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A/N: Sorry for being so late
; btw since this also was getting too long, converting the write-up into four shot...(I'll update in 2-3 days pakka, no delay
);
In case you forgot, here is recap: 7 months have gone by since they returned from goa. Anokhi made it very clear that they both can't get together with the mentality that he is having. Sharuya rejoined as a professor, and in these 7 months; learnt and unlearnt quite a few things.
He arrived in anokhi's and babli's house (as she had decided to seperate from vineet) only to be shocked of what he witnessed. Coming up is how the current situation is dealt with and a shakhi conversation... I hope you like it 
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Just when he was still in shock with the sight he witnessed, Mr. Bhalla declared,
"You. You mister, have no right to interfere in our family matters, so you better leave right now, and Babli you are coming with us to Vineetโs house nowโ
โNo papaji she wonโt come because she doesnโt want toโ
โANOKHI YOU DARE SPEAK A WORD AGAIN OR ELSE-โ He raises his hand only to be stopped by another.
โYou are elder to me and I shouldnโt be speaking like this to you but you cannot hit her or Babli jiโ
Shauryaโs eyes were raging fire now and giving a tough competition to the rage in anokhiโs eyes.
Now that he has gradually learnt to decipher anokhiโs emotions, he saw the rage in her eyes too, but also fear; and something told him this isnโt happening for the first time with both of them.
โItโs you both who would need to leave Sir, please leave; this can be talked about later but you both would have to leave right nowโ
Shaurya tried to descalate the situation. As much as he wanted to give back on how Babli ji is entitled to her choice and no one is to decide for her, not even her father; he was still a stranger and he can only say so much. On top of that he was sure that both anokhi and babli ji are capable enough of taking a strong stance; probably have had to do so even in the past. But he wonโt let him or Vineet physically harm them, never.
Vineet: Listen Shaurya Sabherwal, you have already come in between our personal matters once, not again.
"I hope you do remember how I also told that if you ever tried to pull of such a stunt again, I will bury you under the ground; and when I said that; I was definitely. not. kidding." Shaurya said with such a determination that Vineet could not speak anymore.
Mr. Bhalla had enough. "Whatever you both are doing isn't right, nikki and babli. The destruction started when you, nikki, ran away from the house. Neither would you have come here nor would have babli got so much courage to pull off such a thing. My elder daughter is not at all like you. Her home won't be on the verge of breaking if you hadn't come here in chandigarh. Destroyed family's honor and now also destroying babli's life. And, tell this professor of yours to leave right now?"
Anokhi: From when has being courageous become a thing to be ashamed of papaji? It isn't a thing to be ashamed of, you are upset over our courage because our courage doesn't allow you to control us, bind us to a life that is worse than hell. And I should tell him to leave? so that both of you can pressurise us, force us by physically and verbally abusing us to change out stance? I won't tell him to leave. It will be his decision if he wants to stay or not"
Ramesh Bhalla was fuming with anger, his younger daughter has totally lost it, supporting some professor of hers over me; and why even has this professor arrived in his student's home?! He couldn't believe it, he was so sure that he will successfully take babli with him; after all as much as nikki is a rebel, she obviously fear him, since he successfully instilled that fear in her since she was a child. And both him and vineet can obviously overpower the situation but this professor of hers had to come out of nowhere.
Mr. Bhalla: So, you are supporting him over your own father? Okay. Fine. I'll see you in one day and Your so called courage you are talking about had put our family's honor at stake, without caring what your father would have to hear form the society? You just took a selfish decision without thinking its effects on the family, and you are blaming me?
The conversation took a different turn now, taking into account the fact that this is the first time they have come face to face after anokhi ran away from her wedding.
Anokhi: I took a selfish decision?! Or you are the one who was selfish, I agreed to marry him even when I didn't want to, but he turned out to be a jerk, and still you wanted me to marry him... you cared about what 4 people will say but you didn't care about your own daughter's wellbeing; and you are proving the same today too. And don't even make me open my mouth about the past papaji, about your behaviour, about... Atleast not in front of someone who is a stranger to you.
As much as she felt comfortable being vulnerable in front of shaurya, she doesn't want anyone to pity her. Anyone. And this is the reason that no matter what, she always kept a strong front. She is a big girl now, she can't get scared. She won't get scared. She can't break down. And she knows if she talks about her past, specially in front of someone who doesn't know about it, even more so when it's him, she will end up having a breakdown.
Mr. Bhalla: My past behviour? I haven't done anything wrong. A girl like you who doesn't know how to stay within her boundaries deserves it. Since childhood you have been a rebel so I had to raise my hands on you in order to keep you on a tight leash. I don't think anyone from our town will marry you after the stunt that you have pulled of. I will see who marries the girl who ran away from her wedding to pursue a career.
Anokhi didn't answer this time, she knew he will say this and nothing can convince him of how wrong he is, nor does she have that energy to fight an already lost battle. If he had the capability to introspect and to change his mentality, then her childhood would have been the way it is.
Shaurya, eventhough, he somewhat got an idea that this must have had before but was still shocked hearing that he abused her since her childhood?! And he is justifying it and also blaming her, a child?! He was having a hard time believing how cold hearted he is. Shaurya in his wildest dreams didn't imagine that anokhi could be a victim of abuse and that too since her childhood. All to 'To keep her on a tight leash', unbelievable. And, both of them probably?! Did he also did the same with her brother too or...
Shaurya's line of thoughts are disturbed as Mr. Bhalla speaks up after not getting anokhi's response, proud of the fact that he managed to silence her,
Mr. Bhalla: and this stranger you are talking about, whom you are siding with rather than me....
He turns towards shaurya and speaks directly to him.
Mr. Bhalla: You have a lot of interest in interfering in others' family matters, right? I very well know men like you. You all support the so called equality and what not, but can't tolerate your own wife having opinions or a career. Men like want freesom for other women but their own wives to be under their control. I don't know if you are married or not, but if you are, I am pretty sure you won't have allowed her to have a career if she wanted to and if you aren't; I will ask anokhi to call me on the day you get married only to inform me if his wife is pursuing a career or not; after all if you are visting her to her house, I am sure she will get to know about your marriage too.
Mr. Bhalla himself didn't know how he is maintaining his calm. His daughter's professor has visited her house, how in the world is this normal? He will make sure to set nikki right once this person goes away from here. What was he doing here and he also has the nerve to interfere in their family matters? And she is supporting him?!
Shaurya was perplexed. He knows that her father said it as a general statement but he kind of hit the nail on the head except that his soch was conservative, but he wouldn't have ever committed those actions which her father just talked so highly of. In regards to his thinking about her career, If he would have asked him this question months ago, he wouldn't know what to answer. But now... though the unlearning and the learning that he has done in the past 7 months is yet to solidify; it has surely set strong roots in his mind which will only grow deeper. But, he also had to choose his words carefully since her father doesn't know the relation between him and anokhi.
Anokhi was noticing the shift in the tension of the room. She kind of got a hint that her father has begun doubting about this situation afterall shaurya sir visiting her house has the tendency to be seen as abnormal. As much as she was scared of papajki getting to know about them, she was also determined. And how does it matter anyway, she isn't going to get together with him until and unless he changes his views, no matter how much she yearns for him. As much as she knew that papaji was not totally right with his assumptions about shaurya, after all he isn't abusive like him and vineet 'jeeju'. He holds some of the views that are problematic, yet he hasn't tried to enforce it on anyone, like how papaji and Vineet did. Nonetheless, she was curious as to what answer would he give to that question. Although, her expectations were low, as she didn't want to give herself false hopes.
Shaurya: If you want to get personal, sir, then, so be it. First of all, I am not interfering in your family matter willingly. But, I obviously can't stand here and watch while you raise hands on your daughters and while your soon to be ex son-in-law raises his hands on anokhi's sister. As far as assumptions about me goes, I am not married, and whenever I will; my wife will not have to ask me for the decisions that she makes for her own life or career choices. I am no one to allow her, and I have learnt in the past few months that she is her own person with her own views, and my choices are only limited to whom I want to marry. After marriage, I have no busines in dictating over her choices. And at the end whatever it is, raising hands on your wife and your daughter?! Can't believe I have to add this sentence but, physical abuse or any kind of abuse inflicted upon anyone isn't right and is crime regardless of what you or I think whatever the mentality is; and since both of you seem like you can get physically abusive any moment, I would have to ask you to leave or else I would have to call the police.
Vineet knew that anokhi knows ACP Ahir, and if she calls him; he and papaji will be in jail in no time. On top of that, he was getting fearful of shaurya. He pulled Mr. Bhalla aside for a moment away from them, and expressed his concern. Mr. Bhalla speculated that his disgrace of a daughter can go to any extent and it won't be a surprise if she or this professor of hers calls the police. He didn't even know anyone in the city, so it would best to leave. But, he won't let this go easily.
Giving both babli and anokhi a look, filled with anger, rage and disgust; he walks out of the flat along with vineet.
Anokhi was astonished with whatever shaurya uttered. She wondered, 'Did he say it in front of papaji so that our stance has a stronger meaning or... did he actually mean it? With the confidence and clarity that he answered, it seemed that he... genuinely meant it? Shaurya closed the door after both of the men left as babli started moving to the room.
"Di, are you okay?"
"Huh.. yeah, I am... fine. Nikki, I want to be alone for sometime and I am sorry that bcs of me-"
"No di, not because of you, not at all... you do need rest, first you rest for sometime and if possible don't think much about whatever happened, hmm? And then we can talk about this later, okay?"
"Hmm...", with that babli left for the room and closed the door behind her.
As much as anokhi wanted to just stay beside di, and wanted to assure her that she isn't wrong; she thought that it would be best if she gets some rest now.
****
It was just shaurya and anokhi left in the main hall.
They both were meeting outside of a professional setting after 7 whole months. Unsaid words, unconveyed emotions and unrevealed past, taking the space between them.
Shaurya was reminded of the assignment that he had come to give and so he points the assignment towards her gesturing her to take it. Anokhi recieved it and kept it on a nearby table as she decided to break the ice.
"Will you have something. hmm, let me bring you water-"
"No its, its fine, I am good... " Shaurya contunues after a pause,
"Are you okay, anokhi?"
A question that anokhi didn't want him to ask since she didn't want him to see her in her vulnerable self but she knew she can't hide from him. Tears where threatening to fall and anokhi did something that came as a shock to shaurya and even to herself.
In no time she was holding on to shaurya as if, if she left him for even a second, the world would fall apart. She gripped onto him as tightly as she could, as she sobbed, albeit with making least amount of sound, but her sobs weren't unheard by him. He kept his hand on her back, and gently ran his head over her back to assure her, of her own strength, of how he will always have her back.
He gently kissed her on head before resting his chin over her head. Both didn't quite discerned of how much time went by.
Anokhi spoke up, still in his embrace, "Did you... really mean it?"
Shaurya immedietely realised as to what she was asking about, silence took over for a few seconds as he himself thought of what he said just few minutes back. Afterall his strong tone and statement on this issue also came as as a shock for him, since this was first time he was verbalising his support for his future wife's choices. He himself didn't know that his mentality has changed to such an extent. After thinking to himself for some moments, he utters,
"You know Anokhi, I tried to learn as much as I can in these 7 months. The kind of examples I have seen; of how women surrounding me are having to fight some or the other battle, those specific ones, just because they are women. The battles they won't even have been aware of, if they were men. Probably many more similar incidences might also have took place earlier around me, but I didn't notice that this might be a systematic thing, or maybe I just didn't look from a woman's perspective. You forced me to, in a good way ofcourse, to think from that angle, from that perspective. And I did, and it just brings me to the conclusion that whatever beliefs I held on to were indeed wrong."
"I know that you have already forgiven me for it but, what I did in the library still bothers me. The beliefs due to which I said those things bothered me evn more. These words shouldn't even com ein anyone's mind leave alone escaping from the mouth. That day, I apologised to you for hurting you with my words, but today, I also want to apologise for holding on to those beliefs, the soch that made me utter such disgusting words, anokhi..."
He continues,
"I don't even know for myself that how did I speak in front of Mr. Bhalla with so much confidence; since even before arriving here, I reflected upon how the beliefs I have acquired are yet to solidify, but the way I saw him speaking, his actions; it all just...I don't know, probably cemented the new beliefs that I have formed? You said to me on that day right, how expectations of men like me become shackles for all women. I could see that happening in front of my eyes today."
Anokhi was feeling shocked? relieved? happy? perhaps and what not as she heard him speak each of his statement with so much clarity and so much faith. Above all, She felt proud because he managed to change his mentality, those beliefs which she knows how people stay so firm in, that nothing can change them; though he didn't have it to that extreme but whatever beliefs he did held onto, she has never seen anyone unlearn those. And the way he held his ground so confidently in front of papaji, made her even more faithful in him. And because she has never witnessed it, she was finding it hard to believe and couldn't help the question popping up in her mind, as to will his changes be reflected in his actions too?
But, right now, there was something that dominated her mind, the behaviour of someone that has always crushed her soul.
After a pause he utters, "Has he always been like that?"
Anokhi clutched him even more tightly if it was possible. She was feeling a million emotions at once. She still couldn't believe that whatever her ears heard him speaking were true. At the same time, She was still feeling those last bits of fear, she puts up a strong front every single time, but she does get scared of him. She doesn't want to feel an ounce of fear but he scares her; something she doesn't want to admit.
At this moment though, She wanted to not feel anything but the warmth, the warmth that she finds in his embrace.The peace, the serenity, that sukoon is what her heart craved for.
Eventually, after gathering herself, she broke the hug. She didn't want to answer his question. Only her mother and sister knows about this, and that too, because they too have gone through the same. It's not that she doesn't trust him, it's just that she hasn't been this kind of vulnerable in front of someone else.
Shaurya figured out she didn't want to talk about this, already a lot has happened today... so he decided that he would leave it to another day, and decides to do something that can only come up in his mind and mentions in his 'professor tone',
"One doesn't take so much time in answering questions anokhi, so I will just assume that you are not sure of your answer, so let's just move on to...umm to your economics lesson? Exams are around the corner, and with the pace you are studying your syllabus, looks like the position of topper will be taken by someone else this time."
Anokhi looked at him as if he had grown two horns on his head. She was trying to get a hold over her emotions and he... and that's when it struck her as to what he was doing. Just as a slight smile made its way to her face, she registered as to what he said, and announced while glaring at him,
"I will perform very well in my exams and what do you mean by I haven't completed my syllabus? Only some topics are left Shaurya Sir, and I have understood everything, so there is no need for your lectures even in my home. You give enough lectures in the college."
"But I want to give you lectures, and college is different. Here, I am providing you free home tutoring services and you are refusing such a brilliant opportunity Miss Bhalla, come have a seat. I am starting in 5 seconds."
He had already settled himself down while speaking the last bit and took out her notes and books from her bag that was kept on the table in front of him.
He had truly started in 5 seconds while she was still standing. Unbelievable.
"Are you teaching the empty chair Mr. Shaurya Sabherwaal?"
"I am teaching the student present in the room, Miss Bhalla; doesn't matter if she is beside me or behind me; as long as she listens"
Double the unbelievable. 7 months in and he hasn't a changed a bit in his personality, and can she complain? After all she missed this side of his, infact, she missed everything about him. She missed him. Giving a sigh, she settled down on the chair beside him as he continues to teach her the topic that he had just chosen randomly.
She recognized that he was doing all this to distract her, and that was the need of the hour really, but minutes went by and all she could think of was today's happenings. She knows papaji won't back down easily. She was fearful of what he would do next, her mind thinking of all the worse possibilities.
Shaurya noticed how she was not in a the right state and gently kept his hand on her shoulder as a way to assure her that everything will get fine and he will be there for her.
She looked at him, particularly his eyes and in that moment, the chaotic thoughts running in her brain stopped, the fears fading away with every second she spent looking in his eyes, the eyes which held nothing but love and care, for her.
Something in that moment encouraged her to remove her guard and bare her heart in front of him. He has always been there for her, since the very beginning, as she reminisces the ragging incident; the tenderness with which he held her and the sensitivity that he showed towards her that day, thinking of which, a slight smile makes its way on to her face along with tears which doesn't go unnoticed by shaurya.
"What happened anokhi? I know you are stressed due to what happened-"
"He has always been like this..."
Anokhi says in a very low voice, almost a whisper.
"I don't remember a single moment when he talked nicely to me or babli di, probably I don't remember becuase it didn't ever happen. No matter what I did, he always pointed out to my faults. As if trying to point out towards the fact that My existence in itself is the biggest fault."
She was finding it hard to continue...just when shaurya brought his hand over her cheek and let it be there slightly rubbing her thumb over her cheek prompting her to continue.
"The more I rebelled, the more he tried to silence me...by screaming at me and when that didn't work, then by...hitting me. Mummyji despite sacrificing every fibre of her being, was treated like a nobody, still is. He Abused her physically, mentally, emotionally in ways that I couldn't have imagined... if some of it didn't happen in front of me."
"His beliefs of how girls should be, always resulted in him trying to cage us, while giving full freedom to my brother. We were just a liability to him while....while bhaiya, his asset; and he made sure that we live this difference every single day we spend in that house."
"At this point, mummyji just exists, without her own viewpoint, her opinion, her voice; taking all the mistreatment silently because she can't talk back to him as he is her husband."
"I somewhere hate him for doing this to mummyji, to us....but I don't know why PS, I don't know why..."
She started crying uncontrollably as shaurya got up from his chair and bent down on his knee beside her chair as he kept running his hand at the back of her back and kept another hand on top of her hands settled on her lap.
Just then, anokhi joined shaurya on the floor too and embraced him, as tightly as she can, as shaurya kept his hand at the back of her head while his another hand over her back.
"I don't know why, in the deepest corner of my heart, I still yearn for his acceptance, for him to feel proud of me, for him to realise how wrong his thinking and his actions are, for him to...just love me like a father loves his daughter. Just one moment...is it too much to ask PS?"
"No, it isn't anokhi, you are asking what every child deserves, every child...", as he reminisces his own childhood, his own past, his own baggage. He didn't know what to say to her. She has been abused so brutally, he isn't able to mentally fathom the extent.
"You know Shaurya, what the younger me used to believe..."
Anokhi tried taking deep breathes as he shifts her position and keeps her head on his chest while shaurya engulfed her and held onto her tightly, wanting to protect her, promising to make her feel safe from here on.
She continues, though in pauses,
"She used to belive that someday his heart will soften, he will also treat her and babli di like how he treated her bhaiya. Maybe his heart would someday soften by hearing her screams as she took in his abuse."
"If not, then By hearing her cries as she begs him to stop; maybe, by seeing her tighly clenching her eyes in fear and tighly keeping her hands on her ears as he screams at her, shouts at her, declaring how she is the biggest curse in his life."
"If not, then definitely by seeing the father's day cards or the birthday cards she made for him; which she kept on the table year by year, in hopes that, someday his heart will soften. Someday, that love she yearned for, which she saw her friends basking in, the love her brother was getting, that love she might also get to experience...instead of stinging slaps and piercing words."
"But you know what she got in return, she found the cards in the dustbin the next day, torn to the bits and with that, her hopes and her heart, shattered, every year. And one day, shaurya.... she stopped. The cards, the hopes, the expectations. She understood... that the Scars on her body and her heart are here to stay."
"At that time you know what gave the younger me hope when everything felt so dark. She saw a quote on a poster in a shop, "Education gives you wings to fly". I loved to study, but I got an idea of the real power of education when I read that quote, which made me think of the possibilities that will open up if I get educated. My Only Hope."
"I gradually understood that if I want to get out the cage so as to fly, education was it. I wanted to form the wings which can take me to the sky and made that my aim, so that I can get out of that cage and then get mummyji out of it too."
Silence took over as both were settled in each others' embrace. No one said a word, silence speaking for them. Afterall, who can understand it better than him, that how a listening ear and being by the side of the person goes a long way.
.
.
.
.
****
"Babli ji, you don't have to worry, there is no need of all this, please rest."
He says to babli ji as she gets in the tray of cups of tea, and some snacks to accompany it.
"I have rested in the afternoon, shaurya ji, I am feeling fine, trust me."
Anokhi is suddenly reminded of something and she says,
"Shaurya sir-"
"Umm...you can call me only Shaurya, Anokhi? Though, he meant it as a statement but came out as a question.
Babli looks at anokhi, she felt that they must have talked to each other when she was resting and perhaps sorted out their differences? She was apprehensive about this relation but the way he took a stand today in front of their father shocked her today. She has seen how much nikki missed him in all these months and hence somewhere hopes for everything to get alright.
"Uhh, yes sure, Shaurya Sir."
Shaurya faked a smile and said, 'You are being contradictory anokhi.'
"Huh....oh', as she realises, "Uhh...yes, Shaurya? Shaurya."
She was almost gonna add sir... it kinda feels wierd though but she knew that calling him sir would be wierder and till how long will she call him PS?"
The grin that made its way to his face hearing only his name from her mouth, was a sight to see, making anokhi smile too.
"Anyway, I was asking you wanted to talk to babli di naa? you mentioned over the phone"
"Oh yeah, babli ji...the event management company you work in, is there any vacancies since Kanchan is intersted so I was thinking to ask you about the same."
This shocked both babli and anokhi. Anokhi couldn't believe it. She was feeling so happy for kanchan who had by now become a close friend of hers..."
"What about the rule of Sabherwal House Shaurya Si-...Shaurya?"
He noticed her slip of tongue and wanted to pull her leg on it but decided to ignore it, since this is gonna occur for quite sometime.
"Kanchan and Yash are apprehensive about the same, I haven't yet talked to them, but there will be a day where this will have to be done...so why not now? And let's see how it goes?"
The doubts she had about his beliefs tranforming into his actions has started fading away from this moment. He is willing to put up a fight for her and support her is cementing her trust in him. She had somewhere given up hopes of having both her love and career. Yet, not a day went by, in these 7 months, where she did not longed for them to be together, and today she was so overwhelmed when the possiblity of the same was visible to her.
"I am not aware of it as of now Shaurya ji. I'll check and then inform you?'
"Sure babli ji."
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A little long but hopefully a wothwhile read. I would love hearing your feedback as to what you liked and didn't like about the part. Next (and last part) will be updated in 2-3 days as I mentioned.
(not proofread, will do so later)
Thank you for showering so much love on the story, I hope this part wasn't and the ending won't be a disappointment;
Stay tuned and Shaurya's side of story coming up next!
Take care and stay safe
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