her but Moti baa asked her to sit.

Anuj and Moti Baa were chatting as if they were best friends. Anupama was smiling looking at these two behaving like "Mele me bichdi hui behene" throughout their conversation. Finally he was about to leave when Moti Baa offered him to have lunch and Go. He could not deny.

Baa was annoyed at her. She thought to herself.

" Ek to Is Anupama ko bitha diya Maharani Jaise Aur

Mujhe Naukrani bana diya hai Baa ne. Upar se pata nai kaha kaha ke mehmaano ko khana khila rahi hai. Nai... mai itna sab kaam nai karoongi."

She fake called on the home's telephone from telephone kept in Vanraj's room and herself picked the phone. She told Moti Baa that her mother was very ill and she urgently needs to leave for Jamnagar.

She packed her bags immediately and left.

Anuj saw Anupamaa feeding Samar with her own hands while he was playing around her.

She said :

"Eeee Bakuda, mummy abhi tere saath nai bhaag sakti ne....khaana khaale ne beta. Samarrrrr....beta ruk"

A lone tear fell from his eyes. A feeling of emptiness struck him. The moment he was witnessing was so wholesome and full of love but it was not his own.

He thought of helping her and went near them He held Samar in his arms and said :

"Hello!! Mera naam Anuj Hai. Aapka naam kya hai?"

"Mela naam tamal hai....aap kon ho."

"Mai naa aapki mummy ka friend hoo. Agar Aap mujhse friendship karoge to mai aapko jaldi bada hone ka secret bataunga..."

Anupamaa looked widening her eyes after hearing "friend". He gestured her to take it easy.

Samar said :

"Otay mai aapka friend aur aap mele buddy. Ab mujhe bala hone ka secret batao..."

Anuj said while patting on his head :

"Jinko jaldi bada hona hota hai naa wo roz poora khaana time pe khatm karte hai. Aur mumma ko pareshan bhi nai. Maine bhi apni mumma ko nai kiya tha. Sacchi."

Samar immediately went to Anupamaa started having the food himself. He said while stuffing a big piece of thepla in mouth.

"Buddy mai ab jaldi bada ho jaungaa naa..."

Anuj smiled at his innocence and said

"Ji bilkul....ekdum jaldi bade aur strong bhi ho jaoge..."

Anupamaa looked at Anuj feeling content. Ever since Samar was born Vanraj was so busy with his professional life that he never spent time with kids or pampered them. Samar getting all the love from Anuj made her so happy. She was unknowingly feeling so good as Baa and Vanraj were not around to scrutinize every action of hers. She felt liberated around people who genuinely loved her. Although she did not know about Anuj's love for her but she already felt comfortable around him.

Moti Baa served Both Anuj And Anupamaa lovingly and the trio had time of their life while having lunch.

Anuj felt he was home finally. It was not the house or the country but the people who make you feel you are home and Moti Baa was one such person. Anuj had always craved for mother's love ever since his parents died in the road accident. He was closest to his mom. And she was exactly like her - loving, caring and extremely sweet.

After having Lunch Anuj saw Toshu struggling with his homework. He helped the kid to solve his problem. Toshu hugged him tightly and said thankyou making Anuj elated. He was a businessman who had everything but all he craved for was love of family. Although he had Mukku but she was hardly around as she was always travelling. He only had GK with him always. But the feeling of being around family was always missing.

He was giggling and playing with kids when he realised it was time to leave as it was very late. He spent the whole day in shah house.

As soon as he was about to leave, Dark clouds covered the sky and it started raining heavily.

The T.V was on and it forcasted that there was a cyclone alert in Gujarat and everyone was requested to stay at their homes as the wind was going to blow at the speed of 150 km/hr which could be very dangerous.

Moti Baa asked to stay with them for the night.

She said -

"Anuj beta chakravat aaya hai...aise me tumhara bahar jaana bilkul theek nai hai. Aaj raat tum yahi ruk jao."

Even Bapuji requested him to stay as it was too dangerous going out.

Anuj tried denying but they were adamant.

Anupamaa said -

"Dekhiye Kapadia ji hamara Ghar aapke ghar jitna bada to nai hai lekin aapko yaha koi talkleef nahi hogi. Baahar koi ped wed aap ke upar gir jaye usse acha hai aap yahi ruk jaiye"

Anuj and everyone else started laughing hearing her taunt.

She herself did not know how she said it. She was always very calculative when she spoke and Baa as Vanraj always misunderstood her and created a ruckus but with him infront of her, she did not care and feared saying it.

Anuj was still smiling at her remarks. He said :

"Dekhiye mohtarma Bade gharon me sirf tanhayi hoti hai aur yaha aapke is ghar me sirf mohabbat basti hai. Koi tanha nai hai yaha."

Anupama was looking at him with blank expressions. She did not understand a word.

She said to herself.

"Ye konsi bhasa me baat kar rahe hai...Kuch samajh nai aaya"

Anuj :

"Kuch kaha tumne..."

Anupamaa looked at him and gestured no.

He further said looking at Anupama :

"MotiBaa mujhe itni jaldi bhoot nai banna hai to mai aaj yahi ruk jaata hoo"

Everyone laughed again.

Everyone settled in their rooms. Anuj was given the guest room to stay. It was almost 2:30 am at night but he was not able to sleep. The thought of beautiful moments spent with Shah Family did not let him sleep. He thought of going in the terrace. He saw a notepad and pen kept on the table.

The rain had made the environment cold and nature was at its absolute best. The sky was a bit clear now and the bright full moon was visible. He sat on the bench and saw the moon. Its soft light gave him peace. He started writing

~

Aye chandani

Badi muddat ke baad tu chayi hai

Tu Dikhi

To zara kam lagti meri tanhayi hai

Barso Se

Tarsa Jis Phool Ke deedar Ko.....

As soon he lifted his head to see the moon again. He saw her standing there. Dressed in a light pink coloured Saree for night with her tresses unlocked. Pregnancy had already enhanced her glow, But her cheeks glowed even brighter in the soft moonlight. She looked nothing less than an angel.

He kept looking at her without blinking and recited.

~

Aaj Uski Mehek Ne Meri Raat mehkayi hai

Khwaab khoosurat tha magar

Haqeeqat ne neend udayi hai

Aaj meri Chandani

Khud chalkar mujhse milne aayi hai.....

~

Anupama saw him sitting on the bench and was shocked to see him awake at this time. Also she again did not understand a word he said. She walked towards him and asked -

"Aap itni raat ko yaha kya kar rahe hain. Sona nahi hai kyaa??"

Anuj chuckled and said -

"Yahi baat mai tumse bhi pooch sakta hoo naa"

Anupama smiled and gestured towards her baby bump :

"Wo mujhe to ye shaitan nahi sone de raha hai. Aaj kal bahut pareshan karne laga hai."

Anuj said -

"Achaa...waise mai pregnant nai hoo...par neend to mujhe bhi nai aa rahi"

She laughed so hard. He kept looking at her. She said -

"Yaa to aap jo bhi bolte hai mujhe hansi aa jati hai yaa to baat samajh me hi nai aati... Shayar Kapadia Ji....."

He laughed out aloud hearing "Shayar Kapadia" Nobody called him by that name earlier. He said :

"Arey koi na tum dheere dheere samajh jaogi. Waise mausam itna achaa hai....Chai chalegi "

"Daudegi...."

She said with a bright smile.

Sorry and thankyou so much for being so patient all this while. I know I am irregular with updates. I am really sorry for that. But I hope your wait was worth it. Tried writing a long one. Please tell me what you felt about the chapter and the story. ]

Awaiting your response!!

Happy Reading❤️❤️