Anu-Raj [Estd. 1993]

12 - Last Time?

Day of Diwali.
Joshi Sadan.

Vanraj stood awkwardly, half smiling as Kanta looked at him.
If looks could kill he would have been dead thrice over already.

He wore a casual white t shirt with denims, rented from Ronnie. Anu had to a frock, with the universe's difficulty thanks to her slinged arm.
And Kanta wore an average saree.

Anupamaa looked at the rising tension between her husband and her mother. With a bandage around her wound and a sling to keep her hand comfortably, she watched the duo play the "stare till you die" game. Her maa was clearly winning.

"You both are done?", She asked sighing.
"I can't believe you secretly married this traitor in the hospital, Anu. Today is Diwali. Ram and Sita had come back to Ayodhya today..", She said finally settling the aarti thaal in her hand, gaze fixed on Vanraj, who looked down.

"But here I am welcome Ravan with my sweet daughter.", Kanta said.
Vanraj looked up, looking heartbroken.
Anu gasped.
"Maa! He's my husband.", She said stubbornly.
"It's in his name, Anu. While namimg him they forgot to put the 'Ra' before Vanraj. His name should be Ravanraj. Huh!", Kanta added as she finally tore her gaze to look at Anu.

Anu narrowed her eyes in annoyance.
"Fine, I'll not say anything anymore. Do whatever you want to do, huh!", Kanta said putting a teeka of kumkum from the plate on Anu's forehead.
Half heartedly, she did the same for Vanraj.

They walked into the house.

Vanraj had walked back to his house only to be told by Dolly that he has been permanently boycotted.
His Baa had tried to fight against the boycott but had to succumb helplessly to his Dadaji's anger.

So currently he was homeless.

Hence instead of Anu going to her in-laws house, Vanraj had to shift to his in-laws.
Kanta was extremely unhappy but she didn't have much of a day before her stubborn daughter.

"Jiju.. this is Didi's room. You both can stay here!", Bhavesh said excitedly pointing towards Anu's room.
"Thank you.", Vanraj said forcing a smile.

Anupamaa knew he was missing home. She didn't know him much, but she knew had it not been for his guilt he would never let go of his own family. He would always chose them over her.
Sadly, his family, especially his rather obnoxious Dadaji didn't seem to have any empathy for him. They hadn't even heard his side of the story and pushed him away.

Nevertheless, Vanraj strode down to Anupamaa's room.
He had come to realise the Joshi Sadan wasn't small or downtrodden, it had just lost it's touch of glory.
The walls were shabby but the rooms were huge.

The courtyard was spacious. Although one storeyed he noticed they had four bedrooms, and big ones. His own house seemed dingy before this place.

He walked into Anupamaa's room. The scent of intense sticks filled it. There was a study table, a single bed, and a shelf full of books on one side. The other side had a cupboard of clothes.

"Umm.. you can sleep on the bed..", Anu mumbled awkwardly.
"No no.. you need rest. You sleep. I'll sleep on the floor, it's fine.", He replied immediately.

"Di! I am going out to burn crackers!", They heard Bhavesh shout before he left.
"You don't celebrate Diwali?", Anupamaa asked softly as she walked in.
Vanraj inhaled deeply as he looked at the study table. It was neat and clean, with a family photo on it, pencil pouch and a pile of books.