Part 6
Shaurya one by one dialled the numbers of all of Shaan’s friends but he was with none of them. Has he really gone to meet Aastha Kashyap? But Anokhi did not mention him being there. Should he call her again and ask? But she has classes to attend. He should not always disturb her like that. He would himself go there and check.
Shaurya pressed the calling bell and waited. To his surprise Anokhi opened the door.
“What are you still doing here? Don’t you have classes?” He asked
“No, the first half classes are cancelled. I will go in the second half. Now tell me why you cut the call abruptly? What kind of manners is this?” She asked accusingly.
“I am sorry. Something really important came up. Dad left the house early in the morning. Now he is not picking up calls. I came to find out if he was here.” Shaurya replied.
By then Aastha had arrived at the door. She looked at Shaurya’s worried countenance and asked, “What is the matter, Shaurya? Is everything alright? Why don’t you come inside?”
To this Anokhi answered. “Shaan Sir is not picking up calls. Perhaps he is upset about the engagement.”
Aastha looked at her in surprise and said, “How did you come to know about the engagement?”
Anokhi started fumbling, “Oh...I mean...I heard it from Bebo and Kitty in college.”
Shaurya gave a sigh of relief. This girl cannot keep anything to herself.
Aastha now turned to Shaurya and asked, “Have you called his friends?”
“Yes, but none of them know of his whereabouts.”
Aastha kept quiet for a few moments and then said, “Don’t worry, I will find him and send him home.”
“Do you know where he is?” Shaurya asked.
“I have some idea about where he might be.” Aastha said.
“Then give me the address. You don’t have to take the trouble. You should concentrate on your packing.” Shaurya said.
“Please Shaurya, let me handle this. I promise he will be back home safely.” Aastha requested.
“Then I am coming with you.” Shaurya was adamant.
Aastha was about to say something, when Anokhi interrupted, “I think you should let her go alone. If he is heartbroken about the engagement then only Aastha mam can convince him.”
“Ok fine, I am leaving for now. But when you meet him, ask him to give me a call.” Saying this he left.
Soon after Aastha left, Anokhi locked the door and went downstairs. Shaurya was waiting in his car at some distance. She immediately got in and said, “this way, I have got the address.”
“How did you get the address? She could not tell me but she told you.” Shaurya said, starting the car.
“No stupid…I mean I am so sorry Sir, I did not mean to call you stupid. It just slipped off my tongue.” Anokhi was embarrassed.
“Call me anything you want. Now tell me how you got the address.”
“I sneaked a glance while she was booking the app cab, simple. You have an in-house spy. Why to worry.”
“Do you want a pat on the back, Miss James Bond?” Shaurya asked, sarcastically. Then he added, “How did you know I would be still here?”
“Because you are stubborn like your mom. Only I know how to handle the two of you.” Anokhi said proudly.
“Stop gloating. And she is not my Mom.”
“And we are going in circles again.” Anokhi shook her head in disappointment.
Aastha could identify Shaan from a distance. He was sitting on the park bench. There were not many people at this time of the day. Most of the morning walkers had left. Some gardeners were tending to the plants. This was the same park the two would often visit back in the college days.
She walked up to him and said softly, “Shaan”
He turned. His eyes were red and swollen. It looked as though he hadn’t slept the whole night.
She sat by his side and said, “What is this behaviour Shaan? How come you just leave without informing anyone? And you are not picking up anyone’s calls. Do you know how worried Shaurya is? He even came to the flat looking for you.”
“I am sorry. I was feeling so suffocated in that house. I needed some fresh air and some time to think. I know how much I have hurt you with the divorce. I did not have the courage to face you. So I came here.” Shaan said, without looking at her.
“I can understand, but you are doing this for Shaurya, right?”
Shaan hesitated a bit.
Aastha could sense something was amiss. She looked into his eyes and said again, “You know when I gave the signed divorce papers to Shaurya, he did not look very happy about it. In fact I could somewhere sense disappointment.”
Shaan was surprised. “You signed the papers and gave them to Shaurya?”
Aastha nodded.
Meanwhile Anokhi and Shaurya reached the park.
“There they are.” Anokhi pointed in the direction where Shaan and Aastha were sitting.
“What are they talking about?” Shaurya wondered aloud.
“How will I know from such a distance?”
“Come, let us find out.” Shaurya said and held Anokhi’s hand.
“Excuse me, someone was teaching me how eavesdropping is a bad habit. What happened now?” Anokhi said, while being dragged by Shaurya behind a bush.
“Shhh...can’t you shut your mouth for a second? They will hear us.” Shaurya whispered.
“Not until we can hear them. We are still too far to hear anything.” Anokhi said.
“Ok, come behind me. Slowly. Crouch down so that they cannot see you.” Shaurya suggested.
Anokhi giggled. “I have no fear as long as you are in front of me. You are so tall that you can’t avoid being noticed even if you crouch.”
“Shut up and just follow me.” Shaurya said, getting irritated.
They came and hid behind a bush and tried to listen to Shaan and Aastha’s conversation.
“I gave those to him the day before yesterday when he came to the flat.” Aastha said.
“Strange, he never said anything about it.” Shaan was confused.
Here behind the bush.
“Are they talking about you?” Anokhi asked Shaurya.
Shaurya tried hard to control his growing temper and said, “If you don’t stop talking how will I listen to them?”
“What is going on with him?” Aastha asked.
“Shaurya Sir.” Anokhi poked him with her finger.
“If you don’t keep quiet I am going to put a sellotape on your mouth.”
“But I am feeling a strange irritation in my nose.”
“Then close your nose and breath with your mouth.” Shaurya muttered without looking towards her.”
“AA aa ai..choooo”
The sound of the sneeze alerted Shaan and Aastha. They got up and looked around.
Shaurya stared at Anokhi angrily while she continued like a non stop train. “Aichoo...aichoo...aaaichooo.”