Shakhi SS : The Story Of Us| EPILOGUE - Pg 30 | Jul 24, 2021 - Page 2

Very nice write up. Can't wait for more.. Pls update soon.

Originally posted by: sosweetsumi

oh god what happened between these two

stay tuned ;)

Originally posted by: Estatic_Pea1073

Great update.Curious to know the reason behind their breakup.

Thankyou, stay tuned 💗

Originally posted by: Coffee_Chips

So interesting.. I was waiting to know how their first meet would be. I guess I'm expecting some awkwardness, ignorance & then again hesitation & tension from the two 😆

As a suggestion... Maybe a little longer chap & an inside to what happened for Shaurya & Anokhi to get separated?

Lovely work, excited for the next! 😊

Thankyou for the review and suggestions, I'll keep them in mind 😇❤️

Originally posted by: Rasa23

Next part pls . Make it a long one pls .

Thankyou for reading. Also, I couldn't adhere to you request for uploading pics, as I'm unable to do that on the forum. For pics you can check the same story on my Wattpad profile :

https://www.wattpad.com/story/272692680

Originally posted by: charujain25

Very nice write up. Can't wait for more.. Pls update soon.

Thankyou, will be updating asap 😇

Absolutely crazily excited about this one!!! I have always had a soft spot for this kind of stories...meeting again after a few years...cant wait for this one too...waiting to see what happened in the past & their reconciliation second time around...pls continue soon😊💖🌹

Please continue soon..

Originally posted by: GHKPM

Absolutely crazily excited about this one!!! I have always had a soft spot for this kind of stories...meeting again after a few years...cant wait for this one too...waiting to see what happened in the past & their reconciliation second time around...pls continue soon😊💖🌹

Thanks a lot😇❤️

CHAPTER 2

He appeared selfsame. The not-so-amiable professor, Mr. Shaurya Sabherwal, that he always was. The same suave look that always adorned his manner. The same face that he always put on, to mask his inner sentiments, a thing that she was well aware of.

She looked the same too. Long raven coloured hair, attractive slim physique and the moon-like face that once used to be his favourite sight.

But there eyes bore an indifferent aura now, completely devoid of emotion. The same eyes, which once to give each other strength, just by blinking slightly, now looked blank.

And yes, there they were. Standing in front of each other. It was hard to believe, but it was true. Their gazes remained intact. Anokhi could hear the blood rushing in her veins, the noise her heart was constantly making, and probably his too. It seemed as they were experiencing a brain freeze, as the memories flashed rapidly inside their heads, blurring everything else.

The ring of a bell, that was supposedly made to announce that it was break time for the students, broke their trance. None of them knew what was going to happen, everything seemed so unpredictable at that moment.

It was only then that Anokhi realised she had to rush to Shaan. She quickly composed herself, and ran towards Shaan's cabin, while he just kept gazing at her vanishing sight.

"May I come in sir?" Anokhi knocked.

"Come in Anokhi. Hope you had no issues arriving here." Shaan smiled at her.

"No sir. Travelling from Kapurthala to Chandigarh isn't that of a deal for me."

"Okay so first comes first, how are you? All well? I'm so delighted to see you after all these years."

"Yes sir, I'm doing great. Good to see you too."

"So, did you moved around a bit? You are an alumni of this University after all. I'm sure you have a lot of memories to reminisce about."

"It had been a roller coaster of emotions since the beginning of this morning sir. I'm glad to be back here. So, shall we proceed towards the discussion about the project?"

"Ofcourse." Shaan was able to read her overwhelmed sanity. He concluded not to divert her mindset while working.

"So, the program will be launched, once the foundation is built. I'm sure you had gone through the documents I sent you. I forwarded your profile to the Committee members, and I must say they were quite impressed by your qualifications."

"Thankyou for giving me this opportunity sir. You have always been a true strength to me. I'm blessed to have mentors like you and Aastha ma'am."

"It's your dedication, zeal and brilliance that made you what you are Anokhi. We are just the well-wishers."

Anokhi courteously smiled at him, knowing his appreciation was genuine, like how it always had been.

"So, tomorrow it where it begins for everyone. We have the meeting tomorrow at noon. I know you will show your skills authentically and make this a success."

"Sure sir."

"Anokhi... Where are you going to live for the upcoming days? Managing from Kapurthala to Chandigarh won't be possible on a regular basis."

"I'll stay in a nearby hotel sir, until I find an apartment in which I could live as a tenant."

"Anokhi, if you permit, I can talk to-"

Anokhi cut him in the middle sharply, knowing where he was heading.

"Sir, one thing. Please don't try to make us communicate purposely, as that won't benefit anybody by any means. Secondly, I'm an independent woman, and I will easily succeed in finding lodgings to thrive in."

Shaan heaved a sigh. Anokhi felt that somehow she disappointed him. But this was necessary. They had to be as professional, as possible. That would be the best for both of them.

"Sure Anokhi. See you tomorrow."

"See you sir."

She carried the files in her hand, her other hand holding her bag cautiously, in which all her belongings were kept.

She stepped out, her mind still taking time to consume the latter encounter she had that morning. Her pen, slipped out from the files and fell down, breaking her reverie. She bent down and reorganized the things her petty hands were holding, taking support of one of the railings.

"Ms. Anokhi Bhalla." A voice called her.
She quivered, listening that smooth voice after ages.
The same voice, who's huskiness used to make her knees weak.
The voice that used to be the dearest to her.
And the voice, that she believed she would never hear again.

"SIAC is obliged to have you back." Shaurya Sabherwal said, displaying cold sincerity.

"And obliged I am. To be back here."
She responded sarcastically.

He snickered, knowing how she always has the perfect response to anything directed against her.

"So. What brings you back here?" He pretended to be nonchalant to her arrival.

"Such ruses don't work on you. Attempt for something else. As for the reason for which I'm here, I'm quite sure you are well aware of that."

She smirked.

He smirked back.

"I know exactly why you are here. To flex some sarcasm skills maybe." He laughed, though it was not a funny one.

"Well I must say, you haven't changed at all. Always the same professor with the cold air of arrogance around him." She backfired.

"I guess. But you have changed."

"I know. And I'm happy for that."

Their eyes didn't leave each other for even a moment during the heated exchange. However both of them knew how emotionally swamped their hearts were, to finally have a glance of each other. They both had mastered the art of masking their internal sentiments though.

"Well, I think I'll have to leave and serve the purposes for which I'm here. Anyways glad to see you, Mr. Shaurya Sabherwal."

She said his name in a venomous manner, still it sounded sugar to his pleading ears, who were devoid of this pleasure since 4 years.

"Good to see you back too. See you, seldom, if not often from now."

Finally the debate of pretence and haughtiness came to an end, for that day. However some part of them still wanted to stand there, and just look at each other until they became content, which they could never be.

They both turned in the same direction to take the stairs and go down, awkwardness perfectly filling the air.

Before going seperate ways, he glanced back at her, cursing himself a dozen times for not being able to conceal his feelings. Maybe she felt the same, as she glanced back at him too. Their eyes did the talking this time, before they turned back.

Anokhi sighed, as she sat down in the cab, thinking about how her upcoming days are going to turn out. Yes, she was more than pleased to see him. Yet the rational part of her had to display the coldness she had shown today. Yes, she hated him. And she hated the fact that she still loved him.

"Focus Nikki. Focus." She repeated herself, as the cab stopped with a jerk, infront of Blue Star hotel, where she had to stay, until she found a temporary house.

Shaurya came back to Sabherwal Mansion a bit early that day. The lights of his bedroom flickered at regular intervals, as he stared into the thin air, completely blank.

"Shaurya Sir! PS!! Shauryaa!!" Her voice echoed in his mind, when he used to perfectly place her in his lap. Her carefree giggles, when he used to tickle her, they didn't seem to leave his mind today.

Shaan knocked at his door.

"Come in dad. You don't have to knock."

He glanced at Shaan who's hands were full, carrying a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, out of which one was supposedly for him.

"Dad!" Shaurya was bewildered at the sight he was seeing. "You want to have a drink with me, especially when we have an important meeting tomorrow morning? It's half past 11 dad!"

Shaan just smiled at his remarks, pouring the whiskey into the glasses.

"Oh I see. I know. You always make me drink when you want me to disclose something, right? That's why you are here."

"I do not want to hear any of your secrets, okay Shaurya? I just want you to talk to me candidly, which you rarely do."

"What do you think I'll have to talk about dad?"

"You know it very well Shaurya."

"No I don't. And I don't want to. I'm perfectly fine. Please leave me alone for some time."

"Where did I mention that you were not fine, Shaurya?"

He became quiet.

Shaan extended a glass of whiskey to Shaurya, and sat on the other side of the bed, with one glass in his own.

A sip. Two. Half of the glass. Full of it. Silence prevailed in the room as Shaurya finished the shot in a fragment of second. He asked for more, to which Shaan clearly denied, making him groan. He waited for Shaurya to speak something.

"Okay fine. I saw her today. I saw Anokhi today dad! My Anokhi. After 4 goddamn years, I finally saw her.

She looked so stunning, like she always had been. Confident, fierce, bold. But something was absent from this new version of her, and that was her innocence. The naiveness that her face always adorned was gone, forever perhaps, and a layer of posed callousness had come over her. And somewhere I know that I am the reason for this change." His words soon tuned into sobs, making him unable to speak ahead.

He groaned, thinking about how happy they could have been. Could have.

Shaan hugged him, providing the emotional support he needed that moment.

"You know Shaurya, you can't change the past. But you can't also predict what destiny will bring to you. And I know that one day your pain will be gone. Okay. Sleep now, and let go off the past."

Shaan made him lie down and patted his forehead. His own heart pained, seeing his son's state. Maybe love wasn't made for the Sabherwals.

Anokhi's condition was no better. Although she had experienced the cold Shaurya Sabherwal once in her life, when she initially entered SIAC, yet she could never imagine that their fate could even result like what it is this day.

Their minds were botched and their hearts yearned. With this helpless state of mind, and with the anticipation for what will happen the next day, they both finally drifted into a sleep, exhausted after the present day's happenings.

~To be continued~

Heya!
Please comment down your views regarding this chapter. Also drop suggestions or criticism of any sort. The story will get into pace slowly and steadily, stay tuned for an exciting chapter. I promise to add flashbacks from the next update, as I wanted the story to have a base first. Also, I will take time to make the next update due to my academics, but I'll make sure it is worth it. Thankyou for reading :)

Link for Chapter 3 -

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/157405744