Here's the 78th chapter.
Enjoy reading.
Shaurya was on his way to his cabin with his Princess.
He was carrying her in his arms, observing how "happy" she was to be with him.
He felt his stomach churn as he considered how he would initiate his conversation with her today. He was extremely afraid of a "shift" in dynamics with her that he didn't want, as it had only been yesterday when he unearthed who her Anumaa was.
He stepped inside, closed the door behind, and reached for his desk where he made his Princess sit as he always did.
He noticed his Princess was staring at him with love, and he felt miserable again, unable to look her in the eyes, as those big eyes reminded him of the "love" she had for him, which he had unknowingly offended by hurting her Anumaa.
He just wanted to reveal the shroud he'd been burying himself in. He wanted to confront her what he should do to earn her forgiveness and that of her Anumaa, but he couldn't because she was the one, he had unintentionally hurt, and he didn't have the "chutzpah" to tell her how much he had hurt her Anumaa.
He was lost in his own thoughts, his eyes staring at nothing in particular, which had turned glossy by this time, and he forgot that his Princess was sitting right in front of him, silently watching him as he was lost in his world of repentance.
He was still deep in thought when he felt a gentle touch on his hand. When he looked there, he noticed a small hand raising his hand towards itself. It only took a few seconds for him to realise it was his Princess's hand.
"Laddoo...", Mimi spoke up softly.
"Kya hua Laddoo..."
"Aap muj chhe baat kyu nhi kal lahe ?..."
"Aap lo lahe ho ?..."
"Aapko kichhi ne daanta hai Laddoo ?..." she inquired innocently; her face sad.
Hearing her childish concern for him finally ruptured his emotional armour, and his eyes teared up even more, taking Mimi aback.
"Laddoo... Laddoo !!..."
"Aap lo kyu lahe ho ??..."
"Btaao naa Laddoo..."
"Aapko chot lagi hai ??... Kichhi ne daanta aapko ?..."
"Btaao na Laddoo..." Mimi's voice quivered as she saw her favorite Laddoo in tears.
Shaurya had lost the strength to keep everything inside himself, and he sat in his chair near the desk, his hands still in hers.
"Princess..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm very sorry princess..."
"Mujhse..." his voice was trembling.
"Mujhse... Bohot badi g... galti ho gayi Princess..." he cried out and he gently squeezed his Princess's hands, afraid that she would pull away from him.
Mimi, who couldn't understand what he was saying, asked, "Aap chholly kyu bol lahe ho Laddoo ?..." She reached out her hands towards his face, wiping away the tears she couldn't bear.
He felt at ease as soon as her tiny soft palms touched his face to wipe away the tears, and he closed his eyes to soak in the feeling of being entrusted with his Princess's love.
"Aapne muj chhe plomish kiya tha naa Laddoo... Aap kabhi loge nhi... " Mimi spoke up as she continued to gently wipe his tears away.
"Aap pinky plomish tol (tod) doge toh Mimi ko bula (bura) lagega Laddoo..." she stated innocently.
He took her small hands in his, and tried to form words, but his throat choked.
After lot of tribulations, he spoke up.
"P... Princess..."
"Lad... doo ne naa..."
"Laddoo se ek bohot badi galti ho gayi..." he struggled to speak.
"A... Aapke Laddoo ne ... Kisiko udaas kar diya Princess..."
"K... kisiko bohot bura lga hai princess... Bohot udaas ho gaya voh..."
"Aap mujhe btaaoge Princess... Main kya karu ?..."
"Main kaise sorry maangu..." he sobbed, his voice breaking, and Mimi sat silently listening, contemplating his words.
She raised her hands again after a minute to erase her Laddoo's tears away.
"Aap peeshh lo mat Laddoo...", she said, her tiny palms clearing away his tears.
Shaurya looked at her with teary eyes, his tears being lovingly brushed away.
"Laddoo..." Mimi raised her voice softly.
"Aapko pta hai..."
"Meli Mumma kehti hai..."
"JAB KOI DIL CHHE MAAFI MAANGTA HAI... TOH UCHHE MAAF KAL DETE HAI..."
Shaurya's heart sank and another tear slipped from his eyes.
How could he even tell his Princess that it was her Mumma herself who had been hurt by him and that he wanted to apologise to her...
But later his mind registered her Princess's words, and the righteousness of it. He realized that he was truly sorry for what he had done, and he wished to apologize to her from the bottom of his heart, but he hadn't had the opportunity to do so because she refused to listen to him. But there was still hope that ONE DAY, maybe when her anger will subside a little, "just a little", then she would at least listen to his apology, if not much more.
This will suffice because, at the very least, he will be able to convey his sorry which he desperately wanted.
With teary eyes filled with love, he looked at his Princess.
Today, as always, his Princess provided him with a solution to his problem. He was certain that his Princess would say something to help him resolve his internal conflict.
"Princess..." he said, holding her tiny hands in his.
"Main agar dil se maafi maangunga..."
"Toh kya sach mein aapki Mum-..." he abruptly came to a halt, realizing what he was about to say.
"Kya hua Laddoo..." she waited for him to say something.
Again, guilt pored over him for stooping so low and being such a COWARD that he didn't even have the audacity to tell his Princess that it was her Anumaa whom he had hurt. He felt ashamed that he was lying to his Princess by not apprising her about whose forgiveness he was referring to.
He was deeply conscience-stricken, but he had no choice but to keep the matter hidden from his Princess.
For the last time, he chose to keep it hidden and ignore his conscience's feelings because HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LOSE HIS PRINCESS.
K... Kuch nhi Princess..." his voice shook as he lied.
"Voh... Main bas aapse keh rha tha Princess..."
"Kya sach mein dil se maafi maangte hai toh maafi mil jaati hai ?..."
"Agar mujhe maafi nhi mili toh ? ... Princess btaao na mujhe kuch... Tab main kya karunga ?..." his voice cracked.
"Main sach mein dil se maafi maangunga Princess..."
"Main... main sorry bhi bolunga..."
"Main punishment bhi maanne ko taiyaar hoon Princess..."
"Lekin mujhe maafi mil jaayegi naa ? ... Mujhe maaf kar degi naa vo Princess ?..." He asked emotionally because he was willing to go to any length to atone for his actions.
Mimi slid a little on the desk to get closer to her Laddoo, and cupped his face between her small palms.
"Laddoo..."
"Aap chinta mat kalo..."
"Agal muj chhe kabhi galti ho jaati hai toh main Mumma chhe dil chhe chholly bolti hoon... Aul meli Mumma muje maaf bhi kal deti hai..."
"Aap bhi dekhna Laddoo..."
"Aap bhi kichhi chhe dil chhe chholly maangoge toh aapko bhi maafi mil jaaegi..." she said innocently with great faith, but she was completely unaware that the conversation was about her Mumma in order to earn her forgiveness.
Shaurya looked at his Princess endearingly, and smiled faintly through misty eyes, seeing her concern and faith in him.
He made a promise to himself at that moment that he would never do such a thing again. He will never do anything so uncivilized and shameful again. He will never again pass judgement on anyone.
He will never hurt his Princess ever again.
He held the small soft hands that were cupping his face in his big ones, caressing them with his thumbpads, overwhelmed with emotions.
Mimi smiled back at him, very much relieved that her Laddoo was no longer crying.
"Aap aaj homevalk (homework) nayi kaloge Laddoo ?..." Mimi spoke up.
Shaurya seemed perplexed, but then a second later he realized she was referring to his laptop work, which according to her, was his "homework". Seeing her puerility made him smile once more.
"Main homework karunga Princess..."
"Yeh dekho..." he said, as he opened the laptop.
"Abhi main apna homework shuru kar rha hoon... Hmmm..."
"Okkay Laddoo..." she said.
"Aap homevalk kalo... Main aapko chup - chaap baithkal (baithkar) dekhungi..." she expressed her excitement.
"Meli Mumma bhi ichhi cheej mein homevalk kalti hai..." she stated innocently, pointing to the laptop.
This made Shaurya smile again, and he said, "Ise Laptop kehte hai Princess..."
Listening to it, Mimi stared at him for some time before repeating what he said.
"L... Lat... pot ?..." she inquired innocently to confirm.
Shaurya's heart softened once more at her innocence. His Princess's adorability always melted his heart.
"Latpot nhi Princess..."
"Laptop..." he repeated again.
"L – a - p... T – o - p..." Mimi stutteringly attempted to speak.
"Yes Princess... Laptop..."
"Theek hai Laddoo... Ab main yaad lakhungi..." she said this while smiling.
He smiled, and responded by caressing her hair. He was feeling lighter after his conversation with her. He was now truly relieved that his Princess was close by.
He was absolutely petrified this morning that he would lose his Princess forever as a result of what he had done.
He was also grateful to Anokhi for letting her daughter to accompany him, which he was least expecting. He was still trying to figure out why she had sent her daughter with him when she despised him so much.
How could she let her daughter to spend time with him when she herself didn't even want to even look at him, let alone talk to him ?
Though it remained a question in his mind, but he was comforted for the time being that despite every difficulty, every problem, he had his Princess by his side always...
Alok was on his way to Tej's cabin to talk about a document.
He had just passed by a pillar when a familiar voice entered his ears. He came to a halt in his track and began looking for the source of the voice. He looked around and noticed his brother, Shaan, talking with someone over the phone.
He hid himself behind the pillar he had just passed by because the conversation Shaan was having on the phone piqued his interest, and he had already deduced who the person on the other end of the call was.
He could hear Shaan being hidden clearly. He stayed there for a while, sneaking peeks at Shaan to make sure he hadn't noticed him, and when the call was finished, Alok quickly backtracked to wait for Shaan to go inside his cabin.
As soon as he saw Shaan entering inside his cabin, he came out, and now he knew what exactly he needed to do. His sole purpose now was to go and tell Devi about it, which would serve as "fuel" to incite Shaurya against his mother.
He smirked and proceeded to Tej's cabin to complete the work for which he was on his way.
All of the classes after the break had ended, and college was now over.
After saying her goodbyes to her best friends, Anokhi was on her way to kitchen to pick up Mimi.
She entered the kitchen and was shocked to find it empty. She looked everywhere, but she couldn't find her Shona.
Pammi Aunty was outside at the food counter, she noticed.
Fear gripped her as she wondered where Mimi had gone.
She hurriedly turned to leave when Shaurya Sir's thoughts ran across her mind. She realized he had taken Shona with him, but she was befuddled because Mimi used to be in kitchen every day before she arrived, so what had happened today ?
She was about to turn when she heard a voice from behind her.
"Mummaaaa..."
When she turned around, she was relieved to see her baby girl, but the person standing beside her made her stiffen a little.
Shaurya kept staring at her and gently released Mimi's hand, letting her to return to her Anumaa.
"Main aa gayi Mumma..." Mimi said as she approached her Anumaa and hugged her legs, which Anokhi reciprocated with a smile.
That sight affected Shaurya once more, but he quickly composed himself by averting his gaze.
He was supposed to return to his cabin after dropping Mimi off, but he couldn't leave without even waving a small goodbye to his Princess. But he was finding it difficult to do due to presence of her Anumaa with whom he was occasionally stealing glances.
He was debating whether he should stay or return to his cabin, just then his phone rang.
He had no choice but to leave to answer the phone. He stepped away from the kitchen door and walked towards the ground to take the call.
Mimi and Anokhi, on the other hand, were ready to leave.
Anokhi walked out of the kitchen carrying her baby girl in one arm and her bag in the other.
Shaurya, who was nearby, had finished his call and was walking back towards the canteen to see if his Princess was still there when he noticed both his Princess and her Mumma exiting the cafeteria.
He didn't take another step, nor did he consider approaching them. He just stood there quietly, taking in the "captivating" sight in front of him.
His heart melted when he saw his Princess making a cute wave with her little hand at him. Despite the fact that he was far away from them, his Princess had already taken notice of him, which warmed his heart.
He, too, smiled and waved back from afar.
Even though no words were exchanged, their gestures of waving bye to each other from afar conveyed a lot of emotions.
Shaurya kept standing there alone, lost in capturing the view; a view to cherish, a view to behold, a view incorporating so many deep emotions reawakening his buried trapped emotions for "someone".
He was witnessing the scene for the very first time.
For the first time, he was seeing this side of Anokhi, which made him feel differently about her.
There she was, walking away out of the cafeteria with his Princess in her arms. Her one hand held her bag, while her other hand supported Mimi by holding onto her embrace.
He looked, he observed how Anokhi was often smiling at Mimi while walking, every so often adjusting Mimi in her arms, occasionally passing her daughter a LOVE-FILLED look, or sometimes caressing her hair as he used to.
The view gave him a "MOTHERLY" vibe.
It made him feel how a mother treats her child.
It brought him back to the realization that, while she was a "student" to him, she was a "MOTHER" to his Princess.
It reminded him again that Anokhi was a "MOTHER" too, apart from being a student.
At that moment, it made him see her as only as a "MOTHER", and her identity as a "student" faded away for him.
This motherly facet of Anokhi was new to him, and it was something he felt very special for reasons he couldn't even explain.
It enabled him to see Anokhi's motherly side, which was wholly fresh to him because he had never seen her in this light before. He had only seen her as a student, as an individual, but had never witnessed her with this SOFT MOTHERLY SIDE.
Now his Princess and her Mumma were almost out of his sight, but he was still standing there alone on the ground, as the sight he had just perceived reminded him of someone he least wanted to remember, but his heart always brings HER image up before his eyes, making him reminisce about his memories with HER.
The beautiful heart touching sight of his Princess snuggled up in her Mumma's arms, engulfed by her Mumma's love, reminded him of someone, he wished SHE could engulf him in HER love.
That "someone" was none other than MISS AASTHA KASHYAP.
The sight of his Princess being enveloped and protected in her Mumma's embrace, or, more precisely, "the sight of a child being secured by its mother's love", evoked deep entombed emotions for HER in him.
It conjured up his emotional attachment to HER, his ENDLESS LONGING for HER since childhood.
It made him confess to himself at that moment, that, he, desperately wanted he could have been "surrounded" by MISS AASTHA KASHYAP's love.
He wished he, too, could receive a mere "caress" from MISS AASTHA KASHYAP.
He wished HIS MOTHER would have showered him with such love.
Finally... After a long time since childhood, today, he admitted to himself, that he missed HER.
He missed HER everything.
He missed HER all these years.
He missed HER every moment.
Yes !... He did miss her.
Except for HER, nothing ran through his mind.
Except for HER, no one else came to mind.
He stayed there in the same position, motionless, his vision becoming blurry.
The next moment, the green grass blades of the ground glistened with water "beads", where a person kept standing in reminiscence of a LOVED ONE...
"Kya keh rhe ho tum Alok ?!!..."
"Shaan aur Aastha ek doosre se aaj milne vale hai ???..." Devi scowled angrily.
"Haanji Parjai ji..."
"Maine khud apne kaano se suna tha Shaan Bhaisahab ko phone par baat karte hue..."
While hiding behind the pillar, Alok listened intently to what Shaan was saying on the phone.
"Please..."
"Please meri baat samajhne ki koshish karo..." Shaan pleaded.
"Main jaanta hoon ki tum yaha sirf Anokhi ke liye aayi thi... Lekin Noor..."
"Noor please..."
"Ek baar toh mujhe tumse baat karne ka mauka do..."
"Tum parso vaapas jaa rhi ho... Usse pehle ek baar bhi mujhse milogi nhi Noor ?..." his voice broke.
"In pichhle dino bhi main tumse baat karna chaahta tha... Main milna chaahta tha tumse... Lekin tab tum Anokhi ke saath thi... Tumhaara uske paas hona zaroori tha... Isliye tab maine socha mera tumse milna sahi nhi hoga..."
"Lekin ab toh Anokhi ne bhi apna faisla badal liya haina..."
"Ab toh tum mujhse ek baar milne aa sakti ho Noor..."
"Kya ek mauka bhi nhi dogi mujhe tum ?... Itni naaraaz ho mujhse ?..." With teary eyes, he asked.
Alok was fuming as he silently listened to everything. He kept watching Shaan, who was now listening to the phone rather than speaking, and soon he noticed Shaan's eyes gleaming and a faint smile creeping across his lips.
He perked up his ears even more to listen attentively.
"Noor..." Shaan's voice was shook, but the faint smile on his face remained.
"Noor sach mein..."
"Sach mein tum aaogi ?..." Shaan couldn't believe it and listened to what Aashta had to say.
⋅⋅⋅
"Haan bilkul Noor..."
"Tum kuch der ke liye bhi aaogi mujhe vo bhi manzoor hai..."
"Bas ek baar tumhaare jaane se pehle mujhe tumse milna hai... Bas ek baar..." his voice cracked.
"M... Main aur nhi reh sakta aise is tarah se..."
"Mujhe baat karni hai tumse... Tumse BOHOT KUCH kehna hai Noor..."
"Ho sakta hai uske baad main shaanti se reh paau..."
"Tum yaha humesha ke liye toh nhi rukogi Noor... Main jaanta hoon..."
"Lekin bas itna chaahta hoon ki tumhaare Kapurthala vaapas jaane se pehle humaare beech yeh jo manmutaav hai... Yeh jo naaraazgi hai... Main use khatm karna chaahta hoon Noor..."
⋅⋅⋅
"Theek hai Noor..."
"Aaj shaam ko..."
"Main tumhaara intezaar karunga vhi..."
"Usi jagah..."
"Jha hum pehle mila karte the..." he smiled through tears, and soon hung up the call.
Alok recounted the entire incident, and Devo was outraged.
"Parjai ji..."
"Shaan Bhaisahab aur Aastha Kashyap apne rishte ko bahaal karne ke liye milne vale hai aaj..."
Devi remained silent but enraged.
"Aap samajh rhi haina Parjai ji..."
"Agar Shaan Bhaisahab aur vo Aastha Kashyap dobaara ek ho gaye... Toh fir vo din door nhi jab Shaurya aapse door ho jaayega..."
"Alok !!..." Devi's yelled as her heart plunged with fear.
"Aisa kabhi nhi hoga !!..."
"Main kabhi hone hi nhi doongi !!!..." She yelped.
"Shaurya mera beta hai... Vo mujhse kabhi door nhi jaayega !!..." her heart was racing at the mere thought of Shaurya being taken away from her.
"Parjai ji..." Alok began to say.
"Agar aap chaahti hai ki aisa kabhi naa ho toh fir aap apne kaam par lag jaaiye jaldi..." He said with a smirk.
"Kaam ?..."
"Kaisa kaam Alok ?..." Devi looked befuddled.
"Dekhiye Parjai ji..."
"Abhi hum Shaan Bhaisahab aur Aastha Kashyap ko milne se toh nhi rok sakte... Lekin unke mulaakat mein rukaavat to daal hi sakte hai... Taaki Shaan Bhaisahab jo bhi kehna chaahte hai Aastha Kashyap se vo keh hi naa paaye..." Alok said and looked at her with wicked grin.
Devi listened to him quietly and pondered for a moment. She returned her gaze to Alok and spoke up.
"Kahi tumhaara matlab Shaurya se toh nhi ?..."
Alok's grin grew wider, and he responded by blinking his eyes.
Devi was now enraged and knew exactly what she had to do.
She didn't want Aastha to even get a chance to meet Shaan, because she was aware that Shaan was Aastha's one of the weaknesses. That's why she was afraid that Shaan's apologetic words for Aastha might melt her, and that at the very least, there was a possibility that Shaan and Aastha would clear off their rift, resulting in the dynamics between them being settled to some extent, which she didn't want AT ANY COST.
She was extremely fearful that if Shaan and Aastha got along once, then it was possible that Aastha might try to talk to Shaurya out of her LONG-HELD LOVE and YEARNING for him, or even attempt to reveal the LONG-KEPT SECRET.
The mere possibility of it made her heart pound with terror.
Even though she knew Shaurya wouldn't listen to Aastha, but she didn't want even a "single" doubt to arise in Shaurya's mind against her. And it was for this reason that she didn't want Shaan and Aastha's meeting to go well.
She had a strategic plan ready in her head for what she needed to do.
She prepared herself and got ready to go to the person who would UNKNOWINGLY put her tactical plotting into action...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊
And to let you know that the next update of "Dil Ibaadat" will be after June 10th. I'll be updating "Ajeeb Daastan" until then.