Kitchen politics - fiction (Final Chapter updated - Page 36) - Page 20

Originally posted by: anjali9996

Marvelous update dear

Thank you for feedback. Please keep them coming.😊

Originally posted by: GHKPM

Love the background story because it gives an insight into how things unfolded...happy that shaan realises he is the guilty party but still so much of lost time... cant wait to see more bonding in the present ... wonder who came...'he' hmmm🤔

Nice update, thnx😊🌹

Shaan ka kuch nahi ho sakta.😆

I think you might be disappointed by the person who comes.

Background story is necessary to understand the present. I am glad you liked it.

Originally posted by: Athiraachu

i absolutely loved anokhi being straight on Shaan's face...he deserved to hear it....

Astha is right...she will not ask for help from shaan...

Shaan is a spineless fellow...he embodies the fact that silence of good people is most damaging than evil ones...hate Shaan...

Shaurya is hate and love combined for astha...

He is confused...anokhi is too good being straight to people..whether astha shaan or shaurya..

Anokhi is my favorite now....no nonsense girl 🥰🥰

Please don't hate Shaan. Toh phir Shanoor ship ka kya hoga?

Anokhi doesn't mince words when it comes to giving it back to people. She is like the voice of reason here.

Loved your feedback. Keep them coming.😳

Originally posted by: Javeria3991

Awesome update

Thank you. I am glad you liked it. Keep sharing your feedback on the story.😊

Chapter 15

“Anokhi!” Aastha gave her a nervous look.

“What? You wanted some updates on Shaurya’s health. Who can give it better than his father?”

“May I come in?” Shaan said, standing at the door.

“Sure Sir, please come inside.” Anokhi said, cheerfully. Then she got up and took the files in her hand. “I will go and keep them in the car. I think we will need the whole night to put them in order.” Saying this she left the room.

There was an icy silence in the room for a few moments. The uneasiness in the air was palpable. Then Aastha pointed to the chair and said, “Please take a seat.” After Shaan had seated himself she asked, “How is Shaurya now?”

“Much better. Sorry, I should have called to inform you earlier, but I thought it better to come here and tell you everything.”

“That’s okay. You don’t have an obligation to inform me about him. I gave up that right a long time ago. Anyways, what would you like to have? Tea or coffee?”

“My habits haven’t changed since you left, Aastha. I will have black tea without sugar.”

“Sure. I will go and get it for you.” Aastha got up to go.

“If you don’t mind, can I accompany you? Shaurya tells me you have an amazing kitchen set up.”

Aastha nodded after a bit of hesitation.

“This is beautiful,” Shaan said as he looked around the kitchen.

“It is all Anokhi’s planning.” Aastha said, as she took out a saucepan and filled it with water.

“Oh, by the way I wanted to thank you for letting Shaurya stay at your house last night.”

Aastha now turned her head and gave him a stern look, “I know I have failed my child but I do have some remnants of a mother left in me. Please don’t insult it by thanking me. I am begging you. If you want to thank anyone, thank Anokhi. She took care of him despite their differences.”

“I have already done that this morning. But since you were not there...” Shaan stopped and watched Aastha drop a spoonful of tea leaves in a kettle. She poured the boiling water in it and closed the lid.

As they waited for the tea to brew, Shaan said, “I am sorry for hurting your sentiments.”

“No, I am sorry for expecting that you would not.”

“I deserve these bitter words from you. But it is good to know that you still have some expectations of me.”

"There has to be some relation to have expectations. We have nothing between us.”

Aastha poured the tea in a cup and gave it to him.

Shaan took in a sip and closed his eyes, “Aahh...this is heaven. It has been so long but the tea made by you still manages to take away all my stress and fatigue. You have to accept my gratitude for giving me the chance to experience the magic of your hands. Be it the khichdi last night or this tea.”

“So have you come here to taste tea?”

“Yes, that was one of the reasons. I thought I would get it this morning but you disappeared without giving me that chance."

"What made you expect that? I have more important work than serving morning tea to you." Aastha said irritatedly.

"I love it when you get mad at me."

Aastha frowned and said in a serious tone, "I don't have time for this nonsense. Finish your tea fast. Anokhi must be waiting for me."

"Yes, almost done." Shaan gulped down the remaining tea and put down the cup. Then he said, looking at Aastha, "Aastha, I apologise for Shaurya’s behaviour” Shaan asked.

“Were the lies really needed, Shaan?” Aastha couldn’t stop herself from asking. “Was it absolutely necessary to have him believe that I married you to get your recipes and then stole them? What did you get from this?”

Shaan lowered his head. “I am sorry, Aastha. I didn’t do it. It was Devi bhabi and Tej bhaisahab.”

“Stop saying sorry. I don’t need your ‘sorry’. If you are done, please leave.”

Then she hurriedly picked up the teacup and went to wash it.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Sunday was here, Anokhi and Shaurya had arrived at the said venue for the cooking challenge. Surprisingly, the other students of their batch had gathered there to witness this duel.

First Shaurya started with his dish. Everyone watched spellbound as he went about his task. Soon he came up with a sumptuous looking pizza and offered the first slice to Anokhi who was waiting outside the kitchen so that the making of the dish remained hidden from her.

Anokhi took in the aroma and then tasted it. As Shaurya distributed his pizza among the students, she went to work on her recipe.

Shaurya was impressed seeing her toss and twirl the pizza dough in the air like a pro.

“Not bad, Miss Bhalla. Not bad at all.”

Anokhi's pizza came up with exactly the same appearance as Shaurya's. She offered him the first slice.

"First let the others taste and decide. Then I will give my verdict." Shaurya said.

Shagun took a bite and said, "All I can say is this is yumm..!! Honestly, I can't tell the difference."

"So, what is your opinion?" Anokhi looked expectantly at Shaurya.

Shaurya smiled. "A 100 out of 10 for effort but you missed it by a hair. My pizza was a bit crunchier on the edges. It was so minute a difference that no lay person would be able to catch it. So, I guess it's a tie."

"Well, it was a learning experience for me too. So thanks for that. I guess you are happy with your gift."

"Of course. I love this cooking challenge. Why not have another one?"

"I will think about it." Anokhi answered

Shagun came there and said, "We are going for a late night movie. Would the two of you like to come along?"

"I am sorry. It's getting late. I haven't even got my car today."

"Where is your car?" Shaurya asked.

"Aastha Mam took it to distribute food to the kids today. So I came here by a cab."

"Oh, don't worry. I will drop you home. You can call your Aastha mam and inform."

.........................................................................................................................................

They were on the way home after the movie.

"That was a great movie. I haven't laughed so much in years." Shaurya said.

"Yes, I got stitches in my tummy." Anokhi added.

"So, what was the last movie you watched on a big screen?"

"Last year. During our farewell. I went to watch it with my friends. And you?"

"I have a makeshift theater at home with a giant projector screen. I prefer to watch movies alone."

"You can stop the car here. Yes, that will be fine." Anokhi said, as the car came to a halt outside their apartment building. "I already know you would decline so I am not inviting you inside. Good night. And thanks once again." She got down.

Just then someone came and pulled her hands.

"What the hell? How dare you come here? Leave my hand."

Hearing her loud voice, Shaurya too got out of his car. He went and released her from the person's grip.

"So you are her stalker. Get out of here quietly before I call the police." Shaurya said angrily.

"Stay away from it, bro. She is my girlfriend."

Shaurya was shocked. His feet involuntarily took some steps back.

"No, he is lying. I am not his girlfriend."

"Come on Nikki. We used to be a couple. How can you dismiss our relationship so easily? Remember, you promised me that you will always be by my side."

"That was a long time ago. I was naive and you trapped me." Anokhi shouted.

"If I had wanted to trap you, I wouldn't have waited so long for you." Monty replied.

"In what language do I have to speak to make you understand? Just stop with your nonsense and leave." Shaurya held him by the collar and pushed him away.

"Looks like you got a new admirer." Then he looked at Shaurya and said, "Listen. Stay away from this girl. That will be good for you. Otherwise she will play with your emotions and leave you, just like she did with me. Do you know that we were almost set to be married? I promised all the riches of the world to her. But she slandered both our families and ran away on the day of her marriage. That woman, that cooking teacher has poisoned her mind. If you don't believe me, you can call her father and ask. Don't tell me that I didn't warn you." Monty left.

"Shaurya, he was…"

"Was he lying?"

"I didn't play with his emotions."

"But you ran away from your marriage. You slandered your family. I am sorry. I misunderstood you for so long. I should have known better. I have no respect for girls like you who only think about themselves. Your family's respect matters nothing to you. You didn't think for once how much humiliation your father might have had to face when you took such a step." Shaurya said.

Anokhi looked at him incredulously. He had hit her where it hurt the most. She turned her face away to hide the flood of tears that inundated her eyes. Suddenly the sound of a tight slap made her turn.

It was her Aastha Mam. She was staring at her son with violent rage who was shaken by the suddenness of it.

"How dare you point a finger at Anokhi. You know nothing about her to pass such a judgement on her actions. And family’s honour can never come before someone’s life. Do you understand?"

Shaurya was too shocked. He didn't remember the last time someone slapped him. He rubbed his cheeks as his eyes turned moist. He looked at his mother who was breathing rapidly, her eyes bloodshot. Anokhi came and held her hands. “Leave him, Mam. It is not for him to understand.”

Aastha wiped Anokhi’s tears with her sari’s pallu and said, “I apologise to you on his behalf.”

Shaurya looked at them and felt a strange pain run through his body. He wiped his glasses and got inside his car.

Seeing him drive away, Anokhi said to Aastha, “I am sorry Mam, because of me you had to…”

Aastha stopped her by raising her hand. “You don’t have to be sorry. He insulted you and it was necessary to call him out for that. But I went a little too far. I shouldn’t have slapped him.” Aastha said, reproachfully looking at her hand.

“I wanted to improve your relationship with him but this incident might antagonise him further.” Anokhi said anxiously.

“It’s my destiny, Anokhi. Leave that. Now tell me, are you alright? I noticed the scuffle between Shaurya and Monty from the window and came down running. Why had he come here? You are coming with me to the police station tomorrow.”

................................................................................................................................................

Meanwhile Shaurya went straight to his Badi Ma on reaching home. He could hear her complaining about Kanchan to his Bade Papa. She stopped on seeing Shaurya.

“Shaurya beta, how was the movie?” Devi asked.

“How did you know I had gone to see a movie?” Shaurya asked suspiciously.

“You messaged Shaan. He told us. But you could have dropped me a message as well.”

“Oh, actually my phone’s battery was low and just after messaging Dad, it turned off. Anyways, I heard you were saying something about sending Kanchan to her parents’ house.”

“Yes, she has become too reckless. Two days back she went out telling us she was going shopping and later we found her pictures with a group of men on social media. Just imagine the embarrassment that caused us.”

“I have seen those pictures. They are her schoolmates. She was a tomboy in school and has many male friends. One of them is getting married so the entire group went to buy a sherwani for him. This shouldn’t be a reason to send her back home.”

“Shaurya, remember one thing. If anyone in this house does something to hurt our family’s honour, I will not spare that person. Kanchan is being sent home as a punishment. If she doesn’t change her ways, she will be sent home forever.” Tej declared.

Shaurya looked at his Badima and asked, “But Badima, is family’s honour more important than someone’s life? Kanchan and Yash love each other, this decision will ruin their lives.”

“Your father also loved your mother. But what did that love give him? He just ruined his life in her memory. She left him and never turned back. It is this family that supported him.” Devi explained. Then she put her hand gently on his head and said, “We must always follow the rules and regulations of a family. That helps to keep us tied together. We must uphold the family’s honour to keep our head high in society.”

Shaurya silently listened to Badima’s words but a small doubt kept pricking him. He remembered the slap and those words that followed it. He remembered the innocent face of the girl whom he had hurt with his words. His heart wanted to believe she hadn’t done anything wrong.

.................................................................................................................................

It was raining heavily. Shaan was driving when he noticed a familiar figure on the side of the street. It was Aastha, she was holding an umbrella and trying to hail a cab. Shaan immediately stopped his car and got out.

“Aastha, please get in the car. I will drop you wherever you want to go.”

“No thank you. I will take a cab.” Aastha replied without looking at him.

“You won’t get a cab in this heavy rain. Please don’t be stubborn.”

“That is none of your business. Kindly leave.”

“I am not leaving without you.”

“Then stay here.” Aastha said, turning the other way. Then she looked at Shaan through the corner of her eye and saw he was getting drenched.

“Both father and son are the same, they always harm themselves with their stubbornness. People should at least carry an umbrella in this rainy season.” Aastha muttered. Then she proceeded towards Shaan's car and opened the door. Shaan followed her with a smile.

“So, shall I drop you home?” He asked.

“Yes please.”

Thank you for the DM's 😘😘...awesome update😊 Astha showed how a mother should be...call out the wrong doings without any hesitations....

Poor Nikki...love her so much...she's such a brave girl...

i hope shaurya really start seeing the real face of the manipulative sabharwals...but it won't happen unless and untill Shaan opens his mouth....

Shaan is again trying to woo astha ... hard luck man

Astha giving him cold shoulder is a treat...

Excited for the upcoming....shaurya's realizations..

Shanoor talks....count down of tejvi....Anokhi's struggle....

Originally posted by: Idiotboxer

Please don't hate Shaan. Toh phir Shanoor ship ka kya hoga?

Anokhi doesn't mince words when it comes to giving it back to people. She is like the voice of reason here.

Loved your feedback. Keep them coming.😳

Always a shanoor shipper....but Shaan boils my blood....with all imperfections...they are very intriguing to me..keep them coming 😀

Glad astha gave back shaan for his coward behaviour

Seems to be saakhi were getting friendly but shau spoilt it with his impulsive behaviour

Without seeing knowing or understanding her reasons he just judgeded her .plus she does not owe him anything so he must not comment .

Glad he tried to stand up for kanchan

Will he realise his fam manipulative behaviour?

Such a phenomenal update was waiting eagerly to read the update since so long, will wait eagerly for the next update

Why can't Shaurya test his mother's cooking skills or over hear his dad's or uncle's confession on the reality