Here's the 93rd chapter.
Enjoy reading.
The break time had arrived and every team was ready with a teacher as their guide to lead them to a restaurant for their tour.
"Anokhi..."
"Tu chal rhi haina ???..."
"Shaurya Sir ne kha bas paanch minute mein restaurant ke liye niklenge sabhi..." Reema sprinted into the canteen.
"Reema..."
"Mujhe lgta hain main nhi aa paaungi..."
"Tum log chale jaao..." While washing her hands in the sink, Anokhi said
"Ye tu kya keh rhi hain Anokhi ??... Tere bina kaise chale jaaye hum ?..." Reema approached her.
"I'm sorry Reema..."
"Mujhe bhi nhi pta tha achaanak se ye kaam beech mein aa jaayega..."
"Darasal koi sponsor aaye hue hai... Unki meeting chal rhi hai Tej Sir ke saath... Aur aaj Raju bhi nhi aaya..."
"Isliye un logo ke snacks ka arrangement mujhe aur Pammi Aunty ko akele hi karna padega..."
"Paanch minute mein to kuch bhi nhi hoga Reema..." she lamented.
"Toh fir ek kaam karte hai Anokhi..."
"Hum Shaurya Sir se ek baar baat karke dekhte hai... Thoda aur time agar mil jaaye..." Reema suggested a solution as she couldn't leave her behind.
"Nhi Reema..."
"Tum log mera wait mat karo..." Anokhi was quick to object.
"Mujhe khud bhi nhi pta ki kitna time lagega abhi..."
"Ho sakta hai un guests ke liye lunch ka bhi arrangement karna pade... Tab to bohot time lag jaayega Reema... Isliye main keh rhi hoon ki tum log chale jaao... Jab mera kaam khatam ho jaayega main vha pahunch jaaungi..." Anokhi explained graciously.
"Lekin Anokhi..." Reema remained dissatisfied.
"Reema..." Anokhi placed her hand on her shoulder, motioning her through her eyes.
Reema finally had to surrender to her friend, albeit half-heartedly.
"Achcha Anokhi..."
"Hum Mimi ko apne saath le jaate hai fir... Use bhi enjoy krne ko milega..." Reema asked.
Anokhi looked at her daughter, who was sitting on the chair, and realized this was a good idea. She would be busy with her work, and her Shona would get bored. It would be better if her Shona could be with her friends so that she could get to enjoy the tour also. And moreover, "he" would also be there. For some reason, it made her feel more secure about her Shona, though she didn't know why.
"Theek hai Reema..."
"Tum log Mimi ko le jaao apne saath..."
"Main kaam khatam hote hi vha chali jaaungi..." Anokhi said with a smile.
"Okkay..." Reema responded.
"Mimi..."
"Aap aaoge naa humaare saath ?...Hum aapko ghoomne lekar jaayenge..." Reema reached for the baby girl.
Mimi got out of the chair and looked at her innocently.
"Aap muje ghoomne lekal jaoge ?..."
"Aul Mumma ?..." cutely, she asked.
"Mimi Shona..." Anokhi walked over to her and caressed her hair.
"Mumma ko thoda sa kaam hai Shona... Isliye main baad mein aaungi... " she said politely.
"Pkka aaoge na Mumma ?..." Mimi inquired eagerly.
"Pkka Shona..." Anokhi replied, smiling.
"Theek hai Mumma..." Mimi agreed.
Reema smiled and took the little girl in her arms. She then let Anokhi know about the restaurant's location and pleaded with her to join them soon, as it would be incomplete without her. Anokhi assured her that she would try her best to reach there as quickly as possible.
Thereafter, Reema and Mimi headed outside the canteen to join Kitty and Bebo.
Anokhi then returned her attention to her work, hoping to finish it quickly so she could join her group in time.
With arms crossed over his chest, Shaurya was continuously tapping his feet on the ground, leaning against his car door.
"Tumhaari dost ko special invitation dena padta hai kya ? ..."
"Use pta nhi ki hum late ho rhe hai..." Shaurya expressed his impatience as he waited for someone to join them.
"Reema use bulaane hi gayi hai Bhaiya..."
"Vo Anokhi keh rhi thi ki use kuch kaam aa gaya... Isliye late ho rha hai..." Kitty said.
Before Shaurya could ask more, a voice startled them all.
"Aap bhi humaale chhaath ghoomne jaaoge Laddoo ??!!..." Mimi exclaimed, beaming.
The trio turned around only to see Reema with Mimi in her arms approaching them.
Shaurya's eyes searched for one more person who was nowhere to be seen.
Reema hurriedly walked over to them and let them know that Anokhi wouldn't be able to join them right now.
"Shaurya Sir..."
"Vo actually Anokhi ko canteen mein kaam hai... Isliye vo abhi nhi aa paayegi... "
"Abhi nhi aa paayegi matlab ?... " Shaurya and his sisters exclaimed at the same time and exchanged looks.
"Reema... Abhi nhi aayegi ka kya matlab hai ?..." disappointed, Shaurya asked.
"Vo canteen mein worker leave pe hai... Isliye jo guests aaye hue hai... Unke refreshment ki saari responsibility Pammi Aunty aur Anokhi par hai..."
"Anokhi isi reason se abhi humaare saath nhi chal paayegi... Lekin usne kha ki vo kaam khatam hote hi aa jaayegi... Maine uske saath location share kar di hai..." Reema explained.
Listening to this, something shifted in Shaurya. He didn't know why he was eagerly waiting for her with his Princess too, thinking that they both would be accompanying them. But now, on getting to know that she wouldn't be joining them at this moment, he was dejected.
"Laddoo... Laddoo..."
"Aap udaachh mat ho..."
"Mumma ne muje btaaya hai ki vo pkka aa jaayegi..." Mimi said cutely to pacify her Laddoo who seemed sad.
Shaurya was jolted listening to this, and he immediately composed himself. Although his Princess's Momma won't be joining them, at least his Princess will. He would have to satisfy himself with this only.
He cleared his throat, saying, "Theek hai..."
"Tum sab gaadi mein baitho..."
"Princess ko dhyaan se bithaana apne saath..." He made a special mention of his Princess's comfort.
He avoided looking at anyone, even his Princess, and jumped into the driver's seat as quickly as he could.
Reema chuckled inside when she saw Shaurya Sir reacting in that manner.
Bebo and Kitty, on the other hand, were perplexed by their Bhaiya's reaction. They were also upset to learn that Anokhi would be arriving late, but given the situation, they had no choice. But it was worth noting why their Shaurya Bhaiya seemed sad at this.
Everybody soon got into the car, with Shaurya driving the car and the friends with Mimi on the back seat.
Because a "specific" person was missing, Shaurya's face was fallen. He had no choice but to accept it. He started the engine, and the car drove away...
Anokhi was excused from her canteen duty late in the afternoon. She hurriedly packed her belongings and left for the restaurant. She was in such a rush that she neglected to even check the time to see whether or not her friends would still be present in the restaurant.
She had just arrived at the restaurant in an auto when she opened her purse to get cash to pay the fare. Her eyes landed on the phone at that point, and she realised she needed to call her friends to find out where they were right then. After paying the money, she opened her phone to find a number of missed calls from her friends.
"Itne saare missed calls ??..." She was shocked to see that.
She then checked the time and saw it was nearly 4 p.m.
"Hey Matarani !..." she exclaimed.
"Main itni late ho gyi !!..." She realised she was now too late.
"Kahi isiliye to vo sab mujhe phone nhi kar rhe the ?..." She thought maybe they had called her several times to let her know that they were getting over with the tour, but her phone was on mute, so she didn't get to know about it.
"Main bhi naa paagal hoon..."
"Yha aane se pehle time bhi nhi dekha... Seedha yha aa gayi..." She mentally scolded herself.
"Ab tak to shaayad unka tour khatam bhi ho chuka hoga..." She pondered.
"Ek baar Reema ko call karti hoon... Kya pta vo sab abhi bhi yhi ho..." she thought, hoping.
She was about to dial her phone number when another call came in at the same time.
"ACP Ahir ?..." Her brows scrunched.
She answered the phone.
"Hello... Anokhi Ji..."
"Jee ACP Ahir..." she replied.
"Anokhi Ji... Vo mujhe aapko kuch dena tha... Aap abhi college mein hi haina ?..." He asked, thinking it was time for her classes to end, so she might be there. Meanwhile, he'd go there to give her the keyring, which she could then return to its rightful owner.
"Kuch dena hai ?..." Anokhi was mystified.
"A... Vo actually main vha pahunchkar aapko batata hoon Anokhi Ji..."
"Aap college mein hi haina ?..." he asked once more.
"Nhi nhi ACP Ahir..."
"Main abhi college mein nhi hoon..."
"Vo fest ke liye aaj hume ek restaurant ke tour pe jaana tha... Vhi par hoon main..." she stated.
"Achcha... Toh fir main vhi aa jaata hoon... Aap mujhe restaurant ka naam bta deejiye..."
Anokhi began to wonder what Ahir wanted to give her that he was coming to hand over. She did, however, let him know the name of the place.
"Restaurant ka naam hai THE IMPERIAL SPICE..."
"All right Anokhi Ji..."
"Main abhi pahunchta hoon..." he said before hanging up the phone.
Anokhi also hung up, and was a little perplexed as to what the matter was. But she shrugged it off, thinking he had told her he would explain upon reaching there.
She returned her focus to the fact that she was about to call Reema. She called her, and from her, she learned of some disappointing news. Reema revealed that their tour had already ended and thus they were calling her repeatedly to join them soon. Bebo and Kitty had returned home, and Reema had taken Mimi with her to the hostel. She lamented that they were constantly missing Anokhi.
Anokhi then pacified her, saying that she shouldn't feel sad and that she was happy that they got to experience new things. She will ask the three of them later about their learning experience.
After hanging up the call, Anokhi thought that she would have to wait as ACP was arriving there. She decided to go inside and wait for him, and after that, she would go to Reema's hostel to pick up her Shona.
She went inside the restaurant to wait for Ahir...
"Okay then, Mr. Malhotra..."
"It was nice to see you..."
"Have a good day..." Shaurya said, extending his hand for a warm handshake.
"It was nice meeting you too.... Have a good day ahead..." Mr. Malhotra said goodbye with a smile. He took up his laptop bag and walked away.
Mr. Malhotra was in charge of overseeing the construction of SIEST's Pune campus, the "dream project" of Shaurya. He was so eager to get the details about the updates that he called Mr. Malhotra to the restaurant itself, unable to be patient enough to reach SIEST for their meet.
He had been attached to this project heartily for a long time. He had put in a lot of effort and hard work for it. It was solely his responsibility to remotely monitor every aspect of it. He himself had asked his Bade Papa that he would handle everything on his own. It would require approximately a year more for its accomplishment, for which Shaurya was chomping at the bit to see his dream materialised into a tangible structure.
Shaurya was leaving the restaurant when he got a call from Mr. Malhotra saying he wanted to meet him today to discuss the updates. He had thus told him to come to this restaurant, where there was a good spot for their meeting on the upper floor. He had been in the restaurant with Mr. Malhotra since then. Kitty and Bebo had returned home, and he had stayed behind. He had also been in a bad mood because SOMEONE who was supposed to join them later didn't show up.
He stood up and went downstairs to leave for home, brushing his thoughts away...
Anokhi, who was sitting on a chair waiting for Ahir, noticed him enter through the glass door. She stood up instinctively, sighing as her wait was finally over. Her mind, on the other hand, was still wondering what he wanted to give her that prompted him to come over here.
Ahir, who had noticed Anokhi from a distance, gave her a small smile and began walking towards her.
Anokhi approached him as well, and they met near a table chair.
"ACP Ahir..."
"Kya baat hai ?... Aapne kha aapko kuch dena tha..."
"Jee..." Ahir responded as he slid his hand into his pocket to retrieve it.
Anokhi noticed him taking something from his pocket and handing it to her.
"Yeh dena tha aapko Anokhi ji..." Ahir reached out his hand.
"Yeh Reema ji ka hai..."
"Vo kal hum sab mall mein mile the na... Yeh mujhe counter ke paas pada hua mila tha... Toh maine utha liya tha ye sochke ki aapko de doonga... Aap unhe de deejiyega..." he said, explaining the incident.
Anokhi's eyes widened at the realization. She remembered it was this morning when Reema was sadly telling her that she had lost a keyring, which was so dear to her as it had been gifted by her Mom. It was even engraved with her name. She was repenting so badly, how could she be so careless as to lose it.
Raising her eyes to Ahir, Anokhi smiled saying, "ACP Ahir... Aap..."
"Aap yeh dene aaye hai ?..." Anokhi was taken aback at his humbleness that he covered miles only to return the keyring.
"Yeh to sach mein Reema ka hain... Vo mujhe aaj subah hi bta rhi thi ki usse galti se ye kho gaya..." She took it in her hand.
Ahir smiled, realising that his efforts were worthwhile.
"Aapka bohot-bohot shukriya ACP Ahir..."
"Main yeh Reema ko lauta doongi... Aur aapke baare mein bhi btaaungi ki aap yeh mujhe dene itni door aaye..." she expressed her gratefulness.
"Arre nhi nhi Anokhi Ji... Main toh yha se guzarta rehta hoon... Aisa kuch nhi hai..." he said casually.
"Nhi ACP Ahir..."
"Agar aapki jagah koi aur hota... Toh shaayad yeh keyring dekhkar bhi nazarandaaz kar deta... Lekin aap yeh lautaane aaye... Mujhe bohot achcha lga..."
"Aapko pta hai Reema bohot udaas ho gayi thi ki usne ise kho diya..."
"Ab jab main use yeh dikhaaungi toh vo bohot khush ho jaayegi..." Anokhi said, giving him her subtle smile.
Ahir didn't know what took over him, he felt himself getting flushed. He had no idea what was happening to him. He thought he should get out of there as soon as possible before Anokhi saw him red. The next moment, he was taken aback to see someone behind Anokhi, approaching both of them.
"Kamaal hain yeh bhi..." These were the words that spontaneously came out of Ahir's mouth seeing the person.
Anokhi's brows scrunched, thinking about what he was saying.
"Kya hua ACP Ahir ?..." she said, oblivious that someone was approaching her from behind.
"Nayi matlab jab bhi aap aas - paas hoti hain Anokhi Ji... Yeh Professor Sahab pta nhi kaha se nikal aate hain kuch samajh mein hi nhi aata..." he said bemusedly at Shaurya's timing of appearance.
Before Anokhi could contemplate anything, she was startled by a voice from behind.
"Mr. A – C - P..." Shaurya emerged from Anokhi's behind, completely taking her aback. She had thought since the tour was over, he would have also gone back, but he was still there.
Shaurya was shooting daggers at Ahir.
After taking the stairs down, he was about to leave when he was shocked to see Anokhi and Ahir.
She was supposed to be with him—sorry, with her friends—her team. What was she doing here with the inspector, then ?
"Mujhe ghoor kyun rhe hain aap Professor ?..." Ahir looked amused.
Anokhi was still contemplating the happening.
Ahir's sarcastic tone caused Shaurya's trance to end. He was enraged by what the two of them were doing here together. He gave Ahir a glare before striking up a humorous conversation.
"Hello Mr... Ahir chattwal..."
"Oh I'm sorry..."
"Mr. A... C... P..." he rectified himself, emphasizing Ahir's post.
Anokhi and Ahir were both perplexed as to why he was speaking in such a joking manner.
"Aapne toh uniform pehni hui hain inspector... Toh zaahir si baat hain ki aap duty pe hain..."
"Lekin mujhe nhi pta tha ki yeh..." he turned to glance at Anokhi, "Bhi aapke DUTY ka hissa hain..." Shaurya stressed the word "duty".
"Pta nhi mujhe pehle bhi aisa lga tha... Aaj bhi aisa lag rha hain... Ki aapko apni job se zyaada meri job mein interest hain Professor..." After growing tired of his mocking tone, Ahir finally spoke up.
"Bachpan mein bade hoke ACP banna chaahte the kya aap ?..." Ahir scoffed.
"Lagta toh mujhe bhi bohot kuch hai ACP..." Shaurya was also prepared to hurl his words.
"Kyunki mujhe aisa lagta hain... Ki bachpan mein tum banna chaahte the girl's college ke ek security guard... Aur ban gaye OFFICER..." Shaurya gritted his teeth.
Anokhi was silently observing the tussle between the two, puzzled by what was going on.
Ahir couldn't help but laugh when he heard what Shaurya had said about him.
"Mujhe bhi kuch aisa hi lagta hain..."
"Ki aap banna chaahte the critic... Aur ban gaye PROFESSOR..." Nor did Ahir seem ready to back off.
"Critic hoon yaa Professor... Class tumhaari aaj lagne vaali hain..."
"Isliye Mind... Your... Words..." Shaurya forewarned him.
"Yeh toh mujhe aapko bolna chaahiye ... Ki thoda tameez se baat keejiye Mr. Sabharwal..." Ahir had had enough of Shaurya's irrational and demeaning behaviour with him, especially in public.
Anokhi was in another dimension. Her brain couldn't figure out how the situation had turned topsy-turvy for no apparent reason.
"Itni problem kya hain Professor ?... Aapne mere baare mein ek rai di... Aur maine aapke baare mein de di..." Ahir simply stated.
"Darasal meri rai yeh hain... Ki mujhe lagta hain tum apne POWER aur POSITION ka galat istemaal kar rhe ho..." Shaurya's lips twitched in anger.
"Didn't understand ?..." He asked the next moment, as it seemed Ahir didn't get what he meant to say.
"Let me explain..." He royally walked to the other side of the table and took his seat on the chair.
"Have a seat..."
"Or not..." Shaurya was being impolite.
Upon witnessing Shaurya's unusual badass attitude, Ahir and Anokhi were caught off guard. Ahir did nothing more than cross his hands over his chest to watch more of the Professor's new incarnation.
"Maan lo ki kisine media mein yeh complaint kar di..." Shaurya began his rant.
"Ek akeli ladki jo sheher mein nayi hain... Uska tum galat faayda utha rhe ho... Use mislead kar reh ho... Use misguide kar rhe ho..."
"Toh kya position reh jaayegi tumhaari Officer..."
"Hmm ?..." Shaurya raised his eyebrow at Ahir.
When realisation hit Anokhi that he was talking about her being exploited by Ahir, she was beyond shocked.
"Sir aisa kuch bhi nhi hain... Aap-..."
"Aapse baat ki hain maine ?!!!..." He yelled, scaring the hell out of her.
"This is not your campus !..." Shaurya remarked that she couldn't be at odds with him like usual on campus, that he would silently listen.
His rough behaviour had caused Anokhi's eyes to become wet.
The next moment, Shaurya composed himself and fixed his eyes again on Ahir.
"I was saying Officer... Fir kya karoge us power... Us position ka ?..."
"Vo kya hain Professor..."
"Aapne abhi jis tarah se inse baat ki hain naa... Main toh yeh soch rha hoon ki AAPKI POSITION aur AAPKI REPUTATION kya rehne vaali hain..." Ahir's clenched his jaw. He was infuriated at him, especially by the way he spoke to Anokhi by shouting at her in a social place.
Anokhi was watching them helplessly. She had no idea how to put a stop to the scuffle, which was on the verge of turning VIOLENT at any moment.
"Yahi problem haina aapko... Ki yeh aapke CAMPUS mein nhi hain... Right ?..." Ahir asked, glaring at Shaurya.
"So let me tell you one thing... VERY CLEARLY..."
"Yeh campus ke baad kaha jaati hain... Kisse milti hain... Kya karti hain... THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS..." Ahir blatantly made it clear to him.
"Aur aapko is sab se lena – dena hona bhi nhi chaahiye..."
"Aur agar fikr karni hain toh aap ab APNI keejiye Professor..."
"Kyunki jis tarah se aapne mujhse baat ki haina... Voh bhi apni ek student ke saamne..."
"Ek ZIMMEDAAR POLICE OFFICER par aapne ILZAAM lagaaya hain..." Ahir was boiling with wrath at the baseless accusations Shaurya had levelled against him.
Shaurya and Ahir were locked in intense eye contact, as though a murderous fight between them could break out at any second.
"Chaliye maan lete hain aapke paas bohot paisa hain Professor..." Ahir continued, unwilling to let Shaurya go so easily after the way he attempted to humiliate him.
"Iss PAISE KI GARMI ko naa thoda THANDA karke rakho..." he warned him.
Listening to it, Shaurya smirked saying, "Aur yeh POSITION KI GARMI ... Uska kya karoge Officer ?..." He cocked his brow at him.
Ahir swallowed hard to control his rage. He walked up to Shaurya in fury, and bent to his level, saying in enraged tone, "Voh kya hain Professor saab... Paise ki garmi toh aapne bohot dekhi hogi... Par lagta hain POWER KI GARMI abhi tak aapne dekhi nhi..."
"Aur please... Mujhe majboor mat keejiye vo garmi main aapko dikha doon..."
The chair was abruptly jerked away from Shaurya as he stood to his feet. The wooden piece was now lying far away, upside down.
Anokhi's legs retreated on their own out of fear at the severity of the extreme anger in his eyes.
Everyone else around was strangely staring at the three of them.
"TOH KAR !..." Shaurya took off his spectacles in outrage, intimidating Ahir.
"Jo karna hain kar !..."
"Kya karega... Hmm ?..."
"YAHI KHADA HOON..." Shaurya's temper had crossed its limits.
"Please !..." Anokhi ran off towards the two to separate them.
"Please please please..." She placed her hand between them to distance them.
It was clear from the way they were glaring at one another that if they continued to act in this way for even a moment longer, the "Professor vs Officer" tussle would escalate into a major BATTLE.
"Ladna band keejiye aap dono !... Please !..." Anokhi shivered in fear but tried to separate the two of them to stop their pointless fight.
Ahir and Shaurya were still gazing spitefully at each other.
Having had enough of the war now, and knowing that there was nothing else left to vent his anger, Shaurya put on his spectacles in extreme fury and walked away without saying a word.
Anokhi was still trembling in terror as she thought back to what had just happened.
Ahir ruffled his fingers through his hair to calm himself down, and the next thing he knew, he realised everyone was staring at him and Anokhi oddly.
"Kya ??..."
"Tamaasha chal rha hain yaha par ?..." he grumbled.
The public, fearful of becoming the next victim of the Police Officer's rage, thought it would be best if they returned to their work. They immediately averted their eyes from Ahir and Anokhi, and got back to their work.
Ahir then saw that Anokhi was standing there silently in a daze.
"Anokhi Ji..." His voice softened.
"I'm sorry Anokhi ji..."
"Voh... Main... Normally aise react karta nhi hoon..."
"Lekin... Pta nhi-..."
"Nhi ACP Ahir-..." Anokhi interrupted him, attempting to explain that he wasn't at fault and didn't need to apologize.
"Nhi nhi... I'm really sorry..." Ahir was honestly sorry.
"I am sorry..." Anokhi spoke up the next moment.
"I'm sorry ACP Ahir... Because mujhe aisa lagta hain yeh jo kuch bhi hua haina... Yeh sab meri vajah se hua hain..."
"Pta nhi Shaurya Sir ko kya ho gaya..." She was still coming to terms with the not so observable violent form of Shaurya Sir she got to witness today for the first time.
"Mujhe toh aisa lagta hai ki mujhe dekhte hi unhe gussa aa jaata hai..." She was quick to add this, as she believed her presence was what triggered his fury the most.
"I can never understand this man..." Ahir added his perspective as well.
"Pta nhi ho kya jaata hai Professor Sahab ko..."
"Mauka milta to mere oopar hi chadh jaate vo to..." Ahir couldn't stop himself from saying this humorously, as he was himself astounded at the new form of his so called "Professor Sahab" which he hadn't seen till date.
Now Anokhi couldn't help but chuckle when she heard Ahir's amusing yet accurate remark. She was horrified to the core by Shaurya Sir's obnoxious behaviour, as if he were about to murder Ahir.
"Anokhi Ji..." Ahir spoke in a solemn tone this time, drawing Anokhi's attention.
"Ab main chalta hoon Anokih Ji..."
"Aap... Voh keyring-..." Before he could complete, he saw Anokhi blinking her eyes, motioning she would surely hand it over to whom it belonged.
He also smiled a little, and after that, he took his leave.
Anokhi then left for Reema's hostel to pick up Mimi...
Thuddddddd !!!!!!!!!...
A large thudding voice echoed in Shaurya's room as he closed the door. Barging angrily into his own room, he took off his blazer, and dumped it onto his bed.
His fingers ruffled through his hair in frustration. With a jolt, he sat down on the couch.
He was disoriented, burning with wrath. He was agitated, his rage consuming his thoughts. And all these were directed at one and only one person, and that was none other than the Officer — Mr. ACP.
He had no idea what had possessed him to cause him to act so aggressively today. He couldn't even remember if he had become this angry at anyone, for any reason, on any day till date.
He still had no idea why Anokhi and Ahir were in the restaurant. He only knew that it bothered him to see them TOGETHER. He found it to be very unsettling to see that.
Since the last few days, he has already been harbouring resentment towards Ahir. It was only yesterday that he came to know that he was Anokhi's neighbor, and now today, after seeing the two of them in a restaurant together, he lost control of his mindfulness and no one knew what overtook him to the point of publicly disgracing Ahir.
He was now really pestered as to why Ahir appeared to be overly friendly with Anokhi. Can't he stay away from her ?... And why does she need to meet him ?
Anokhi talks to that ACP so nicely. She can even miss an important announcement from him just to attend that ACP's call.
Why is she so nice to him ? Doesn't he deserve such behaviour from her as well ?... Wait what ??!!!... He is expecting Miss Bhalla to be "NICE" to him now, isn't he ?
HAS MR. SHAURYA SABHARWAL FALLEN INTO SUCH A DIRE SITUATION THAT HE IS IN NEED OF SOMEONE'S ATTENTION ?
Thwart !!!...
Shaurya slapped his palm against his thigh, frustrated by his own thoughts.
He was shocked and reluctant to believe his own thoughts that he was wanting someone's attention.
How on earth could that be ? Why would he want that at all ? Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. Then how was it even possible that Anokhi giving more attention to that ACP than him was displeasing him ??
Shaurya was still racking his brain for answers to the question of what the two of them were doing in the restaurant. What brought them together there ? Why does ACP always try to be so sweet around Anokhi ? Does he like he-... NO !!!!...
Before Shaurya could materialise this thought in his mind, he put an immediate halt to it.
He didn't want it to have a chance of coming true. It won't be something he can take. He just won't be able to take it.
He had no idea where these meaningless thoughts were coming from.
He didn't know why he was thinking about things that he had NEVER thought about before.
He only knew that seeing that ACP irritated him. After what happened today, he can't bear seeing Ahir and Anokhi together again.
He'd even yelled at Anokhi during his tiff with Ahir today, scaring her to death. He felt guilty for shouting at her for no reason, but when he remembered she was with Ahir, his guilt feeling vanished, replaced by anger.
He was still having flashes of today's incident in the restaurant. Whatever happened in broad daylight in front of the crowd was replaying in his mind.
Anokhi & ACP... ACP & Anokhi... These two were revolving in his head.
His ears suddenly rang with some remarks Ahir had made to him.
"Yeh campus ke baad kha jaati hain... Kisse milti hain... Kya karti hain..."
"THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS..."
As soon as he remembered these words, his fists curled into tight balls. He realized that these words were TRUE, and that he had no place in her life other than as a Professor. So, what was it that was bothering him ? What's the point of being upset when he knows he has no business with whatever she does ?
He indeed knew that it was completely right that he was NO ONE, nor did he have any right to interfere in her life as to what she does outside campus, whom she meets, or whatever... But what was actually disturbing him was the "realization" that HE WAS NO ONE TO HER.
He was her Professor... So what more else was needed ?
He didn't know why, but up until this point, he had developed a dim understanding that perhaps he was JUST A PROFESSOR to her was what was making him upset.
But what else did he want for himself, aside from being a Professor to her ?... This was the question that kept pissing him off.
He was just her Professor. Only Professor... Nothing more important than that ?... Not even a friend. Right ?
But why did he even want to be her friend in the first place ???
"Aajkal aap kiske khyaalo mein khoye rehte hain Shaurya Bhaiya..." Just then, he was abruptly startled out of his lengthy, deep trance by a playful voice.
"Kanchan..." Shaurya looked up to see her standing before him with his mug of coffee and sporting a sly grin.
He sighed deeply before gathering himself and cooling his hot head.
"Leejiye Shaurya Bhaiya..." Kanchan extended the mug towards him.
Shaurya got to his feet and, while feigning a smile, accepted it without responding to the question she had just asked him.
"Vaise..."
"Aapne btaaya nhi Shaurya Bhaiya..."
"Kiske baare mein soch rhe the aap ?..." She was struggling hard to keep her big smile from breaking out in her lips.
Shaurya halted on his way as he was about to sip listening to her question.
After making a concerted effort to push all thoughts of her to the back of his mind, he took one more second to neutralize his expressions before responding, "Kuch nhi Kanchan..."
"Bass aise hi..."
"Fest ke baare mein soch rha tha..."
"Parso ko haina... Toh vhi..." He casually made up a lie.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Kanchan grinned.
"Hmmmmmm..." she hummed, drawing Shaurya's attention.
"Toh fest ke baare mein soch rhe the aap ?..." She stared at him with narrowed eyes, stubbornly refusing to believe.
"H... Haan Kanchan..." Shaurya stumbled over his words as he realized she was doubting him.
Kanchan noticed him stuttering and thought perhaps what she was thinking was right—that he wasn't really thinking about fest, but rather something else—or more specifically, SOMEONE—instead.
"Shaurya Bhaiya..."
"Kahi kuch ho to nhi gya hai aapko ?..."
"Nhi matlab maine notice kiya hai... Kuch toh adla-badla lag rha hai mujhe aap mein..." she suppressed her smile.
"Kanchan..." interrupted Shaurya abruptly.
"K... Kya keh rhi ho tum ?..."
"Adla... Badla ?..." He felt his heart hammering against his chest.
"Haan ji Shaurya Bhaiya..." Kanchan said with a smirk.
"Koi toh baat zaroor hai..."
"Kaun hai vo ?... Jisne humaare Shaurya Bhaiya ke khyaalon par KABZA kar liya hai... Hmmmmm ?..." she teased.
"Kanchan... Tum kya kehna kya chaah rhi ho..."
"K... Koi nhi hain..."
"Kisine koi kabza nhi kiya..."
"Tum apne dimaag ko overtime karva rhi ho..." Shaurya was now worried about being caught.
"Vo kya haina Shaurya Bhaiya... Main apne brain ko overtime nhi karvaaungi toh aapko is maamle mein guide kaun karega ?..." she said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she tried to give him some hints.
"Iss maamle mein ??..." Shaurya furrowed his brows at her remark. He couldn't make out even 1% of what she was saying.
"Kis maamle mein Kanchan ?..." He was confused.
"Ohh ho Shaurya Bhaiya... Aap bhi naa..."
"Agar aap khud ko hi nhi samajh paa rhe... Toh fir kisi aur ki kya majaal ki vo aapko samjha paaye..."
"Aap naa ek kaam keejiye..."
"Apne andar jhaankiye... Sochiye gehraai mein jaakar... Pta lgaane ki koshish keejiye ki aapko kya ho rha... Aur kyun ho rha hai..."
"Uske baad to main hoon hi aapki help karne ke liye..." She attempted to encourage him to delve deeper into himself so that he could reflect on his own feelings. From his stumbling over words to the incidents he had with Anokhi, she had a clear understanding from what she had seen so far that he was troubled by something deep inside. She wanted him to at least try to look inside himself before she led him in the right direction.
Listening to what Kanchan said, Shaurya was shocked.
How come she knew that something was troubling him ?
He can't in anyway let anyone know about it. He didn't want anyone to know about his feelings or whatever was bothering him.
"Kanchan..."
"I..."
"I think tumhe koi galatfaimi hui hai..."
"Mujhe kuch nhi samajh aa rha ki tum kya keh rhi ho..."
"Samajh toh aapko bohot jald aa jaayega Shaurya Bhaiya... Yeh shart lagi meri..." Kanchan made an outright bet, certain that her suspicions would one day turn to be true.
Shaurya sighed as he observed her confident reaction to some assumptions she had made about him. Deep down, he was well aware that whatever Kanchan had said had potential and accuracy. His tenacity, on the other hand, was making it difficult for him to admit it to himself.
Kanchan could tell from his expressions that he needed some alone time. She believed it would take him a long time to sort out his thoughts because of the disarray in his mind. As a result, she decided to leave him and the topic for the time being.
"Achcha Shaurya Bhaiya... Aap coffee peejiye... Main chalti hoon..." sha said, taking her leave.
Shaurya responded with a nod, but the next thing he knew, Kanchan was gone, saying some words that hit him hard.
"Vaise fest ke baare mein bhi sochte rahiyega Shaurya Bhaiya..."
"Kya pta sochte - sochte ek din conclusion par pahunch hi jaaye..."
Shaurya couldn't explain why these words seemed so meaningful and powerful to him. The words somehow gave him a strength that his conundrum would end very soon, even though he still didn't have any clarity about the enormous mess he was in.
Little did he know that the day he would reach the correct conclusion, he would be thrown into a greater conundrum than he had ever been in...
How was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊