Here's the 58th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
Shaurya had reached college but but all he could think about was his father's thoughts.
The break had ended by the time he arrived, so he returned to his cabin. He sat down with a thud in his chair, sighing gravely as the constant worry from the previous day had taken a toll on him. He removed his glasses and took a deep breath while burying his face in his palms.
All of the events of the previous day flashed before his eyes, and he became absolutely petrified.
He was afraid that Shaan would be irresponsible with his health, so he didn't want to leave him there alone. He wanted to take him to the Sabharwal House so he could keep an eye on him, but his father was adamantly opposed. He didn't want to take any chances, and he didn't want anything to happen to his father. But his jumbled mind couldn't come up with a way to persuade Shaan to join him. He desperately wanted his Dad to stay with him, but he didn't want to push him because he knew it would end up backfiring, just like it had the day before.
"Kya karu main ?..."
"Kaise samjhaau Dad ko ?..."
"Vo toh meri baat maanenge hi nhi..."
"Vo... vo samajhte kyun nhi ?..."
"Darr lagta hai mujhe..."
"Unhe... Agar... Unhe k... kuch ho gaya toh... toh main kya karunga...", his heart began to race.
"Bachpan se lekar ab tak... Vo saath the mere... Paas the mere... Itna hi kaafi tha mere liye..."
"Lekin ab... ab vo bhi nhi hai...", his eyes had become watery.
"Agar mere saath vaapas ghar chal padte... Toh kam se kam main... main unko dekh toh paata... Unka khyaal toh rakh paata..."
"Lekin vo apne bete ki baat kaha sunte hai kabhi...", he was muttering to himself, but one person had overheard everything.
"May I..."
"May I come in Sir ?..."
He raised his eyes straight up to the door where the voice came from. She was standing there on the doorstep of his cabin.
"Come in...", he said, his voice heavy as usual.
Anokhi approached him in small steps and came to a halt near his desk.
After clearing his throat, he stood up and said, "Aaj bhi koi lecture dena hai aapko mujhe ?..."
Anokhi looked at him and realized what he was saying. She felt a twinge of guilt that she, too, was responsible for what had happened the day before.
"Aap kuch bolnegi yaa fir apne khyaalo mein khoyi rahengi...", he remarked.
Anokh regained her composure and said, "Vo... Shan Sir abhi kasie hai ?..."
He narrowed his eyes at her as he listened to this.
"Aapko nhi btaana toh koi baat nhi... Main... main unse khud pooch loongi...", she said calmly.
"Vo darasal main yeh...", she said, reaching out her hand to him, "Yeh Shaan Sir ka phone mere paas reh gaya tha... Toh yahi lautaane aayi thi..."
Shaurya took a look at it, then back at her.
"Asal mein..."
"Kal unka phone mujhe campus mein pada hua mila tha... Aur jaldbaazi mein lautaana bhool gayi... Toh isiliye...", she mumbled nervously.
"Maine kuch kaha ?...", said Shaurya.
"Huhh ?...", Anokhi seemed confused.
"Maine tumse kuch poochha kya jo tum mujhe explanation dene lag gayi...", he said taking the phone from her hand.
"Oh..."
"Achcha..."
"Vo maine... aise hi... bta diya...", she said.
"Hmmm..."
"Thank you...", he said and instantly looked away.
Anokhi was astonished and looked up at him.
Did he just thanked her ?
Or did she mishear something ?
She was just staring at him, blinking, trying to process whether what he said was true or not.
"Aise kya ghoor rhi ho ?...", he spoke up.
"Aur kuch bhi kehna hai tumhe ?...", he raised his eyebrows.
"Haan ?... Nhi !... Nh... Nhi... Kuch nhi..."
"Main chalti hoon ab...", she said as she turned to leave, while he stared at her in incredulity.
She walked away from his cabin, but the word "thank you" lingered in her mind.
"Shaurya Sir logo ko thank you bhi bolte hai ??..."
"Yeh to mujhe pta hi nhi tha....", she mumbled to herself.
Shaurya, in his cabin, remembered her explaining to him about his Dad's phone, as if he would scold her if she didn't.
Though, earlier he was upset with her for eating his brain and depressing him by constantly reminding him of Aastha Kashyap's name, he also knew she too was terrified after his father went missing. She, too, was on the lookout for him, desperate to find him.
The way she went to the police station to file FIR for his father, being just a student, was something that took him aback. That's why he couldn't possibly be ruder to her today.
He sat down, tucked his phone into his pocket, and opened his laptop. He'd become engrossed in his work when he suddenly felt as if something was missing, as if he'd forgotten something.
"Princess !!...", he exclaimed, realizing what was missing..
He jumped to his feet right away.
"Aaj toh main princess ke baare mein bhool hi gaya..."
"Main jaldi jaata hoon...", he said as he dashed towards the cafeteria.
He arrived at the canteen, and as soon as he stepped inside, the sight of his "princess" brought him peace.
With a smile on his face, he approached her.
"Princess..."
She raised her head, and a lovely smile gradually appeared on her face.
*edited*
"Laddoo...", she exclaimed as she spread her arms wide.
His heart melted when he saw her spreading her tiny arms, gesturing for him to take her into his embrace.
He, too, moved quickly to take her into his arms.
"Kaise ho princess ?...", he asked, protectively holding her close to him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Main theek hoon Laddoo..."
"Aap kaichhe ho ?...", she said sweetly.
"Main bhi bilkul theek hoon...", he said as he walked out of the kitchen, nodding to Pammi who smiled to him for taking Mimi with him.
They arrived at his cabin, and he closed the door behind them.
He reached for his desk and made her sit on it, facing him. Her lovely smile adorned her face, and all he could do was return her smile.
"Laddoo Laddoo..."
"Aapko gaana gaana aata hai ?...", she inquired innocently.
He stiffened instantly upon hearing this.
Nobody knew about this aspect of him. This had been his only companion in his loneliness, which was why he'd never tried to reveal it nor wishes to. This was something he had kept hidden from his knowns, but what will he do now ?
Will he lie to his princess ?
How would he ?
"Laddoo...", her sweet voice interrupted his train of thought.
"Hnn ?... Princess..."
"Aapne btaaya nayi... Aapko gaana gaana aata hai ?..."
"Aapko pta hai... Meli Mumma ne muje ek gaana aul ek poem chhikhaaya (sikhaaya) tha... Main aapko chhunaau ? (sunaau)... Aap chhunoge ? ...", her eyes twinkled.
Shaurya smiled and said, "Bilkul..."
"Main bilkul sunonga..."
He took his seat on his chair, and said, "Princess..."
"Laddoo ko toh koi poem nhi aati... Isliye main aap se seekhunga aaj..."
"Aap kaunsi poem sunaaoge princess ?..."
"Main aapko vo poem chhunaaungi jo maine chhab chhe (sab se) pehle chheekha (seekha) tha... Aul maine meli Mumma ko chhunaaya tha vo... Meli Mumma ko bohot pachhand aaya tha... ", she beamed with joy.
Hearing this, his heart soared with glee, and he became emotional as it brought back memories of his own childhood.
It reminded him of how, as a child, he used to sit on HER lap, and SHE would rock him lovingly in her lap, making him to learn those poems. SHE used to love it when he would recite the entire poem with actions. He, like his princess, used to recite poems to HER, thoroughly remembering them in order to garner her affection.
Those ephemeral happy moments flashed across his eyes and he got emotional. He hoped he could go back in time and relive those moments, but he quickly shook these thoughts from his mind.
After composing himself, he said to Mimi, "Princess..."
"Yeh to bohot achchi baat hai..."
"Ab toh mujhe bhi sunna hai poem..."
"Please sunaao na...", he requested like a kid.
"Theek hai...", she exclaimed cheerfully as she prepared herself.
She coughed softly to clear her tender throat, "Uhu – Uhu..."
Shaurya's heart melted at her adorable antics, and he chuckled, but the next thing he knew, his ears were greeted by a soothing nightingale voice.
"Twinkle twinkle little chhtaal (star)"
"How I wondal (wonder) what you aal (are)..."
"Up above the wald (world) chho (so) high"
"Like a diamond in the chhky (sky)"
"Twinkle twinkle little chhtaal"
"How I wondal (wonder) what you aal..."
"Ho gaya Laddoo !!...", she chortled as she finished her poem recitation.
Shaurya was numb after listening to it.
His heart fluttering with ecstasy by the way the baby girl recited each line, completely immersed in her own baby world and swaying with each word. She appeared to be a fairy, lost in her own magical land of stars.
He couldn't find the right words to express his gratitude for his little princess, so all he could do was smile broadly and caress her head.
"Aapko pachhand aaya Laddoo ?..." she inquired, hopeful.
"Bohot pasand aaya princess !..."
"Aapne bohot achche se sunaaya..."
"Itne achche se toh main bhi kabhi nhi kar paaunga..."
"Aapki Mumma ne toh bohot achche se sikhaaya hai aapko... Very good princess ! ...", he admired her as well as her Mumma.
"Thank You Laddoo...", she said, endearingly giggling.
"Main ghal jaakal Mumma ko bhi btaaungi... Aapko meli poem bohot pachhand aayi..."
"Haan bilkul btaana... Aur meri ek wish poori karoge princess ? ...", he asked excitedly.
"Kaichhi wichh (wish) Laddoo ?...", she looked curious.
"Aap apni Anumaa se aur bhi poems seekhna... Aur mujhe firse poem sunaana... Mujhe bohot achcha lga aaj aapka poem sunke..."
Mimi got excited and said, "Theek hai Laddoo !!... Main aul bhi poems chheekhungi... Meli Anumaa ko bohot chhaale poemchh aate hai..."
Shaurya responded with a smile and a gentle caress of her head.
His princess makes his day brighter every day. He relished the opportunity to spend quality time with his princess.
They were becoming increasingly accustomed to each other, unbeknownst to either of them.
Day by day, their bond was growing stronger and deeper.
But what if, due to some unforeseen circumstances, one of them is forced to go away from the other ?
Will either of them be able to live without the other ?...
"Main aapse ek baat kehna chaahti thi...", Anokhi nervously said.
She's been nervous since she arrived to meet with Shaan. She had come to pay him a visit and see how he was doing. She learned that Shaurya Sir had dropped Shaan off here and that he would be arriving soon. So she wanted to get away from there as soon as possible because she didn't want to face him again, which could probably lead to another tussle.
"Kya baat hai Anokhi ?..."
"Aap please meri baat ka bura mat maaniyega Shaan Sir..."
"Vo darasal..."
"Kal..."
"Doctor ne...", she hesitated.
"Bolo Anokhi beta... Kya kehna chaahti ho...", Shaan said sensing her hesitation.
After taking a deep breath, she said, "Dekhiye Shaan Sir..."
"Kal Doctor ne mujhe btaaya tha ki alcohol aapke health ke liye theek nhi hai..."
"Unhone kha tha ki agar jald hi ise control nhi kiya gaya toh aapki... aapki condition aur bigad sakti hai... Isiliye meri aapse request hai Shaan Sir... Please aap alcohol chod deejiye... Please...", she said in a pleading tone.
She waited for his response with bated breath, but all he did was smile. When she saw him, she was perplexed as to why he was smiling in the middle of a serious conversation.
"K... Kya hua Shaan Sir ?..."
"Aap kuch bolenge nhi ?..."
"Anokhi..." he said, shrugging his shoulders with a smile.
"Yeh baat toh mujhe bhi pta hai..."
"Lekin kya karu... Uske alaava mera saath dene vaala aur koi nhi hai-..."
"Kyu nhi hai Sir ???...", she was quick to interrupt.
"Aapki family..."
"Shaurya Sir..."
"Vo sab haina aapke liye... Unhe aapki parvaah hai naa... Toh fir aapko kisi aur cheez ki kya zaroorat ?..."
"Yeh tum nhi samajh paaogi Anokhi..."
"Meri family... meri family ko tum nhi jaanti... Tum nhi samajh paaogi yeh..."
"Tof fir Shaurya Sir ?... Unhe toh main jaanti hoon..."
"Maine kal dekha tha... Shaurya Sir aapke liye kitna pareshaan ho gaye the... Kitna darr gaye the... Unhe... Unhe apni galti ka bhi ehsaas hai..."
"Aap sochkar dekhiye Shaan Sir... Kya Shaurya Sir ko yeh achcha lagta hoga ..."
Shaan felt a pang of guilt as he listened to this, because he knew Shaurya was upset about his alcoholism, but he never took his son's plea to heart.
"Aur Shaan Sir... Ek aur baat..."
"Aap ek baar Aastha Mam ke baare mein sochkar dekhiye..."
"Kya unhe jab pta chalega toh unhe achcha lagega..."
"Vo toh aap dono ki bhaalai ki wish karti hai hai aur yaha aap intentionally khud ko nuksaan pahuncha rhe hai..."
"Yeh baat jaankar toh Aastha Mam ko bohot dukh pohonchega...", she tried to make him understand.
Upon hearing Aastha's name, something shifted in him. She was the one in whose remembrance he had been living on alcohol. He was well aware if Aastha came to know about it, she would be definitely extremely upset about it.
Anokhi sensed that he was considering upon this. She wished he understood what she was saying.
"Shaan Sir..."
"Mujhe lga ki mujhe aapko yeh bolna chaahiye... Isiliye maine yah bola... Please aap bura mat maaniyega... Aakhir aap mere Papa ji jaise hi hai... Agar aapke jagah mere Papa ji hote toh main yahi karti...", she said.
Shaan's heart swelled with pleasure when he heard this.
She looked upon him as a father figure and this face brought some tranquilly in his heart. He realized that she too like his son was genuinely worried for him.
He could now see the gravity of the situation and the folly he was committing by harming himself.
It would be difficult for him to break free from his addiction, but he resolved to do so now, if only for the sake of his son.
"Anokhi..."
"Tumhaari baat bilkul sahi hai..."
"Main..."
"Main apne iss buuri aadat ko todne ki poori koshish karunga..."
Listening this, Anokhi smiled heaving a euphoric sigh of relief to which he too smiled back.
Just as she was smiling, her mind wandered back to the morning when she had overheard Shaurya blabbering to himself.
She saw this as an opportunity to convince Shaan in some way.
"Uhhh... Shaan Sir... Ek aur request hai aapse...", she said sheepishly as she continued to pester him with her requests.
"Bolo Anokhi beta...", chuckled Shaan.
"Vo..."
"Vo... Aapko yaad hai... Aapne ek baar mujhe kaha tha ki SIEST vaapas join karne ke maamle mein aap ek baar sochenge..."
Hearing this Shaan's expression changed.
"I'm sorry Shaan Sir...", she apologized right away.
"Main aapko force nhi kar rhi..."
"Asal mein iske peechhe ek reason hai...", she stated.
"Kaisa reason ?...", Shaan inquired, his brow furrowed.
Anokhi once glanced at the door to make sure he hadn't arrived yet, then began saying, "Dekhiye Shaan Sir..."
"Aapne abhi thodi der pehle hi mujhe btaaya tha ki Shaurya Sir aapko yaha rehne dena nhi chaahte the..."
"Kya aapne socha ki unka aise karne ke peechhe kya vajah rhi hogi ?...", she asked, hopeful.
"Haan Anokhi..."
"Main jaanta hoon..."
"Shaurya ko darr hai ki main firse kisiko bina btaaye kahi chala naa jaau... Is baat se darta hai vo..."
"Toh ab aapko samjh aa gaya naa Shaan Sir... Us din jo baatein unhone boli thi vo galat thi lekin unhone gusse mein kahi thi... Dil se nhi..."
Shaan nodded, a weak smile on his face.
"Lekin Shaan Sir aap jitna bhi samjaahiye... Shaurya Sir ko aapki tension toh rahegi hi kyunki vo aapke bete hai..."
"Bachcho ko toh apne parents ki chinta rehti hai jaise parents ko rehti hai apne bachcho ki..."
"Aur ab toh unko aur bhi chinta rahegi kyunki aapki health abhi bhi poori tarah stable nhi hui... Aap unke paas bhi nhi rehte jo vo aapka khyaal rakh paayenge... Naa aap unko apne paas paaoge..."
"Aur Shaan Sir... Aap toh abhi samajh chuke honge naa ki bhale hi Shaurya Sir ki aapse kisi baat se naaraazgi ho... Lekin aap unke Dad hai... Vo aapse bohot pyaar karte hai... Unhe bhi dukh hota hoga apne Dad se door rehne mein aur aapko bhi apne bete se door rehne mein..."
"Isiliye mera manna hai ki agar aap SIEST vaapas join karte hai to aap dono ke liye yeh bohot achcha hoga..."
"Aap dono college mein thode time ke liye hi sahi... Ek doosre ko dekh toh paaoge..."
"Naa aapko akela mehsoos hoga... Aur naa hi Shaurya Sir ko is baat ki tension hogi ki unke Dad theek hai yaa nhi..."
Shaan was paying close attention to everything. He realized the sincerity of her words. He, too, believed that whatever she said was correct.
He yearned to be with his son, but he had no plans to return to the Sabharwals. However, re-joining SIEST was not a problem because he was still a board member. This way, he could get himself engrossed in work, distracting himself from his loneliness, and he'd get to see his son, which he desperately craved.
He smiled to himself as he made a decision.
He was pleasantly surprised to have a student like Anokhi who was like a daughter to him and always corrected him whenever and wherever he went wrong.
He placed a gentle hand on her head saying, "Thank You beta..."
Anokhi's lips curled into a smile and she asked, "Th... Thank you kisliye Sir ?..."
"Iska matlab..."
"Iska matlab aap meri request maanenge Shaan Sir ?...", she inquired, her face lit up with expectation of a positive response.
To this, Shaan nodded in a yes with a content smile, which made Anokhi extremely happy.
She smiled as she realized that she was finally able to accomplish something positive...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊