ShaKhi OS Valentine dance
Anokhi was disturbed with the whole press conference fiasco. When she has cleared that she wasn’t the one who called media then why Shaurya sir couldn’t trust her? She knows in her heart that she is on the right side and she will make sure to get the justice she deserves. Before it was only about her justice. But when the neighbor girl shared her incident, she is hell bent on to press this matter.
With all these in mind she sat in the library, immersed in her thoughts. Tomorrow there is discipline committee’s investigation. Her mind is filled with those thoughts. She’s stressed of how to prove herself. With Sabherwal sisters involved, she wasn’t sure how things will turn out. She hoped Shaan sir would live up to his words. If not she will have to approach police. It was when her friends nudged her that she came out of her thoughts.
“Anokhi, where are you lost?” Reema asked her.
“Matlab?” Anokhi asked, confused.
“Matlab tum library mein beit ke kahan koye hui ho? Pad bhi nahi rahi thi” Neha asked Anokhi.
“Nahi, aese koi bath nahi hai. Mein toh bas-”
“Ab mein samji. Tum kal ke liye paresaan ho na?” Reema cut her in between “Don’t be, Anokhi. Sab kuch accha hi hoga”
“Mein bhi wahi chathi hoon” Anokhi said with a sigh.
“Accha yeh sab chodo, Aaj Valentine’s day hai, Happy Valentine’s Day Anokhi” Neha wished a little loud earning the attention of others. As it was library, they were asked to leave the library by the librarian.
Anokhi dragged her two friends out from the library.
“Yaar, dheere se. Library hai” Anokhi said laughing “Happy Valentines day both of you”
Anokhi and the girls gather themselves in a hug.
“Sun, Anokhi aaj humhare college Valentine’s day ka event XYZ party hall mein host kar rahe hai. Tujhe bhi aana hoga” Neha demanded.
“Waha mein aake kya karungi? Aap dhono chali jao. Waise bhi mere didi ki ghar wale nahi maanenge”
Before Anokhi could refuse more, Reema took Anokhi’s mobile and made a call to Babli di that Anokhi will be practicing for debate competition and will be late. She also promised to bring Anokhi home safely.
“Now you have no problem to come na Anokhi”
Anokhi raised her hands in defeat. Though her mind is filled with thoughts, she decided to go for her friends and for herself too. She should enjoy her college life. So, she agreed.
“Perfect! Now we have a surprise for you” Reema and Neha said in union.
“Aur voh kya hai?”
“Chalo, aake dekh lo”
They dragged her to Reema’s hostel which is nearby the campus. Anokhi saw their happy face. She smiled and joined them in their laughter. College life is not so bad.
~ * ~
“Shaurya sir, aap ne mujhe bulaya?” Malkan asked, stepping inside Shaurya’s cabin.
“Malkan, there’s a valentine’s day event hosted by our college this evening at XYZ party hall. I want you to pick up Mr. Rakesh Sharma from ABC news and bring him to the event” Shaurya instructed Malkan who agreed and went out.
Shaurya’s mind is determined to find out who informed media. He just witnessed Anokhi standing up for her friends in the corridor. Now his conscious want to find out the truth more than before.
His mobile buzzed with a message. He was irritated when he looked at the name on the message – Priyanka. She’s the girl his Badi maa recently tried to match with him. Even after he declined her, she still texts him.
He sighed and left the text on seen. His mind should be occupied with academic stuffs but all he could think of is Anokhi. His thoughts go back to the night when he found her inside the closed classroom, the way she ran out and the way she hugged him and cried. He also thought of today’s event. Why would she lie?
But then why would his sisters deny the molestation charges? Ragging happened for sure but molestation is a huge accuse. As far as he knows Anokhi, she won’t lie. All these thoughts further pushed him to investigate further.
“I’ll make sure to find those who are responsible for the whole fiasco”
Shaurya was determined.
~ * ~
Anokhi and her friends walked inside the XYZ party hall. The surprise Reema and Neha said was a beautiful red dress. Anokhi was looking beautiful in that dress. Reema and Neha took their time in getting her ready. She looked like a pretty princess.
As they entered, lot of girls came to Anokhi and introduced themselves to her. They loved the way she stood up for herself. Even some boys joined them. Anokhi, Reema and Neha joined them and started to have fun.
On the other hand, Shaurya enters the party hall, his eyes looking for Rakesh Sharma. He found the guy sitting by the bar. He sighed and moved towards the bar. He introduced himself and started conversing him.
“Have a drink sir” Rakesh Sharma said. From his tone Shaurya understood that he’s already half drunk.
Shaurya engaged Rakesh in conversation about how media works. Sipping on his alcohol Shaurya slowly started to ask about the press conference.
“Sharma ji, though that press conference brought lot of trouble to college reputation, your channel especially you deserve a great appreciation for standing by the girl” Shaurya half heartedly appreciated Rakesh who in his drunk state accepted all the appreciation.
“Humne toh sirf hum hari duty kiye the sir” Rakesh’s tone was laced with alcohol’s effect.
“And those who informed you must also be appreciated, no? It’s because of them that management is taking this whole issue seriously”
“Bilkul sir, voh ladki toh badhuri ki kaam kiya hai” Rakesh said in a drunk state.
“Ladki? Anokhi ki bath kar rahe ho aap?”
“Anokhi? Koun? Voh victim?” Rakesh laughed “Voh kaise hum ko bulayegi. Us ki izzath ka sawal hai na”
“Agar Anokhi aap logon ko nahi bulaya toh kis ne information dhi hai aap ko?”
“Hareey mein batha nahi saktha na” Even in that drunken state, Rakesh has managed to withhold the information.
Shaurya sighed. He made him drink a little more. Rakesh was losing control over himself by now. So, Shaurya asked again.
“Aap ko patha hai kis ne inform kiya ki ahi?”
“Voh ek ladki thi” Rakesh finally said “Naam nahi bathayithi. Keh rahi thi ki aesa ragging hua hai uske college mein. She also called other news channels”
“Yeh bath clear ho gayi ki Miss. Bhalla ne media ko nahi bulaya. Phir koun ho sakthi hai?” Shaurya thought to himself.
“Lekinn” Rakesh started again “Uska number hai mere paas”
Shaurya thanked his stars and got the number from Rakesh. He called Malkan and asked him to escort Rakesh from the event and drop him home. He checked whether the number is his sisters or not. It wasn’t Bebo and Kitty’s number.
He then made a call to his friend IPS Virat and asked his help to trace the owner of the sim. Shaurya placed the alcohol glass back at the table and stood up. As he was walking towards the exit by the dance floor, someone stumbled into him. His first instinct was to hold that person.
Anokhi, who was dancing with her friends hasn’t noticed Shaurya’s presence. She was having fun. When one of her friends twirled her, she lost her balance. She was sure she would hit the ground and closed her eyes but two strong arms held her in place.
Shaurya was stunned for a second to find Anokhi in his arms. Again. She had her eyes closed shut, the fear of hitting the ground was clear on her face. For a second he forgot everything and smiled to himself.
Anokhi opened her eyes only to look at Shaurya who is staring down at her. She stared at him with big eyes, her body tensing under his touch. Shaurya quickly composed himself and made her stand straight. He took his time to look at her. She looked beautiful. He had to give her that but he realized he is looking at his student in this way. So, he composed himself.
“Thank you, sir” Anokhi said in a small voice.
Before Shaurya could reply, the lighting changed to a dim shade and a slow romantic music started playing. It was nearly dark and people around started dancing save for Shaurya and Anokhi. Shaurya tried to move down from the dance floor but too many couples were dancing around. He felt uncomfortable to move by passing through them. Anokhi looked at Shaurya.
“Sir, aap se bath karni hai” Anokhi started.
“Everyone dance” The DJ’s voice was loud “Hey you two at the center, start dancing”
The DJ had no clue that it was Shaurya. Anokhi looked at Shaurya waiting for him to answer. If he agrees to talk with her then she will move out of the dance floor and have a word with him. But what Shaurya did surprised her.
Shaurya extended his hand in front of her as if asking her for a dance.
“Bath karni hai mujse?” He asked while she nodded “Then dance along and talk. We’ll dance our way through the other side of dance floor. I need to go elsewhere soon”
Anokhi thought for a while and placed her hand in his. He placed her hand on his shoulder and held her other hand in his. He slowly guided her to sway to the music and move a little towards the other side of the dance floor. When a guy was about to bump with Anokhi, Shaurya quickly placed his arms around her.
Anokhi looked at him. She felt nervous with him being close to her. Their proximity did affect him. He quickly lowered his hand. To ease the tension, he started the conversation.
“You wanted to have a word with me. What is it about?” Shaurya asked.
“Sir, we didn’t start on a good note from our first encounter. I know we think differently. We have our differences but I want to clear this one thing sir. I didn’t break Shaan sir’s promise. I-”
Before Anokhi could complete her sentence, Shaurya moved a little back, twirled her and brought her back again. She looked at him while he stared back.
“I’m listening” He said in a deep voice which made her feel butterflies in her stomach. She closed her eyes for a second, composed herself and open again. This proximity didn’t just affect Anokhi but affected Shaurya too.
All these days he saw Anokhi in a different light but when he saw her standing up for her friends and know that she wasn’t the one who informed the whole fiasco to media, he was sure she is right. He doesn’t see a girl who only argues and troubles everyone. He saw her in a whole new different light. He liked this girl’s attitude and maturity.
“Anokhi?” He called out again, trying to gain her attention.
“Sir, I wanted to say that I was not the one who called media. Trust me Sir. I-”
“I do” Before she could finish, he was quick to say.
Anokhi was surprised at Shaurya’s revelation. She wanted to say so many things. Heck she prepared so many things to say, to prove herself but his two words shut her mouth. But she was curious o f how come he trust her.
Before Shaurya could explain further, a dancing couple pushed Anokhi while they were dancing which resulted in her stumbling into Shaurya’s arms. He balanced her by wrapping his one arm around her and his other arm still holding her other hand. They stared into each other’s eyes.
“I know you are not the one who informed media” He said without breaking the eye contact and swayed them around the dance floor in the same position – she in his arms.
“I also know that ragging did happened with you” He said in his slow deep voice while his hold tightened against him. He couldn’t bring himself to confess all this to her by looking at her “I know Anmol misbehaved with you. Don’t worry Anokhi. I’ll stand by you.”
Shaurya moved away from Anokhi, creating a little distance between them. He looked at her and she at him. She fisted her gown in nervousness and he looked everywhere but her.
“Mujhe ab chalna chahiyeh” Shaurya managed to say while Anokhi nodded. He stepped down from the dance floor when Anokhi called him.
“Sir”
He stopped on his tracks without turning back.
“Thank you”
Shaurya heard her say, a small smile forming in his face. He turned back with a straight face, nodded at her and walked away without turning back. Anokhi smiled at his disappearing figure.
As Shaurya walked out of the party hall his mobile buzzed. It was from Virat.
“Haan Virat, kuch patha chala?”
“I have sent you all the details about the owner of the sim. Check it Shaurya”
“Thank you Virat”
“No mention, take care”
After hanging up the call Shaurya checked the message Virat sent him and was shocked to find that the sim belonged to a Sabherwal, in particular Bebo Sabherwal. It was her private number. Shaurya fisted his palm trying to calm himself down.
“Kal jo bhi hoga sahi hoga”
With this determination Shaurya went to Sabherwal mansion.
THE END
~ * ~
This is my third one shot on ShaKhi. Thank you for all the response and kind words on the last two one shots. Show some love for this one too. Happy Valentine's day guys. Just like you all I'm also waiting eagerly for the spoiler dance episode of ShaKhi in next week.
Thank you for reading.
Nan ~
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