Samar......tu apne khane peene pe dhyaan de raha hai na?

Anupama asked over the phone as she got off from the auto rickshaw in front of her dance academy.

Samar:- Yes sweetheart.....mujhe aapki daant thodi khani hai ki mai apne khane peene par dhyaan nahi dunga.

He answered in his extra sweet voice that made Anupama chuckle.

Anu:- Good.

She replied as she paid off the driver and was about to enter her academy when Samar spoke.

Samar:- Accha mummy suno na....aapko kuch batana tha mujhe.

He said and Anupama stopped at the threshold knowing that it will be difficult to have a conversation over the phone inside the academy due to constant noise.

Anu:- Haan bata ne....

She asked him to continue while she stayed back outside looking at a dance class going on inside from far.

Samar:- Wo maine na ek corporate event me perform karne ke liye audition diya tha....uske initial round me mera selection ho gaya hai.

He stated and Anupama was elated by the news.

Anu:- Kya......sach?

She asked surprised and Samar confirmed it.

Samar:- Haan matalab.....abhi final nahi hai.....kal mai jaunga......wo log ek aur baar mera dance dekhenge....fir decide karenge.

He said hesitantly citing that the deal is not final yet and Anupama understood his hesitation.

Anu:- Tu chinta mat kar.....sab acche se hoga.

She assured him but Samar was worried about something else.

Samar:- Haan wo to theek hai but.....

He began to express the reason behind his hesitation but stopped midway thinking that it would sound silly.

Hearing him not speak, Anupama wondered what was bothering him and hence she decided to ask.

Anu:- Kya hua Samar?....Bol na.

She inquired feeling concerned and Samar couldn't help but express his fears.

Samar:- Mummy maine kabhi aise corporate event me perform nahi kiya hai......pehli baar kar raha hoo.....isiliye dar lag raha hai ki kahi kuch gadbad na ho jaaye.

He said and a smile formed on Anupama's face.

Anu:- Kuch gadbad nahi hogi Samar.....kanhaji pe bharosa rakh.....wo sab theek kar denge.

She stated understanding Samar's nervousness.

Anu:- Aur waise bhi....thodi ghabrahat hona aur dar lagna to normal hai bakuda.....isi ghabrahat se pata chalta hai ki hum apne kaam se kitna pyaar karte hai....isiliye tu sirf apne dance pe dhyaan de aur baaki sab kanhaji par chod de.

She added asking him to focus on his dance instead of getting worried that something might go wrong but Samar was still nervous.

Samar:- Fir bhi mummy...wo....mai....

He spoke and Anupama realised that Samar's current job situation was taking a toll on his self esteem.

Her all time self confident son was feeling low today and she needed to do something.

Anu:- Samar.....tujhe yaad hai do saal pehle mujhe wo Sweety ke school ki principal ne home science teacher ki ek job offer ki thi?

She inquired and Samar wondered what her job has to do with his situation.

Samar:- Haan.....aapki pehli job...mai kaise bhul sakta hoo.

He answered nonetheless and Anupama followed with another question.

Anu:- To fir to tujhe yeh bhi yaad hoga ne ki uske interview se pehle mai kitna dari hui thi....aur tab tune mujhse kya kaha tha?

She asked and Samar was immediately reminded of their conversation that day.

Mummy wo principal hai school ki.....sher nahi ki aapko kha jaayengi......aap kaise kapde pehante ho ya kis bhasha me baat karte ho usse unko ko koi farak nahi padta.....wo aapko aapki skills ke basis pe job offer kar rahi hai....aur yeh to aap bhi jaante ho ki aap home science me best ho.....isiliye tension lena chodo aur kal jaake unse baat karo jaise aap mujhse ya Devika Masi se karte ho.....be yourself....simple and stunning !!!

These were the words he had said to his mom to ease her nervousness and today he realised she was doing the same by reminding him.

Not being able to form an answer, he remained silent when Anupama spoke....

Anu:- Yaad aaya?

She questioned and Samar replied in a yes.

Samar:- Haan.

He said meekly.

Anu:- Tab to mujhe kuch bhi nahi aata tha Samar....na chaar logo me uthna baithna.....na unse baatein karna.....lekin tujhe to sab kuch aata hai....logo se baat karne se leke dance tak.....tu har cheez me confident aur apni jagah best hai.

She stated reminding him of his skills and he felt his nervousness leaving him.

Anu:- Isiliye tension lena chod aur kal waha jaake apna best performance de......I am sure wo log tujhse zaroor impress honge....afterall tu mera Rockstar jo hai.

She reassured him and Samar was overwhelmed by her words.

Samar:- Thank you mummy....is pep talk ke liye.....bahut miss karta hoo mai ise aur.....aapko.

He said feeling a bit emotional and Anupama did too hearing this.

Anu:- Mai bhi....tujhe bahot bahot bahot miss karti hoo bakuda.

She stated flicking a tear from the corner of eyes when Samar changed the topic.

Samar:- Accha mummy.....mujhe aapse ek help chahiye thi.

He asked looking for some help and Anupama replied in a yes without even knowing what it was.

Anu:- Haan bol na...

She said.

Samar:- Agar un logo ko mera dance accha lagta hai aur wo log mujhe hire kar lete hai to kya mai Nandu ko yaha thode din aur rok sakta hoo?

He inquired and took a pause to explain further.

Samar:- Actually aise corporate events me choreography bahut matter karti hai......aur aapko to pata hi hai ki maine dance studio chod diya hai.....isiliye mujhe Nandu ki help ki zarurat hai....

He added explaining her the full scenario and Anupama wondered why he was asking for her permission.

Anu:- Haan to tu yeh Nandu se puch na.....mujhse kyu puch raha hai?

She questioned.

Samar:- Nandu se baat ho gayi thi....wo ready hai.....lekin hum dono ko tension ho rahi hai ki agar wo yaha rehegi to aap college aur office ke saath dance academy kaise sambhaloge.

He answered worried about her dance academy and Anupama sighed at this.

Anu:- Tu uski chinta mat kar Samar.....mai sab sambhal lungi.....dance sikhane ke liye dance trainers rakkhe hi hai maine....aur rahi baat....accounts aur admissions wagaira ki to wo mai shaam ko aake dekh leti hoo.

She said assuring him that she can handle the dance academy alone but Samar wasn't convinced.

Samar:- Sure?

He asked.

Anu:- Haan sure.....aur agar tujhe aur kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho to....

She confirmed and was about to offer some more help but Samar refused it even before she could mention.

Samar:- Nahi nahi mummy..... don't worry.....mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye.....aur Nandu ko bhi rokna baad ki baat hai.....pehle wo log mujhe hire to kare.

He said and Anupama reassured him.

Anu:- Zaroor karenge.....tu bas kal jaa aur apna best de.

Samar:- Okay Rockstar.....aab mai aapse baad me baat karta hoo.....kal ke liye preparation karni hai.....bye take care.

He bid her bye and Anupama spoke with a smile.

Anu:- Bye....tu bhi apna dhyaan rakhna.

She said.

As the call disconnected, Anupama took a moment to thank her kanhaji for giving her son an opportunity at such a crucial time.

Kanhaji aapka bahut bahut dhanyawad mere Samar ko yeh mauka dene ke liye.....aab bas kal sab theek rakhiyega.

She prayed with folded hands as she entered the dance academy.

Giving a small smile to the dance trainers who were busy teaching a class, she went directly to her office but as soon as she entered, her legs froze as her eyes fell on the person sitting in front of her.

It was no one but Anuj sitting on a chair near her desk twirling the magnets between his fingers with his head resting on his right hand and his mysterious eyes fixed on her.

As their eyes locked, the music on the speakers in the dance academy changed from something upbeat to something that narrated the condition of Anuj's heart perfectly the moment Anupama stepped into the office.

Dil hai ki maanta nahi...

The verse played and Anuj's lips curled up into a smile.

Dil hai ki maanta nahi...

He looked at her and the expression on her face said that she was surprised to see him there.....may be happily surprised.....as her eyes suggested.

Mushkil badi hai...

Rashm-e-Mohabbat...

His heart skipped a beat at the thought of it but his brain calmed it down before his eyes could give away all the love and longing that he had felt for her in twenty seven long years.

Yeh jaanta hi nahi....

Masking his feelings but maintaining the smile that he had on his face, he waived a "hii".

Dil hai ki maanta nahi...

Anu:- Aap?

She gasped as the lyrics of the song disappeared into silence and the hustle bustle of the dismissed class students took over the atmosphere.

Anu:- Aap yaha kaise?

She questioned and Anuj realised that he had really surprised her today.

Anuj:- Bas dil kiya to aa gaya.

He answered and Anupama was left confused.

Anu:- Huh?

She asked, perplexed.

Anuj:- Haan....aana hi pada....tumahri dance academy jo dekhni thi.

He said leaning a bit forward on the table hoping to have answered all her questions but Anupama's list of questions didn't seem to end.

GK and Anuj had once in the office expressed their wish to visit her dance academy and hence, she had invited them.

However, a few days later, GK did come but Anuj didn't and neither did she expect him to knowing how busy he was always with his work.

So, today when he said that he had come to see her dance academy that too when office hours weren't over, it really left her in great astonishment.

Anu:- Aap apna sara kaam chod kar meri dance academy dekhne aaye hai?

She wondered as she walked in and put her purse on the table while Anuj grinned in response.

Anuj:- Kyu?.....nahi aa sakta kya?

He asked adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

Anu:- Nahi mera matalab wo nahi tha......maine to bas isiliye bol rahi thi ki aap already itne busy rehte hai.....to aise me meri choti si dance academy dekhne ka samay.....matalab yun acchanak se yaha aane ka...

She started babbling in nervousness but Anuj put a stop to it by breaking into one of his shayaris.

Aana jana sab kismat hai...

Khona paana sab kismat hai.

Sabse gehra dard...

Hai dil ka thikana.

Yeh bhi to sab kismat hai.

He recited and as always Anupama had no clue what his words meant.

Anu:- Seedhe seedhe boliye na Anuj....

She requested making a cute innocent face and Anuj couldn't help but admire how adorable she was.

Anuj:- Bol du?

He questioned with a little smirk as he stood up from his chair and walked up to her and she gave him an exasperated look thinking why he can't just give a straight answer.

Anuj:- Bol du?

He asked again suppressing a smile looking at her irritated face but this time Anupama stared at him sternly.

One look and Anuj knew he shouldn't mess with her anymore.

Anuj:- Aab agar kismat me hi baar baar takrana likha hai to aise hi takrayenge na.

He answered immediately putting a stop to it and Anupama looked at him amused.

Anu:- Anuj.....hum dost hai aur ek hi office me kaam karte hai....humare baar baar takrane me kismat ka koi haath nahi hai.

She said letting out a chuckle and Anuj scratched the back of his neck mumbling something.

Kaise batau mai tumhe ki har cheez me logic dhundana zaroori nahi hota Anupama....

He whispered under his breath but Anupama noticed it.

Anu:- Kya?....kuch kaha aapne?

She inquired not being able to hear what he said and Anuj quickly covered it up.

Anuj:- Nahi nahi....mai to bas yeh keh raha tha ki humare baar baar takrane me bhale kismat ka haath ho na ho.....lekin aaj mere yaha aane me zaroor hai.

He replied and Anupama raised her eyebrow in question.

Anu:- Aap keh rahe hai ki aapki kismat aapko yaha leke aayi hai?

She inquired and Anuj knew she was really tired of these talks about destiny.

Anuj:- Meri nahi....tumahri.

He answered clearing it up but Anupama looked baffled.

Anu:- Huh?

She let out in bewilderment and Anuj grinned putting an end to it.

Anuj:- Peeche dekho....

He said pointing towards the door behind her and Anupama hesitantly turned around to look at it.

However, what she saw there stunned her.

Near the door of her office, stood her daughter Pakhi in her school uniform with a trophy in one hand and the school bag in the other, casually smiling at her.

Anu:- Sweety...

She breathed and Pakhi instantly came and hugged her.

Pakhi:- I missed you mummy.

She said as Anupama hugged her back.

Anu:- I missed you too Sweetie.

She replied, planting a kiss on her hair.

Anupama had met Pakhi just a week ago but their interaction had been so cold due to the ongoing situation that she wished if she could get one more chance to hug her tightly and say how much she loves her.

However, with Vanraj keeping a close eye on Pakhi, it seemed that it could be months before she sees her daughter again but all thanks to her kanhaji , it took only a week before she got to hug her again.

She had a million questions in mind as to how did Pakhi come to meet her despite Vanraj's opposition but she kept all of them aside for later and cherished the moment she was having with her daughter.

Meanwhile, Anuj stood on the side admiring the mother daughter duo and at the same time thanked his kanhaji for having him meet Pakhi. If he hadn't met her in school, this moment of pure joy, he was witnessing right now, wouldn't have occurred and he would have missed the chance of seeing a genuine smile on his love's face after so long.

As they broke apart from the hug, Anupama caressed Pakhi's face and asked the question that was bugging her since the moment she saw her.

Anu:- Sweety......tu yaha.....tune papa ko bataya ki tu....

She was about to inquire whether Vanraj knew about Pakhi visiting her today or not but before she could, Pakhi interrupted her.

Pakhi:- Wo sab mai aapko baad me bataungi.....pehle aap yeh dekho.

She said as she ecstatically showed her trophy to her mother and Anupama was instantly reminded of the dance competition.

Anu:- Sweety.....yeh tune....

She uttered, taking the trophy from her hand and gently caressing the text inscribed on it.

Earlier, whenever Anupama gave any suggestion to Pakhi regarding the songs or the dance form she should perform in school, her idea was dismissed as uncool or too desi but the same suggestion from Kavya was embraced by the entire family.

However, this time, things were different. Pakhi not only took her suggestion of performing on an Indian classical song but also worked hard to win a trophy in it that too for the first time and this whole thing left Anupama too overwhelmed to speak.

Meanwhile, Pakhi anxiously waited for Anupama's reaction. She wanted to know what her mother thought about the prize and was getting impatient by every second but then her eyes fell on Anuj and he gestured her to relax.

Pakhi:- I know mummy......yeh first prize nahi hai but jo bhi hai yahi hai.

She said meekly and Anupama was surprised by her statement.

She didn't mean to make her daughter feel that the trophy wasn't good enough. Instead she wanted to tell her how proud she was of her for trying something new for the first time and being so good at it.

Anu:- Jo hai......wo bahut bahut bahut accha hai maari Sweetudi.

She stated with a proud smile as she handed the trophy back to Pakhi and Pakhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Anu:- I'm proud of you for trying something new and working so hard to be good at it. It really means a lot to me.

She added holding Pakhi's face between her hands and then doing a classic "Thu Thu Thu '' to ward off any evil eyes from her daughter while Pakhi scrunched her nose in embarrassment.

Anuj noticed this change in Pakhi's expression and chuckled thinking about what caused them.

This brought Anupama's attention towards him and the million questions she had kept aside to cherish the moment with her daughter started bugging her again.

Anu:- Anuj....ek minute aap Pakhi ke saath.....aur Pakhi tu yaha pe....kaise?

She inquired looking at Anuj feeling baffled by seeing him and Pakhi together at the same place and at the same time.

Meanwhile, Anuj started looking here and there wondering if he should bother her by telling the true course of events that had led to this situation or keep it to himself to avoid causing her any stress.

However, before he could make up his mind, Pakhi began...

Pakhi:- Mummy wo....

She started but before she could continue further, Anuj looked at her and nodded in a no.

This didn't go unnoticed by Anupama and she looked at Anuj demanding answers for this gesture but Anuj immediately made something up.

Anuj:- Anu wo....actually Pakhi ka jo school hai na.....waha aaj cultural fest me mai invited tha as a guest......to wahi pe hum dono mile......Pakhi ko maine bahar aise akele school hours ke baad auto ka wait karte dekha.....to socha use drop kar du.

He explained in short leaving out every detail that might stress her and Pakhi realised this.

Pakhi:- Hh....haan wo umm....mummy.....hum aise hi mile.

She tried to confirm what he said but Anupama was suspicious especially after hearing Pakhi stutter.

Anu:- Jhooth bol rhe hai aap dono.

She alleged in a straight tone and Anuj was stunned how could she know.

Anuj:- Hum kyu jhooth bolenge yrrr......tum bhi kaisi baatein kar rahi ho.

He tried to cover it up but Anupama knew there was something fishy by the way he said it.

Anu:- Mujhe pata nahi kyu bolenge but itna zaroor pata hai ki aap dono jhooth bol rahe hai.... especially tu Sweety....tera jhooth to mai ek minute me pehchan jaati hoo.

She stated looking at Pakhi and Pakhi anxiously turned towards Anuj.

Anu:- Isiliye jaldi bata.....tum log kaise aur kaha mile?

She asked again and Anuj tried to answer on Pakhi's behalf.

Anuj:- Anu wo...

He began but Anupama stopped him.

Anu:- Anuj.