Shaan looked at Anokhi who had a puzzled expression.
"Haan... Aastha..."
"Anokhi... vo jaisa ki maine tumhe btaya tha... vo meri colleague thi... uske jaane ke baad kabhi baat nhi hui usse... isilye uske baare mein jaanna tha..."
"Lekin Shaan sir... ek baat poochu ?...", she interrupted.
"Haan... haan poocho..."
"Nhi matlab... maine aapko Aastha mam ka phone number diya tha... aapki unse baat nhi hui ?..."
Shaan remained silent; After all what could he say ?.
"Haan... vo tumne number diya toh tha... lekin baat aisi hai Anokhi ki... bohot saal ho gaye haina tumhaari Aastha mam se mile... itne saal hum touch mein nhi the... toh isiliye thoda awkward sa lag rha tha... isliye socha main tumse pehle jaan leta hoon... fir phone to baad mein bhi kar sakte hai...", he faked a laugh.
"Achcha...", Anokhi comprehended.
"Toh aap kya jaanna chaahte ho Shaan sir ?..."
Shaan paused for a moment before responding.
"Aastha... kaisi hai... m... matlab vo theek haina... vo Kapurthala mein hi rehti haina ?..."
"Ji sir... vo bilkul theek hai... Aur haan aapne bilkul sahi kaha... vo Kapurthala mein rehti hain Nanu-Nani ke saath..."
"Nanu-Nani ???..."
"Ohhh..", Anokhi smacked herself.
"Vo sir... Aastha mam toh meri doosri maa jaisi haina... toh isiliye unke ma aur papa mere Nanu-Nani hue na...", she smiled.
Shaan felt a prick in his heart as he listened to this.
How desperately Aastha must have wished for Shaurya to call her parents "Nanu-Nani", but her wish was fulfilled by the girl sitting in front of him. He was being sentimental, but kept his emotions under control. He was overjoyed that Aastha had a student like Anokhi who revered her as her mother.
"Kya hua Shaan Sir ?..."
"Huhhh ?... Haan to... achcha toh tum Aastha ke parents ki baat kar rhi thi... Vo sab kaise hai... Baauji... Maa sabhi theek haina ?..."
"Jee sir... Sabhi bohot achche hai... Aastha mam unka bohot achche se khyaal rakhti hai... maine dekha hai...", she laughed a little.
Shaan tried hard to hide his tears.
"Aastha job karti haina ?... Kaha padhaati hai vo ?..."
"Aapne suna hoga Made Easy ka naam... GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) ke preparation ke liye ye ek coaching institute hai... main branch yaha Delhi mein hi hai... aur vaha Jalandhar vale branch mein Aastha mam faculty hai..."
Shaan was overjoyed to learn that she works in a reputable institution. It's all because of her determination and never-say-die attitude.
"Oh Made Easy... haan main jaanta hoon iske baare mein..."
Shaan spent more time with her, asking about Aastha, her parents, her job, what Aastha had done in previous years, and how Anokhi knew Aastha, as well as Anokhi's journey to Delhi. He did not enquire deeply in order to avoid suspicion.
However, they had no idea, that someone was smirking at them through his car window from afar.
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