Anuj sat in his office, His laptop screen glowed with financial charts, and his fingers typed away tirelessly. The clock ticked by, but he paid no attention to the time.

Suddenly, a pillow hit his face, breaking his concentration. Anuj looked up sharply, his brow furrowed in irritation.

Anuj: (annoyed) Kya hai, Vanraj?

Vanraj stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his face a mix of frustration and concern.

Vanraj:- kya hai? Yeh bata tu khana kyun nahi khata? Breakfast kyun skip karta hai har baar?

Anuj sighed

Anuj:- mujhe kaam karna hai, Vanraj. Tumhe meri health ke liye itna tension lene ki zarurat nahi hai.

Vanraj stepped closer, his voice rising slightly.

Vanraj:- Tension? Yeh tension nahi hai, Anuj. Yeh dosti hai! Tu din-raat kaam karta hai, khud ka dhyan nahi rakhta. Kab tak yeh chalega?

Anuj: (coldly) mujhe kaise jeena hai, yeh tumhe decide karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Tum apna kaam karo, mujhe mera karne do.

Vanraj’s expression softened, hurt flashing in his eyes.

Vanraj:- Main yeh sab tere bhalai ke liye keh raha hoon, Anuj. Par agar tu nahi samajhna chahta, toh main kya karoon?

Without another word, Vanraj turned and left the office, leaving Anuj alone again.

Anuj clenched his jaw, pushing away the guilt that bubbled up. He returned to his work with renewed determination, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Hours passed, and the empty plates of food Vanraj had sent earlier sat untouched on the table

Anuj drove through the dimly lit streets, his vision slightly blurry from the throbbing pain in his head. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, but his body felt weak. The past few days of skipping meals, overworking, and ignoring his health had taken their toll.

Suddenly, his car jerked to a stop. He sighed, frustrated, and stepped out to check the problem. The cold night air hit him, making him shiver. As he inspected the car, his vision get blurry

He leaned against the car, clutching his head as a sharp pain shot through it. Tears welled up in his eyes unstoppable.

Anuj:- Why should I care about myself? I never did... because she was there. Anupama was always there to take care of me

Tears streaming down his face. His vision darkened as he lost consciousness.

Next Day!!

Anupama and kavya where arranging the dining table, leela comes there..

Leela:- ye ladki kaha hai? Abhi tak so rahi hai kya?

Kavya:- offoo baa! Aadhya bacchi hai abhi..

Leela:- pata nahi kis pe gayi hai itnaa alsi toh anuj bhi nahi tha kabhi!

Anupama look at baa and get silent! Kavya noticed this..

Bhoooooo!!!

Leela get flinched when a boy comes from behind and scream!!

Leela:- Samar!!!

Samar chuckled, aadhya comes down and hug samar

Aadhya:- Good morning Bro

Samar:- veryyy good morning princess

Aadhya:- good morning maa!! Good morning Baa

Aadhya comes to kavya and hug her tightly

Aadhya:- good morning beautiful

Kavya:- uthh gaya mera baby!!

Anupama:- kya baby.. kavyaa tumne hi isse sar par cadha rakha hai

Aadhya:- mumma ka lecture shuru!!

Kavya:- Anu

Aadhya:- mrs professor pleaseee!!! Morning lecture mat do naa

Anupama sighs

Anupama:- dono baap beti ek jesaa hai

Samar:- Areyyy haan...anuj buddy kaha hai 4 din se ghar mein dikhaa hi nahi..

Anupama looks at samar

Aadhya: meri pops se kal baat hui thi unhone ke kaha ki unki meetings hai

Samar:- seriously?? Buddy ko kabhi kaam se fursat kyun nahi milti..

Kavya:- toh kya alsi ho jaya tumhari tarah

Samar roll his eyes

Leela:- or nahi toh kya ek toh mera anuj itnaa mehnati hai or ek uski betii or bhatija jo kisi kaam ke nahi hai

Samar and Aadhya sighs!! They both sit on table with leela and start eating

Anupama:- Vanraj kaha hai kavya?

Kavya:- abhi aata hai hongee

Vanraj comes down and looks tensed which is noticed by anupama and kavyaa

Leela:- loo a gaya! Chal vanraj khana khane beth ja

Vanraj:- baa mujhe bhook nahi hai mujhe urgent kaam hai.. aap log khaiyaa mein ja raha hoon..

Leela:- theek hai.. Samar!

Samar look at leela

Leela:- mujhe meri saheli sangeeta ke ghar chod dena..

Aadhya:- or mujhee mera school!!

Samar:- haan haan jarur!

They trio leave

Anupama eyes falls on mishra who comes there running

Mishra:- Vanraj Sir!!

Kavya:- arey mishra ji aap aiyaaa naa breakfast kar lijiya

Anupama:- haan mishra bhaiya

Mishra:- Vanraj sir!! Anuj sir ki car xyz road pe mili hai

Anupama and others look at mishra! Vanraj closed his eyes in tension.

Vanraj:- office ki footage check ki

Mishra:- haan sir!! Anuj sir raat ke 2 baje office se nikla thee, kaddy se bhi pucha usne bhi kaha ki sir puri raat se ghar par nahi aaya or sir ka phone bhi band hai

Vanraj get more tensed, where anupama was shocked..

Anupama:- ghar nahi aaya matlab? Kaha gaya wo

Vanraj:- tumhe kya farak padta hai?

Kavya:- vanraj please

Vanraj:- i am sorry kavya.. but anuj ki care karne ke liya mein hoon, wesa bhi kuch logo ne usse rishtaa tod diya hai toh phir humdardi bhi kyun jatani hai

Anupama look at him with hurt!! She cares for Anuj

Vanraj:- mishra anuj ki last location check karo or bodyguards se kaho ki jis area mein anuj ki car hai uss area mein check kare

Mishra nod!!

Anupama without saying anything leave for her room, when she enter- she open the wardrobe and find a picture of anuj with a child!

Tears falls down from her eyes!

Anupama:- kaha chale gaya aap, mera man kyun ghabra raha hai!!

When Anuj opened his eyes, he was startled to find himself in an unfamiliar place. Just then, he heard a familiar voice humming softly. His curiosity piqued, he forced himself to stand and followed the sound.

Entering a small kitchen area, he froze in place. There, in front of a stove, was kabir casually stirring a pot of food while humming a cheerful tune.

Kabir sensing someone’s presence, turned around and spotted Anuj standing there.

Kabir:- Areee, Mr. Serious! Tum uth gaye aap?

Anuj stood there, speechless

Kabir:- Kya hua? Speechless kyun ho? Acha laga ki kisi ne tumhari jaan bachayi?

Anuj:- Main... yahaan kaise?

Kabir rolled his eyes dramatically.

Kabir:- Tumhe sadak par gira hua dekha tha, Mr Richie Rich aur tumhare sapno ka rajkumar ban ke tumhe yahaan le aaya.

Kabir:- Ab chup-chaap baitho, main khana lekar aata hoon. Tumhare andar ke angry man ko zinda rehne ke liye energy chahiye

Anuj sat at the small dining table, his hands resting on his lap, his face blank, Kabir placed a plate of food in front of him and sat across the table, observing Anuj's silent look

Kabir: (gently) Khana khao, Bhookh se maaroge kya?

When Anuj didn’t move, Kabir sighed dramatically and picked up a spoon. He scooped up a bite of food and brought it to Anuj’s mouth.

Kabir: (smirking) theek hai, agar tum nahi khaoge, toh mujhe hi tumhe khilana padega. Chalo, muh kholo.

Anuj didn't opened his mouth, kabir pinch him and anuj scream taking as a chance kabir feed him make anuj suprised

As kabir continued to feed him, a tear rolled down Anuj’s cheek. He quickly tried to wipe it away, but kabir noticed.

Aryan: (softly) Kya hua? Tumhe rona nahi suit karta, yaar buddy

Anuj didn’t answer, his gaze locked on kabir. For the first time in years, he felt a warmth he thought he had lost forever.

Anuj:- why are you taking care of me? Who am i to you

Kabir:- sahi kaha tumnee! Tum mera kuch lagta toh nahi ho.. lekin

Anuj look at kabir

Kabir:- rishta ban toh sakta hai

Anuj get silent and look at kabir

Kabir:- kyun na ham ek rishta jod le, like dosti ka rishta..

Anuj:-  tum..

Kabir interrupted with a grin, scooping up another bite of food.

Kabir:- Haan, haan, main best hoon. Yeh tum maan chuke ho. Ab chup-chaap kha lo.

Anuj let out a soft giggle, the first in what felt like forever, and continued to eat as Kabir fed him. For the first time in a long time, he felt cared for not out of obligation but from genuine affection

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