Chapter 9: The Beginning of Everything
Election Day
Shaurya reached the college early to rehearse for his speech. He was at the staircase, pacing from one corner to another while Ahir was seated on the third stair, his eyes alternately moving between his phone and Shaurya. He wasn't understanding why Shaurya was so tensed when he always remained chilled-out, especially in these circumstances.
He used to be the team motivator, stress reliever, and today he was behaving as if it was his first time participating in a competition.
Anokhi reached the staircase that leads to her classroom and was surprised to see the unexpected guests.
With a smile on her face, she greeted "Hii. Good Morning"
Ahir looked up from his phone and smiled "Aree, good morning Anokhi. How are you?"
"I'm good" Her eyes directed to Shaurya anticipating a response but it seemed he didn't even notice her presence. She turned to Ahir and asked "Inhe kya hua?"
Ahir sighed and patted the spot beside him gesturing her to take a seat. Anokhi did as said and he explained "Aaj managerial position ke elections hai. Bas usi ki tyaari chal rahi hai"
"Oh!" Anokhi stared at Shaurya for around 5 minutes but he didn't look up for even once.
Sighing, she got up and stood in his path. Shaurya was so immersed in his speech that he would have almost crashed with her if Anokhi hadn't snatched the paper from him. He looked up irritably at the intruder but then his eyes softened seeing Anokhi.
"Hii, tum kab aay?"
"Bas kuch der pehle." Anokhi smiled giving back his paper.
"Acha. I didn't notice."
"Apko itni tension kyu ho rahi hai?" She asked seeing him massaging his temples.
Shaurya groaned and got seated beside Ahir clutching his forehead "I don't know yar. Mujhe kuch theek nahi lag raha. Something is missing in this speech. I'm not confident about this."
"Bhai sahab, 1 ghante mei elections hai. Aur aapko speech hi sahi nahi lagg rahi?" Ahir asked with a tone of disbelief. Shaurya just stared at him, annoyed.
Anokhi understood what was troubling him. After a few seconds of deliberation , she forwarded her hand"Can I? If you don't mind." Shaurya furrowed his brows and nodded before giving her his speech.
Anokhi went through it and after a minute, she pulled out her pen, got seated on one of the stairs and started scribbling something on the sheet. Ahir and Shaurya passed each other a puzzled stare, waiting for her to finish.
After 15 minutes, Anokhi handed Shaurya his speech who couldn't help but ask "Yeh kya...?"
"Aapki speech bohat technical thi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise college society nahi, desh ke elections laddne jaa rahe hai. Isliye maine bas kuch wordings change kardi, kuch lines delete orr kuch add." Anokhi said while stuffing back her pen in the bag.
"Are you sure this will work?" Ahir asked as Shaurya got busy reading it.
"100%."
"Anokhi, this is perfect. Thank you so much." Shaurya exclaimed with a wide smile, his eyes gleaming with happiness.
Anokhi smiled back "You're welcome & All the best"
"Thanks"
Anokhi walked away to attend her classes while Shaurya started revising his new speech. He realized that his concern was not the content but the promises he was making to grab the position.
Anokhi had understood it well and hence altered them in such a way that each point highlighted the changes that he would be making (which were also practically possible), his plans in leading the team, and then finishing it by elaborating his previous experiences and how that knowledge can contribute in making the society better.
Moreover, the transitions from one para to other were smooth, words were sharpened and the lines were shortened conveying the message precisely. She was a writer. She exactly knew what was needed. Shaurya mentally thanked her again, concentrating on the speech.
***
One hour later, Shaurya along with the other 5 nominees was standing on the front in the seminar hall. The staff members, the president, and the coordinators of the commerce society were seated in the front row. While the members and friends were at the back.
Ahir was seated in the last row with a lop-sided grin, his arms crossed against his chest. He was happy seeing Shaurya all confident again just like he had seen him since school time.
A welcome address was given and the participants were explained about the rules and judging criteria. The event was about to start when some students suddenly dashed inside the room, startling everyone.
Shaurya and Ahir looked at them with widen eyes while the others just stared at the intruders, confused and annoyed.
The trio mouthed a sorry and Ahir jerked Anokhi in the seat beside him while Reema sat on the other side of Ahir, and Kabir with Anokhi.
"Tum log yahan?"
"Bola tha na Kabir, rehnde dete hai. Tu bhi sunta nahi hai" Anokhi reprimanded Kabir, scared that their interruption might cause some problem for Shaurya.
Kabir stared at them with guilt and then looked up at Shaurya whose eyes were fixated on them. Ahir was about to say something when Reema started in a low voice "I'm so sorry Ahir. Professor ne 10-minute late class end kari, toh hum bhagkar yahan aagye. Mujhe laga hi tha ki start hogya hoga aur maine Kabir ko mana bhi kiya tha. Lekin yeh mana hi nahi" She glared at Kabir who averted his eyes.
"Aree. Relax. It's okay! Event abhi start nahi hua hai." Ahir tried calming them down. It was a college and not a school where they will be getting punishment for such interruptions.
"Pakka kuch problem nahi hui?" Anokhi asked hopefully.
Ahir smiled at their concern and assured "Pakka".
The trio took a breath of relief, guilt vanishing from Kabir's eyes. They then gave a thumbs up to Shaurya to which he responded with a smile.
The event started and Shaurya's turn came. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his glasses, folded the sheet into his pocket, and walked up to the podium in his black coat and white shirt.
Passing a smile to the judges, Shaurya scanned the hall, making eye contact with the ones present, and then started with his speech.
Anokhi smiled noticing that he had accepted the changes she made. She also observed that Shaurya's way of delivering the speech created more impact on the highlighted points.
His voice modulation from soft to persuasive to slow and then to soft again, eye contact wherever required didn't let the attention shift from him for even a second. It wasn't boring or flat like that of the other 3 nominees that came before him. It was gripping.
The speech ended, and as expected it received the loudest claps. Kabir whistled as well, earning a glare from the teachers. Anokhi and Reema facepalmed, hiding their faces while Shaurya pressed his lips in a thin line, suppressing the laughter.
After the speech, 3 students were shortlisted, Shaurya being one of them. This was the last round where they had to present the tagline and then answer a few questions asked by the staff members. Shaurya and one more student came the closest but Shaurya beat him at the last question, and thus won the position.
All stood up from their seats, clapping for him, their eyes gleaming with pride. The current manager walked up and clipped the badge on his coat, handing him the responsibility. Photos were clicked and Shaurya made some conversations with the President with whom he has to work.
His name was Karan and had done his graduation from SIAC. After MBA, his goal was to get settled abroad with a well-paid corporate job. Though he was chilled-out (no nerd), seeing his seriousness for his career, Shaurya went into self-doubt, because he was still not able to figure out what he wanted to do in his life.
Afterward, Shaurya walked out to meet the group waiting for him. Ahir engulfed him in a bone-crushing hug while Kabir and Reema hooted, cheering for him.
Beaming with happiness, Shaurya turned to Anokhi, "Congratulations" she said with a smile.
"Thank you. It's all because of you" Shaurya said looking into her eyes.
Anokhi shook her head sideways, replying "Nahi. It's because of you. Mera toh bas ek chota sa contribution tha.". Shaurya smiled. She was so selfless.
"Anokhi, ab tere presentation ki tyaari kare?" Reema asked circling her arm around Anokhi's shoulder.
"Presentation?" Ahir asked, confused while Shaurya furrowed his brows seeing color draining from Anokhi's face.
Reema nodded "Han. Apko nahi pta? Anokhi ne bhi commerce society mei editorial head ke liye apply kiya hai. Aaj break ke baad iske bhi elections hai. ..Meri or kabir ki toh tyari ho chuki hai bas iski revision rehti hai."
"WHAT? Tumne btaya kyu nahi?" Shaurya exclaimed, shocked.
Anokhi gulped, trying to explain "Vo...aap already itne tension mei the. Maine socha baad mei bta dungi, orr vaise bhi koi badi baat nahi hai...yeh log toh bas aise hi..."
Shaurya was about to say something when Ahir patted his shoulder stopping him "Yeh sab choro. Tyaari hogy na?"
Anokhi nodded "Han. Almost ... Shayad."
"Don't worry. Sab ho jaega." Ahir passed her a smile while Shaurya cooled down seeing Anokhi's nervousness.
***
Canteen
Anokhi opened her tiffin box, and Reema got up to go buy a sandwich for herself. She had just taken a bite out of her rolled alu-paratha, when a chair next to her was turned so that the back faced the table and someone sat down on it.
When she looked up, she found it to be Shaurya. He smiled at her, and was about to place his order when he spotted the open tiffin box, "oh wow! Alu ka paratha."
Shamelessly picking up the roll she had just taken a bite from, he twisted his hand and then took a huge bite out of it.
"Mmmm", he moaned in pleasure, and Anokhi jolted at the sound.
He licked his lips and complimented, "bahot tasty hai. You are an excellent cook."
Though shocked by his move, Anokhi chuckled at his childishnes, offering that one whole paratha to him. Shaurya passed her a sheepish smile and happily accepted it, without a second thought.
In minutes, he gobbled up the whole paratha while Anokhi just looked on, pleased that somebody finally acknowledged her cooking skills.
The rest of the break time went away with Anokhi panicking for the event and the group trying to calm her down. Reema helped her revise the presentation while Shaurya taught her some meditation techniques. Kabir and Ahir just munched on their food, in between passing some words of wisdom...which to be honest, were of no use.
***
After break time, the group was walking towards the seminar halls when a shrill voice roared from behind calling for Shaurya. Ahir facepalmed recognizing the voice while Reema and Kabir looked at each other confused. Unaware that they had stopped in their tracks, Anokhi kept on walking revising her presentation.
Shaurya gulped turning around and saw Shagun coming or rather running towards him, her arms spread sideways intending to take him into a hug. His eyes widen and he was quick to step aside making Shagun almost lose her balance, but Kabir grabbed her arm saving the fall.
Shagun's mouth was hung open in shock and Ahir gripped her other arm helping her steady herself. She heaved a breath of relief, flicking her hair behind her ear while Kabir just stared at her, dazed, a romantic song playing at the back of his mind as he took into her appearance.
Ahir passed a 'what the hell' look to Shaurya who just shrugged whereas Reema squinted her eyes at the scene unfolding before her. It was no less than a movie
Gaining her composure, Shagun looked around and furrowed her brows at the people who saved her, instantly shrugging their hands off from her arm.
Kabir jolted back from the reverie while Ahir shook his head in disbelief. "Yeh orr iske nakhre.."
Shagun then turned on her heels to face Shaurya. Though annoyed by his act, she masked a tight smile and exclaimed "I won the elections of photography society"
"That's good. Congratulations" Shaurya smiled for a second and started to walk past her when Shagun blocked his way, tracing her fingers on the badge clipped on his pocket.
"Tum bhi jeet gye? Oh my god. I'm so happy. Congratulations. " she stared into his eyes dreamily.
Shaurya averted his eyes, yanked her hands off, glaring at her. He looked around to find a confused Kabir and a more confused Reema. Not wanting to create a scene, he said politely "Shagun, I have some work. Can we talk later?"
Shagun opened her mouth to say something when Shaurya nodded "Great! Bye."
Kabir too chipped in "Byeee..."
Shagun passed him a disgusting smile in return and walked away. Reema rolled her eyes, instantly catching up on her attitude and dragged a clean bowled Kabir to the seminar hall.
Wishing each other the best, all 3 went to their respective halls. Ahir accompanied Reema while Shaurya went to Anokhi. Kabir sulked on having no company but when he saw Shagun in the event, his eyes lighted up and somehow, she became his source of motivation to win this position.
***
Shaurya reached the hall and found Anokhi standing at the gate, tensed.
"Kya hua? Yahan kyu khadi ho? Andar chalo..." He said holding her hand. He moved forward but Anokhi stood rooted to her spot. Shaurya turned to look at her, puzzled.
"Shaurya, i think it's...it's a bad idea. Han, mujhe nahi chahiye yeh position. Let it be na...i will contribute my ideas as a member." She said and was about to walk away when Shaurya pulled her back.
"Pagal hogy ho tum? Tumne itni achi preparation kari hai orr bas iss stage fear ke vajah se tum apni mehnat ko waste jaane dogi?" Kabir had warned Shaurya about her stage fright. But he now got to know the magnitude of it.
"Par Shaurya...mai...aap hi dekhiye na kitne saare log hai yahan. Kitne sare nominees hai. I don't think I have a chance...Aur mai kaise inn sab ke samne...nahi mujhse nahi hoga. " Anokhi expressed her concern, biting her nails.
Shaurya shook his head and held her by her shoulders, looking into her eyes"Anokhi...Anokhi, calm down. First, take a deep breath".
Anokhi denied but Shaurya raised his brows, ordering her to do it. Sighing, she closed her eyes and took a long shuddering breath.
Once her features dissolved into calmness, Shaurya started "Ab suno meri baat. It's a competition. Toh but obvious si baat hai ki tumhare saamne bohat log honge jo iss position ko lena chahte hai. Sabne apni best preparation kari hai. Aur TUMNE bhi."
"This is a learning time for you. Life ke har stage par tumhe aise challenges milenge. Agar tum iss tarah se logo ke darr se...ya haarne ke darr se bhagte rahogi toh tum life mei jo achieve karna chahti ho vo kaise kar paogi?"
"Kab takk inn sabse chupte rahogi? Kabhi na kabhi toh face karna padega na? Toh aaj kyu nahi? Let's start with it today. You have prepared well. Just, don't pull back at the final stage. Okay? Face the challenge. Haarna ya jeetna baad ki baat hai. Try karna zaruri hai."
Shaurya's words hit Anokhi all together differently, drifting her to a flashback where Ladoo was consoling her when she had got slapped by her Papaji for asking for stationary.
He convinced her to go home and try making her parents understand her view point. He made her believe that she deserved love. But alas! Only if that was true.
Unknown to her, a silent tear trailed down her cheeks making Shaurya gasp with shock.
"I'm sorry, maine zyada keh diya? Ro kyu rahi ho?" Shaurya asked, concerned, wiping away that lone tear.
Anokhi shook her head and smiled "Nahi...yeh toh...kuch nahi. Bas kisi ki yaad aagy thi. Anyways, thank you iss pep talk ke liye. Aap sahi keh rahe ho..mujhe kabi na kabhi toh yeh face krna hi hoga. Toh aaj kyu nahi. I will not step back because of this stupid fear. Neither today nor tomorrow. I will give my best."
Shaurya clapped his hands in happiness"Yeh hui na baat. Ab tum andar jao...mai tumhare baad aunga. Agar kisi ko pta chal gya ki hum dono ek dusre ko jaante hai toh sahi nahi hoga"
Anokhi nodded. Taking a step forward she turned to him"Result votes ke through announce honge. Isliye aap please usi ko vote karna jo deserving hai. Bias matt hona"
Shaurya smiled, showing her a thumbs up "Okay! All the best"
"Thank you"
Within a few minutes, the event commenced and Shaurya got seated in the middle row. He didn't want to be in the front with Karan otherwise it could have resulted in a biased judgment as he was all support for Anokhi.
On the other side, as the participants started giving their presentations, Anokhi's nervousness increased but she tried to keep herself in focus through Shaurya's meditation methods.
Her name was announced and Shaurya straightened up in his seat. Anokhi walked up to the podium with the script in her hands, her legs trembling with every step she took.
She scanned through the audience for once and when her eyes landed on Shaurya, he blinked at her in assurance and mouthed a best of luck. Taking a deep breath, Anokhi adjusted the mike and the projector started rolling.
Shaurya was surprised. Just as Kabir had said, Anokhi was a whole new person once at the podium.
She was confident. Her body language was engaging, commanding, interestingly conveying her ideas. The moment she would tremble, she would switch over to a new line in one smooth motion. Also, she knew how to keep the audience hooked by asking random questions in between.
What he didn't understand was the cause of her anxieties. Why was she backing out at the last moment when she clearly ace at these things?
The presentation ended, followed by some question-answer rounds from the audience which she handled well. Afterward, the chosen nominees for each department were asked about their USP and Shaurya got to know that Anokhi also used to write a blog.
To him, she was already the winner. Nobody deserved the position more than her. She had got everything that was needed in a editorial head.
After some discussions, voting poll was launched on a form for the people present there. Shaurya was a newly appointed manager so his vote was taken as that of a member, while one vote of the president and the teachers was equal to 5 votes.
20 minutes later, the host came up to the stage to announce the results. Shaurya and Anokhi crossed their fingers and as anticipated, Anokhi won the position. Shaurya clapped the loudest. Anokhi jumped with joy and her eyes teared up a little. She clamped her mouth to suppress the stifle that was threatening to escape and thanked her Mata rani.
She was then called and handed over the badge, and then Shaurya was invited on the stage to click photographs with all the newly appointed heads.
"Thank you," Anokhi whispered as they posed for the photograph, and Shaurya passed her a smile in response.
The group then met outside the gate, each with a wide smile as all had won the position they had opted for. Though Reema got a position of marketing head rather than creative, she was satisfied with it. Whereas Kabir couldn't help the excitement dancing in the pit of his stomach while dreaming of working with Shagun.
They then planned to celebrate this win over the next weekend and parted ways to their respective home.
***
A day later- Anokhi's home (6 p.m)
Anokhi had just snuggled on the couch with her phone and a file of documents when the doorbell went off. She groaned in annoyance as she had reserved this time for applying to some internships so that she could save some money and buy a new laptop. She desperately needed it especially after this new responsibility as the head.
Straightening her oversized top, Anokhi opened the gate only to find an angered Shaurya, holding a laptop, his lips pressed in a thin line, staring at her as if she had committed a crime.
"Aap?" That's the only monosyllabic question she could think of at that moment.
"HAN MAI!" Shaurya answered or rather roared, barging inside her house.
Anokhi looked at him shocked as he got seated at the dining table, adjusting the laptop in front of him. He glared at her, and Anokhi hurriedly got seated beside him.
"Phone kahan hai tumhara ? Kabse phone kar raha hu, utha kyu nahi rahi ho?"
"Huh?" Anokhi picked her phone and her eyes widen seeing 10 missed calls from him. She gulped and answered in a low voice "Vo..silent par tha. Aur mai notes bana rahi thi."
"Par hua kya hai? Aap itne gusse mei kyu ho?"
Shaurya leaned back in the chair, took a deep breath, and massaged his forehead as he answered "It's all messed up."
Anokhi was getting scared now "Shaurya seedhe-seedhe boliye na, kya baat hai?"
Shaurya straightened up, rotating the laptop screen towards her "As a editorial head, tumhe kuch baccho ki list mili hogi, jo tumhare under kaam karenge, right?"
Anokhi nodded, squinting her eyes, looking at the screen.
"Mai abhi lists compile kar raha tha and I noticed ki kuch bacche ek se zyada department mei kaam kar rahe hai."
"For example- this Akshita is working in both editorial and the marketing department. Aur yeh hi nahi...bohat bacche hai jinke saath yeh hua hai. It's all messed up. Maine Karan se baat kari par usne kaha that we have to sort this out by coordinating with the heads."
"That's why I was calling you to check if you know anything about it or not. Aur.."
"Aur maine phone nahi uthaya" She completed for him.
Shaurya bite his lip and nodded. "Right. Tum kya..kisi head ne phone nahi uthaya. Aise kaam karenge vo? ..I just..." He clutched his temples, looking at the screen.
"Aree, relax!" She said softly.
Shaurya was shocked seeing her all calm. "Relax? How?Aur tum itni relax kaise ho? Do you even know ki yeh kitna bada blunder hai?"
Anokhi nodded, smiling "Han mai jaanti hu. Lekin har problem ka solution hota hai. Aur aap na pehle apni khud ki meditation techniques follow kariye..You need it more. Tab takk mai coffee banakar lati hu and then we will sort this mess together."
Anokhi went away while Shaurya bowed his head down on the table, closing his eyes. While making coffee, Anokhi pondered upon the problem at hand and an idea clicked her mind. Quickly transferring coffee in two cups she almost ran to the table.
"Shaurya, I have got an idea"
Shaurya looked up, taking the cup from her. "Jin baccho ka naam double hai..i mean jinka naam 2 departments mei hai...hum unn sabka interview conduct kar lenge. Aur jo Jahan fit baithega hum use uss department mei shift kar denge. Problem solved."
Shaurya's jaw dropped in surprise, he stared at Anokhi, thinking over the idea. If it was not enough, Anokhi continued "Aur yeb jo communication problem hai, isko solve karne ke liye hum kuch WhatsApp groups form kar lete hai - One for the core team and teachers, the other for heads, and then one group for each department. Also, we can make it mandatory for the members to acknowledge the important messages or notices."
Licking his lips, Shaurya placed the cup on the table and took her hands in his, suprising her. He looked into her eyes and said "Tum...tum sachh mei Anokhi ho. Kahan se laati ho itna dimaag? Like seriously, tumne har problem ko 2 second mei solve kar diya."
Chuckling he continued, "Tum nahi hoti toh shayad kal takk mai pagal ho chuka hota aur maybe resign bi kar deta."
Anokhi shook her head and patted the back of his hand "Hum dono ek hi team mei hai. Kabhi aapko ache ideas aa jaenge aur kabhi mujhe. Bas isi tarah se kaam karte rahenge."
"Bilkul. And for the first time, I'm glad that we live across each other" Shaurya said making Anokhi laugh.
They then got busy preparing the list of students, schedules for the interviews keeping in mind the lecture timings, and after that, creating the WhatsApp groups. Just like this 2 hours passed away with them talking, working, and sharing laughs in between.
When Shaurya left, it was already 8 pm. Anokhi was tired. Intending to apply for the internships the next day, she thought of making dinner when her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Reema.
"Kal shaam ko unofficial freshers' party hai. 💃"
***
I hope you enjoyed reading it.
Till then, take care and please leave your feedback . ❤
Silent readers, I would love to know your thoughts as well. 🤗
***
Chapter 10.1 - Pg 32
Link: -
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Edited by tanieg0911 - 4 years ago
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