ShAkhi FF | Deserve to be loved? | Chapter 13 - pg 44|*Updated* - Page 29

Originally posted by: hemapadma1

It was amazing story and was eagerly waiting for your next updation pls when it will be updated dear all the best ...

Hey, thank you so much. ❤❤

Updating it now.❤❤

Originally posted by: zinnisam07

Hi,

Just read your story...I am absolutely in love with it. Masha Allah you write so beautifully.

Please update soon...

Love from Australia

-Zaynah

Hey,

Thanks a lot for the feedback ❤

I'm updating it in few minutes. Would you like me to tag you in the updates?

Hope you enjoy the story as it progresses.

Keep supporting.

Tanya

Chapter 12: Confidants - Anokhi

Note: Monologues are in bold

***

The light of dawn sifted through the curtains, the nascent rays falling on the guy sleeping on the bed sprawled on his stomach, his hands beside his head. As the light shone on his face, he scrunched his nose, turning the other side.

The next moment, his alarm went off and he growled snoozing it off for the 10th time. Then the A.C beeped, automatically adjusting its temperature to the hot weather outside.

As the chilled air seeped through the outlet hitting his feet that was peeking out the duvet, a peaceful smile spread across his face, his body relaxed and he nuzzled into the blanket, again drifting off to sleep.

However, a while later, a hurricane interrupted him by way of loud thumps on his bedroom door.

"Shaurya...utho...college ke liye late ho raha hai." Anokhi called out loudly, simultaneously knocking on the door.

Maa ne ise ghar ki chaabi kyu di!? Meri neend ki dushman bann gy hai. Shaurya tossed around on the bed, grabbing a pillow to shut his ears.

"Shaurya, aaj hume interview lena hai. Please, uth jaiye." Anokhi reasoned, checking the time on her wristwatch. They were getting late.

Yaar kyu bann gya mai manager? Yeh ladki toh pakka mujhse manage nahi hogi. Shaurya sighed irritably, squinting at the sunlight penetrating his room, and looked at the time - 8:30 a.m.

He closed his eyes briefly intending to wake up after 5 minutes when Anokhi threatened "Aap uth rahe hai ya mai apke bedroom mei bhi ghus jau? Mujhe sharam nahi aegi lekin aap apna dekh lijiyega."

Shaurya jerked and sat upright, his eyes widened as he fanatically searched for his discarded T-shirt. "No, are you mad?"

Thank god uthh gye. Anokhi exhaled in relief. Of course, she wasn't going to barge inside his bedroom. She had just hit a shot in the dark, which luckily had managed to hit the right spot.

"I want you ready in 10 minutes. I'm waiting outside your flat. Orr han, formals pehenna"

"Formals pehenna" Shaurya mimicked her, visibly irked as he pulled on his T-shirt.

***

"15 minutes" Anokhi stated as she saw him locking the door of the flat.

Shaurya rolled his eyes and turned around to face her. She was dolled up in a sleeveless blue churidar suit, her hair parted sideways and silver, oxidized earrings adorned her ears.

Anokhi looked at him puzzled as he kept staring at her with his mouth slightly open but was not uttering a single word.

"Shaurya?" Anokhi snapped her fingers breaking his trance.

"Huh?" Shaurya narrowed his eyes as he moved towards her "Aaj college mei kisi ki shaadi hai? Muje bta deti, mai bhi sherwani pehen leta." He commended, crossing his arms.

Anokhi passed him a tight-lipped smile "Very funny. Aaj official freshers ka ek chota sa function hai auditorium mei, aur uska theme indian hai. Isliye maine yeh pehena."

Shaurya nodded but then scowled the next moment "Toh muje kyu formals pehenne ko keh diya itni garmi mei?" He moved his hands up and down pointing at the full-sleeved white shirt and black pants that he was wearing.

Anokhi sucked in a deep breath and explained calmly "Mai bhi interview se pehle change karungi. Ab chale? Please? Baki baatein raaste mei kar lenge"

"Fine" Shaurya sighed and pushed the elevator button while Anokhi's fingers wriggled with the belt of her bag as she silently prayed to reach the college on time.

***

"So? Reema aa rahi hai college?" Shaurya asked as they stepped into the metro, swarmed with the office-going people.

"Nope. Maine uthane ki koshish kari thi lekin, after-party hangover ki vajah se madam ne mana kar diya. " Anokhi answered gripping the handle for support.

Shaurya nodded "Same with Ahir."

After a few minutes of silence, Anokhi held out her hand "Apna phone dijiye."

"Why?" Shaurya asked diverting his eyes from the view outside.

"Arre. Dijiye na" Anokhi requested, impatience dripping from her voice.

Shaurya sighed reaching his pocket to pull out the phone "Tum mujhe kuch zyada hi order nahi de rahi ho aaj?"

Anokhi gave him a wry smile, tugging the phone from his hands "Dost banaya tha na kal mujhe? Bhool gye?"

"Han, toh?" Shaurya tried peeking to see what she was doing but Anokhi turned her back to him making him roll his eyes.

"Toh kya? Ab dost banaya hai toh jhelna toh padega na. Ab bas aadat daal lijiye inn sab ki" she replied, typing something in his phone.

Shaurya stared at her with wide eyes, horror flashing through them as he imagined her interrupting his sleep every morning.

Feeling his gaze, Anokhi looked up and a chuckle escaped her mouth seeing his state.

"Don't worry, mai roz aapki beauty sleep kharab karne nahi aungi" she assured him giving back his phone. Shaurya let out a breath of relief while Anokhi shook her head, amused.

Their station arrived.

Anokhi noticed Shaurya's sleep-deprived state and was quite surprised that he had managed to stand still throughout the ride without collapsing on the floor.

"Chale, sleeping beauty?" She teased and winked at him exiting the metro making Shaurya's jaw drop in surprise, the sleep in his eyes vanishing into thin air.

Did she just wink at me?

***

"Mai 2 ghante mei apko seminar hall mei milti hu. Tab takk aap sab heads ko interview ka brief kar dijiye." Anokhi said as they stepped into the college. Shaurya nodded and they parted their ways.

When she was out of earshot, Shaurya stretched his arms yawning and muttered thodi der seminar hall mei jaa kar so jaunga.

He made his way towards the hall but as soon as he opened the gate he was surprised to see all the heads already seated.

"Tum sab yahan?"

The heads got alerted and one of them answered "Han, aapne hi toh group par message kar ke hume yahan bulaya hai"

Shaurya scrunched his brows in confusion and a few seconds later realization dawned upon him. Smart move, Miss Bhalla.

He smirked, rubbing his temples Chalo Shaurya beta, kaam par lag jao , and then clapped his hands as he waltzed inside the room "So, let's start then."

***

It has been an hour and a half.

Shaurya was handing over the lists of the students to be interviewed to each head and was taking their doubts when he heard a peal of familiar laughter.

He looked up and found Anokhi at the door chatting and laughing with Karan, the president of Commerce society. What is he doing here?

A minute later, Anokhi spotted Shaurya and she smiled moving towards him with Karan following her.

Shaurya and Karan exchanged a handshake and Shaurya turned to Anokhi "So, how was the freshers' party?"

Anokhi let out a tired sigh "Boring... But then I met Karan aur hum purey orientation mei bas society ki hi baatein kar rahe ..so it went well."

She passed a smile to Karan who smiled back while Shaurya just nodded, his lips pressed in a thin line.

"Vaise Shaurya, Anokhi ne btaya ki tum dono ne kaafi mehnat karke yeh interviews and all arrange kare hai. I'm impressed yar. Very well handled." Karan praised, his eyes roving around the room.

"Yeah! Thanks." Shaurya replied. He was certainly proud of himself but more than that he was proud of Anokhi, who had put extra effort into handling this problem.

"Start kare?" One of the heads came to them.

Shaurya nodded but Anokhi interjected "Give me 5 minutes. Mai abhi change karke aay"

She almost ran to the door when Karan called out "Arey! Why are you changing? You look beautiful."

Shaurya's head whirled in his direction, shocked while Anokhi halted in her tracks, turning to look at Karan, her eyes narrowed.

Seeing Karan's flirtatious smirk, she replied sternly "No. It's an interview. We should be in formals." Anokhi glanced at Shaurya who nodded at her and then she walked away.

As soon as she left, Karan rounded on Shaurya "What's the deal with her?"

"What?" Shaurya looked at him puzzled though he knew where this conversation was heading.

"I mean, is she single?" Karan rubbed his palms, his face twisted in a serious expression.

Shaurya blinked his eyes, not understanding what to answer, so he chose to go with the most standard reply "I don't know"

Karan stared at him for a second, his brows furrowed in disbelief but then nodded.

Shaurya was relieved and got busy with some paperwork, however, a slew of questions crossed his mind and he couldn't stop himself from asking "Just out of curiosity, why...why are you asking?"

Karan opened his mouth to answer when he saw Anokhi walking in wearing a white shirt and black jeans, her hair pulled up in a ponytail.

Karan smiled nudging Shaurya "Just look at her man, she is gorgeous. Moreover, she is funny, and smart too. Roz aisi ladkiyo se mulakaat nahi hoti."

Shaurya followed his gaze as Karan literally ogled at Anokhi.

Anger sparked in his eyes as sudden protectiveness surged through him and he grappled Karan's arm, turning him around. He wanted to shout but kept his voice down, "Don't you have classes to attend?"

Karan was taken aback by his tone and hard stare but when he looked at the time, his eyes widened in shock "Oh yeah! Thank you yar. Will see you soon. Bye"

He almost leaped towards the door not before mouthing a bye to Anokhi who smiled at him in return.

Shaurya shook his head, turning to boot his laptop, and glanced at Anokhi She deserves better than that jerk. He smirked and then called everyone to assemble for the interview process.

***

The interviews were going smooth, they had almost filtered out the students and transferred them to the right department as per their skills. Done with the last interview of her, Anokhi finalized the list and walked to the room where Shaurya was taking the interviews.

She saw him working on the laptop and went and stood near his table, waiting for him to complete his work. But she noticed that the laptop screen was blank and he was just staring at it, lost in thoughts.

"Shaurya?" Shaurya jerked and looked up, blankly. "Hmm?"

Anokhi gave him the list and he took it without saying a word.

"Sab theek?" She asked concerned.

Shaurya nodded, without looking her in the eye and documented the list.

Before Anokhi could ask anything, he adjusted his glasses, rose from his seat, and excused himself while she just watched his retreating figure, worried. Inhe kya hua? Subah toh theek the.

***

It was a half-day in college because of the freshers' function. The interview process was over, and most of the students had left for their homes.

After changing back into her suit, Anokhi was walking towards the staircase when she spotted Shaurya.

He was seated on the floor at the end of the corridor, leaning against the wall, his legs stretched straight and his eyes peering over the backside of the garden through the gaps of the railing. He looked disturbed.

"Shaurya, lunch?" Anokhi called out.

As if snapping from a reverie, Shaurya turned his head to find Anokhi standing with her hands on her hips, tapping her feet, waiting for his reply.

His brows knit closer as he tried to recall what she just asked and after a pause of 10 seconds, Shaurya replied "Mera mann nahi hai. Tum jao... Ghar jaane se pehle give me a call." Passing her a thrift smile he went back to gazing at the garden.

Anokhi shook her head sighing, went, and sat in front of him, cross-legged. Shaurya's trance was broken again and he looked at her confused as she started skimming through her bag.

After a search of around 10 seconds, Anokhi pulled out a polybag and from it- a lunch box.

Shaurya too sat cross-legged making some space as Anokhi opened the lid and offered him the lunch "Rajma chawal. Maine banaye hai."

She smiled hopefully and Shaurya wanted to deny but when the aroma of Rajma hit his nose, a smile broke out on his face, and he sheepishly took the box from her.

Anokhi exhaled in relief and pulled out another lunch.

"2 lunch boxes?" Shaurya asked, perplexed.

Anokhi nodded "Ab aap ne itni tareef kardi thi mere khane ki. Toh maine soch liya hai ki ab se jo bhi dish mai try karungi, aap ko taste zarur karaungi. Isliye yeh pura lunch box aapka."

Shaurya beamed at her and took a spoonful of the rice, taking a bite while Anokhi waited with bated breath for him to say something. She wasn't a chef but she was trying her best to cook at least the normal food.

A contented sigh escaped his mouth as Shaurya licked his lips and asked, amazed "Yeh tumne first-time banaya hai?"

Anokhi nodded in affirmative. Shaurya shook his head, relishing the spicy taste "It's amazing. Pure Punjabi taste"

Anokhi was happy seeing him enjoying the dish, and she too started having her lunch.

A comfortable silence surrounded them while the hot weather turned a little bit cold as a chilled breeze made its arrival.

***

Anokhi was packing back the boxes while Shaurya kept staring at her, lost in thoughts. "Tum kitni talented ho"

Anokhi's head snapped up in surprise "Hmm?"

Shaurya blinked his eyes at her reaction, and mentally face-palmed for blurting his thoughts aloud.

"Shaurya, aap ne aisa kyu kaha?" Anokhi asked, curiously.

He shook his head, dismissing the conversation "Kuch nahi...bas aise hi. Itna acha khana banaya tumne...toh muh se nikal gya..bas" and attempted to stand but Anokhi quickly held his hand, pulling him down. "Jhoot matt boliye. Btayei kya baat hai?"

Shaurya averted his eyes "I said na, kuch nahi. Anokhi, just leave it." He tried to free his hand from her hold but in return, her grip got stronger.

"Kya leave it? Kya hua hai apko? Kabse dekh rahi hu aisa sada sa muh banakar baithe hai. Kya chal raha hai apke dimaag mei? Kuch hua hai kya?"

Shaurya sighed, successfully withdrawing his hand and stood up "Nothing that concerns you. So, please. Let's go home"

Anokhi narrowed her eyes at him and then looked away "Nahi."

Shaurya was getting frustrated but tried to keep his voice down "Har baat par zidd karna zaruri hai kya, Anokhi? Tum apni har cheez nahi manva sakti" He held out his hand for her which she royally ignored.

"Maine toh koi zidd nahi kari. Aapko jana hai na? Jaiye. Mai yahi theek hu. Chale jaungi ghar jab jana hoga"

***

10 minutes passed but Anokhi wasn't ready to budge. Shaurya let out an aggravated sigh, running a hand through his hair, and finally plopped down beside her, defeated.

Anokhi smiled inwardly and observed him from the corner of her eyes as he fidgeted with his fingers contemplating on something.

A while later, Shaurya revealed, "I'm stressed..." Anokhi twisted in her place to face him "...about my career."

His gaze lowered, he explained in a resigned tone "Aaj jab mai interview le raha tha, I realized that people are so focused and sorted about what they want to do in life. Their career, their fields, dream job...everything"

Casting a quick glance at Anokhi, he went back to playing with the silver ring in his index finger as he spoke "Aur mujhe dekho, I chose MBA because I wanted to explore myself. I came to Delhi because I wanted to be independent...but what am I doing to work towards it? Nothing."

He sighed and leaned back on the wall, staring at the ceiling "I still don't know what I want to do in life, what I want to pursue as my career... It's all just messed up."

Squeezing his eyes shut, Shaurya opened up, his voice choking with heaviness "Mom-dad se share karunga toh unhe tension ho jaegi and they will start about how I have a backup plan of working with Dad. Par mujhe... mujhe khud kuch karna hai... mai nahi chahta ki log kahe ki I'm living off my parents... I want to do something on my own. But I don't know ki kahan se start karu aur kaise..."

He trailed off, taking off his glasses, and enclosed his face in his palms, his chest heaving up and down as he tried to prevent himself from breaking down.

Seconds passed before Shaurya felt a tug on his hands, uncovering his face. He opened his eyes to find Anokhi, sitting inches away from him, offering him a water bottle, her eyes softened in a way that he couldn't decipher.

Taking a deep breath, he sat straight, pinched the bridge of his nose, and rubbed his eyes. Accepting the bottle, he chucked down half of it and then capping it back, he breathed out a long sigh, feeling some respite "Thank you"

Anokhi nodded, taking the bottle and shifted back, leaning on the wall opposite of Shaurya, her eyes on him as she waited for him to continue.

"It's just...when I look at you...I feel ki tumhari age mei...I wasn't even half of what you are. You excel in almost everything; you have this maturity level that I don't possess even now."

He looked into her eyes while Anokhi had a calm expression spread across her face as she listened to him, giving him the strength to speak his heart out.

"You know, sometimes, I feel useless. I don't have a goal...or a focus...or anything. I want to do things but I don't know what those things are. It's like I'm going with the flow, without any clue where I'm heading to. I don't know if I'm making any sense or not because I guess, I'm just blabbering now." He confessed, exhausted.

Tilting back his head, Shaurya completed "That's why I was upset and wanted some time alone to sort this jumble of chaos that is residing in my head."

Silence fell.

"Shaurya, it's not as messed up as it looks," Anokhi said in an assuring tone, as she hugged her knees, and stared at Shaurya with a small smile while his lips were pressed in a thin line, his eyes glued to her face.

"Aap sirf negatives ko dekh rahe hai, you are not counting on the positives." Shaurya shook his head in disbelief, a smirk tugging his lips.

Anokhi was quick to explain "Trust me. Aap kuch zyada hi soch rahe hai. I understand that you are confused about your future but you are being too hard on yourself."

Pondering a little, she stated "Hume Delhi aaye kitna time hua hai? 3 hafte, I guess. And look at you, you are already the manager of the commerce society."

Shaurya snorted "It's not an achievement, Anokhi."

"It is, Shaurya... it is. Aapne dekha nahi ki kitne nominees they lekin unn mei se aap select hue. Apko pta hai kyu? Because they saw potential in you for handling the society. Maine dekha tha ki coordinators aur staff kitne impress the aap se." She tried making him believe while Shaurya's head was bowed down.

"Aaj jo kuch bhi hua... Interviews ki scheduling, framing of questions, assigning the responsibilities... han initial idea mera tha lekin execute toh aapne kiya. Aaj aap ne akele sab ko lead kiya, patiently saare doubts handle kare... it's not an easy task, Shaurya."

She slides closer to him and holds his one hand, making him look up at her, "Look, I know it's easier said than done. Mai bas itna kehna chahti hu ki it's just a start. Dheere-Dheere sab theek ho jaega. You just have to keep looking for opportunities and one day I'm sure you will stumble upon one... and then there will be no looking back. Just don't feel defeated already."

"Anokhi, that's the problem I don't know where to look," Shaurya said, intertwining their fingers, his face worn-out.

Anokhi gripped his hand tightly making him wince, her tone a little tough "Toh aise baithe rehne se... aur iss tarah overthinking karke dimaag kharab karne se aapko jawab mil jaenge? Sab theek ho jaega? Aap ne khud kaha that you want to explore yourself. Toh jaiye na... attend seminars and workshops... search for part-time jobs... DO SOMETHING... "

Shaurya's lips parted in surprise as she scolded him like he was a toddler who wasn't ready to listen what was being taught to him.

"Arre. Daant kyu rahi ho?" He interrupts with a small pout.

Anokhi stopped talking and seeing his saucer-shaped eyes, she realized that in making him understand she had lost her own cool. But it was not her mistake, it was him who was acting as a stubborn 10 year old.

Taking a deep breath, her thumb caressing his knuckles, she tries to explain softly "Shaurya, kahi se toh start karna padega na? Agar kuch samjh nahi aa raha toh ask someone to guide you...apney batch mei se kisi ke saath baat kijiye ya apne seniors...oh ya..Karan..he can help you, I guess" She suggested, suddenly excited with this prospect.

Angler flared up in him, and Shaurya immediately leaves her hand and looked away "Please. Uska naam matt lo. I don't like him"

Anokhi's brows furrowed "Why?"

Shaurya's head jerks towards her, annoyed "Why? Do you like him?"

"What!!?" Anokhi was appalled with the fury raging in his eyes.

Realizing what he had just said, Shaurya airily waves a hand, trying to put an end to this conversation "Nothing. He is just too perfect. He is... weird. I. don't. like. him, that's it!"

Still perplexed, Anokhi decided to just nod along "O-kay...Toh kahi aur se help lijiye. There are plenty of resources. You just need a head start aur dekhna, gradually, everything will fall into place."

Her last sentence hit Shaurya at the right spot and he closed his eyes, rewinding to every small thing that Anokhi had said. She had known him for a month and still had managed to dig out positives from even the smallest happenings in his life.

The positivity in her words seeped and crawled, imprinting into his over-active brain, fluttering a hope, motivation, and a desire of doing something without the fear of falling back.

She was right, it's not the end, and maybe he was being too pessimistic in his thinking. He still has time, he could do anything if he put his full concentration into it.

"Everything will be sorted, right?"

Anokhi smiled, clasping his palm, and patted it assuringly "100 percent! TRUST me."

Shaurya flickered open his eyes and smiled, his heart filling and overflowing with relief. He was all of a sudden feeling light as if a burden had lifted off his chest.

***

"Chale ghar?" Anokhi asked after sharing half-hour of some fun-filled banters. Shaurya nodded and looked at the time – 4 p.m. They had talked for almost 2 hours and it didn't even feel like that.

Getting on their feet, both stretched and shook their numb legs and Anokhi was about to pick her bag when Shaurya suddenly took her hands in his "Anokhi..."

Anokhi stared down at their joined hands and then up at him, confused. Shaurya walked up to her, decreasing the gap, his eyes moving over her face as if deciding on something, and then he asked with an ounce of hesitancy "Can I... hug you? Only if you are okay with it."

Seeing the glimmer of expectation, happiness and slight nervousness in his eyes, and the fact that he respected her to ask first, Anokhi agreed.

Shaurya smiled wide and Anokhi watched as he slowly pulled her closer, and wrapped one arm around her lower back and the other around her shoulder.

He bent to her height and Anokhi smiled, tip-toeing a little as her slender arms circled his neck, her face burying into his shoulders.

She couldn't prevent the shudder that rocked through her as he snuggled into the crook of her neck, his hold tightening around her, enveloping her in a bear hug... she rubbed his back, their eyes shut close, her touch evoking calm and peace in his being.

At that moment, his decision of pouring his frustrations, his insecurities in front of her seemed the best decision to him.

***

Please do let me know your thoughts on it.

Criticism is wholeheartedly welcomed.

Your feedback means a lot to me.

***

CHAPTER - 13 : PG 44

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/158943796

Tags - update on pg 39

Tags - update on page 39

Loved the update Tanya! I recently started reading this and caught up with both of your FFs. You write so well! Gives off such a fresh college vibe with their little moments and conversations. Also, do I smell a jealous Shaurya in the offing? 😁 keep on keeping on! 🙌❤️

Originally posted by: tanieg0911

Please do let me know your thoughts on it.

Criticism is wholeheartedly welcomed.

Your feedback mean a lot to me.

Thank for tagging.

Hayye. Such a nice update!

They finally had such a nice conversation.......and a hug to top it off! Beautifully written!

I'm looking forward to a conversation where Anokhi bares her soul as well.

Love this story great concept of shaurya not being her professor for a change .

Very good writing . Love it . Have always been a silent reader but so know appreciate the updates very much .

Yes Please. Tag me

(QqUOTE=tanieg0911]

Hey,

Thanks a lot for the feedback ❤

I'm updating it in few minutes. Would you like me to tag you in the updates?

Hope you enjoy the story as it progresses.

Keep supporting.

Tanya

Wonderful chapter👌

I'm enjoying the jealous Shaurya🤣🤣

Karan does seem weird, I agree with Shaurya and I also don't like him.

Loved the Shakhi scene at the end.

They have come a long way from Shaurya not even wanting to see her face to wanting to hug her👌👌🥰🥰

Keep updating😘😘

Love Preet ♥️

P.S do tag me please.