Chapter 7: A Shooting Star
Note: Monologues are in bold.
***
Anokhi fainted in his arms and Shaurya looked around the empty hallway not understanding what to do. He glanced at her worn-out form. Her eyebrows were knitted in distress; lips were quivering but there was no voice; hands lied lifelessly on the sides, and; the bag had slid down her shoulder to the ground.
Shaurya tried to balance himself and Anokhi's weight with one hand while the other patted her cheek, calling her name. After a few more efforts and calls, Shaurya's nervousness increased at gaining no response. He had anticipated that she had fainted but now it appeared more than that.
He cleared his head and instantly squeezed her in his arms as he lifted her. Turning around Shaurya kicked the door of his flat open and made his way inside the flat.
He settled Anokhi in his bedroom and covered her with a comforter. Instead of wasting time through hit and trial, Shaurya went ahead and booked an online-appointment with the doctor. Within 5 minutes, the call was scheduled and he briefed the doctor about the happenings.
The doctor analyzed the symptoms, her current condition and then informed Shaurya that Anokhi had suffered a minor panic attack. Shaurya was stunned. He turned to look at Anokhi, his mind recalling the night they had met. She was screaming and reacting the same way she was doing that night. Does it mean that it was also an attack?
Averting his gaze, Shaurya massaged his temples as he asked "Doctor, she is not responding. What should I do? Should I bring her to the hospital?"
"No, Mr. Sabharwal. There is no need to bring her to the hospital. Just tell me, is she taking any medicine?"
Shaurya paused for a minute trying to recall any conversation with his parents, but there was none. "No doctor. Nothing that I know about."
"Okay! So, for now, make her drink some cold water. Also, if possible, place a cool, damp washcloth on her forehead."
Shaurya's eyes widened "But doctor she doesn't have a fever"
"I know Mr. Sabharwal....This ice therapy will help to calm her nervous system. According to my experience, it works wonders."
"Okay doctor. Thank you"
"You are welcome. And make sure that she does not take any stress. Keep her happy."
Shaurya rolled his eyes at the last sentence as he remembered their argument.
Noting down the prescription, he hung up the call and ordered the medicines straight away.
Shaurya then bought her a glass of chilled wate and went to his side of the bed. He sat still for around 2 minutes before slipping one arm around Anokhi's shoulder and keeping the other on the bed to make sure he doesn't fall on her.
It took him a minute to pull her up and then he bought the glass to her mouth, not understanding how to make her drink it without any help from her side.
However, as soon as the lid of the glass touched her lower lip, Anokhi parted her lips and Shaurya managed to make her drink it. He then made her lie down on the bed and after pondering a little, bought a bowl of ice water and a washcloth. Soaking the cloth, Shaurya placed it on her forehead and while doing so, his eyes involuntarily started observing her features.
Her skin was smooth and clear than any of the girls he had met. Her lips still trembled and though the lip gloss had faded, her lips were a natural pink. Her long tresses were spread across the cushion and she barely took any space on his bed. She was much thinner compared to her age and height.
Seeing the lines of distraught on her forehead, Shaurya was now curious to know what had made her react like this. They were just having a small argument. There was nothing wrong with what he said. Instead, she had blurted more sh*t than him. Then what happened to her suddenly?
A few minutes later, to his relief, Shaurya saw the crinkles on her forehead disappearing and her eyelids started to move. He paused what he was doing and started to call her name, but Anokhi just hummed in response and then stilled as her breathing evened out. This time, Shaurya was sure that she had drifted into a deep slumber.
With no intention to disturb her, Shaurya kept the bowl on the table and turned to go when he felt a tug on his hand.
"Don't leave, stay here" Anokhi murmured. Surprised, Shaurya's eyes drifted to her face but she was fast asleep. He inferred that she was in some kind of dream.
Sighing, he sat against the headboard with Anokhi holding his hand. Her words chimed in some beautiful memories making Shaurya smile and he closed his eyes to revisit those good old days, unaware of the fact that Anokhi was in the same dream land.
***
As night fell the blue fog of day lifted to reveal the stars. Shaurya was strolling in the vastly spread green lawn of the hotel, his feet softly grazing the dewy grass. He pulled out a bar of chocolate, which he had gotten from his parents as a sorry gift. He looked up at the starry night and then around the lawn to find a company but there was none.
Shaurya slumped against the wall, his eyes twinkling as he started to tear the wrapper, waiting to taste the imported chocolate. His mouth watered and as soon as he bought it closer to his mouth, he heard some shuffling making him pause. Confused, Shaurya looked around but found nobody. The noise continued and he frowned at the interruption.
He tried to hear it properly and deciphered that someone was crying. He placed his ear on the wall and his eyes widened as he realised it was coming from the other side.
"He..hello?" Shaurya stammered and heard the sniffling sounds coming to a pause.
He tried again "Hello? Is somebody there?"
*Silence*
Shaurya thought that whoever it was has left and so he went back to eating his chocolate. He took the first bite and moaned in delight.
But the next moment, he heard a soft whisper"H..he..hello" .
Shaurya jumped from his spot and almost choked on his chocolate.
He swallowed the possibility of a ghost and replied with a shaky voice "Hii"
*SOBS*
"Why..Why are you crying?" Shaurya asked as he again took a seat against the wall.
He heard a gasp, and then a barely audible voice"Tum..tumhe kaise pta?"
"I can hear you" Shaurya smiled.
"Oh!"
"Tum itni raat ko bahar kyu ho? Orr ro kyu rahi ho?"
"Vo. ..mai nahi bta sakti."
"Kyu?"
"Meri ma'am ne mana kiya hai."
"umm..okay" " Oh Thank god! She isn't a ghost."
*Silence.*
" toh..tum..theek ho ab?" Shaurya asked as he couldn't hear her crying anymore.
"Han..thank you" She replied, cleaning her nose with the dupatta.
*Silence*
"Tum uss bade se hotel mei rehte ho?" She asked as she looked at the wall.
"Han. I'm on a holiday. "
It was Shaurya's summer vacation and since he topped the 7th class, his parents planned a road trip to Shimla. They were on their way when they heard the news of heavy snowfall and hence had to stop at the hotel to wait for the roads to clear out.
"Tum yahi rehti ho? Kapurthalla mei?"
"Han." Anokhi supplied but then bit her lips as she remembered her teacher instructing students to not share personal details with strangers.
"Tumhara naam kya hai?" Shaurya asked, hoping to make a conversation. He was bored.
"Arey kahan jaa rahi ho.?" He exclaimed shocked as he heard her running away.
On getting no response, Shaurya got up to go when he noticed the melted chocolate that has now smeared on his hands and legs. He grumbled and made his way to the hotel room.
"should i ask for one more chocolate? "
***
The next day at the same time, two little souls were sitting on either side of the wall, conversing and laughing.
"Please apna naam toh btao. Mai kisi ko nahi btaunga. I Promise." He tried to make the 11-year-old understand.
"Sorry, Mai nahi bta sakti. Meri mam ne mana kiya hai kisi bi stranger ko apne baare mei btane se." Anokhi was reluctant.
"Acha okay!....toh kya mai tumhe koi naam dedu? Like a nickname" Shaurya suggested. He had gotten into this new habit of giving nicknames to his friends and family.
"Okay!" Anokhi was pleased with this idea. She was tired of refusing to his constant requests.
Elated with the green signal, Shaurya went into a brainstorming session, trying to think of some plausible nicknames.
"Vo dekho..toot ta tara." Anokhi broke his concentration and his head snapped up to see a shooting star.
"Tumhe inn sab mei vishwas hai?" Shaurya asked with a smile as he heard her mumbling a wish.
"Han. Kyu? Tumhe nahi hai?" There was a tinge of shock in her tone.
"Nahi! I mean...Mujhe zyada pta nahi hai inn sabke baare mei isliye.." Shaurya explained as he changed his position and leaned against the wall to support his back.
"Mujhe toh inn magical cheezo mei bohat vishwas hai. Tumhe pta hai maine iske baar mei books mei bhi padha hai...Tum janna chahoge?"
"Sure" Shaurya had no clue as to why he agreed to it, but he just couldn't bring himself to deny her proposal.
Anokhi grinned and started teaching him some patterns that she had learned from the books. It was difficult as they were not able to see each other but Anokhi guided Shaurya by instructing him to see - left, right, and by making the moon and Dhruv tara as a marker.
In the middle of the session, Shaurya exclaimed "Star"
"Huh?"
"Tumhara nickname - Star. It is perfect for you."
"Wow! I wish yeh mera real name hota. .. . Lekin ab mai tumhe kya bulau? Tumhe kya acha lagta hai?"
"umm..lets see..muje sweets bohat pasand hai."
"Jaise?"
"Ladoo, kheer, chocolates, barfi, ghevar.." Shaurya kept on rambling when Anokhi intervened "Bas bas bas. Hey bhagwan! Tumne toh ek bhi sweet ko nahi chora. Tum bas yeh btao ki inn mei se tumhari favorite konsi hai? "
"Ladoo"
"Arey! Same pinch. Mujhe bhi besan ke ladoo bohat pasand hai.. Ab toh mai tumhe ladoo hi bulaungi"
"Arey nahi..kuch orr socho." Shaurya grumbled. He feared that it might sound as a dig on his weight which was now drastically increasing. But she haven't even seen me yet.
"Nahi..that's final. Ab mai chalti hu. Bye ladoo." Anokhi chuckled and ran away, again without waiting for his reply.
***
Shaurya was staring at his tom and jerry watch, waiting for her. It had been half an hour since the usual time. She still wasn't here. He was starting to get tired and hungry as well.
After waiting for a few more minutes , Shaurya stood up to leave when he heard somebody's footsteps, not somebody, her footsteps. A wide smile spread across his face and he leaned against the wall to greet her.
"Star..star..kya hua?Tum ro kyu rahi ho?"
"Ladoo..papa ne mujhe maara." Anokhi cried out.
Shaurya gasped "huh? par kyu? Tumne koi shaitani kari?
Anokhi tried to catch her breath as she revealed"Nahi..maine toh bas..books ke liye paise maange the. Orr kuch nahi"
"What? Books ke liye?" He asked with disbelief.
"Han...exams aane wale hai..isliye mujhe kuch pencil or books chahiye thi. Lekin unhone mujhe daant diya, orr jab maine zidd kari toh..toh..thappad..." She trailed off and started crying again.
"Star.." Shaurya didn't know what to say. He had been at the receiving end of slaps but this... was just...so...unusual.
"Vo aisa kyu karte hai ladoo? Bhai jab kuch maangta hai toh unhe koi kuch kyu nahi kehta?Papaji bhai ke liye roz bazaar se kuch na kuch khareedkar laate hai.... Kya vo..mujse pyaar nahi karte?" Anokhi looked up at the stars, trying to find some solace but it looked even god was not on her side. It was a dark night.
Shaurya looked around helplessly and then at the huge wall. He wasn't able to hear her doubt herself. She was the sweetest girl he had ever met. How could somebody not love her?
Shaurya brainstormed, trying to figure out a way to reach her..to console her. But even after a lot of ideas that he could implement, none of them seemed to be feasible...or practical.
Sighing, he placed his hands on the wall and started in a soothing voice, just how his mother would make him understand certain things.
"Star..aisa nahi hai... Sab mummy papa apne baccho se bohat pyaar karte hai... Han, Kabhi-kabhi daant dete hai lekin baad mei bohat sara pyaar bhi toh karte hai. Dekhna, jab tum ghar jaogi toh aunty tumhe bohat tasty khana banakar khilaengi...or uncle bhi tumse bohat sara pyaar karenge."
"Nahi ladoo..tum jhoot keh rahe ho. Mujse koi pyaar nahi karta. Jab mai ghar jaungi ..sab so gye honge orr agle dinn mujhse koi baat nahi karega."
Anokhi almost yelled at him. Her voice was creaky and filled with anger, and the way she said it, it felt like it happens with her regularly.
Shaurya took a deep breath and again tried to convince her "Star..aisi baat nahi ...tum itni pyaari ho ki tumse zyada der koi gussa reh hi nahi sakta. Tum bas ek baar ghar jakar apne papa se sorry keh dena..or unhe pyaar se samjhana...dekhna sab theek ho jaega. Please. Trust me."
Anokhi tried to stifle her cries "Sachhi?"
Shaurya immediately assured "Mucchi"
"Sab theek ho jaega?"
"Han. Sab theek ho jaega."
Anokhi smiled and whispered
"Thank you ladoo. You are the best!"
On hearing her soft voice again, the calm that charred through Shaurya's heart was undesirable.
"I know." He chuckled.
***
They laughed as Shaurya shared with her the pranks he had pulled on his friends. Anokhi too shared her likes and dislikes but chose her words wisely, however, she mistakenly gave away the fact that she didn't have any friends. Shaurya, though sad, was a little happy at this discovery as it meant he was her ONLY friend.
When the time of them parting ways came nearer Shaurya tensed "Star mujhe tumhe kuch btana tha. Lekin pehle promise karo ki tum sad nahi hogi"
"Promise" Anokhi replied trying to find at least a single star among the blanket of clouds.
"Vo..mai kal subah Shimla ke liye nikal raha hu."
*SILENCE*
"Tum jaa rahe ho? Matlab tum kal se nahi aoge?" Anokhi's gaze drifted to the wall, and her eyes turned moist.
"Nahi..." Shaurya closed his eyes, his body trembling at the very thought.
"Matt jao na.....Don't leave.... Please. Stay here. " Her voice cracked as she tried to keep her promise.No! She won't cry.
"Star mera bhi mann nahi hai lekin jaana toh padega"
Shaurya really wished that it wasn't true. He had even tried changing their trip from Shimla to Kapurthala but his parents didn't agree to it. They thought that he was angry at them for keeping busy during the holidays.
"Star..I like you. I like talking with you...I...I want to be friends with you" Shaurya confessed, desperate to keep her in his life.
"Ladoo...mujhe bhi tumhare saath baat karna acha lagta hai...lekin.."
"I know tumhari mam ne kisi bhi stranger par trust karne se mana kiya hai. Orr tumne toh mujhe dekha bhi nahi hai..mai samjhta hu. (Pause) isliye...kya jaane se pehle hum mil sakte hai?"
"Kk..kya..? kaise?"
"Umm...tum kisi paas ki jagah btado jahan tum aa sakti ho. Mai subah jaane se pehle vahan tumse milne aa jaunga. Fir toh hum strangers bhi nahi rahenge...haina?"
"Han...we can be friends." Anokhi was excited at this proposal.
"Great! Hum milkar phone numbers exchange kar lenge orr roz baat karenge. ..Jab mauka milega mai tumse milne bhi aa jaunga." Shaurya had even drafted the list of things that he would do to visit her. Even if that meant securing first position in every activity or exam.
"Lekin papa mujhe phone nahi use karne denge. Mai choti hu na" Anokhi huffed making Shaurya smile at her cuteness.
"oh..toh fir address? Hum letters likh lenge?"
"Han..yeh theek rahega"
Anokhi then explained to him the direction of the nearby lake and they agreed to meet at dot 8 a.m.
"Bye..good night ladoo" Anokhi stood up to go but this time waited for his reply.
"Bye star. Finally, mujhe tumhara naam pta chalega" Shaurya teased while Anokhi ran to her home, laughing at his desperation.
***
Shaurya woke up with a scream. He jerked upright, scared out of his wits, not sure for a minute where that sound came from. But then he felt some wetness on his hand and he looked down only to find Anokhi whimpering and sobbing in her sleep.
Her face was twisted in a painful expression and the screams tearing from her throat were a sign of severe hurt. Unknown to Shaurya, her blissful dream was starting to get interrupted by nightmares. Like every night her dreams started in a pleasant way where she was laughing with her Ladoo but a minute later she saw him leaving.
Her sobs escalated and Shaurya tried to wake her up "Anokhi..utho..wake up"
But Anokhi didn't respond instead she clutched his hand more tightly. She started crying, feeling utterly helpless because she opened her mouth to stop her Ladoo but it seemed her voice didn't reach him... He just kept walking away from her and disappeared into the darkness.
Shaurya wasn't able to understand what had happened with her that tore such painful reactions. He lifted her and she came up easily but her crying didn't stop. Shaurya for a moment got scared at the way her body was shaking, he held her in his arms and heard some incoherent statements.
"please... wapas aa jao... mat jao... please..."
He had no idea who she was pleading to. Was it her family? He kept trying to wake her up, repeatedly calling out to her, wiping her tears in a futile attempt as more tears made their way down her cheek. Almost ten minutes later it appeared as if she heard him, because her eyes flickered open, and she looked up at him drowsily.
She was still in that zone. Her troubled eyes moved to his face and she pleaded amid sobs, "maine kuch nahi kiya... please... please..."
"Shsh...", Shaurya stroked her hair but Anokhi continued to shiver.
"uski galti hai... maine kuch nahi kiya... mujhe mat maaro" She sobbed on his shoulder, her face hidden in the crook of his neck, her nails clawing on his back as she fisted his t-shirt hard.
Shaurya rocked her gently, asking her to calm down, telling her that she was safe, nobody was going to harm her.
Slowly after almost ten minutes, Anokhi calmed down, and her hold on his back relaxed. Her head started to slip back and he stared at her tear-streaked face. She too stared at him blankly as if not recognizing him. She then looked around the room and then at him and, slowly realization dawned upon her.
Her eyes widened like saucers and she instantly fell back on the bed, disentangling herself from his embrace. Shaurya understood her awkwardness and got off from the bed.
"Mai yahan..?" Anokhi asked, not meeting his eyes.
Shaurya cleared his throat "Yeah! We were.. arguing..and then you suffered a panic attack..and fainted..so .."
"Panic attack?" Anokhi was shocked and Shaurya furrowed his brows. Oh! She doesn't know? or is it like she doesn't want to reveal?
Anokhi was embarrassed and so to avoid any questions she started to get off the bed, "uh.....aapne..jo kuch kiya..uske liye thanks...mai chalti Hu"
But Shaurya was quick to react. He almost pushed her down by holding her shoulders and ordered "Nahi..ruko. Yahi baithe raho, mai abhi aata hu."
Anokhi's mouth flew open at this lecture tone and she feared what was coming next. Shaurya left the room and came back with a bowl of fruits and a packet.
"Yeh..fruits..jaldi khao. Fir tumhe medicines leni hai." Taking a seat beside her, Shaurya forwarded the bowl but Anokhi denied "Nahi..muje medicines ki zarurat nahi hai. Mai theek hu . Thank you"
She started to get up but he again pulled her down holding her hand. "Dekho..mere paas time nahi hai tumse argue karne ka..so please" Shaurya ordered again while Anokhi immediately started to dislike this professor Shaurya.
Nevertheless, she accepted the bowl and finished it within 10 minutes.
Shaurya gave her the medicines that she took without uttering a word. He then explained her the prescription, and the time gaps between medicines to be taken care of.
Anokhi listened to him carefully, but her ears started ringing with the accusations she had hurled on him during their argument.
Guilt started eating her from inside as she remembered the offending expressions he had on his face. She had no intention of hurting him but unintentionally, again her past had taken over her senses making the situation worse.
When done, Shaurya got up to leave when Anokhi whispered "Suno.."
He stopped in his tracks, and turned to face her, his face composed in a stern expression.
"I'm sorry." Anokhi apologised.
"hmm?" Shaurya raised his eyebrows, surprised.
Anokhi looked down and confessed "Vo...jo pehle maine aapse kaha..mera matlab hai...maine kuch zyada hi keh diya tha..Uske liye I'm sorry" . She paused to look at him but the way he was staring at her, she could say he wasn't convinced.
Sighing, Anokhi explained "Mujhe...mujhe..sympathy se sakht nafrat hai. Koi bi mujh par taras khakar mere liye koi kaam kare..ya meri madad kare...mujhse bardasht nahi hota....Isliye jab aapne kaha ki aapne mujhe rote hue dekha toh.."
"Toh tumhe laga ki maine tumhare aasu dekhkar tumhare saath acha behave kiya. Because i felt sorry for you." Shaurya completed with a tone of disbelief but then keeping the bowl on the table, he sat beside her and his eyes softened "Anokhi ...aisa kuch nahi hai..maine ko kuch kaha ya kiya.."
" vo genuine tha... Maine suna tha. I'm really sorry, muje aap par aise chillana nahi chahiye tha." Anokhi's voice got heavy while Shaurya gazed at the honesty in her eyes.
"Its okay! We are even now." Shaurya smiled, trying to lighten her mood.
It took a minute for Anokhi to understand what he was implying but then she chuckled and nodded.
"Aap ek ache insaan hai...Itna sab hone ke baad apne mera dhyaan rakha..or abhi jo kuch hua.." she trailed off, biting her lip for bringing it up. Shaurya too looked away not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
Though his hands were tingling to know the REAL reason for her outburst, or the reason for her heart-wrenching cries, he stopped himself. His questions would again intrude her privacy and perhaps stress her out as well.
"So.. are we good?" Anokhi asked, her eyes shining with hope.
"Yeah!" Shaurya smiled.
Anokhi heaved a breath of relief and took the packet of medicines from him"Toh..mai chalti hu." Shaurya nodded and accompanied her to the gate.
Exchanging goodbyes, she headed to her home when Shaurya noticed her limping form.
"Is this the reason she was crying at that time?"
***
Anokhi did some arrangements for the presentation scheduled the next day and called Kabir and Reema to discuss the same. Though she was tired both physically and mentally, she tried to distract herself from thinking about the happenings, especially the one that had happened at Shaurya's house. She didn't remember how she reacted but she did remember the way he consoled her, soothed her.
The memory spread a searing warmth inside her, she had never been at the receiving end of such care. It was after 10 years when she felt that she was not alone. A smile appeared on her lips and she made her way to the balcony.
She took her seat on the small chair and rested her head against the wall. The dreams of Ladoo used to be her peaceful companion, until the nightmares started to haunt them. Though her memory was a blur as she was just 11 at that time, she clearly remembered his voice and his laughter; his attempts to make her laugh, make her forget her miseries, and sometimes to make her confess her name.
Anokhi chuckled at how childish she was and sometimes regrets not sharing her personal information with him. She badly craved a friend like him, not like him, just him. A friend who would listen to her, laugh with her and make her feel loved, feel worthy.
"Kaash tum uss dinn aa jaate"
On the other side, Shaurya was too tired to do anything. It was a heavy day for him. He wasn't in a mood to cook anything so he ordered some food and then talked with his parents and friends telling them everything about the orientation. Before hitting the bed, he made himself some green tea and went on to the balcony.
He leaned on the railing as he reminisced about Star and their intelligent conversations. Though not a day had passed when he had not wished to hear her voice, he had dreamt of her after a long time. He still wished to see her, to meet her, to know her, to befriend her, or maybe to be more than that.
She was just so precious. Maybe that was one of the reason why he didn't have long lasting girlfriends or even normal girl friends for that matter. Because he always searched in those girls the innocence he had seen in her. In such a short span of time, she made a place in his life that nobody was able to take.
"Kaash tum uss dinn aa jaati"
Both looked up at the ocean of stars and made a wish to the shooting star, a wish for a miracle to happen, a wish to unite them again.
***
|| Precap: Anokhi kicked him hard where the sun doesn't shine. ||
***
Please do share your feedback!
***
Chapter 8 - Pg 27
Link -
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/158017652
Edited by tanieg0911 - 4 years ago
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