Here's the 73rd chapter.
Enjoy reading.
The following day had arrived, and Shaurya was in his cabin, worried.
The events of the day before were still fresh in his mind, and he hadn't yet recovered from them.
He wished she would just stay here and scold him as much as she wanted. He was only hoping to catch a glimpse of her, talk to her, and persuade her in any way he could. He was so antsy that he couldn't wait any longer for her to arrive.
"Maine Ravi ko Miss Bhalla ke baare mein mujhe inform karne ke liye bola tha aur vo abhi tak nhi aaya... Pta nhi kab aayegi vo...", he was restless.
All of this was going through his mind when he heard a knock at the door. He looked there and saw Ravi standing there. His heart felt relief that maybe finally she had arrived.
"Come in...", he said as he stood up.
"Sir ji...", Ravi said as he entered.
Shaurya was hoping to hear something about her, but Ravi's words squashed his hopes.
"Sir ji Aapko Shaan Sir ji ne bulaaya hai... Apne cabin mein..."
Shaurya's face became dull again, and he regained his composure.
"Theek hai Ravi...", he said, knowing that the matter for which Shaan had called him had definitely something to do with Anokhi.
"Tum jaao... Main jaa rha hoon..."
"Ok Sir ji...", saying so, the peon left.
Shaurya, too, left without further delay to meet Shaan.
He had no idea that something staggering was waiting for him there.
Shaurya rushed into Shaan's cabin, only to find an agitated Shaan sitting in his chair.
"Dad..."
Shaan immediately looked up at him, his anger for his son was still visible in his eyes.
"Kya hua Dad ? ...", he said as he approached the desk.
Shaan stood up and walked up to Shaurya. He took Shaurya's hand in his and placed a piece of paper in it, leaving Shaurya baffled as to what his father was doing.
"Yeh kya hai Dad ?..."
"Khud padh lo !...", Shaan replied, his voice stern.
Shaurya was heartbroken that his and his Dad's relationship had deteriorated, and that whatever had developed between them had been destroyed again. However, he brushed his thoughts aside and focused his vision on the paper to see what it was.
He started reading whatever was on it. With each passing second, each word he read made his heart race faster, making him feel as if he was losing her and the chance to stop her from leaving.
He was numb after finishing it and felt completely helpless. He looked at Shaan, who was already staring at him with angst.
"Aap use rokenge nhi Dad ?...", finally, he spoke up.
"Tumhaare jaisa professor jis college mein padhaata ho vha padhne se achcha hai vo vaapas chali jaaye...", Shaan said curtly.
"Vo bilkul sahi kar rhi hai..."
"Use aisi jagah mein rehne ki koi zaroorat nhi hain jha uski izzat par savaal uthaaya jaaye...", he said, infuriated.
Shaurya looked away, ashamed of himself.
"Uske TC paper par sign karke peon ke haatho bhijva dena..."
"Vo tumhaare saamne bhi nhi jaana chaahti isiliye usne mujhse tumhaare sign lene ke liye request ki...", Shaan said coldly, making him look shocked.
"Samajh rhe ho tum Shaurya ?!!... Kitni ghatiya harkat ki hai tumne ki tumhe dekhne se bhi use "ghinn" aati hai..."
Shaurya's eyes became red, his nerves frayed, and his fist was curled in rage, and he was fuming with rage at himself.
She disgusted him; this fact was breaking him for reasons he didn't understand.
"Kya hua ?!...", Shaan reprimanded.
"Khade kyu ho ??... Sign karo uspar...", he said.
"I'm sorry Dad... Main sign nhi karne vaala..."
"Main khud Miss Bhalla se baat karunga...", he said firmly.
"Vo tumhaara chehra bhi nhi dekhna chaahti Shaurya... Tumse baat karna to door ki baat hai !...", Shaan yelped.
"Lekin main use kahi nhi jaane dene vaala Dad !...", Shaurya said abruptly, surprising Shaan.
"Use jo bhi kehna hai mujhse mere saamne aakar kehna hoga... Main sunne ko taiyaar hoon...
"Use mujhse shikaayat hai toh mere saamne aakar mujhse bole naa... Aise bhaag kyu rhi hai yaha se ?!!!..."
"Aur main ispe sign nhi karne vaala..."
"Shaury-...", Shaurya stormed away from there before Shaan could say anything, leaving him in a dilemma.
Shaan knew Shaurya must have been remorseful after what happened the day before, but that didn't take away his resentment for his son. He was still ashamed and furious over his son's deeds.
He, too, wished Anokhi would stay back, but he had no right to stop her; her action was justified, and she was right at her place.
He knew Shaurya didn't sign the paper because he was now "responsible" for his actions, and he, like him and Aastha, wanted to change Anokhi's decision in some way.
Everything was now in Anokhi's hands, and he wished that whatever decision she made would be the right one.
Shaurya emerged from Shaan's cabin and began searching the area for her. He couldn't wait to meet her. Right now, all he needed to do was talk to her.
With the TC paper in his hand, he was walking back to his cabin when his gaze fell on a familiar figure nearby.
There she was, the woman he had been looking for.
He could see her hands holding some papers that appeared to be documents, and fear gripped him once more as he assumed she had withdrawn those documents from college in order to leave.
Without further ado, he marched towards her, determined to persuade her any way.
He made up his mind that he wouldn't let her go anywhere.
Anokhi had arrived at the college. She was carrying some paper as she walked towards the office.
Her eyes had "fire" this time, unlike the moistness since the past few days.
She was on her way there when someone popped up in front of her, blocking her path. She looked up at the person, and her whole being flared up with fury the moment she realized who it was.
"Anokhi..."
"Meri baat suno...", his voice soft.
She walked past him, blatantly ignoring him, as if he didn't exist. She wasn't in the mood to even see him, let alone talk to him. She vowed never to go in front of him again.
Just being near him made her feel humiliated.
"Anokhi !..."
"Listen !..."
"Please !...", he pleaded as he rushed after her, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
She was just walking towards the office, ignoring him as if he were not there. She was about to turn in the corridor when he appeared in front of her again.
She glared up at him, that he dared to block her path again. And, of course, he was there again, possibly to "insult" her.
She gathered her thoughts and closed her eyes to relax. She had made the decision that she would no longer be affected by him. She will not allow herself to make poor decisions solely because of him. She couldn't lose her mind over him and his "nonsense", so she opened her eyes and walked right past him, totally disregarding him.
This had taken its toll on Shaurya because he had been waiting for her since the morning, and now that she was there, she wouldn't let him speak.
Finding himself running out of options, he did the thing he least wanted to do.
He followed her, then grabbed her hand firmly, but gently enough, so as not to hurt her, and turned her towards him, bringing her to a halt.
Anokhi was startled by the sudden pull, and as soon as she realized what he did, she looked at him with wrathful eyes.
"Abhi bhi kuch baaki reh gaya hai bolne ko ?!!!...", she exclaimed, unable to take his interruption any longer.
"Thodi aur insult karni baaki hai shaayad... Haina ??!!...", her voice was tinged with hurt.
Her eyes had become moist as a result, as had his.
"Anokhi please-..." he began to say, his voice pleading.
"Dekhiye Shaurya Sir...", Anokhi spoke up, abruptly cutting him off.
"Mujhe aapse koi baat nhi karni..."
"Mere raaste se please hatiye... Mujhe jaane deejiye...", she said, fuming.
"TUM KAHI NHI JAA RHI ANOKHI...", his voice stern, his eyes on hers.
This infuriated Anokhi to no end, as he dared to come in her way yet again.
"Aap hote kaun hai mujhe rokne vale ?!..."
"MAIN IS COLLEGE KA DIRECTOR HOON...", he said, his voice intense.
"Tum bina kisi VALID EXPLANATION ke yeh college nhi chod sakti Miss Bhalla...", he retorted, despite the fact that he was guilty and had no other excuses to stop her right now.
"Aur jab tak is paper par valid explanation nhi... Tab tak ispar mere sign nhi hone vale...", he said, showing her the TC paper.
Anokhi's brows scrunched in confusion but as soon as she observed that paper, anger bubbled up inside her that he had the guts to boast about his position even now.
Though she was in college for "other" purpose and not for the TC, but his audacity in attempting to stop her by bragging about his position made her blood boil.
Even after character assassinating her that day, he was asking for a "valid reason" for leaving college, which meant he had no realization how low he had stooped that day. This led her to believe that he had no remorse for what he had done and was only there to humiliate her once more. This outraged her and she yelped, "Aapse yahi ummeed thi Shaurya Sir !!..."
"Itna sab kuch hone ke baad bhi aapko EXPLANATON chaahiye ??!!...", she looked at him in disbelief, causing him to feel even more guilty.
"Dekho Anokhi..."
"Main... Mujhe bolne ka mauka-..."
"NHI !!...", she interrupted.
"Main firse keh rhi hoon... Mere raaste se please hat jaaiye... Mujhe aap jaise insaan se koi baat hi nhi karni...", she said teary eyed.
Her words stabbed him, but he maintained his cool. All he had to do now was deal with her calmly.
"Tumhe jo bolna hai bolo... Mujhe daanto ! ... Sunaao ! ... Lekin please... Voh... us din... us din jo bhi hua voh-...", he was shameful of himself, he couldn't find words.
He had struck the wrong chord now. By reminding her of that day, she was now on the verge of crying. And moreover, as said by Aastha, she also wanted to know why he had such a poor perception of her and on what basis he had developed such a bad view about her.
"Aapko mujhse itni nafrat kyu hai Sir ??!!...", she shrieked, her eyes welling up.
"Kya bigaada tha maine aapka ??..."
"Jab se aayi hoon tabse aap mujhe neecha dikhaane mein tule hue hai..."
"Dekho Anokhi... Us din jo kuch bhi hua vo sab... vo sab gusse mein ho gaya"
"Main us din kisi baat ko lekar pareshaan tha aur... aur isliye gusse me vo sab... I... I didn't meant it Anokhi..."
She stared at him, her eyes widening in disbelief at what a "fantastic explanation" he gave for justifying himself.
"Kya main koi punching bag hoon ??... Jab chaaha mujhpar aakar apna gussa nikaalenge aap ??!!...", her eyes red with wrath.
"Ano-..."
"Aapko kisi baat ka gussa hai... Aapko kisi bhi cheez ki vajah se pareshaani hai toh iska matlab vo gussa aap bevajah kisi aur par jaakar nikaalenge ??!!... Aur vo bhi... a... aise... i... is tareeke se mere charact-", her voice broke.
"STOP IT ANOKHI !!...", he yelled, not wanting her to use that word for herself.
His disgust for himself grew stronger with each passing second, making him feel vulnerable.
"KYU ??!!!...", Anokhi screamed.
"Ab aapko sunne mein kyu takleef ho rhi hai ???!!..", she howled, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Aap hi ne mujhe bola tha naa... M... Main L... LOOSE... CHAR-..."
He grabbed her arms, pulling her closer and looking dangerously into her eyes because he didn't want her to finish that line.
"DON'T - DO - THIS - TO - ME - ANOKHI...", he was severely breathing as she tried to make him feel even worse by reminding him of the "dishonorable words" he used for her that day. He couldn't bear hearing it again.
"Baar – baar vhi baat repeat mat karo...", he said, his voice full of intensity and his strong gaze fixed on her.
Anokhi became increasingly angry, and she jerked him away by wriggling free of his grip, causing him to stumble back.
"Aapne jo mere saath kiya..."
"Use...", she choked.
"Use main kabhi nhi bhool paaungi...", a lone tear escaped her eyes.
"Kabhi bhi nhi bhool paaungi...", she cried out.
Shaurya now loathed himself. He felt like slapping himself for what he had done.
The tears, the hatred in her eyes for him, were piercing him through.
He didn't even have the fortitude to apologize to her right now. He was ashamed by himself. He couldn't even form words or muster the courage to say the word "SORRY" because what he had done was unpardonable and no explanations could justify it.
"A... Ano... khi...", he stammered.
"I..."
"I'm-..."
"MAIN AAPKO KABHI MAAF NHI KARUNGI SHAURYA SIR...", she spoke up, her eyes red and burning.
Shaurya's heart sank and broke into pieces as he listened, his eyes already moist. She would never forgive him, she abhorred him, all of this jabbed his heart for reasons he didn't understand. He no longer had the impudence to ask for forgiveness; all he wanted now was to make her stay back.
"Mu... jhe..."
"Mujhe... chaahe maaf... mat karo Anokhi...", his voice cracking up.
"Lekin please...", he pleaded.
"Please apna decision change kar lo..."
"Tum mujh jaise UNIMPORTANT PERSON ke liye please apna CAREER... Apna FUTURE mat barbaad karo..."
"PLEASE SIEST MAT CHODO...", he begged, his voice quivering with guilt.
With tear-stung eyes, she looked up at him. The same person who used to say she didn't deserve to be there and that a girl like her was a "disgrace" to his institution was now begging her not to leave.
She believed he didn't say it from the heart, but rather due to someone else's insistence, possibly Shaan Sir's.
"Mera SIEST mein rehna toh aapko shuru se hi naapasand tha Sir..."
"Aapka toh humesha se hi maanna tha ki main yaha rehna DESERVE nhi karti..."
"Toh fir aapko toh sabse zyaada khushi honi chaahiye AGAR main college chod deti hoon to...", she retorted, looking at him with pain and grief.
Shaurya's fist balled up as he remembered saying those words to her. He was feeling terrible. He was at loss of words.
"Lekin aapko jaanke bohot dukh hoga Shaurya Sir..."
"MAIN KAHI NHI JAA RHI !...", ultimately, she revealed.
His ears rang with the words, and he looked up at her, astounded.
This was the thing he had been waiting to hear for a long time, but now he felt as if he had misheard. He couldn't believe it.
"Ano... khi..."
"T... Tum nhi jaa rhi?..."
"S... Sach ?...", his eyes brimmed, relieved that she had changed her mind.
"Sunkar bura lga naa Shaurya Sir ??...", she reprimanded.
"Tum galat samajh rhi ho Anokhi...", his voice broke.
"Main sab sahi samajh rhi hoon !..."
"Aur aap bhi meri baat bohot achche se sun leejiye Sir..."
"MAIN SIEST NHI CHOD RHI !...", she yelped.
She wasn't going anywhere; he was thrilled as he listened to it.
"Maine aapki ghatiya baaton ko itna zyaada importance de diya tha ki main apna career barbaad karne chali thi !!..."
"Aapki behuda baaton ne mujhe itna hurt kar diya tha ki main... main kuch sahi – galat sochne ke haal mein bhi nhi thi... Bas yaha se jald se jald door jaana chaahti thi !!!..."
"Lekin Aastha Mam ne sahi samay par mujhe rok liya..."
He looked at her taken aback.
"A... Agar vo mujhe nhi rokti... Agar vo mujhe sahi raah nhi dikhaati to main apne hi haatho apna hi future barbaad kar deti...", she sobbed.
"Aur bohot sochne ke baad maine apna faisla badal liya... Kyunki aap jaise bohot log aayenge – jaayenge jo mujhe mere life ke har padhaav par neecha dikhaane ki koshish karenge... Lekin main aise logo ke saamne haar to nhi maan sakti naa..."
"Agar main haar maan loongi toh aap jaise chhoti soch vale logo ko apni galti ka ehsaas kaise hoga...", she said, the fierce woman he wanted to see was back.
His heart throbbed as he listened quietly to each of her words. Shame and deep regret were biting him.
"Aaj ke baad..."
"Aapki aur aapki baaton ka mujhpar koi asar nhi hone vaala... Main hone hi nhi doongi !..."
"Kyunki aap aur aapki baatein mere liye koi maaiyne nhi rakhte...", she said, her eyes fixed on his deep orbs.
"Agar kabhi aapko apni galti ka ehsaas ho bhi jaata hai naa Shaurya Sir... Toh mujhse expect bhi mat karna ki main aapko maaf kar doongi..."
"Aapne jo kiya uske liye main aapko kabhi maaf nhi karungi..."
"Kabhi bhi nhi !..."
Unable to take the emotional turmoil any longer, she stormed away from there with tear-stung eyes, and he continued to stare at her retreating figure in a daze with blurry vision.
He finally got to hear what he wished, but it left him with deep regret and a void in his heart.
He was shattered by the fact that she would never forgive him, that she hated him and that her hatred for him would never wither.
He turned to leave, his heart broken, his courage crushed, his confidence in himself disintegrated, with only the "satisfaction" that she was not leaving. This was enough to satisfy him for the time being, but he didn't know how he would get rid of the "overwhelming remorse" and "void" that would only be filled if she forgave him someday.
Little did he know, a big blow, even more destructive, was awaiting him that would knock him out of the sky and leave him in such a state of insaneness that he would have no idea what to do next...
Anokhi had come to the ground area leaving him behind.
She looked at her hand with teary eyes, which held the documents she had withdrawn a day before and was going to submit them back today because she had changed her mind. But, after their spat, she was in no mood to do it and decided to do it tomorrow.
She remembered what had happened when she was leaving for college in the morning.
"Anokhi..."
"Tum sure ho ?...", Aastha's voice was full of joy.
"Tumne tay kar liya ?...", her eyes hopeful.
"JEE MAM...", Anokhi replied, her voice resolute.
Aastha smiled through tears listening to it. Anokhi, too, had a faint smile on her face for her Aastha Maa.
It was her Aastha Maa's words that showed her the mirror, that reminded her who she was and that she didn't need to escape from a situation where her self-esteem was questioned; she needed to make the wrongdoer repent for his actions.
She'd realized that nothing was more important to her than her own dreams, her ambitions, and her baby girl...
Anokhi returned to the present and took a look around the college. The college she was going to leave today mindlessly because she was moved by her emotions.
Her heart ached as she remembered how mindless she had gone a few days before, that she was letting go of her hard work college just for him.
She had spent the previous night thinking deeply about what she was going to do. She had realized by taking such a drastic step on someone's negative attitude's influence on her, how effortlessly she was letting go of her years of struggle.
She chastised herself for having no plans for the future. She had no idea what she would have done if she had returned to Kapurthala. She didn't even have any plans how to resume her studies in Kapurthala; she was simply being swayed by her emotions and allowing them to rule her instead of thinking rationally. Her emotions were dominating her, and as a result, she was about to make the "worst decision" of her life.
She heartfully thanked her Aastha Maa for her arrival and guiding her down the right path. Her "words" had given her brains. If Aastha hadn't arrived, she might have truly left everything behind because she was so engrossed in her grief that she was fully prepared to leave college without thinking about the repercussions, and she had even left the Swiggy job and had her train tickets booked for the return.
She mentally rebuked herself for being moved by her overwhelming emotions to such extent that she didn't even consider about her baby girl, as well as her own ambitions, which she was always determined to achieve despite the obstacles.
She admonished herself for becoming so weak for such an insignificant, "UNIMPORTANT PERSON", as said by him.
She breathed deeply, preparing herself to start afresh.
She learned a valuable lesson from this incident: "never let somebody or your emotions have so much power over you that you lose your ability to reason critically".
She made a promise to herself that she would never make such a big mistake again.
She resolved that from now on, she won't let herself influenced by "UNIMPORTANT PERSONS" like HIM.
She braced herself and stood up to go to her PG, where her baby girl and Aastha Mam were...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊