Here's the 49th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
Anokhi had reached college very early and she was on her way to his cabin.
She was in a sassy mood, determined to clear up everything he had misunderstood about her.
She had decided after her conversation with Shaan that unless she confronted him about it, he would continue to misunderstand her due to his absurd assumption.
She came to a halt right in front of the door. It was closed, indicating that he hadn't yet arrived.
"Aaj main jaldi aai aur vo abhi tak aaye hi nhi..."
"Lekin main bina baat kiye nhi jaane vaali... Main wait kar loongi..."
"Unki saari misunderstandings door karni hai mujhe..."
"Aise kaise vo kuch bhi soch sakte hai mere baare mein..."
"Main yaha apni studies ke liye aayi hoon yeh mujhe unhe btaana hai..."
She checked her watch and saw that she had plenty of time before her class began.
To kill time, she began meandering around the area. She then decided to take out her book and begin reading to pass the time productively. She began reading it, pacing here and there, and was soon collided with someone.
"Huhh !..." she exclaimed, startled.
She was about to step back when he grabbed her arms in an unusually tight grip.
"Sambhal ke Anokhi..."
She immediately stepped back to avoid his hold and apologized, "Sorry Vivek Sir..."
"No problem Anokhi...", he smiled nastily.
Anokhi couldn't figure out why she didn't like his presence. She didn't feel normal after the way he held her just a few seconds ago.
"Aur btao kaisi ho Anokhi ?..."
"Th... theek hoon Sir...", she said nervously.
"Subah - subah hi padhaai chaalu ho gayi... Very nice !...", he said, flashing a vicious teethy grin.
Anokhi was beginning to feel uneasy.
Then a voice said, "Mr. Arora..."
Both of them turned to face him, and there stood Shaurya, holding a file in his hand.
Vivek's expression changed to one of displeasure, but he quickly covered it up.
Shaurya approached them.
"Mr. Arora... Aap yaha ?...", he said, turning to face her.
She averted her gaze when he looked at her.
"Arreh..."
"Vo to bas hum yaha aise yoon hi tehel rhe the... Aur Anokhi mil gayi... To socha mil aate hai..."
Anokhi was unsettled about his tone of voice, but she didn't pay much attention to it.
"Toh aap dono baat keejiye... Hum chalte hai...", Vivek walked away, giving Anokhi a surprised smile.
"Aap yaha kya kar rhi hai Miss Bhalla ?...", his stern voice jolted her.
She turned to face him and then spoke up, "Vo... Vo mujhe aapse... Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hai Shaurya Sir..."
"Lekin mujhe koi baat nhi karni...", he walked inside his cabin paying no heed to her.
She was taken aback by the way he went inside, blatantly ignoring her.
Shaurya entered the room, opened his file, and immersed himself in it.
Anokhi remained at the door because she didn't want to go inside without his permission.
When he looked there from the corner of his eye later, he noticed she was still there.
"Strange..."
"Abhi bhi yahi khadi hai...", he mumbled to himself.
He turned to face her, who was already looking at him.
"Jo kehna hai jaldi kaho !...", he said, averting his gaze.
"M... Main andar aa jaaun Sir ?...", she asked for permission.
"Toh baahar khade – khade baat karni hai aapko ?...", he mocked.
She looked at him in disbelief, and before she could respond, he said, "Andar aa jaao... Aur jo kehna hai kehkar chali jaao..."
"Mere paas itna free time nhi hai...", he said, frowning.
She entered the room and approached him.
"Sorry Shaurya Sir..."
"Aapko lagega ki main shaayad aapko disturb kar rhi hoon-..."
"Mujhe disturb karna toh aapka fundamental right hai Miss Bhalla...", he cut in.
"Btaaiye... Kaise disturb karna chaahengi aap mujhe...", he said with sarcasm.
Anokhi grew annoyed and said, "Aapke liye ye disturbance ho sakti hai... Lekin isme main kuch nhi kar sakti Sir... Kyunki aapke man mein mujhe lekar jo bhi misinterpretations hai... Unhe clarify karne yaha aayi hoon main...", she stated flatly.
"Dekhiye Shaurya Sir..."
"Main Aastha Mam ki student hoon isiliye aap mere saath aisa bartaav karte hai..."
"Haina ?...", she said straightforwardly.
Shauyra looked at her shocked.
On being confronted with the reality, a ripple of fury washed over him.
"Aap mere saath aisa nhi kar sakte Shaurya Sir...", she said bluntly.
"Main kisi ki student hoon jisse aapki kisi baat se naaraazgi hai... Sirf isi vajah se aap mere saath aisi partiality nhi kar sakte Sir...", she said, looking him in the eyes.
"Aastha Mam aapki Maa hai ye baat to mujhe-..."
"Vo meri koi nhi hai... Samjhi tum !!!...", he glared at her.
Anokhi was taken aback to see him enraged again upon hearing HER name.
"Tumhe kya lagta hai Miss Bhalla... Tum yaha aaogi... mujhe ye kahani sunaaogi aur main maan loonga ?...", he clenched his teeth.
"Aapko maanna hoga Sir... Aap apne – aap aise kuch bhi assumption leke nhi baith sakte..."
"Maine aapko pehle hi btaaya tha ki main iss baare mein Shaan Sir se baat karungi... Aur ab unse mujhe apne saare savaalo ke javaab mil bhi chuke hai Sir..."
He looked at her, surprised that she had really gone to meet his father.
"Main vha unse aapki mujhse pareshaani ke peeche vajah kya hai... yeh baat jaanne gayi thi... Aur tab mujhe pta chala ki aap mere baare mein kaisa sochte hai...", her eyes misted up.
"Aapne aisa soch bhi kaise liya Sir ki Aastha Mam ne mujhe yaha bheja hai ?... Aur vo bhi aapke life mein jagah bnaane ke liye...", she passed an appalled look.
"Meri Aastha Mam aisi nhi hai... Aur naa hi main aisi hoon..."
"Miss Bhalla !..."
"Yeh sab kehkar tum yaha apna time waste kar rhi ho... Mujhe bohot achche se pta hai tumhaare yaha aane ke peeche motif-..."
"Main sirf yaha "padhne" aayi hoon Shauyra Sir...", she cut him off.
"Mere paas itna khaali samay nhi hai ki main apni life chodkar logo ki zindagi mein interfere karu... Meri khudki life hai jispar mujhe dhyaan dena hai..."
"Main apne parivaar se door yaha sirf aur sirf apni study ke liye aayi hoon..."
"Aur main yaha aise hi nhi aayi..."
"Ye aap bhi bohot achche se jaante hain ki main yaha SIEST mein hoon to vo sirf apne merit ke dam par hoon..."
"Kisi ne mujhe yaha bhej diya aur mera admission ho gaya aisa toh nhi hai Sir..."
"Aap aise bina vajah kisi ke bhi baare mein galat dhaarna bnakar rakhenge... Yeh bilkul bhi sahi nhi hai Sir..."
"Isiliye aaj main aapse directly ye baat bolne aayi thi taaki dobaara aap mujhpar koi ungli naa uthaay..."
Shaurya was silently observing how truthful she sounded while saying each of the words.
He was stunned he couldn't even get a chance to say anything. He was rendered speechless.
"Meri baton ko sunne ke liye thank you so much Sir !..."
"Main aasha karti hoon aapko meri baat samajh aa gayi hogi..."
"Ab main chalti hoon Sir...", she stormed away after this, and he was taken aback by the bluntness with which she addressed him.
Though he didn't want to believe it, his heart knew that every words she said were true.
Her fierce eyes were a clear indication that she was truthful.
Even after all of this, he couldn't admit to himself that he had believed her words somewhere.
The recess had come to an end.
Anokhi had fed Mimi her tiffin and was on her way to class after finishing the canteen work.
Just then, Vivek stepped in front of her. She looked up at him, taken aback by the suddenness with which he approached her.
"G... Good afternoon Sir..."
"Good afternoon Anokhi..."
"Lagta hai aaj ka din bada achcha hai... Subah bhi tumse mulaakat ho gayi aur ab firse dopaher mein bhi...", he savagely smiled.
Anokhi was about to walk past him for her class after passing him a nervous smile, but he again blocked her path.
She then moved to her right and he moved to his left.
She was taken aback and looked up at him, feeling as if he was doing it deliberately.
She felt a bit insecure by the way he was behaving.
"Excuse me Sir...", she said politely.
"Ohhh... Yeah... Of course !!..."
"I would definitely excuse you...", he said as he moved his hands to make space for her.
She walked away from there as quickly as she could as she didn't feel safe there.
Vivek kept looking at her receding figure with resplendent eyes.
Anokhi was climbing the stairs, but her thoughts were stuck on what had happened just moments before.
Vivek's body language didn't make her feel good.
"Kya vo sach mein jaanboojhkar kar rhe the..."
"Yaa fir maine hi kuch galat samjha..."
"Lekin...", she said, still skeptical.
She brushed aside her thoughts and returned to her class for her next lecture.
Shaurya was engrossed in his work in his cabin.
But his thoughts would occasionally return to his morning confrontation with her, when she defended herself against his false accusations.
Her tone of voice didn't give him the impression that she was lying.
Because if that were the case, she wouldn't have come here after so many days to say these things.
She would have done it before when he reprimanded her for being HER student as the reason for his different attitude toward her.
She had come to confront him after so many days, which meant she had no idea what was going on.
Did she really have no idea about his and her Mam's relationship ?
Was she truly unaware that he was her Mam's son ?
He knew the answer, but his mind was hostile, while his heart believed her words, but he wouldn't admit it to himself.
He looked at his watch after finishing his work and noticed that an hour had passed since the break had ended.
"Princess !...", he leapt to his feet just then.
"Time ka toh dhyaan hi nhi rha..."
"Princess mera wait kar rhi hogi..."
"Mujhe jaana hoga... Abhi...", he exited the cabin.
Shaurya had just walked up to the canteen door when he was startled to see the sight before him.
His "princess" was in tears !
"Princess !...", he exclaimed as he rushed towards her.
Pammi was there, doing something on her knee with a small piece of cloth.
He rushed up to her, his heart sinking as he realized what was causing her tears.
Mimi's bruised knee was seeping blood.
"Shaurya Sir..."
"Vo maine... dhyaan nhi diya... Mimi yaha khel rhi thi... Aur vha table ke side par ek keel nikli hui thi... Uska pair vha lag gaya...", Pammi was sincerely sorry.
"L... Lad... doo... Anu... m... aa... ko bula... do...", she sniffed, wiping her tears away with her tiny fists.
Shaurya was disheartened to see his princess in such pain, and didn't think much and took her in his arms.
As soon as Mimi felt the warmth, she put her head on his chest and wrapped her small hands around him.
"Pammi Aunty... Aap vo sab table repair karvaane ka dekh lena..."
"Main abhi Mimi ko apne saath le jaa rha hoon... Main first – aid kar doonga..."
"Jee Sir..."
"Uska dhyaan rakhna bas..."
Shaurya hustled into his cabin, shut the door behind, and led Mimi to the couch.
He reached into the drawer, pulled out the first - aid kit, and kneeled in front of her on the sofa.
He noticed she wasn't crying, but rather sniffing.
He was upset and cupped her cheeks gently.
"Princess..."
"Davai laga denge Laddoo..."
"Dekho..." he said, taking the antiseptic bottle and pouring a small amount into the cotton ball before gently pressing it against her knee.
The next thing he noticed was Mimi closing her eyes with her small palms.
"Princess..."
"Kya hua..."
"Dard ho rha hai..." he inquired, concerned.
She nodded in a no, but her reply came the opposite, "Thola chha (thoda sa) ho laha hai..."
His heart melted as he watched her struggle not to cry out of pain.
He quickly applied a bandage, gentle enough not to aggravate her, and was soon done with it.
He set the box down and sat beside her on the sofa.
He looked at her, who was still sitting there, her palms over her eyes.
He gently took her hands in his, and she looked up at him with her moist eyes.
"Laddoo..."
"Aap Mumma..."
"Meli Mum... ma ko tholi del ke... liye... bulaaoge ?...", she snuffled cutely wiping her tears.
His heart sank as he looked into those large, water-filled eyes.
The next thing he did caused Mimi's lips to curl into a small smile.
"Laddoo ke paas aaoge ?..." he said, spreading his arms up.
Mimi smiled through her teary eyes, forgetting about the pain, and crawled up to his lap, wrapping her small soft hands around his waist.
Shaurya was overjoyed because it was the first time his princess, in fact a child, had sat in his lap.
He smiled at her cute action of crawling up to him and eventually hugging him.
He wrapped his arms securely around the tiny human form that rested on his lap and fit perfectly there.
"Princess...", he stroked her back.
"Dard kam hua ?...", he politely questioned.
Mimi who was in his warm embrace nodded in a yes and said, "Meli Anumaa bhi muje aichhe gale laga leti hai... Aul mela dald kam ho jaata hai magic ki talah..."
Shaurya fondled her head and said, "Aapki Mumma ko toh magic aata hai iska matlab..."
"Aapko bhi aata haina Laddoo ?...", she asked, looking up from his lap.
*edited*
"Ummm... Nhi...", he said playfully.
"Nhi Laddoo... Aapko bhi aata hai... Ichhiliye toh mela dald kam ho gaya..."
"Aapko bhi meli Anumaa jaichhe jaadu aata hai..."
"Aapke haath bhi meli Mumma ki talah bohot nalm – nalm (narm - narm) hai..."
She gently cradled his large hands in her small ones, caressing them with her small thumb pads.
"Princess...", his eyes misted as the baby girl sitting on his lap showered him with affection, and his heart melted when she said she liked the soft texture of his palm.
He felt delighted that she felt safe in his vicinity.
"Thank You Laddoo..."
"Aapne meli chot ko apne jaadu chhe theek kal diya..."
"Aap chinta mat karo princess...", he said after making her sit properly in his lap.
"Aapko main firse kabhi chot lagne nhi doonga..."
"Aur agar lag bhi jaati haina... Toh main apne jaadu se aapki chot ko theek kar doonga... Bilkul aapke Anumaa jaise..."
"Theek hai ?...", he smiled.
"Theek haiiiiiii...", Mimi was giddy with joy.
With bright smiles on their faces, they continued to look at each other...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊