Hey guys, this is Aazeen here. I am new to this forum, and have been writing on this forum for the last 9 years.... Bringing to you all a brand new OS. I hope you all like it.
Shaurya's New Beginnings
Shaurya clattered the spoon in his hand in the tiffin box he was having before him. With every bite he was taking of the Rajma Chawal that he was eating, he missed even more- his wife of few weeks; Anokhi. He gave a bright smile to himself as he remembered his secret marriage with Anokhi in the presence of his mother Aastha and Anokhi’s sister Babli and her friend Reema. In the conflict of getting registered marriage in the court or a ceremonial marriage was resolved by Aastha, as Shaurya just wanted it registered and Anokhi wanted a ceremonial marriage as the sindoor and rasms, as all the symbols of marriage meant a great deal for her. So as decided, they were supposed to have a court marriage in the morning in Patiala as soon as the family court opens, followed by the ceremonial marriage in the temple. They had started early in the morning from Chandigarh to reach Patiala and complete everything on time. Both Babli and Aastha did Anokhi’s Kanyadaan. Strange, but both her mother figures became her guardian at that moment. Aastha was flushed with emotions, as Anokhi touched her feet after marriage; she wiped her tears and then laughed fondly- “Kanyadaan karke main apni kanya wapas le jaa rahi hoon...”, she said... Aastha and Shaurya could not patch up like a mother and son, but cordial due to the fact that Anokhi was an integral part of both their lives, and no matter what, they need to come in contact with each other, which made them, especially Shaurya cordial with Aastha, not like his mother, but Anokhi’s guardian. The fact that Devi and Tej would not accept Anokhi as the eldest daughter in law of the house, and fed up of all the planning and plotting of bringing Shagun in his life in order to avoid Anokhi, left Shaurya with a hasty decision of secretly getting married so that both him and Anokhi get an emotional security of being each other's. Shaan never accepted the fact that Anokhi is the one and only lady of his son’s life, and Aastha eventually stopped explaining him. With Shaurya’s decision to get married in haste, it was only Aastha and Babli from the respective families who could support them in their decision. Reema had happily joined in to witness their marriage. The rising issue was as to where will Anokhi live. Shaurya was not okay with the fact that Anokhi lives in the girls’ hostel and he needs to sneak into her room. He had a huge risk of getting caught some day or the other with Devi already knowing where she lived. Aastha again came to the rescue when she with a heavy heart told Anokhi that she and Shaan have divorced, and in the alimony, he had named the Chandigarh flat in her name, and for her and Shaurya, she can shift to Chandigarh with her Beeji and Bauji and Anokhi can live with them, and whenever necessary Shaurya can come over to that flat or meet anywhere else. Though the news of Aastha ma’am’s divorce hurt Anokhi to bits, she had to recover from it and agree to it seeing that though Shaurya flinched with the reiteration of the fact that after a painful separation of 25 years his parents have finally divorced, the suggestion given by Aastha brought a relief on his face. And that relief on his face gave her the assurance that accepting Aastha’s offer was the best option. All said and done, the marriage got over, after which Aastha took her cab back to Kapurthala so that she can pack all their stuff and come back to Chandigarh as soon as possible, Babli too went with her, as she had told in her home that she needs to visit her parents in Kapurthala. Shaurya took Anokhi and Reema back to Chandigarh. The drive back felt way more relaxing than he had expected. To have his wife sitting next to him on the passenger seat for the first time, felt like a bliss to him. Through the rearview mirror, he could see tired Reema had already dozed off; he found it a perfect opportunity to grab Anokhi’s hand and put it on his thigh. Anokhi though hesitant, immediately looked behind to check if Reema saw what just happened, and after taking a sigh of relief, she looked at Shaurya, who had a fond smile on his face and was looking on the road, she let her hand be where he kept, though she had to pull her seat belt a little more so that she could shift off the seat a bit more towards Shaurya, so that she can comfortably let her hand be on his thigh, which made her shoulder touch his, and with every movement he made to change the gears, she could feel his touches on her tender skin. Somehow this was making her feel goosebumps, but Shaurya enjoyed this somehow, and his mood was the happiest she had ever seen. The car had stopped at the outskirts of Chandigarh at a resort, where they made a booking for Anokhi and Shaurya to change back into normal clothes. Though Anokhi was wearing a pair of Patiala salwar and kurta, but the sheer bright red colour of her dress and the accessories would draw her so much attention in the hostel premises that she had to get out of the attire. She had so-so wanted to wear the Chooda that is an essential in a Punjabi wedding, but that was such a giveaway sign of her marriage, Aastha had admonished her not to wear it, and she’ll make sure that when her wedding goes official she will make her wear the chooda then. Right now with a heavy heart she took off the large amount of normal bangles too. But when Shaurya wiped the sindoor that was on her forehead beyond the hair parting with his handkerchief, she stopped him from further doing it, and covered her hair parting by back combing her hair, and took a side parting which hid the sindoor in the parting and they were good to go, she just mumbled- “Achha lagta hai.” both gave a fond smile to each other, Shaurya had also changed from pajama kurta to his denims, t-shirt and coat. Anokhi took his clothes too with hers and kept in the duffle bag that she was carrying, and they all headed back to Chandigarh, where he dropped both the girls outside the campus, as to him not being seen by anyone, and they can go to the hostel easily. And that marked the beginning of their married life. Within a week, Aastha had shifted to Chandigarh with her parents, and Anokhi joined them too. Though Aastha gave one whole room for Anokhi and Shaurya, but she insisted Anokhi to sleep with her in absence of Shaurya as she didn’t want her to be alone. Though there was no restriction for Shaurya to come and go to meet Anokhi, but she suggested it to not be often as the Sabharwals had the tendency to spy him, and she did not want any attention to be diverted on Anokhi anymore, or they will make her life a living hell coming to know that she is married to him.
Shaurya had refrained her from doing any typical wifely duties, but today, as she was on preparation leave for her exams and she was bored to death studying all day long, so she went adamant at home that she wants to learn to cook something, and Aastha instructed her to make Rajma Chawal. As her first achievement in kitchen, she wanted to share it with her husband, and thus she packed tiffin for him and sent it to Reema to go and deliver it to his cabin. And this is when Shaurya terribly missed being with his wife eating the first meal prepared by her. He wanted to go meet her, the taste of this food felt nostalgic to him, obviously he doesn’t clearly remember the taste of the food his mother made, but this somehow was transporting him back to his childhood, the taste felt familiar. He wanted to tell this to Anokhi but he had work in hand and needed to finish it at the earliest. The knock on his cabin’s door drew his attention, as he saw their family’s legal advisor for at least two generations; wrapping up the lunch box, and welcoming him in, Shaurya drew his attention to what brought the lawyer here? To his astonishment, he found that the lawyer needed his signature on some documents that were to be presented in the court soon. “Duggal Uncle, aap mujhse sign lene kyu aaye hain... Bade Papa ya Badi Mummy hi sign karte hain na...” Shaurya spoke nonplussed. “Shaurya puttar, sign toh tere hi hote hain na... Matlab, jab tak tu 21 saal ka nahi hua tha, tab tak tere guardians hone ke naate Tej Praaji aur Devi Parjaaiji sign kar dete they, par tujhe pata hai na, tere Dadaji vasihat karke gaye they na ki puri property ka maalik unka sabse bada pota hoga, jo tu hai... Toh tere signs hote hain na puttar...” Duggal Uncle, their family lawyer informed.
Shaurya was shocked beyond measures, learning this news was something that he was unable to digest, but he couldn’t let Duggal Uncle know that he was unaware. For Uncle's urgency Shaurya signed the documents and allowed him to rush as his assistant was supposed to file the documents soon... But as soon as Duggal Uncle left, Shaurya sat listless on his boss chair. He no longer could concentrate on doing his work, his mind was flooded with endless questions that were tormenting him. When did he sign all these documents? How come he did it? Was he that unaware? He pulled out another legal document from his drawer to check whose signatures were there, and felt stunned that it was his signature in the authority’s place. When did all this happen? How come he did not know? He didn’t even know he was the legal authority of every property of the Sabherwals. What was happening behind his back? His mind was restless, he couldn’t even sit. He kept stalling here and there in the cabin to somehow find the answers to his questions. He cannot go in this agitated state to his badi maa and bade papa to confront them. He needed to calm himself down first, but none of the anger management mechanisms worked right now, the storm in his heart cannot be controlled right now. Without a second thought, he rushed out of the campus and headed into his car and dashed off to the flat where Anokhi lived. If not calming him down, his only solace was his wife at the moment, who was nothing but a soothing breeze in the storm of his heart. He stopped his car a few meters as he drove, he can’t just appear at that flat. He texted her to know if she can meet him. But there was no response, urgently he called her on her phone, that wasn’t answered too... This was strange, she usually responded quite quickly to him. Heaving out a heavy breath, he started the engine of his car, and drove to the flat she lived in.
The door to the house was opened by his nani. As much as he wasn’t ready to accept the fact that his mother wronged him, he held a soft spot for his grandparents, he couldn’t despise them for anything. They were old and needed attention. In no way he wanted them at this age to face the wrath he used to give his mother. Cordially, he bent down and touched her feet- “Pairi pauna nani!” Shaurya mumbled. Though he did not remember himself doing this in his childhood, but he saw an old birthday video that his father shot when he was three. He held those mannerisms then, probably taught by his mother. And so he continued that practice... “Jeeyunda reh!” Nani patted his back, and continued- “Chai peeyega? Main bana ke laati hoon...” Nani waddled to the kitchen, while Shaurya walked to his and Anokhi’s room from where he could hear her voice. “Aastha ma’am... Kya... kya mera poochna sahi hai ki aakhir aapne PS... I mean Shaurya... Shaurya ko kyu chodh diya tha unke bachpan mein... Aapki baaton se toh lagta hai ki jaise aapne itna pyaar kabhi kisi se nahi kiya hai jaise aap apne bete ko karti hain... Maine unki aankhon mein bhi dekha hai, wo bohot pyaar karte hain aapse... Phir aap kyu chodh ke chali gayi thi unko aur Shaan sir ko?”
A part of Shaurya did not want to listen this conversation, his eyes were slowly clouding with tears, it hurt him so much... But his entire attention drew to his mother who gave an astonishing answer- “Maine chodha Shaurya ko? Maine? Mujhse wo cheena gaya tha... Mere bhai ki death ho gayi thi ek road accident mein... Beeji bauji ek dum akele ho gaye they... Unki haalat dekh rahi ho tum, kya main unhe akela marne ke liye chodh deti? Tej bhaisahab kehte they ki ye lo paise aur de do apne maa baap ko, isse toh wo guzaar lenge apni zindagi, Devi Bhabhi mujhe jaane nahi deti thi apne beeji bauji ke paas... Main Shaurya ko leke jaana chahti thi, Bauji ko paralysis ka attack aaya tha... Mujhe urgently jaana pada. Shaurya Chandigarh mein reh gaya tha. Mujhe kya pata tha ki Devi Bhabhi phir Shaurya ko mujhse milne hi nahi dengi... Aur Shaan... Shaan ne kabhi stand liya hi nahi unn bhai bhabhi ke saamne jinko wo apne maa baap ki tarah samajhte they... Maine kitni baar Shaurya se milne ki koshish ki... Uske har birthday par main usse milne aayi, kitne phone lagaaye, lekin Shaurya ki badi maa ne mera ek contact nahi hone diya mere bete se...” Aastha wept... Aur mera yaqeen na ho toh ye baat tum khud Shaan se confirm kar lena.”
Shaurya’s steps backed off... He couldn’t believe a word... Of course, his mother is lying yet again... But how to confirm... Who could be that person who can give him an unbiased view of that time... Definitely not his father, them whom? Suddenly it struck him as soon as he sat in the car, he took his phone out and dialled- “Hello... Kahan hain aap? Jahan bhi hain wahi rukiyega, aur kisi ko mat bayaaiyega ki maine call kiya hai ya main milne aa raha hoon...” Shaurya dashed his car off in the maximum speed he could maintain. Parking his car at the parking of the temple, Shaurya ran to the place behind the temple where there was a peaceful backyard in the shadow of huge trees and small park benches made. He rushed off to one on them where he found his Gayatri Chachi sitting, waiting for him- “Chachi, main jo bhi pooch raha hoon aapse, aapko meri kasam hai ki aap jhoot nahi bolengi, koi baat nahi chupaayengi aur main waada karta hoon ki aapka naam ismein nahi aayega...” Shaurya sat on the bench, and after her assurance, he began narrating what he heard Aastha say, skipping the fact that Anokhi lives there and is his wife. He also skipped the visit of Duggal Uncle too...
“Aastha Parjaaiji sach keh rahi thi Shaurya… Devi Parjaaiji ne sach mein Aastha Parjaaiji ke saath aisa hi kiya tha… Bhagwan dushman ko bhi wo din na dikhaaye jo Devi Parjaaiji ne Aastha Parjaaiji ko dikhaaye… Shaurya aadhi raat mein sadak par laakar khada kar diya tha unhone Aastha Parjaaiji ko… Ek jhalak, ek jhalak nahi dekhne di unhone tumhari unko… Aastha Parjaaiji roti rahi aur bilakti rahi lekin unko daya nahi aayi uss bebas maa par jo apne maa baap aur apne bachhe ke beech mein kisi ek ko nahi chun paayi thi… kitni kadak dhoopon mein humne Aastha Parjaaiji ko apne ghar ke gate ke bahar iss intezaar mein khade dekha hai ki shayad, shayad unko unke bete ki jhalak dikh jaaye… Parjaaiji ko chodho, Shaan Praaji ko nahi aane deti thi Devi Parjaaiji tumhare aas paas… Shaan Praaji toh aise ho gaye they jaise unki duniya ujad gayi ho… tabhi se toh unhone peena shuru kiya tha… Apni patni aur bete ka dukh unhein ek saath mila tha… hum mein se kisi ke andar itni himmat nahi thi ke Devi Parjaaiji ka Saamna kar sakein… Aur wo jeet gayi, aur hum sab haar gaye…” Gayatri wiped her tears with her Saree’s pallu and then with wide eyes reiterated- “Ye baat kisi ko mat batana ki maine tumhein ye saari baat batayi hain… Warna mere saath bhi Aastha Parjaaiji wala sulook na ho jaaye… Main kahan jaaungi Shaurya…” Gayatri was worried. “Aap bharosa rakhiye Chachi, main aapke naam ki bhanak tak nahi lagane dunga… Thank you Chachi… Mujhe pata hai mujhe kya karna hai.” Shaurya was seething from within, but he looked thoughtful. He definitely didn’t want Gayatri of all the people to worry about this. His life looked a mess, a huge joke, that he thought was his precious life.
Unaware of the storm that was brewing in Shaurya’s head, Gayatri left in her car, while Shaurya stood to see her off. His mind was working at a mile per minute. A heavy tear was forming in his eyes that was ready to drop off. He brushed it harshly as he walked off to his car. He could see that his cellphone’s screen was alight on the passenger seat. He opened the door and swiftly took grab of his phone that had stopped ringing just a second ago. He saw 15 missed calls combined from his mother Aastha and Anokhi; 12 from his dear wife. It was the 16th call that just rang yet again. Sniffing his nose, he picked the call up, where Anokhi blasted from the other hand- “Kahan hain aap? Kitne calls lagaaye maine aur Aastha Ma’am ne. Naani bata rahi thi ke aap aaye they? Bina bole kahan chale gaye?”
Shaurya flared his nose and then said- “Anokhi, main jaise keh raha hoon, waisa karo. Tum aur Aastha ma’am taiyyar ho, main aa raha hoon tum dono ko lene.” “Haan, okay PS, lekin jaa kahan rahe hain?”, Anokhi inquired. “Main pohoch ke batata hoon, taiyyar ho jaao. Kuch bhi pehen lo, jo achha lage.” Shaurya vaguely answered her, before her question arose. Half an hour later Anokhi and Aastha looked in each other’s eyes totally quizical, as Anokhi took the passenger seat, while Aastha took the back seat. Shaurya looked quite stern, and they no longer dared ask him again as to where they were leaving to. Though Aastha took a sharp breath in as he turned the car finally to Sabherwal Mansion- “Shaurya... Shaurya, hum yahan kyu aaye hain...beta... Tum Anokhi ko aise wahan le jaaoge, toh unko kya bataaoge ki Anokhi tumhare saath kaise... Aur main... Main kaise chal sakti hoon.” Aastha panicked, though she usually was a lady of great grit. “Aap dono chaliye andar, aap mere saath jaa rahi hain. Fikar mat keejiye, jawab bhi main hi dunga. Chaliye.” Shaurya assured his mother. Though it was a tough task for him to reinstate her place as his mother, but his heart did soften up after hearing the story from two points of view. This time will be the last. He promised himself. He softly ushered both the ladies by their backs to the Sabharwal family who were sitting together at the dining table for their lunch.
Devi Sabharwal shot up from her chair from the dining table as she saw Shaurya being accompanied by Anokhi and Aastha. Anger shooting up in her she ran towards the three as she furiously asked- “Iss Anokhi Bhalla ko toh main baad mein poochungi, ye Aastha yahan kaise aayi?”. Devi wanted to rant more but she was quickly counter questioned by Shaurya instead- “Wo yahan se gayi kyu thi in the first place?”. Devi looked perplexed at Shaurya’s simmering anger, but spoke as a matter of fact as she had been doing for the last 25 years- “Shaurya, tum jaante toh ho beta, ye apna career banane ke liye gayi...” Devi looked up at Shaurya who had cut her off again in between- “Sach Badi Maa... Sach... Sirf sach sunna chahta hoon... Ye sab toh main kayi baar sunn chuka hoon. Aaj sirf sach sunna chahta hoon. Jo main jaanta hoon waise lekin aapke mooh se sunna chahta hoon. Badi maa?” He looked at the other elders of the family too as he continued asking- “Bade Papa, Chacha, Dad? Oh! Come on! I know the truth... Aap mein se koi sach kyu nahi bolta?” Shaurya looked incredulously, as his hands were up in indignation.
“Shaurya puttar, dekh beta... Teri badi maa sach hi...” Tej moved forward as Devi looked quite stumped, but she recovered as she said- “Ye sab pattiyaan tumko iss Aastha ne padhayi hai na?” Devi moved forward to Aastha, but Shaurya came between them looking menacing, nodding his head in a no. Devi was stunned and stopped short of words. Shaurya spoke- “Sachhayi ki ek badi hi ajeeb aadat hoti hai. Jab chupaayi jaaye toh bade alag alag tareeke se bahar aati hai. Mujhe bhi anjaane mein pata chali, par aap sab pe mujhe itna zyada aitbaar hai ki main yaqeen nahi kar paa raha tha. Socha, aap log hi apne mooh se bol deejiye... Koi bolega? Ya main ye saari ki saari property kisi trust ko daan kar aaun? Aakhir iss puri Sabharwal property ka eklauta vaaris hoon.” Shaurya spoke wickedly, his eyebrow cocking up seeing a bewildered expression on Alok Chacha’s face, and somewhat surprised expression on Shaan’s face. He could see colour draining out of Devi and Tej’s faces coming to know about this truth too, as nobody but them knew this. “BOLENGI AAP???” Shaurya shouted. Devi, with no choice left stuttered as she spoke- “Aastha ke Maa Baauji beemaar they aur uske bhai ki death ho gayi thi... Toh wo tumko yahan se le jaane ki zid karti thi...” Devi spoke minimalistic as if no voice was coming out of her mouth. She dreaded the moment of anger rising on Shaurya’s face, but instead big fat tears dropped out of his eyes making them fall on his coat instead, hurt was a better expression to describe his feelings at the moment as he spoke- “25 saal... 25 saal jis kami ke saath maine zindagi guzari, jis dard ko apne jeene ki wajah bana li thi, jis wajah se mujhe har working women se nafrat thi, wo wajah actually mein exist hi nahi karti thi... 25 saal mujhse jhoot bola gaya ki tumhari maa apna career banane ke liye tumko chodh ke chali gayi... Kisi ne mujhe ye bhi nahi bataya ki asal mein career banana meri maa ka shaukh nahi unki majboori thi. Dad, aapne bhi batana nahi zaroori samjha? Khair aap kya batate... Jis aadmi ne apni majboor biwi ka saath na diya ho aur akele hi usko duniya se joojhte chodh diya ho, uss aadmi se main ye kaise expect karta ki wo mere liye stand leta aur mujhe sachh batata.” Shaurya gave a nasty expression to his father.
“Aisa nahi hai Shuarya, maine tumhari maa se bohot pyaar kiya hai, tum pooch lo usse, maine uske saath contact kabhi nahi toda.” Shaan clarified.
“Pyaar kiya tha toh uske saath khade hone ki himmat bhi toh rakhte dad. Jis tarah aaj main maa ko yahan leke aaya, aap bhi laa sakte they. But anyway, pyaar hi kaafi nahi hota hai, ab main samajh gaya hoon.”
But Devi was nowhere going to surrender so easily as she barked- “Bilkul theek kiya Shaan ne, aakhir uspe bhi humare kitne ehsaan hain, maa bauji ki jagah maine aur Tej ne usko saaya diya hai. Agar humara maan rakhne ke liye usne ye kiya toh kya ghalat kiya. Saari zinadagi bita di maine aur Tej ne iss ghar ke liye... Aur sabse bada tyaag humara tha ki tumhein kabhi neglected feel na ho, iss liye humne kabhi apna bachha nahi kiya...”
Devi was cut off by Aastha as she spoke- “Bohot hi bada balidaan kiya aapne Devi Bhabhi. Lekin jahan tak mujhe yaad hai ki meri shaadi aapki shaadi ke kuch 15 saal baad hui thi. Toh aapne usse pehle hi iss balidaan ke baare mein soch liya tha ya aap intezaar kar rahi thi ke ek din main ye ghar chodh ke chali jaaun aur aap mere bachhe ko apne hisaab ke paal pos lein? Kya aap yeh wajah bata sakti hain ki Shaurya ke paida hote saath aapne mujhse ye kyu kaha tha ki Shaurya ko main aapko de doon, mujhe toh aur bhi bachhe ho jaayenge? Shayad issliye kyuki aap jaanti thi ke Baauji ye saari jaaydad ghar ke sabse bade potey ke naam karke gaye they. Aapko bachhe nahi hote they aur aapne socha ki Shaurya agar aapka beta ban jaaye toh ye power, jaaydad, satta, sab aapke aur Tej Bhaisahab ke haathon mein rahegi. Sahi keh rahi hoon na main? Isliye jab maine Shaurya ko aapko dene se mana kar diya toh aapne usko mujhse cheen liya.”
Devi and Tej had an arrested look on their faces, while Gayatri and Kanchan had tears for the pain that Shaurya endured while Alok and his daughters looked worried for the fact that nothing really belonged to them. Shaan and Aastha looked worried seeing Shaurya who was stepping backwards in a trance until he hit a wall and slipped down on the floor. “SHAURYA...!!!” Aastha rushed to his side, while Anokhi also reacted similarly, both the ladies on his either side sitting on the floor. Shaurya was immersed in tears, his mind totally fogged. He kept his head on his mother’s shoulder as once and kept mumbling- “Sorry maa...” Aastha kept hugging him for long trying to pacify him down, after a couple of minutes, Aastha indicated Anokhi to take over, as she believed that Anokhi had powers on Shaurya to calm him down, and Shaurya kept his head on Anokhi’s chest on her holding him to her, and both sat in silence until Shaurya can hold on himself. The entire family looked at both of them dazed, not knowing what to say. It was after half an hour or so when Shaurya finally stood up on his feet, sniffing his nose as he spoke- “Kuch baatein clear kar dena chahta hoon... Aaj se main iss ghar ka head hoon, aur SIAC ka bhi. Befikr rahiye Bade papa, badi maa, aapko kahin jaane ki zarurat nahi hai. Beshak, selfish reasons ke liye hi sahi aap logon ne meri care ki hai. Main ab aapse pyar nahi karta lekin nafrat bhi insaan ko kahin nahi lekar jaati. Aap iss ghar mein reh sakte hain lekin not as the head of the house. Meri maa iss ghar mein wapas aayengi, Mere nana nani bhi yahin rahenge, Dad you need to marry her. Though you’ve not proven to be a great husband, but I hope that you prove yourself better this time on.... And now finally, Anokhi meri legally wedded wife hai jisse maine Patiaala mein pure rasmo riwaaj se saath shaadi ki thi apni maa ke aashirwaad se. Aur ab main socially bhi isko pakka karne ke liye usse sabke saamne bhi shaadi karunga... I hope aap sab shaadi ki taiyyariyon mein badh chadh ke hissa lenge. Bebo Kitty, tum dono ke liye bhi reminder hai ye, Bhabhi hai wo tumhari. I hope you guys will behave properly with her both at home and college.
Shaurya Aastha and Anokhi had to go through a journey, but they surely will surpass it.
~~Thanks for reading~~
Anupamaa
